Chapter 224 - Unreasonable

Let’s not talk about how flustered the woman who suddenly revealed her whereabouts was.While comforting her, Hu Shaomeng explained to Jiang Wang, “Emissary, this is my fellow sect sister, Zhu Bijing.

She must be looking for me and surely means no offense to you.”

The woman named Zhu Bijing spoke somewhat franticly, “Yes…

I came to find Brother Hu.”

Her cultivation was not particularly outstanding; the primary reason she was able to evade Jiang Wang’s notice and hide nearby was due to Diao Hai Building’s secret treasure, the Mirage Pearl.

Concealing her tracks, she followed Hu Shaomeng.

Hearing about Zhu Suyao’s situation, she became unsettled and inadvertently exposed her location, allowing Jiang Wang to discover her.

Although Jiang Wang’s next round of attacks was hidden and not yet unleashed, the abrupt flame flower from before was intense and precise, already demonstrating his strength.

Not to mention, Jiang Wang’s fighting spirit was burgeoning at the moment, and his aura, tempered through countless battles, was intimidating.

She dared not take him lightly.

Just by this response, it was clear she was naive about the world.

Up against someone as thick-skinned and dark-hearted as Hu Shaomeng, it was only a matter of time before she was thoroughly taken advantage of.

Jiang Wang acted as if he had noticed nothing and asked with a deep gaze, “If the junior sister is looking for her senior brother, why sneak around so suspiciously?”

“This…” Zhu Bijing hesitated.

Hu Shaomeng interjected, “My junior sister, she has some misunderstandings about me.”

He gave a bitter smile, “She’s Suyao’s sister.

Suyao and I had some misunderstandings and separated, then that incident occurred.

So…

“Yes, I’ve always thought that it was you who caused my sister harm.

Her change in disposition was all because you let her down.

When you returned to Yang Country, I also followed secretly to find evidence and then report back to the sect.”

Zhu Bijing was likely a girl who couldn’t hide her thoughts well, spilling her intentions like beans from a bamboo tube.

She lowered her head, “Brother Hu…

I wronged you.”

Wait, how could she have wronged him?

Just because of those nonsensical words earlier?

She was too easily deceived, wasn’t she?

Hu Shaomeng clearly discovered her and deliberately put on a show for her to see.

Jiang Wang’s mind was overrun with shock, but he did not let it show on his face.

With such a naive mind, being deceived was inevitable, especially when dealing with someone with complex thoughts like Hu Shaomeng.

Considering this sister, the one called Zhu Suyao, was probably not much smarter.

Jiang Wang only smirked and kept silent.

“Junior sister, what are you talking about?

I understand your concern for your sister.

Suyao had once said that the only people in her heart were you and me.

With your sister gone, I should take responsibility and care for you well.

These days, I share your pain; I can’t eat, can’t sleep, spend whole nights in a daze, and even neglected my cultivation.

I returned to Yang Country because I couldn’t bear the thought of Suyao; every object in the building reminded me of her, my heart wrenched with pain…

Alas.”

Hu Shaomeng went on and on, ending with a long sigh.

Zhu Bijing’s tears fell like pearls, eliciting sympathy from those who saw her.

This pair of sect siblings was putting on a show of reconciliation, which Jiang Wang had no interest in.

He didn’t care about the messy stories between Hu Shaomeng and his sisters.

Who betrayed whom, who used whom; all that was their own business.

All he wanted to know was what secrets lay hidden in the Hu Clan Mine Site, but ever since he revealed his identity, Hu Shaomeng had been behaving honestly, seemingly quite innocent.

Zhu Suyao, Zhu Bijing, Heavenly Abode Secret Land, Diao Hai Building, Hu Shaomeng…

Jiang Wang’s mind was a jumble of connected clues.

Just then, he heard an arrogant voice from outside, “Where is the emissary?”

The person had not yet appeared but already displayed an air of command.

Jiang Wang knew that the crux of the play had arrived!

He didn’t move; instead, he waited to see how the pompous individual would proceed upon arrival.

After all, he was young and clearly underestimated the boldness of his own face.

“Hmph, the young people nowadays really lack manners.

The old man has come from afar, and no one deigns to welcome me.”

The man talked to himself as he walked into the courtyard.

He was a slightly plump, ruddy-faced elder, who found perfect company in the Qingyang town magistrate, Hu You.

With Hu You accompanying him, the man’s identity was all but revealed.

Jiang Wang glanced at Hu Shaomeng.

With such a simple girl like Zhu Bijing, there was nothing difficult to deal with.

The acting was secondary; he probably came mainly to enjoy the show.

Jiang Wang remained unruffled while the plump elder walked into the main hall on his own.

He did not spare a glance at the younger generation like Hu Shaomeng, evaluating Jiang Wang up and down with scrutinizing eyes, “Are you the emissary sent by the family to handle the mine’s affairs here?

The new retainer of Young Master Xuan Sheng?”

With each mention of ‘the family’ and ‘Young Master Xuan Sheng,’ one might think he was Zhongxuan Chuliang himself.

Jiang Wang smiled, “Elder, what advice do you have for me?”

“I’ll ask you,” the elder proclaimed haughtily, “The mine’s veins have clearly been depleted and are unprofitable, so why are you so adamant about not shutting it down, wasting the Zhong Xuan Family’s resources in vain?”

It turned out Hu Shaomeng’s backup plan was here!

It wasn’t his actions to fear, but his lack thereof.

Jiang Wang remained seated, idly tapping the armrest of his chair.

“I don’t know who you are, what position you hold, or in what capacity you’re speaking to me with these words,” he said.

“This old man bears the double surname Zhong Xuan, a genuine member of the Zhong Xuan Family, with the family’s blood flowing in my veins.

The entire expanse of Jia City’s jurisdiction, and all the transcendent resources of the Zhong Xuan Family, are distributed by me!

In terms of status, naturally, I am different from outsiders like you who don’t give a damn about the clan’s properties.”

The red-faced old man was now spitting furiously, “You are nothing more than a mere guest, an outsider, do you have the right to question me?”

He deliberately didn’t mention his full name, Zhongxuan Laifu.

After all, if he revealed that name, others would recognize his origins.

He was nothing more than a servant who had served several generations of the Zhong Xuan Family before they deigned to grant him their surname.

Jiang Wang helped him refine his point, “So, you’re just a flunky of the Zhong Xuan Family, in charge of transporting Prime Stones.”

Zhongxuan Laifu was furious, “What is your status, your standing, to speak to me in such a manner?”

“Actually, I don’t have any status or standing…” Jiang Wang began to say, then suddenly stood up, strode to this old thing’s side, and backhanded him across the face!

Smack!

Zhongxuan Laifu was sent flying by the slap, crossing the entirety of the hall and landing outside the courtyard gate.

Five finger marks stood out on his swollen, puffy cheek.

Upon hitting the ground, the man’s head twisted to the side, and he fainted away.

As an elderly, feeble Circulation Realm Cultivator, he had no power to resist in the presence of Jiang Wang.

Nor could Hu You or Hu Shaomeng react in time.

They truly had not expected Jiang Wang, a guest of a different surname, to show no consideration for a member of the Zhong Xuan Family.

Even if he was only a servant awarded the surname, he was after all a Zhong Xuan.

Isn’t a man born with the Zhong Xuan surname naturally more trusted by the ruling members of the Zhong Xuan Family, otherwise how could he have landed such a lucrative position?

“Just that he has a little bit of strength,” Jiang Wang finished indifferently and sat back down.

He turned to look at Hu Shaomeng, “Young Master Hu, what do you think?”

Only then did Hu Shaomeng realize that Jiang Wang’s status within the Zhong Xuan Family was probably higher than he had thought, and not someone who could be easily pushed out through manipulation.

The generous gift given to Zhongxuan Laifu was likely wasted.

But he was no pushover himself and, of course, wouldn’t show embarrassment.

With an appearance of warm compliance, he honestly said, “This is a family matter of the Zhong Xuan Family; we dare not have an opinion.”

“Then take this senseless old thing away and don’t continue to affect my mood,” Jiang Wang said.

Jiang Wang’s usual politeness was only out of courtesy.

It didn’t mean he was weak or to be bullied.

It wasn’t just anyone who could demand his respect.

The Zhong Xuan Family had properties everywhere and could not possibly station family cultivators at every location, thus they employed many local transcendent cultivators.

The monthly expenditure for their cultivation resources was astronomical.

These resources were allotted monthly, and this old man who was slapped away was responsible for delivering the Prime Stones of the cultivators at the Hu Clan Mine Site and casually monitoring and verifying the conditions here.

Because he wielded this power, he was always pampered and comfortable in the face of Qingyang Town’s magistrate, Hu You.

But to come and swagger in front of Jiang Wang, all because of such a minuscule authority, was purely a case of an inflated ego, a mind gone awry.

Naturally, Jiang Wang would not indulge him.

Throughout, Jiang Wang hadn’t said a word to Qingyang Town’s magistrate, Hu You, nor even glanced in his direction.

Therefore, Hu Shaomeng had no idea whether the ‘old thing’ Jiang Wang referred to was the unconscious Zhong Xuan family member or his father.

But having held his patience for so long, he wasn’t about to lose control at this time.

He even managed a strained smile, “The emissary is correct.

We apologize for the disturbance.

We will take our leave now.”

Even at this time, he didn’t forget to change his tone, turned around, and kindly said to Zhu Bijing, “Sister Zhu, it’s not easy for you to come to Yang Country.

Why not rest your feet in Qingyang Town with your senior brother?

I can show you around, acquaint you with the local scenery, and help you relax.

The fish from the upstream are really plump and tender.”

Zhu Bijing had been well-protected by her sister since she was young and had not seen much of the world.

Coming out this time, she acted merely on a surge of hatred.

Now that the object of her hatred was out of reach, she didn’t know what to do and was about to agree.

“Others may leave, but you stay behind,” Jiang Wang suddenly spoke.

Everyone was taken aback.

Hu Shaomeng couldn’t help but start to speak, “Emissary…”

“You’ve lurked here for half a day, and now you want to leave just like that?

A misunderstanding, you say?

Do you have the Zhong Xuan Family or Someone Jiang in your eyes?”

Jiang Wang raised his voice, imitating the tone of brats like Zhongxuan Sheng, “You can leave, but only after I have clarified the causes and consequences.”

Before the boundless sea, the stretch of continuous islands in the Near Sea was the last stronghold of the Human Race.

The Near Sea Archipelago, capable of maintaining basic autonomy while lying under the gaze of Qi Country, is not to be underestimated in terms of strength.

As the most powerful sect of the Near Sea Archipelago, the Diao Hai Building could not possibly have an undeserved reputation.

He didn’t want to meddle in the internal affairs of the Diao Hai Building.

He had no acquaintance with the girl surnamed Zhu, and it made no difference to him if she was deceived.

But being annoyed by Zhongxuan Laifu had put Jiang Wang in an uncomfortable mood.

Although secrecy around the mine was his main concern, it wouldn’t be detrimental to give Hu Shaomeng a bit of his own medicine in return.

“I didn’t do anything to you!” Zhu Bijing became anxious at once.

Jiang Wang ignored her and kept his gaze on Hu Shaomeng, full of bravado and aggressive as he pressed, “Are you going to oppose me for this woman’s sake, or will you stay in line and respect the rules of the Zhong Xuan Family?

What do you say, Hu Shaomeng?”