Chapter 66: Governor’s Household of Guangling prefecture
In the western ridge of the Chu King, the Chu royal city was the center, surrounded by the large and small prefectures dotted around it, like the stars surrounding the moon. Closest to the Chu royal city was the superior prefectures, followed by the intermediate prefectures, while the inferior prefectures were furthest away. Within the western ridge of the Chu King, the inferior prefectures numbered the most at twenty-six, followed by the intermediate prefectures at twelve, while there were only five superior prefectures.
As an inferior prefecture, Yunfeng prefecture was located at the borders of the western ridge of the Chu King. From Yunfeng prefecture to the Chu royal city, one had to pass through an intermediate prefecture and a superior prefecture… the intermediate prefecture was none other than Guangling prefecture.
Guangling prefecture, being an intermediate prefecture, occupied much more land than Yunfeng prefecture. From the border of Guangling prefecture to the capital city of Guangling would take seven days and nights even riding a ferghana horse overnight. From Yunfeng capital city, to leave the prefecture, a ferghana house would not need to rush overnight and would only need three days and nights. Hence, from the capital city of Yunfeng prefecture to the capital city of Guangling prefecture, even if one rode a ferghana horse overnight, it would take ten days and ten nights.
Even then, even though the ferghana horse was supreme among the horses, it would still get tired and would definitely require some rest. Hence, even if one rode a ferghana horse, including the rest time, to reach the Guangling capital city from the Yunfeng capital city would require at least half a month’s time. Using a horse-drawn carriage would require about one and a half months, though it would be faster if there were more ferghana horses drawing the carriage.
“Young Master, we have reached the capital,” a voice rang from outside the carriage. Wu Nanxun’s eyes lit up, and his face was undeniably emotional. A carriage drawn by three ferghana horses took a whole month to reach Guangling capital city from Yunfeng capital city.
“We’re here?” At that time, Zhou Donghuang was awoken from his practice. He pulled open the curtain to take a look and saw busier streets and heavier traffic than in Yunfeng capital city.
“No wonder it is the capital city of an intermediate prefecture; the capital city of the inferior Yunfeng prefecture can hardly compare.” Zhou Donghuang felt as if he were entering the city after being in the suburbs for a long while.
“I had thought that it would take three months to reach level-six of the gathered qi… who knew that practicing without distractions on this journey that the Way of the Four Supremes would give me such a huge surprise.” Zhou Donghuang was extremely pleased with his progress since leaving the capital city of Yunfeng prefecture. “Unless something happens, I will achieve level-six of the gathered qi in about a month’s time!”
The original plan of three months had been shortened by almost a third. This was all due to the surprise from the Way of the Four Supremes. The more time spent practicing without any distractions, the quicker the progress. In the past, Zhou Donghuang would always be disturbed every few days while practicing in Qingshan town or the capital city and was unable to achieve absolutely no distractions.
On this journey, because their horse-drawn carriage bore the logo of the Wu family, the governor’s household of Guangling prefecture, no thieves dared to rob them, and the occasional animal was driven away by the two Wu disciples who were the coachmen.
Hence, he was able to practice without any distractions throughout and achieved so much progress.
…
The Wu family of the governor’s household of Guangling prefecture was not only a grand family but also the premier family in Guangling prefecture.
As the saying went, “Without a lion in the mountains, the monkey calls himself king,” the governor’s household of Guangling prefecture, which was also the Wu family house, was decorated as if it was a small palace and was extremely luxurious. Being inside it gave one a sense of being in a palace courtyard.
…
In the brilliant hall of the Wu family household.
Zhou Donghuang sat at the head seat, slowly sipping tea from a cup that lay on the table beside him. Fu stood behind him, holding a three-meter long spear shining in black and red. This was none other than the heavy black iron spear that Zhou Donghuang had bought from the Hall of Gods in Yunfeng prefecture.
The first young master of the Wu family, Wu Nanxun, and the two Wu disciples who acted as the coachmen stood there, not daring to breathe. Because of Wu Nanxun’s presence, the party had been able to enter the Wu family house to this hall without any obstacles.
“Now, I’m sure you can’t wait to call your father over to seek revenge for you, am I right?” Zhou Donghuang put his teacup down and stared at Wu Nanxun.
Wu Nanxun swallowed but did not respond.
“Go ahead,” said Zhou Donghuang calmly. “Call your father over… hm, ask him to bring along all the level-six adepts in the Wu family as well. It’s no challenge if it’s just him alone.” Zhou Donghuang shook his head and smiled, revealing two rows of perfect white teeth. The confidence in his smile seemed contagious to all present.
Initially, Wu Nanxun had found it unbelievable that Zhou Donghuang had been so daring to return with him to the Wu family, even thinking that Zhou Donghuang had a death wish. But now, looking at his confidence, he could not help but question himself.
This Zhou Donghuang… could he possibly be confident in destroying all the level-six adepts in the Wu family? However, just as the thought crossed his mind, the vengeful Wu Nanxun pushed it away. No… impossible! Simply impossible! I will look for my father now and have Father capture him. I want to crush him with my bare hands!
His vengeful anger totally overpowered his rationality at this point.
Wu Nanxun left the hall, and the two disciples followed hurriedly as if they could finally heave a sigh of relief. That young man had given them extreme pressure.
Leaving the hall, Wu Nanxun went directly to find his father, the governor of the capital city of Guangling prefecture and the Wu family chief, Wu Wentao.
“Xun’er, you’re back?” Wu Wentao was a man in a loose green robe with a medium build and a ferocious face with a mustache. Although half his hair had turned grey, his eyes were alert and sharp.
However, upon seeing Wu Nanxun, his sharp eyes immediately softened. Wu Nanxun was his only son, and so he not only doted fondly on him but also placed high expectations on him. He even planned to let him inherit his position as governor of Guangling prefecture.
“Father!” Seeing Wu Wentao, Wu Nanxun’s eyes lit up. His tense face crumbled and he rushed to him, dropped to the ground, and cried while hugging Wu Wentao’s thighs.
“Xun’er… what’s wrong?!” Wu Wentao’s expression changed. He knew his son well, and unless something disastrous happened, he would not have had such a reaction.
“Father, all my meridians have been destroyed. I won’t be able to fulfill your hopes and take over your position in the future,” Wu Nanxun’s voice trembled as he said with a pained face.
“What?!” Wu Wentao’s expression changed. He immediately bent down and confirmed that his son had indeed had all his meridians destroyed. His eyes narrowed, and his expression turned stone cold. In that moment, the temperature in the courtyard seemed to drop by a few degrees.
“Xun’er, what… what happened? How did your meridians get destroyed?” Wu Wentao asked. After all, he was the governor and the chief of the grand Wu family. Wu Wentao quickly controlled his anger that threatened to override his rationality.
“Father, it was Zhou Donghuang from Yunfeng prefecture!” Faced with his father’s questioning, Wu Nanxun broke into tears as he explained exactly what had happened. As he finished, Wu Wentao’s expression darkened. A seventeen-year-old teenager killed two level-five adepts of the Wu family, crippled the son of Wu Wentao and still dared to come to his doorstep?
“Xun’er, he really said… to ask me to call all the level-six adepts in our family over?” Wu Wentao was different from Wu Nanxun, the latter had allowed his anger to override his rational thinking, but although Wu Wentao was furious, he could still think rationally.
That Zhou Donghuang dared to make such bold words; he either had a death wish… or he was really disrespecting the Wu family! From what his son had told him, Zhou Donghuang was clearly not the former.
“Father, he is definitely boasting!” Wu Nanxun said angrily. “But since he wants to have a taste of the level-six adepts in our Wu family, let us show him… I just wish that by then he’ll wet his pants in fear!”
“Xun’er, be calm… we will definitely test out Zhou Donghuang. But before confirming that he is just boasting, we cannot offend him further.” Wu Wentao was much calmer than Wu Nanxun.
Soon, Wu Wentao sent someone to gather all level-six adepts in the Wu family. Including him, there were a total of four of them together. In the Wu family, there were five level-six adepts, but one had been out recently, so only four were left in the house. But the one who was absent was the least powerful among the five level-six adepts in the family and would have been of little significance.
“Uncle Fan, Second Brother, Head Elder…” After they all had arrived, Wu Wentao told them all that had happened. All three of them were shocked.
“A seventeen-year-old teenager killed both Wu Yunfeng and Wu Hailang with just a single strike?” Wu Yunfeng and Wu Hailang were considered powerful among the level-five adepts in the Wu family. That was why they had been sent to protect their first young master, Wu Nanxun.
Now, upon finding out that the two had been killed instantly by a seventeen-year-old, the three level-six adepts gasped in unison.
“Big Brother, let us head over… I want to see who this demonic young man is,” said the second master, a skinny man who looked similar to Wu Wentao but with sharp eyes.
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