Steam-powered martial arts: My virginity cultivation technique has been broken.

Calm and composed, his expression remained unchanged even as he stood before the abyss. Tall and long-legged, he crossed the river as if leaping over a muddy ditch.

Zheng Wu has an extremely sharp eye for people; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to act so arrogantly in Yunqi Prefecture and remain a spoiled brat for over a decade without causing any major problems.

Such martial artists only emerge from three places: grand temples and monasteries, where these individuals have long been bound by precepts and regulations, practicing meditation and seeking enlightenment, possessing immense composure, thus exhibiting the refined qualities of Buddhism (called "harmonious integration") and Taoism (called "naturalness"). This differs from the scholarly air and righteousness of Confucianism, instead carrying a sense of unwavering certainty. The other place is the imperial palace guards, who, though disciplined, are more focused on vigilance and keeping strangers at bay.

He knew this so clearly because his elder brother was also such a person, and was a direct disciple of Elder Eimon of Hakugeji Temple.

"This saltwater lake is quite peculiar."

He tossed aside a handful of white rocks he'd grabbed from the shore, half of which he'd scatter into the water, letting them sink slowly, while the other half he'd licked, his eyes gleaming. Salt! No wonder it's called Saltwater Lake; this is a huge treasure! Why hasn't anyone come to mine it? Nineteen Lakes belong to Ruizhou in the east; are the officials blind?

While Zheng Wu was still inwardly criticizing the officials of Ruizhou for their lack of foresight, his subordinates went and provoked Ku Ning.

A weasel-faced henchman walked up to Ku Ning's horse and arrogantly said, "Boy, are you frozen in place? Our young master is here for a stroll, don't spoil the fun, get lost!" He said this, but in reality, he was deliberately using Zheng Wu's name to cause trouble. As long as Ku Ning backed down, he would become even more aggressive.

Ku Ning's body remained motionless, only his eyelids drooped slightly, his clear black and white pupils as deep as the night.

Seeing his disdain, the henchman raised his voice even louder: "You can't understand human language, can you?"

Ku Ning had already begun to circulate his inner energy when Zheng Wu spoke up to stop him: "Donkey, don't be so rude. This isn't my home. These gentlemen can stay as long as they want." As he spoke, he changed his usual domineering demeanor and stepped forward politely: "Brother, we mean no harm and we're not following you. We just came to see the charm of this Saltwater Marsh."

As Zheng Wu approached, Ku Ning glanced at him before brushing past him. "How can this person look so much like my fifth senior brother?" he thought. "Have you looked enough?"

Zheng Wu immediately felt a sense of urgency; there was a murderous aura emanating from the other party. It seemed as if the next thing the other party was going to say was, "You've seen enough, now you can die." Cold sweat poured down his back; he knew he had messed with someone tough. Judging from the other party's tone of killing like killing chickens, they must have a lot of lives on their hands.

Others, however, took it as mockery and immediately gathered around, pointing and hurling insults: "Don't be so arrogant, our family..."

Before they could finish speaking, their bodies exploded under Ku Ning's palm strike, turning into fine pieces of minced meat. Zheng Wu had already hidden himself after sensing something was wrong, narrowly escaping death only because Ku Ning didn't want to kill him yet.

Ku Ning did not sense any malice from him. Moreover, given the resemblance between his face and that of his fellow disciples, he recalled that his fifth senior brother seemed to be from this region.

Zheng Wu possessed a strong heart. Even after all his men were killed by Ku Ning, he barely dodged the attack, lay on the ground, and instead of panicking, he reacted quickly, revealing his identity: "I am from the Marquis of Dingxin's mansion. My men's ignorance is none of my business. Please spare my life, hero!"

Marquis Dingxin, my fifth senior brother is the eldest son of Marquis Dingxin. This refers to the current Marquis Dingxin, who inherited the title three years ago. The previous Marquis was a powerful official who rose to the position of Governor-General of the three eastern provinces.

Ku Ning asked, "Your surname is Zheng?"

Zheng Wu's expression softened, and seeing what he said, and recalling his similar temperament to his elder brother, he immediately admitted, "My name is Zheng Wu, the second son of Marquis Dingxin."

Ku Ning did not expose his relationship with his fifth senior brother, but only said, "Lord Zheng was once a capable minister who commanded the troops of three provinces. Your behavior is truly a disgrace to the family."

Zheng Wu wasn't angry: "I'm incompetent. I only know how to cockfight and dog walking, and occasionally go hunting for entertainment. I've really tarnished my grandfather's reputation." He knew he was safe. The other party was able to tell him his grandfather's official position, so he was very likely a person in the imperial court or had been in the imperial court before.

His eyes involuntarily drifted towards Yang Huanxi, the driver of the cart. A short, elderly man, heavily disguised? No! Not human! His gaze met Yang Huanxi's for a fleeting moment, and those sheep's eyes were all too familiar; after all, he had just slaughtered one.

"Don't let your eyes wander."

Ku Ning coldly reminded him that his fifth senior brother's brother was far too audacious to dare to look around in this situation.

Zheng Wu immediately lowered his head and said obediently, "Great hero, I have no ill intentions! These unruly servants are greedy for money and want to ambush and kill you. I'm here to stop them."

Ku Ning scoffed, "They're your followers. Would they dare act so recklessly without your approval?"

Zheng Wu said with a bitter face, "Great hero, you don't know this. My father is the Marquis of Dingxin, but our family is entirely supported by my second uncle. He is now in a high position and has great power, and he is always eyeing our family's title. These treacherous servants are all secretly sent by him to monitor me."

Ku Ning sensed something was wrong. With his fifth senior brother around, what right did this kind of person have to be monitored? Could it be? He asked in a trembling voice, "Where is your eldest brother?"

Zheng Wu thought to himself, "Sure enough, this person is related to my elder brother."

He seemed to have been touched on a sore spot, his eyes filled with tears as he said, "Great hero, do you not know about my family? Ever since the Empress Dowager took power, my grandfather was imprisoned for submitting a memorial opposing it, and later died in prison. Our direct line of the Marquis of Dingxin has lost power. My eldest brother was transferred to the border army and disappeared two years ago, his fate unknown. My father barely inherited the title and has remained neutral, daring not to participate in factional struggles anymore. But my second uncle has sided with the Regent and is now serving as an inspector in Luoyang, overseeing shipping."

It's a sad story. Back then, the family pinned their hopes on his eldest brother, and he had to pretend to be a playboy. Now, the family is pinning their hopes on him, and he still has to pretend to be a playboy. He spent the first half of his life indulging in pleasure and debauchery. He was neither good at literature nor martial arts. In short, it was much better when his grandfather and eldest brother were alive. He could indulge in pleasure and debauchery without having to worry.

Upon hearing the devastating news of his fifth senior brother, Ku Ning gritted his teeth. It had been three years since then, and not only had he experienced a major life change, but so many of his fellow disciples had also encountered trouble. Was this just a coincidence?

The factional strife was intense at the time, so it's understandable that the old Marquis was involved. However, the fact that a high-ranking official died in prison without understanding the situation raises a significant question. Was the Empress Dowager a strong suspect? Yes, since the old Marquis had directly submitted a memorial opposing her regency, and it's possible she used this as a warning to others. The problem is that this "chicken" was too big; killing him would create widespread panic. Therefore, the Regent is also a possibility.

For aristocratic families to maintain their prosperity, they must have someone enter the court to serve as an official. Wealth without the protection of power is like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

Seeing his cowardly and weak character, Ku Ning felt truly indignant for his fifth senior brother.