"Senior Brother, something happened. Word outside is that the Liu Family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor offended a Golden Core Great Expert while away and met with disaster."
"Yes, all sorts of rumors are spreading outside."
Li Han and Qi Feng spoke of the news that had suddenly exploded outside, both wearing worried expressions. It was obvious someone had deliberately orchestrated this.
Lin Chang'an, dressed in brocade robes, looked at the two and shook his head. "Don't panic."
Yet seeing Lin Chang'an's calm demeanor, Qi Feng gave a bitter smile. "Brother Lin, if something really happened to the Liu Family, there'll definitely be massive upheaval. Things will become chaotic then."
Once chaos broke out, cultivators like them, with low cultivation and no special skills, would be the first batch of cannon fodder. Naturally, they were worried.
If anyone least wanted turmoil to arise here, it was undoubtedly people like them.
"Don't worry. The Purple Copper Spirit Mine has only been mined for three years. Aside from you, the sect is the one that least wants upheaval in the Market."
Seeing Qi Feng worrying himself sick over nothing, Lin Chang'an merely smiled easily and led the two toward Elder Lu's mansion.
Elder Lu's mansion.
Qi Feng and Li Han waited respectfully outside the mansion. When Lin Chang'an entered, Zhang Qing was there, along with the various other stewards. It could be said that more than half the sect's elite had arrived.
"Master Lu."
Before so many people, Lin Chang'an smiled as he cupped his hands toward Elder Lu, creating the impression that he and Elder Lu, master and disciple, had an excellent relationship.
Seated in his chair, Elder Lu nodded lightly after seeing that everyone had arrived. "Since everyone is here, you've all heard about what's happening outside, haven't you?"
Under Elder Lu's sweeping gaze, Zhang Qing respectfully cupped his hands before everyone. "Elder Lu, the news has already spread everywhere outside. Could something really have happened to the Liu Family?"
As Zhang Qing's words fell, the others revealed curious expressions. Some even showed greed in their eyes. If the Liu Family fell, that enormous slab of fat would be immensely tempting.
"Both of the Liu Family's Foundation Establishment Great Experts, as well as the Liu Family Head and more than half of the clan's elite, have perished."
Elder Lu did not mention a single word about the cause of the matter. He merely calmly told everyone of the Liu Family's situation. Yet when his certain words landed, the main hall instantly erupted into chaos.
"What are we waiting for? Hurry up and take down the Liu Family!"
"Yes, Elder Lu. The quick hand gets it; the slow hand gets nothing."
"If the Liu Family falls, won't the Beast Taming Zhou Family become even more unscrupulous?"
The crowd was initially shocked, but then they all showed anxious expressions. Some were eager to tear off a bite or two of that fatty meat, while the smarter ones thought of the threat posed by the Beast Taming Zhou Family.
Although Lin Chang'an had long been prepared, hearing it still made him sigh inwardly. No one knew whether accident or tomorrow would arrive first. Even Foundation Establishment Great Experts could vanish just like that.
This was the gap between small forces and great forces. Losing a Foundation Establishment Great Expert through the slightest misstep was a devastating blow.
Though everyone was discussing heatedly, nearly all wanted to swallow the Liu Family's assets. Only a small handful saw the hidden danger. Seeing this, disappointment flashed through Elder Lu's eyes.
Yet Lin Chang'an remained silent. It was only human nature to rush and take a bite of the fatty meat after the Liu Family fell, but for the sect at present...
"Chang'an, tell us what you think."
With Elder Lu's sudden words, Lin Chang'an among the crowd immediately drew everyone's attention.
Lin Chang'an raised his head and looked at the crowd, as well as Elder Lu's expectant gaze, then gave a modest smile.
"Since news of the Liu Family's misfortune has already been exposed, all the major lineages and forces must have learned of it long ago. Have they then already decided the Liu Family's future?"
At Lin Chang'an's rhetorical question, the others were still somewhat confused, but Elder Lu could not help revealing a gratified smile.
Looking at the others, Elder Lu could not help glaring at them in dissatisfaction. He snorted irritably. "The moment you see someone else in trouble, every last one of you turns into hungry wolves. How disgraceful!"
Facing Elder Lu's rebuke, the others were left scratching their heads. The Liu Family had fallen—were they supposed to watch helplessly while others ate the meat?
Seeing that the others still had not reacted, Elder Lu could not help letting out a helpless sigh, his eyes filled with exhaustion.
"You people, the sect is already on the right track. We are not those unpresentable bandit cultivators outside."
Elder Lu looked at everyone with a warning gaze and said heavily, "Change that bandit nature of yours. The Liu Family is our ally. If our ally has barely fallen and we can't wait to go bite them, what will others think of the sect?"
"Elder Lu, are we supposed to just watch others..." one person said unwillingly, but beneath Elder Lu's glare, his voice grew weaker and weaker until he finally lowered his head, not daring to continue.
Elder Lu snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, "The Liu Family is indeed a slab of fat. Everyone can impatiently go and bite off a piece, but we alone cannot."
"If we, as their allies, are impatient to deal with the Liu Family, who will dare trust us in the future? Will anyone still sincerely ally with us to stand against the Zhou Family? What have all the sect's efforts these past years been for?"
Elder Lu glared at the group as though they were iron that could not be forged into steel, then said coldly, "The Liu Family is our ally. Now that they have fallen into hardship, we must raise the banner of protecting them. At the same time, we must tell everyone that the Great Sword Sect has not abandoned its ally!"
Without trust, a person cannot stand; without trust, a business cannot prosper; without trust, a nation declines!
At this point, Elder Lu gave everyone a deep look before finally saying coldly, "But the Liu Family is now leaderless. Zhang Qing, send people to protect the Liu Family's assets in West City."
"Yes!"
After these words, a few among the crowd seemed to understand something and immediately showed enlightened expressions. But most were still frustrated and did not understand.
Even Elder Lu felt stifled by this sight. He had made it so obvious—what a bunch of wooden clubs. They would certainly eat the Liu Family's meat, but they could not make it this obvious!
"Chang'an, you explain!"
Elder Lu was utterly stifled and had no choice but to let Lin Chang'an explain his intentions. Under everyone's puzzled gazes, Lin Chang'an helplessly stepped forward.
"Elder Lu's meaning is simple. Whose force is the strongest in our region right now?"
"Of course it's the Beast Taming Zhou Family. Does that even need asking?" One person frowned and coldly stated this universally known fact.
Yet Lin Chang'an nodded lightly upon hearing this and said solemnly, "That's right. Everyone knows the Zhou Family is the strongest. The reason we have been able to stand against them and live in peace these past years is entirely because we allied with the Liu Family while joining hands with the other forces."
"Now, just as the Liu Family has met with disaster, what the Beast Taming Zhou Family most wishes to see is us dividing the Liu Family's benefits and causing unrest. What would we use to stand against the Beast Taming Zhou Family then? What's more!"
At this point, Lin Chang'an raised his head toward Elder Lu with a smile and cupped his hands. "What's more, Master Lu has farsighted vision and must already have arranged everything."
Looking at Lin Chang'an, Elder Lu revealed a rare gratified smile. Then he looked at the others and snorted coldly.
"The Liu Family has met with disaster, so we will act to protect them. But the Liu Family can no longer safeguard these assets now. Therefore, regarding the Liu Family's Purple Copper Mine assets, the sect will join hands with the Li, Ye, and other lineages to protect the Liu Family together, preventing turmoil in the Market."
To put it bluntly, with powerful enemies eyeing them like tigers watching prey, they could not erupt into internal conflict. And having lost two Foundation Establishment Great Experts, the Liu Family naturally could not keep hold of these vast resources.
Thus, they would join hands to divide these resources, while the Liu Family gained everyone's protection. A win-win situation!
Wasn't everyone joining hands precisely to stand against the Beast Taming Zhou Family? If someone's lineage ran into trouble and they simply swallowed it whole, this alliance would sooner or later fall apart. Yet with the Great Sword Sect taking the lead in doing this, they had at least left a way out for others, and every force could breathe a sigh of relief.
The Liu Family was an example. Look—the Liu Family had suffered such a calamity, yet the Great Sword Sect still took the lead in protecting them. After all, no one could say whether tomorrow or accident would arrive first.
Thanks to 'Book Friend 20230410153954490' for the reward of ten thousand Qidian coins, 'Long-Haired Little Deer' for two hundred Qidian coins, 'Tasty Little Pudding' for one hundred Qidian coins, and 'Northern Wanderer Kiss' for one hundred Qidian coins. Thank you all, fellow Daoists, for your support.
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