Murim's Weakest Princess-Chapter 93: Gentleman Club

"What’s the situation?" Zhao Mingfeng asked.

Three years had passed since Yan Ping left the Celestial Dragon Sect. Many things have happened since. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Wordlessly, Lizi pulled out a small bamboo carrier from her sleeve and handed it to the sect master. Gu Ying was training with Anji for her daily lessons instead of Mingfeng after a year. The busy sect leader could no longer afford to take time off from his duties and handed his lessons with his youngest daughter over to the trusted bodyguard. Anji was a quick learner and was busy mastering the techniques her teacher had left her instead. She also paid more attention to basic martial arts movements than any specific style, something that even some outer disciples could teach. There was no need for Mingfeng to personally oversee the rest of Anji’s education.

Although the doting father lamented his lack of family time, he had more pressing issues to handle. His oldest son had founded a new shadow organisation with Hong Nian Niang and Zhang Mou. Lizi and Gu Ying were his communication bridges between the busy trio. The shadow organisation known as the Gentleman Club were busy investigating the mysterious spell-weaving traitor from the Mystical Qilin Sect. At the same time, they were Zhang Mou was busy overseeing the Rainbow Alliance’s new business ventures in Chang’an. Hong Nian Niang started a few brothels in the capital run by her harem of husbands that proved successful in the two years since she started. The leader of the Vermillion Bird Sect was busy building ties with government officials to investigate the complicated relationship between the demon cultivators and the imperial palace. Nobody was able to contact Liu Guiya since she entered the court as a royal concubine, not even her talented niece Liu Yanxia. Hence, many matters were still shrouded in mystery.

The information scroll was sent by Mingshen, who was writing to inform his father about a newly discovered demon worshipper’s soul-farming operations. Slightly more than a year ago, Bai Dajin left the Celestial Dragon Sect to start solo hunting demon cult members and exterminating their nests. Yihao had finally reached the Solid Core foundation. The wandering pugilist left a set of martial arts for Yihao before he left, and Mingfeng permitted his youngest son to use the deep cultivation chambers when Yihao requested to enter solitary isolated cultivation. His determination to advance from the Solid Core to the Enlightened Core convinced Mingfeng to let his son try. Unlike before, Yihao grew up to be a capable young man under Bai Dajin’s guidance. He was no longer as rash as before, but his chivalrous attitude remained.

On the other hand, due to the absence of two sons in the sect, Ruiting took it upon herself to assist her father on the field. She had finally completed her basic successor training and offered to lead the subjugation squad on behalf of her father. Zhao Wanting thought it was a great opportunity to let her eldest daughter experience the world and convinced Mingfeng to give Ruiting the chance to lead the small demon eradication squad. The squad was in charge of discreet operations and comprised members from various sects in the Rainbow Alliance. She worked closely with her brother’s information to damage the logistic operations of their enemies while Bai Dajin destroyed major soul-farming operations.

So far, the operations have been going well. Mingshen reported the latest victory, where Ruiting led a small group of the demon subjugation squad to intercept a caravan of kidnapped children. The fewer sacrifices the demon cultivators could get, the better for the Rainbow Alliance. Although they could not save everyone, they did their best to thwart the demon cult’s attempts as much as possible. The survivors were either offered employment or relocation whenever possible by the closest Rainbow Alliance Sect in the region. If there were orphans, these children were given a choice to enrol in a martial school or offered employment by the Gentleman Club’s multiple new business ventures.

In a reply to Mingshen, Zhao Mingfeng praised his children’s efforts. Children grew up very quickly. Even Anji managed to cultivate until she achieved the Strengthened Core. It was a tedious and difficult process. Everyone in the sect knew how hard the youngest princess worked. Gu Ying and Lizi were eyewitnesses to how many hours Anji put in. Thankfully, her efforts paid off. Yan Ping explained to Mingfeng that Anji’s Celestial Root foundation would become Anji’s curse and blessing. While Anji was able to gain faster spiritual enlightenment and insights into energy flow due to her superior understanding, her body would take much longer to keep up with her spiritual and mental maturity.

True to the blind prophet’s prediction, a year after Yan Ping returned to her sect, she sent Anji another book for Anji’s self-studying. The little genius completed studying the intermediate spell-weaving techniques and reported it to her shifu using pigeon courier services. In reply, Yan Ping sent her successor a new book about advanced spells and array techniques. Anji took her time reading through the new book and focused more on developing her weak martial arts foundation. Although Anji was able to do most chores, as demonstrated by the servants in the Celestial Dragon Sect, she was still unsatisfied with the efficiency. Lizi watched her young mistress design many different types of spells and arrays to simplify chores in the sect. While some spells were beneficial, encouraging more outer disciples to work as part-time servants for extra pocket money, Anji did not always succeed.

In between Anji’s training and useful inventions, Mingfeng witnessed his youngest daughter’s dream come true. When Anji expressed her interest in becoming an herbalist, he did not expect her to achieve it within a year.

Two years after gaining the ability to cultivate, Anji was the first person to artificially nurture a regular plant into a spiritual plant. The potted persimmon plant that Anji nurtured carefully ended up becoming the first known artificially cultivated spiritual plant. Anji explained her methods for imbuing energy into the persimmon plant to encourage its evolution. However, even Yan Ping wrote back to declare the method was too complex to test. Few cultivators had Anji’s ability to master complex energy circulation. There were some theories about how Anji’s special Celestial Root allowed her to perform such miracles. However, nobody could confirm it.

In the end, Anji’s spiritual persimmon tree was planted in the middle of her residence’s courtyard. Mingfeng still drank persimmon leaf tea daily, especially after Anji’s insistence. The tree was guarded to prevent anyone from stealing its leaves and fruits. Although it was a spiritual plant, it did not regrow leaves and fruits quickly if Anji did not personally imbue it with her energy, even if it could accumulate the dense spiritual energy that naturally existed on the mountain over time to produce spiritual leaves and fruits. The special tree soon became known as the Celestial Dragon Sect’s guardian tree. However, Anji merely treated the tree as her favourite snack bar from time to time when she had persimmon cravings.

"How’s Mingshen doing?" Mingfeng folded his reply and stuffed it back into the bamboo holder, passing it to Lizi.

The maid smiled. "He’s doing well. If anything, he enjoys bragging to young master Zhang about the young mistress’ martial comics that always seem to sell out. Even commoner children enjoy reading her comics ever since they released a second edition to include funny storylines."

Among many of the new business ventures created by the Gentleman Club, Anji’s creations were among the top sellers. Her martial comics have become so popular that even travelling theatre troupes adopted them into their plays. The royalty fees made quite a bit of money for the Celestial Dragon Sect. However, Anji’s low-cost medicine for common illnesses such as bug bites and colds has also contributed to the increased number of commoner clinics. The bigger pharmacies in the capital city were unhappy about Zhang Mou’s chain of commoner clinics. However, with some subtle threats from Hong Nian Niang’s clients, they became silent very quickly.

Seeing how the children of the Celestial Dragon Sect were contributing greatly to the demon-hunting efforts, Chen Tao requested to enter isolated training to complete the last stage of his successor training. Chen Zhong was initially against his son’s reckless decision. The last stage of gaining an Enlightened Core while tampering with the body to endure dangerous swamp poison arts should not be rushed. Chen Tao might have been hardworking, but he still lacked natural talent, unlike the children of the Celestial Dragon Sect. After a long discussion and consulting Mingfeng for advice, the Black Tortoise sect leader finally let his son do as he pleased after Anji sent some specially cultivated spiritual herbs that could help minimise Chen Tao’s tribulation risks in return for the delicious dried persimmons and persimmon seeds from the Rainbow Alliance Meeting.

Seeing how the youngsters were working hard to contribute to the cause, Liu Yanxia also became inspired by their passion. The Heavenly Phoenix sect leader struggled with internal politics while cultivating to reach the base of the Heavenly Core following her aunt’s secret martial manual. Mingfeng could only offer to support her as the head of the Rainbow Alliance and manage her sect’s messy logistic affairs.

With everyone preparing for the inevitable second war against the demonic cult worshippers, Mingfeng did not realise just how much time had passed until Lizi held out another letter.

"What’s this?" he asked. There was no name on the letter, only an inked seal stamp.

The maid wisely remained silent. Realisation slowly set in, and Mingfeng dreaded opening it. As this seal was not often seen, he had almost forgotten it existed. However, there was no mistaking it was the official seal stamp sent from the Mystical Qilin Sect.

Three years ago, Yan Ping mentioned she would send a letter summoning Anji to her sect when the time was ready. Like Mingfeng, she was also recovering from helping Anji defy the heavens. They were both at the Heavenly Core stage now, thanks to Anji’s spiritual persimmon leaf tea. The remaining recovery progress has been slow, but it was not as important. They were powerful enough.

Reading the letter with a heavy heart, Mingfeng sighed. It was a summon letter to officially invite Anji over to fulfil her successor training with Yan Ping. They had one month to prepare. Thankfully, Yan Ping wasn’t entirely merciless in demanding a six-and-a-half-year-old girl to travel alone. She allowed Gu Ying to become Anji’s guardian and permitted the Manchurian bodyguard to reside in the guest house of the Mystical Qilin Sect on the condition that she was not allowed to interfere in any sect affairs.

"Lizi, help Anji and Gu Ying to pack for the journey. It takes about two weeks to reach the Mystical Qilin Sect on foot. Anji might also want to go sightseeing, so prepare to leave in a week."

Bowing, Lizi left the room to deliver the sect leader’s reply to Mingshen before relaying the message to her young mistress. Before evening, the entire sect would learn about Anji’s departure. She was sure of it. The servants had been discussing the type of farewell party they wanted to throw for Anji when this eventually happened. Maybe she should make a stop by the servant’s quarters first.