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Luoxia City.

City Lord's Manor.

Main Hall.

When Cheng Yan learned of the outcome over there, he had not expected that youth to be so formidable. Not only had he killed Chen Jingchun, but Zhao Rong and the others had also fallen by his hand.

But it was precisely because the youth was powerful that he was worth recruiting.

Cheng Yan rose to his feet, looked toward the landscape screen behind him, clasped his hands in salute, and addressed him as Lord Qi.

Candles suddenly lit up behind the screen, casting a figure's shadow upon it. A hoarse voice came from within. "I heard everything."

The voice continued, "News just arrived. That youth has some connection to the Li Family."

Cheng Yan's expression shifted slightly. If Li Xiufang had Lu Zhaojin's help, then taking control of Brocade Tower would truly be impossible. "But his surname isn't Li."

Lord Qi reminded him, "The Li Family has more than one daughter."

Cheng Yan suddenly understood. "My lord means Li Xiulan?"

Li Xiulan had been absent for so long, as though she had vanished without a trace, that he had nearly forgotten about her.

Cheng Yan also realized it, saying in surprise, "Lord Qi means that Lu Zhaojin is Li Xiulan's son?"

Lord Qi said, "That's right."

Cheng Yan stroked his beard with his right hand and pondered. "Lord Qi intends to use Lu Zhaojin against Li Xiufang?"

Lord Qi said, "Your vision is too narrow."

Cheng Yan stared at the screen, his eyes full of astonishment. "Lord Qi believes he can deal with the entire Li Family?"

Lord Qi gave a disdainful laugh. "Of course not. I simply think he should be a fine blade for us to use against the Li Family, enough to leave them battered and bruised."

Thinking of the consequences of Zhao Rong borrowing a blade, Cheng Yan hesitated. "Lu Zhaojin may be a fine blade, but he may not be an obedient one."

Lord Qi said, "Rest assured. I naturally have a way to make this blade obediently do as it is told."

The next day.

The sun shone brightly, and the streets brimmed with the bustle of daily life.

The bloody site from last night had long since been swiftly cleaned up by the city lord's men, so no one yet knew that people had died here last night.

Lu Zhaojin went to the innkeeper to check out. Today, he planned to leave Luoxia City and head for Lushu Commandery to eliminate Zhao Jinzhi.

However, the moment he reached the city gate, the guards stopped him.

They did not draw their weapons. Instead, they were exceedingly polite, saying that their city lord wished to see him.

One did not strike a smiling face.

Lu Zhaojin did not know why the city lord wanted him, but when the gate guards mentioned Lu Jinlin's name, his curiosity was piqued. So he followed them up the gate tower and eventually met the city lord.

Cheng Yan looked rather kind-faced, but clad in that scale-like armor and wearing a general's helmet, he gave off an air of authority without anger.

Cheng Yan offered Lu Zhaojin a genial smile that made him seem approachable. "Young Hero Lu."

Lu Zhaojin looked at him, somewhat surprised. "You know me?"

Cheng Yan smiled. "The city has been full of storms and rumors lately. As the city lord, I naturally heard of them. Seeing you today, it truly is as they say: heroes emerge in their youth."

Lu Zhaojin did not want to beat around the bush. "City Lord Cheng, you may as well speak plainly."

Cheng Yan's smile faded. "Very well. This is not a place to talk. Young Hero, follow me."

Cheng Yan took the lead and walked into the gate tower.

Lu Zhaojin was not afraid that Cheng Yan might play any underhanded tricks. Within Luoxia City, unless a Sixth-Rank Realm martial artist made a move, no one could withstand a single strike of his sword.

If he used that drop of Gang Yuan, he could even fight a martial artist at the early stage of the Sixth-Rank Realm.

The interior of the tower was dim, with only the patch near the doorway illuminated by daylight. The farther in one went, the darker it became, until even one's vision turned hazy.

Cheng Yan stopped ahead.

Lu Zhaojin stopped as well and looked toward the seat that had originally belonged to the city lord. A middle-aged man with graying temples was sitting there now, watching him with a pair of long, narrow phoenix eyes.

Cheng Yan clasped his hands in salute. "Lord Qi, I have brought him."

Qi Yanqiu nodded and waved for him to stand to the side. His gaze remained fixed on Lu Zhaojin as he examined him, murmuring, "So alike, far too alike..."

Lu Zhaojin's brows furrowed slightly. He sensed a trace of danger from this man, which meant he was a Sixth-Rank Realm martial artist, though his exact cultivation remained unknown.

Yet Cheng Yan's willing surrender of his seat showed that this man possessed an extraordinary background within the dynasty.

Thinking of the trump cards he held, Lu Zhaojin did not fear him. "Like whom?"

Seeing Lu Zhaojin remain neither servile nor overbearing, Qi Yanqiu gave him another look. "Like an old friend of mine."

Lu Zhaojin knew whom he meant, but whether they were truly friends was still uncertain. "Is she well?"

His father had once said that Li Xiulan was confined by the Li Family and could not step beyond its gates. Only especially close friends would have the right to visit her there.

Qi Yanqiu shook his head and sighed. "Not particularly well. She lacks neither food nor clothing in the Li Family, but she misses someone day and night, her heart knotted with sorrow. In the end, it has become more than she can bear."

For the moment, Lu Zhaojin still did not know this man's purpose. "What use is there in telling me this?"

He deliberately put on a dispirited air. "The Li Family is vast and powerful. It is not somewhere I can simply barge into."

Qi Yanqiu said seriously, "I can help you."

Lu Zhaojin raised his head and looked at the other man's face. "Why would you help me?"

Qi Yanqiu had not expected this youth to be somewhat difficult to handle and so cautious. But that also showed he could play the role of a chess piece very well. "I am doing this to help Li Xiulan—your birth mother."

He stood, approached Lu Zhaojin, placed his right hand on Lu Zhaojin's shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "You would not want your birth mother to spend every day and night washing her face with tears, would you?"

Lu Zhaojin glanced at the hand on his shoulder and frowned slightly. "Then what you mean is..."

Qi Yanqiu cut him off. "I can help you return to the Li Family and help you return to your mother's side."

Qi Yanqiu looked into Lu Zhaojin's eyes and said earnestly, "The Li Family is renowned throughout Luoshui Commandery for possessing boundless wealth. Even the dynasty must sometimes rely on the Li Family's financial strength. If you return to the Li Family, then with your talent, you will certainly be entrusted with important duties."

Lu Zhaojin could vaguely guess Qi Yanqiu's purpose. "And then?"

Qi Yanqiu continued, "After you return to the Li Family, I can also use the dynasty's power to help you take over the Li Family's business as quickly as possible. Once you control the overall situation, all of the Li Family's resources will be yours. With your talent and such abundant resources, reaching first place on the Dragon Ranking will be just around the corner."

This Qi Yanqiu truly was an interesting man. This was only their first meeting, yet he had already planned out Lu Zhaojin's future for him.

Lu Zhaojin sneered inwardly. This grand promise looked delicious enough, but its filling was surely stuffed full of poison, just waiting for him to swallow it.

Control the Li Family?

Not only did Lu Zhaojin have no such intention, even if he did, he would slaughter the Li Family clean.

No matter how plentiful the resources were, could they compare to experience points?

But Qi Yanqiu had said he would use the dynasty's power to help him control the Li Family. Did that not mean the dynasty already intended to move against the Li Family?

For the Li Family's wealth?

The Great Ding Dynasty had recuperated and built up its strength for so many years. It should not be lacking for such a little silver, should it?

Lu Zhaojin felt there were more secrets hidden within this. "How do you intend to help me take control of the Li Family?"

To make it sound more convincing, Lu Zhaojin used an honorific.

Qi Yanqiu asked in return, "Do you know the Third Prince?"