Cultivating in Different Professions

"Even if the person who stopped me tonight might be that girl from the Luo family, we still can’t rule out the Fragrance Sect, right?"

Hu Dazhen asked in confusion.

"The person who fought me tonight definitely used Fragrance Sect techniques. I’m certain of it."

"With the Luo family’s resources, getting their hands on a Fragrance Sect technique would be all too easy."

Hu Gongxiu said grimly, "She deliberately used Fragrance Sect techniques to mislead you.

The Luo family has been getting cozy with Su Mu. Do they really think everyone else is blind?

Fourteenth Uncle, think about it. If it really were someone from the Fragrance Sect, the Luo family would be the ones who should be worried, not our Hu family."

"Forget it. Whether it’s really the Fragrance Sect or the Luo family pulling strings from behind, what do we do now?"

Hu Dazhen said.

Hu Gongxiu thought for a moment, a cold sneer spreading across his face.

"Hmph. Since someone wants to use the Fragrance Sect’s name to target our Hu family’s Blood Transformation Realm expert, then we’ll simply beat them at their own game!"

Hu Gongxiu declared.

Hu Dazhen didn’t quite understand and stared wide-eyed at Hu Gongxiu.

"Didn’t that girl tell you that the Hu family’s Blood Transformation Realm experts are not to enter the East City District? If we really send someone, they won’t hesitate to kill them and then blame it on the Fragrance Sect. When that happens, we’ll have no choice but to suffer in silence,"

Hu Gongxiu explained. "After all, the Fragrance Sect was wiped out years ago. Even if a few remnants are still around, where would we find them? There would be no one to take revenge on.

But if they can use the Fragrance Sect’s name, so can we.

What if we use a Blood Transformation Realm expert as bait to lure that girl out, pretend we don’t know who she is, insist she’s a member of the Fragrance Sect, and then kill her?"

Intense killing intent blazed in Hu Gongxiu’s eyes.

’Why should my Hu family be the one to suffer such a loss? My son is still lying in bed, yet all of you get to live so well?’

’You won’t even let me kill a puny little Su Mu, so I’ll kill someone important and show you what happens!’

"If that Luo Anning girl really dies, won’t the Luo family go insane?"

Hu Dazhen said.

"I’m already going insane. Guang Shao is still lying in that bed,"

Hu Gongxiu said coldly.

’Hu Guangshao is someone our Hu family poured all its resources into cultivating. Why is it that Hu Guangshao can be injured, but she, Luo Anning, cannot die?’

"I’m not as smart as you when it comes to scheming. Just tell me what to do. Let me know when you need me to make a move."

Hu Dazhen thought for a moment, his mind feeling like a bowl of mush, and said.

"We can’t rush this,"

Hu Gongxiu said thoughtfully. "We only have one chance. It has to be foolproof. That girl won’t be easy to kill. We need to come up with a meticulous plan."

...

「Outer City, East City District.」

Inside the Ma Mansion, the seat of the Ronghua Association, Ma Shuangcheng frowned.

"Has the Qingcha Sect lost its mind? They’re at odds with us, but they’re on even worse terms with the Government Office. Why would they help the East City Bureau?"

He had been feeling quite pleased with himself for cutting off the East City Bureau’s food and supplies these past few days.

But he never expected the Qingcha Sect to suddenly intervene and restore the East City Bureau’s supply line.

The food supply in the East City District had always been controlled by their two factions. As long as neither of them sold to the East City Bureau, the Bureau would have to go to the other three districts to buy grain and produce.

And if the East City Bureau tried to transport grain and produce from the other three districts, his Ronghua Association had countless ways to ensure those shipments never arrived.

But with the Qingcha Sect’s interference, his plan to pull the rug out from under them had become a complete joke.

"I think that bunch of madmen just can’t stand to see us doing well,"

a man in brocade robes said. "They’d rather take a loss themselves than see us gain the upper hand in the struggle against the East City Bureau."

Ma Shuangcheng’s brow furrowed. Then again, the Qingcha Sect was full of irrational madmen. It seemed they were capable of anything.

"President, we’ve angered the East City Bureau so badly. Now that their problems are solved, won’t they come after us?"

another man asked with concern.

Everyone present was a member of the Ronghua Association, each a wealthy merchant or member of the gentry from the East City District.

These past few days, they had all witnessed Su Mu’s ruthless efficiency firsthand. The East City Bureau’s jails were already filled to bursting.

"What is there to fear?"

Ma Shuangcheng said coldly. "We’re legitimate businessmen. Would Su Mu dare to touch us?"

Everyone exchanged glances. Who among them could truly claim to be a legitimate businessman, completely free of any illegal dealings?

Whose business didn’t involve at least a few illicit activities?

A business that clean could never have grown so large.

"That fellow Su has invited me to dinner in three days."

Ma Shuangcheng said. "It seems he’s recognized the power of our Ronghua Association and wants to sit down and negotiate.

Knowing Su Mu’s style, he wouldn’t be doing this unless he knew he had no way to deal with us.

Rest assured, everyone. When the time comes, I will secure the greatest possible benefits for our Ronghua Association."

"This whole affair with Su Mu might actually turn out to be a good thing for the Ronghua Association. All those businesses he shut down? We can just swoop in and take them over."

Ma Shuangcheng’s face was a mask of utter confidence, as if victory were already in his grasp.

...

Time flows like a river, never ceasing day or night.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

[Name: Su Mu]

[Identity: Ghostwriter / Taiping Bureau White Clothes / East City Bureau Captain (Seventh-Rank)]

[Points: 4,160]

[Realm: Third Stage of Body Tempering (Extreme Skin Tempering Realm, Extreme Flesh Tempering)]

[Cultivation Technique: Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique (Major Accomplishment/+)...]

[Martial Arts: Mountain-Opening Saber Technique (Entry/+), Kan Water Realm (Minor Accomplishment), Xun Wind Realm (Minor Accomplishment), Archery (Entry/+)]