Free Web NovelChapter 6: Chapter 6—Mo Ming
Chapter 6—Mo Ming
"Someone—call Head Guard Mo Ming," Lei Feng barked, his voice carrying outside the room.
Within moments, a middle-aged man walked in. Long black hair tied messily, a muscular build, and light brown skin. A scar ran along his right arm from the bicep all the way down to his palm. He wore gray hanfu martial arts robes, his temperament unruly, his hair dry and rough despite being tied. He was yawning as he walked.
’The Head Guard. A Level Three martial cultivator.’ Lei Cheng rested his gaze on him, eyes narrowing.
"Master..." Mo Ming folded his hands behind his back and scowled. "I trained all night—why did you call me?"
Lei Feng’s brows knitted together. He clenched his right fist behind his back. "Keep an eye on Lei Cheng. He must get married—at any cost."
Mo Ming didn’t answer immediately. He turned and glanced at Lei Cheng, who was still wearing Yun Che’s face.
Lei Cheng’s eyes sharpened.
’The Lei Clan is the wealthiest in the city—but their martial power is practically nonexistent. And this head guard is arrogant even toward the Master himself.’
’No wonder.’
It finally clicked into place—why Lei Feng had been so desperate for this marriage to the Xiao Clan’s direct legitimate daughter. A mere guard stood there with his spine straight, eyes boring directly into Lei Feng’s without a trace of deference.
’What arrogance.’
Mo Ming knew full well that the clan’s protection rested entirely on his shoulders. He had made himself indispensable—and he knew it. ’A hundred thousand silver coins? Or was it more?’ Lei Cheng skimmed through his memories, tallying what the clan had spent on him. Technically, Lei Feng could dismiss Mo Ming and hire new guards—but that was the problem. Though Mo Ming was arrogant and unruly, he delivered results. More dangerously, many of the clan’s retainers and guards answered to Mo Ming before they answered to Lei Feng. If he were dismissed, the retainers would follow him out by morning. And new guards? No guarantee of loyalty—they could turn around and rob the Lei Clan blind.
Lei Cheng shook his head slowly and glanced at Lei Feng quietly.
’To build a clan like this—from nothing—under these conditions.’
The Lei Clan had always been a merchant family, never with the resources to invest in martial cultivation. Yet Lei Feng had built it from scratch through sheer financial genius, making it the wealthiest clan in all of Azure Cloud City.
Mo Ming picked his nose.
Lei Feng repeated, voice low. "Keep an eye on the Young Master. Make sure he marries Xiao Ming."
Mo Ming’s eyes flashed for just a moment. Then he nodded. "Yes."
’Would he actually obey?’ Lei Cheng frowned inwardly. If Lei Cheng married the Xiao Clan’s legitimate daughter, the Lei Clan would gain access to their martial strength. Every clan that had been eyeing their wealth with ill intent would be forced to back off, which meant Mo Ming would lose his position as the clan’s sole protector. His leverage would vanish overnight.
Lei Cheng’s fingers twitched.
Then Lei Feng added, sternly, "After the Young Master marries Xiao Ming—I will request the Xiao Clan to provide us with their Level Four Martial Arts Technique."
Mo Ming’s eyes went wide. He nodded rapidly, enthusiasm flooding his expression this time.
"Yes! I will personally make sure the Young Master marries Lady Ming." He swept out of the room.
Lei Feng turned toward who he believed to be Yun Che and said quietly, "Keep an eye on Head Guard Mo—and on that disgraceful son of mine."
Lei Cheng’s eyebrow twitched. He bowed slightly. "As you wish, Master."
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of the courtyard—
"Unbelievable—not a single one of them found me out?!"
Yun Che shoved away the servants and maids pressing in from all sides, poking and inspecting him. He felt suffocated.
"Young Master." Head Guard Mo Ming stepped into the corridor, rubbing the back of his neck. "What is the problem here?"
The servants and maids explained in a rush. Yun Che glared at Lei Cheng—still wearing Yun Che’s face—with burning red eyes. freeweɓnøvel.com
Lei Cheng quietly turned his head away. ’You’re on your own.’
"Confirm your identity, is it?" Mo Ming muttered, studying the scene.
Yun Che’s eyes lit up the moment his gaze landed on Mo Ming. "Master Mo! It’s me—Yun Che!"
"Aaa?" Lei Cheng whispered under his breath. ’Since when did he become Mo Ming’s disciple?’
"What game are you playing?" Mo Ming grabbed Yun Che’s shoulder and pressed down—hard.
Thud!
Yun Che’s knees hit the floor. He winced, gripping Mo Ming’s wrist and groaning through the pain. "Master Mo—it’s me. Sense my aura. You’ll know."
Mo Ming went still. His eyes focused inward for a brief moment, sensing carefully.
A moment passed.
He reached down and pulled Yun Che back to his feet, gripping both shoulders firmly. "Young Master." He said it flatly—to Yun Che. "You will marry. No matter what." He then turned and pointed a finger at Lei Cheng—still in Yun Che’s form. "The aura you mentioned is perfect. He radiates Yun Che’s aura completely and even possesses a flawless Level One martial cultivator aura."
"Level One—"
Yun Che stumbled back, hands shaking. "No—this isn’t right—"
Mo Ming reached over and lightly tapped the side of Yun Che’s neck.
Thud!
Yun Che crumpled to the ground. Mo Ming didn’t move to catch him. He turned to the maids. "Get him ready. The sun will rise soon. The marriage will begin." He settled himself into a nearby chair. The maids and servants quickly carried Yun Che off toward the bathing chambers.
’Guard Mo—and nearly every other guard, retainer—was exploiting the Lei Clan’s wealth for personal gain.’
Lei Cheng sifted quickly through his memories. ’Did Yun Che do the same?’
A memory surfaced immediately—the blue silk robe. He had discarded it because muddy water had splashed onto it when he was stepping down from his carriage. He was always shielded by an umbrella outdoors. As a Rank One martial cultivator, Yun Che absolutely could have deflected the mud—but he hadn’t. He had let it happen, knowing Lei Cheng’s personality, knowing the robe would be discarded. ’He had been eyeing it from the very beginning.’ Lei Cheng still remembered how Yun Che’s eyes had lingered on it the first time he had worn it.
He shook his head and slipped away quietly. Mo Ming didn’t even glance in his direction.
He crossed the courtyard and made his way to the kitchen on the far side. ’I need to check. Start with Yun Che’s food.’
"Young Master."
The servants and maids inside stopped and saluted as one. Lei Cheng removed the Illusion Intent and returned to his own face. A few more strands of gray appeared in his hair.
"Bring me the list of my meals and Yun Che’s."
The head chef lowered his head and hesitated.
"You don’t keep a list?" Lei Cheng’s voice rose.
"We don’t, Young Master," the head chef shook his head. "And Servant Yun Che handled all of your meals."
"Yun Che handled it—not my personal maid?" Lei Cheng’s face froze.
The head chef exchanged glances with the others, biting his lip.
"Very well." Lei Cheng narrowed his eyes. "Then tell me—what food did you prepare for me last night?"
"Spicy chicken rolls—two portions. Fried mutton soup. Fried mutton rice—two full sets..." Head Chef replied, still keeping his head low.
’Wait.’
’I couldn’t eat even a tenth of that.’
Lei Cheng gripped the wall beside him, eyes fixed on the head chef. "Did you mix anything additional into the food?"
The head chef nodded. "Servant Yun Che stated that the Young Master required more energy. He provided a prescription and instructed us to add it to a few of the meals." He reached into his pouch and drew out an old, folded paper, handing it over.
’A few meals—definitely the ones I actually eat.’
Lei Cheng took it and tapped the page slowly.
’Is it poison...? I need a doctor.’
