Deal Reached

Outside the Bright Moon Tower, Wei Mao and Zhu Ting clasped their hands in farewell. Wei Mao then led Lu Bei into the carriage.

Lu Bei stood behind Wei Mao, grinning as he winked at Zhu Kui, constantly trying to provoke his anger.

One hundred million experience points. I can't just let this go. I have to make him cough up some blood.

Zhu Kui's face turned as black as charcoal. However, with his uncle Zhu Ting standing right beside him, he could only lower his head and stare at his feet, mentally beating Lu Bei to a pulp.

In his mind, Lu Bei not only died at Zhu Kui's hands but was also repeatedly desecrated over a hundred times.

Before leaving, Lu Bei wanted to deliver one last blow. A glance at Zhu Ting's kind smile made him immediately retract his hand and obediently follow Wei Mao away.

This Prefect has a kind and amiable smile. He looks like a bad person at first glance.

It's not cowardice. It's because, as a good person, I should draw a clear line between myself and bad people. Once my level is high enough and the lines between good and bad become blurred, then I can deal with bad people.

Inside the carriage, Wei Mao remained silent, staring intently at Lu Bei.

Lu Bei met his gaze without a care in the world. After a moment, he whistled and looked away, pulling back the curtain to gaze at the streets on either side.

Too late. The Yunshui Tower flashed past, only a faint scent of perfume drifting into the carriage.

"When I was alone with the Prefect, Young Master Kui gave you quite a few benefits, didn't he?"

"No, he tried to humiliate me with money, and I was very angry. I refused him on the spot."

"How much did you take?"

"Five thousand taels in silver notes."

"I want ten thousand."

"Deal."

Meanwhile, after Wei Mao's carriage departed, Zhu Ting's smile grew even more amiable as he led the trembling Zhu Kui towards the Prefect's mansion.

The atmosphere at the wine table tonight was harmonious, and everyone enjoyed themselves. He felt a bit too full, so he didn't plan to take a carriage. He would walk home through the back alleys.

The kind of back alleys that were deserted at night.

Thinking about the embarrassing incident at the wine table, Zhu Ting felt a wave of shame. This whole situation—self-inflicted humiliation, losing money, and owing favors—was a stain on his entire life. The fact that Wei Mao didn't burst out laughing at the table was a testament to his great composure.

If he didn't take a walk through the back alleys to clear his head, he'd probably wake up in a rage even in his sleep tonight.

"I know what you're thinking. Don't go looking for that kid. This matter is settled."

"Uncle, I'm thinking about something else. Can we take the main road? It's brighter, so you won't fall." Zhu Kui looked at the dark, winding back alley ahead with a dejected expression. It was as deep and dark as a beast's maw, ready to swallow him whole at any second.

"Heh heh."

The next day, Lu Bei didn't go to the military camp. He found a carriage and headed straight for the Alchemy Room.

No, the Novice Zone Experience Room.

Wei Mao didn't stop him, nor did he mention keeping Lu Bei by his side under strict supervision. After the incident at the Bright Moon Tower, he finally understood that his wife and that Senior Sister Bai were worrying unnecessarily.

Lu Bei wouldn't turn bad. He was already quite bad.

Lu Bei's arrival surprised Lin Bohai immensely. Zhu Kui had reassured the alchemists in the Alchemy Room yesterday, stating that everything was settled and the raw materials would be replaced with normal standards. No one would pursue the matter further.

So, the question arose: if everything was settled, why hadn't the spies collecting evidence left yet?

Lin Bohai couldn't figure it out, nor did he dare to ask. He continued to play dumb and pretend nothing had happened. At Lu Bei's signal, he and others moved four alchemy furnaces into the "slacking off" alchemy room.

With five furnaces running simultaneously, experience points poured in.

He continued this for seven days. In a few days, Zhu Yan was supposed to return from her family's home. Lu Bei wanted to ask her about the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

It had been almost a month and a half, and there was still no news from Bai Jin. Whether he could go to the Lingxiao Sword Sect for advanced studies, whether he could learn more advanced experience-grinding techniques—there was absolutely no news.

It was taking too long.

If the Sect Master agreed, and if he could overcome the past resentment of being beaten by his Junior Disciple Brother and the awkward relationship between his wife and the Junior Disciple Brother, Lu Bei would pack his bags, return to Sanqing Peak first, and then head straight for the Lingxiao Sword Sect in Yuezhou.

If the Sect Master couldn't let go, he would continue grinding experience points. Once the Feather Transformation Sect was repaired and completed, he would return home and become the Sect Master himself.

To be honest, he was still thinking about that litter of little foxes on Sanqing Peak!

He hadn't fed them Steamed Buns in so long; he wondered if they had gotten thin.

It was quite worrying.

Lu Bei had big plans for this litter of foxes and already considered them within his grasp.

Don't misunderstand; he wasn't planning to use them himself. Instead, they would play a crucial role in his grand scheme.

Speaking of plans, Lu Bei immediately thought of Zhu Kui. This young man came from a wealthy family, had powerful connections, and was a high-quality potential collaborator.

Most importantly, his surname was Zhu.

In Wu Zhou, this surname represented privilege; it was almost insurmountable.

As for the minor misunderstanding between them, Lu Bei considered it a trivial matter. In the adult world, right and wrong were secondary. If there was money to be made, they could be friends. He was determined to befriend him.

Zhu Mansion.

The main gate was shut tight, and Lu Bei was blocked outside, just like that night at the Wei manor when Wei Mao had refused Zhu Kui entry.

After knocking a few times with no one opening the door, Lu Bei sighed, lamenting how difficult it was to make friends, and left with his generous gifts.

The roasted goose, wrapped in oil paper, was prepared by the head chef of Bright Moon Tower and bought by Lin Bohai before he left work.

Not long after Lu Bei departed, a carriage stopped in a hurry. Zhu Kui leaped out and gently knocked on the door.

After no one answered a few times, he took a few steps back, looking puzzled. He confirmed it was his home before calling out again.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't Zhu Kui. The person had a similar appearance and build, with only minor differences.

He was Zhu Bo, Zhu Kui's eldest brother. He had been away on business and had only returned today.

As the knocking echoed, a servant opened the large gate and welcomed him in.

"Master, you're back."

"The sun isn't even down yet, why is the gate shut so tight?"

Zhu Bo frowned. "Where's Second Master? Where is he? Out gallivanting again?"

"Reporting to Master, Second Master has been in the mansion these past few days. The gate was shut because troublemakers came to cause a disturbance. Second Master was so annoyed that he ordered us to lock the gate and ignore them," the servant replied truthfully.

"What?"

Zhu Bo was utterly astonished. "Say that again, I didn't understand."

"Troublemakers came to cause a disturbance, and Second Master ordered us to close the gate and ignore them."

"How peculiar. To think that my Zhu family would be the ones to have our door besieged." Zhu Bo chuckled. He asked about Zhu Kui's whereabouts and then waved for the servant to prepare some food to send over.

"Second Brother, I've returned... Huh? Second Brother, what happened to you?"

In the backyard, Zhu Bo was shocked. In his sight, Zhu Kui had a bruised eye, as if he had been...

Not just as if, he had clearly been beaten up.

"Big Brother, you're back!"

Zhu Kui got up to greet him. Hearing Zhu Bo's words, he touched his eye and lowered his head in shame. "Big Brother, don't worry. I just fell. I tripped while walking at night."

"Preposterous!"

Brothers by blood, Zhu Bo couldn't bear to see his sibling humiliated. He said angrily, "Don't be afraid, Second Brother. With me here to back you up, just tell me who that person who insulted you is. I'll break his dog legs!"

"Big Brother, be careful with your words."

Zhu Kui quickly grabbed his elder brother and whispered, "That night, Uncle and I were walking at night and I accidentally fell."

Hearing this, Zhu Bo fell silent. After a moment, he said, "Be more careful next time you walk at night. You're not a child anymore, you can't keep falling."

"Big Brother is right."

Zhu Kui gave an awkward smile, touched his face, and winced again.

"What happened? You're so badly injured, and Uncle still won't let you take medicine?" Zhu Bo asked curiously.

"This..."

Facing his elder brother, Zhu Kui didn't want to hide anything, but it was too embarrassing to explain. He gritted his teeth. "Big Brother, I'll tell you the truth, but you have to promise not to laugh after you hear it."

"What are you saying, Second Brother? We're brothers, bone and flesh. Who would I laugh at if not you?"

"That's true."

Zhu Kui pondered that it made sense and proceeded to explain the entire situation.

Then...

"Hahahaha—"

"I can't, I'm dying of laughter!"