The days filled with both pain and pleasure always passed exceptionally quickly. While Ye Wen endured the bone-chilling agony in the cold pool, the disciples of the Shu Mountain Sect worked themselves to the bone, finally managing to sort through all the assets acquired from the Zhengquan Sect in the shortest possible time.

The several dozen acres of arable land and hundreds of acres of wasteland were the easiest to deal with. Ye Wen merely dispatched a few disciples to make a showing with the contracts they had obtained, and everything was settled. The two peasant households had no objections regarding who their new employer was; all they cared about was whether the new owner intended to reclaim the cultivated fields. The Shu Mountain Sect had no desire to change anything, especially given the recent handover in Gangzhou. Ye Wen did not wish to stir up unnecessary trouble; a smooth acquisition of these assets was the best course of action.

As for the inn, Xu Xian indeed ran into trouble upon arrival. The Zhengquan Sect disciples left behind to guard the property refused to accept Xu Xian leading men to claim their "property," and a fight broke out on the spot. Perhaps they looked down on Xu Xian, the seemingly frail young master, believing that even after joining the currently flourishing Shu Mountain Sect, this delicate scholar wouldn't amount to much. Since martial arts mastery cannot be achieved in just a few days, they had no doubt that with one move, they could reduce the weak scholar to weeping, screaming, and begging for mercy. Alas... life rarely goes as one expects, and in the end, it was they who were left weeping, screaming, and begging, their cheeks swollen from the flat of Xu Xian’s long sword.

Li Sen was left speechless by Xu Xian’s brutal methods, yet he was also astonished by the formidable swordsmanship displayed by the young Master Xu, who had joined the Shu Mountain Sect for little more than a year or two.

Although Xu Xian occasionally taught martial arts to the outer disciples in the Shu Mountain Sect before this, what he imparted mostly consisted of foundational internal cultivation or techniques for vertical movement. No one had ever witnessed him actually engage in combat. Even the fellow disciples from the Xu family only assumed their young master had only started learning martial arts after joining the sect. It was merely that he was directly accepted into the inner circle as the Sect Leader's junior brother, allowing him access to deeper and more profound martial arts.

However, it now seemed everyone had guessed wrong! Li Sen had traveled extensively before joining the Shu Mountain Sect, and the composure Xu Xian displayed during his movements was definitely not something a novice, having studied for less than two years without any real combat experience, could possess. The only possible explanation was that Xu Xian already possessed martial arts skills before joining the sect—and more terrifyingly, no one had known about it.

Thinking this, Li Sen secretly admired his Sect Leader and Xu Xian for concealing this so perfectly that not a soul had noticed. He couldn't believe Ye Wen was unaware that Xu Xian knew martial arts. If that were the case, Ye Wen would be an incompetent Sect Leader, especially since the presence or absence of a martial foundation is easily discernible once one begins teaching techniques.

It was understandable that the outer disciples remained ignorant because they rarely interacted with Xu Xian, and he generally practiced in private. But Ye Wen spent day and night with his junior brother, and the core techniques of the Shu Mountain Sect had to be taught personally by Ye Wen. Therefore, it was impossible for Xu Xian to continue hiding his martial proficiency from Ye Wen.

At the same time, Li Sen was greatly amazed by the subtlety of Xu Xian’s swordsmanship. In just a moment, Xu Xian unleashed no fewer than twelve strikes, soundly slapping the faces of the two Zhengquan Sect members without drawing blood. Such precise aim and execution were beyond Li Sen’s capability. He wouldn't even dare attempt to strike someone’s face with the flat of his own sword, let alone manage twelve strikes without injury.

"No wonder the Sect Leader sent Young Master Xu to lead us!"

Initially, Li Sen assumed the Sect Leader had assigned him to deal with these Zhengquan Sect disciples, but now it was clear that Young Master Xu was sent down to demonstrate his skills, thereby signaling to everyone through the mouths of these disciples: the Shu Mountain Sect is not composed of Ye Wen alone!

Li Sen’s guess was correct. Before descending the mountain, Xu Xian had received instructions from Ye Wen: whenever an opportunity arose to establish authority, he should display his abilities as much as possible; if he could subdue everyone with a single move, that would be ideal.

Xu Xian took these words to heart. When the Zhengquan Sect disciples provoked him, Xu Xian was not angered but rather delighted: "I’ve been waiting for you!"

He then drew his long sword and immediately employed the Hui Feng Luo Yan Sword Technique he had recently mastered! The two Zhengquan Sect disciples didn't even realize what was happening before a blur of sword light flashed before their eyes. The midday sun reflecting off the blade momentarily blinded them, followed immediately by a burning, stinging pain across their cheeks.

When the glare subsided, Xu Xian deliberately performed several more sword forms in front of the two men before sheathing his sword and standing there, smiling down at them. Only then did they realize what had just transpired.

Their first reaction was disbelief! For a frail scholar to possess such ghostly swift swordsmanship was impossible for anyone to accept immediately. They even suspected the entire event had been a hallucination.

But the fiery sensation on their faces proved that everything was real. One of them trembling reached up to touch his cheek, only to receive a sharp sting. They finally understood they had just skirted the gates of hell; if Xu Xian had used the blade instead of the flat...

The realization made their legs go weak. They understood instantly that this young master was absolutely not someone they could afford to provoke, and they immediately begged for mercy. As for protecting sect property and the like—"Let those damned higher-ups in the sect worry about that!" They cared only for their own lives. Watching the two Zhengquan Sect disciples flee in disarray, Xu Xian, having shown off considerably, was quite pleased. With sufficient martial might displayed, the subsequent handover proceeded very smoothly.

Fortunately, the Zhengquan Sect had not yet managed to collect the inn's recent earnings. It turned out that Ye Wen not only acquired the inn but also pocketed several months' worth of its income for the Shu Mountain Sect.

Afterward, Xu Xian escorted the innkeeper up the mountain, as Ye Wen had specifically instructed. Ye Wen hoped the inn's scale could continue to expand; even if it couldn't become the largest inn in Shushan County in a short time, it should strive toward that goal.

"So, should we change the name of this inn?"

"Change it?" Ye Wen hadn't considered this issue. He only focused on expanding the inn's size and paid little mind to such minor details.

"Yes, once the ownership changes, the name should change too! It’s good for setting a positive tone!"

The innkeeper appeared somewhat reserved, as he was unsure of the new owner’s temperament. Given that they had immediately sent someone to beat the original owners away, he surmised the new master was probably not good-tempered.

Ye Wen was oblivious to the poor impression he had left on the innkeeper. His mind began cycling through impressive inn names he recalled from memory: "...Dragon Gate Inn? While the name sounds domineering, it seems a bit taboo..."

"Yuelai Inn?"

But recalling the largest catering group in the martial world, Ye Wen doubted how many inns in this world had already used that name. He intended to open inns all over Pingzhou someday; being identical to other small inns would be rather unfortunate.

After much thought, Ye Wen suddenly remembered an inn name from a movie. He had thought it quite brilliant at the time and burst out laughing, saying, "Let's call it You Jian Inn (A Certain Inn)!"

"You Jian Inn?"

The innkeeper clearly didn't grasp the meaning; in his impression, it sounded like a phrase rather than a name.

"Yes, meaning 'There is an inn' or 'Here is an inn'! You Jian Inn!"

What impressed Ye Wen most were those two lines of dialogue: "Hey? You Jian Inn?" and "It really is You Jian Inn!"

If it weren't for the lack of advertising in this era, Ye Wen would have loved to turn that exchange into a daily commercial! But he had his own way.

"Place two signs at the entrance of the inn. On one side inscribe: 'Hey? You Jian Inn?' and on the other: 'It really is You Jian Inn!'"

He didn't think such a gimmick would be out of place. In fact, most inns and taverns at this time would put up similar displays at their entrances to attract patrons.

The innkeeper certainly didn't find fault with it, only thinking it rather clever. He diligently noted down everything Ye Wen said and nodded to show understanding: "Then this old fellow will prepare to change the plaque immediately!"

Ye Wen pondered for a moment, then, considering that his Shu Mountain Sect currently lacked no silver, felt that leaving the inn's profits idle was a waste and they should be put to use immediately: "Besides the plaque, have your inn thoroughly renovated. You must have kept quite a bit of silver here, right? Use it all. If it’s not enough, find my Junior Brother Xu, and ask him for more!"

What should have been a small matter dragged on for ages with repeated instructions. Meanwhile, Xu Xian, who had been sitting quietly nearby, listened with great interest to all of Ye Wen's scattered ideas. Only after the innkeeper had respectfully withdrawn did Ye Wen remember: "Oh, what was that innkeeper's name again?"

He had been so focused on those other matters that he completely forgot to ask this. He realized this was a significant oversight now.

"Surname Zhong!"

Xu Xian wasn't much better. He was only slightly more capable than Ye Wen. Along the way, he had only remembered the man's surname when bringing him back to Shu Mountain. After a moment of embarrassment, he answered casually: "Ask Li Sen about these matters; he remembers clearly!"

"Forget it, I’ll ask him when Li Sen gets back!"

"However, Senior Brother, I truly didn't expect you to have such unique insights into running an inn. I think if you hadn't practiced martial arts, you would have made a name for yourself in commerce as well!"

In response to Xu Xian's teasing, Ye Wen merely muttered: "...Running a sect and running a business actually have many things in common..."

Ye Wen was unaware that while he and Xu Xian were discussing the art of management, within a side room of the building soon to be renamed You Jian Inn, two men were speaking in hushed tones under the dim light, discussing matters of the Shu Mountain Sect.

"Did you see that young gentleman's swordsmanship today?"

One of the men was tall and well-built; his scholarly robe lent him an air of considerable distinction, yet his eyes carried a shifty, evasive quality that completely ruined his otherwise refined presence. He would have given a better impression if he had closed his eyes.

The man opposite him seemed equally annoyed by this flaw, as he spoke without making eye contact, merely sipping his tea: "I saw it! I didn't expect the Shu Mountain Sect to harbor such an expert; this is vastly different from what you previously claimed!"

"Heh! I only encountered two Shu Mountain disciples halfway here, tested them out, and felt they were nothing special. Who knew the Shu Mountain Sect was hiding such a master?"

If Ye Wen had heard this, he would surely recall the recent incident where his disciples were attacked and severely injured. If Xu Ping were here, he would immediately recognize this man as the one who attacked him on his journey back to the mountain, nearly costing him his life.

The man opposite continued to sip his tea unhurriedly: "I knew you must have been shirking your duty, otherwise how could you have returned to the branch so quickly! If I hadn't been traveling north recently and happened to pass through Shushan, you might have ruined a major task for us!"

The other man paid him no mind, curling his lip dismissively: "...A petty sect in the countryside, what does it matter if they have a few good hands? Leader, you are overly cautious!"

This man spoke with extreme arrogance, clearly looking down on the strength of the Shu Mountain Sect, even after witnessing Xu Xian’s swordsmanship firsthand during the day.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, the tea-sipping man let out a cold snort: "Don't underestimate the Shu Mountain Sect! Judging by the exquisite swordsmanship displayed by that young swordsman today alone, this sect clearly has some depth! That sword technique cannot be faked! Although your Qinggong is peerless, Lu Tian, I’m not sure you could evade that rapid swordplay if you truly clashed with that young master!"

"It’s just superficial flashiness, unworthy of mention!"

The man called Lu Tian, though he spoke dismissively, grew visibly more cautious. Truthfully, if he had to face the young gentleman’s swordsmanship from that day, he wasn't certain he could evade his fast strikes.

During the day, Xu Xian’s swordwork had been executed too beautifully. From drawing the sword to striking and returning it, everything was maximized for speed. Had Xu Xian not intentionally shown off several more forms afterward, those two men probably wouldn't even have known what had slapped their faces.

Lu Tian, while not that inept, had been watching from the side and could even count the twelve strikes Xu Xian delivered, seeing the precise angle of every blow. But it could not be denied that delivering twelve strikes in such a short time was beyond the capability of an ordinary person.

Still, being a known figure in the Pingzhou martial arts scene, Lu Tian was at most wary of the young swordsman; fear was absolutely out of the question.

"I'll just need to be a bit more careful. As long as I bring out my full ability, no matter how fast that young master's sword is, he won't touch me!"

Lu Tian possessed this confidence because of his Qinggong.

In the Tianle Gang, there were plenty of people whose skills in other areas surpassed his, nor did he believe his unarmed combat could overwhelm everyone. But when it came to Qinggong, Lu Tian truly feared no one!

He could even boast quite arrogantly that he was the foremost master of Qinggong in Pingzhou, and no one would refute him.

It was precisely because his lightness skill was so exceptional that ordinary people in Pingzhou found it impossible to catch him. Thus, tasks like scouting opponents' capabilities or verifying intelligence were assigned to him.

The last time he investigated the strength of the Shu Mountain Sect was the mission he was on. However, he had been attempting to slack off, and after encountering Xu Ping halfway through, he hadn't dared enter the main gates of the Shu Mountain Sect. Otherwise, the true strength of the Shu Mountain Sect would have been discovered by the Tianle Gang long ago, rather than being noticed only now due to this accident.

Accompanying Lu Tian was Wei Peng, the leader of the Tianle Gang's branch division. His Eagle Claw technique, while not particularly rare, was wielded with maximum force under his command. Moreover, due to his superior natural talent, he created his unique Twelve Styles of Great Strength Eagle Claw, each move vicious and ruthless; countless people had been crippled by Wei Peng using this skill.

Combined with his adeptness at managing subordinates and knowing how to inspire awe, along with his caution in executing tasks, Wei Peng, despite not being a top-tier master within the Tianle Gang, was appointed to govern this crucial branch in Pingzhou.

Pingzhou's martial world had developed late and was the weakest in terms of overall strength, making it the easiest region for the Tianle Gang to control. It could be said that the Tianle Gang derived the greatest benefits from this area, so the Pingzhou branch was highly valued.

Their visit to Shushan County today was because Wei Peng wanted to personally visit Tiger Mountain. Besides surveying the general situation in Pingzhou, he also intended to probe the strength of the Tiger Mountain Sect.

Since discovering that Liu Qingfeng of the Tiger Mountain Sect had uncovered a major enterprise belonging to the Tianle Gang, Wei Peng realized that a confrontation between him and the Tiger Mountain Sect was inevitable sooner or later!

This was not only due to the Tianle Gang’s actions but, more crucially, because as the two strongest powers in Pingzhou, conflict over interests was almost certain. Since there were no other forces in Pingzhou capable of threatening both of them, they didn't even need to worry about a third party profiting. Once a war broke out, it would be a fight to the death.

Either the Tiger Mountain Sect would drive the Tianle Gang branch out of Pingzhou, or the Tianle Gang branch would annihilate the Tiger Mountain Sect, or at the very least, cripple them beyond recovery.

And a while ago, news arrived from the Central Plains that Liu Qingfeng of the Tiger Mountain Sect had clashed with the Scarlet Sun Divine Lord, Pei Gonglie, and was severely wounded. Wei Peng realized this might be the best opportunity for the Tianle Gang. If true, the Tiger Mountain Sect had lost a major fighting force before the battle even began; initiating a conflict now would undoubtedly benefit the Tianle Gang greatly. However, it seemed some time had already passed since this incident, and he wasn't sure if it was too late. Considering the power of the Scarlet Sun Divine Lord, Liu Qingfeng’s injuries were unlikely to heal quickly.

This was the reason he urgently brought Lu Tian, the best at Qinggong and scouting, north. However, while passing through Shushan County, they encountered this interesting development.

The small fry he hadn't paid attention to initially seemed to possess strength beyond his expectations. Still, Wei Peng wasn't overly concerned; he didn't believe the Shu Mountain Sect could really stir up any significant trouble.

Nevertheless, the cautious Wei Peng would not simply ignore the matter. He decided to stay in this location for a few more days to thoroughly investigate the level of these so-called small fry in his eyes.