My Host Only Marries the Strong

Changsheng stormed back to the Wooden Cloud Sect in a towering rage.

When two disciples at the gate hurried forward to greet him, he lashed his whip across their legs.

“Get lost! You blind fools—can’t you see I’m in a foul mood?” Changsheng snarled, lashing the ground again for emphasis.

He sneered as the terrified disciples scrambled away. Breathing like an enraged bull, he stomped into the main hall.

Inside, a man and a woman were deep in conversation. Seeing his son’s entrance, the man, Changjie, spoke first. “Changsheng, what is this commotion? We could hear you shouting from across the courtyard. Weren’t you supposed to be at Wooden Cloud City collecting rent? Why are you back so early?”

The woman, Mengyun, added with concern, “Did something go wrong on the road?”

Under his parents’ questioning, Changsheng’s fury instantly dissolved into a display of grievance. “Dad, Mom! Someone bullied me! I was utterly humiliated outside the city!”

Hearing this, Mengyun quickly pulled him close to inspect him. Once she saw he wasn’t physically injured, her expression hardened. “Someone dared to bully you on Wooden Cloud Sect territory? They clearly have no respect for our name!”

“What exactly happened?” Changjie demanded.

Changsheng’s lackeys soon arrived and recounted the events outside the gate, embellishing the story with every word.

When they mentioned how Changsheng tried to bypass the Blue Jade Bead, the parents looked indifferent; they didn’t care about the rules of their own city.

However, when the disciples described the red-robed woman’s late Golden Core bodyguard, the parents’ expressions shifted to anger.

“Your father and I have only one child!” Mengyun slammed the table. “Who do these people think they are, daring to threaten you?”

Changsheng straightened his back, feeling emboldened by his parents’ support.

But when the lackeys whispered that the woman intended to build a city nearby to steal their business, both parents stiffened.

An awkward silence fell over the room.

“She spoke with such arrogance.” Mengyun said hesitantly, glancing at her husband. “Could she truly have the backing to do it?”

Changjie’s eyes darted around. He dismissed the servants, and once the family was alone, he spoke slowly. “Our Wooden Cloud Sect has prospered here for a century. We’ve just swallowed the Profound Cloud Sect’s territory—we aren’t easy targets. Even if the Ten Directions Sect sent someone, we could hold our own.”

He rubbed his fingers together and sneered. “Such a bold tone…… if I didn’t know the Sunset Glow City Lord only had a son, I’d think the Young Master of Sunset Glow City had arrived.”

“She’s likely just a spoiled young mistress from some sect. Changsheng, building a city requires immense resources, not just words. She was likely just trying to humiliate you.”

Changsheng nodded eagerly. “Dad is right! But please, you must get revenge for me!”

The parents exchanged a strange, knowing look. Mengyun smiled thinly. “If she is a ‘Young Mistress’ of a wealthy sect, that’s even better.”

“Your father and I have been looking for a way to advance further. This is like someone bringing us a pillow just as we’re getting sleepy.”

“What do you mean?” Changsheng asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

His parents were unwilling to elaborate further.

They simply dismissed him, telling him to go and amuse himself and promising they would certainly vent his frustrations for him.

Before he left, they instructed him to send men to Wooden Cloud City to keep a close watch on the young mistress and her servant.

Once Changsheng had departed in high spirits, the couple rose and made their way to the study.

After activating a soundproofing barrier, they opened a hidden door and descended the stairs deep into the earth.

In that sunless underground chamber, flickering candlelight illuminated an altar.

Upon it sat a humanoid puppet carved from ink-black jade. Its dark, polished surface was stained with a sinister blood-red hue by the dancing flames.

The moment the couple entered the chamber and met the puppet’s gaze, a bone-chilling sensation crawled up their spines.

Their hair stood on end; the instant they bowed their heads, cold sweat soaked through their robes, drenching their backs.

“Changjie and Mengyun of the Wooden Cloud Sect pay our respects to the Lord.” The couple prostrated themselves before the puppet, remaining frozen in their kowtow.

The puppet gave no reaction, appearing to be nothing more than a lifeless, obsidian object.

After a long silence, a bead of cold sweat dripped from Changjie’s forehead and splashed onto the stone floor.

He whispered, “We do not mean to disturb you, Lord, but we have a humble request. A formidable figure has appeared in Wooden Cloud City.”

“I have already sent men to investigate her origins, but we ask that you deal with this person’s sect…… just as you handled the Profound Cloud Sect.”

A bone-chilling laugh resonated through the air, followed by a harsh, grating voice. “Your appetites are quite large. Was the Profound Cloud Sect not enough for you to feast upon?”

Still kneeling on the ground, Mengyun forced a smile and replied, “It is not that our greed is boundless, but this woman is utterly unreasonable.”

“She first bullied our son, then threatened to build a city outside our own to steal our livelihood. Her behavior is no different from a common bandit!”

“We could have punished her ourselves, but fearing endless repercussions, we felt it best to settle the matter once and for all.”

“Indeed!” Changjie added. “If you strike, Lord, it shall be as it was before—the people and their treasures will belong to you. We only ask for their territory!”

The puppet on the altar split its painted red lips, letting out a rasping “He-he” laugh. “Don’t think I am blind to your petty schemes.” it spoke.

“However, I have been cooped up in this wretched place long enough. It is time I went out for some fresh air.”

A mass of black shadow slithered out from the jade puppet—it was the primordial soul of a demon cultivator.

Changjieand Mengyun showed not a shred of revulsion toward his demonic nature; instead, they remained prostrate, addressing him with absolute reverence as “Lord.”

“Since we are dealing with the sect behind her, I will not enter the city.” the demon soul declared. “Lure her out, and I shall handle the rest.”

The couple brightened with joy. “As you command!”

“And what of the people I tasked you to find?” The demon’s eyes shifted, casting a bone-chilling gaze upon them.

Changjie and Mengyun lowered their heads even further, their voices trembling. “Lord, we have turned our cities upside down, but we found no cultivator from the Eastern Continent surnamed Li.”

“As for the Insight Academy Palace…… after the Five Continents Competition ended, all the chosen participants entered the Academy. We have no way of discovering the whereabouts of the one named Xue Mengtao.”

“Do not fret. You will be able to find her very soon.” The demon’s lips curled into a cruel, bloodthirsty smile. “She has already delivered herself to our doorstep……”