The journey to Shanyin was inevitable, but after the incident with the "Weeping Ghost," Wei Changle knew that his tenure as the county magistrate of Shanyin might not be smooth.

Although the Wei clan held significant power in Hedong, this time, he was accompanied only by an old servant and a young retainer on his journey to Shanyin. His resources were extremely limited.

He already had a sense that the challenges awaiting him in Shanyin would not be trivial. If he could muster additional support, it would certainly bolster his confidence.

While he didn’t fully understand Fu Wenjun’s background, her exceptional martial skills, her willingness to stand against the Weeping Ghost, and her daring decision to return to Shanyin all indicated that she was someone with significant backing. Her confidence suggested that her influence in Shanyin was not to be underestimated.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Since he had already made enemies of the faction behind the Weeping Ghost, and Fu Wenjun was clearly at odds with them, it stood to reason that she could be a valuable ally to recruit and leverage.

If difficulties arose in Shanyin, with the Wei clan far away in Taiyuan and unable to lend immediate aid, Fu Wenjun’s resources and strength could prove indispensable.

"Apprentice myself to you?" Fu Wenjun was clearly surprised by Wei Changle’s proposal. She blinked in astonishment. "You… want to take me as your master?"

Wei Changle nodded sincerely, his expression earnest. "Master, you are well-versed in matters of the martial world, and your skills are exceptional. You disposed of two assassins with ease—I deeply admire you for that. If I could receive your guidance, it would truly be a blessing."

"I never agreed to take on any disciples," Fu Wenjun replied calmly. "There’s no need to call me 'Master' so quickly. The Wei clan in Hedong commands three elite cavalry camps and counts numerous martial experts among its ranks. If you, Young Master Wei, wish to learn martial arts, you have plenty of capable instructors at your disposal. Why would you need to learn from me?"

"Master, you are a heroine, and your keen insight surpasses that of others. Learning under you would be far more efficient," Wei Changle said without hesitation. He then knelt on one knee before Fu Wenjun, clasped his hands, and declared, "Master, please accept me as your disciple."

Fu Wenjun lowered her gaze thoughtfully, remaining silent for a moment. Finally, she replied, "It’s not impossible for me to teach you some martial arts, but there’s no need for formal apprenticeship."

"Without formal recognition, it’s not proper," Wei Changle insisted stubbornly. "I’ve made up my mind to call you 'Master,' and if you refuse, I’ll keep asking until you agree."

Before Fu Wenjun could respond, the sound of hoofbeats interrupted them. Wei Changle turned to look and saw that it was Zhinu returning.

"Stand up for now," Fu Wenjun said immediately. "We can discuss the apprenticeship later."

Wei Changle quickly rose to his feet.

With Zhinu and the elder Wei Gu returning, remaining kneeling in front of Fu Wenjun would indeed look somewhat undignified. Appearances matter.

When they got closer, Wei Changle saw Zhinu leading the way on horseback, with Wei Gu riding behind and leading another horse by the reins. Draped across the back of the second horse was a figure—it was the masked man who had escaped earlier.

"Well done," Wei Changle said with a grin. "Zhinu, you didn’t let me down. Not like… some others." He shook his head in feigned disappointment.

Zhinu dismounted, walked over to the horse, and dragged the figure off. The body hit the ground with a heavy thud, motionless.

"Second Young Master, this guy wasn’t skilled at all. When he realized he couldn’t escape, he poisoned himself," Zhinu reported dejectedly. "I failed to bring him back alive. Please punish me, Second Young Master."

Wei Changle waved his hand dismissively. "If he poisoned himself, that’s not your fault. It has nothing to do with you." Stepping closer, he noticed that the man’s felt hat had fallen off, revealing a bald head. Wei Changle frowned in surprise. "Bald? Is he… a monk?"

"You’re right, Second Young Master," Zhinu confirmed. "He has incense scars on his head—he’s a monk from some temple."

Wei Changle crouched beside the corpse to take a closer look. Sure enough, the man’s shaved head bore several clear incense scars, confirming his identity as a monk.

"Master, do you recognize him?" Wei Changle turned to Fu Wenjun. "What grudge do you have with a monk?"

Zhinu and Wei Gu exchanged glances, visibly puzzled. They were naturally curious why Wei Changle was addressing Fu Wenjun as "Master."

Fu Wenjun approached, cast a glance at the corpse, but said nothing. Her expression, however, suggested she was deep in thought.

Wei Changle took the opportunity to announce, "Let me make something clear: I’ve officially apprenticed myself to Lady Fu. From now on, I am her disciple. You two must treat my master with respect and not be rude."

Before Fu Wenjun could interject, he continued, "Master, I don’t have the proper gifts to formally honor you as my teacher right now, but once we reach Shanyin, I’ll prepare them properly."

Zhinu’s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn’t help but blurt out, "Second Young Master, the family has arranged for many skilled instructors to train you, and you’ve ignored all of them. Why now…?"

Before Zhinu could finish speaking, the old servant Wei Gu stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Fu Wenjun. "Second Master, we’ll rely on you to take care of us from now on."

At this point, Fu Wenjun could no longer refuse, so she simply acknowledged with a soft hum.

Wei Changle felt a sense of relief. Suddenly, he tore off the monk’s robe from the fallen body, walked over to the heads of the shopkeeper and the assistant, and carefully wrapped them in the robe. His face turned somber as he pondered for a moment before instructing Zhinu: "They are gone now, and we can’t send their remains back to their hometowns. Zhinu, find a nearby spot to bury these and let them rest in peace."

Zhinu accepted the bundle carefully, then set off with Wei Gu to bury the remains nearby.

"Master," Wei Changle began, turning his attention to Fu Wenjun, who was still examining the monk’s body. "Earlier, you said that the Three Ghosts of Lüliang are notorious. Since they’re called the 'Three Ghosts,' it indicates they typically act as a group of three. But today, there’s an additional monk. From what I observed, this monk didn’t make a move and fled at the first sign of trouble. It seems he isn’t entirely aligned with the Three Ghosts. What role could he have been playing?"

Fu Wenjun nodded slightly. "The Three Ghosts work for money. If I’m not mistaken, the monk was likely there to oversee or verify their success in completing the task."

"You have a grudge against the Weeping Ghost, and they wanted revenge on you," Wei Changle said, his tone puzzled. "But what about this monk? What connection does he have to you, and why would he bring people here to kill you? Master, how did you become enemies with a monk?"

Fu Wenjun merely shook her head slightly, clearly not understanding the full story herself.

It was becoming increasingly evident to Wei Changle that his master had many enemies. In just one night, two separate groups had sought to take her life. This only deepened his curiosity about Fu Wenjun’s background.

"Master," he continued, "you mentioned earlier that someone must have paid a hefty sum to hire them. Do you have any idea who might be behind it?"

Fu Wenjun’s voice was calm but firm. "This has nothing to do with you, so there’s no need for you to ask further."

"That may have been true earlier," Wei Changle replied earnestly. "But now that I am your disciple, your enemies are my enemies."

Fu Wenjun remained composed as she said, "I know why you want me as your master. You’re heading to Shanyin with limited manpower and have already made enemies of the Weeping Ghost faction. You’re worried about the difficulties you might face there and are hoping that I can lend you a hand when the time comes."

Wei Changle flushed slightly at having his intentions laid bare, but he still pressed on, saying, "Master, you underestimate me by thinking that way. While I may not have many people around me right now, the Wei clan is strong and well-armed. The Weeping Ghost is hardly a threat to me."

"There’s some truth to that," Fu Wenjun acknowledged. "If you go to Shanyin and avoid interfering in their affairs, they may indeed leave you alone." She paused, then added, "But based on your personality, I doubt you’ll be able to stay out of trouble once you’re there."

Wei Changle laughed. "Master, you’ve already figured me out so quickly. Truly, no one knows their disciple better than their master."

"I find it curious," Fu Wenjun said softly but with authority. "If Wei Rusong sent you to Shanyin, does he not care about your safety at all? You are a member of the Wei clan, yet Shanyin is nothing short of a wolf’s den for your family."

She referred to the Wei clan’s cavalry commander by name, but Wei Changle didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he asked curiously, "Master, what do you mean by that? Why is Shanyin considered a wolf’s den?"

"You truly have no idea?" Fu Wenjun replied, her tone calm. "The officials and gentry in Shanyin are all aligned with the Ma clan of Hedong. The Ma clan has deep roots in Shanyin, while your Wei clan has no influence there and has never managed to gain a foothold. It’s common knowledge that the Hedong infantry commander, Ma Cunkuo, has long been at odds with your father. The rivalry between the two factions has grown increasingly tense over the years. Since Shanyin falls under the Ma clan’s sphere of influence, isn’t it clear why it would be a wolf’s den for you?"

Wei Changle thought back to what he knew of the Ma clan in Hedong.

Indeed, as Fu Wenjun had said, the military forces in Hedong were divided into two major factions: the Wei clan commanded the cavalry, while the Ma clan led the infantry. Their rivalry was no secret, and tensions between the two had been escalating for years.

However, he had not realized that Shanyin was under the Ma clan’s control.

Previously, he hadn’t been overly concerned about his conflict with the Weeping Ghost. But now, knowing that he was heading straight into Ma clan territory, he realized the challenges ahead would be far greater than he had anticipated.

A sudden thought struck him, and he turned to Fu Wenjun, his gaze sharp. "Master, do you think the mastermind behind the attempts on your life could be the Ma clan?"

[--------------------------------------------]

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