Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting from Immortal Martial Arts

The inner study of the Wang family mansion in Xianjing.

Wang Ziteng was cursing at his adopted son, Wang Ren: "You stupid fool with a human body and a pig's head, do you even know who you pointed out died so tragically? He was the eldest son of a prominent family in Jiangnan, and his maternal uncle was the Left Deputy Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, a second-level cultivator. How dare you?!"

The Great Zhao Dynasty has always revered the left. Now, the position of Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate is vacant. This deputy censor is the first person to be promoted and may even have a chance to enter the cabinet in the future, not to mention the enormous power of the Lin and Lü clans in the cultivation world.

It should be known that since the great changes in the world, the earth's surface has been constantly expanding, and the territory of the current dynasty has increased by about twenty times.

Because the recovery period was short and the changes were too rapid, the imperial court did not yet have a fast means of intelligence transmission. Therefore, it gave preferential treatment to the powerful families in various provinces and prefectures in order to ensure local stability.

His Wang family only has him as a late-stage first-order martial artist. Even with his background, he might not be able to defeat a second-order martial artist. How can Wang Ziteng not be afraid?

Wang Ren knelt on the ground and cautiously replied, "It was Jia Tang who killed him, not me."

"Snapped!"

Enraged, Prince Teng lashed Wang Ren across the back with his whip. Wang Ren let out a scream and trembled, falling silent.

"Damn it! Everyone knows they were standing up for you, but you wouldn't let it go and said such stupid things. I've wasted all these years teaching you. Besides, I address him as 'Lord Jia' in formal settings, but you call him 'brother'? Who gave you the guts?"

As he spoke, he lashed out with the whip twice more.

Wang Ren disagreed and argued, "Sir, you are the Commander of the Capital Garrison, a second-rank official in the court. The entire Capital Garrison is under your command. Jia Tang is just a minor seventh-rank official."

"I'll curse your mother!"

Wang Ziteng could no longer contain his anger. He grabbed a whip, stood up, and began to lash Wang Ren repeatedly, leaving him covered in wounds and bleeding profusely before stopping.

"Get out of here. If you dare to go out and fool around again within six months, I'll beat you to death."

Wang Renqi kowtowed miserably and shakily went out the door.

Wang Xu, the wife of Prince Teng, who was waiting outside, brought tea into the study and advised, "Master, there is no need to be so angry. Ren'er is just inexperienced."

"Less? He's a complete idiot and a good-for-nothing. I was blind to have taken him in and raised him. He's not even as good as Wang De."

Wang Ziteng retorted angrily, then looked at his wife, whose eyes were lined with wrinkles, and sighed, "It's a pity you've suffered with me, having no children of your own."

He suffered a kidney injury during a bandit suppression operation many years ago, which has left him childless to this day.

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Ziteng downed his tea in one gulp and said with certainty, "Some time ago I met an old doctor who gave me two prescriptions, one for nourishing essence and the other for strengthening the body. Wang Ren is no longer a reliable candidate. That kid has specifically named him to be buried with him, and he will surely suffer a terrible fate in the future."

"These past two years, my husband and I have worked hard so that we can have a child with you as soon as possible, so that we can carry on the Wang family line."

Wang Xu nodded silently without refuting. She had tried all sorts of remedies over the years since she married into the family, but none of them had worked.

"Alas, the current situation in the court is too treacherous. The major factions in the military are all silent, civil officials from various parties are colluding with each other, and there are undercurrents and endless disputes in the cultivation world."

"Now, because of that brat, the rift between us and the Jia family has deepened, and we also have to be wary of that old bastard Jia She. It's tough, really tough."

···

The inner study of the Xu residence.

Xu Fanghua, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, was recounting the events of the evening at Xiangyu Garden to a kind-faced, gentle-looking old man.

"Brother, this Prince Teng rose to power by relying on the Jia family, and now he's showing us goodwill. He's truly a fickle and despicable man. But Yuan'er is in the Ministry of War's prison; he should be alright, right?"

Xu Fangxing, the Minister of Rites of the Great Zhao Dynasty, nodded slightly and said in a calm tone: "It's alright. It's just that he didn't know how to judge people. He has never suffered a loss since he was a child. This incident will teach him a lesson."

"So how should this be handled?"

"Now that Niu Jizong and the other two are in charge of the founding lineage, the old man knows what's going on. I'll go and send a letter to exchange resources."

Xu Fanghua's expression was rather grim. Niu Jizong was a cunning and greedy scoundrel, and he would definitely make exorbitant demands. Recalling Jia Tang's disrespectful words earlier that day, he said with resentment, "That hateful Jia Tang brat, how could he manage to regain power in the Jia family, which was on the verge of extermination and almost wiped out..."

The old man was enraged upon hearing this and rebuked, "Shut up! How dare you say such a thing? The Jia family are descendants of founding heroes. Countless ancestors assisted the founding emperor in establishing the prosperous Great Zhao Dynasty we see today. How dare you slander such a family?"

"Elder brother, Jia Tang has actually risen through the ranks at Xiangyu Garden after returning to the capital this time. He's only twenty years old. In a few years, he'll be quite something."

Xu Fangxing nodded, his face full of praise: "Amazing talent, a gem in martial arts, worthy of the name Yu Yin."

Xu Fanghua was speechless. So, when I say bad things about you, you scold me, but when I say good things, you agree with me?

After waiting for a while without hearing anything from his elder brother, he then brought up the matter of the Huai River region.

"By the way, elder brother, a letter came from our hometown saying that Lin Ruhai was assassinated a few days ago. Jia Min just returned to the capital, and the Fragrance Cult followed him. There's going to be a good show."

"The salt administration concerns the imperial court's tax revenue and the people's livelihood. How can you not feel indignation at such a vile affair, let alone laugh?"

Xu Fangxing gave him a stern rebuke, glanced at the water clock, and said, "Alright, if there's nothing else, go back and rest."

Xu Fanghua was stunned for a moment, her face showing some shame. She nodded, bowed, and left.

My elder brother is deeply concerned about the country and its people, a concern far beyond my own.

Xu Fangxing sat in the main seat, his eyes closed in deep thought. As his younger brother's footsteps gradually faded into the distance, only silence remained in the room.

After an incense stick had burned, a soft rubbing sound was heard.

Xu Fangxing looked up with a smile and saw that the cabinet on the left side of the room was slowly moving to the left, gradually revealing a small secret room connected to the tunnel. A middle-aged Taoist priest with an ordinary appearance, wearing a lotus crown and a Taoist robe walked out of the room.

After the Taoist priest sat down at Xu Fanghua's seat, he didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the teapot next to him and brewed himself a cup of fragrant and invigorating Lao Jun Mei tea, which he then drank alone.

After a while, the Taoist smacked his lips and exclaimed with a look of enjoyment, "Good tea."

Xu Fangxing watched with a smile, without saying a word.

"Lord Xu, why did the people of the sect suddenly attempt to assassinate Jia Tang today, instead of waiting for an opportunity to kill Jia Min?" The Taoist priest asked with his eyes closed, as if savoring the moment, his tone indifferent.

"Jia Tang returned to the capital today, and I wanted to probe his background. I never expected to lose a first-level protector and seven strongmen from the sect. I will definitely make amends in the future."

The Taoist opened his bright eyes and stared intently at Xu Fangxing, whose face showed some shame. Suddenly, he smiled and said, "No need. They have achieved perfect merit and ascended to the Heavenly Court. Why should they be compensated?"

"Furthermore, we've discovered that the current generation of the Jia family is forging a golden body and breaking through to the inner strength realm, and they also have a team of Golden Tiger Guards who have jointly cultivated their military skills. Jia Tang is also unexpectedly strong. Lord Xu, why don't you guess whether he's just putting on a show or if he has real strength?"

Xu Fangxing frowned and speculated, "I'm afraid it's about half and half. Now Jia Tang and Jia He are both at the Inner Strength level. If we include the remaining hidden people from back then, the number of people at the First Level should be more than a handful. They may appear real when they are not, and they may appear not when they are real. The Jia family is not to be underestimated."

"The Jia family isn't scary, after all, their momentum has been interrupted twice. What's troublesome is the support of the founding lineage." The Taoist waved his hand dismissively. "But it doesn't matter, they won't hinder the sect's grand plan in the end. Once we bring the boy into Jiangnan, he won't be able to escape."

After speaking, the two looked thoughtful, and the room fell silent except for the faint, long breaths.

After a long pause, the Taoist priest spoke again: "I have come here to discuss something."

Xu Fangxing cautiously replied, "Please tell me what you need, Liu Chuantou. I will do my best to help within my power."

"Recently, the Flying Eagle Division has been investigating the Northwest and has captured several spies, imprisoning them in the Northern Garrison Prison. The sect hopes that Lord Xu can help these believers escape the mortal world as soon as possible and be led to the other shore."

"This...this...I am just a civil official, how could I possibly interfere with the Flying Eagle Division? Perhaps..." Xu Fangxing was taken aback and hurriedly tried to evade the issue.

Liu Chuantou interrupted him with a flick of his sleeve, and sneered: "Heh, this is the order of the higher-ups. Of course, if Lord Xu finds it difficult, he doesn't need to pay attention. I don't know what they'll say in the end. Farewell."

Without waiting for a reply, he got up and walked to the cupboard, gently turning the blue and white porcelain vase with intertwined floral patterns in the upper right corner of the cupboard.

The mechanism was activated, the closet slid to the left to reveal a secret room, the Taoist priest turned back with a smile, strode in, and his figure slowly disappeared into the tunnel.

"By the way, Lord Xu, aren't you afraid that your eldest son will fall victim to that brat's evil deeds?"

Xu Fangxing's lips curled into a smile as he rose and left the study, his voice echoing in the room: "If I weren't so foolish, how could I have extricated my son?"

"Moreover, in such a great era of the revival of heaven and earth, life and death are all predestined."

The room quieted down, as if nothing had happened, leaving only the water stains in the teacup on the sandalwood table looking somewhat out of place.

···

In another secluded mansion, several people in magnificent robes and hats, exuding an air of authority, sat in a pavilion, leisurely sipping fragrant tea.

"The young Jia family boy has caused such a commotion as soon as he returned to the capital. He is truly a menace. It's a pity we didn't cut off his head in the mountains."

"A first-level martial artist at the tender age of twenty, with a naturally formed golden jade body and profound foundation."

"Hmph, he can only break through so quickly by relying on the legacy of his ancestors."

"The Jia family, ah, was once a powerful clan that could rival the imperial Chen family..."

"Be careful what you say!"

A low shout interrupted everyone, and the atmosphere fell silent.

After a short while, one of the men asked, "Sir, was it really true that a second-tier expert made a move a month ago?"

"true."

The person in the main seat sighed, "Eighteen years ago, that battle wiped out the accumulated wealth of the Jia family over two generations. I never imagined that the eight prefectures of Xianjing would be able to send out a second-level cultivator for that brat Jia Tang."

A person nearby chimed in, "This just shows how important he is. We can't let him stay cooped up in the city cultivating peacefully; he needs to be transferred out!"

"Which one?"

"Doesn't he want to go to Liaodong? That suits his wishes."

"Liaodong is their territory."

"Then let's drag someone into this and force the child to pay up!"

"Hiss... Is that really true?"

The person in the main seat nodded slightly upon hearing this and said, "In recent years, the conflict between Liaodong and foreign tribes has been escalating, and the situation is getting worse and worse."

"As a leader of the founding lineage for four generations, Jia Tang should go to the frontier to gain experience."

As soon as these words were spoken, crowds flocked to the scene.

"Your insight is profound."

I second that.

The person in the main seat murmured, "Such arrogance will surely bring death!"

"To die on the battlefield is to live up to the name of the Jia family."