Martial Dao: I Can Enhance My Talents

Chapter 361: Chapter 358: A Visit to Demand Accountability

When Fang Han said that Duan Wuya had personally admitted to being hired by Wan Yuntian, Elder Zhou’s brow furrowed sharply.

"Wan Yuntian?"

Elder Zhou’s voice suddenly turned cold, filled with suppressed fury.

"The same Young Master of the Tower from the Ten Thousand Treasures Building who spread rumors and had to make a formal apology last time?"

"The very same."

Fang Han nodded.

"Duan Wuya admitted it himself. Wan Yuntian gave him a five-hundred-year-old Blood Coral and asked him to take my life."

Elder Zhou fell silent.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest with a soft TAP, TAP.

After a moment, he looked up at Fang Han, his gaze holding not just anger, but also a hint of scrutiny and surprise.

"Are you saying that when you fought Duan Wuya, not only did you not lose, but you actually defeated him, forcing him to use an Escape Secret Technique to get away?"

"Yes," Fang Han replied.

A flicker of unconcealable astonishment flashed through Elder Zhou’s eyes.

Duan Wuya, forty-fifth on the Celestial Pride List.

Fang Han, fifty-fifth on the Celestial Pride List.

A difference of ten ranks, at this level of the Celestial Pride List, was already a considerable gap in strength.

And yet, Fang Han had managed to defeat him.

Elder Zhou knew exactly what that meant.

Fang Han’s true strength far surpassed his rank.

He gave Fang Han a deep look, his gaze holding surprise, admiration, and a touch of wistfulness.

"The Sect will see that justice is done for you in this matter."

Elder Zhou gathered his thoughts, his voice firm and decisive.

"Wan Yuntian hired an assassin to kill a Celestial Pride True Inheritance of our Qingxuan Sect. Such an act has crossed the Sect’s bottom line. The Ten Thousand Treasures Building must give us an explanation."

He stood up and said to Fang Han:

"Go back and rest well for now. I will handle this matter."

"Thank you, Elder."

Fang Han stood, bowed solemnly, then turned and left the side hall.

Watching Fang Han leave, Elder Zhou stood rooted to the spot, his hands clasped behind his back.

A moment later, he turned and walked out of the side hall, crossed the main hall of the Law Enforcement Hall, and followed a quiet stone path toward the mountain peak.

Atop the peak, a simple and ancient hall stood silently.

Above the hall’s entrance hung a plaque inscribed with three words—

"Sect Leader’s Hall."

When Elder Zhou arrived before the hall, the disciple on duty quickly bowed in greeting.

"Elder Zhou."

"Is the Sect Leader in?"

"The Sect Leader is inside the hall."

Elder Zhou nodded and stepped into the hall.

The hall’s furnishings were simple, yet it possessed a solemn and dignified air.

Behind a desk at the front, a figure was seated, looking through some documents.

He had a scholarly and refined face, though his temples were tinged with frost. His brow carried the majesty and composure accumulated from years of leading a Major Sect.

He looked to be about forty years old, but his true age was likely much greater.

He wore simple, unadorned dark purple robes, yet he emanated an effortless authority.

This was none other than the Qingxuan Sect Leader, Chen Tianyuan.

Hearing footsteps, Chen Tianyuan looked up. Seeing it was Zhou Jin, a trace of surprise flashed in his gentle eyes.

"Junior Brother Zhou, what brings you here in such a hurry?"

Elder Zhou took a few steps forward and bowed.

"Sect Leader, I have a matter to report."

"Sit and speak."

Chen Tianyuan gestured for him to take a seat, setting down the scroll in his hand.

Zhou Jin sat, took a deep breath, and began to recount in detail the story of Fang Han’s ambush on his way back, as well as the contents of Fang Han’s report.

When he mentioned that Duan Wuya had personally admitted to being hired by Wan Yuntian, a cold glint suddenly flashed in Chen Tianyuan’s gentle eyes.

"Wan Yuntian?"

Chen Tianyuan’s voice was still calm, but beneath it lay a heart-stopping chill.

"The same one who spread rumors and had to apologize last time?"

"The very same," Zhou Jin nodded.

Chen Tianyuan fell silent.

He slowly leaned back into his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the smooth armrest with a faint TAP, TAP.

The hall fell into a brief silence, with only the faint sound of wind from outside the window.

After a moment, Chen Tianyuan spoke, his voice level but filled with unquestionable authority.

"Such audacity."

Chen Tianyuan stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and stood before the window, his gaze fixed on the distant, rolling mountains.

"Last time Wan Yuntian spread those rumors, I chose not to pursue the matter, given the sincerity of his father, Wan Zhongshan’s, apology. I had thought that Wan Yuntian would have learned his lesson and reined in his behavior..."

He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold.

"But I never imagined he would escalate to hiring an assassin."

"This matter must be dealt with severely. Otherwise, who will respect our Qingxuan Sect in the future?"

Zhou Jin quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and said:

"The Sect Leader is absolutely right. Wan Yuntian’s actions have crossed the Sect’s bottom line. If we do not punish him severely, how can we deter other villains?"

Chen Tianyuan turned, his gaze falling upon Zhou Jin’s face.

"Junior Brother Zhou, I want you to personally make a trip to the Commandery City, to the Ten Thousand Treasures Building."

"Make sure Wan Zhongshan gives us a proper explanation. The matter of Wan Yuntian hiring someone to kill a True Inheritor of our Qingxuan Sect cannot be brushed aside lightly."

Zhou Jin’s expression grew stern as he replied solemnly:

"Yes, Sect Leader. Rest assured, I will make the Ten Thousand Treasures Building pay the price."

Chen Tianyuan nodded slightly, his gaze profound.

"Go."

Zhou Jin bowed, then turned and strode out of the Sect Leader’s Hall.

Behind him, Chen Tianyuan stood before the window with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the deepening twilight. A cold light glinted in his eyes.

’Ten Thousand Treasures Building...’

’I hope you can give me an explanation that I find satisfactory.’

...

「Commandery City, Ten Thousand Treasures Building Headquarters.」

It was a vast and magnificent complex of buildings.

The five-story main building was adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, upturned eaves and interlocking brackets, and covered with glazed turquoise tiles that shimmered in the sunlight.

In front of the building was a wide plaza paved with smooth bluestone, large enough for dozens of carriages to stop at once.

In the center of the plaza stood a thirty-foot-tall White Jade archway, inscribed with four large, gilded words: ’Ten Thousand Treasures Building.’

Before the entrance, guards in uniform stood solemnly, their auras formidable and their gazes sharp.

Guests came and went in an endless stream, and carriages flowed like a river—a picture of prosperity.

A carriage slowly came to a stop at the edge of the plaza.

Zhou Jin lifted the carriage curtain, his calm gaze sweeping over the imposing building.

He disembarked, straightened his robes, and strode toward the main entrance of the Ten Thousand Treasures Building.

A man who looked like a Steward came forward to greet him, a professional smile plastered on his face. "Honored guest, may I..."

Zhou Jin took a Token from his sleeve and flashed it before the Steward’s eyes.

The Token was dark cyan, forged from some special material. The front was engraved with an ancient-looking character for "Xuan," and the back had a cloud pattern.

The Steward’s smile instantly froze on his face, his pupils constricting slightly.

As a Steward of the Ten Thousand Treasures Building, he naturally recognized this Token—an Elder Token from the Qingxuan Sect.

"Please inform Master Wan that Zhou Jin of the Qingxuan Sect has come to pay a visit."

Zhou Jin put away the Token, his tone impassive.

The Steward dared not delay. He bowed hastily and said, "Elder Zhou, please wait a moment. I will go report at once!"

With that, he turned and rushed into the building, his hurried steps a stark contrast to his earlier composure. He was like a different person.

Zhou Jin stood before the entrance with his hands behind his back, calmly surveying the headquarters of one of the Commandery City’s three great merchant associations, his face devoid of any emotion.

「Deep within the Ten Thousand Treasures Building, in a lavishly decorated study.」

Wan Zhongshan sat behind a zitan wood desk, a wolf-hair brush in hand, making notes in a ledger.

He was about fifty years old, well-preserved, with a ruddy complexion and a neatly trimmed short beard.

He was dressed in dark purple brocade robes with a jade belt at his waist, and his every move carried the authority of a man in power.

On the desk sat a three-legged bronze incense burner, from which the fragrant smoke of expensive ambergris curled up, filling the room with a subtle aroma.

Hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door, followed by the steward’s voice.

"Master, an important guest has arrived."

Wan Zhongshan didn’t even look up, his brush continuing to move across the ledger.

"Who is it?"

"It’s... an Elder from the Qingxuan Sect, Zhou Jin."

Wan Zhongshan’s brush tip paused slightly on the ledger, leaving a small inkblot.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on the doorway.

"An Elder from the Qingxuan Sect... Zhou Jin..."

He repeated in a low voice, his brow twitching almost imperceptibly.

Regarding the incident from earlier in the year, he had apologized profusely and taken a very humble stance, thinking the matter was over.

But now, a Qingxuan Sect Elder had suddenly come to visit...

A sense of foreboding quietly crept into his heart.

"Show him in."

Wan Zhongshan put down his brush, stood up, and straightened his robes.

"No, I will greet him myself."

At the main entrance of the Ten Thousand Treasures Building, Zhou Jin stood with his hands clasped behind him.

Wan Zhongshan’s figure emerged from the building, walking briskly, followed by two stewards.

With an enthusiastic smile on his face, he hurried over to Zhou Jin, cupped his hands, and said:

"Elder Zhou, your presence graces us! Forgive me for not coming out to greet you sooner, forgive me!"

Zhou Jin gave a slight nod and returned the gesture. "Master Wan, you are too kind. I hope you’ll forgive my sudden visit."

"Not at all, Elder Zhou! Quick, please, come in!"

Wan Zhongshan stepped aside to lead the way, his attitude both warm and respectful.

Zhou Jin followed Wan Zhongshan through the main hall, up the stairs, and into an elegant reception room on the third floor.

The room was lavishly furnished, with thick velvet carpets, walls adorned with famous calligraphy and paintings, and a table set with exquisite tea sets and refreshments.

After they sat as host and guest, a Maid served fragrant tea and withdrew, leaving the two of them alone in the room.

Wan Zhongshan picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and asked with a beaming smile, "I wonder, what brings Elder Zhou here today?"

Zhou Jin did not touch his tea. He simply watched Wan Zhongshan in silence.

His gaze was calm and tranquil, yet it made Wan Zhongshan’s skin crawl.

"Master Wan."

Zhou Jin began, his voice flat.

"Earlier this year, regarding the matter between your son and our Sect’s True Inheritor Fang Han, you, Master Wan, offered a sincere apology. Out of respect for your sincerity, our True Inheritor Fang did not pursue the matter, and we considered it closed."

The smile on Wan Zhongshan’s face stiffened slightly before he recovered and nodded.

"Indeed. I have been grateful for that ever since. I also disciplined my foolish son strictly and told him not to make any more mistakes in the future."

Zhou Jin shook his head slightly.

"Master Wan, disciplined him strictly? Do you have any idea what your son has been doing behind your back?"

The sense of foreboding in Wan Zhongshan’s heart grew stronger. His smile vanished, and his expression turned grave. "Please, Elder Zhou, speak plainly."

Zhou Jin said slowly, "A few days ago, after visiting his home, our Sect’s True Inheritor Fang Han was on his way back to the Sect when he was ambushed by Duan Wuya, a True Inheritor of the Netherworld Pavilion."

Wan Zhongshan’s pupils contracted slightly.

"That same Duan Wuya personally admitted that he was hired by your son, Wan Yuntian, to take Fang Han’s life."

Zhou Jin’s voice was still level, but each word landed like a heavy hammer blow on Wan Zhongshan’s heart.

"Master Wan, is this what you call ’disciplining him strictly’?"