Chapter 256: Hard to be a Lord (2/2)
”You have the right to deal with all territory matters. If you think it's beneficial for us, you can pass by me and make a decision yourself.”
”Your Excellency, I'm afraid that's not appropriate. Some important matters...”
”Important matters are also in your charge. I only do the violent part,” Junior Leopard waved his hands and said, ”I'm in no mood for managing specific affairs.”
”Yes, Sir!” Jiang Xiao answered with his head bowed. ”Your temporary mansion is all set up, Your Excellency. I'll show you the way.”
”Good!”
…
It sounded easy to build a temporary mansion, but actually, it was not. This was the largest yard in the town center and it had just been built. Junior Leopard looked up at it towering above him. It wasn't until Jiang Xiao brought him here that he realized the place had nine doors and dozens of rooms. The garden and pavilion prototypes had already taken shape. It wouldn't be long before the construction was finished.
”It's too big for me!”
”Your Excellency, this is only your temporary mansion. In the future...”
”Alright, alright, I know!” Junior Leopard waved reluctantly and went directly to his room.
…
Junior Leopard felt it was refreshing to live in the new mansion, but after a few days, this freshness was all gone. The construction of the mansion hadn't finished yet. There were prototypes of yards, mountains, and pools that needed to be built. In order to live in quiet, Junior Leopard moved into the farthest yard, which was almost done. It was not that big but it was enough for him and his maidservant Renzhen Cuo.
Junior Leopard hadn't seen her in a while. She had become white and gained weight. Junior Leopard had appointed her as maidservant so no one dared to slight her even if he wasn't here. She was actually the one with the most authority in the yard aside from Jiang Xiao. One reason was that she was Junior Leopard's maidservant, another was that she was the princess of the Blackwolf tribe, which didn't exist anymore. Most of the servants in the house were former prairie herdsmen. Even though Northern Yuan's collapse was not long ago, they had heard of the Blackwolf tribe. Surely they had a sense of awe toward her.
The air was crisp in the late autumn. The territory was located in the northwest of China which was the frozen land in the Central Plains. The temperature had dropped below zero. Junior Leopard was not cold for he had powerful cultivation. As for others, they already wore fur robes, Jiang Xiao and Renzhen Cuo being no exception.
”Your Excellency, Father Kelsang asked me to send homemade oil-tea!” Junior Leopard almost stepped out of the door when he saw Renzhen Cuo holding a big copper pot in her hand.
”Put it inside and I'll drink it when I come back. So, have you gotten used to living here yet?”
”Yes!” Renzhen Cuo said bowing. ”It's not far away from the Blackwolf tribe. I'm familiar with the mountains, rivers, and prairies. I've been here before, but there were not many people back then.”
Renzhen Cuo looked wistful and seemed to be recalling her former life.
”Let bygones be bygones. It's no use holding onto the past.” Junior Leopard looked at Renzhen Cuo as if he could see into her soul. ”You are not that kind of beauty nor an expert with the cultivation of Level Nine. Maybe you owned some assets before but now you are in my hand and that means you have nothing. You can't change a thing with your little secrets. The tribe of Northern Yuan has collapsed and your Blackwolf tribe, the strongest tribe, will not revive. Stop thinking about unrealistic things and live here in peace. Find your true love, get married in the next year or two, and have a child if you want. I may want a disciple whom I can help become a master over Level Seven!”
”Yes!” Renzhen Cuo trembled slightly. She looked down and left with the copper pot.
”The girl is nice but she is dwelling in the past. She stays with those nomads every day. How could Jiang Xiao not know her thoughts?”
The wind of fall was very cold now; few people appeared in the town. Junior Leopard wore plain clothes and walked aimlessly through the street.
Suddenly, he stopped and frowned.
”The Sect of Flame?!”
A slight scent of sandalwood wafted from a bunkhouse and Junior Leopard heard the sound of praying, although it was a small voice.
”Jiang Xiao told me that human traders in the three northern states were overflowing with people from both Northern Yuan and South China. Southern rabbles were sold to this frozen land, and they were coerced by the Sect of Flame whose base camp is in the south, so there is no surprise that a few Sect of Flame's disciples are here. This is my territory. Although we say freedom of religion, the Sect of Flame is not merely a religion. It's an expert of rebellion. I need to order Jiang Xiao to be careful next time. He better not let these sect followers root on my territory.”
Junior Leopard walked straight through the door, lost in thought. It was not worth it for him to deal with these Sects of Flame's disciples.
It was then that he heard the small voice.
”Young Master, we have already contacted Madam. Madam and Venerable will pick you up soon. Please wait for another few days.”
”You told mother about the situation here?!”
”Yes, and Madam said she will figure something out.”
”Ok, you can go. Be careful and don't expose us. Just act normally!”
”Yes, Young Master!”
Junior Leopard stopped as the voice disappeared.
”Young Master, Madam, Venerable!” He kept repeating these three names. ”Who was that guy? The son of Sect of Flame's Venerable? There are not many Venerables. Prince Xiaoming might be the one. This man couldn't be Prince Xiaoming, the nancy boy, who else could it be?”
The slit of the door opened as Junior Leopard was thinking. A vigilant eye looked out and met his gaze.
”Ah...”
The man looked at him, trembling. He seemed to lean back like he was going to close the door but he froze, thought about it and slowly opened the door.
”Your sinner Kelsang bows before the Master!”
All the people in the town were Northern Yuan convicts, so Junior Leopard was their master. Although he didn't take himself as a master, people would call him by it when meeting him.
”Ha, sinner?!” Junior Leopard laughed and looked inside. The houses beside the street were all the same, so it was easy to see clearly. A white robed teen around the same age as Junior Leopard, held the sandalwood and kneeled before a statue of God. Just then he turned his head and looked outside with frightened eyes.
”I'm just passing by. Don't bother. You can go.” Junior Leopard waved his hand and continued on.
The man inside couldn't decide whether stay or go.
”Protector Cao, did he hear what we said just now?” The teen asked. He timidly walked out until Junior Leopard was far away and there wasn't a soul in sight.
”He is an expert at Level Seven with a terrible spiritual mind, I'm afraid he heard it all!” Protector Cao looked as pale as death. ”He might even hear what we are saying now!”
”What should we do now?” asked the young man urgently.
”Rest assured that you will be fine, Young Master!” Protector Cao looked back and patted his shoulders with a wry smile. ”Since he didn't catch us it means he is not watching us. Venerable and Madam will be here soon. If something happens, he will talk to the Venerable.”
This meant that both of them were not important enough to bother Junior Leopard.
”But...”
”Young Master, it can't be helped. All we can do is stay here and wait for the answer.” Protector Cao said, ”This place belongs to Lord Zhou. Things need to be explained.”
...
”Your explanation better be good, or I will destroy you!” Junior Leopard thought, walking and listening to their conversation. ”There is more than one Venerable of Sect of Flame, but it's impossible that all of them have Level Nine as Prince Xiaoming does, and I don't know the real strength and plan of this Venerable. Nobody wants to come to this frozen land, so why is he interested in this place? Does the Sect of Flame want a foothold in the northwest? That doesn't make sense. If they did, why would they choose such a bad location? There are cowards all over the north, it is not a big deal for them to occupy a territory with their power!”
Walking on the withered prairie and thinking of the territory issues, Junior Leopard smiled suddenly. ”F*ck, why did I come here to be a lord? Now I know why Emperors have such low cultivation. They have so much to worry about. People like me who already gave everything to Jiang Xiao, now need to be concerned about the territory. This could surely affect my practice!”