Chapter Four: Zhao Jiner

Li Zhilan sat in the courtyard, lost in a daze. The cold wind brushed her hair, yet she remained motionless, her posture unchanged. Her gaze was filled with pain and confusion—Lu Zhou’s words pierced her heart like a needle.

Senior Brother Lu... Talon of the North...

She simply could not reconcile these two completely unrelated titles with that gentle, warm man from her memories.

“Hello, my name is Lu Zhou.”

She remembered the first time Lu Zhou appeared at Clear Creek Academy, clad in a plain blue robe, like an immortal stepped out of a painting.

Lu Zhou had been rescued by Li Murong from a village beyond the border, a village massacred by the Northern Kingdom. From that moment on, Lu Zhou became Li Murong’s disciple, training alongside Li Zhilan in the “Righteous Spirit Manual” of Clear Creek Academy.

“Senior Brother, you’ve reached the sixth level in your training?”

“I mastered it last year.”

“You’re amazing, Senior Brother.”

“You’re mistaken, Junior Sister. There’s nothing amazing about me. I’ve only just formed my core. Beyond that, there are the realms of Spirit Transformation, Return to Origin, Void Ascension, and Transcending Tribulation. Even after becoming immortal, there are another six or seven realms. There are countless masters in this world, and with my skills, I’d be crushed instantly by them.”

“Are you afraid of dying, Senior Brother?”

“Of course. I doubt there are many who aren’t.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“That’s because you’re still young. When you grow up, you’ll understand.”

Li Zhilan recalled those words as if they were spoken only yesterday. After a long silence, she finally sighed.

Back then, she didn’t understand why Lu Zhou described the world as so terrifying, nor what he meant by growing up. But since the Northern Kingdom began its southern campaign, she understood. Countless cultivators and masters fell, their lives snuffed out like ants before the golden immortals of the Northern Kingdom. She realized now how naïve and simplistic her younger self had been.

“What is the purpose of cultivation?”

Li Zhilan was lost in a fog of confusion. Was it merely to seize spirit springs, snatch blessed lands, and let the strong dictate everything?

She remembered Lu Zhou’s sincere answer to that question—

“To survive!”

For her senior brother, the goal was simple: to live.

So was everything he did now simply for survival?

But by becoming a Talon of the North, he would become the thorn in the side of every sect in Shen Prefecture, even a target for the Brocade-Clad Enforcers and the Tea Bureau.

Didn’t that run completely counter to his original intent to survive?

Not long ago, the steward of the governor’s mansion dropped dead on the spot after praising the Northern Kingdom in a teahouse.

People said it was the work of the Brocade-Clad Enforcers.

At this thought, Li Zhilan suddenly froze.

Is Senior Brother in danger now?

Forget it, why should I worry about him? He shamelessly claimed “a single spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold.” Senior Brother Huang was right—he’s utterly without scruples now.

Just now, when Senior Brother Huang returned, he and the other brothers cursed Lu Zhou for his disgraceful conduct at the banquet—not only had he become a captain in the Northern Cavalry, but he also pocketed every gift from the various sects.

A traitor deserving of a thousand deaths, they called him.

If even Senior Brother Huang feels this way, would the Brocade-Clad Enforcers and the Tea Bureau of the Southern Zhou spare Senior Brother Lu?

He’s only at the Core Formation stage!

...

...

A carriage rolled leisurely through the streets of Shen Prefecture. Townsfolk hastily made way—the driver was a soldier of the Governor’s Office. Even the usual cries of peddlers and children’s laughter faded to hushed tones.

Chao Lu opened his eyes and saw the young woman across from him, draped in a pale yellow cloak, her cool gaze fixed outside the window. He sighed deeply.

“You’ve seen him. I did exactly as you asked. Are you satisfied now?”

“Yes.”

“Jin’er, from now on, you must focus all your efforts on reaching the Tribulation Crossing realm. Don’t let your mind wander, understand? Lu Zhou and you are from two different worlds. You are my daughter, Chao Lu’s daughter, a prodigy of the Void Ascension realm. He’s just a bug at the Core Formation stage.”

“I know. It’s just a heart demon. I said before, I won’t consider a cultivation partner until I ascend.”

“If you truly think that way, I can rest easy.”

Chao Lu wasn’t worried his daughter would fall for Lu Zhou; after all, the connection between them was nothing more than a small incident from over twenty years ago. Chao Lu himself didn’t think much of Lu Fei either.

He believed that as long as Chao Jin’er still had her eyesight, even if every man in the world died, she’d never fancy Lu Zhou.

Chao Jin’er was exceptionally talented—she had reached the Void Ascension realm in just over twenty years, only a step away from the Tribulation Crossing. If she succeeded, she would become the youngest Celestial Immortal in the Northern Kingdom’s history.

Not to mention, she was ranked first on the Central Continent’s Azure Cloud List and enjoyed immense popularity. Even in Southern Zhou, countless cultivators coveted her favor.

But her temperament...

It was simply too cold.

...

...

Lu Zhou left the Yunxi Pavilion thoroughly satisfied, his storage pouch stuffed with gifts from the various sects—mostly elixirs and spirit herbs, which would fetch a good price in spirit stones.

Spirit stones—something he desperately needed now.

At this moment, Anger was waiting outside the inn, claiming to escort Lu Zhou back to the Governor’s Office. Every captain in the Northern Cavalry was given their own courtyard in the compound.

Was this simply because they didn’t trust him?

Lu Zhou moved into the Governor’s Office. His courtyard was in the quiet southwest corner—just as he preferred. But seeing the contempt in Anger’s eyes, Lu Zhou guessed the real reason for being put in this remote spot: perhaps the “blockhead” simply didn’t want to see him often.

Heh.

The courtyard was spotless—not even a single withered tree.

Lu Zhou sat in the courtyard, digging through the pile of elixirs in his storage pouch until he found the jug of wine he’d snatched at the banquet. He poured himself a cup with practiced ease.

Wine was a fine thing—it let a man dream his sweetest dreams in his darkest moments.

But Lu Zhou did not want to dream. He just needed a drink to collect his thoughts.

Caution was never amiss.

He replayed the day’s events in his mind: Anger leading him to Yunxi Pavilion, Chao Lu’s appearance, and then his appointment as captain.

There had been more surprises than he expected...

Yet it all made a certain sense. Chao Lu wanted to win over the sects of Shen Prefecture, so he needed a model—Lu Zhou just happened to catch his eye.

He simply hadn’t expected Chao Lu to go so far, making him a captain in the Northern Cavalry.

What did it mean to be a captain? Even one not in charge of intelligence could walk anywhere in Shen Prefecture unimpeded—the reactions of the sects said as much.

But the position was almost too high. That was what Lu Zhou couldn’t explain.

The only thing certain was that, for now, he was safe. If Chao Lu truly suspected him, he would have met the same fate as Lin He from Liangshan Academy.

Thinking back on his own performance today, Lu Zhou couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh.

He’d played the coward to perfection—so much so that his impression in Chao Lu’s eyes was likely quite poor. Gaining his trust would be all the harder.

No matter. Trust...

There’s always room to squeeze in.