Chapter 47: The Inside Story

To defeat the Claw Technique, one simply needs to control the opponent’s hand. Seizing the steward’s wrist and using the strength of his waist, he flung the man backward with sudden force.

Crash!

The steward’s burly body was hurled into the air, landing with a heavy thud. The thick floor tiles shattered into pieces beneath him.

“Sir!”

Two guards, shocked, immediately shot two arrows at Lu Yan. Without hesitation, Lu Yan used the steward’s wrist to whip the man’s body around—two dull thuds sounded as both armor-piercing bolts sank into the steward’s waist and abdomen. Then, as if wielding a hammer, Lu Yan swung him down hard onto the floor.

Boom!

The ground trembled lightly. Floorboards exploded, shards of stone flying, and the steward, like a mangy dog with broken bones, rolled his eyes back and vomited blood.

Lu Yan did not pause. He swung the steward several more times until all resistance left the man’s body.

“If you dare shoot another arrow, I’ll kill him,” Lu Yan said coldly, one foot planted on the steward’s chest as he swept his gaze over the two guards.

Terrified, neither guard dared act. They stood frozen, unable either to advance or retreat.

The commotion had clearly alarmed the rest of the guards in the steward’s residence. Seven or eight more skilled fighters hurried over, but when they saw the scene, they exchanged uncertain looks and stopped in their tracks.

“Don’t… don’t kill me,” the steward finally gasped, regaining some strength.

“If you want to live, buy your life with silver,” Lu Yan replied.

“Fine, how much do you want?” the steward asked.

“A dignified steward of a noble house, a fivefold limit-breaker—surely you’re worth at least thirty thousand taels?” Lu Yan said.

The steward’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s extortion! Where would I get thirty thousand taels?”

“You’re telling me a steward like you doesn’t have thirty thousand?” Lu Yan was unconvinced.

The steward gave a bitter smile. “My branch of the family is constantly suppressed by the Zhou clan. My steward position is nominal—I barely see any money. Besides, I have to fund my own training and support my people. That all takes a fortune…”

“How much can you give, then?”

“Five thousand taels. That’s everything I have.”

“Only five thousand?” Lu Yan was speechless. This guy was truly poor.

“If you can’t pay, then pay with martial arts instead. I’m quite interested in your Zhou family’s Soaring Hawk Crimson Flame Claws,” Lu Yan said.

This was his true goal.

He had coveted a first-class martial art for a long time. The power was one reason, but more importantly, to reach the rank of Martial Marquis, a first-class technique was required. No one could ascend with a second-rate art—the quality of the vital energy simply wasn’t enough.

He was already a fourfold limit-breaker, and while he was still far from attempting the breakthrough, it was time to plan ahead.

The steward’s expression was calm, as if he had expected Lu Yan’s request. “Do you know why first-class martial arts of the noble houses are never leaked? Even if I told you the secret formula, you couldn’t train it.”

“Why not?”

“Because first-class arts are entirely different from those of the second or third tier. To learn a first-class art, you need not only the secret formula but also the ‘Divine Intent Diagram’. Only by studying both in tandem can you master the technique. Without the diagram, it’s impossible.”

“And the Divine Intent Diagram is the very foundation of each noble house, kept under the strictest security. Only those with approval can even view it.”

“I could never get the diagram out,” the steward explained.

Lu Yan fell silent. No wonder lesser martial arts were widespread, but first-class arts were reserved for the noble heirs alone. He had never heard of an outsider mastering the core arts of the Liu or Wu clans—so this was the reason.

By that logic, acquiring a first-class martial art was hellishly difficult unless you could wipe out an entire noble house. But each house had a Martial Marquis in residence; to destroy them, you would have to be one yourself. Yet to become a Martial Marquis, you needed a first-class art.

A deadlock.

Unless, perhaps, he found a fallen noble house without a Martial Marquis—like the Zhou clan, now left with only one, who was near the end.

With the first-class art out of reach, he could only settle for the next best thing. “Then give me your second- and third-class martial arts. Ten or so volumes will do.”

The steward smiled bitterly. “I’ve devoted all my energy to the Soaring Hawk Crimson Flame Claws. I know a few second- and third-class arts, but not many. I can give you all I know, but the manuals aren’t with me. I’ll have to write them out from memory—it will take some time.”

“I can wait.” Lu Yan paused, then added, “I’m curious—since you’re both of the Zhou clan, why did you want to kill Zhou Hezhen?”

Zhou Hezhen was not only a Martial Marquis, but also a master martial chef. His death would ruin the Zhou clan. What benefit could that bring the steward?

“Because he deserved to die. His entire branch deserved it,” the steward replied, hatred burning in his eyes. “You may not know this, but thirty years ago, the Zhou clan had six Martial Marquises at its peak. My father was the clan head then, a Martial Marquis at the pinnacle. One day, he went out on clan business but was ambushed by several Martial Marquises and died in a desperate fight.”

“My father’s mission was a secret—only a handful in the clan knew about it. How could he have been ambushed unless someone betrayed him?”

“Afterwards, Zhou Hezhen’s branch seized power. Soon after, another Martial Marquis from my branch died under mysterious circumstances, supposedly from losing control while cultivating. But martial artists don’t lose control so easily—it’s absurd.”

“Ever since, my branch has been suppressed at every turn: resources, martial foods, everything rationed. Our strength has only declined.”

“This is a blood feud—I cannot let it go. My branch is the rightful heir to the Zhou clan.”

“So you contacted that female assassin to kill Zhou Hezhen?” Lu Yan asked.

“You’re wrong about that. I didn’t seek her out—she came to me. She called herself Bai Lin and offered to kill Zhou Hezhen for me,” the steward said.

“And you just agreed? Weren’t you afraid she’d trick you?” Lu Yan asked.

“I had no choice. If Zhou Hezhen succeeded in preparing the mutated Nine-Segment Heart Meat, the Zhou clan would keep three portions for themselves. My branch would never get a share—they’d use them all for their own people. If that produced one or two more Martial Marquises, my branch would have no hope left.”

“So you don’t know Bai Lin’s true identity?” Lu Yan pressed.

The steward shook his head.

Lu Yan thought to himself, Impressive.

“I’m curious—now that Zhou Hezhen is dead and only one Martial Marquis remains, aren’t you afraid the Zhou clan will be swallowed up by other noble houses? That wouldn’t help your branch at all.”

“You think that because you don’t understand the Zhou clan’s history. The Zhou family has always been known for its martial chefs. Over the years, we produced several master chefs who cooked for many noble houses—especially the ‘Eighteen Flavors to the Bone’. These houses owe us a debt, so they won’t destroy us; if they did, their reputations would be ruined.”

“In fact, if any house tried to swallow the Zhou clan, the others would send troops to help. No one would risk being attacked by all the others.”

He paused, then added, “Of course, interests rule between noble houses. For example, when the Zhou clan produced the mutated Heart Meat, the other houses began exerting secret pressure.”

Lu Yan nodded. He could mostly piece together the story now. Then—

He clapped his hands. “Write down the entire story of how you contacted the assassin and prepared for Zhou Hezhen’s death. Sign it, and I’ll let you go.”

“You—”

The steward glared at Lu Yan. With his experience, how could he not realize Lu Yan’s intentions?

Lu Yan wanted to have him entirely in his grasp. With a written confession, if he ever disobeyed, Lu Yan could present it to the remaining Martial Marquis and have his entire branch exterminated.

Such ruthless methods, such a calculating mind.

“Not willing? Then you must be courting death,” Lu Yan said coldly, eyes gleaming with murderous intent.