Solitary Training (I)

The next morning, Chen Wentian left Black Rock City with Wu Qianyu. They flew east until they came to the border between Cloudy Mountain Province and the wilderness. He would leave her alone here to continue her practice. Since she had made a minor breakthrough with the Touch of Pain, it was important to keep the momentum going. Comprehension and advancement were often tied to momentary inspiration. If that opportunity passed, it would be a huge waste.

They stopped in the middle of a deserted forest. It was silent all around. Any monsters in the vicinity had already hidden or fled at the presence of an immortal.

Chen Wentian held Wu Qianyu's hand and returned her spatial bag to her, "I've refilled it with all the supplies you'll need; food, spiritual stones, medicine. Don't hesitate to use them. Don't be stingy."

She nodded and transformed the camouflaging spatial bag into a necklace. "Master, thank you."

"This is your first time stepping into a true wilderness. I want to be with you but I can't. It is something you must tackle yourself. I won't step in to help unless your life is in danger. Understand?"

"I understand."

"That said, you can still take some risks. Tortoise Can Fly and the Purple Jade Sword will help you greatly. You know how to use them to their full potential."

"I know."

"Practice and learn all those sword arts in your spare time. Use it as inspiration to develop your own sword style for pain energy. The Black River Sword is too flash and ostentatious but it is good at collecting spiritual energy and preparing the user for launching powerful attacks. The Sword of Painted Mountain focuses on accuracy and endurance, it is also good. Grand Mountain Temple's style is breadth of knowledge, that's also good…"

Wu Qianyu put a finger to his lips and smiled, "Master, I am prepared."

Chen Wentian knew she was but he was still worried. The wilderness was no joke. He had been in the same position as her just a few years ago and he almost died many times. He wanted to say something else about all the sword arts he had gathered for her but he couldn't think of anything.

Deep down in his heart, he knew she would be fine. That she would be fine without him. He wanted her to need him, to rely on him, but he knew it was detrimental to her immortal Dao. Aside from dual cultivation arts, most immortal paths were a solitary affair. It was a single being's struggle against their mortality, against the cycle of samsara, against the laws of the world. There was nobody else that could walk the path for them, only themselves.

He hugged her one last time, gave her a kiss, and slapped her butt for good measure. "I'm leaving. See you in a month."

Wu Qianyu nodded and waved serenely as he flew away.

---

Zhou Guanyu emerged from the teleportation array and arrived in the central square of Thousand Flower City. The city square was crowded bustling but everyone seemed to pause as the instantly recognizable attire and appearance of a Zhou Clan member attracted everyone's attention.

"Young Master Zhou!"

"Young Master Zhou!"

He was promptly greeted by familiar guards and whisked away in a gilded carriage. This only served to cause even more commotion as the common bystanders clamored to get a better look of the handsome and elite member of the Zhou Clan. To satisfy his own vanity, Zhou Guanyu even leaned out of the window to bask in the adoration of the crowd.

A short ride later, he arrived at the Zhou Clan complex, four city squares located beside the river that belonged to the clan. Their roots were still in River East City but the whole clan was rapidly moving their operations to this brand-new city, the site of their future prospects and efforts. This complex was their new home and would be their home for many generations to come.

He entered the third building which was the residences for the younger generation. He walked through the corridors that were decorated with gold, statues, paintings, and pots of rare flowers and herbs. Rows of guards and gaggles of female servants greeted him at every step.

He arrived at his quarters which was no less impressive, an expansive room with lavish furnishings as well as suits of armor in glass cases and fancy weapons from far-off lands hanging from the walls. Everything cost a small fortune. The contents in this room put together were equal to his branch family's entire wealth just a year ago. Now, just his branch family alone controlled businesses and assets worth over a million gold taels and even that amount was rising fast every day.

All of this was due to one person. The transformation of their clan was due to one person.

Zhou Guanyu walked up to a large, life-sized painting that hung prominently from one wall. It depicted their lord, their supreme benefactor, Immortal Blue Dragon Chen Wentian.

Zhou Guanyu believe that his status, wealth, power and influence were all due to the venerable immortal, instead of Zhou Ziyun. It was a view held by many within the clan, especially among those in the branch family. By now, everyone knew the rumors of how she had spread her legs for Lord Chen at an opportune moment and won his favor. Nobody blamed her for her actions but many didn't respect her for it.

It was especially the case for young men like Zhou Guanyu. He was of the same generation as Zhou Ziyun. How could he sing praises about a woman, even if she was their clan's mistress? Instead, he revered the sect master of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. As a man, he couldn't help but be jealous of Chen Wentian's beautiful disciples. But there was also deep respect and a great sense of motivation. If Chen Wentian could do it, then he, Zhou Guanyu, could also do it.

He stared at the painting for a while until there was a knock at the door and a familiar presence.

"Father."

The elder Zhou Wanli entered the room and shook his head when he saw what Zhou Guanyu had been looking at.

"I thought you were going to bring home a daughter-in-law as beautiful as the immortal's disciples. What happened? What went wrong in Black Rock City?"

"Nalan Wan'er, she has fallen out of my grasp." Zhou Guanyu said.

She had been his target all along. Aside from angels such as Long Yifei and Jasmine, Nalan Wan'er was the most beautiful maiden he had ever set eyes on.

Killing her fiancé had been his intention all along. He had manipulated the Shattered Peak Sect into doing his bidding without them even knowing it. He had planned on swooping in at the last moment to rescue her and win her heart in a heroic fashion.

Zhou Wanli sighed and patted his son's shoulder, "Who could have known Wu Qianyu would have come to Black Rock City at that moment. Who could have predicted that she would cause such a mess right when your plan was about to succeed. It is unfortunate…"

"I was so close!" Zhou Guanyu said, slamming his fist on the table. "That Wu Qianyu…"

"What can we do? She is the lord immortal's disciple. Just take the loss and move on."

"Doesn't matter if we can or can't. What if we should do something?"

"What do you mean?" The father asked.

The son leaned in and his voice became a whisper, "Wu Qianyu will only cause the Zhou Clan more problems in the future, now that she has become the Punishment Elder of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. She is our mistress' direct competitor. It would be greatly beneficial to us if something bad were to happen to her that would let her fall out of favor with Lord Chen."

Zhou Wanli grabbed the front of Zhou Guanyu's robe, "You… do you know how dangerous your words are?"

Zhou Guanyu didn't flinch, "I know. But I also know that Wu Qianyu left Black Rock City a few days ago and headed for the eastern wilderness. Lord Chen has returned without her, meaning she is there all by herself. There is no one to blame if a little accident befell her."

"You…" Zhou Wanli glared at his son for a long time but he couldn't find the proper reprimand. "You're on your own on this one. Don't do anything that will ruin the Zhou Clan."

"I know!"

---

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