Wuxia Fantasy: Starting with the Revitalization of the Beggars' Sect

Lin Ye followed Zhu Jiuzhen and others to Hongmei Manor.

Although this estate is built deep in the mountains, it is quite large in scale and magnificent, which shows the owner's care.

Lin Ye thought to himself, "Such a large estate must have plenty of manpower. Why not let them do some work instead of searching for it myself?"

Upon entering the estate, Zhu Jiuzhen had someone lead Lin Ye to a side room, where he stayed for the night.

No one disturbed them that night. The next morning, someone brought food, put down the bowls and chopsticks, and left without saying a word.

After the meal, the old man who delivered the goods came to say goodbye. He said that the master would not be in the village for the next few days and asked him to wait patiently for a few days. Then he and his son went down the mountain first.

Lin Ye waited at the manor for two days, with food delivered to him every day. On the third day, he suddenly heard a voice outside saying, "Master is back."

Lin Ye stepped out of the room and saw a middle-aged man in the courtyard. He was well-off and the people around him treated him with great respect. He figured that this must be Zhu Changling.

This Zhu Changling is a descendant of Zhu Ziliu, a disciple of the Southern Emperor Yideng. Back then, Zhu Ziliu possessed the "One-Finger Divine Skill" of Master Yideng. By the time it was passed down to his generation, no one had been able to reach the first rank.

His rudimentary One-Finger Divine Skill was nowhere near the true essence of One-Finger Divine Skill.

Despite his family's influence, Zhu Changling was still able to rise to the level of a slightly above-second-rate expert in the martial arts world.

Upon seeing Zhu Changling return, Zhu Jiuzhen exclaimed "Father!" and rushed over to him.

"Dad, why did it take you so long to come back?"

Zhu Changling laughed heartily and said, "Well, you're back now. How have you been? Have you been practicing diligently lately, or slacking off?"

Zhu Jiuzhen complained, "Father checks my homework as soon as he gets back. It's so boring. I practice and practice every day. It's so tedious."

Suddenly remembering something, Zhu Jiuzhen's eyes lit up, and she tugged at Zhu Changling's sleeve, shaking it as she asked, "Father, you've been away for so long this time, what gift did you bring back for your daughter?"

Zhu Changling felt rather helpless; after all, she was his only precious daughter. He sighed, "You, you..."

He took out an exquisite treasure box from his bosom. "Let's see what's inside."

Zhu Jiuzhen took the treasure box, opened it, and saw a pair of exquisite white jade earrings inside. Zhu Jiuzhen was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Father."

He held the white jade earring in his hand, admiring it repeatedly, clearly delighted with it.

Seeing her like this, Zhu Changling was both amused and annoyed. "Alright, alright, look how happy you are."

"Of course I'm happy that my father gave me a gift. Would I let my daughter cry?"

"What are you saying?"

Zhu Jiuzhen stuck out her tongue, took Zhu Changling's hand, and went back to the living room. As they walked, Zhu Changling asked, "By the way, how is everything at the manor while I was away?"

Zhu Jiuzhen then remembered something and slapped her forehead, saying, "I almost forgot."

"Father, a boy of thirteen or fourteen years old came to our manor the other day, saying he was the son of your old friend."

"Oh?"

Zhu Jiuzhen then recounted her encounter with Lin Ye to Zhu Changling. However, when she talked about her generals, she didn't mention that her vicious dog had attacked her first. Instead, she said that Lin Ye wanted to eat dog meat and killed all the dogs she had brought for no reason. When she talked about her dog being killed, her face showed a resentful expression.

The two had arrived in the living room. Servants removed Zhu Changling's cloak and poured him hot tea.

After listening, Zhu Changling pondered to himself. He had just returned from the Central Plains and had not heard of any of his friends being plotted against. Why did someone suddenly appear seeking refuge?

Zhu Jiuzhen said, "Father, he's probably some kind of refugee who came here to freeload. I'll go teach him a lesson."

As Zhu Jiuzhen spoke, she stood up and was about to rush out the door.

Zhu Changling said, "Wait a moment."

"Take me there to have a look."

……

Lin Ye couldn't bear to watch Zhu Jiuzhen and his father whining and moaning, so he had already gone back to his room and lay down.

Just as he was resting with his eyes closed, the door creaked open, and the first person he saw was Zhu Changling.

It was Zhu Jiuzhen who pushed open the door. Seeing Lin Ye lying on the bed, she called out, "Little brother, my father has come to see you."

Before ascertaining his identity, Zhu Changling instructed Zhu Jiuzhen to be polite and address him directly, otherwise, given her personality, she would never call him "little brother" and would definitely call Lin Ye "brat."

Lin Ye was surprised that Zhu Changling would come here in person. He thought a servant would call him over. He got off the bed, cupped his hands and said, "Junior greets Master Zhu."

Zhu Changling looked Lin Ye up and down. He couldn't recall having a son like this among his friends. Although he lived in a secluded place, he had many friends in the martial arts world, and he couldn't possibly be friends with everyone.

He asked, "I heard from Uncle Liu that you are the son of an old friend of mine. May I ask who your father is?"

Lin Ye looked troubled. "Please forgive me, Master, my father does not know you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Changling's expression changed, and Zhu Jiuzhen shouted, "You brat, you really have ulterior motives! Guards, seize this kid!"

As soon as Zhu Jiuzhen finished speaking, five or six guards rushed in. Although Zhu Changling was angry, he was not as impulsive as his daughter and shouted, "Stop!"

He then said, "Get out."

Zhu Jiuzhen frowned, though resentful, she still waved to the guards. After the guards left, Zhu Changling said:

"Hey kid, do you even know where you are, or who I am?"

Although the voice was not loud, it contained authority.

Lin Ye said, "Of course I know. This is Red Plum Manor. You are Senior Zhu Changling, whose reputation is renowned in the martial arts world. Who doesn't know you?"

"I, a junior, have fled here and am truly desperate. I heard of your righteousness and have come to seek refuge. However, I am troubled by not knowing how I came here. I happened to meet Uncle Liu, but fearing he would refuse to lead the way, I made up this story on the spot. Please forgive me, Master."

Zhu Changling sneered inwardly. There had been many people who had come to seek refuge at his Red Plum Manor in the past, but this kid was the first to use the excuse of an old friend.

Those people were all beaten and driven out of the door by the servants. If anyone was unreasonable, their legs were broken and they were thrown into the wild to be fed to the wolves. He should treat this kid the same way as usual.

But when Zhu Jiuzhen told him that the boy knew some martial arts and was probably the son of a skilled martial artist, he suppressed his temper and continued to ask, "What's your name, and who's your father?"

Lin Ye said, "This junior is Zhang Wuji, my father is Zhang of Wudang..."

At this point, Lin Ye hurriedly changed his story, "My father was an ordinary tenant farmer. He fled here because of a famine in his hometown."

Lin Ye impersonated Zhang Wuji and subtly revealed that he was the son of Zhang Cuishan of Wudang. Upon hearing this, Zhu Changling's eyes lit up, revealing an uncontrollable excitement that even caused his body to tremble slightly, though he quickly regained his composure.

Zhu Changling couldn't help but look Lin Ye over again. He saw that Lin Ye was handsome and his clothes, though not fancy, were clean and tidy. He didn't look like someone who had fled famine.

He secretly scoffed to himself, "This fool can't even make up a lie; he finally let it slip."