Chapter Fifty-Four: The Young Marquis

Several years ago, the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty passed away, igniting widespread rebellion among the feudal lords. The land of the Nine Provinces was plunged into chaos and war.

Among the Nine Provinces of the Central Plains, Yong Province clung to a fragile peace in the remote northwest, ruled by the prestigious Chu family, whose lineage spanned a hundred years. When the Great Zhou Dynasty overthrew the Great Yan to claim supremacy over the Central Plains, the Chu family had rendered incomparable service, securing the new regime’s foundation.

Twenty years ago, the family patriarch, Chu Huaiyuan, was granted the title Marquis of Might and Valor, governing the nine counties of Yong Province. He drilled his troops and defended the borders against the incursions of the western tribes.

When Emperor Wu of Zhou died, chaos swept the land, and Yong Province was not spared from the ravages of war. Yet, unlike the other feudal lords who seized the opportunity to vie for the imperial throne, Chu Huaiyuan ruthlessly suppressed the waves of refugees and bandits flooding into his domain. He sent a blood-written oath of eternal loyalty to the Great Zhou Dynasty to the capital.

Chu Huaiyuan did not forfeit the ambition to compete for the world by chance. From the lips of a reclusive family elder, he had learned that the peerless Martial Sage—whose power had once secured the Zhou Dynasty’s rise and could sway the fate of the empire—still remained hidden in the capital. As long as this man lived, it was impossible for the Chu family to lay claim to the dominion of Great Zhou.

Indeed, a few months ago, the Martial Sage emerged from seclusion, a new emperor was enthroned, and chaos erupted among the feudal lords. Only Chu Huaiyuan, whose foresight had earned him the trust of both the new sovereign and the Martial Sage, remained unscathed.

Within a grand courtyard of the Marquis of Might and Valor’s estate, Elder Huo Zhongmou of the Danxia Sect—who had pledged himself to the young heir—now wore a face contorted with rage, his eyes cold and brimming with murderous intent.

Two disciples, kneeling before Huo Zhongmou, were visibly battered and trembling with fear beneath their master’s wrath.

A look of grief flickered over Huo Zhongmou’s face as he said in a low voice, “So it seems, Changfeng must have fallen victim to that Taoist of Xuanzhen Monastery. But if that villain intended to silence you as well, how did you two escape with your lives?”

Desperate to save themselves, the disciples immediately replied, “That black-robed Taoist from Xuanzhen Monastery not only insulted Master, but also called the young heir a useless good-for-nothing. Enraged, Senior Brother challenged him. Who would have thought the Taoist wielded unfathomable arcane powers? Realizing he was outmatched, Senior Brother sacrificed himself to hold back the villain, commanding us to escape and inform you.”

Huo Zhongmou’s anger surged. “That villain dared insult the young heir? Does he fear nothing, courting destruction for Xuanzhen Monastery?” Though the matter seemed suspicious, he did not believe his disciples would dare deceive him.

Seeing their master’s displeasure with Xuanzhen Monastery, the disciples, eager to avoid blame, embellished further: “Master, that black-robed Taoist claimed that, since you protected the Danxia Sect’s outer court, Xuanzhen Monastery holds a grudge and will surely seek you out for retribution.”

Huo Zhongmou exploded in fury, “If Guo Huai, that old scoundrel, had not stolen my wealth to curry favor with Xuanzhen Monastery, I would not have protected Mo Zhanpeng and the others! I have tolerated Xuanzhen Monastery enough, nor do I covet the sect leader’s position at Qingyang Peak. But they push me too far! Do they truly think me a powerless fool?”

He paced his room, brooding for a long while, then asked uneasily, “Did that Taoist truly call the young heir a good-for-nothing?”

The two disciples rushed to swear their words were true. A dangerous light flashed in Huo Zhongmou’s eyes as he said coldly, “In that case, you two will come with me to see the young heir and report everything exactly as you have said. Let us see how he deals with that brazen villain from Xuanzhen Monastery.”

Huo Zhongmou brought his disciples, seething with anger, to the private courtyard where the Marquis’s eldest son, Chu Qingyun, resided. After announcing themselves and waiting a short while, they were summoned into the main hall.

Chu Qingyun was strikingly handsome, tall, and elegant, his every gesture exuding an effortless grace. Seeing Huo Zhongmou enter with such wrath, he asked in surprise, “Master Huo, what has incited you so?”

Huo Zhongmou bowed, then dropped to one knee before Chu Qingyun. “Young Lord, you must avenge my wronged disciple!”

Chu Qingyun grew grave. “Was your disciple harmed by that wretch’s men?”

Huo Zhongmou shook his head. “This has nothing to do with Second Young Master. It was the audacious work of Xuanzhen Monastery.”

Relieved that the matter did not involve his rival, Chu Qingyun’s interest waned. “You are now under my banner, and the nominal Danxia Sect means nothing to you. You should not have used the Marquis’s name to shield Danxia Sect’s outer court from Xuanzhen Monastery, and the death of your disciple is but the bitter fruit of your own actions.”

Huo Zhongmou replied bitterly, “It’s true there is a personal grudge between me and Xuanzhen Monastery. I would not have troubled you over my disciple’s death, but the Taoist’s arrogance was boundless—he dared to insult you, Young Lord. My disciple, unable to bear it, confronted him at the cost of his life.”

A trace of anger appeared on Chu Qingyun’s face. “Even if Xuanzhen Monastery enjoys my father’s favor, how dare they insult me? So, Huo Zhongmou, you sought to use me as a tool for your own vendetta? Do you take me for a simpleton?”

Huo Zhongmou hurried to defend himself. “I would not dare, Young Lord. If you doubt me, you can ask these two disciples who escaped the Taoist’s hands.”

At his signal, the two disciples knelt and recounted the events in the mountains, exaggerating the black-robed Taoist’s audacity to avoid further trouble.

Though Chu Qingyun suspected Huo Zhongmou meant to use him against Xuanzhen Monastery, he also knew neither Huo nor his disciples would dare fabricate such claims before him. Still, the matter involved Xuanzhen Monastery, the most powerful sect on Mount Cangyun, which gave him pause.

He considered for a moment, then said, “It is unlikely Xuanzhen Monastery’s disciples would act so brazenly. You recently refused the Danxia Sect’s outer court by letter—could Mo Zhanpeng and his men, desperate and cornered, have impersonated Xuanzhen disciples to kill yours, hoping to provoke you into action?”

Huo Zhongmou had considered this, but knowing Luo Changfeng’s skills and the nature of Mo Zhanpeng’s group, he dismissed it as impossible.

“My disciple, though not the most accomplished, had achieved the second level of Pure Yang in the arcane arts—a formidable practitioner. How could Mo Zhanpeng and his like kill him so easily? None of them are cutthroats. Luo Changfeng, too, is a Danxia Sect disciple—they would never slaughter their own.”

Seeing Chu Qingyun waver, Huo Zhongmou pressed on, “Young Lord, you may not know, but Xuanzhen Monastery not only seeks to install a new Danxia Sect leader on Qingyang Peak, their disciples have also grown close with Second Young Master. If not for someone’s incitement, would Xuanzhen’s followers dare insult you to my disciples’ faces?”

Hearing that Xuanzhen Monastery had allied with his rival, Chu Qingyun’s fury surged. He crushed the teacup in his hand. “That bastard was only born of my father’s drunken indiscretion, yet he dares covet the Chu family’s hereditary title—let’s see if Xuanzhen Monastery dares act so wildly before me.”

Seeing the young lord enraged, Huo Zhongmou was greatly reassured. Serving in the young lord’s household brought wealth and status, but he was still a dependent. Previously, when he received the outer court’s letter, he had dreamed of seizing the Danxia Sect leadership, but lacking Chu Qingyun’s support, he had to refuse Mo Zhanpeng’s overtures. Now, with Chu Qingyun’s anger, he could count on his backing against Xuanzhen Monastery. Though powerful, Xuanzhen was no match for the martial might of the Marquis’s household; the outcome was far from certain.

“Young Lord, have you devised a plan?” Huo Zhongmou asked eagerly.

Chu Qingyun gave a cold laugh. “Did you not say that Xuanzhen Monastery will soon support a Danxia Sect elder to ascend as sect leader on Qingyang Peak? Since you aspire to that position and have the outer court’s endorsement, I shall bring my best men to support you on Qingyang Peak. Let us see how Xuanzhen Monastery responds.”

Huo Zhongmou, overjoyed, bowed in gratitude. “Thank you, Young Lord. If I secure the leadership of Danxia Sect, my sect will serve at your command.”

Chu Qingyun pondered for a moment. “Though I wish to help you deal with Xuanzhen Monastery, caution is needed. My father is busy inspecting the border, so I will first inform the clan elders of Xuanzhen Monastery’s misdeeds. If I can persuade a few to accompany us, we will not be outmaneuvered, even if the abbot Cangsong himself appears on Qingyang Peak.”

Huo Zhongmou assented eagerly, inwardly elated. If the Marquis’s clan elders became involved, the sect leader’s seat would be his for the taking.

To lose a disciple, only to gain the leadership of Danxia Sect—Huo Zhongmou could not help but sneer inwardly. This time, Xuanzhen Monastery was truly courting disaster.