Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

In the nunnery chamber, sandalwood incense wafted through the air.

Watching Zhou Qingyi’s departing figure, a flicker of pity crossed Sun Wanru’s face. "Sister Yuniang, encouraging Qingyi to move against her own aunt... isn’t that too cruel?"

Li Yuniang took her hand and said softly, "Little Sister Wanru, you’re just too soft-hearted. Have you already forgotten what the Zhou Family did to us?

Back at Mirror Mountain, our families poured so much blood, sweat, and money into painstakingly collecting those fifty thousand stones of grain. Grain prices were soaring then. A single sale would have netted us two or three hundred thousand taels of shining silver. But what happened?

The Zhou Family just snatched the grain away without a word, then had the gall to sell it back to our Commerce Association at a high price, taking a full one hundred fifty thousand taels. That’s not just robbery; it’s blatant humiliation! It’s absolutely intolerable. Have you forgotten? Uncle Sun was so furious he coughed up blood."

Sun Wanru’s face paled at the memory of Zhou Qingyi coming to her family’s Commerce Association last year to negotiate the sale.

It wasn’t until the silver was paid and the grain was being warehoused and inspected that they discovered the faint, secret markings their families had originally made on the inside of the sacks.

The image of her father, uncle, and the others so enraged they nearly fell ill was still vivid in her mind.

"But..."

She still hesitated.

"No ’buts.’"

Li Yuniang said, "If anyone is to blame, it’s the Zhou Family. They were merciless first, so don’t blame us for being cruel. Besides, Wanru, have you ever considered why that fiend at Mirror Mountain specifically targeted Uncle Tian’s family? And why were all the witnesses silenced? Who would believe there wasn’t someone pulling the strings? I suspect, nine times out of ten, it was the Zhou Family behind it all."

She scoffed. "The Zhou Family probably never imagined that idiot Zhou Qingyi would be so brazen as to sell the grain right here in Liyang. That’s how we found our opening and caught a glimpse of the truth. It just goes to show you, heaven’s net is vast; though its mesh is wide, nothing escapes it."

Sun Wanru took a deep breath, suppressing the last shred of pity in her heart. "Then... what’s our next move?"

Li Yuniang chuckled. "Don’t you worry, little sister. I’ll go back and inform my husband about today’s events. As for what’s next... we need to find someone to pose as your uncle from Bazhou, prepare lavish gifts, and go to the Zhou Family to propose marriage. We have to marry Zhou Shuwei off as quickly as possible to prevent any complications. Once the Zhou Family loses her to manage the big picture, all that’s left is Zhou Qingyi. She’ll be putty in our hands."

With their plan settled, the two made a show of piously praying before the nunnery’s Buddha statue. They even drew a lucky fortune stick before finally departing.

The horse-drawn carriage traveled along the flat main road at a steady pace, heading toward the Commandery City.

After about three or four li, they came to a gentle bend in the road.

Suddenly, the horse pulling the carriage let out a sharp neigh.

The carriage jolted violently and, with the dull thud of something heavy hitting the ground, came to an abrupt stop.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, Sun Wanru pitched forward, but Li Yuniang managed to grab her.

"What’s going on?"

Li Yuniang, alarmed, called out sharply.

Dead silence answered from outside the carriage.

A sense of alarm flared in Li Yuniang’s heart. She lifted the front curtain of the carriage to look outside.

The sturdy driver had collapsed silently beside the wheel, his eyes wide open. He was already dead.

The jolt from moments before had been the wheel rolling over his body.

"The driver... he... he’s dead!"

Sun Wanru, peeking through a crack and seeing the horrifying scene, was scared out of her wits. She clutched Li Yuniang’s sleeve, her entire body trembling.

Li Yuniang’s gaze swept across the endless, withered yellow fields and scattered, bare tree trunks on either side of the road. She raised her voice. "Which esteemed senior is playing a joke on two defenseless women? Please, show yourself!"

Her voice carried far across the open plain.

A graceful, slender figure emerged.

The woman wore a simple, pale white dress. Her figure was exquisite and her face stunningly beautiful, yet she exuded an air of languor that was utterly at odds with the situation.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on her lips as her gaze fell directly on Li Yuniang.

Li Yuniang stared at the woman’s gorgeous face, her brows knitting together.

’I’ve definitely seen this face somewhere before.’

The beautiful woman stopped about ten feet from the carriage and gave a soft laugh, her voice so seductive it could melt bone. "What’s the matter? It’s only been a few years, and Sister Yuniang doesn’t recognize her little sister anymore?"

"You? Linglong?"

Li Yuniang’s expression flickered with surprise. She suddenly chopped the side of her hand against Sun Wanru’s neck, knocking her out instantly.

Only then did she stare suspiciously at Linglong. "Didn’t Sister Jing Hong say you... that you had already perished? How can you be here?"

Linglong covered her mouth with a light laugh. "From your tone, sister, you seem rather disappointed that I’m still alive."

Li Yuniang’s voice became sweet. "What are you saying, little sister? I’m just shocked, that’s all. It’s a blessing from the Bodhisattva that you’re safe and sound. I wonder, why are you waiting for me here today? What guidance do you have for me?"

The smile on Linglong’s face faded. "That’s a question I should be asking you, sister. Instead of serving the sect with peace of mind, why are you so intent on scheming among the Noble Families of Liyang and stirring up trouble? Could it be... you’re acting on a secret order from the sect?"

Li Yuniang’s eyes darted around warily before she let out a small laugh. "I should be the one asking you that, little sister. How could you suddenly appear all alone in this desolate wilderness? I remember you being quite timid. How have you become so brave? Or perhaps... you have some other support and have already set an ambush?"

Linglong’s eyes danced with flirtatious charm, and her tone was languid. "Rest assured, sister. I’m just a lonely ghost now; what support could I possibly have? I am well and truly the only one here."

Hearing such a firm declaration, the tension in Li Yuniang’s heart eased, and she grew considerably bolder.

She snorted. "Since you have such extraordinary means to hide your identity and escape the sect’s notice, you should have stayed hidden and saved your own skin. Why show yourself and wade into these muddy waters? Are you tired of living?"

"Oh?"

Linglong raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "So you’re saying your actions are indeed related to the sect. The thirty thousand bolts of silk that were stolen from the Zhou Family... was that the sect’s work?"

Li Yuniang shook her. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. What thirty thousand bolts of silk?"

"Heh heh..."

Linglong laughed softly and shook her head. "Sister Yuniang, we were like sisters once. Why bother hiding things? I heard every single word of the advice you gave the young miss of the Zhou Family back in Jingxin Nunnery. Tsk, tsk. Your plan is so intricate, so flawless. I’m truly impressed."

At these words, intense killing intent flared in Li Yuniang’s eyes. Her voice turned cold. "Since you heard everything... don’t blame your sister for being ruthless."

Before the words had even left her mouth, Li Yuniang flicked her wrist. An Embroidery Needle, as fine as a hair and glinting with a cold blue light, shot toward the center of Linglong’s forehead.

But Linglong seemed to have anticipated the sudden, vicious attack.

She flung her sleeves wide, and two lengths of White Silk, as white as snow and as pliable as cotton, shot out from within them as if alive.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Though launched second, the White Silk arrived first. One length coiled around the speeding Embroidery Needle.

The other lashed out like a long whip, carrying a sharp gale as it swept straight toward Li Yuniang’s midsection.

The Embroidery Needle was deftly deflected by the White Silk, changing its trajectory to embed itself deep in the ground.

Meanwhile, Li Yuniang sidestepped at the last possible second, narrowly dodging the attack from the second length of White Silk.

The two broke apart after a single exchange, each retreating two paces.

"The Spirit Realm?"

A look of genuine shock appeared on Li Yuniang’s face as she stared at Linglong. "When did you break through to the Spirit Realm? You’ve hidden your strength well. I have to admit, I’ve underestimated you!"

Linglong, holding her White Silk, smiled dazzlingly. "You flatter me, sister. Your own progress is what’s truly astonishing. Your Plum Blossom Needle technique has become even more cunning and vicious."

Though her words were polite, she didn’t dare let her guard down for a moment.

Li Yuniang had broken through to the Spirit Realm several years before her. Although they were both at the Spirit Realm First Level, Li Yuniang’s strength was considerably greater.

Without another word, their figures blurred as they clashed once more.

Li Yuniang’s movements were erratic. Her ten fingers danced like butterflies flitting through flowers, sending a storm of Embroidery Needles at Linglong from every conceivable angle.

The sky filled with the glint of needles, radiating a bone-chilling aura.

Linglong’s two lengths of White Silk danced, forming an impenetrable defense. They whipped, coiled, entangled, and wrapped in a relentless yet pliable assault. A fierce wind howled in their wake.

Both specialized in fighting styles that relied on agility and unpredictable movements.

For a time, the air was a blur of silver glints and flashing white shadows, the two locked in an inextricable struggle.

In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged dozens of blows.

Unable to gain the upper hand after a prolonged assault, Li Yuniang grew increasingly anxious.

Seizing an opening, she abruptly floated backward several zhang, putting distance between herself and Linglong.

Then, with a flip of her wrist, she produced a flute of pure green jade from her sleeve.

The next moment, a mournful, heartbreaking melody filled the air.

Seeing this, Linglong lowered her arms and stood still. She did not attack, but simply watched Li Yuniang play.

Li Yuniang played for about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn. Seeing Linglong still standing there completely at ease, she grew even more surprised and suspicious. "You... Why haven’t you run?" she asked, astonished.

Linglong blinked her bright, beautiful eyes, a puzzled look on her face. "Why would I run?"

The words had barely left her lips.

Two extremely faint sounds of something slicing through the air were heard.

The next moment, two figures appeared silently to Li Yuniang’s left and right.

The newcomers were both men dressed in gray, with plain, unremarkable faces.

But the aura they emanated was far more condensed and powerful than Li Yuniang’s.

Upon appearing, the two immediately cupped their fists in a respectful salute to Li Yuniang. "Miss Yu."

Seeing the two men, Li Yuniang’s face instantly filled with confidence and pride. "Little Sister Linglong, you should have just stayed safely in hiding. Why show up again, just to seek your own death?"

She pointed at Linglong, her voice turning cold. "Wei Yi, Wei Er, seize her!"

The two men in gray acknowledged the command, their killing intent instantly locking onto Linglong.

Linglong, however, neither dodged nor retreated. She simply let out a faint sigh, her voice laced with a delicate, aggrieved tone. "Master, if you don’t make a move soon, I’m really going to perish, and they’ll turn me in for a reward..."

Wei Yi and Wei Er froze, warily scanning their surroundings. They fully released their Divine Sense but perceived no abnormal presence.

Wei Yi snorted. "Empty tricks!"

The very instant they prepared to attack.

All three of them simultaneously felt a killing intent materialize out of thin air—an intent so bone-chilling it felt capable of freezing their very souls, pressing down on their hearts like a colossal mountain.

Horrified, they spun around, tracing the killing intent to its source.

There, on the roof of the parked carriage, a person had appeared without a sound.