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Third Prince?

Lu Zhaojin recalled that before Xu Huan died, he seemed to have mentioned something about the Third Prince as well.

Behind the rectification of Mount Qi, it was not only the imperial court pushing things forward. It seemed the Third Prince's shadow was behind it too.

This Qi Yanqiu before him was also one of the Third Prince's men. And what was his purpose in Luoxia City?

Everything Qi Yanqiu said, overtly or covertly, was about helping him take control of the Li Family—or rather, helping the Brocade Merchant Guild.

Then Qi Yanqiu's appearance in Luoxia City must have been because of Li Xiufang.

So how would they deal with Li Xiufang?

Send someone to assassinate her?

That would only enrage the Li Family. Once they launched a massive search for the culprit, it would instead become difficult for them to act.

Besides, Li Xiufang surely had experts protecting her.

Lu Wenxiu was probably only the visible protector. How many people were hidden in the shadows, and how strong they were, remained unknown.

If they capsized in a gutter, the losses would outweigh the gains.

Then were they planning to make a move against the Brocade Merchant Guild?

Lu Zhaojin recalled Niu Hang mentioning the Exquisite Treasure Tower. Its nature was nearly identical to that of the Brocade Merchant Guild; it could be said to be a direct copy. As long as things were handled properly, it truly had the potential to replace it.

However, because of Lu Zhaojin's appearance, the Chen Family's plans seemed to have died before they could be born.

Yet even after losing the Chen Family, the Exquisite Treasure Tower still stood there and continued operating as before. Clearly, the Chen Family had merely been the helmsman in the open, while a vast shadow loomed over the Exquisite Treasure Tower from behind the scenes.

Lu Zhaojin looked at the middle-aged man in the long robe before him. There was no longer any need to guess—the one behind all of this should be the Third Prince.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Zhaojin said, "I killed Xu Huan. That counts as ruining the Third Prince's arrangements on Mount Qi, doesn't it? Even so, the Third Prince is still willing to help me?"

Qi Yanqiu answered heartily, "The Third Prince is kind-hearted and broad-minded. Naturally, he will not blame you. On the contrary, that Xu Huan was careless in his actions and shortsighted in his vision. He thought only of avenging private grudges. How could someone like that accomplish great things?"

He did not care at all about Xu Huan's death. "It is better that he died. It saves me some effort."

Lu Zhaojin merely listened to Qi Yanqiu's praise of the Third Prince. If he truly believed it, he would not even know how he died. "Allow me a few days to consider."

Qi Yanqiu nodded. "This is no small matter. It is only right for you to consider it for a few days, young hero."

A dangerous glint flashed through his narrow phoenix eyes. "But I also hope you will consider carefully, young hero. After all, time waits for no one."

Lu Zhaojin did not take those threatening words to heart. Instead, he thought that once he broke through to the sixth rank, Qi Yanqiu would be the first person he killed.

As for Cheng Yan, the city lord, Lu Zhaojin planned not to leave Luoxia City for now. Once night fell, he would deal with him, then leave under cover of darkness.

The two men watched Lu Zhaojin's retreating figure.

Cheng Yan, who had not spoken the entire time, could not help saying, "Lord Qi, why tell him all that? This boy is a threat. We should have killed him on the spot."

Qi Yanqiu's smile faded. With his hands behind his back, he said sternly, "Why do you think Lu Zhaojin dared to come see me with you so fearlessly?"

Cheng Yan shook his head, indicating that he did not understand.

Qi Yanqiu narrowed his eyes. "Within Lu Zhaojin's body, I sensed a terrifying force, like a violent wind, like thunderbolts. If we push him too far, neither of us will have an easy time."

He looked at Cheng Yan. "You might even die."

Cheng Yan had known since last night that Lu Zhaojin was strong, but he had not expected him to be this powerful. Even Qi Yanqiu found him troublesome. "If we leave him alive, won't that be like raising a tiger into calamity?"

Qi Yanqiu's gaze turned toward the door. "Has the Chen Family found Lu Jinlin?"

Cheng Yan replied, "They have located him, but Lu Jinlin's strength is not to be underestimated either. The people the Chen Family sent nearly fell to him. However, the Dingshan Sect also bears a grudge against Lu Zhaojin. An elder from the Dingshan Sect intervened, which was why the Chen Family suffered such heavy losses."

Qi Yanqiu stepped away, his lingering words echoing by Cheng Yan's ear. "In that case, to ensure everything is foolproof, I shall personally make a trip to Mount Qi."

Lu Zhaojin left the city tower and headed for Brocade Tower.

This time, Lu Wenxiu was there as well, but his expression was terrible. His upper body was bare, with white gauze wrapped around his right shoulder and covering the wound.

Seeing that he was injured, Lu Zhaojin asked, "What happened?"

Lu Wenxiu let out a long breath of foul air, his voice noticeably weaker. "Don't mention it. On the way back, I ran into someone blocking the road. He was highly skilled, and I was no match for him. If I had not possessed some talent in movement techniques and used everything I had, I would never have escaped alive."

Lu Zhaojin had never learned a movement technique. "Would Brother Lu be willing to let me take a look at it?"

Lu Wenxiu was much older than Lu Zhaojin, but he did not mind being called brother by him. Instead, it made him feel closer. "You are too polite, Brother Lu. It is not some remarkable movement technique to begin with. Why would I be unwilling? I'll fetch it for you."

Lu Wenxiu sat up from the bed, tugging at his wound and making him suck in a sharp breath. At that moment, Li Xiufang pushed open the door and entered with a bowl of medicinal soup. The instant she saw Lu Wenxiu sitting up, her gaze sharpened. "Who told you to sit up? Your injury has not healed. Lie down properly."

Li Xiufang placed the medicine on the table beside the bed and helped Lu Wenxiu lie back down. Then she looked at Lu Zhaojin. "You do not know how to care for the injured. What are you still doing here?"

Lu Zhaojin shrugged. He truly did not know how to care for people; he only knew how to kill people. Still, he did not refute Li Xiufang. In her eyes, she was genuinely worried about Lu Wenxiu's injuries. "I just came from the city lord's residence."

Li Xiufang's willow brows drew together slightly. "What did Cheng Yan say to you?"

Lu Zhaojin shook his head. "It was not Cheng Yan. I met someone else. Cheng Yan called him Lord Qi."

Li Xiufang pondered briefly, but could not figure out who this Lord Qi was. There were quite a few imperial officials surnamed Qi, so she could not make wild guesses. If she guessed wrong and the Li Family accused someone without cause, the consequences would not be good.

Besides, no one from the Li Family served as an official in the imperial court. That was a rule left behind by their ancestors: those who engaged in trade did not enter the halls of government.

She had never understood why such a rule existed. But after she began handling the Lineage's merchant guild affairs these past few years, she had encountered no shortage of dignitaries and nobles. She discovered that the waters of the court ran far deeper than those of commerce—a bottomless abyss.

She considered herself somewhat capable in commerce, but in the imperial court, she would merely be showing off before an expert.

Lu Zhaojin did not continue discussing Qi Yanqiu. Instead, he asked about the Li Family. "The Li Family's situation must be quite dire right now, shouldn't it?"

Li Xiufang did not answer directly. "That is not something someone your age should concern himself with. You should think about how to help your father bring my sister out of the Li Family."

Lu Zhaojin said, "My father said he wants to rely on himself. He does not need my help."

Li Xiufang sneered. "Who knows what my sister was thinking, finding such a man who would rather die than lose face."

Lu Zhaojin glanced at Lu Wenxiu. Though he did not know what relationship he had with Li Xiufang, judging from the concern in her eyes and the bowl of medicine on the table, they should have been closer than ordinary friends.

Lu Wenxiu took a sip of the medicine. Its effects were excellent, and his complexion became much rosier. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then said, "Brother Lu, I cannot move about easily, so I will have to trouble you to get it yourself. That movement technique is in the cabinet. Search through it, and you should be able to find it."