Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon

Winter left. Spring came. In the blink of an eye, Meng Chuan had been in the Mortal Shedding realm for a year.

During one summer evening, the evening wind carried a cool breeze, but it was rather lively in Mirror lake Dao Academy’s courtyard.

“I’m Zhou Qian. Please give me some pointers, Senior Brother Meng.” A youth bowed respectfully.

“Go ahead.” Meng Chuan nodded.

Today, he was here to spar with Dean Ge Yu—who had long achieved Saber Force and also cultivated the swift saber. Meng Chuan would gain inspiration every time he sparred him. Hence, he would come seek guidance every half-month. Although Dean Ge Yu was greedy and petty, he was still very attentive towards his most talented disciple.

After sparring with the dean, he would take an hour to give his juniors pointers. To him, sparring with them was too easy. It could even be considered a form of relaxation.

“Be careful.” The youth, Zhou Qian, suddenly charged forward and launched a series of attacks. As Meng Chuan stood there, his body was strangely blurry. No matter how hard the youth tried to attack, he could not touch the corners of Meng Chuan’s clothes.

After unleashing all he could muster with the sword, he delivered his final killer move. He stabbed forward thirteen times—only to miss every time.

Zhou Qian was quite talented in the Mirror Lake Dao Academy. According to the lecturers, he was likely to be admitted to Mountain River Pavilion next year. However, the gap between him and Meng Chuan was still too great.

“Senior Brother Meng is impressive.”

“Now, not a single disciple in the Dao Academy can touch Senior Brother Meng’s clothes. They can’t even withstand one blow from him.”

“Senior Brother Meng is destined to be a Godfiend,” the disciples watching by the side said.

The prestige enjoyed by every generation’s Eldest Senior Brother fluctuated.

Meng Chuan was definitely the Eldest Senior Brother with the highest prestige in the Dao Academy over the past few decades! His strength was unimaginable, far exceeding the second top disciple in the Dao Academy. He was also willing to sacrifice his precious cultivation time to guide his juniors occasionally . His family clan’s influence was also the highest in the entire prefecture city, but he hadn’t bullied others.

Many factors caused the juniors to idolize their Eldest Senior Brother.

“Your last move is the killer move of the sword art known as the Thirteen Consecutive Peaks,” said Meng Chuan. “It’s also very clear in the manual that once this sword technique is unleashed, it should be like mountain peaks that are constantly undulating and as one. You have accomplished the ‘Undulating,’ but you have yet to achieve ‘As One.’ Your sword slashes were a scattered mess, which decreases its might significantly.”

“As One?” Zhou Qian murmured. He seemed to have an idea but was still short of something. He trusted Senior Brother Meng’s advice.

In terms of techniques and moves, even the lecturers had said that only Dean Ge Yu could top Senior Brother Meng in all of Mirror Lake Dao Academy. Senior Brother Meng’s guidance was more direct than the lecturers’. As a disciple who hadn’t been admitted into the Mountain River Pavilion, Zhou Qian had no right to have the dean teach him one-on-one.

“Your other sword moves aren’t bad. Only the flaws of your killer move are more obvious. Go and practice this move more. Once you master it, you will attain Greater Mastery of this sword art.” Meng Chuan’s gaze swept across his juniors, which were filled with anticipation. He smiled and said, “It’s getting late. Go have dinner, everyone.” With that said, he left.

The juniors also understood that Senior Brother Meng’s guidance session had ended. Many of his fellow disciples walked towards the Dao Academy entrance.

Huh? When Meng Chuan reached the entrance, he saw a figure dressed in red robes—Liu Qiyue. She had grown taller and was no shorter than Meng Chuan.

“Ah Chuan, Ah Chuan,” Liu Qiyue shouted immediately.

“Qiyue, you’re one year younger than me, but you’re almost my height.”

Liu Qiyue laughed and said, “My dad said that girls enter puberty earlier. Besides, I’ve also stepped into the Mortal Shedding realm. That accelerates my body’s growth.”

Liu Qiyue—who was 15 this year—had also broken through to the Mortal Shedding realm this month. However, her archery was still stuck at a bottleneck. Attaining the Unity realm was just too difficult.

“Let’s go. Let’s hurry to Cloud River Restaurant for dinner,” said Liu Qiyue immediately. “You lost to me.”

“Alright, alright, let’s go.” Meng Chuan nodded helplessly. He had lost a bet.

After Liu Qiyue broke through to the Mortal Shedding realm, Meng Chuan had claimed that Qiyue couldn’t touch him even if she fired a hundred arrows while he stood within a circle ten feet in diameter. Liu Qiyue refused to believe him. Meng Chuan was filled with confidence, having honed his movement technique with arrow volleys—especially when such a movement technique was coupled with his powerful Lightning Divine Body foundation. However, a Mortal Shedding realm sharpshooter was difficult to deal with when they unleashed their full power. Arrows containing a Godfiend’s power, together with archery techniques, were simply nightmares. It was far more terrifying than the guards who just fired arrows normally.

Using his movement technique, Meng Chuan dodged seventy-nine arrows in a row, but the eightieth arrow hit his clothes.

He lost!

Meng Chuan remained rather happy despite losing and decided to try again a few days later.

Cloud River Restaurant was the number one restaurant in Eastcalm Prefecture. It was a bit extravagant to bring her here, but this was a restaurant his father ran! He didn’t need to pay when eating there!

The youth, Zhou Qian, watched Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue leave. Senior Brother Meng entered the Mountain River Pavilion at the age of thirteen. I have to enter it by fifteen! He secretly made up his mind and walked in another direction, returning home.

...

Zhou Manor.

“Young Master.”

“Young Master.”

Zhou Qian returned home and the servants were all very respectful.

The Zhou family was originally a very ordinary family in Eastcalm Prefecture. Later on, Zhou Qian’s father, Zhou He, made a name for himself! He was quite skilled and managed to build a social network with comrades from the battlefield. After twenty years, he managed to establish a family business. He could be considered a rather famous tycoon in Eastcalm Prefecture.

“Young Master Zhou, Young Master Zhou.” Suddenly, a child appeared from a corner.

“Ironborn?” Zhou Qian looked over and smiled. “Why are you here?”

Ironborn was the younger brother of his maidservant, and he often came to the manor. The servants in the manor liked this obedient child.

“Young Master Zhou.” Ironborn immediately knelt. “Save my sister! Save my sister!”

“Your sister? What happened to Red Rain?” Zhou Qian immediately asked.

“Just a moment ago, Boss Wei brought men to my house. He said my father owed him 300 taels of silver. My father said that he had only borrowed 10 taels of silver. He was half drunk back then, and it was Boss Wei who deliberately tricked him. He made him print his palm on a promissory note stating 100 taels of silver,” Ironborn said immediately. “Now, the interest has caused his debt to rise to 300 taels of silver. How can our family afford it? Boss Wei forcefully abducted my sister to repay the debt. My father refused, so they beat him up.”

“Did your father sign an indenture contract regarding Red Rain?” Zhou Qian pressed.

“No! My father said that he wouldn’t harm my sister even at the cost of his life,” Ironborn said.

“Alright, if you don’t sign an indenture contract, they’re kidnapping a lady.” Zhou Qian suppressed his anger. They still had to learn the laws of the Imperial Court in the Mirror Lake Dao Academy. “Who is this Boss Wei?”

“My father said that he’s a lackey of the Black Wolf Gang. Anybody who comes under the banner of the Black Wolf Gang strikes fear in others,” said Ironborn immediately.

“I want to see how bold a mere hooligan is.” Zhou Qian could no longer hold himself back. “Lead the way! Bring me to this Boss Wei.”

“Stop right there!” a cold voice shouted.

Zhou Qian was stunned. He turned around and saw his father, Zhou He, standing there.

“Dad.” Zhou Qian softened the moment he saw his father.

“Send Ironborn out.” Zhou He ordered his servants, and the servants immediately led the child outside. Ironborn cried and shouted, “Young Master Zhou, you must save my sister. She will be finished if you don’t save her.”

But the servants easily grabbed the child and quickly brought him out.

“Dad! That ruffian is engaging in abduction. Are we not going to do something about it?” Zhou Qian said anxiously.

“Fool,” Zhou He said coldly. “Do you think a lackey will dare to commit abduction? He’s working for someone more powerful. He helps the Black Wolf Gang abduct women and trains them before finally sending them to the brothels. This is the Black Wolf Gang’s business. The Black Wolf Gang is one of the three biggest gangs in Eastcalm Prefecture. Behind it is the Godfiend family, the Bai family! The Black Wolf Gang is the one who helps the Bai family do its dirty work.”

“Your father is just a small businessman. How can I offend the Black Wolf Gang?” Zhou He looked at his son. “The Black Wolf Gang can crush our Zhou family like an ant. Do you understand?”

“I, I...” Zhou Qian felt terrible. “But Red Rain, Red Rain...” Red Rain had been serving him since he was eight. They had a deep relationship.

“Do you want to save Red Rain or protect the Zhou family?” Zhou He said, “Me, your mother, your brother, and over a hundred people survive thanks to the Zhou family! We can’t afford this fight.”

“Can’t we discuss with the Black Wolf Gang and buy her back?” Zhou Qian asked.

“Buy?”

Zhou He sneered. “Didn’t you hear? A debt of 300 taels of silver, and you want the Black Wolf Gang to break the rules? You need at least 1000 taels of silver to have any hope for negotiation. Is a maid worth a thousand taels?”

“It’s worth it,” Zhou Qian said.

“1000 taels? Do you know that I nearly died just to earn my first thousand taels of silver?” Zhou He shot a cold glance at his son before turning to leave. “You decide for yourself! Don’t disappoint me.”

After Zhou He left, he ordered the guard leader. “Go, keep an eye on the Young Master. Break his legs if he dares to leave!”

“Yes,” the leader of the guards replied obediently.

...

Moments later.

Ironborn was in despair outside the Zhou family’s residence. The world was huge, and he had no idea how he could save his sister.

“Sister.” Ironborn cried.

Swoosh.

A figure leaped across the wall and quickly ran over to Ironborn.

“Young Master Zhou.” Ironborn was delighted to see Zhou Qian.

“Go to Cloud River Restaurant and find Young Master Meng Chuan. He is Young Master Meng, and the Black Wolf Gang is nothing in front of him. He will definitely save Red Rain,” Zhou Qian said immediately.

“Cloud River Restaurant, Young Master Meng Chuan?” Ironborn’s eyes lit up.

“Go, be quick,” Zhou Qian urged.

Ironborn quickly ran off into the distance.

At this moment, the leader of the guards leaped over the wall and saw Zhou Qian. He gently shook his head. “Young Master, you’ve really disappointed Master.”

“Didn’t he let me make my own decision? Why? Are you here to catch me?” Zhou Qian said through gritted teeth.

“Master said that I’m to break your legs, but... you should go to him personally. Perhaps his heart will soften and spare you,” the guard captain said. “There’s no need for me to do it.”

“There’s no need. I won’t be able to escape in front of you.” Zhou Qian didn’t say anything and returned to the manor. However, his mind was on Cloud River Restaurant. “Senior Brother Meng, you must save Red Rain. You must save her.”

In Zhou Qian’s opinion, it was very difficult for him to save Red Rain. But for Senior Brother Meng, it was nothing.