A fine afternoon on the Xianjing City. The stone wall that protected the city for outer threat looked like an uneven lego because of the regular rebuild. Still, this much layer of protection was better than nothing.
At this time, there was a commotion in the south gate. The guard gawked because of the thing they just see from afar. It was two people who rode two ferocious beasts. Forget about the person who rode it, the problem was the beasts.
The first was a steed with a flaming mane that scorch even the afternoon heat. And the second beast was a lizard-horse or something. It was their first time to saw these beasts.
The guards desperately tried their best to hold back their fear after seeing the ferocious-looking beasts. The person in the gated outpost halted the two beast and the person who rode it.
"Halt, this is Xianjing City, state where are you from! And what business do you have in the city?"
"We are from Dali City Lord Manor, I'm the Manor butler, Dian Luze. We're here to pay a visit to Xianjing City Lord."
"Dali City?"
The guard didn't believe what the old butler said. He wanted to chase them out because of their identity being suspicious. And, a person who rode such a demonic beast would never be a good person.
But then a young man stopped him from saying another thing with a hand gesture. The guard backed off and let the young man continue the discourse. The young man who was on top of the gate jumped and tapped in the ground with a graceful landing. He bowed to the Dian Luze and Arianne with respect and said.
"This one is City Lord Gu direct disciple, Sun Yue. Forgive our poor welcome, please come on into our Xianjing City, butler Luze." said the young man named Sun Yue.
Sun Yue then invited them to get inside the walled city. Dian Luze out of politeness get down from the [Dragonhorse(Y)] and walked alongside the young man. While Arianne, she was still mounting her imposing [Hell Horse(R)]. Gaining unusual attention from the people of Xianjing City.
"These two beast are rare articles, indeed ..." said Sun Yue, looking at the two beasts with a curious glance.
"Ahh, yeah ..., I also surprised after seeing that there was a demonic beast such as this. He's docile like lamb, but move as fast as Trihorn." Dian Luze commented.
"Ahaha, that is truly marvelous."
"It is indeed ...," Dian Luze smiled back.
"Ah, Butler Luze. Please forgive our city lord for not being able to welcome you, he is very busy these days."
"You're too polite, little Yue. It is us who came here uninvited."
"Ah no ..., don't be like that butler Luze. Your Dali City Lord was like a family to our Gu Clan after all."
"..., was?" Arianne frowned hearing that.
Dian Luze didn't miss that particular fault in the word of choice, but he wouldn't dare to speak it out loud.
"Excuse me ..., and who might this lady be?"
Arianne who wore the red-ridding hood was unable to cover up her dynamite body. Her explosive chest and waist were too tempting for a man to not notice it. Add that with her melodious voice and unique red hair, there was no way Sun Yue would ignore her.
Sun Yue actually wanted to ask about her identity before. But he felt something was off with how Dian Luze behaved around her and how he couldn't pry into her cultivation. Right now he was an Intermediate Warrior - 9, if he used some special talisman, he could pry anyone until the Knight. But even after using that talisman, he couldn't inspect her cultivation level.
This meant two things, one was that this lady had the cultivation above Knight, or she was someone who never cultivated. But the later was impossible with her had this particular aura that unique to a cultivator.
Then arose a new question, why would a cultivator of this level come with a butler from a declined Noble family? What was her relationship with the Dali City Lord? A cultivator on the Grand Knight level was akin to Elder or Hall Master on the Mid-tier Sect. So how could such a high position figure travel with an insignificant butler from that family?
"...," Arianne just shook her head slightly but said nothing.
"Little Yue, this Young Miss over here is Miss Arianne ..., Young Master's retainer." Dian Luze introduced her to him.
Although Sun Yue possessed no real authority in the city because of his status, he was the direct disciple of Gu Ming. It would prove beneficial to tie a knot with him. And he was a rare talent with Rank 7 Talent and Primal Flame Spiritual Root. He was called Little Genius of Xianjing. And in the future, he would have the chance to become a great hero who shook the continent.
"Young Master's ..., like your Young Master, I mean that Xianli boy?" Sun Yue asked with an incredulous expression.
"That is so ..." Dian Luze nodded.
"Ohhh ..."
Sun Yue look at Arianne once again, she was looking around the city like a curious cat. Her conduct was just like a country bumpkin who just arrived in the city. And even though Xianjing City and Dali City were both cities, the two of them were not on the same level.
Xianjing City was a 5-star City, while Dali City only a puny 2-star City. Their foundation was different by at least three-tier. Comparing both of them was like comparing a decent metropolis with an ordinary new city. This Young Miss maybe never went into a 'real city' like this Xianjing.
Perhaps he was too confused, how can a Young Miss like her be a cultivator above Knight level. Sun Yue shook his head and reassess Arianne. She was free falling from exalted Elder figure into an insignificant mortal in Sun Yue's eyes.
At this time, a fine-crafted carriage stopped just beside the three-man and the two demonic beasts. A young and beautiful girl showed her face from the carriage windows and said.
"Big brother Yue, who is these people?"
"Ohhh!" exclaimed Arianne on top of the Hell Horse.
"Young Mistress, these two are Teacher's guests. I'm in the middle of escorting them to the mansion ..." Sun Yue bowed his head to the young noble girl.
"Hmmm ...," the young girl looked at Arianne and then pointed at the [Hellhorse(R)], "This lady is interested in your horse, name a price and I'll buy it from you!"
"Ohhh!" exclaimed Arianne once again.
Dian Yunzheng was waiting in the Ancestral House front gate pacing back and forth waiting for someone. When it was mid-day, a manservant who in charge of keeping an eye on the Dali City Manor reported.
"Patriarch, there was another strange movement on the Dali City Manor. We found a group of five unknown men departing from the City Manor, heading west."
"Hmmm ..., then they must be trying to find Yuanli. Good work, you may leave."
"Yes, Patriarch." the servant retreated and left him on the gate by himself.
After some time, a middle man that exuded scholarly aura approached him and asked, "father, I've heard the report. Is it fine to let them go after Yuanli?"
This young man was Dian Yunzheng's adopted son, by him, he was given the name of Yuhai.
Yunzheng had two sons, but they turn out to be the useless pig that only knows how to party and get merry. They grew arrogant and flaunting around their father's status without any real achievement.
On the coming of age, Dian Yunzheng sent them to a mission and secretly summon a person to assassinate them. Then he had no direct descendant, only adopted children, and he got a dozen of them.
Dian Yunzheng didn't bother to look at Dian Yuhai. He continued with his pace and said, "don't mind it, I've sent that moneygrubber Liu Lei. By the evening, Dian Yuanli will be dead corpse. And after that, we can break through the barrier consolidated from the Teritorry Orb."
"..., however, what if the Mercenary King failed?"
Dian Yunzheng stopped on his step and looked back at this adopted son.
"Fail? Him? Don't joke around, Yuhai! I've paid the deposit, how could he fail this easy mission? And his target is just a little Elder Warrior like nephew Yuanli."
Dian Yuhai frowned, while yes the mercenary group led by Mercenary King was considered the best in the Dongfeng Region. But it didn't mean they have a hundred percent success rate. Besides, weren't they failed to capture Dian Yuanli's women on the ambush two days ago?
"Father, the Dream Lotus Mercenary has failed two days ago, this is the sign of their unprofessionalism. We can't trust them blindly. We must send an order to capture them."
"Yuhai ..., I've sent some people from the association to tail Dian Luze and that red-hooded girl. If we also sent people after them, I'm afraid I can't pay up the money for the trouble. I've spent three hundred thousand gold just to make someone from the association capture the beast. It's three hundred thousand!"
"Three hundred thousand? That much?" Dian Yuhai was perplexed with the amount.
Two hundred thousand gold was the annual income of all Dian clan business that spread out in the Dali city. When it was in the time of war, perhaps they would gain more with a little of price manipulation. But now they were at the time of peace, no it was forced to be peaceful. With how peace-loving Dian Yuanli was, Dali City never wages a war with another territory.
War is the best fuel for the economy and cultural development. And Dian Yuanli just cut it off straight from the engine.
At this time, Dian Clan was in the red. And because of that, Dian Yunzheng schemed to take over the Dali City Lord title from his nephew Dian Yuanli. Dian Yuanli never handed him a position in the nobility despite him being the closest ties. So for him, this was something like getting back something that should be his.
He gambled it all with the clan's saving tried to reap every benefit he could get from Dian Yuanli. Starting from his position, wealth, and women. Dian Yunzheng eyeing everything Dian Yuanli possesses. But of course, he wouldn't take it by force in plain daylight, he would add that with a nice cover that masks his crime. After all, a greedy lord that got his title from usurping his predecessor was never popular both to the civilian and the fellow nobles.
But the price for getting all of that was too great. And even when he hadn't yet succeeded in pilfering all of that, he was almost broke. And even now, just seven hours after he gave the order to the Lethal Poison from the Assassin Association, Dian Yunzheng was like a dried shrimp. He was greatly regretting that order. He knew that a demonic beast was precious, but spending 1,5 clan's annual income was just too much of a splendor.
That was not the end of it, some time ago he tried to contact a Formation Master that proficient with barrier and stuff. After negotiating for a bit, he managed to invite the Formation Master to undo the barrier that enclaves the Dali City Manor. That Formation Master scheduled to arrive this afternoon, and of course he must pay him for the trouble.
In a nutshell, Dian Yunzheng was broke. The Dian Clan that once prosperous in his brother's hand, pilling up golds and antiques, then become a broken clan with empty treasury after he took the Patriarch seat. He was unwilling to say this, but Yunzheng realized that he had no cap with money management.
"And I have to wait for that Formation Master to come ...," Dian Yunzheng look far ahead from the Ancestral House Gate, "the point is, I can't spare any money to tail them. So don't bother asking."
"Hmmm ..., is Father really unable to spare some money? The business is soaring this year, and we've managed to pile up about a million and a half gold in the new year. How come you already didn't have money anymore?" Dian Yuhai asked carefully.
Dian Yunzheng let out a bitter smile, avoiding his adopted son's gaze. "You know, something just happened. I spend it all without much thinking and when I realize, I have nothing to left."
"This is why I already said to be careful with your outcome. If you can't even keep up with the management of financial, then how can you keep up with other clan matters?"
"Shut up will you!" Dian Yunzheng incensed, "I know that, who do you think I am? I'm Dian Yunzheng, your father!"
"Even if it's true that you are my father, what's with that? You're just spendthrift like your deceased sons!"
"That is ...," Dian Yunzheng was speechless with how bold this adopted son of his. However, he couldn't find any fault in his word. In the end, he just shrugged off this topic, "..., that is not the main issue here."
"..." Dian Yuhai widened his eyes with how childish his adoptive father was.
"The thing is I have no money left, and we have to get it from somewhere. Because we have come at this point ..., why don't we go all out and plunder the city lord manor? I have invited a formidable Formation Master to open up a path for us, we can begin our siege tonight. Yuhai, prepare all of the family troop!"
"..., heihhh," Dian Yuhai heaved a sigh and went back in while giving a half-assed answer, "yes, yes ..."
Dian Yunzheng went back to his business, pacing back and forth. If a man did this particular activity, then perhaps he was in a middle of anxiety situation. Something like when his wife in labor or someone from his family was having surgery.
But he wasn't having any of that, he was thinking with his shallow mind how to outsmart the Formation Master with his word. After all, he who was broke and had no money left couldn't just ask him to do the job without paying.
The more time passed, the more anxious he was. And the more the idea he just think a moment ago replaced with the better one, or at least it was what he thinks.
The sky already dark, and the man he supposed to meet this afternoon was nowhere to be seen. Not even a glimpse of his shadow.
At this time, there was a beggar-like man who walked with the help of a wooden stick. His robe was dirty and tattered, his face was smeared with mud and unknown green thingies. His body smelt like dried fish boiled in moss.
The beggar-like man was not that old, at least thirty to forty years old. But his very being prevented anyone to get near him. Even Dian Yunzheng was uncomfortable with this man.
The beggar-like man asked with a tired voice, "is this Dian Clan place?"
Dian Yunzheng, with his scorning plastered on his old face, shouted with derision. "The f*ck with you, damn beggar! Piss the f*ck off! If you know that this is Dian Clan Ancestral House then leave this place and beg anywhere else!"
The beggar let out a relieved smile and said, "ahh ..., good, finally arrived. Please tell your Patriarch, I'm his guest. He will know about it. And please, can you give me a bottle of water? I'm very thirsty ..., and hungry!"
Dian Yunzheng pricked his nose because of how shameless the beggar was. 'You with that beggar-like appearance want to pretend to be my guest? Well, I'm in front of you now, you want to say something?'
"Eww ..., hey, you beggar, please if you want to scam people look who your target is? Am I a three years old toddler who is easy to trick? Even a 3-years-old little girl knows you're lying."
"But I'm not tricking anyone?" the beggar person tried to explain, but his stomach raised a rebellion. "Please ..., I'm starving, let me get my food! Ahh, I desperately want to drink water!"
"Hmph, nice try beggar ..., Guards!" the guards sloppily came out, Dian Yunzheng pointed at the beggar said. "Capture this beggar and throw him to the River, at least he'll get his water, and you can get some fresh river fish if you're lucky. No need to thanks me, beggar! I'm not doing this because of kindness."
"P-please wait a moment, mister Guards Captain! I am really your Patriarch guest! Patriarch Dian Yunzheng has invited me two weeks ago, but the journey to this place is just too difficult and I even got lost on the way!"
"Hmph ..., still with your lie. Hey, next time if you're going to lie, then please, at least try to make it feasible."
The beggar-like man didn't know if he should cry or laugh, he really was Dian Yunzheng's guest. In truth, he was the Formation Master that Dian Yunzheng anxiously waiting for this afternoon. His appearance didn't look that great after all the trouble he found along the way. It was because along the way, there was always an obstacle that seems like trying to make his arrival to the Dali City delayed.
There was a bandit ambush, a strange demonic beast attacked, he found a companion along the way but they made him drunk and then stole all of his possession. It was a series of misfortune along the way. But he persisted to come into this place because of his promise as a Formation Master to his client. And because it was the only way to get back the money he lost.
But two days without proper food was torture even for a formidable Formation Master like him. And with how high his status was in the cultivation world, he couldn't lower his pride to take a bath in the river. That was what made him look dirty just like a beggar.
"Tell your Patriarch, I'm the 1-star Formation Master Lao Yan he invited."
"Hmph ..., I, this father is Dian Clan Patriarch! Piss the f*ck off, imposter! How can Master Lao Yan has the appearance that of a beggar! Don't smear his name with your lie!"
"And I'm really that Lao Yan from Dongpu City! Let me meet your Patriarch! He'll immediately know me!"
"As I said, I, your father is Dian Yunzheng, Dian Clan Patriarch. Don't say anything else imposter, if you say something stupid then I'll give you instant death for smearing Master Lao Yan's name."
"I really am Lao Yan, God the f*ck shit!" the Formation Master Lao Yan was finally incensed.
Dian Yunzheng was mad because this beggar-like person trying to be a fraud Formation Master in front of him, but he wasn't that easy to be tricked. "Hmph ..., courting death. You lot, kill him for me!"
But the guards didn't move a slight bit.
"Patriarch, what if he really is Master Lao Yan you've waited for?"
"Lord Patriarch isn't it better if we ascertain his identity first and attack later ..., if he truly is the Formation Master Lao Yan, then it will bring trouble."
"Hmph ..., him? A beggar like him is a Formation Master? Don't joke around? Hey, if you are really Formation Master, where's your Formation Master Association Badge? You actually don't have that, right?"
"Ahh ..., right, it was stolen by some vile people on the way," said Lao Yan truthfully.
Dian Yunzheng then became fully convinced that he was a swindler, "see ..., he's a fraud!"
Lao Yan really wanted to puke himself with blood with how small-minded this Guard Captain was. Not only he called him an imposter, fraud, or swindler, he even dared to talk in a high and mighty manner and told him that he was Dian Patriarch. What an arrogant Guard Captain he was.
Although he was incensed, Lao Yan knew if he fought with them it was his total loss. He was never that good in martial battle, and now he was without energy left on his body.
The only thing mattered in his mind was wine and delicacy. If he could convince them that he was the Formation Master Lao Yan, then he would be treated as a guest. Getting food, drink, and rest after that would be enough for him.
He swallowed his damn pride as a Formation Master and tried to talk it with the Guard Captain(Dian Yunzheng).
"But I can ..., I can show you some Instant Formation if you want to confirm my identity as Formation Master."
"Hmmm ...?" Dian Yunzheng raised his brow.
'Perhaps this beggar man really was Lao Yan the Formation Master.' That thought never crossed in his mind. Dian Yunzheng just tried to laughed it off and wanted to make him embarrassed.
This beggar, not only he dared to imposter a Formation Master but even their skill? What a joke was this? Dian Yunzheng tried to hold back his laughter and then nodded his head.
"Try it then ..."
"..."
Lao Yan put down his wooden stick and then did some intricate hand seal before he pushed his palm on the ground. On his palm, there was a runic-like symbol with an ancient mysterious script. The symbol became a circle that surrounded him and protected him from outer interference.
"Is this enough?" Lao Yan asked.
Dian Yunzheng steps up and attacked the Defensive Instant Formation with his fist. But he felt like he was trying to attack a steel door with a punch. Thanks to that he didn't go all out with that punch. And this ascertains the beggar identity as a Formation Master. Dian Yunzheng smiled shyly regarding this whole matter.
This was really the case of 'don't judge a book by its title.' Perhaps a book with a somewhat decent title was an erotica novel on the inside. No one knows about that before they read it until the end.
"..., Master Lao Yan, I apologize for this misconduct. Please come into our humble abode." Dian Yunzheng bowed his head and beckoning him to get inside.
"..., oh thank god, you finally believe in me. Get me food and wine! I didn't have a proper meal this last two days."
After that, in the Dian Clan Ancestral House Dining Hall.
Lao Yan who still on his tattered appearance was in the middle of binge eating. His right hand holding steamed bun and on the left was a chicken leg. He ate like there was no yesterday and tomorrow. Dian Yunzheng was relieved after seeing that Lao Yan was not that mad anymore. The matter from before, if he wasn't that thick-skinned perhaps he really wanted to find a hole to bury himself.
"By the way, Mister Guard Captain ..." in the middle of eating his steamed bun, Lao Yan talked.
"Huh, Guard Captain ...? Who?" Dian Yunzheng furrowed his brow.
"It's you, who else it might be? Ah, speaking of which ..., where's your Patriarch. I want to talk with him about our business. Go call him right away!"
"But I'm Dian Clan Patriarch ...,"
"You ...? No way? Don't make a joke here, Mister Guard Captain, call your Lord and let me talk with him. This is an urgent and important business ..., please tell him to come here immediately!"
"I'm in front of you! I am the Dian Yunzheng you're looking for!"
"Mister Guard Captain ..., stop the joke and go call your Patriarch. I have no time to deal with this bullsh*t."
"But I really am Dian Yunzheng of Dian Clan! The Dian Clan Patriarch!"
"Nah ..., impossible."
They kept debating about Dian Yunzheng's identity. That was until Dian Yuhai and Dian Yunzheng's adoptive children came to ascertain their father's identity to Lao Yan.