Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Yang Zhenshan sent Wu Zhan to Southern Border Town to gather intelligence, but Southern Border Town is not like other places.

Duke Xing Mansion has operated in Southern Border Town for almost two hundred years, and the control they have over the town is like an iron barrel, even more formidable than Yang Zhenshan's time in Chongshan Town.

When Wu Zhan first entered Nanhua City, nobody paid attention to him, but once he started bribing the servants of Duke Xing Mansion with money, he was marked.

It wasn't his carelessness; he simply didn't expect that just bribing two servants from Duke Xing Mansion would make him vulnerable to blackmail.

Inside Nanhua City, in a small courtyard.

Wu Zhan watched gloomily as the soldiers barged in.

The leader was a burly man with a fierce look and eyes full of ferocity, a veteran who had survived many battles.

"Hmph, daring to spy on Duke Xing Mansion's affairs in Nanhua City, you really don't know how to write the word 'death'!" the man said coldly.

Wu Zhan looked at the soldiers before him, all of them veterans.

"Brother!"

The four brothers behind him were on high alert, cautiously standing beside Lin Zhan.

Wu Zhan waved his hand, signaling them to stay calm, but in the next moment, he drew his long sword rapidly, his movements as fast as a ghost, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of that officer, with the sword already pointed at the officer's neck.

The officer's hand was on the hilt of his sword at his waist, but before he could draw it, Wu Zhan's sword was already at his throat.

His pupils shrank suddenly, "Postnatal Ninth Layer!"

Wu Zhan looked at him, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, "I'm not someone you can capture easily. If I want to leave, none of you can stop me!"

In Nanhua City, there were many skilled and strong soldiers, but only a few were above the Postnatal Ninth Layer.

Probably only Duke Xing himself could really stop Wu Zhan.

Of course, he might be able to escape this small courtyard, but not necessarily Nanhua City, especially as he still had four brothers with him.

"What do you mean?" the officer asked.

Wu Zhan sheathed his sword, his expression gloomy, "I've shamed my Lord Marquis!"

The other four Yang Family Guards also looked depressed. It was a poor start; they had barely been in Nanhua City for a few days and were already exposed, which was quite frustrating.

"Jing'an Marquis Mansion's Wu Zhan requests to meet Duke Xing, please inform him, General!"

Wu Zhan bowed respectfully.

At this point, he could only reveal his identity.

Though his identity was exposed, fortunately, he had already obtained some useful information.

The two servants really were bribed by him and revealed many details about Qu Shaogong. Overall, this Qu Shaogong seemed to be a decent person without any evil deeds, nor any concubines or such.

However, there were still many women in Nanhua City who wanted to marry Qu Shaogong.

Hearing this, the officer looked at Wu Zhan with a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

"Jing'an Marquis Mansion!"

Wu Zhan grinned, "Yes, Jing'an Marquis Mansion!"

The officer hesitated for a moment, then stretched out his hand and said, "Please!"

…

In Duke Xing Mansion, in the study.

Qu Changkong, hearing the report from the officer, asked with some confusion, "Did he mention why he has come?"

He was aware of Jing'an Marquis Yang Zhenshan, but only through hearsay, and hadn't learned the details.

"No, he only requested to meet with Lord Duke," the officer replied.

Qu Changkong, tall and slightly frail, though nearly eighty years old this year, appeared only a bit over fifty.

"Did you say he has the cultivation of the Postnatal Ninth Layer?"

"Yes, I couldn't subdue him with my abilities; he overpowered me in a single move!" the officer admitted somewhat embarrassed.

"What is his identity?" Qu Changkong asked.

"He manages the guards of Jing'an Marquis Mansion!" the officer replied.

Ding Qiu, Wu Zhan, Wu Zheng, and Luo Jingsong were all managers of Jing'an Marquis Mansion's guards, but each had different duties. Ding Qiu primarily followed Yang Zhenshan's orders, Wu Zhan was mainly responsible for the mansion's security, Wu Zheng handled gathering various types of information, and Luo Jingsong was in charge of training the guards outside the city.

Officially, Jing'an Marquis Mansion had three hundred guards, but the actual number was far greater.

Wu Zheng had a group under him gathering various pieces of information; they were also servants of the Yang family.

The training at the guard camp was not for the former Personal Guard Camp soldiers but was for some of the Yang family children. After training, these children would manage the Yang family's businesses.

Additionally, the Yang family also trained some female warriors, and Yang Wanqing had two guards and three female warriors by her side.

Qu Changkong showed a somewhat strange expression, "Having a Postnatal Ninth Layer martial artist manage the guards, Jing'an Marquis Mansion is indeed very lavish!"

His Duke Xing Mansion had operated for two hundred years but hadn't trained many Ninth Layer martial artists. Among the guards, the highest cultivation was only up to Postnatal Eighth Layer.

Not to mention the guards, even among the generals of Southern Border Town, Ninth Layer martial artists were very few.

"Invite him to come and meet!" Qu Changkong ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

The officer bowed and left, returning shortly with Wu Zhan.

Seeing Qu Changkong, Wu Zhan felt a chill in his heart and bowed, "Manager Wu Zhan of Jing'an Marquis Mansion greets Your Lordship, Duke Xing!"

Qu Changkong scrutinized Wu Zhan, "You are just the manager of Jing'an Marquis Mansion?"

"I was originally a disciple of the Sky Blue Sword Sect. After my Senior Sister married the Marquis, I have been following by his side," Wu Zhan explained.

Qu Changkong showed a look of sudden realization. He had heard that the Marchioness of Jing'an was a woman from the worldly society, but he had not heard of the Sky Blue Sword Sect before.

With such an explanation from Wu Zhan, he mistook the Sky Blue Sword Sect for a formidable Jianghu Sect.