Lu Zheng Was a Fine Young Man

A scream rang out, and rustling immediately came from the side room behind Lu Zheng.

Before long, the wooden window was lifted open a crack, and two pairs of eyes appeared behind it.

"It's me, Lu Zheng. Don't be afraid, you two."

"It's Young Master Lu!"

"Ah, ah, we're not afraid!"

There was movement from the backyard as well. It seemed Old Man Liu and his wife, along with the Liu Family Sisters, had all been awakened by Third Brother's scream.

"It's you!"

The moon shone brightly, lending the night a silvery gleam. The remaining men clearly saw Lu Zheng's face.

The next moment, Fourth Brother drew a dagger from his waist with a backhanded motion and lunged at Lu Zheng.

"Fourth Brother, watch out!"

"This one's tough!"

First Brother and Second Brother shouted as they each drew short blades and closed in from both sides.

Fourth Brother let out a fierce cry and pounced. Lu Zheng chopped straight at him, but the man abruptly halted and recoiled, dodging the blow before instantly pressing close again, his dagger stabbing straight for Lu Zheng's throat.

Lu Zheng shifted aside, and the long blade in his hand swept upward with the motion.

Clang!

Fourth Brother blocked the strike with his dagger, then rapidly retreated.

By then, First Brother and Second Brother had already drawn close.

Lu Zheng caught sight of their arrival from the corner of his eye. Instead of retreating, he advanced.

Didn't you, Fourth Brother, want to wait for them to surround me? How could it possibly be that easy? Lie down too!

Following Fourth Brother's retreat, Lu Zheng kicked off the ground and threw himself forward.

"You!"

Fourth Brother was greatly startled. He had only intended to bluff and stall him—why was Lu Zheng still coming after him? Seeing Lu Zheng close in, Fourth Brother roared and raised his dagger.

But the instant his hand came up, Lu Zheng's left hand was already there.

Grip! Follow! Carry! Break! He directly swept the dagger from Fourth Brother's hand behind his back.

The long blade flashed.

"Argh!"

Lu Zheng shrank, sidestepped, and turned, arriving behind Fourth Brother.

First Brother and Third Brother abruptly stopped, only to see Lu Zheng slice across Fourth Brother's foot with his long blade before folding his arm with his left hand.

Crack!

"Argh!"

Fourth Brother screamed miserably, then Lu Zheng casually shoved him aside.

"An expert!"

"Lu Lang?"

At that moment, Old Man Liu and his wife, along with the Liu Family Sisters, appeared together at the side gate connecting the front and rear courtyards.

"Hm?"

First Brother's eyes lit up, and he turned to rush toward them.

Second Brother, meanwhile, planted himself before Lu Zheng. He did not seek to wound his enemy, only to protect himself and hold Lu Zheng back.

"Ah!" Liu Qingquan cried out and ducked behind her elder sister.

Old Man Liu held a stick in his hand and stood expressionlessly before his family, while Liu Qingyan watched First Brother closely with dark, unfathomable eyes.

"You're courting death!"

Lu Zheng sprang forward. Blood Qi surged through his entire body, and the long blade in his hand shone brilliantly.

"A martial artist!" Second Brother cried out, instinctively dodging to one side.

Yet the long blade flashed past all the same, carving a gash across his shoulder as blood spurted out.

With Second Brother's cry and the sharp aura striking from behind, First Brother felt his scalp go numb and his body turn cold. He hurriedly rolled aside like a lazy donkey.

The long blade slashed through empty air. When First Brother rolled back to his feet, Lu Zheng was already blocking his path.

As for Second Brother, he was busy trying to stop his own bleeding.

After only a brief exchange, all three of his brothers had been seriously injured.

We've lost!

Lu Zheng swung his long blade and stepped forward.

"Wait!" First Brother hurriedly backed away, shouting as he retreated, "We admit defeat! Please show mercy!"

Lu Zheng laughed. "Are you kidding me? Show mercy? You should save your pleas for the county government office and Liu Butou."

First Brother hurriedly shouted, "We are men of Golden Severing Hall in Yao Province! If you turn us over to the authorities, you'll only become enemies with our hall!"

Lu Zheng narrowed his eyes. So they had backing? Yet his feet did not stop as he casually said, "How powerful can your backing be? Do you dare oppose the imperial court?"

What a hat to slap on them! First Brother hurriedly retreated. "Of course we don't dare oppose the imperial court, but aren't you afraid of Golden Severing Hall's revenge?"

Lu Zheng paused. "Do you take me for a fool? The enmity has already been formed!"

First Brother hurriedly said, "You are a martial artist, while we're merely insignificant tomb robbers. So long as we return safely, we'll never dare trouble you again!"

"Golden Severing Hall of Yao Province..." Lu Zheng turned to Old Man Liu. "Uncle Liu, have you heard of this hall?"

Old Man Liu's family had moved here from Wanfu County in Yao Province. Perhaps he knew of it?

Old Man Liu indeed knew of it. "I've heard of it. A small hall that makes its living through crooked trades. I hear it has cultivators within its ranks as well."

"Our hall has three masters," First Brother hurriedly added. "One can subdue demons and command ghosts, one possesses Martial Path Blood Qi like a furnace, and the other excels in strange arts of hidden gates!"

Lu Zheng's eyes flickered.

First Brother hurriedly bowed with cupped hands. "You are magnanimous, sir. Think about it—we're only a few lowly tomb robbers. We admit defeat. This matter is known only to you and us; our hall masters would never go so far as to drag the entire hall into a fight with you!

"But if you hand us over to the authorities, Golden Severing Hall will lose face and have no choice but to come seek it back. Isn't that the truth?"

Throughout every dynasty, tomb robbing had been a capital crime. After all, who among men did not die? Especially the powerful and influential—none wished for someone to come dig up their graves after death.

The other three injured men also forcibly held back their groans and softened their breathing, terrified of angering Lu Zheng and being handed over to the authorities.

Though Lu Zheng's skills were astonishing, he had not dealt any killing blows. They were all old hands of the jianghu and could tell at a glance that Lu Zheng had never killed anyone. They knew they still had hope.

Lu Zheng looked back. Old Man Liu could tell at once that Lu Zheng was hesitating, so after some thought, he said, "Golden Severing Hall's reputation is not good, but now that you've entered the Martial Path, Lu Lang, they may not necessarily come seeking revenge."

The four men's expressions changed.

But Lu Zheng remained deep in thought. A calm glint flashed through his eyes, and only after a moment did he swing his long blade. "Fine. Go. But if there is a next time, I'll make sure you come but never return!"

Liu Qingyan seemed about to speak, but Old Man Liu reached out and stopped her.

Delight appeared on First Brother's face. "Many thanks, Young Master! We will never again set foot in Tonglin County—no, no, no, never again set foot in Yizhou!"

Under the watchful eyes of Lu Zheng and the others, First Brother and Second Brother helped Third Brother and Fourth Brother up, and the group shakily departed together.

Lu Zheng turned back with a smile. "It's all right now."

Old Man Liu and his wife hurried forward to thank him. "Many thanks, Lu Lang. If not for you, we would have been in terrible trouble tonight!"

Liu Qingyan also gave a graceful curtsy, her beautiful eyes shimmering. "I never expected you to cultivate Martial Path Blood Qi so quickly, Lu Lang."

"Big brother Lu, you're amazing! Can you protect us from now on?" Liu Qingquan skipped to Lu Zheng's side and tugged at his sleeve.

"Of course!" Lu Zheng rubbed Liu Qingquan's little head.

Lu Zheng waved to them. "All right, it's too late. Everyone should get some rest."

He had vaulted over the wall on his way in, but it would not have been appropriate to climb back over it now, so Lu Zheng obediently left through the front gate.

"Father." Liu Qingyan frowned. "Those men had crooked, wicked eyes. Their faces held only relief, not gratitude. Lu Lang kindly let them go, but I fear they..."

Old Man Liu smiled. "Do you think Lu Lang is normally a man who hesitates?"

"Huh?" Liu Qingyan froze.

"Yan'er, you are still too young. Lu Lang is kindhearted, but he has not reached the point of being unable to distinguish right from wrong or being timid and fearful."

"Could it be..."

Old Man Liu smiled. "Some things need not be spoken aloud. Lu Lang did not wish to involve us, nor did he want us to know and become afraid. He is a fine young man."

Hearing this, Liu Qingyan's beautiful eyes shifted gently, and the corners of her lips lifted.