22: Chapter 22 But in the martial world, deceit and treachery abound, and treacherous villains are no less numerous than in the imperial court.

She had heard from Bao Butong and the others before that the Innate Realm is divided into three levels, and every Breakthrough in a level signifies a fundamental elevation and progress.

Some masters in the Innate Realm might even stagnate at a certain minor level for a long time, finding it difficult to achieve a Breakthrough for their entire lives.

"So, AZhu, come and help me!"

Wang Yuyan said sincerely, "I don't want them to fight each other with force."

Zhao Fangcai was not in the pavilion because he had been summoned to the main hall by the Old Madam.

Gu Changqing came to the residence with people from the government office to discuss the handover of the Lu Family's shops and fields with the Jing State Duke's Residence.

The Lu Family was one of the eight prestigious families in Suzhou.

The other seven families were Wang, Gu, Shen, Zhang, Zhou, Wen, and Li.

Among these families, some were powerful and influential nobility, some were wealthy merchants, and others relied on the Legacy of literature and scholarship to maintain their Family estates.

As for the Murong Family, they belonged to the Jianghu families and were not among these eight prestigious clans.

"Old Madam, Your Highness, the Lu Family operates a restaurant and thirteen inns. Outside the city, there are also over a thousand mu of farmland and houses. These are the relevant land and field deeds."

Gu Changqing's attitude was very respectful as he placed a small box on the table.

The Old Madam gave the accountant a look, and he opened the box to carefully examine those land and field deeds.

These things would become the source of income for the Jing State Duke's Residence in the future, so she naturally paid close attention to them.

The Zhao Family was actually a wealthy Family in the county; otherwise, they wouldn't have been targeted by the Lu Family.

After moving to Suzhou, they brought some loyal servants, and the accountant was one of them.

After the accountant finished his inspection, he nodded to the Old Madam.

The Old Madam said with a smile, "Clerk Gu, you have truly gone to a lot of trouble!"

"Additionally, Old Madam, Your Highness, the Lu Family secretly owns eight pleasure boats and three gambling dens, conducting shady businesses."

The Old Madam frowned slightly and said in a flat tone, "Our Duke's Residence will not participate in these businesses that damage one's hidden virtues."

These two types of businesses made money quickly and had rich profits, but their reputation was poor.

She continued, "If the government wants them, they can take them; if the government doesn't want them, I'll trouble Clerk Gu to sell them on behalf of the Duke's Residence."

Gu Changqing had performed a service by \"exposing\" the Lu Chengyun case, and a promotion before the end of the year was certain.

He came to the residence often and knew that in the Jing State Duke's Residence, the one actually in charge was still the Old Madam.

He then nodded and responded with a "Yes."

He didn't stay long and left with the bailiffs.

The Old Madam said, "As for these land deeds, properties, and houses just now, you shall keep them!"

The accountant and other servants were all shocked; the Old Madam's words meant she wanted Zhao Fangcai to take charge of the household affairs.

However, this was also within everyone's expectations.

The Old Madam was getting old, and the Duke of Jing, Zhao Shiji, perhaps truly heartbroken, basically ignored the affairs of the residence and had even started reading Buddhist scriptures.

The Old Madam had originally wanted to marry another wife to him, but when he found a woman in his bed, he was so frightened he almost killed her, shouting \"Don't harm me.\"

Clearly, once bitten by a snake, one is afraid of well-ropes for ten years.

Let alone sharing a bed, if any woman in the residence acted even slightly out of the ordinary, he would suspect her of being a spy.

Seeing this situation, the Old Madam could only shake her head, sighing "My poor son," and let him be.

In this way, the Old Madam naturally could only rely on Zhao Fangcai.

Zhao Fangcai, however, declined, saying, "Grandmother, the household affairs should still be managed by you. I want to go out and travel for a while first."

"You want to go out and travel?"

The Old Madam frowned and said, "What if another accident happens?"

"Grandmother, don't forget, I am a Xiantian Master now!"

Zhao Fangcai said with a smile, "Besides, didn't Grandmother often say that the sharpness of a sword is honed through grinding?"

"After falling into the water, you've certainly gained your own ideas."

The Old Madam sighed and shook her head, saying, "Fine, go if you want to!"

"Just don't rely on your little bit of skill to cause trouble, oppress good people, or act recklessly."

"But in the Jianghu, there is no shortage of intrigue and sinister villains, just like in the imperial court."

"If you encounter unreasonable people, don't be soft-hearted."

The Old Madam urged. As a daughter of the Zhe Family of generals, she was also considered half a person of the Jianghu; she had long seen through the affairs of the Jianghu and the imperial court.

"Rest assured, Grandmother!" Zhao Fangcai said.

"If you encounter any female confidantes, bring them back for Grandmother to see as well."

The Old Madam squinted her eyes and smiled, "It's fine if you don't. In a couple of days, Grandmother will invite the talented young ladies from various families in Suzhou to visit and pick two for you."

"Uh!"

Zhao Fangcai couldn't help but smile awkwardly. Was he being pressured into marriage?

Escaping from the Old Madam's nagging, Zhao Fangcai returned to the pavilion.

Wang Yuyan was teaching AZhu to practice the Minor Formless Skill.

The two women had completely different appearances, yet each had her own beauty, making the pavilion exceptionally elegant.

AZhu's Minor Formless Skill soon reached the entry level, and the conversion of Internal Energy was quite smooth.

While teaching AZhu her cultivation, Wang Yuyan noticed the wisp of Pure Yang True Qi that Zhao Fangcai had left in AZhu's Dantian and Qi Sea, but she pretended not to notice.

By the time AZhu had practiced enough, it was already evening.

Zhao Fangcai sized her up; like Wang Yuyan before, she had reached the Acquired Fetal Breathing Realm, making her a second-rate Jianghu master.

AZhu's cheeks flushed; under Zhao Fangcai's gaze, she always felt she was being seen through completely, with no secrets to speak of.

Zhao Fangcai said, "Since Yu Yan gave you the Minor Formless Skill, then I will give you the Stars Shifting Technique!"

He handed the Stars Shifting Technique sent by Murong Fu to AZhu.

"Ah?"

AZhu was stunned. She looked at Zhao Fangcai in surprise, waving her hands hurriedly and stammering, "This... Your Highness... it's too... too precious."

"What's so precious about it?" Zhao Fangcai said.

AZhu said in a panic, "This is the Stars Shifting Technique, an Earth Rank Martial Skill and a Secret Manual of the Murong Family that is never shared. How could AZhu, a mere maidservant, dare..."

Zhao Fangcai said indifferently, "So what? The Murong Family's maidservants can't practice it, but mine can. Take it!"

"Your... Your Highness..."

What should I do! This Highness is too good to me! Could he be thinking of... AZhu's face turned red, and she didn't know what to do.

The Stars Shifting Technique! Who in the Jianghu hasn't heard of the reputation of "returning someone's move back to them"?

Wang Yuyan pursed her lips and glanced at Zhao Fangcai, feeling a bit unhappy. This bad person, why is he so good to AZhu? Hmph! And he says he has no designs on AZhu?

Wang Yuyan felt sour in her heart, but she had just reached an agreement with AZhu; she couldn't just turn her back on it immediately, could she? Besides, if she got jealous every time, it would make her seem too petty and not magnanimous enough.

Wang Yuyan puffed out her cheeks, very unhappy!

Wait! He gave the Stars Shifting Technique to AZhu; could it be that he saw something wrong with this Stars Shifting Technique?

Right! Given her understanding of Murong Fu, he might have tampered with the Secret Manual. Is this bad person passing the manual to AZhu to test her?

However, AZhu said the matter of the manual was handled by Murong Fu and Gongzhi Qian, and she didn't know if it was true or false. One certainly couldn't practice a manual of uncertain authenticity recklessly.

Zhao Fangcai and Wang Yuyan seemed to share a mental connection; he sensed her thoughts and felt a bit helpless. No, things aren't as complicated as you think.

He simply wanted to obtain the Critical Hit Return. The reason he gave it to AZhu was that after the Critical Hit Return, he could teach the better version to Wang Yuyan, even though he wouldn't be able to get a critical hit again.

However, in the matter of comprehending martial arts techniques, Wang Yuyan had extremely high talent, which would be a significant help to him.

Wang Yuyan's talent in terms of comprehension had reached the pinnacle; even the current Zhao Fangcai was far from being able to compare with her.