Chapter 42: Excellent, the Name Wang Yushuo Is Truly Excellent! |
In the middle of the night, after the group stopped to rest for the fifth time, Hongmei finally found his opportunity.
They had found a place to stay in a mortal market town, with Hongmei and Yulou sharing a room.
Yu'an, meanwhile, was kept close by Wang Rongsheng's side.
Yulou was sleeping soundly. After running around for the past few days, he was completely exhausted.
Looking at the sleeping boy, Hongmei calculated in his heart.
'First, I'll kill Yulou, then use a secret technique to conceal my form and strike with full force to kill Wang Rongsheng. After that, only that blockhead Yu'an will be left.'
Yu'an possessed a Hundred-Li Wanderer Escape Talisman, but Hongmei was confident he could kill the boy quickly enough to prevent his escape.
After killing these three, he would quickly return to Clear Stream Market and flee far away with Zhong Ningyao.
The Wunan Cultivation World was vast. Even if the Wang Clan found out what he had done, it would be extremely difficult to track him down.
However, after hesitating and plotting for a long time, Hongmei still did not dare to make a move.
The Wang Clan disciples were all far too cautious. He was not sure if Wang Rongsheng and Wang Yulou were just putting on an act for him.
'Wang Yulou is sleeping so soundly—does he have some hidden trump card on him?'
In fact, his guess was correct. Yulou wore a mid-grade spiritual belt given to him by the Patriarch. The defensive spiritual artifact would automatically protect its master, rendering any sneak attack from Hongmei useless.
This was precisely the confidence that allowed Yulou to sleep so peacefully.
Wang Rongsheng feared Hongmei's sneak attacks even less.
There were territories of vassal Immortal Clans of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect nearby, yet Wang Rongsheng chose not to seek lodging there and instead picked a mortal market town. This was entirely due to his own confidence.
The Wang Clan was an Immortal Clan with a deep heritage. Wang Rongsheng's cultivation base might not be high, but his actual strength was nothing to scoff at.
He usually disguised himself at the early-level Qi Refining stage, making him appear weak, but he had dared to directly approach the people of the Valley Spirit Sect to sell his goods. This was not just bravery; it was because he was genuinely strong.
Thinking it over and over under immense pressure, Hongmei ultimately did not dare to act.
In extreme inner turmoil, Hongmei just stared blankly at Yulou, sitting stiffly through the entire night.
'I'm about to reach the Foundation Establishment realm. After reaching Foundation Establishment, everything will be different.
'Endure a bit longer. Just endure a bit longer!'
The next day, the three continued their journey, "escorting" Hongmei along the way.
Along the road, Hongmei brought out many terms of exchange, trying to sway Yulou or Wang Rongsheng, but he still failed.
The reasoning was actually quite simple: no matter how good Hongmei's promises were, he was still just an outsider.
Yulou and Yu'an had received their clan's education since childhood and would not easily trust outsiders.
Wang Rongsheng was an experienced Qi Refining cultivator who could hold his own, making him even less likely to believe Hongmei's nonsense.
When the group was about three hundred li away from Hidden Dragon Market, Wang Rongsheng stopped his flying artifact and spoke.
"Fellow Daoist Hongmei, ahead lies the Echoing Water Shoals. We should take a detour."
The Echoing Water Shoals was a vast marshland spanning a hundred li, surrounded by mountains. In the past, a sixth-grade spiritual object had existed here.
After the sixth-grade spiritual object was moved away, the spiritual vitality and spiritual veins of the Echoing Water Shoals were damaged, but some barely remained.
Under the influence of this lingering spiritual vitality and the spiritual veins, the Echoing Water Shoals would occasionally produce some spiritual materials and objects.
Because of this, many rogue cultivators gathered here in search of opportunities.
"Hahaha, alright, we'll detour to the south."
Hongmei's attitude was very cooperative as he answered with a smile.
Wang Rongsheng was a veteran Qi Refining cultivator, so he naturally understood Hongmei's intentions. He spoke with a pointed tone.
"To the south is Wumeng Mountain. Fellow Daoist Hongmei, I'm actually familiar with both of these areas; I simply don't want to invite any trouble. How about this: you pick one. Wumeng Mountain or the Echoing Water Shoals, either is fine. I have no objections."
Not wanting to invite trouble did not mean Wang Rongsheng was afraid of it.
After all, while doing business in Hidden Dragon Market, he had dealt with the nearby rogue cultivators plenty of times, and these people also knew he was a member of the Wang Clan.
Even if Hongmei knew a few rogue cultivators, Wang Rongsheng was not intimidated.
Wang Rongsheng was well aware that if the rogue cultivators had to choose between Hongmei and himself, they would be much more willing to help him.
Within the territory of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, the name of the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom carried significant weight!
A thousand years of heritage, having produced over twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators—did you think this was some insignificant faction?
Absolutely not. If the Wang Clan was considered insignificant, there would barely be any decent figures left in this cultivation world!
The Wang Clan's merchant caravans could travel freely across the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's territory using their clan's name. They could even safely visit places like Twin Dragon Mountain.
The Wang Clan disciples could easily join the major Purple Palace sects and even secure advantageous marriages with minimal effort.
The Wang Clan's heritage was even more extraordinary. The allocation of clan resources Yulou and Yu'an received before reaching Foundation Establishment was comparable to that of Immortal Alliance Emissary disciples and Immortal Alliance clan descendants.
More importantly, with True Person Danri's master, Patriarch Mangxiang of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, attempting to attain Golden Core, the Wang Clan's status had directly risen with the tide!
This was a veteran Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan closely connected to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. Even the Second Elder of the Purple Palace Clan Gu could not overshadow Patriarch Wang Xianmao's presence!
Why was Hongmei afraid?
Because the Wang Clan truly had the power to ruin him!
Because the Wang Clan was so overbearing that they equipped every single Qi Refining clan member with a Hundred-Li Wanderer Escape Talisman!
"Forget it. We'll head north. Let's go north," Hongmei replied with a dry laugh.
He seemed somewhat resigned to his fate.
He hadn't dared to make a move all of last night. Hoping the rogue cultivators at the Echoing Water Shoals would lend him a hand was purely his final delusion before defeat.
Hongmei didn't actually know any rogue cultivators; he merely wanted to try his luck.
Pinning his hopes on luck—didn't that exactly prove his despair?
"Go? There is no need to go!"
An incomparably dignified voice resounded through the clouds.
The voice was so loud that it echoed between heaven and earth.
Yet the voice was also so distant that when Yulou looked toward the far horizon, he saw nothing.
Hongmei instantly realized who had arrived, and his face turned deathly pale.
At this moment, he was finally certain that he was finished.
A few breaths later, Yulou finally caught sight of the newcomer.
It was a sickly green streak of light, looking like a green meteor from afar.
Riding upon a vibrant, leaf-covered fruit pit, Wang Xianmao flew before them in the blink of an eye.
Standing in mid-air, he immediately used Absorb to pull Yulou and Yu'an over to him.
The fruit pit beneath his feet grew rapidly. Stimulated by his spiritual power, over a dozen chains shot out from various angles, locking down Hongmei's escape routes.
"Rongsheng, well done. I told you we couldn't go without carrier pigeons!"
Hongmei smiled in resignation.
Was this the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom?
Far too cautious!
That mortal market town was just over a hundred li away from Hidden Dragon Market, which was exactly the maximum range of a Hundred-Li Wanderer Escape Talisman.
Wang Rongsheng chose to take them there to rest simply to release a carrier pigeon.
The range of a voice-transmission talisman was too short, but a carrier pigeon could easily fly a thousand li!
He had been foolishly waiting for an opportunity, but he had lost his chance long ago.
"Senior Xianmao, please listen to my explanation," Hongmei spoke with difficulty.
Wang Xianmao waved his hand and said calmly, "Hongmei, you shouldn't have burned down the Golden Light Pavilion. Fellow Daoist Mengbai and I have a bit of history together.
"Join the Wang Clan. Otherwise, when Fellow Daoist Mengbai investigates, you will not escape death."
Yulou guessed that this Fellow Daoist Mengbai the Patriarch mentioned was the person from the Immortal Alliance backing the Golden Light Pavilion.
Hongmei gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, I'll join the Wang Clan as a guest elder."
He still wanted to retain a bit of dignity, but Wang Xianmao had no intention of giving him any.
"Change your name. From now on, you will be called Wang Yushuo.
"However, you are not allowed to be mischievous anymore, understand?"
Since he had caught Hongmei plundering the Golden Light Pavilion, Wang Xianmao was going to exploit this leverage to the extreme.
This dog had the gall to try and kill Yulou and Yu'an.
He was their master, what was he thinking?
"Excellent, the name Wang Yushuo is truly excellent. It's wonderful. Thank you, Senior Xianmao!"
Hongmei smiled excitedly and thanked Wang Xianmao.
'Endure. A great man must endure what ordinary people cannot endure in order to achieve extraordinary greatness!'
'I will endure!'
"Oh, still calling me Senior? Isn't that too distant?"
Seeing him act so shamelessly, Wang Xianmao remained expressionless and continued to apply pressure.
'Hongmei, how long can you endure?'
"..."
Hongmei stopped speaking. At this moment, his dignity had been insulted to the absolute limit.
His age was at least comparable to Wang Rongyuan and Wang Rongwen's generation. Now, being humiliated like this by Wang Xianmao, he was actually being forced to address him as...
It was too insulting!
"Yulou, what should he call me?" Wang Xianmao looked at Yulou.
Since his master had already agreed to change his name, they were now truly a family.
Although Yulou wasn't very happy about it, he still highly respected the Patriarch.
"Master, from now on, when you see the Patriarch, just call him Clan Uncle.
"Yu'an and I will continue to call you Master.
"We'll just keep our respective terms of address separate. Not too troublesome, right?"
The merchant caravans of the Wang Clan could roam freely across the territories of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect simply by relying on their clan's name. They could even travel safely to places like Twin Dragon Mountain.
The disciples of the Wang Clan could effortlessly join major Purple Palace sects and easily arrange marital alliances.
The heritage of the Wang Clan was even more extraordinary. The sheer amount of clan resources skewed toward Yulou and Yu'an before they even reached Foundation Establishment was comparable to what an Immortal Alliance Emissary or a disciple of an Immortal Alliance family would receive.
More importantly, True Person Danri's master, Patriarch Mangxiang of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, was preparing to attain Golden Core. This directly elevated the Wang Clan's status, raising all boats with the tide!
This was an established Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan with close ties to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. Even the second elder of the Purple Palace Clan Gu could not overshadow the brilliance of Patriarch Wang Xianmao!
Why was Hongmei afraid?
Because the Wang Clan truly had the power to utterly ruin him!
Because the Wang Clan was overbearing and wealthy enough to equip every single Qi Refining stage clan member with a Hundred-Li Wanderer Escape Talisman!
"Forget it. We will go from the north; let's take the northern route."
Hongmei replied with a dry chuckle.
He seemed to be resigning himself to his fate.
Having not dared to make a move all of last night, his recent hope of relying on the rogue cultivators at the Echoing Water Shoals to lend a hand was purely his final delusion before complete failure.
Hongmei did not actually know any rogue cultivators; he simply wanted to try his luck.
Pinning his hopes entirely on luck—didn't that perfectly demonstrate his utter despair?
"Go? There is no need to go anywhere!"
A supremely majestic voice echoed through the clouds.
The voice was so loud that it reverberated between heaven and earth.
Yet it felt so distant that when Yulou looked toward the far horizon, he saw absolutely nothing.
Hongmei immediately realized who had arrived, and his face instantly drained of color, turning deathly pale.
He was finally certain that he was finished.
A few breaths later, Yulou finally caught sight of the newcomer.
It was a sickly green streak of light, looking from afar like a green shooting star.
Riding upon a vibrant fruit pit sprouting with lush leaves, Wang Xianmao flew before the group in the blink of an eye.
Standing in mid-air, his very first action was to Absorb Yulou and Yu'an over to his side.
The fruit pit beneath his feet grew rapidly. Fueled by spiritual energy, over a dozen chains shot out to lock down Hongmei's escape routes from every angle.
"Rongsheng, well done. I said we could not do without carrier pigeons!"
Hongmei smiled in resignation.
'Is this the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom?'
'They are far too cautious and steady!'
That mortal market town was slightly over fifty kilometers away from Hidden Dragon Market, precisely the distance covered by a single Hundred-Li Wanderer Escape Talisman.
The real reason Wang Rongsheng chose to lead them there to rest was to release a carrier pigeon.
Voice transmission talismans had too short a range, but a carrier pigeon could easily fly across hundreds of kilometers!
He had foolishly been waiting for a chance, but his chance had long since vanished.
"Senior Xianmao, please listen to my explanation," Hongmei said with difficulty.
Wang Xianmao waved his hand and said calmly, "Hongmei, you should not have burned the Golden Light Pavilion. Fellow Daoist Mengbai and I give each other some degree of face. Join the Wang Clan, or else, once Fellow Daoist Mengbai investigates, you will not escape death."
Yulou guessed that this "Fellow Daoist Mengbai" the Patriarch mentioned was the person from the Immortal Alliance standing behind the Golden Light Pavilion.
Hongmei gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I will join the Wang Clan as a guest elder."
He still wanted to retain a little dignity, but Wang Xianmao had no intention of giving him any.
"Change your name. From now on, you will be called Wang Yushuo. However, you are not allowed to be mischievous anymore, do you understand?"
Since he had grasped the leverage of Hongmei plundering the Golden Light Pavilion, Wang Xianmao was going to exploit it to the absolute limit.
This damned wretch was daring enough to actually consider killing Yulou and Yu'an.
'You are their master, what were you thinking?'
"Excellent, the name Wang Yushuo is truly excellent! It is wonderful! Thank you, Senior Xianmao!"
Hongmei expressed his gratitude to Wang Xianmao with an excited smile.
'Endure! A great man must endure what ordinary men cannot; only then can he achieve extraordinary greatness!'
'I will endure!'
"Ah, still calling me Senior? Isn't that a bit distant?"
Seeing him act so shamelessly, Wang Xianmao remained expressionless and continued applying pressure.
'Hongmei, just how long can you endure?'
"..."
Hongmei stopped speaking. His dignity was utterly insulted to the extreme.
His age put him at least in the same generation as Wang Rongyuan and Wang Rongwen, yet now he was being humiliated by Wang Xianmao, even being forced to call him...
'It is too insulting!'
"Yulou, what should he call me?" Wang Xianmao looked toward Yulou.
His master had already agreed to change his name, and now they were truly all part of the same clan.
Although Yulou was not entirely happy about it, he still highly respected the Patriarch.
"Master, from now on, whenever you see the Patriarch, you will call him clan uncle. As for Yu'an and I, we will continue calling you Master. We will all just stick to our separate terms of address. It shouldn't be a problem, right?"