In a single night, snow had silently blanketed half of the Northern Lands.
Lu Sheng stepped out of his private sanctuary and was greeted by a world washed in white. A cold morning wind swept through the courtyard, shaking loose a soft shower of snow from the pine branches. He exhaled, warm breath curling into the frigid air. From afar drifted the faint cries of a child, a dog’s barking, and the crowing of a rooster—small signs of life awakening under winter’s veil.
Several Crimson Whale Sect guards stood stationed outside the door. A thin layer of snow covered their shoulders and helmets, yet none of them moved an inch.
“It’s been hard on you guys.” Feeling uncharacteristically light, Lu Sheng offered them praise.
“It’s not hard to do our duty for Sect Master!!” they shouted in unison, excitement bursting from their throats as if they had been injected with raw fervor.
Their fanatical devotion was unmistakable. From the gleam in their eyes alone, Lu Sheng could roughly gauge the stature he now held within the Crimson Whale Sect.
His Senior Apprentice Brother, Hong Mingzi, had withdrawn completely from public sight. Day after day, he traveled only between his residence and the pharmacy, burying himself in mysterious work with an old friend. Deputy Sect Master Chen Ying remained bedridden, still recovering from his injuries. The upper echelon had thinned to a handful of newly promoted Internal and External Affairs Emissaries.
‘Looks like my men can be counted on…’ Now that the Yin and Yang Extremes within him had reached equilibrium, Lu Sheng felt a calm, stable clarity settling into his temperament; he was fully in control of each step he took.
Yin Extreme Mode’s Yin Crane Web still possessed the ability to transfer Qi—an uncanny power capable of planting a seed within others. Its full impact had yet to be witnessed, but once proven effective on Song Zhenguo, he intended to select a death squad from among his sect members and cultivate them using the same method.
“Where’s Jade Lotus now?” Lu Sheng asked. “And Shang Qinglong—have him come along as well.”
“Your subordinate will notify them immediately.” A disciple bowed deeply before sprinting off into the snowy distance.
Lu Sheng left the courtyard and made his way toward the small garden on the upper deck. By the time he reached the entrance, Jade Lotus had already arrived—but the moment Jade Lotus caught sight of him, he froze, stunned into stillness.
Others might not have noticed any major changes in Lu Sheng—most were simply not familiar enough with him. But Jade Lotus, who oversaw nearly every matter involving Lu Sheng, remembered every detail of how his Sect Master looked. His memory was sharp; sharper than most.
So the moment he laid eyes on Lu Sheng, he faltered.
“Sect Master… you…?”
Lu Sheng smiled faintly. “I’ve recently made some minor gains on the martial path. Nothing worth boasting about. Oh, and this isn’t a wig.” He tugged lightly at his long hair and let out a small laugh.
Jade Lotus nodded stiffly, still staring at the flowing black strands with uncertainty. Since Sect Master insisted it was real, he supposed he would treat it as real.
“May I know what Sect Master has summoned your subordinate for?”
“Two things.” Lu Sheng raised a finger. “First, the locations of the precious herbs I asked you to verify earlier—give me the confirmed map.”
“No problem with that.” Jade Lotus nodded quickly.
“Second,” Lu Sheng continued, “the orphans I tasked you with taking in. How many so far?”
“Erm… already more than a hundred.” Jade Lotus shifted uneasily. “The world is harsh right now; orphans are everywhere. If you offer food, they gather easily. We chose these hundred through strict selection. We can’t take too many—food supplies are limited, and feeding them all is a burden on the sect.”
Lu Sheng’s heart tightened. “Has the famine begun?”
“Erm… Mountain-Edge City isn’t suffering too badly yet. But nearby cities are seeing hyperinflation. Since no one dared plant crops earlier, many are now selling their sons and daughters just to survive…” Jade Lotus spoke helplessly. “Some Elders organized porridge distribution, but it’s useless—it only draws more refugees. If Sect Master truly plans to develop an elite death squad or something similar, I fear you may need to reconsider. Such a squad will consume a great deal of grain, oil, meat, and vegetables.”
“I understand…” Lu Sheng murmured, momentarily at a loss. As the head of the number one sect in the Northern Lands, the famine was not just a distant calamity—it fell squarely on his shoulders. Crimson Whale Sect had far too many mouths to feed.
A thought surfaced. “How about our major fishing industry?”
“It’s nearly the fishing ban season.” Jade Lotus shook his head. “With this cold, most boats can’t even leave the docks. And during the last few weeks, the fishing folk scoured the lake relentlessly. There’s barely anything left to catch.”
Lu Sheng fell silent, brows tightening. After a moment, he spoke again.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3siAMKpc8g
“The pharmacy should choose a herb with a very fast growth cycle. Something large—like yam. It might help stave off hunger for a while.”
“Sect Master, you might not be aware… those things were eaten long ago.” Jade Lotus’ voice dropped to a whisper. “The famine refugees have devoured anything edible. What remains now is nothing but mud and stones.”
Lu Sheng exhaled slowly, frustration tightening his expression. “Forget it. Bring me what I asked for. And… prepare one more thing. I’ll be making a trip.”
…………
Central Plains, Rong Xin Customs.
As the sole gateway leading into the Northern Lands, Rong Xin Customs rose high and vast, its walls stretching like a stone fortress that dominated the horizon. Within it lay a bustling population, and more than ten thousand troops stood guard. Sentry towers dotted the perimeter, forming an interlocking web that watched all who sought passage north.
Ye Moling sat quietly in a merchant carriage, blending in like an ordinary squire. From within the crowd, he lifted his gaze toward the towering greenish-gray walls.
“Old Master, we’ve got to pass through here and exit from the opposite gates before reaching Fish North Road,” an old man whispered beside him—someone seasoned in traveling to the Northern Lands.
“How much distance do you reckon is left?” Ye Moling asked softly as their caravan began queuing for entry. He scanned the milling crowd, soldiers, and wagons around them.
“In reply to Old Master, about five days to Mountain-Edge City,” the old man murmured. “It’s a major city near the Central Plains. But… I hear famine has struck there. The Customs checks will be harsher than usual. Our merchant team may face difficulties crossing.” Unsure of Ye Moling’s true identity, he spoke with caution.
“It’s alright… I carry official documents. Passing Customs won’t be an issue for our group.” Ye Moling’s eyes lingered on the massive walls of Rong Xin Customs as memories surged within him.
He remembered fleeing the Northern Lands in disgrace. Back then, as Manor Lord of Mortal Sweeping Manor, he had watched his subordinates fall one after another, until he himself was surrounded and forced to escape alone.
The shame of that moment still burned within him.
“Five more days, hm… I wonder what it looks like there now…?”
The old man gave a knowing smile. “Old Master returns in glory. You’re bound to prosper. Let those dogs who looked down on you witness how well you stand today! Isn’t that one of life’s greatest pleasures?”
A thin grin stretched across Ye Moling’s face, his eyes narrowing.
“You’re right. Let those who stepped on my toes beware—Ye Moling is coming back.”
“Old Master, have you got foes in the Northern Lands?” the old man asked cautiously.
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing… just a few old friends who once lost their way,” Ye Moling replied with a soft laugh. It was the kind of gentle, harmless laugh Xiao Hongye used—meek on the surface, yet sharp as hidden daggers beneath.
“That’s good, that’s good…” The old man nodded, though a sense of unease crept up on him. Logically, someone returning home wealthy and triumphant should glow with confidence and pride.
So why did Old Master Ye’s expression feel… off?
Ye Moling naturally had no intention of sharing more with a mere mortal. He withdrew into his carriage to rest.
Inside, a red-haired, broad-shouldered man sat chewing noisily on a massive pig trotter. His hair was tied into dozens of short braids, and everything about his face and posture exuded brute force and crude impatience.
“Elder Brother, how did it go? Did that old fogey send you here with an agenda!?”
The “old fogey” was none other than Duke Ashoka. When Mortal Sweeping Manor had been annihilated, only the two of them had escaped into the Central Plains. There, Ashoka Manor took them in—but never truly treated them as equals. Despite their years of service, they remained…
This man was Red-Haired Ghost Zhou He, Ye Moling’s most trusted follower. Formerly the Deputy Manor Lord of Mortal Sweeping Manor, he possessed a cultivation at the peak of Seven-Vein Level. He was the only survivor who continued to stand beside Ye Moling.
“No hidden intentions.” Ye Moling shook his head. “Ashoka Manor is a mess now, like ants on a hot stove. Duke Ashoka’s life is fading, and desperation clouds his judgment. He no longer cares whether we serve him sincerely or not.”
“And yet he sends us to investigate the disappearance of his Officiator?” Zhou He growled. “Eldest Brother, you stand on equal ground with him—what right does he have to order you around? Does he think you’re his servant, to be summoned without offering a single benefit?”
Ye Moling’s gaze sharpened. “Watch your words. Duke Ashoka is no ordinary man.”
“Don’t tell me he’s broken through the limits and stepped into a new realm? He’s already at the peak, isn’t he?” Red-Haired Ghost muttered skeptically.
“Such a breakthrough isn’t achieved so easily…” Ye Moling replied, expression unchanged. “But even weakened as he is, I still can’t guarantee victory against him. Just remember to mind your tongue. He’s on the verge of losing his sanity.”
The burly man let out a scornful snort. “Once I break through to Black Snake, everything will change. When that time comes, we brothers will give him a show he won’t forget!”
Ye Moling chuckled quietly. “Leave that for later. For now, once we reach the Northern Lands, we’ll contact Scarlet District first. We need to understand the situation before making any decisions. We still don’t know whether there are lingering effects from the Scarlet Dragon Tribulation. If conditions permit, you may begin gathering our former subordinates. With our new identities, the Noble Families will think twice before making a move against us. And once we resolve the matter of the Officiator, we can leverage it to obtain more resources. That will be the time to regroup and rebuild our strength.”
“Allying with Scarlet District, huh? Got it, Brother.” Zhou He tore off another large chunk of meat from the trotter, grease glistening on his fingers.
“Shangyang Family, Zhen Family… tsk tsk…” Ye Moling’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “Especially that brat Shangyang Jiuli. Since she’s in Mountain-Edge City, I’d love to devour her whole and see how the Shangyang Family responds.”
Now that the Noble Families had withdrawn from the Northern Lands, leaving a power vacuum behind, his strength made him nearly untouchable.
What better time could there be to rebuild Mortal Sweeping Manor?
As long as he handled this mission flawlessly, Duke Ashoka would have no basis to refuse his request to oversee the Northern Lands. And with that authority, resources would naturally flow into his hands.
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