Chapter 48: Surging Public Sentiment
When Qun Yushu said those words, everyone was stunned.
Who was Qun Yushu?
His second uncle was the head of the Qun Family, and his father was the Prefect of Jiangling, overseeing the Jingxiang Garrison.
At a young age, he had already undergone a second class change, with hopes of reaching the legendary Foundation realm in his lifetime.
Women wanting to marry him could form a line stretching from Jiangnan to Yangzhou.
But theoretically, Qun Yushu’s wife could only be a noblewoman of matching status.
Even ladies from prestigious families weren’t qualified.
At the very least, she had to come from one of the Four Vermilion-Gate Lineages.
To marry Qun Yushu was no less than ascending to the heavens.
Not to mention a life of wealth and luxury, even if the woman aimed to become a Messenger, just a sprinkle of resources from the Qun Family would ensure her second class change.
If her talent was sufficient, a third class change would also be guaranteed.
But to marry a Black Band woman with no background?
However, seeing Jiang Ten’s appearance, everyone found Qun Yushu’s impulsiveness understandable.
Many even showed regretful expressions, remorseful they hadn’t made a move first and missed out on such a beauty.
Shang Xinlei and the others remained silent.
Though they also intended to recruit Jiang Ten, if Qun Yushu was offering the position of legal wife as bargaining chip...
There truly wasn’t any offer they could make to top that.
Five seconds passed.
Thirty seconds passed.
A full minute passed.
Jiang Ten said nothing, merely continued practicing with her blade.
Had she not heard, or heard but chose not to answer?
The atmosphere became unbearably awkward, especially with Qun Yushu still kneeling on the ground.
He slowly stood up and silently stared at Jiang Ten.
In such a situation, even a commoner would likely become furious if ignored, let alone a nobleman.
Jie Yuanshao stepped forward, ready to stop Qun Yushu if he lashed out.
“No good. She’s just too beautiful,” Qun Yushu suddenly sighed.
“I was a bit angry at first, but looking at this face, I just can’t stay mad.”
“Still can’t marry her, though.”
“If I keep getting upset but never able to be angry with her, she’ll drive me to death.”
Qian Gongyu kept nodding behind him.
Jiang Ten really was infuriating.
But somehow, it was impossible to stay angry at her!
“Jiang Ten,” Chen Linchuan said loudly, “I represent the Chen Family and wish to speak with you. May I have a moment of your time?”
Jiang Ten said nothing, merely continued practicing with her blade.
Chen Linchuan wasn’t a libertine like Qun Yushu.
He cared deeply about his and his family’s reputation.
Jiang Ten’s behavior darkened his expression considerably.
Jie Zilong had no choice but to step forward slightly, placing himself between Chen Linchuan and Jiang Ten.
The guests behind them were all in disbelief.
To ignore a son of the Qun Family and an elder of the Chen Family in public—this... this was courting death!
Still, many were secretly gloating.
They’d long disapproved of Jiang Ten, this ‘madwoman’ who, despite her Black Band status, dared look down on everyone.
People from the bottom should know their place.
Why jump up and offend the eyes of their betters?
Just as the tension in the air reached its peak, Jiang Ten suddenly halted her training.
It was as if she had just awakened from a dream.
She glanced at the crowd. “You’re looking for me?”
“Yes,” Qun Yushu praised, “I had the good fortune of witnessing your dance with the blade—like light clouds veiling the moon, like drifting wind returning the snow…”
“If there’s no business, I’ll resume my training.”
“Quick, release your secret technique from Mansu Woodland!” someone shouted from the crowd.
“Everyone here needs your method to conquer the secret realm.”
“If you keep it to yourself and eat alone, you’ll be offending all the noble clans present!”
Qian Gongyu didn’t even need to look—she knew it was Luo Weijin stirring up trouble.
But Luo Weijin’s words were just the spark.
Others quickly followed suit.
“That’s right, that’s right. Everyone can enter Mansu Woodland. Sharing your technique doesn’t hurt you.”
“The higher everyone’s score, the better the rewards. It strengthens Great Liang.”
“You shouldn’t hinder the nation’s progress for personal gain, Jiang Ten. Think of the bigger picture.”
“We’re not asking for free. We can offer compensation.”
“It’s unfair if only the Jie and Shang Families benefit while the rest of us are held back, right?”
Though this backlash was anticipated, Shang Xinlei was still momentarily at a loss.
Not just because of the sheer number of people—
But also because Mansu Woodland was far too unique.
It had a yearly time limit but no entry limit on the number of participants.
No one could monopolize the secret realm.
And the more people that joined the raid, the better.
If one hundred people entered, they’d get one hundred shares of rewards.
If a hundred thousand entered, there’d be a hundred thousand shares!
It was understandable that Qun Yushu and Chen Linchuan placed such importance on Jiang Ten.
If she truly possessed a secret method, she would be a strategic-level national treasure.
Every year, she could extract immense resources from Mansu Woodland.
‘This is bad…’ Shang Xinlei thought to herself.
‘Even if Jiang Ten says she has no secret technique, they won’t believe her.’
‘They’ll circle her like vultures until they carve out her heart to confirm.’
In her place, Shang Xinlei had no idea how she would break the impasse.
No—if she had the secret method, she wouldn’t have entered Mansu Woodland so recklessly in the first place.
At the very least, she’d wait until a third class change.
Ideally, she’d recruit the other three third-stage experts.
Four people forming a team to sweep the Woodland scores.
Then, even if dozens of noble clans in Great Liang opposed her—what could they do?
But Jiang Ten joined without even a first class change.
With such weak strength, no allies, no background—
It was strange not to attract covetous eyes.
She couldn’t understand why someone with such talent wouldn’t bide their time.
Wouldn’t it be better to develop in secret?
Why take such a risk?
Forget it.
Even though she hadn’t yet received word from her family, she had to protect Jiang Ten for now.
The Jie Family wouldn’t stand by either.
At least until Mansu Woodland ended, they were on the same side.
“I refuse.”
Jiang Ten gently pressed against the blade’s edge, gripped the hilt, and stepped forward, moving from shadow into light.
“If you want to fight, come at me.”
The uproar suddenly silenced.
Then, like a spring compressed too tightly, the crowd erupted tenfold.
Insults, mockery, fury—voices roared in a chaotic frenzy, as if trying to curse Jiang Ten to death.
Jiang Ten said nothing, stepping forward again.
The White Iron Straight Blade was already partially drawn—
“Anyone who speaks again will be an enemy of the Qun Family!”
Qun Yushu’s furious roar instantly silenced the scene.
Shang Xinlei and Jie Yuanshao also moved to block in front of Jiang Ten, halting her next move.
“Finally quiet,” Qun Yushu sighed, spreading his hands.
“Just now, I was talking to Jiang Ten. You all interrupting me and the beauty—I bear grudges, you know.”
His words smoothed over the earlier chaos effortlessly.
He turned to Jiang Ten.
“Jiang Ten, you hate pointless chatter, so I’ll be brief—”
“I represent the Qun Family, and we invite you to become our Family’s Venerated Guest.”
“Monthly salary of 3,000 Spirit Jade.”
“Five defensive tokens.”
“Access to the Qun Family’s inner treasury.”
“A Qun Family token that grants access to eighteen secret realms in Great Liang.”
“I won’t bore you with the comforts of life.”
“I’ll just say this: The only requirement for our venerated guests is to pursue a third class change with all their might.”
“The Qun Family will not ask you to hand over your secret technique.”
“Once you become a Venerated Guest, no one will pressure you to give it up either.”
“What do you say, Jiang Ten?”