Murong Wushuang's words rang out.
"Creak!"
Begonia Manor's gates opened and out walked a large, stocky guard. His body was like an iron tower that was over two meters tall. He sized up Murong Wushuang coldly, and upon noticing Murong Wushuang's shabby clothes, he laughed disdainfully. "Little tyke, this is Begonia Manor. You must have come to the wrong place!"
Murong Wushuang shook his head. "I'm not mistaken. I came here to look for Master Ning. Please let him know I'm here!"
The stocky guard bellowed in laughter, rubbing his hands as he walked towards Murong Wushuang. "Little tyke, you've brought a chicken with you. Surely you're not here to visit your relatives?"
The border was a chaotic place. Often, there were fools who would try to swindle a meal out of Begonia Manor. This guard had seen many cases like this.
This stocky guard assumed Murong Wushuang was someone like this, so he grabbed Murong Wushuang by the front of his shirt, planning to lift up the skinny lad and throw him out.
"Bang!"
Murong Wushuang stood steadily where he was while the guard was sent flying, rolling on the ground like a gourd over dozens of meters.
Murong Wushuang said with a humorless smile, "Buddy, is your eyesight bad, or was the floor slippery? Watch where you're going, don't just keep staring at me! Otherwise, it'll hurt when you fall, right?"
The guard was seething in anger. He rolled over and faint Qi surged from his palms as he swung a fist at Murong Wushuang.
"Taluo, stand down!" Housekeeper Qiu walked out of the tower. His gaze landed upon Murong Wushuang and he said in a displeased voice, "Gousheng, so it's you. You owe Begonia Manor three years of annual payment. When will you pay up?"
Murong Wushuang instantly looked embarrassed and he chuckled awkwardly. "Two more days, two more days."
Housekeeper Qiu appeared annoyed. "Two more days? Humph. You've had three years already. It's a good thing you came today. If you don't pay up, then settle your debt by becoming Begonia Manor's slave! If not, I'll send someone over to your house now and get your grandfather to carry out hard labor."
Murong Wushuang clenched his fists tightly but ultimately released them. Although he had Stage Eight Qi, going against Begonia Manor with his small bit of power was a suicide mission.
Begonia Manor had immense influence and was not something he could provoke.
Two teams of armored guards had come out of the gates, surrounding Murong Wushuang.
Murong Wushuang suddenly recalled what Ning Xiaochuan said and hurriedly smiled. "I'm a good friend of Begonia Manor's Master Ning. Today, I came expressly to visit him."
Housekeeper Qiu knitted his brow. "Which Master Ning are you talking about?"
"Ning Xiaochuan, Brother Chuan!" Murong Wushuang grinned.
An odd expression came over the faces of the surrounding guards, and the guard who was sent flying by Murong Wushuang just now burst into laughter. "What a bunch of nonsense. Our proprietor is a good friend of a poor tramp like you? Let me beat this tyke to death."
"Proprietor… What proprietor?" Murong Wushuang could not respond momentarily. "No, stop! Don't attack! Make yourself clear! What proprietor?"
Up in the tower, Housekeeper Qiu and Ye Chenglong exchanged a glance.
Ye Chenglong called out in a booming voice as resounding as a bell. "All of you, stand down."
Ye Chenglong's Qi fluctuations were extremely vigorous, causing each of the guards to step down.
Housekeeper Qiu said, "Since he says that he knows the proprietor, I'll inform the proprietor so that he may come and personally identify this visitor." Glaring coldly at Murong Wushuang, he said, "If I find out that you just came to Begonia Manor to stir up trouble, I'll break both your legs and feed you to the dogs."
After saying this, Housekeeper Qiu walked into Begonia Manor in quick strides.
Ye Chenglong glanced casually at Housekeeper Qiu's departing figure, and there was a sly, meaningful glint in his eyes.
In a short while, Ning Xiaochuan came out of Begonia Manor. A group of servants and maids were crowded behind him. He started chuckling from a distance. "Gousheng, you're finally here. I've waited for you for days."
Murong Wushuang gaped at the dozens of servants behind Ning Xiaochuan and gulped violently. He said in astonishment, "Oh cr*p! Brother Chuan, you're really the proprietor of Begonia Manor. This position is too much, man!"
The guards who surrounded Murong Wushuang automatically stepped back and bowed respectfully.
Ning Xiaochuan patted Murong Wushuang's shoulder. "Come on, we'll talk in the manor. Huh! Where did this hen come from?"
Murong Wushuang's smile was somewhat stiff. "Heh heh, this is my visiting gift to you!"
"Good one, good one. Send it to the kitchen maid. We'll have it for lunch today!"
Ning Xiaochuan led Murong Wushuang back to Purple Cloud Yard. On their way, they did not see Housekeeper Qiu at all.
As soon as he entered Purple Cloud Yard, Ning Xiaochuan's face turned slightly solemn. "Someone's been here. Who is it? Show yourself!"
Murong Wushuang became serious as well. He was very curious. Who could be so bold as to barge into the residence of Begonia Manor's proprietor?
Ning Xiaochuan moved suddenly. He leaped over thirty feet high and landed atop a pavilion. With one palm, he struck behind the pillar.
A figure behind the pillar flashed out and retaliated with a palm as well, clashing against Ning Xiaochuan.
"Bang!"
The somewhat aged figure flew backward and crashed into the ground, staring at Ning Xiaochuan in alarm. He said in a raspy voice, "Sicken Ning, you're able to cultivate Combat Qi."
Ning Xiaochuan flew down from the top of the pavilion and landed steadily. "Housekeeper Qiu, didn't I give the order that no one is to enter Purple Cloud Yard? What's your motive for coming here?"
The old man was Housekeeper Qiu. Just now, he had taken the opportunity to infiltrate the yard while Ning Xiaochuan was out greeting Murong Wushuang. He had wanted to investigate the secret within this yard.
He should not have investigated. Once he did, he discovered that Ning Xiaochuan had planted a Mystical Wood tree in this yard.
Mystical Wood was a priceless treasure, a sacred tree that could turn any land into spiritual ground. Where did Ning Xiaochuan get it?
He was about to report this news to Fourth Master, but did not expect Ning Xiaochuan to return so soon and trap him within Purple Cloud Yard.
He expected even less that Sicken Ning, who everyone thought did not have long to live, was, in fact, a martial art expert whose Cultivation was, in no way, lower than his.
Housekeeper Qiu laughed icily. "Sicken Ning, did you think that being able to cultivate Combat Qi is a good thing for you? You're wrong. It's a deadly misfortune for you. After I tell Fourth Master, you'll die of inexplicable circumstances in Begonia Manor tomorrow."
Ning Xiaochuan said, "Do you think you still can walk out of Purple Cloud Yard?"
Housekeeper Qiu knew that Ning Xiaochuan's Cultivation was not weak and had no intention of fighting Ning Xiaochuan. Thus, he turned to escape, fleeing in the other direction.
"Boom!"
Murong Wushuang whipped out a blow, forcing Housekeeper Qiu back. He grinned. "Heh heh! I say, Housekeeper Qiu, you're in the wrong here. This is where Sir Proprietor lives – how can a mere housekeeper like you intrude like this? What if the proprietor was in a compromising position with a maidservant and you walked in on them? How embarrassing that would be!"
"Since you two punks have a death wish, I'll gladly fulfill it."
With a lift of his eyebrow, dazzling Qi streamed out of Housekeeper Qiu's body and enveloped him. He turned into a gigantic ball of light and struck with full force. Bang! It collided with Murong Wushuang's palm and exploded with formidable strength, causing Murong Wushuang to retreat shakily.
"This old fellow's Cultivation is so strong." Murong Wushuang felt a sharp ache splitting his arm. Half of his body was numb, and he rapidly circulated his Qi throughout his body.
Ning Xiaochuan spread out both arms and crimson Qi surged from his body. A massive, three-meter long Qi Sword condensed in his palm, then sliced forward.
The force of the Qi Sword crushed everything in its path. It was practically unstoppable.
"Bang!"
Housekeeper Qiu's protective Mystical Fortification was pierced by the Qi Sword and his body flew backward. The shock in his heart grew stronger. "Qi Sword."
He had cultivated for more than forty years but had not manifested the Qi Sword. However, Ning Xiaochuan was only sixteen years old, yet he could condense the Qi Sword. His talent was too outrageous.
Being able to cultivate the Qi Sword meant that he was unrivaled amongst those in the same realm.
Housekeeper Qiu dared not continue to challenge him and turned to flee.
"Whiz!"
In the instant that he turned, a second Qi Sword came flying, cleaving into his back. It immediately severed his body into two halves.
Fresh blood sprayed over the ground in glaring red patches.
Ning Xiaochuan heaved a small sigh of relief. Luckily he had killed the old fellow. If Housekeeper Qiu escaped and reported to Ning Qianwu, Ning Xiaochuan would have no choice but to flee to the ends of the earth.
As soon as he sighed, an intuitive vigilance crept up on Ning Xiaochuan. He sensed that an expert with even greater Cultivation was swiftly approaching.
This was a peculiar feeling. Each time danger approached, Ning Xiaochuan would be gripped by this vigilance as if he could predict certain matters.
Similarly, it was like how he was able to detect that someone had intruded upon Purple Cloud Yard. It was an instinctual vigilance.
Ning Xiaochuan turned abruptly and his body soared over five feet in the air. A Qi Sword materialized in his hand and slashed in a direction behind him.
"Bang!"
The saber in Ye Chenglong's hand was broken by the Qi Sword. The tip of the blade fell to the ground and Ye Chenglong quickly retreated three steps, staring at Ning Xiaochuan in surprise.
Ning Xiaochuan landed on the ground and glared at Ye Chenglong who had wanted to ambush him from behind. His voice was icy as he said, "Commander Ye, how bold of you. You dare to attack me, the proprietor?"
Ye Chenglong's Martial Art Cultivation was very advanced. Naturally, his hearing surpassed most people's. Even from far away, he could hear the Qi explosions coming from Purple Cloud Yard and thus rushed here to investigate.
Ning Xiaochuan's ability to cultivate Combat Qi had given him a shock as well.
However, this was a good chance for him to prove himself. Therefore, while Ning Xiaochuan was killing Housekeeper Qiu in a single cleave, he had leaped out immediately and attacked Ning Xiaochuan from behind, trying to kill him.
Although this attack had failed, Ye Chenglong did not panic. After all, he was an expert with Stage Nine Qi. Naturally, facing off against a Stage Eight Qi martial artist was child's play to him. He grinned coldly. "Proprietor? You're nothing more than trash discarded by the Marquis' Residence. I work for Fourth Master. A simple command from him can determine your life and death."
Ning Xiaochuan said, "Would you believe that I can determine your life and death right now?"
Of course, Ye Chenglong did not buy this and chortled savagely. "You shouldn't think that your Qi Sword is that impressive. Today I'll bring your severed head to Fourth Master and earn some credit. I'll let you see how powerful my Qi Sword is."
"Bang!"
Ye Chenglong put both hands together and blinding light flashed from his palms. This light formed into a gigantic Qi Sword that slashed towards Ning Xiaochuan.
Ye Chenglong's Cultivation was advanced and profound. The Qi Sword he condensed was even more formidable. Sword Qi rippled outward for dozens of feet, causing the air itself to boil over.