Chapter 41: The Patriarch of the Union Sect (Part One) — The Votes Drift and Dance

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At the inn, the pale-faced young man smiled gently. "Manager Miao, long time no see."
"Who are you?" The innkeeper looked up, staring at Autumn Wind for a moment before suddenly laughing. "Autumn Wind?"
"Indeed, it’s me," Autumn Wind replied with a faint smile.
"Oh, it’s been nearly a hundred years since we last met, hasn’t it?" Manager Miao’s demeanor instantly warmed upon recognizing an old acquaintance.
"Yes, almost a century," Autumn Wind agreed.
"So, you’ve come to Tiandu again for the competition?" Manager Miao asked, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"Yes, I was defeated last time with regret. This time, I’m here to try once more."
"Ah, you can’t say that," Manager Miao said with great eloquence. "Last time, the ‘Night-Picking Rose’ from the Illusion Sword Sect was truly an anomaly. If it weren’t for him, I believe winning first place would have been no trouble for you." His words lifted Autumn Wind’s spirits significantly.
"Night-Picking Rose?" Li Chengzhu pricked up his ears, a chill running down his spine.
Xiaoying covered her mouth, giggling softly, then quietly whispered into Li Chengzhu’s ear.
"Really?" The big boss Li suddenly seemed stunned, his eyes nearly popping out.
His own master had been dubbed the "Night-Picking Rose" by celestial beings? How had no one told him? Just hearing that title was enough to confirm the man was no good—surely a notorious womanizer, picking roses at night...
A cold breeze swept down Li Chengzhu’s spine. That old scoundrel must have ruined many innocent maidens. If anyone found out he was the apprentice of the "Night-Picking Rose," well, cough cough...
"And on top of that, you won the Nine Heavens Great Luo Cauldron last time, tsk tsk," Manager Miao said, spitting as he looked at Autumn Wind and patted his shoulder. "First place should be a walk in the park, right?"
"Manager Miao, you flatter me," Autumn Wind replied modestly, though anyone could see the pride shining on his face. He then shot a triumphant glare at Li Chengzhu.
Li Chengzhu chuckled, took out the Nine Heavens Great Luo Cauldron from his ring, and tapped it so it jingled, looking proudly at Manager Miao. "Innkeeper, do you have guest rooms?"
Autumn Wind’s face instantly turned pale—the Nine Heavens Great Luo Cauldron was still in this guy’s hands.
"Who is this?" Manager Miao looked to Autumn Wind, then curiously at the cauldron in Li Chengzhu’s hand. Rubbing his eyes to confirm he wasn’t mistaken, it was indeed the prize Autumn Wind had won last time.
"Well..." Autumn Wind was suddenly embarrassed.
"Brother," Li Chengzhu put an arm around Autumn Wind’s neck and pulled him tightly. "Autumn Wind and I are brothers."
"Oh, so that’s how it is," Manager Miao smiled and said, "There are still rooms, but not many." He glanced behind them curiously.
There were two men and two women—no, three women and one man. That was too many to fit.
"How many rooms?" Li Chengzhu slapped a handful of high-grade stones on the table.
"Only three," Manager Miao said apologetically.
"Huh? That’s so few," Li Chengzhu frowned.
"There’s no other way," Manager Miao sighed. "The closer it gets to the competition, the more customers we have."
Li Chengzhu glanced back at his two wives and Yuanmu and gave a sly smile. "Then three rooms will do."
Gulinglong shot him an annoyed look.
"Three rooms?" Manager Miao was confused.
"How much per day?" Li Chengzhu, generous and wealthy, was ready to pay with Tianji Stones.

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"Two high-grade stones per room per day," Manager Miao replied mechanically, calculating how to accommodate this group.
Li Chengzhu’s movement froze as he took out his ring, signaling Yuanmu with a gesture: “Pay your own room fee.”
In the end, Li Chengzhu, Autumn Wind, and Yuanmu each paid for a month’s stay. Yuanmu sneered beside them, cursing Li Chengzhu for his stinginess.
Watching the group follow the waiter upstairs, Manager Miao couldn’t help but pull Autumn Wind aside and quietly ask, "Who exactly are all these people?"
Autumn Wind glanced at the group and said, "One is the city lord, and that other man is a sixth-rank battle general."
Manager Miao’s Tianji Stone suddenly felt scorching hot in his hand.
A sixth-rank battle general? Damn it. Not only did he fail to curry favor, he even charged them for rooms. Manager Miao nearly wanted to cut off his own hands. This inn was surely doomed.
When they reached the doors of the three rooms, Li Chengzhu took Xiaoying and Gulinglong into one, closing the door firmly behind them. Autumn Wind silently entered another room and shut the door, leaving Yuanmu and Yuchun staring at each other outside.
"What now?" Yuanmu’s heart raced as she stammered.
"What else? There’s still one more room," Yuchun said boldly, pushing the door open.
Yuanmu smiled faintly and followed inside, closing the door behind her.
Gulinglong pinched Li Chengzhu’s ear stuck to the door and scolded, "You left those two together! What if something happens? How will you explain it to Master Chen Lin?"
Li Chengzhu rubbed his ear and snorted, "Explain? Why bother? That master probably wants Yuanmu to act sooner. This is... the beauty of collaboration."
Xiaoying laughed happily nearby. "If Yuanmu really manages her, it’ll be so much easier later."
"All your fault," Li Chengzhu glared fiercely at Xiaoying. Xiaoying immediately stuck out her tongue and ran to Gulinglong, tugging at her clothes to mock Li Chengzhu.
"Heh heh." Li Chengzhu leered at the two wives. "We haven’t been intimate in a while, right?"
"Zhuzi," Gulinglong blushed and stomped her foot, "There are people coming and going."
"Who cares?" Li Chengzhu raised an eyebrow. "Let them listen if they want." Then he grabbed Xiaoying, who was hiding behind, and kissed her fiercely.
"Ah." Gulinglong sighed but had to cast a protective barrier in the room. This man, when aroused, cared for nothing else.
"Get in here," Li Chengzhu said after kissing Xiaoying, noticing the little thing glaring at him. He swept her into the Jade Blood Ring and sealed it. Then he smirked and went toward Gulinglong.
The group rested for half a day before gathering again, leaving Yuanmu and Yuchun behind.
Walking with Autumn Wind, Li Chengzhu couldn’t help but ask, "Where are we going?"
"I need to register," Autumn Wind said without looking back.
"I have to pay my tribute for these past years," Gulinglong, blushing, linked arms with Li Chengzhu.
"What are we going to do then?" Li Chengzhu glared at the cultivators on the roadside who were eyeing Gulinglong and Xiaoying.
"You insisted on coming," Autumn Wind replied coldly.
"Damn it," Li Chengzhu wished he could knock out Autumn Wind’s teeth.
After walking half a day, they arrived at the registration site where Autumn Wind was also signing up. Coincidentally, Gulinglong was heading the same way.
Watching Autumn Wind line up behind others registering, Li Chengzhu gave him the middle finger and then followed Gulinglong inside.

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The city lord was truly different; upon declaring his identity, someone came out to greet him and led him into the inner hall.
When he saw the people seated inside, Li Chengzhu smiled broadly.
These were all old acquaintances.
"Marshal Ye! Haha," Li Chengzhu, ignoring ranks, opened his arms to give him a bear hug.
Ye Zhiqiu’s face was awkward—he probably never hugged a man before in his life.
Lady Ye, Qiaoyan Luo, stood smiling beside him and discreetly poked her husband, signaling him to keep decorum.
Ye Zhiqiu had no choice but to stand still, seizing the hug as an opportunity to squeeze Li Chengzhu’s shoulder painfully, making him grimace.
"Breaking protocol," the Celestial Emperor’s envoy said coldly, standing nearby holding the emblematic whisk.
"Haha, we’re close," Li Chengzhu smiled, grinding his teeth, wanting to retaliate, but his strength wasn’t enough to break through Ye Zhiqiu’s defense.
"Indeed, close," Ye Zhiqiu smiled and whispered in Li Chengzhu’s ear, "Better stop now, kid. I haven’t settled the score with you yet—how did you lose so many Tianji Stones in the battlefield tent?"
"Ah, haha," Li Chengzhu released his grip and laughed nervously.
"Greetings, envoy," Li Chengzhu cast a disdainful glance at the Celestial Emperor’s envoy.
"Hmph," the envoy snorted disdainfully and turned his face away, refusing to give the lowly sixth-rank battle general any face.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Li Chengzhu grinned triumphantly but kept his eyes fixed on the envoy’s face. "Envoy, why is there a cold sweat on your forehead?"
"Don’t be insolent," the envoy warned sternly. If Li Chengzhu weren’t holding the title of sixth-rank battle general, he would have swept him away with his whisk long ago.
"I hear that bad deeds cause guilt," Li Chengzhu raised an eyebrow.
"Enough, enough," Qiaoyan Luo stepped in to smooth things over, flashing a sharp look at Li Chengzhu. "You’re never out of trouble, are you?"
"Greetings, madam," Li Chengzhu bowed slightly.
"Greetings, master," Xiaoying stepped forward, lowering her head.
"Silly girl," Qiaoyan Luo took Xiaoying’s hand, suddenly her expression changed to one of awe as a fierce aura erupted from her body. She turned sharply to glare at Li Chengzhu. "Who did this?"
Her voice was like a gale descending from a millennia-old snow mountain. Li Chengzhu shivered, his spiritual energy freezing.
Gulinglong quickly moved in front of Li Chengzhu, biting her lip to shield her husband from the chill.
The difference between an immortal and a Great Luo Golden Immortal was immediately clear.
Li Chengzhu circulated the immortal spiritual energy within his Nascent Soul to feel better and gently pulled Gulinglong behind him, smiling at Qiaoyan Luo. "Madam, what are you referring to?"
"Don’t you know what I’m talking about?" Qiaoyan Luo’s eyes were filled with murderous intent.
Xiaoying lightly grasped her master’s hand, sobbing softly, "I did it of my own will."