Perhaps the sight of several heads dropping all at once had simply been too shocking.
Though everyone present was a seasoned martial-world veteran accustomed to bloodshed, witnessing such swift executions inside the ancestral shrine—especially the execution of several senior members of the Pei family—was still deeply unsettling.
Those men had been well-known figures in the martial world. Apart from the younger generation who had only emerged over the past two years and lacked experience, there was hardly anyone present who did not recognize them.
Back when the previous Sect Leader Pei was in charge of Moon-Slaying Manor, those men had all been prominent figures.
To put it modestly, most of the people present would have treated them with respect upon meeting them.
Yet now, those men had been decapitated in an instant, no different from nameless lackeys.
The Pei family had killed them with such ruthless efficiency that no one had expected Sect Leader Pei to abandon so many first-rate experts without hesitation.
In any other sect—even one as powerful as the Four Schools and Eight Sects—losing so many experts at once would have been an incalculable loss. It might even have caused the sect to decline beyond recovery.
Putting themselves in that position, none of them could possibly have been willing to make such a sacrifice.
Earlier, everyone had assumed that Pei Liang had deliberately exposed the matter in exchange for leniency toward the Pei family.
After all, the main culprits—the Pei father and son—were already dead. These men, as accomplices, had merely been acting on the orders of—
Wait!
What had she just said?
Had she said that she was the one who killed the Pei father and son?
That was the thought process most people went through. Then they suddenly realized what they had heard, and for a moment, they simply could not believe it.
Everyone’s gaze abruptly shifted away from the corpses and blood on the floor and landed on Pei Liang’s face.
Yet her expression could only be described as utterly unconcerned, as though she had just remarked that the soy milk ground that morning had been particularly rich.
There was no hope of finding anything unusual on her face, so everyone gave up.
There was no point trying to make sense of a woman who never played by the rules. They had visited the Pei family twice, and this was the third time they had gathered with Pei Liang under circumstances like these. On every occasion, she had caught them completely off guard and stuffed their bellies full of astonishing revelations.
They should have gotten used to it by now—
But how could anyone get used to this? Her own father! She had killed her own father!
Even now, some people still thought she had merely misspoken, or that her words had been open to another interpretation.
One Sect Leader therefore turned his gaze toward Xia Yunsha, who was the easiest person to question.
At that moment, Xia Yunsha looked as bewildered as a startled deer. Although the ceremony had initially been centered around her, aside from appearing at the beginning to expose the remnants of the Burning Heaven Cult, she had played almost no part in what followed.
She had even ended up enjoying the spectacle along with everyone else. She was naturally lively and loved excitement.
By now, she had nearly forgotten her own predicament, looking thoroughly engrossed in the drama.
Well, standing too close to Pei Liang really did have its consequences. Back then, even Han Weiliu, who carried a blood feud spanning the entire extermination of his clan, had been unable to resist joining in on the gossip.
One Sect Leader asked, “Sect Leader Pei seemed to have said earlier that, after investigating the matter, you concluded that Miss Xia was not the enemy who killed your father and elder brother?”
“How can you be so certain?”
Pei Liang replied indifferently, “I killed them myself. How could I not be certain?”
It was over.
It really was her.
It really, damn it, was her?
The crowd erupted in an uproar. But why had she done it?
Three years ago, this woman had not even possessed the ability to protect herself. According to the rumors that followed, it was only after the Pei father and son died that she had persuaded Pei Ye to return.
Pei Ye had gone mad with longing for his daughter and had become deranged. None of this was a secret anymore. After all, when such an expert suddenly returned to the martial world, people would investigate every detail no matter how difficult it was.
Although Pei Ye had appeared normal in recent years and rarely suffered an episode, how had this woman dared to use a madman as her trump card—and even dared to kill her father and brother because of it?
That was precisely why no one had ever suspected Pei Liang. Even with the truth laid out before them, it was still simply too unbelievable.
Pei Liang’s devil-may-care attitude left the crowd utterly speechless.
They turned directly to Xia Yunsha and asked, “Miss Xia, you were also at Moon-Slaying Manor on the day the Pei father and son died. According to the reports, you were imprisoned in the dungeon and subjected to torture.”
“The place where the Pei father and son died happened to be the cell where you and Young Master Han were held. You must know more about the matter than outsiders do.”
“Miss Xia, would you tell us what you discovered?”
Xia Yunsha had gone from trembling with fear at the beginning to feeling as though she had survived a catastrophe. She was no longer so frightened.
Pei Liang had publicly declared that she intended to keep her alive in order to gather the remnants of the Burning Heaven Sect. On top of that, Pei Liang had personally revealed that she had nothing to do with the deaths of the Pei father and son. As far as Xia Yunsha was concerned, her life was safe for the time being.
So when questioned about the matter, she answered readily, “That day, Young Master Han and I infiltrated the Pei family because Young Master Han had received information that the Pei father and son were the ones responsible for wiping out his entire clan.”
“Unfortunately, our martial arts were not strong enough. We were captured before we could even get close and thrown into the dungeon.”
“The Pei father and son were completely certain of victory. They were smug and delighted, believing that they had deciphered the missing portion of the treasure map, which was tattooed onto Young Master Han’s body, and that they could simply flay him alive to obtain it.”
Several people hissed in shock. One of them could not help cursing, “Damn! Those two really were monsters wearing human faces!”
Before he could finish venting his outrage, Xia Yunsha continued, “Then Sect Leader Pei said she was better at delicate work like that and took the knife from her brother.”
“Taking advantage of the two of them lowering their guard in their complacency, she slit both their throats and took their lives.”
Xia Yunsha’s ability to relate a story was not particularly impressive, but even this was enough for everyone to vividly imagine what had happened.
When the Pei father and son were basking in their triumph, they could never have imagined that they would be dead the very next moment.
And the person who killed them had been their own daughter—their own younger sister.
Everyone’s gaze shifted once more to Han Weiliu, hoping to obtain a different answer from him.
Han Weiliu remained equally composed. “That is exactly what happened. I was present when the Pei father and son were brought to justice.”
“They made no attempt to hide the fact that they had slaughtered my entire clan. They even took pride in it. A-Liang may have been born into the Pei family, but she is entirely different from that pair of utterly wicked men. She inherited the spirit of the Pei family’s ancestors and is a truly righteous person.”
“After learning of her father and brother’s crimes, she had no choice but to put righteousness before family and kill them herself.”
Now the matter was set in stone. There was absolutely no third possibility.
Not only were the martial-world figures speechless, but even the Jiang and Cao families no longer knew where they stood.
So they were not the most aggrieved ones after all?
At least they had been able to live freely for three years after committing their murders. The Pei father and son, on the other hand, had not even recovered from their excitement and smugness before being butchered by their own unfilial daughter.
Those two heartless beasts from the Pei family had long since guessed where the missing treasure map was, but they would never have shared that information with the Jiang and Cao families.
Everyone could imagine how ecstatic the Pei father and son must have been when Han Weiliu had delivered himself into their hands while they were struggling to piece together the treasure map.
In that dungeon, they had probably stood over the helpless Han Weiliu with knives in hand and cruel smiles on their faces, never once imagining that anything else could happen.
Misfortune was all about comparison.
Now, with the miserable state of the Jiang and Cao families contrasted against the true circumstances of the Pei father and son’s deaths, they suddenly felt that perhaps they were not the unluckiest people in the world after all.
And this matter happened to give certain people an opening.
The Pei family had been riding too high lately. After today, they might well emerge with the faint aura of being the foremost power among the orthodox sects.
Mutual checks and balances were instinctive among the Four Houses and Eight Sects. Now that the Pei family had willingly handed them such an obvious point of attack, naturally, plenty of people were going to seize it. Even if they did not expect to truly cripple Pei Liang, they could at least cut down her current momentum on moral grounds.
Thus, someone sneered, “Sect Leader Pei is truly impressive. You’ve certainly mastered the art of sacrificing a few to preserve the whole.”
“Of the three families involved in the extermination, the Jiang and Cao families are on the verge of collapse, while the Pei family only has to throw out a few insignificant figures. Everyone knows that the Pei family is thriving, with countless experts among its younger generation. Killing those few people was hardly any loss at all.”
The words were rather harsh, but there was some truth to them.
After committing such a grave crime, the Pei family’s punishment seemed far too light compared with the Jiang and Cao families. In fact, after today, it would only become even more prominent and powerful. Who wouldn’t frown at that?
This was the clan that had wiped out an entire household.
Pei Liang replied, “Haven’t all the perpetrators already been executed? My father and brother went down to apologize to the entire Han family three years ago.”
“Unlike the Jiang and Cao families, they never got to enjoy a single benefit in the end. I suppose Heaven does have eyes.”
What did she mean, Heaven had eyes? Wasn’t it you who killed them?
But since someone had seized the opportunity to attack her, they naturally were not going to let her brush them off so easily. Another person sneered, “Is executing the chief culprits really enough?”
“As the leaders of the Moon-Slaying Sect, the Pei father and son were responsible for the evil deeds they committed. The Moon-Slaying Sect must bear the consequences in full. Don’t even think about cutting ties with them.”
Pei Liang nodded. “That’s true.”
Seeing that she appeared to be conceding and preparing to surrender some of her family’s interests, those with ulterior motives showed satisfied smiles.
But the next moment, she turned to Han Weiliu and asked, “Do you need the Pei family to compensate you for anything?”
Han Weiliu shook his head. “No. The principal and secondary culprits who wiped out my entire family, along with the Burning Heaven Sect that orchestrated it all behind the scenes, were all found by the Pei family.”
“My Han family’s cultivation manuals, the Nameless Sword, and the treasured artifacts stolen and brought back by the Pei father and son were all returned three years ago. I’m alone now, and carrying those things around would only be a hindrance, so I left them with the Pei family and asked A-Liang to safeguard them for me.”
“A-Liang put righteousness before family, exterminating everyone who participated in the crime. In the years since, the Pei family has gained nothing from my Han family’s relics. On the contrary, they spent manpower and resources helping me track down the real culprits, gather evidence, and clear my family’s name.”
“The Moon-Slaying Sect no longer owes my Han family anything.”
Pei Liang nodded when she heard this. “All right, then!”
Their exchange had been so calm and matter-of-fact that it sounded as though they were discussing whether to eat meat for lunch.
Everyone watching was dumbfounded. Han Weiliu had at least listed all the reasons behind his decision, while Pei Liang acted as if nothing at all was happening.
Han Weiliu’s position was perfectly clear, but some people were angered by it instead.
“Ridiculous! How can a family that wiped out an entire household have no debt to repay? Young Master Han, don’t let yourself be blinded by lust and fooled by this cunning woman.”
“When the head of a family commits a crime, the entire clan must bear the consequences. Otherwise, why do corrupt officials in the imperial court face not only execution, but the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their families?”
“Even if the other members of the family knew nothing of the crime, they still enjoyed the benefits brought about by the head of the family’s wrongdoing.”
“The blood flowing through every member of the Pei family has been nourished by the benefits squeezed out of your Han family. If Young Master Han refuses to pursue the matter, won’t your ancestors die with their eyes open?”
Han Weiliu’s expression turned cold. “My father and ancestors have no right to die with their eyes open.”
The ones who truly had no right to die with their eyes open were the family members who had known nothing about their greed and schemes.
Fortunately, his father and ancestors were already dead. If the two of them appeared before Han Weiliu now, he might very well follow Pei Liang’s example and personally eliminate his own father in the name of righteousness.
After experiencing the pain of his clan’s destruction and learning the truth behind it, the thing Han Weiliu hated most was the way innocent family members had been dragged into it.
Thus, he gave a cold laugh. “Perhaps you didn’t hear me clearly. The Pei father and son were executed before they had the chance to enjoy any of the benefits brought by my Han family’s inheritance. After that, A-Liang returned all the manuals, weapons, and wealth.”
“I don’t know what evil deeds the Pei father and son committed before that, but as far as my Han family is concerned, once those culprits were gone, every other member of the Pei family knew nothing about the extermination and never enjoyed any benefit from it.”
“I, Han Weiliu, will not vent my hatred on people who are innocent and unaware.”
“You claim to be members of the righteous orthodox sects, yet all you have in your mouths is the desire to wipe out the roots. Even the Cult Leader Situ present here is not as eager to kill as you are. And now you’re trying to pressure me, Han Weiliu. What exactly are you implying?”
The few people who had spoken were left red-faced by Han Weiliu’s retort.
If those words had come from Pei Liang, then no matter how beautifully she phrased them, her position would have made them sound like nothing more than sophistry.
But Han Weiliu was the victim. He had repeatedly emphasized that he no longer intended to pursue the matter against the Pei family. The outsiders’ insistence only made them look like busybodies meddling in affairs that did not concern them.
Yet if one carefully considered what he had said, the implications were astonishing.
As the daughter of the perpetrators, Pei Liang was now being completely defended by the victim himself. As long as she maintained the proper attitude, there was practically nothing anyone could do to her.
And then there was what Han Weiliu had said: the treasures that the Pei family ought to have returned to him were inconvenient for him to carry alone, so he had simply left them in the Pei family’s possession.
Left them with the Pei family!
Given the relationship between the two of them that everyone already knew about, how was that any different from giving them to her?
Now that the Jiang family had fallen, the marriage alliance between the Pei and Jiang families would naturally be canceled. If Han Weiliu and Pei Liang then took advantage of the situation to restore their engagement, wouldn’t those treasures officially belong to him while remaining, in practice, in the Pei family’s hands?
The Pei family would not even need to be as secretive as the Jiang and Cao families. They could openly occupy the inheritance of the very family they had helped destroy.
Brilliant!
Judging by the result alone, who among those present could refrain from sighing, “Sect Leader Pei is incredible”?
Not only had she completely washed away her family’s dark history and emerged clean, she had also kept all the benefits in her own hands. Once the treasures belonging to the Han family were recovered from the Jiang and Cao families, they would probably be sent to the Moon-Slaying Sect in an endless stream as well.
And weren’t the Pei father and son the ones who had died unjustly? They had worked so hard, risking their lives and trembling with fear, to wipe out the entire Han family, yet they had not enjoyed a single benefit. In the end, their deaths had allowed Pei Liang to swallow up the Han family openly and aboveboard.
She had truly gained both the people and the wealth.
Those who had once treated the affair between the two as nothing more than entertainment finally realized how utterly stupid they had been.
Pei Liang was simply stripping an entire household bare and taking both its people and its wealth—and this was a household her own family had helped destroy.
And Han Weiliu was no helpless woman incapable of surviving on his own, either. Yet Pei Liang was devouring him just as thoroughly. A moment ago, people had still been feeling sorry for Jiang Xun. Now it seemed Han Weiliu was no less pitiful.
Naturally, such thoughts were far too dark to voice aloud. Still, watching the scene, one could not help feeling that it really did have that sort of flavor.
For a moment, everyone looked at Han Weiliu with a touch of pity.
That was how the spectators felt, but the people who had finally found such a good opportunity were naturally not going to let him off simply because he refused to cooperate.
After this, with Pei Liang’s methods, there would probably be no opening left to exploit.
But before anyone could say a word, Flower-Chasing Constable of the Six Doors said impatiently, “You may as well save your breath.”
“Sect Leader Pei has never tried to conceal the Pei father and son’s crimes. Three years ago, she already went to the Six Doors and turned herself in, giving a full account of everything the Pei father and son had done.”
“It was only because of the potential repercussions—and because the Burning Heaven Sect, the true mastermind behind the scenes, was still hidden in the shadows—that the matter could not be made public. It was classified as one of the Six Doors’ highest-level secret cases. Now that the Burning Heaven Sect’s remnants have all been brought to justice, the time has finally come to reveal the truth.”
“After learning of this, His Majesty was also deeply gratified by Sect Leader Pei’s willingness to put righteousness before family. If every corrupt official in the court had relatives who were as clear-sighted and principled as her, how could entire families ever end up implicated? Do not make such comparisons.”
“With Sect Leader Pei’s forthrightness, she is far beyond what the petty minds of people like you can comprehend. Now shut your mouths.”
Everyone was dumbfounded.
She had turned herself in three years ago?
Of course, the Six Doors had been just as stunned back then.
The great sects of the martial world had always placed great importance on authority and influence. They had never been accustomed to relying on the imperial court to settle their affairs. When Pei Liang had first come to them, she had opened with the declaration that her father was the murderer responsible for wiping out the Han family.
At the time, the four famous constables of the Six Doors and their master had worn exactly the same expressions.
After an entire day of secret negotiations, the two sides had reached an agreement. It was also then that Pei Liang had formed a private connection with the Six Doors and, through them, come to the attention of the emperor.
Using a confession as a stepping stone to expand her network and even gain access to the imperial family—Pei Liang was probably the first person in history to pull off such a thing.
There were already some old foxes present who had pieced it together. The Pei family had never had much to do with the imperial court before, so their current advantage in connections had clearly been unearthed by Pei Liang herself.
No wonder she had built everything up so quickly. Could it be that she had done it by selling out her father and brothers?
Poor Pei father and son. Even after death, their bones were still being picked clean. Every last bit of their potential value had been squeezed out and put to use.
For a moment, everyone felt they had been mistaken again. It was not merely the young men who had romantic entanglements with Pei Liang whose lives were impossible to examine too closely. Any man at her side was surely trapped in a similarly miserable situation.
Look too closely, and every story would bring tears to the eyes and break the heart.
Still, after Flower-Chasing Constable’s speech, those who had been unwilling to accept the situation had no choice but to retreat.
What could they do? The victim had chosen not to pursue the matter, and neither had the imperial court. They accused her of concealing a crime, yet she had turned herself in eight hundred years ago—well, three years ago. It simply had not been made public for the sake of long-term strategy.
The current situation was that everyone knew the Pei family had gained an enormous advantage. After committing the heinous crime of annihilating an entire household, they had not only avoided suffering any consequences, but had also turned every disadvantage into an advantage and profited from the whole affair.
Everyone could see what had happened, but no one could find a fault to pick at. No matter how much they muttered, there was nothing they could do to stop the Pei family’s rise.
Tell me, was that infuriating or what?
The people around them were merely envious and jealous. Some even secretly resented the fact that their own sects did not have a leader as capable as Pei Liang.
But the Jiang and Cao families were genuinely furious enough to vomit blood. The qi of both sect leaders reversed course, and Sect Leader Cao fainted on the spot.
Having dealt with that matter, Pei Liang’s gaze once again fell upon Sect Leader Wang.
Sect Leader Wang’s heart gave a heavy thud. By now, he was already terrified of Pei Liang.
What sort of terrifying woman was she?
Could he not simply die quietly?
Clearly, the answer was no. Pei Liang’s gaze moved away from him and landed on the other members of the Burning Heaven Sect.
She asked, “The bloodline of the sect master is here, and the saintess is here as well. Whom do you serve now?”
The Burning Heaven Sect had been able to maintain its fanatical loyalty for decades for one reason above all: it had deified the sect master’s bloodline.
Now that the sect master’s bloodline had appeared, quite a few people had already been staring at Han Weiliu with feverish eyes when Gang Leader Wang revealed the truth earlier.
At her question, they naturally answered with ringing conviction, “The disciples of the Burning Heaven Sect have always served the sect master and his bloodline, from beginning to end.”
To put it plainly, even though Gang Leader Wang had held power for decades, he could never challenge this principle. The moment he did, the faith underpinning the Burning Heaven Sect would collapse.
He simply did not have the ability. He could not wrest the believers’ faith away from a sect master of such extraordinary talent.
Upon hearing this, Pei Liang’s face showed satisfaction. She turned to Flower-Chasing Constable and said, “Earlier, I was worried that Miss Xia’s identity as the saintess, though sufficient to win the people’s allegiance, might not be enough. Miss Xia is pure-hearted by nature and not skilled at managing affairs.”
“There are many capable people in the Burning Heaven Sect. No matter who led them, it would be inappropriate. Very few people could make so many proud and unruly individuals obey their commands. I was quite worried about what might happen in the future.”
“But now that we know Young Master Han is of the sect master’s bloodline, all those difficulties have been resolved.”
Flower-Chasing Constable nodded with a smile. “Sect Leader Pei is absolutely right. The floods in the south have already left the imperial court scrambling. Being able to save on manpower is naturally a good thing.”
Pei Liang then smiled at Gang Leader Wang. “Naturally, we must thank Gang Leader Wang as well. If not for your noble act of revealing the truth about Young Master Han’s birth, how could we be enjoying such an effortless victory now?”
That was a wound straight to the heart.
Given how completely this woman controlled Han Weiliu, what difference was there between the Burning Heaven Sect falling into Han Weiliu’s hands and falling into hers?
The key was that everyone understood Gang Leader Wang’s intentions perfectly. He had originally intended to drag someone down with him before he died. Even if he could not strike Pei Liang, he had at least wanted to make her suffer a little, which was why he had revealed this secret.
He had never expected that not only would he fail to hurt the person he hated, he would instead package up the Burning Heaven Sect as a grand gift and deliver it straight into her hands.
For a moment, everyone looked at Gang Leader Wang with pity once again.
What had he been thinking? As expected, old age made people’s minds muddled. No wonder he had suffered setback after setback in recent years.
The Burning Heaven Sect, which had once struck terror into everyone’s hearts, had somehow become almost pitiable.
How could Gang Leader Wang endure such an outcome? On top of that, the sympathy in the eyes of those around him was the one thing he found most unbearable.
His fury overwhelmed him. He spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted, his breaths shallow and labored, with more going out than coming in.
“Ah… how pitiful,” someone could not help saying.
And with that, the day’s events finally came to an end. Strictly speaking, they had not been there for very long.
From luring out the Burning Heaven Sect’s remnants, to uncovering the massacre of the Han family all those years ago, to finally settling everything, barely two hours had passed.
Yet everyone still felt unsatisfied, as though time had flown by without them noticing.
Many even felt that their decision to fight for good seats before the proceedings had begun had been brilliantly wise.
Those with money in particular felt that the small fortune they had spent on premium seats had been worth every penny. They had enough gossip from today to digest and boast about for a long time.
By contrast, those who had given up the best viewing spots over a trivial amount of silver and gold regretted it bitterly afterward.
“I was sitting too far back and couldn’t see Sect Leader Wang’s expression clearly. I had to crane my neck the whole time. It must have been absolutely priceless.”
“Exactly. The Pei family’s affairs have to be savored slowly and carefully. If you aren’t completely focused, you miss half the fun. What a regret.”
“Be satisfied. At least we were there in person. No matter where we sat, we experienced it firsthand. Those who couldn’t come and asked us to tell them what happened are probably kicking themselves raw by now.”
“Next time the Pei family holds an event, I’ll come a day early to queue for a spot.”
“Ha! How naive. I’ve already bought a house at the foot of the Pei family’s mountain.”
“Huh? The Pei family owns property at the foot of their mountain?”
“They do. Apparently it was built by Sect Leader Pei. The design is rather unusual—not a detached house with its own courtyard, but a building made of concrete as solid as iron. The foundation is sunk incredibly deep, and it even has those steel—oh, right, they call the stuff ‘reinforcing bars.’”
“The building is a full ten stories tall, a rare sight indeed. Each floor has more than a dozen units. The individual apartments aren’t very large, but the interiors are clean and tidy, easy to maintain, and the concentrated living arrangements make management convenient. It was originally built to house the Pei disciples and their families.”
“When we visited last time, we found it quite fascinating. After hearing the sales clerk explain everything, we thought it was interesting and bought a unit on a whim. If the Pei family holds another event in the future, it’ll be convenient to arrive early and stay there.”
“Sales clerk? Didn’t you say it was built to house the sect’s disciples and their families? Why are they selling units to outsiders?”
“You don’t understand, do you?” the man said smugly. “They explained that the Pei family now has a great many disciples, and with their families included, there are tens of thousands of people.”
“When so many people live together, the surrounding shops, schools, and entertainment facilities naturally become more developed. We toured the neighborhood before buying, and it’s unbelievably convenient—no worse than the city, and even more centralized and accessible.”
“The Pei family provides free schooling for the children of its disciples. They study literature, martial arts, and various practical skills. After the age of twelve, they choose a specialty according to their talents. Unlike other sects, which focus solely on martial arts, the Pei family has produced countless talented managers for its businesses in recent years. They’re simply good at discovering the strengths of their people.”
“Besides, the teachers they hire are all leading figures in their respective fields. Senior Pei Ye even shows up from time to time to offer guidance, and he doesn’t hold back when teaching top-tier techniques. They also welcome exchanges with other sects. As long as you own a home in the Pei family’s school district, you can enjoy all these benefits.”
“Even if it’s not for the spectacle alone, we should buy several units and secure a few spots for the disciples of our sect to come and try their luck.”
How could the martial artists of the jianghu have ever witnessed the terrifying power of real-estate sales? They were instantly dazzled by the picture being painted for them, practically itching to hand over their deposits the very next day.
Someone listening nearby was tempted as well. “Are there any units left?”
“There are no completed units left, but the Pei family is planning to build a third phase. With all the other sects rushing in, the prices will probably rise. If you’re interested, you’d better act quickly.”
“How much was it again?”
“A hundred taels per square meter!”
“What? Isn’t that more expensive than property in the capital? The Pei family is robbing people!”
The man shook his head. “It’s expensive, sure, but this kind of setup is one of a kind. Where else will you find a ten-story building like this, something unheard of throughout the world? Where else will you find such a lively and convenient commercial district? Where else can buying a home automatically secure you a place in a school taught by renowned scholars and top martial artists? Even if you don’t care about any of that, isn’t the Pei family’s excitement worth seeing?”
“Well… that’s true! Now that you put it that way, it doesn’t seem expensive at all.”
The great sects were hardly short of money.
Before they had even left the mountain, these people were led to the sales office, where they fought tooth and nail over units in the still-unbuilt third phase.
In the end, once everyone had dispersed, the Pei family had provided not even a single meal, yet had gained several hundred thousand taels in revenue. Robbery itself wasn’t that fast.
Some people estimated the Pei family’s earnings and felt even more strongly that the Pei father and son had died unjustly.
Look at them. It was only a few hundred thousand taels—a sum their daughter could earn in half a day. Why had they risked their lives and the destruction of their entire family for it?
As for the idea of finding the treasure indicated by the map, with their daughter’s abilities, she could probably earn back the equivalent of ten treasure troves over the course of her life.
But that still wasn’t the worst of it. Afterward, the Pei family announced that, because the various jianghu sects present had fought so fiercely over the best seats that it was unbecoming, they had decided to implement a lottery system for all future events.
Before each gathering, the front-row seats—no, the prime spectator seats—would be assigned at random.
It didn’t matter how prestigious a sect was. Whoever drew the winning number would get the seat. It would be completely fair and impartial.
Once the guests arrived, the Pei family would guide them directly to their places. No one was permitted to object to the seating arrangements. Anyone who did could simply leave.
Only the Pei family would dare to be so brazen. If another sect had made such a declaration, the Four Gates and Eight Sects would certainly have been seated first.
Yet this announcement made the second- and third-rate sects feel rather respected, as though everyone had finally been placed on equal footing. They thought the Pei family was practically a breath of fresh air.
Of course, anyone who thought that was a complete idiot. The lottery wasn’t being held publicly, after all. Whoever the Pei family said had won was whoever had won.
Those who genuinely wanted a front-row seat naturally had to call in favors and discuss the matter with the Pei family. And when it came to discussing such matters, some gifts were obviously required.
Impressive. They didn’t let any middlemen profit—not even the spectator seats at their own events escaped being used for extortion.
Everyone strongly suspected that Sect Leader Pei had turned the whole affair into such a dramatic spectacle precisely so she could sell the seats at a premium.
It was shameless. What a profiteer!
That was what everyone said, but when the Pei family held another event, not a single person declined to spend money or call in favors.
Naturally, that was a story for later.
For now, the jianghu guests had departed, and the Pei family was tidying up.
Since they had provided only tea and refreshments—and since the food was suspected of being poisoned, so no one had dared take even a bite—there was no trouble of the sort that usually followed a grand banquet.
The Pei family handled everything in orderly fashion. Pei Liang, Han Weiliu, and several Protectors of the Demon Cult returned to the courtyard.
Protector Jing removed his veil and tore off the disguise covering his face. When he noticed Pei Liang staring at him, he hurriedly raised a hand to cover his abdomen.
The old Protectors watched with aching teeth. Had this fellow really started treating himself like a sheltered young lady from a respectable household?
But that was not the important matter at present. The others were all rather excited.
“Now that the Holy Cult has been completely brought under the Cult Leader’s control, and with the Burning Heaven Sect as well…”
“Cult Leader, once the two forces merge, our Sacred Flame Sect will be the number-one power in the martial world. When that happens, you’ll be able to—”
As they spoke, they glanced at Pei Liang. Their unspoken meaning was perfectly clear: when that happened, you wouldn’t have to remain at the mercy of this demoness anymore.
And even if you chose to stay together, you’d at least be able to hold your head high.
Han Weiliu, however, shook his head. “Neither the jianghu nor the imperial court will tolerate the existence of a behemoth like the Burning Heaven Sect of old.”
In other words, now that Han Weiliu’s origins had been exposed, Situ Zhuo could only spend the rest of his life as the Cult Leader of the Sacred Flame Sect under the name of Situ Zhuo.
The two of them absolutely could not be allowed to be the same person.
“Then what about her…?” one of the old Protectors asked, looking at Pei Liang.
Pei Liang smiled. “I’m different. I’m generous enough, willing enough to share the profits, and sensible enough to know how to read the situation.”
No matter how much influence the Moon-Cutting Sect expanded, it would never monopolize benefits as completely as the Burning Heaven Sect once had.
Instead, it contributed to the imperial court and the economy in every possible way. Its businesses relied on the court’s support and conveniences, so naturally the emperor had a stake in them as well.
Everyone made money together, and they rarely tried to squeeze others out of the market. Instead, they chose to expand the market itself.
Who wouldn’t want to cooperate with the Pei family?
Besides, when it came to protecting herself under circumstances like these, Pei Liang had countless methods at her disposal. She would naturally never allow herself to become a target for everyone.
The Protectors were somewhat disappointed after hearing this. But if they could choose only between reputation and practical benefits, they understood which one they ought to choose.
Seeing this, Pei Liang said, “You’re all tired. Go back to your rooms and rest for a while.”
At those words, the four Protectors looked at Pei Liang with undisguised contempt. This lecherous woman probably wanted to torment their Cult Leader again.
Then they looked toward the Cult Leader. Sure enough, his expression was strange. His eyes clearly said: Don’t leave me here alone.
The four of them were instantly filled with a sense of mission and stood their ground with determination. “We’re not going back.”
Pei Liang raised an eyebrow and said to Han Weiliu, “They’re your subordinates. You give the order. It wouldn’t be proper for me to overstep.”
Han Weiliu’s heart sank. He could only say with difficulty, “Y-you should all go back.”
He sounded utterly coerced, yet unable to do anything but comply.
The old Protector’s eyes nearly filled with tears at the sight. Leader! Your martial arts are unrivaled, and you command two great powers. Why do you still let this evil woman twist you around her finger?
Pei Liang stood to one side, simply watching Han Weiliu.
Han Weiliu himself gritted his teeth and pushed the Protectors out of the courtyard—a perfect example of someone who had been kidnapped and could not even blink without permission.
After closing the door, he returned and, unusually, took the initiative to say, “Speaking of which, I once passed through Jiangnan and saw a famous courtesan.”
“He was actually a man. Apparently, he was the son of a wealthy family who had entered the selections for the top courtesan at several pleasure houses simply out of curiosity and a taste for fun. In the end, he won the title.”
“I was fortunate enough to see him that day. Though he was a man, he was breathtakingly alluring, a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. Would you like to see what he looked like?”
Pei Liang almost let herself be distracted by the subject, but as beautiful as that courtesan might have been, the truth of whether she had been involved with multiple partners all along was equally important.
She pressed him against the ornamental rockery and asked with a mocking smile, “Two souls in one body, hmm?”
“It’s all slander. That fellow surnamed Wang merely wanted to make the martial world wary of me, implying that as a descendant of that lineage, I must harbor a murderous nature.”
“But look at me. When have I ever committed any brutal acts?”
Pei Liang nodded. “That’s true. You’re actually quite gentle at heart.”
Han Weiliu smiled, inwardly relieved.
But then he heard Pei Liang ask, “Still, your temperament does change rather strangely from time to time. You switch back and forth as though you’re two entirely different people.”
At first, Pei Liang had even thought it was because he was a Gemini. As it happened, Han Weiliu’s birthday did indeed fall under that sign.
She continued, “You’re always denying things you’ve said yourself, and several times in bed, you’ve even told me not to keep picking on just one person.”
“Would you care to explain why? You seem to be constantly arguing with yourself. Could it be that—”
Cold sweat broke out all over Han Weiliu. He hurriedly said, “I was merely being arrogant and saying things without thinking. After a while, I realized I’d misspoken and took back my boastful words.”
“As for telling you not to keep picking on one person, that, well, it was because—”
For a moment, Han Weiliu had no idea what excuse to make, so he blamed the secondary personality instead. “This is all your fault for running your mouth and showing off. Now every word we say just makes things worse!”
The secondary personality was also feeling guilty. “That was all the fault of that idiot surnamed Wang.”
The two of them were desperately trying to come up with an excuse when Pei Liang suddenly chuckled. “Actually, having two souls in one body isn’t so bad.”
As she spoke, she leaned closer to Han Weiliu. “Although, between the two of you, I have to say that compared to the childish and arrogant one, you’re much more dependable. You perform better in bed, too.”
The instant those words left her mouth, Han Weiliu knew it was over.
The secondary personality was enraged beyond anything that had come before. It seized control of the body, grabbed Pei Liang, spun around, and pinned her against the rockery.
With a terrifying look in his eyes, he demanded, “What did you just say?”
