Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Master Was Cheated On Too? A Thousand Cavalry Charge Straight for Medicine King Valley

In the morning, Liu Yuheng woke and was about to call an attendant for hot water, but when she opened the door, she found senior disciple Jiang Yebai and junior disciple Song Aqiao standing outside.

"Ma-Master’s wife." The two froze for a moment upon seeing Liu Yuheng, then greeted her in unison.

Liu Yuheng was also taken aback. She smoothed her disheveled hair and asked, "When did you get here?"

"We just arrived," Jiang Yebai said solemnly. "We’re here representing our master at the Medicine King Valley’s Sect Leader succession ceremony. We heard the Young Master was staying here, so we came to pay our respects."

’How is our master’s wife in the Young Master’s room?’

’And she looks like she just woke up.’

’Could it be...?’

Jiang Yebai subconsciously tightened his grip on his sword.

’Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Maybe the attendant remembered wrong. This must be her room.’

"Who is it?" Hearing voices, Pei Shaoqing walked out while getting dressed. He smiled and greeted the pair, "Ah, if it isn’t Young Hero Jiang and Heroine Song."

Jiang Yebai froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning.

Song Aqiao’s eyes widened in shock.

’Master... has been cuckolded!’

Seeing the looks on their faces, Liu Yuheng knew at once they had misunderstood. A wave of panic hit her, but she feigned calmness and quickly explained, "The inn has been full these past few days, so the Young Master had no choice but to share a room with me."

"I regard Aunt Liu as a senior," Pei Shaoqing added. "Please don’t get the wrong idea, Young Hero Jiang."

Jiang Yebai sneered inwardly. ’Coming from Pei Shaoqing, those words have zero credibility.’

But he still trusted his master’s wife, so he could only suppress his suspicion and unease. "There’s no need to explain, Master’s wife, Young Master," he said. "I naturally believe nothing happened between you. We people of the Jianghu aren’t bound by trivial formalities."

’Still,’ he decided, ’I have to go back and tell Master about this. Pei Shaoqing has a history of stealing other men’s women. I can’t let him defile our master’s wife.’

’At the very least, Master needs to be on his guard.’

"Shouldn’t all the Jianghu members in the city be rushing to Medicine King Valley by now?" Pei Shaoqing asked Jiang Yebai.

"Yes." Jiang Yebai nodded, pursing his lips. "The road from Yazhou to Medicine King Valley is packed with people from the Martial Arts world. If I hadn’t heard that you were staying in the city, Young Master, I would have headed to the valley myself."

"In that case, wait and we’ll leave together." Pei Shaoqing smiled, then shouted to the floor below, "Attendant, bring up hot water and breakfast!"

"Please wait a moment, Baron of Pingyang! I’ll go prepare it right away!" the attendant yelled back from downstairs.

During breakfast, Pei Shaoqing saw Song Aqiao clinging to Jiang Yebai like a newlywed wife and knew they had made their relationship official. "Young Hero Jiang," he asked, "when do you plan to wed?"

"Next month," Jiang Yebai replied, his expression complicated. "I’ll be sure to send you an invitation then, Young Master."

In truth, he didn’t love Song Aqiao. He was merely following Pei Shaoqing’s advice, deciding to marry her to prove to Lan’Er that he had truly let her go.

He didn’t want Lan’Er to live with any guilt.

Song Aqiao either hadn’t noticed this or simply didn’t care if she had. She snuggled blissfully against Jiang Yebai, looking adorably shy.

Pei Shaoqing sized her up. ’Though not as beautiful as Zhao Zilan, she’s still a looker. She has a sweet, girl-next-door charm and a voluptuous figure. Jiang Yebai might not have gotten his first choice, but his second choice is pretty good too.’

Liu Yuheng said in surprise, "You’re getting married next month? Why didn’t Senior Brother mention this to me?"

She couldn’t help but resent her senior brother a little. ’How could he decide something so important without even discussing it with her?’

"Master’s wife, it was only decided recently," Jiang Yebai replied. "Master intended for me to go to Tongzhou and tell you in person after the ceremony at Medicine King Valley."

Liu Yuheng nodded, a faint smile gracing her lips. "To think that in the blink of an eye, Yebai is starting a family of his own. I am truly happy for you. Aqiao is a good girl; you must not bully her from now on."

"He never bullies me, Master’s wife," Song Aqiao chimed in, hugging Jiang Yebai’s arm with a wide smile.

Jiang Yebai forced a smile and nodded. "Don’t worry, Master’s wife. I won’t."

Though he did not love Song Aqiao, he would still fulfill his duties as a husband to protect and care for her.

After breakfast, Pei Shaoqing rode General Hei out of the city, while Liu Yuheng and Song Aqiao shared a horse.

After crossing the moat, Pei Shaoqing pulled his horse to a stop.

"What is it, Young Master?" Jiang Yebai asked, puzzled.

Pei Shaoqing didn’t answer. Instead, he took a Whistling Arrow—one exclusive to the Jing’an Guard—from his Storage Ring and fired it.

WHOOSH—BANG!

The Whistling Arrow soared into the air and exploded with a bang into a cluster of crimson light. In that instant, the stone-paved roads of Yazhou City began to tremble, and the bronze bells on the eaves of the gate tower jangled.

It was as if the entire city had been awakened by the blast. Accompanied by the frantic thundering of hooves, countless figures poured from the city gates—silhouettes in black with white faces, like a legion of demons.

"HYA! HYA! HYA!"

The neighing of warhorses rolled like thunder, and the dust kicked up by their iron hooves nearly obscured the city walls. A black flood surged toward them, carrying a piercing, murderous air.

Song Aqiao and Jiang Yebai instinctively gripped their reins, knuckles turning white. They had never witnessed such a staggering spectacle. It felt as if a colossal boulder was pressing on their chests, making it hard to breathe.

They had seen the Jing’an Guard before, but never so many, and never in full armor. Suddenly, they understood why even the Jianghu had to submit to the authority of the Court.

’If the Jing’an Guard alone possessed such a crushing presence, what would tens of thousands of battle-hardened, iron-clad soldiers be like?’

’Could even a Grandmaster withstand the might of such an army?’

Before the dust could settle, an agile figure shot through the air. Thirty feet out, Liu Wenfeng leaped from his horse, landing steadily before General Hei. Dropping to one knee, he placed a fist over his heart in a military salute. "Yazhou Jing’an Guard Hundred Households Commander Liu Wenfeng and his unit report for orders!"

Immediately after, several more black-clad figures descended from the air.

"Bazhou Hundred Households Commander Zhou Li reports for orders!"

"Sui State Jing’an Guard Hundred Households Commander..."

"Mei State Jing’an Guard Hundred Households Commander..."

One by one, figures landed like falling stars. In the blink of an eye, twenty Hundred Households Commanders from the twenty-one counties of Shu State had knelt in a single row before Pei Shaoqing, heads bowed as they awaited his command.

Behind them, nearly two thousand Jing’an Guards dismounted in perfect unison. The thud of their boots hitting the ground startled countless birds from the woods. Then, as one, they roared, "We greet the Baron of Pingyang!"

The unified cry shot to the heavens, the sound wave rolling for miles and causing the surface of the moat to ripple.

Seated high on his horse, Pei Shaoqing gazed down at the scene, the hem of his robes whipping in the wind. A heroic pride swelled in his chest. He gave a single command: "Move out!"

With a sharp tug of the reins, General Hei reared up, let out a long neigh, then spun around and broke into a wild gallop.

"HYA! HYA! HYA!"

The thousands of riders followed close behind, a dense, low-hanging storm cloud about to unleash a furious tempest.

...............

In Medicine King Valley, the Medicine King Hall was packed with esteemed guests. Outside, the tables and chairs set up in the open plaza were also completely full.

Song Qiaosheng, the Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley, was over eighty but still vigorous, possessing the transcendent air of a wise sage. He was currently laughing and chatting cheerfully with the guests.

"Sect Leader Song, you’re as distinguished as ever! One can’t see a trace of age on you. Why the rush to retire?"

"I’m getting old, I’m getting old," Song Qiaosheng replied. "My energy is not what it once was, and my Martial Arts have declined significantly. It’s best to support the younger generation while I’m still around."

"Master, Elder Wen’s representative has arrived," Wu Tian said, walking up to Song Qiaosheng’s side with excitement and anticipation.

’With Elder Wen’s man here, and Prefect Xu attending in person, surely Pei Shaoqing won’t dare to cause a scene today, right?’

"Pardon me," Song Qiaosheng said, cupping his hands in salute to the guests. He then asked Wu Tian in a low voice, "Who has come?"

"The head steward of the Wen Mansion," Wu Tian said.

Song Qiaosheng immediately strode outside. Even the steward of the Wen Mansion was important enough for him to welcome personally.

After all, the man was representing the Wen Mansion.

And a steward was always the master’s most trusted confidant.

From a distance, Song Qiaosheng spotted Wen Liang, the steward of the Wen Mansion, and quickened his pace to greet him. "Elder Wen, we meet again. I trust you’ve been in good health?"

Wen Liang was in his sixties, with a sallow complexion and a powerful build. He was clearly a martial artist himself.

"The last I recall seeing you was the year before last, when Sect Leader Song visited the estate to refine a Calming Pill for our lord," Wen Liang replied with a chuckle, returning the salute. He then turned to Wu Tian. "And this must be Pharmacist Wu, the one who will soon lead Medicine King Valley? A fine talent indeed. I wonder how much of your master’s skill you’ve managed to learn."

"This disciple of mine is more talented than I am," Song Qiaosheng said, praising his student. "In the future, he can easily take my place in refining pills and preparing treatments for Elder Wen."

Wen Liang knew Song Qiaosheng was not one for idle boasts, so he gave Wu Tian another, more surprised look. "It’s true what they say: a great master produces a brilliant disciple."

"As I am new to leading the Medicine King Valley, I hope I can count on your guidance in the future, Elder Wen," Wu Tian said respectfully.

Wen Liang laughed. "But of course."

"Sect Leader, Prefect Xu has arrived!" At that moment, a disciple came running over to report.

Wen Liang was surprised. "Prefect Xu came in person?"

It was rare for an official to appear at such an event.

Song Qiaosheng sighed helplessly. "This old man failed to properly discipline his disciples. While traveling in Tongzhou, they were reckless and ended up clashing with the local Jing’an Guard, injuring some of their men. The Baron of Pingyang is enraged and has sworn to enter our valley today to hold us accountable. To avoid becoming a laughingstock in the Jianghu, I had no choice but to shamelessly ask Prefect Xu to come and keep things in order."

Wen Liang blinked. "Just for a few injured men? Why such a fuss? Today is a momentous occasion for Medicine King Valley. Even if the Baron of Pingyang seeks to settle a score, he shouldn’t have chosen today to do it. It shows a complete lack of decorum."

"But it was Medicine King Valley that was disrespectful first," Song Qiaosheng said with a wry smile. "We can only get through today first, then find a way to appease the Baron of Pingyang’s anger."

Wen Liang gave a serene smile. "If the Baron of Pingyang bullies you too much, I am willing to say a few words on your behalf."

When away from home, he represented the Wen Mansion. In his eyes, Pei Shaoqing would have to give the Wen Mansion at least some face.

In the Wen Mansion, he was Steward Wen.

But outside the Wen Mansion, he was Elder Wen!

"Then this old one is grateful to you, Elder Wen," Song Qiaosheng said quickly. "I must excuse myself for now."

"Go on, Sect Leader Song. Don’t keep Prefect Xu waiting," Wen Liang said with an understanding smile.

After a quick bow, Wu Tian hurried to catch up with his master.

He could now finally relax.

’Pei Shaoqing won’t be able to stir up any storms here.’

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