The charming widow of the Marquis's mansion: The stable boy carries the flag and raises the dra

"Uncle Long, what's wrong?"

Xu Wanyun walked over, her gaze falling on the black silk thread, her pupils slightly contracting.

"This is... a technique used by the Puppet Spirit Sect?"

Wang Long nodded and said in a deep voice.

"It seems I've been targeted by them."

He stood up and glanced across the second-floor lobby.

All the other diners had already left, leaving only the three of them.

There were also several drunkards lying haphazardly on the ground.

The waiter hid behind the counter, trembling with fear, too afraid to come out.

"Uncle Long, how did you end up getting involved with the Puppet Spirit Sect?"

Xu Wanyun's beautiful brows furrowed slightly.

The Puppet Spirit Sect is a notorious heretical sect in the Eastern Region, known for its treacherous and ruthless nature, and its vengeful spirit.

Those who offend them never have a good ending.

The Confucian scholars of Wenxin Academy were also unwilling to provoke them.

Of course, if the Puppet Spirit Sect takes the initiative to provoke them.

The Confucian scholars are not to be trifled with!

"It's a long story."

Wang Long shook his head.

"This isn't the place to talk, let's leave."

Xu Wanyun nodded, took Qin Jiaojiao's hand, and followed Wang Long downstairs.

As soon as the three of them stepped out of the inn, Wang Long felt countless gazes coming from all directions.

Those gazes were cold and sinister, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, licking his back.

Wang Long chose to ignore it.

With a powerful figure in charge of this Heavenly Palace City, the people of the Puppet Spirit Sect dare not make a move.

Wang Long and his two companions boarded the carriage and sped off towards the distant Wenxin Academy.

Puppet Spirit Sect.

There were no candles in the hall; only a few ghost stones embedded in the walls emitted a ghostly green light, making the entire hall eerie and terrifying.

In the very center of the main hall, there was a huge rosewood chair.

The chair was covered with a whole piece of jet-black spirit beast skin, its fur glossy and exuding a faint aura of malevolence.

An elderly man dressed in a black robe sat upright in a chair, his face gaunt and his eyes sunken.

His eyes gleamed with a cold, eerie light, like two will-o'-the-wisps flickering in their sockets.

He was surrounded by a faint black mist, appearing and disappearing intermittently, exuding a decaying aura that sent chills down one's spine.

This person is none other than Kui San, the Grand Elder of the Puppet Spirit Sect.

A disciple in black robes prostrated himself respectfully on the ground, his voice utterly respectful.

"Elder, I have investigated everything thoroughly."

"explain."

Kui San's voice was hoarse and low.

The disciple in black immediately reported.

"That Wang Long did indeed have contact with Elder Kui 19."

"Elder Kui 19 left his aura on him before he fell."

"A mere ninth-rank ant could kill Puppet Nineteen?!"

Kui San's tone was icy, his voice full of mockery.

There must be someone else behind this; he needs to investigate to find out the truth and who is involved in this matter.

Leave no one alive!

Of course, no matter who the other party is, anyone who dares to attack their Puppet Spirit Sect must die!

"Now that their identities have been confirmed, send someone to kill them. Remember to do it cleanly."

Now, on the eve of the struggle for supremacy among the myriad dynasties, Tianque City is under martial law.

Even the Puppet Spirit Sect wouldn't dare to escalate the situation.

"this……"

The black-robed disciple hesitated.

"What? You can't even get rid of a ninth-rank trash?!"

Kui San narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice icy, which frightened the black-robed disciple into trembling.

He quickly explained.

"Elder, Wang Long is now an honorary instructor at Wenxin Academy..."

Upon hearing this, Kui San's expression changed.

Ten years ago, the Puppet Spirit Sect turned a disciple of Wenxin Academy into a puppet.

They suffered a fierce retaliation from Wenxin Academy, which wiped out their largest branch.

The sect leader lost several thousand disciples, and it was only through his personal intervention that the matter was quelled.

Their Puppet Spirit Sect's vengeful nature stems from their so-called face and their desire to establish the sect's authority.

Confucian scholars, on the other hand, are genuinely protective of their own and extremely united.

It's too much of a loss to pay such a heavy price to kill a single dragon.

Kui San's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, once, then again.

The sound echoed in the dimly lit hall, striking the black-clad disciple's heart and causing his body to tremble slightly.

He thought about it for a long time.

Kui San spoke slowly, his voice icy.

"Wenxin Academy... Honorary Instructor?"

A sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"A mere ninth-rank trash like you dares to challenge me?"

Kui San paused, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"Although Puppet Nineteen is a piece of trash, he is still a member of my Puppet Spirit Sect. Killing him is a slap in the face to my Puppet Spirit Sect."

"This grudge must be avenged!"

The disciple in black quickly replied.

"Elder is wise, but... what about Wenxin Academy...?"

Kui San interrupted him with a cold laugh.

"If we had killed Wang Long elsewhere, they would have fought us to the death."

"But in the arena of fierce competition, life and death are determined by fate, and no one can blame anyone else."

He stood up, hands behind his back, his black robe fluttering even without wind.

"Pass down the order: have the participants from the dynasties within our sphere of influence kill Wang Long at all costs."

"Whoever can take Wang Long's head, I will guarantee him an elder position."

The black-clad disciple trembled and immediately kowtowed.

"Yes! I'll take care of it right away!"

He stood up, turned around, and strode out of the main hall.

Kui San sat back down in his chair, closed his eyes, and continued to tap his fingers on the armrest.

"Who exactly is the murderer who killed Puppet Nineteen?"

He muttered to himself, his tone filled with murderous intent.

"Even if I have to turn everything upside down, I will still find you!"

The carriage smoothly drove back to Wenxin Academy along the official road.

Qin Jiaojiao leaned on Wang Long's shoulder and had already fallen asleep.

Little Chick perched on her shoulder, curling up into a ball of golden fluff.

Both the person and the bird were sleeping soundly.

Xu Wanyun sat opposite him, her worried gaze falling on Wang Long's face, hesitant to speak.

"Wanyun, speak your mind."

Wang Long looked at her with a faint smile on his lips.

Xu Wanyun was silent for a moment, then asked softly.

"Uncle Long, how exactly did you get involved with the Puppet Spirit Sect?"

Wang Long did not hide anything and briefly recounted what had happened in the Great Qian Dynasty.

Xu Wanyun's expression turned serious after hearing this.

The Puppet Spirit Sect will never let the death of such an elder go unpunished.

"Uncle Long, the Puppet Spirit Sect has more than a dozen dynasties under its command. They will definitely send these people to hunt you down."

"I understand."

Wang Long nodded, his expression calm.

He can't afford to be so relaxed now; he needs to become stronger!

The carriage stopped in front of the gate of Wenxin Academy.

Qin Jiaojiao was still asleep, and Wang Long couldn't bear to wake her, so he bent down and carried her out of the carriage.

Qin Jiaojiao, still half asleep, wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder.

He mumbled something unintelligible and then fell into a deep sleep again.

Little Chick flew up from her shoulder, landed on Wang Long's shoulder, and yawned.

Back in the courtyard.

Wang Long placed Qin Jiaojiao on the bed, pulled the blanket over her, and carefully tucked the corners of the blanket in.

Xiao Qiu jumped off Wang Long's shoulder and snuggled into Qin Jiaojiao's arms.

After doing all this, Wang Long left the room and went to the courtyard.

Xu Wanyun sat on the stone bench, looking at him.

Wang Long sat down in front of her.

When Wang Long arrived at Wenxin Academy, he was filled with righteous spirit, and the poem he wrote to encourage learning also helped him accumulate some literary talent.

Wang Long had no intention of aligning himself with Confucianism; he needed more power now.

Only then can we ensure that we don't become too helpless when we encounter a strong enemy.

Since he had this opportunity, Wang Long decided to study Confucianism and Taoism as well.

Thinking of this, he looked at Xu Wanyun and asked in a deep voice.

"Xu Wanyun, I am not a Confucian scholar. I only had some insights in front of the statue of the sage and gathered some righteous energy, but I do not know how to use it."

Upon hearing this, Xu Wanyun looked at Wang Long with curiosity.

Wang Long asked solemnly.

"I wonder how a Confucian scholar should cultivate?"