"What the actual fuck?!" Xue San nearly dropped his jaw. "How am I supposed to stand against people like that? They're essentially a clan's core strength. No wonder the Long Clan didn't get rid of them."

"You're mistaken. They remain alive because they're members of the clan, not because the Long Clan particularly values their cultivation," the figure clarified.

"How so?" Xue San pressed.

He received no answer but a terse, "That's not relevant to your mission."

"You're telling me I'm supposed to kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator?" Xue San asked, his voice thick with indignation. While he indeed planned to deal with these people, learning how powerful they truly were gave him pause.

His earlier rage had been like a fire fueled by strong liquor—intense and explosive, but ultimately short-lived. He could also just use gold to move his family to another city.

But Jin Fu already considered this root so he already had something prepared.

"The Guild does not issue impossible missions," the masked figure, bearing the number seven, replied.

A tense silence followed. For about a few minutes, neither spoke. Then the Branch Manager stiffened, as though someone just spoke to him.

"The consequences of failing a mission bearing the Guild Master's seal are the deaths of both you and your entire Xue family."

Hearing that, Xue San felt as though he had been struck by a hammer. "H-how do you—?"

"Branch Managers can share information about newly recruited members, and the Guild Master is free to inquire at any time," came the calm reply from behind the mask.

Xue San's body trembled, not from fear, but from fury. "So, my choices are to die fighting three Foundation Establishment cultivators, or die with my family?" he asked through clenched teeth.

This time, there was no response.

Realizing he would get nothing more from the Branch Manager, Xue San turned and left.

Once Xue San was gone, the Branch Manager removed the mask, revealing a beautiful face hidden beneath. "Why does the Guild Master want to push a mere Qi Condensation cultivator this far? Now I'm even stuck to watch over him. Ha… I'm far too old for babysitting," she lamented softly.

Outside the Golden Goose Restaurant, Xue San's expression was darker than a storm cloud. He was at a loss about how to proceed. He wasn't so arrogant or foolish as to believe himself invincible. Fighting those at a higher cultivation realm was one thing, but Foundation Establishment cultivators were on an entirely different level. He had heard enough rumors to know they were considered elite forces in any significant organization.

Still reeling, Xue San hired a carriage and made his way to the Sakura Palace.

Located in the city's red-light district, the Sakura Palace was an elegant two-story building. Its exterior featured intricate wooden lattices adorned with delicate cherry blossom carvings, all softly illuminated by pink-tinted lanterns. Spacious sliding doors revealed lavish interiors draped with silk curtains over ornate tatami mats. Ambient lighting cast a warm, inviting glow across the entrance, flanked by actual Sakura trees in full bloom. Their cascading petals lent the place an enchanting tranquility amid the bustling streets.

Xue San had barely stepped out of his carriage before he was swarmed by women enticing him to come inside.

He produced the token Cheng Gen had given him. The moment they saw it, several of the girls seemed momentarily startled but quickly recovered.

"Sir, please come in. I'll notify Madam that we have such a handsome VIP as yourself," one of them purred coquettishly.

"Sir, if you need anything at all, please ask for Little Fox," another chimed in.

"Girls, please calm down. Let our distinguished guest enter first," came a woman's voice from the doorway.

She wore a red kimono patterned with falling sakura petals, blending seamlessly with the refined decor. She appeared to be in her thirties, with dark green eyes and cherry-red lips, and her round face and slightly pointed nose gave her a charming, if sharp, look.

"Welcome, esteemed guest. My name is Mo Xiurong, and I manage this establishment. I was informed that a very important customer of the White Tiger Merchant Guild would arrive soon. If you'll follow me, I've already prepared a private room for you," Mo Xiurong said, bowing politely.

Xue San nodded, assessing her cultivation level. She was only at the second stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.

On the second floor, Xue San took the seat of honor, surrounded by dancing women, musicians, and young woman servers, waiting for his slightest command.

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Turning to Mo Xiurong, he asked, "When will Cheng Gen arrive?"

"Elder Cheng Gen will come as soon as he's able," she replied. "In the meantime, please enjoy your stay here. I'm certain we can find a companion to your liking."

"In that case, prepare a room for me. I just want to rest tonight."

"Of course, sir. Please, follow me," Mo Xiurong said, bowing graciously.

Once inside, Xue San looked at her. "I'm not to be disturbed until Cheng Gen arrives."

"But of course, sir," she replied, bowing again. As soon as he stepped behind the door, the polite smile slipped from her face, revealing a trace of displeasure at being spoken to in such a commanding tone.

She descended to the Sakura Palace's basement. Unlike the serene atmosphere above, this underground level was filled with moans and even screams. Here, the law held no sway. As long as a patron could pay, the Sakura Palace would provide any depravity one desired. Even children were not off-limits for those willing to pay the price.

Entering one of the rooms, she found a man violently thrusting against a woman. Unlike the other rooms, no moans came from this one. Tears streamed silently down the woman's face, her body bruised and bleeding, revealing just how often she had been violated.

"Vice Leader Left Claw, the client Cheng Gen mentioned has arrived," Mo Xiorong said, her gaze lingering on the brute in mid-act. Her eyes glinted with malicious pleasure as she watched the woman beneath him, violated and helpless.

"Fuck…!" Left Claw roared in pleasure, then pulled away.

"Any feedback from the formation?" he demanded.

"Nothing conclusive," Mo Xiorong replied, "but it doesn't show any signs that he's in the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"Oh, a fat sheep indeed," Left Claw said with a savage grin.

"Should we deal with him now?" Mo Xiorong asked.

"No. The boss said to keep it quiet. Too many powerful people have been sniffing around the city lately, thanks to that damned rumor. He'll be here tomorrow, so we'll bring him to the White Tiger Merchant Guild and ambush him there. Me, Right Claw, and the Boss will be more than enough to handle him—and any tricks he's got," Left Claw answered. "Clean her up," he added curtly, then strode out.

The moment he left, Mo Xiorong turned to the battered woman on the floor, eyes aglow with twisted delight. "Enjoying your work, you bitch?" she hissed, drawing closer until she could snatch the woman's hair in her fist. "Did you ever imagine you'd end up like this, Cai Jin? Your husband sold you out and took everything from you. When I heard you were living comfortably, you can't imagine how furious I was. I did everything in my power to push that fool Left Claw to go after your in-laws. I thought he'd kill them all, but that wasn't nearly enough—I wanted you to suffer even more. Hey, Cai Jin did you know that Left Claw wanted to make a deal with that useless husband of yours? If he killed himself in some grusome way Left Claw told him that he would leave you all alone, Left Claw loves this sort of game, the sick bastard. I dreaded that you'd have a chance at freedom. But that trash just told him to take you, because someone had to take care of your daughter, HAHA!!"

Cai Jin stirred for the first time, lifting her head to glare at this despicable woman.

"That coward wouldn't die. And you—his wife— had to offer your body to spare your child and husband. Hahaha!" Mo Xiorong's cackling turned shrill, spittle spraying as she laughed. "Don't worry, Cai Jin. In at most a year, I'll let you see your daughter. I have a client who reeeeally likes little girls, and he's willing to pay handsomely for a taste."

At that, Cai Jin's entire body shook. "No… you promised… not my daughter…" she begged, tears spilling from her eyes.

Mo Xiorong, savoring her distress, slapped Cai Jin hard enough to knock her unconscious. "Wash her and patch her up," she ordered, then left the room wearing a satisfied smile. She will enjoy this game until the last moment.

While all this transpired, Xue San had been monitoring Mo Xiorong with his spiritual sense. He was both worried and utterly revolted by what he saw in the basement. When she addressed the man as 'Left Claw,' Xue San nearly withdrew for fear of being discovered, but Left Claw apparently hadn't bothered using his own spiritual sense.

What he witnessed there churned his stomach. The sister-in-law his entire family had vilified as a shameless traitor was, in truth, silently enduring appalling abuse to protect them, while that worthless brother of his had the gall to lie—calling her a whore who had abandoned the family.

"I will right this wrong," Xue San vowed in his heart.

From the conversation, he gleaned enough details to know how to proceed next, but first, he had a few tests to conduct.

Step one was to use his Qi Gathering Pills in hopes of breaking through to the Fifth Stage of Qi Condensation.

Step two involved confirming his immunity to the Wood-Stone Poison Pill. From Dan Qing's fragmentary memories, Xue San knew the Dan Clan excelled in both alchemy and poisons—many of their descendants possessed bodies capable of withstanding almost any toxin.

Finally, there was the jade from Dan Qing that conjured the shield. The cost in Qi and spiritual power was steep, but still manageable for short bursts.

Slipping out of the Sakura Palace, he ventured into the slums until he found an abandoned house. "This should do," he murmured.

His nerves were taut as he set one of the poison pills on the ground. At once, a sickly green vapor spread through the room. Xue San felt a brief stiffness but otherwise remained unharmed. He exhaled in relief. "I'm glad that's confirmed. Now I can be more confident."

Leaving the house, he was unaware of the silent ripple in the shadows. "So, he's holding the Dan Clan's Wood-Stone Poison Pill. Is he part of a branch family? But none of them bear the surname Xue," a voice mused. Then the figure vanished back into the darkness.

Jin Fu had instructed Shadow Seven to watch over Xue San, intervening only at the last moment, and only if he proved "interesting" enough. She had no idea what the Guild Master meant by that and constantly fretted about making the wrong call. The mission had put her on edge.

Sneaking back into the Sakura Palace, Xue San sat cross-legged and swallowed several of his self-made Qi Gathering Pills. Hours of cultivation later, he succeeded in advancing to the Fifth Stage of Qi Condensation, using up just five pills.

"I suppose that's all I can do," he muttered, looking toward the room where his sister-in-law was being held. "If I survive this, I promise I'll come back to save you. If I don't, I'll be waiting on the other side to thank you for all you've done."

He steadied his breath and began to meditate. Facing three Foundation Establishment cultivators was no trivial matter. Finally, there was a knock at his door.

"Sir, Elder Cheng Gen has arrived with a carriage to take you to the White Tiger Merchant Guild," Mo Xiorong's voice called.

"It's time," Xue San said quietly. Oddly enough, a sense of calm settled over him. He was about to walk into the tiger's den, and he knew only one thing for certain: either he would die, or they would. There was no middle ground.