Leaving the County Town!

"Young Master, you mustn't!"

"That Willow Ditch Village is dangerous. Young Master Yun'an met with disaster because of it."

"Because of this matter, Master ordered us never to set foot in Willow Ditch Village again."

Li San immediately grew nervous and hurriedly tried to dissuade Lu Xuan, hoping he would abandon the idea.

One had to know that even Li Mingzhong, his direct superior, the Lu Family's Guard Captain and a martial artist at the peak of Flesh Refining, spoke of Willow Ditch Village only with great fear.

Let alone himself—he had only barely reached the Skin Refinement Realm.

Although his Young Master had diligently practiced the Blade Technique since childhood, he was still far too young and did not understand the dangers of the outside world.

Seeing that Lu Xuan remained unmoved, Li San made one last struggle, earnestly trying to persuade him.

"Young Master, regarding Young Master Yun'an's matter, we can directly inform the County Office and have its officials avenge him."

"Young Master's body is worth a thousand pieces of gold. You absolutely must not risk yourself."

Li San was convinced that the Young Master intended to go to Willow Ditch Village, uncover the truth, and avenge Young Master Yun'an.

That place, Willow Ditch Village, had already become Li San's nightmare. Even if beaten to death, he would never go back.

If the Young Master insisted on going, then he might as well leave the Lu Family outright.

At least then he might still have a sliver of hope for survival!

"Hmph!"

"These are not matters you should concern yourself with. I have my own arrangements."

With a muffled boom, a gale rose without wind in the Lu Family Hall. Endless pressure crashed down upon Li San like a flood of ferocious beasts.

Li San suddenly felt an invisible force pressing down on him, making it difficult to breathe. The pressure was overwhelming, and he collapsed onto the floor on his backside.

Then, the invisible pressure that had made Li San suffer so terribly came swiftly and vanished swiftly, disappearing completely within a single breath.

It was as though everything that had just happened had been nothing more than flowers in a mirror, the moon in water.

"Here are ten taels of silver. Take them. This is your reward."

Immediately afterward, a silvery-white object was thrown through the air and landed precisely in Li San's arms.

Upon seeing the silvery-white object clearly, Li San's face lit up with delight. He swiftly caught it, then hurriedly rose to his feet and gave Lu Xuan a deep bow.

"Li San thanks Young Master!"

Ten taels of silver!

Li San's annual income was only three taels of silver. In one stroke, he had received more than three years' worth of wages.

No wonder Li San could not even care about his appearance, looking utterly ecstatic.

Men died for wealth, birds perished for food.

Li San no longer had any intention of stopping Lu Xuan, because Lu Xuan was simply giving too much.

So much that Li San could no longer refuse.

Of course, there was another reason: Li San could feel that the coarse cloth on his back had already been soaked through with sweat.

He was utterly shocked. He had never expected his Young Master to be so terrifyingly powerful.

The Young Master's mere anger had multiplied the pressure on him, as if he were facing a beast from the Great Desolation, while he himself was as tiny as an ant before it.

With the Young Master's strength and those ten taels of silver in mind, Li San gritted his teeth and summoned courage from the depths of his heart.

It was only Willow Ditch Village. What was there to fear?

"Very well, go and make your preparations."

"Remember, only you and I know about going to Willow Ditch Village."

"Even if Master asks, you must not speak of it. Just say that I am going on a long journey."

"Yes, Young Master. I will prepare the carriage at once."

Li San's attitude toward Lu Xuan had become far more reverent than when he arrived.

Lu Xuan silently watched Li San's departing back without saying a word.

While speaking with Li San just now, he had carefully sensed every one of Li San's movements.

Every action, expression, and even his heartbeat had been exactly as usual, without the slightest abnormality.

This also proved that Li San had spoken the truth and had not concealed or deceived him.

Lu Xuan could not be blamed for being cautious. After all, those extraordinary and strange things were what he was about to face. No amount of caution was excessive.

Willow Ditch Village!

I hope you do not disappoint me. This is crucial to obtaining System Points.

Night fell, yet only the Lu Family Hall remained brightly lit with candles. Two people were still seated within the hall.

They were Lu Jiahe, the Lu Family Head, and Lu Xuan.

"What!"

"Xuan-er, you are leaving the County Town? Why so suddenly? Where are you going?"

Lu Jiahe looked at Lu Xuan with an unusually worried expression.

"Father need not worry. Xuan-er has cultivated martial arts diligently for many years and will not encounter any danger."

"Xuan-er will return in a few days."

Seeing that Lu Xuan had already made up his mind, Lu Jiahe could only let the matter drop and abandon his attempt to dissuade him.

Then he spoke to Lu Xuan.

"Xuan-er, take the Lu Family guards with you on this journey, so they can accompany you in case anything happens."

"In times like these, there are many dangers beyond the County Town. Bringing more people along will give you someone to look after you."

"There is no need, Father. Li San alone is enough. I am only going out to see the world a little. I will return soon."

"Very well, then. Xuan-er, be careful in all things."

Since Lu Xuan had said as much, Lu Jiahe could not say anything further.

Xuan-er had always been calm and steady since childhood. Since he said so, he must have thought the matter through carefully.

With that thought, Lu Jiahe no longer tried to stop Lu Xuan. He merely gave him one final earnest reminder.

"Xuan-er, although your martial prowess is formidable, the human heart is treacherous. You must be careful in everything."

"Xuan-er understands."

The next day!

The great gates of the County Town stood open, and streams of people passed through without end. Carriages and pedestrians crowded the roads, while peddlers and laborers on both sides of the streets enthusiastically called out to passersby.

At this moment, a very plain-looking carriage rolled along, with a man seated on each side of it.

They were Li San and a big man who looked honest and sturdy.

The honest big man was also a servant of the Lu Family, a coachman specially responsible for driving the carriage.

Inside the carriage sat a young man—Lu Xuan.

At this moment, the carriage was slowly making its way along the blue stone slab road within the County Town.

Only when it reached the gates did the carriage slowly come to a stop.

Ahead was a long line of people waiting to leave the County Town.

Time passed, and soon it was Lu Xuan's carriage's turn. The coachman slowly guided the carriage forward before stopping before the City Gate Guard.

At once, Li San swiftly pulled a wooden token from his robes. The words "Lu Family Pharmacy" were written upon it.

Holding the token in both hands with a smile, he offered it to the City Gate Guard.

"Sir, this is a carriage from the Lu Family Pharmacy. Inside is the young proprietor of the Lu Family Pharmacy. Please have a look."

"The young proprietor of the Lu Family Pharmacy?"

Upon hearing Li San's words, the City Gate Guard immediately became serious. He too extended both hands and accepted the token from Li San.

Of course he knew of the Lu Family Pharmacy.

It was the largest pharmacy in the County Town, and the Lu Family Old Master was the most renowned physician in town, with the finest medical skills.

Even he himself had once been treated by the Lu Family Old Master.

But he truly had no impression of this young proprietor of the Lu Family Pharmacy.