Mingzhu City in Shanxi Province was always a place where incidents occurred.
Rumors that there was a secret tomb of Qiao Gang, once called the greatest thief ever.
A great war that broke out when both the Righteous Alliance and the Dark Black Lotus stepped forward to prove those rumors were baseless and destroyed all the treasure maps.
Plus, there were stories that the headquarters of the Black Assassination Sect, the assassination group that murdered Master Ji Gong, the eminent monk of Shaolin, was located there.
It was a place where fights broke out constantly.
That wasn't all.
Even the Righteous Alliance and Dark Black Lotus, which divided the martial world and established branches everywhere, couldn't interfere with Mingzhu.
The reason was simple.
Because the Yan Family was in Mingzhu.
The Righteous Alliance and Dark Black Lotus couldn't enter Mingzhu because the Yan Family, which was sometimes righteous and sometimes evil depending on the family head's inclination, was firmly established there.
If even one faction entered, the Yan Family could easily join the other side.
The Yan Family's representative martial art was the Yan Family Fist, but they also possessed Zombie Control Technique that only the Demon Cult could handle.
After the previous Yan Family head threatened to release zombies and disappear if things went south, Mingzhu became a completely untouchable place.
But did that make Mingzhu a quiet place?
Not at all.
While the Righteous Alliance and Dark Black Lotus couldn't interfere, there were plenty of small righteous and evil sects.
A place where fights broke out constantly.
That was Mingzhu.
***
Among the many small factions in Mingzhu, the Quan Family Manor belonged to the evil sects.
The day at Quan Family Manor started early.
And the person who started earliest at Quan Family Manor was Xu Yun, who'd joined a few years ago as both a servant and disciple.
He woke up before the first rooster crowed and swept the courtyard.
What he had to do after sweeping the courtyard changed daily, but the end was always the same.
"Ugh..."
Xu Yun lit a fire under kindling and heated water. When it felt slightly hot to the touch, he headed to the young master's room.
And woke the young master.
This was the most important and most annoying task in Xu Yun's morning routine.
"Annoying... so annoying..."
Grumbling, Xu Yun carefully opened his mouth as always. "Young Master Quan Zhu. It's time for your morning practice."
But still no response came from within the room.
'This bastard has never gotten up on the first try.'
Such a goddamn brat.
Can't he wake up a bit earlier when called?
But he couldn't show his true feelings.
The moment he did, he, just a mere servant, would be sent to the afterlife in one blow.
He spoke again, not loudly but carefully enough for Quan Zhu to wake up. "Young master. It's time for your morning practice."
'You little shit.'
Hurry up and get up already.
You've been woken up like this for years now—shouldn't you start waking up on your own by now?
While mentally cursing out the damn young master, Xu Yun spoke again, louder than before. "Young Master Quan Zhu. It's time for your morning practice."
Again, no response.
Once more, louder.
After repeating this about fifteen times, a dying response finally came from behind the door.
"Stop calling me. I was already awake."
'Awake my ass. Get that sleep out of your eyes.'
The door opened and out stumbled a boy who looked about ten years old—Quan Zhu, the eldest son of Quan Family Manor.
Looking around with narrowed, vicious eyes, he plopped down on the wooden floor and bobbed his head.
"Young master. Your face looks especially dizzy today."
"What kind of bullshit is that?"
'Good morning bastard.'
While cursing internally, Xu Yun brought the prepared wash water to him.
Quan Zhu touched it and frowned slightly.
"Stupid bastard. Can't even get the wash water right?"
"I apologize. I apologize."
'If you'd gotten up when I called, it would've been perfect.'
Cursing internally and stabbing his heart with daggers multiple times in his mind, but what could he do?
He was a servant and disciple.
That young master was the only son of the Quan family and the future heir who'd inherit the manor.
Even though he was younger, the difference in martial arts and status meant Xu Yun couldn't carelessly challenge him.
"Ahem! Whatever. I already knew you were a stupid, pathetic bastard."
Still, today was decent.
Was yesterday's good atmosphere with the Black Tiger Sect Master's second daughter from the Dark Black Lotus still in effect?
Usually he'd throw the wash basin and demand new heated water, but today he seemed oddly docile.
When he just grumbled curses and washed his face, Xu Yun sighed in relief and held up the prepared towel.
When Quan Zhu took it, wiped his face, and tossed the towel away, Xu Yun hurriedly caught it.
Since he also had to do the laundry, it'd be troublesome if it got dirty.
"Young master. Then for breakfast..."
"I'm not eating today."
"Why won't you eat?"
"Today I'm meeting the young lady. We agreed to go to Bright Cloud Pavilion together."
'A whore and trash make a perfect pair.'
Lan Rou, the Black Tiger Sect Master's second daughter, was only fifteen but already notorious for secretly bringing men around.
Only that idiot wouldn't know that.
Internally mocking Quan Zhu's patheticness, Xu Yun smiled lightly. "In that case, you should hurry."
"Eat breakfast by yourself."
"Yes, yes. I understand. And training...?"
'Please don't say you're coming along.'
Praying internally, Xu Yun saw Quan Zhu's look of disdain and bowed his head with a smile.
"Stupid bastard. If you tag along, it'll kill the mood. I'm planning to make progress with the young lady today, so don't say useless things."
"Yes. I understand."
When Quan Zhu got up and went into his room, Xu Yun sighed.
Today his luck was good.
He didn't have to deal with that nasty piece of trash anymore.
Smiling broadly, Xu Yun dumped the basin water and headed straight to Quan Family Manor's dining hall.
The Quan family martial artists had already finished breakfast and left.
Only leftover scraps remained, but so what?
As Xu Yun tried to scoop them up to eat, the dining hall door opened and he quickly stood up.
"M-Master!"
"Oh! There you are!"
Quan Yi, the master of Quan Family Manor, approached him with a smile.
As he approached, Xu Yun asked reluctantly. "Why does the master need this lowly one...?"
"You can read and write, right?"
"Yes."
"Perfect. Come help me."
"What do you need help with?"
"Just come."
"But my food..."
"Is food the issue right now?! Your master is calling you!?"
When Quan Yi got angry, Xu Yun had no choice but to put down his chopsticks.
He'd entered as a disciple, but he didn't even study under the Quan Family Manor master.
At best, he learned a move or two from the martial artists and practiced the ridiculous Quan family martial art called the Sudden Enlightenment Technique by himself.
"Yes."
Though he always claimed he could read, whenever Quan Yi had work involving reading or writing, he always called Xu Yun.