The return to Mount Shu always brought Ye Wen a sense of profound ease, especially with the absolute burden that was Liu Muyan tagging along for the journey.

The ascent itself proved to be another ordeal. Liu Muyan’s fragile constitution simply couldn't handle continuous climbing, and since Ye Wen was determined to make him rely on his own strength rather than offer assistance, the journey proceeded in fits and starts. Even with their home just a stone’s throw away, they were forced to inch their way up the mountain at a snail's pace.

Old Man Chen Yizhong, however, was no cause for concern. The elderly physician had spent the better part of his life traversing far and wide; his physical resilience far surpassed that of Liu Muyan. As they traveled, Chen Yizhong never once showed signs of breathlessness, leading Ye Wen to suspect the old man might also possess some profound martial skill.

“Old man, I merely understand the art of health preservation; I know nothing of those mystical arts of Qi cultivation,” Ye Wen learned from Chen Yizhong about the general state of the Central Plains martial arts world. Internal energy cultivation was a closely guarded secret, even there. Only martial halls with substantial influence dared to teach the fundamentals of inner strength, and otherwise, those profound techniques belonged exclusively to sects rooted deep within the great mountains. Unless one formally joined a mountain sect, learning such methods was harder than scaling the heavens.

“Of course, there are also some lone swordsmen who take disciples to ensure their unique skills are passed down!” However, the chance of this happening was negligible. The Central Plains were vast; finding someone with impressive martial arts, and then having them deem you worthy of instruction, was a probability no higher—perhaps even lower—than being favored by an elder upon joining a major sect.

“But the Central Plains martial world remains much more vibrant. Aside from the true masters, the sheer number of third and fourth-rate martial artists, and even countless others who are utterly unranked, is staggering. Stumble into any random town, and you might very well bump into someone from the Jianghu…”

It was the existence of this massive base of lower and middle-tier martial artists that kept the Jianghu lively and interesting.

Along the way, listening to these tales kept Ye Wen from feeling bored. No matter how slow Liu Muyan traveled, Ye Wen wasn't worried, content to wait with a faint, knowing smile.

“Master, how much further is your esteemed sect?” Liu Muyan held his right hand up, maintaining a posture as if still holding a brush. He dared not move carelessly, yet his body was already twisted into an awkward shape, leaning against a thick tree trunk like a pile of mud ready to slide off. If someone were to nudge him gently now, he would likely tumble down the mountain like a rolling gourd.

Ye Wen glanced around and snorted, “We’ve only reached the halfway point; there’s still the other half to go!” Ye Wen had originally planned to detour to Shushan County first, seeking out Li Fu to ask about reputable blacksmiths. Government officials usually had a better handle on such matters, as blacksmiths were categorized as semi-monitored professions requiring registration.

Officials were often privy to which smiths were truly skilled. Ye Wen hadn't considered this earlier and suffered the disadvantage of being unfamiliar with the local customs. It was only when Chen Yizhong learned Ye Wen was looking for a blacksmith, asked about his connections with the authorities, and then Chen Qing emphasized the importance of that detail, that Ye Wen realized this oversight.

“Inexperience kills!” Having grasped these points, Ye Wen stopped rushing to find a smith. He decided instead to head directly back to Mount Shu, settle the two new arrivals, report his safe return, and then take time to personally visit Head Constable Li Fu in Shushan County to inquire about any highly skilled blacksmiths in the county or nearby villages.

Once he had that information, he wouldn't even need to hire them directly; he could simply dispatch a disciple to make the arrangements. After all, there was no reason anyone would refuse such a generous offer: Mount Shu Sect would provide the materials and lodging, plus payment, in exchange for forging the sect's weaponry and necessary implements. No craftsman would turn down such a favorable arrangement.

The only complication was that secretly hiring a blacksmith to forge weapons violated imperial law. However, people of the Jianghu, even those of the righteous path, inevitably skirted some laws. As long as Ye Wen didn't deliberately oppose the court, he doubted the Shushan County magistrate would make things difficult for him.

“Besides, once Mount Shu Sect grows powerful, the county yamen will naturally seek to profit from us too! When everyone is happy, they shouldn't be seeking trouble unnecessarily!” With his plan settled, Ye Wen led the two straight toward Mount Shu. At the base of the mountain, he greeted Xu Ping, the disciple on duty that day. This third disciple was overjoyed to see his Master return and nearly rushed up the mountain immediately to announce the Sect Leader's arrival. Ye Wen sharply reprimanded him: “What kind of conduct is that? Such impatience!” Then, he casually inquired, “Has anything major happened at Mount Shu Sect while I was away?” Xu Ping paused to think, then nodded slowly. “Aside from the destruction of the Righteous Fist Gate and the death of Wang Shu, nothing particularly significant!” This news startled Ye Wen, causing a flash of alarm: “Wang Shu is dead?” Yet, his expression remained composed, showing neither elation nor distress. He simply nodded and stated, “Understood, I’m heading back up now!”

Though he had received this unexpected news, Ye Wen wasn't overly concerned. Perhaps Wang Shu and the Righteous Fist Gate had dropped so significantly in his mind that he no longer held that provincial sect, which couldn't even manage a single hill properly, in high regard.

Ever since he had severely wounded Wang Shu in passing, letting him leave while smoothly taking over all the assets of the Righteous Fist Gate, Ye Wen had known that the small sect’s demise was imminent. Even if Ye Wen hadn't acted directly, they wouldn't have lasted much longer.

However, Wang Shu dying while Ye Wen was away suggested there must have been quite a struggle. Judging by Xu Ping’s expression, this matter must have been deeply connected to their Mount Shu Sect. But Ye Wen had two strangers with him whom Xu Ping didn't recognize, so the disciple naturally hesitated to speak openly.

“I’ll ask Junior Sister when we get back to the mountain to get the full story!” Turning back, he saw that Liu Muyan, under Chen Yizhong’s steadying hand, had finally managed to stand again, seemingly having recovered some strength. Since traveling with Ye Wen from Guofeng City to Shushan County, Liu Muyan’s health, though still feeble, had markedly improved. Though he appeared exhausted now, he was capable of walking.

“Let’s continue…” Ye Wen’s simple command signaled the resumption of the three-person climb.

This time, their pace was not nearly as swift. Not only was the terrain growing steeper, but their stamina was waning. The first half of the ascent had taken them only half a day, but the remaining half dragged on for most of the afternoon. By the time they reached the gate of the Mount Shu Sect, dusk was settling.

Due to the dim light, their sudden appearance at the entrance caused the two guarding disciples to become highly alert for a moment. Only after a brief interval did they clearly discern that the leading figure was their own Sect Leader.

“The Sect Leader is back…”

Waving to the other guard, that disciple rushed inside the sect to deliver the news, leaving the remaining one to step forward and greet him. “Disciple welcomes the Sect Leader!”

“Hmm!” Ye Wen recognized the disciple as Zhou Ding. He wasn't exceptionally gifted, but his methodical way of handling affairs earned Ye Wen's trust, so Ye Wen often entrusted him with security duties. Zhou Ding seemed aware of his own moderate talent and understood that the only way to enter the inner circle of Mount Shu was through dedicated service to the sect. Thus, he was exceptionally diligent, frequently manning the main gate himself.

It was this same Zhou Ding who had almost drawn his sword when Huang Rongrong had caused trouble in the main hall that day, and it was he who later escorted Guo Aniu away to be settled.

“Standing guard all day must be tiring! I recall you excel at swordsmanship. Seek me out tomorrow after the morning lesson!” Upon hearing this, Zhou Ding immediately understood this was a special favor from the Sect Leader, a chance for personal tutelage. He became ecstatic, nearly unable to speak in his excitement. After a moment of stunned silence, he managed, “Thank you for the Sect Leader’s grace!”

Ye Wen nodded, not lingering further with Zhou Ding, and continued inside with Chen Yizhong and Liu Muyan. By now, the news had spread through Mount Shu Sect. Ning Ruxue and Xu Xian, the two most senior members present, were the first to come out to greet them.

Seeing his Junior Sister suddenly, Ye Wen felt a strong urge to rush forward and embrace her. But the moment he moved, Ning Ruxue suppressed the flicker of happiness that crossed her face, reverting to her usual placid expression, and said simply, “You’re back!”

“Mm…”

Ning Ruxue scrutinized him, noting that Ye Wen appeared uninjured and whole. A look of relief surfaced in her eyes, though her words remained dry. “It’s good that nothing is missing…”

Ye Wen scratched his head. “Well... something was actually misplaced. We can discuss that privately later!”

“Privately?” Xu Xian, who had just walked up beside them, heard this and casually remarked, before realizing it wasn't his place to pry. He coughed awkwardly. “Haha, I didn't hear anything…”

Ye Wen greeted Zhao Shen, Zhou Zhiruo, and Yue Ning in turn before leading the way deeper inside, signaling Chen Yizhong and Liu Muyan to follow. The front courtyard and outer areas of Mount Shu Sect were generally unrestricted, but past the main hall, certain areas were forbidden. Beyond the main hall was a large plaza, the training ground for the disciples. All Mount Shu disciples were free to train here, though this area was mostly utilized by outer disciples; inner and direct disciples found separate spots for their practice.

Further inside, the path split into two. One led to the quarters where outer disciples rested and ate, a cluster of buildings built side-by-side, resembling a small town. The other path led to the core area of Mount Shu Sect: housing for direct disciples, smaller training rooms, and the residences of Ye Wen and his Senior and Junior Sisters. Beyond that lay the rear mountain—currently the greatest treasure of Mount Shu Sect, known only to the three of them.

They were heading toward the inner quarters. The general disciples dispersed after reaching the plaza, but the core group followed Ye Wen inside to a large chamber—a place designated for serious discussion, meetings, or hosting guests.

With the seating already arranged, Ye Wen took the seat of honor and instructed, “Sit!” before commencing the serious business.

He first introduced Chen Yizhong to the group, stating, “This is the divine physician I invited on my return journey. He is now a member of the Mount Shu Sect. Anyone in the sect suffering a sudden, severe illness may seek out Doctor Chen. Furthermore, Doctor Chen will not be assigned a seniority rank within our sect.” The others nodded, paying their respects to Doctor Chen one by one. After all, those who walked the Jianghu, while perhaps not afflicted by minor ailments, often suffered injuries, particularly internal ones. Knowing a capable doctor was often equivalent to having an extra life.

Though they didn't know Doctor Chen’s level of expertise, it was infinitely better than having no one skilled in medicine available at all.

“I also plan to open a medical clinic across from our Inn of No Stay. Doctor Chen will preside there, which can also help Mount Shu Sect generate significant revenue!”

Ning Ruxue nodded, finding no reason to disagree. Sect development invariably required funds. While Mount Shu Sect currently had enough money to manage, scaling up required finding new sources of income; their existing ventures alone couldn't support the rise of an entire sect.

Ye Wen’s immediate consideration of revenue streams showed his intention to expand the sect, fitting for his role as Sect Leader.

Musing on this, Ning Ruxue realized her lingering ambition for the position of Sect Leader had faded considerably. Had Ye Wen performed so well that her resentment had simply dissolved?

Putting those thoughts aside, Ning Ruxue continued listening to Ye Wen.

“Regarding the clinic, besides Doctor Chen, we can hire others. We must also take on apprentices, but these apprentices will all be considered outer disciples of Mount Shu Sect. If any show extraordinary talent or make contributions to medicine, they can still be admitted to the inner circle! If they master the skills well, we could even assign them to manage a separate clinic…”

The others continued to nod. If they trained students, they couldn't simply let them walk away. Moreover, once the clinic grew large, a single physician wouldn't suffice. Ye Wen’s intention clearly pointed toward establishing branch locations.

“That’s all for now!” Ye Wen scanned the room and noticed Li Sen was absent. He turned to Xu Xian. “When Li Sen returns, tell him to make a trip to the county yamen and inquire about the price to purchase that property.” He decided to have Li Sen handle the clinic arrangements for now, setting aside the inn matters temporarily. Xu Xian agreed; Mount Shu Sect was currently short on capable hands, and Li Sen was the only one available to run errands like this.

After giving a few more instructions, Ye Wen pointed to Liu Muyan. “This gentleman is a new student I have accepted. His surname is Liu, given name Muyan…”

“Student?” Everyone in the hall registered surprise. Even Liu Muyan paused in his motion to rise and bow before collecting himself to return the gesture.

It was generally understood that Mount Shu Sect accepted disciples, not students—what was this designation? Before Ning Ruxue could ask, Ye Wen immediately clarified, “Liu Muyan is a scholar dedicated solely to study. However, he struggles with calligraphy and has repeatedly failed his exams. He is returning to Mount Shu with me to study the way of the brush, so he is only a student for now!”

The others understood, and the way they looked at Liu Muyan became extremely peculiar. Ning Ruxue regarded him with the expression one reserves for a strange creature.

Liu Muyan offered an awkward smile, unperturbed, bowed with cupped hands, and sat back down. However, considering his Master and individuals clearly of his Master’s generation were present, he only allowed his posterior to rest on the seat for half its surface area. It was less sitting and more enduring torment.

Xu Xian had been observing for a while, having already noted the man’s scholarly air, quite unlike a martial practitioner. He was intimately familiar with that posture. When Ye Wen finished his explanation, Xu Xian suddenly understood. After watching for a moment longer, he couldn't help but let out a burst of laughter. “Young Master Liu, this is not the imperial court, and none of us here are high officials or royal princes. You needn't be so rigid; please relax!” Liu Muyan, however, only bowed to Ye Wen and replied to Xu Xian, “My Master is present; how can a student dare to act wantonly…” He ignored Xu Xian’s suggestion, maintaining his precarious, half-seated position.

Seeing this pedantic demeanor, the expressions of the others grew even stranger. Even Ye Wen found the excessive formality tiresome and casually instructed, “Muyan, you don't need to be so reserved!” Liu Muyan quickly murmured assent but did not change his posture, seemingly believing this was the proper way to show respect to his elders. Seeing this, Ye Wen let him be and continued discussing matters with the group before dismissing everyone. Before the others left, Ye Wen instructed Yue Ning and Zhou Zhiruo, “Come to my courtyard later; I want to see if your skills have regressed!” He then asked Zhao Shen to arrange rooms for Chen Yizhong and Liu Muyan. Once all arrangements were made, only the three senior martial siblings remained in the hall.

“Let’s go back to my courtyard to talk!” With no outsiders present, there seemed no need to stay in the formal hall. Ye Wen began walking toward his own residence, asking as he went, “I heard the Righteous Fist Gate Master, Wang Shu, is dead and the sect disbanded. What exactly happened?” Xu Xian and Ning Ruxue seemed to have anticipated this question. They exchanged a glance, and Ning Ruxue spoke first. “Wang Shu was killed by my sword strike!” “Oh…” Ye Wen merely responded softly, saying nothing more, waiting for the rest of the story.

Seeing Ye Wen’s calm reaction, Ning Ruxue knew he wanted the full sequence of events. “Not long after Senior Brother went down the mountain, the Righteous Fist Gate, along with several small neighboring gangs, ganged up and attacked our mountain, clamoring to drive Mount Shu Sect off Mount Shu!”

“And then…” Ye Wen genuinely became interested. He hadn’t expected such an incident. But knowing his Junior Sister’s temperament, he suspected none of those attackers came to a good end.

“Then Wang Shu jumped out, spouting arrogant nonsense and saying many unspeakable things. I was disgusted and ended him with a single sword stroke…” Ning Ruxue recounted it as if swatting a fly, her expression matching the casual nature of killing a pest. Even recalling it now, she wore a look of distaste.

Ye Wen observed her and immediately understood that Wang Shu must have made some lewd remarks that enraged his Junior Sister, leading to his swift demise. “To harass someone, you had to harass her? Truly seeking a short life…” Then, Xu Xian narrated the rest of the day’s events. Ye Wen finally had a general grasp of the situation, but then he said with a slight change in expression, “There is one more matter that requires Senior Brother’s final decision?”

“What is it?” Ye Wen didn't believe it could be a major issue, as Xu Xian’s preceding account implied that most of the troublemakers were small fry squeezed out by Mount Shu’s growing influence. And the recent disturbance had been seized upon by the two sisters to wipe them out decisively. Truly, there weren't any major problems surrounding Mount Shu currently.

“Does Senior Brother remember Zhang Gui from the Righteous Fist Gate?”

“I remember him.”

Xu Xian continued, “This person saved Zhiruo once during the incident and was injured in the process. He is currently recuperating at our sect!”

“What?” Ye Wen was not shocked that Zhang Gui was healing at their sect, but rather by the phrase, saved Zhou Zhiruo once. “Tell me that entire sequence of events in detail!”