Chapter 19: The Killing Calamity

Chapter 19: The Killing Calamity

This was Ning Xiaochuan’s final night residing in the Jian Pavilion Marquis House. His belongings had already been packed by Ning Xin'er, and tomorrow, he would depart for Haitang Manor.

Ning Xin'er, on the other hand, would set out for the Five Desolate Ridges with the other geniuses of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House for training. She, too, had packed her belongings.

Seizing an opportunity, Ning Xiaochuan retrieved the hundred drops of Heart Nurturing Liquid and hundred drops of Blood Nourishing Liquid that Ning Xin'er had placed in his luggage and quietly returned them to her bag.

At the same time, he took out another small jade vial containing thirty drops of Second-Grade Heart Nurturing Liquid and slipped it into Ning Xin'er’s belongings as well.

This was all the Heart Nurturing Liquid Ning Xiaochuan had refined from ten stalks of Second-Grade Heart Nurturing Grass. Though it could have been sold for a considerable fortune, he believed it would be far more beneficial to Ning Xin'er’s martial cultivation.

"Boom!"

The morning bell tolled in the imperial city!

Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Yan arrived at the rear gate of the marquis house, where a Green Deer Horse Carriage was already waiting.

An elderly man dressed in plain clothes stood before the carriage and handed a purple wooden box to Ning Xiaochuan, whispering, "Young Master, this is something the Old Marquis has given you."

This old man was named Ji Bo, a longtime servant who had always stayed by the Old Marquis’s side.

With a puzzled expression, Ning Xiaochuan took the purple wooden box. His arm sank slightly from its weight, and he quickly tightened his grip to steady it.

The box weighed several dozen kilograms, far heavier than an ordinary purple wood carving. Thin golden veins flowed through the wood—this was the legendary "Golden-Threaded Purple Wood."

Not even a chest of Green Gold could buy a single block of Golden-Threaded Purple Wood, a testament to its rarity.

It was said that food stored in a Golden-Threaded Purple Wood box would not spoil for an entire year.

As Ning Xiaochuan placed his palm on the box, he immediately sensed strands of Earth Martial Essence flowing into his body, causing his blood to boil and circulate rapidly.

"Boom!"

The Heaven and Earth Profound Qi within him surged wildly!

The demonic sword inside Ning Xiaochuan emitted a faint crimson glow, enveloping every blood vessel in his body. Thus, even a martial expert like Ji Bo failed to detect the fluctuations of his Profound Qi.

Ji Bo sighed. "The Old Marquis is sending you to Haitang Manor because he knows how perilous the power struggles within the marquis house are. He wishes to keep you away from these conflicts to preserve your life."

"This Golden-Threaded Purple Wood box contains the Old Marquis’s Earth Martial Essence. If your congenital ailment flares up, simply press your palm against the box’s surface to absorb the essence and temporarily suppress the symptoms. If unused, just store the box in a bag. One of the reasons the Old Marquis entered seclusion was to craft this life-extending treasure for you."

Ning Xiaochuan felt a stir of emotion. It seemed the Jian Pavilion Marquis House was not entirely cold and heartless—at least some familial affection still existed.

Should he tell the Old Marquis that he could now cultivate Martial Arts Profound Qi?

No… better not.

"Although the Old Marquis possesses formidable cultivation and imposing authority, the Jian Pavilion Marquis House is rife with too many factions. If my ability to cultivate Martial Arts Profound Qi were exposed, many would take desperate risks and move against me behind the Old Marquis’ back. Open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. It’s better to wait until my cultivation grows stronger before revealing it."

Though Ning Xiaochuan had only recently arrived in this world, the experiences of the past few days had made him acutely aware of its dangers. Without sufficient strength, he could hardly take a single step forward.

"Ji Bo, please thank Grandfather for me. I will live well," Ning Xiaochuan said as he stored away the golden-threaded purple wood.

Ji Bo nodded. "The power struggles within the marquis house are intricate. For the sake of authority, profit, and succession, factions vie openly and covertly. To better avoid drawing attention, I won’t escort you further, Young Master."

"Understood."

Yu Yan boarded the Green Deer Horse Carriage, while Ning Xiaochuan sat outside, holding a whip covered in green scales.

Crack!

The Green Deer Horse Carriage rolled over layers of fallen leaves, leaving behind the grand and majestic marquis residence, vanishing into the distance at the end of the street.

Ji Bo watched the receding carriage and recalled the Old Marquis’ words: "Xiaochuan’s congenital illness has worsened irreversibly. He has at most half a year left. Let him live out these final months in peace."

"Perhaps even the Young Master himself doesn’t know he has only six months to live. Truly, heaven envies the gifted! Oh, heavens, can you not spare this child? Ah!" Ji Bo shook his head with a sigh and retreated through the marquis house’s back gate.

---

Within a courtyard of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House— "What? The Old Marquis had Ji Bo deliver a golden-threaded purple wood box to that sickly wretch? And it contains a vast amount of Earth Martial Essence?" Ning Qianwu slammed the table and abruptly rose from his chair.

In the darkness stood a warrior clad in black armor, its surface flickering with ghostly blue flames that crackled faintly in the air.

The face beneath the black armor was sunken-eyed, with a sharp nose and a deathly pale complexion—like a skeletal visage. He resembled an emissary from hell, his voice hoarse as he spoke: "My first Martial Arts Divine Ability is the 'Heavenly Ear.' I heard Ji Bo and Ning Xiaochuan’s conversation with my own ears. There is no mistake."

The black-armored warrior repeated every word he had overheard without omission.

Ning Qianwu’s expression darkened, a cold sneer forming. "Naturally, I trust your 'Heavenly Ear.' Within a hundred paces, you can even hear ants fighting. Ji Bo’s Martial Arts cultivation is profound, but even he couldn’t detect eavesdropping from such a distance."

"So that sickly wretch truly has only half a year left to live. It seems he’s no longer a threat. But the golden-threaded purple wood and Earth Martial Essence are treasures one can hardly hope to encounter. If they fall into my hands, they will undoubtedly elevate my cultivation to new heights. Hei Lin, take men now and retrieve the golden-threaded purple wood for me. Remember—wait until they’ve left the Outer City before striking."

"And what of Ning Xiaochuan? Should we eliminate him root and branch?" The black-armored warrior’s voice was lifeless.

Ning Qianwu said, "There's no need to kill him. Killing him would provoke the Old Marquis's wrath. The Old Marquis would surely know it was someone from the marquis house, and if an investigation follows, we’ll be in trouble. Breaking his legs is enough. Make it look like a robbery. After all, the Border Market is chaotic, and Ning the Sickly is utterly defenseless. It’s perfectly normal for someone like him to be killed and robbed of his treasures."

"Understood!"

The black-armored warrior's body was enveloped in swirling black Profound Qi, transforming into a whirlwind before gradually vanishing into the darkness.

"Clatter!"

Before long, five black-armored warriors rushed out from the marquis house, riding five pitch-black Iron Lion Profound Beasts. They swept up fallen leaves like five black whirlwinds, galloping toward the city gates.

......

The imperial capital of the Yulan Empire was divided into three regions: the Inner City, the Outer City, and the Border Market.

"Haitang Manor" was one of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House's properties, located in the Border Market, far from the imperial capital. It had once been a leisure retreat for the marquis house's descendants.

However, the Jian Pavilion Marquis House owned numerous estates—twenty-three in the Inner City alone and over a hundred in the Outer City. Remote properties like Haitang Manor were often neglected for long periods.

Only those who had fallen out of favor within the marquis house were sent to manage these distant estates.

The Inner City was the most prosperous and splendid area; the Outer City was where martial artists and merchants gathered, while the Border Market was a lawless land.

Ning Xiaochuan drove the Green Deer Horse Carriage out of the Outer City, crossing the moat. The towering ancient buildings gradually thinned, replaced by lush, ancient trees, small hills, and winding streams.

"Miss Yu Yan, that day by the river, when Ning Han tried to kill you, who was the masked woman who saved you?" Ning Xiaochuan asked while steering the carriage.

Yu Yan lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, revealing half of her delicate oval face. After a moment's hesitation, she replied, "That was my lady."

"Your lady? Who is she?" Ning Xiaochuan had been deeply impressed by the mysterious woman who had slain with a sword while veiled in white silk. At first glance, she had seemed like a celestial being descending from the heavens, and his curiosity about her had only grown.

Yu Yan hesitated again before saying, "I’ll tell you, but you must never reveal this to anyone in the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."

Ning Xiaochuan understood her concern. "Don’t worry. I was also involved in Ning Han’s death. I won’t breathe a word of this to anyone in the marquis house."

Yu Yan nodded. "My lady is one of the three great beauties of the imperial capital—Yu Ningsheng. Her talent and dance are unparalleled. Even the most exceptional geniuses of the Emperor's Martial Palace find it nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of her. As for whether she will dance for them, that depends entirely on her own will."

"Your lady is a brothel woman?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

Yu Yan grew flustered. "Though my lady was born in a brothel, she remains untainted by its filth. She has more integrity and kindness than most. When I was sold into the Jade Viewing Pavilion, if not for her pity and taking me in as her musician, I would have become a lowly prostitute forced to sell myself."

As she spoke, Yu Yan burst into tears, as if recalling some painful memories from the past.

Ning Xiaochuan apologized, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought up such painful memories for you."

"It's not Young Master's fault," Yu Yan said, pursing her lips and shaking her head.

"Thud! Thud!"

From behind came the roar of lions and the thunderous sound of iron hooves striking the ground, startling the Green Deer Horse pulling the carriage into trembling fear.

Five massive black Iron Lion Profound Beasts charged forward, kicking up clouds of dust as they blocked the path of the Green Deer Horse Carriage.

Seated atop the Iron Lion Profound Beasts were five warriors clad entirely in black scale armor, their bodies radiating a thick, murderous aura that turned the surrounding air icy cold.

Among them, the warrior at the forefront exuded the most terrifying presence—his eyes dark and hollow, like a grim reaper staring fixedly at Ning Xiaochuan.