0039: Decision.

Lu Changfeng looked around and found himself not far from the shore.

Wang Yue was crouched on the bank, drenched from head to toe, seemingly crying.

"Hey! Sixth Miss!" Lu Changfeng waved.

The figure on the bank froze, then broke into a radiant smile. "Attendant Lu, you're all right!?"

Lu Changfeng gathered up his soaked long hair. "What could possibly happen to me? The scenery at the bottom of the lake was wonderful, so I swam around a little longer."

"That big fish got stabbed by me, then ran off after dropping me," Lu Changfeng added in explanation.

Lu Changfeng swam toward the shore.

Realizing that her tear-streaked appearance seemed to have given something away, Wang Yue said, "You bastard! You made me worry. You didn't come up for so long—I thought you were dead!"

With that, she turned around angrily and rode away.

Lu Changfeng climbed ashore, baffled. Only then did the wound around his waist and abdomen reveal itself.

There was a row of fine, dense tooth marks. Had he been an ordinary person, that strange fish would probably have bitten him in half and swallowed him whole.

Lu Changfeng mounted his horse and, after entering the Inner City, found a medical hall to treat the wound.

Lu Changfeng's constitution was exceptionally strong. After he applied a little anti-inflammatory powder, the wound began rapidly healing.

By the time he returned to the Hall of Worship, the wound had already begun to scab over.

In the afternoon.

After taking a hot bath at home, he changed into a fresh, clean Purple Robe Attendant uniform.

The Wang Family was quite generous. Each year, they provided more than a dozen attendant uniforms, all made from excellent silk.

They were comfortable to wear.

Lu Changfeng moved a reclining chair beside Zhao Xingtian and lay down, basking in the sun with him.

At the same time, he reviewed the morning's experience.

Zhao Xingtian cast a glance at Lu Changfeng when he returned but noticed nothing unusual about him.

Lu Changfeng went over it again.

He guessed that the giant bone-tongue fish had bitten open his wound, and that his blood had spread through the lake, allowing that "Giant Elephant Woman" to sense him.

The reason she had noticed him was probably that he had cultivated the Heavenly Body Tempering Blade Technique, causing his body to undergo a certain degree of change.

"Was she looking for an inheritor?"

"Or was she looking for a substitute?"

Lu Changfeng thought of the fleeting saber mark on his forehead and felt somewhat uneasy.

But he soon let it go. Since there was absolutely no way to resist, he could only take things one step at a time.

The Heavenly Blade Technique circulated among the various great lineages of Fengcheng was probably that woman casting a wide net.

"When I have some free time, I'll have to investigate more information about this blade technique," Lu Changfeng thought.

For now, Lu Changfeng had obtained a martial inheritance. The martial arts he had inherited were no weaker than those of Zhao Xingtian, the Young Sect Master—in fact, they were even stronger.

The situation was still quite good.

"If only that woman's innate bone aptitude could be copied..."

When Lu Changfeng recalled the Giant Elephant Woman's innate bone aptitude, he couldn't help drooling inwardly again.

After basking in the sunlight for a while, Lu Changfeng prepared to resume practicing the Heavenly Body Tempering Blade Technique.

Then he suddenly remembered that his large raw-iron saber had been left at the bottom of the lake.

Lu Changfeng had Black Ox make a trip to the previous weapons shop and have another one forged in the same style.

Black Ox returned soon and told Lu Changfeng that it would be ready for pickup in three days.

Well, that meant he wouldn't be able to cultivate for three days.

Lu Changfeng wasn't the type to sit idle, so he made another trip to the Worshiper Scripture Pavilion and copied the Great Ape Arm Fist and Bloodthirsty Saber he had taken a liking to before.

As for improving the Storm Sword Intent, the effects of Blood Tempering Realm techniques had become very limited. Condensing other Primary Sword Intents would also be inferior to focusing on a single sword intent.

The sword intent he created himself was the one most suited to him.

Once he reached the Muscle Tendon Realm and came into contact with Muscle Tendon Realm sword techniques, Lu Changfeng would begin working on improving his Storm Sword Intent.

However, that was destined to be a long process.

The second day of waiting for the large saber.

Lu Changfeng was practicing the Bloodthirsty Saber in the courtyard.

Wang Jin, the steward of the Hall of Worship, sent someone to ask Lu Changfeng to come and carry out an attendant mission.

It seemed that yesterday's solitary outing with Wang Yue didn't count toward his number of attendant missions, Lu Changfeng thought.

After all, the Wang Family wouldn't drive an attendant so frequently.

Lu Changfeng hurried to the Hall of Worship's administrative office.

Several attendants were already waiting there.

Wang Jin told Lu Changfeng to wait a moment.

Before long, the office had gathered five Blood Tempering Realm attendants and one Muscle Tendon Realm attendant.

One of them was a familiar face to Lu Changfeng: Liu An.

The Muscle Tendon attendant was an old man with Grade B Upper bone aptitude and zero talent. His name was Liu Li, and he seemed utterly ordinary.

However, Liu Li was usually extremely arrogant and had poor relations with others. Most attendants were unwilling to work with him.

Once all the attendants who had received the summons had arrived, Wang Jin began announcing the mission. "This mission is extremely simple: wipe out a small lineage in the Inner City."

"This lineage was established only a few decades ago, and there are three Blood Tempering Fifth Level attendants in the family."

"This lineage is called the Liu Family, and its current head is Liu Kui!"

Lu Changfeng's mind shook when he heard this.

The Liu Family! Liu Kui!

The family where Third Senior Brother Liu Ye lived.

Lu Changfeng wasn't exactly a good person, but he still couldn't bring himself to strike at former fellow disciples.

His thoughts raced. If he told Wang Jin now that he wouldn't participate in the mission, Wang Jin would certainly agree. But if the Liu Family escaped afterward, the Wang Family would inevitably grow suspicious.

When that happened, Lu Changfeng might be targeted by the Wang Family.

After all, the Wang Family ruled Fengcheng with an iron fist. If they wanted to destroy the Liu Family, they would certainly have made arrangements in every respect.

If Lu Changfeng didn't refuse the mission and merely let one or two members of the Liu Family go during its execution, he should be able to manage that.

However, the Liu Family would certainly suffer heavy casualties as a result. If their luck was bad, Liu Ye might even die in this extermination battle.

Lu Changfeng closed his eyes and thought.

He was a decisive man.

He soon made his decision.

"Steward Wang, yesterday Sixth Miss and I encountered the 'Lake God' at Fengtian Lake. After a fight, I'm completely exhausted."

"To avoid affecting the operation, I won't participate in this mission after all."

Wang Jin frowned slightly but still said, "In that case, Attendant Lu, go back and rest. I'll arrange for another attendant to come."

"Sorry," Lu Changfeng apologized before turning to leave.

After returning to his Small Courtyard, Lu Changfeng removed his attendant uniform and changed into a specially made set of casual clothes. The outfit had a mask inside that could be pulled out to cover his face.

"What's wrong with you?" Zhao Xingtian, who was sunbathing, noticed the change and asked curiously.

Lu Changfeng replied, "I'm going to do what needs to be done."

Lu Changfeng left without looking back.

Fengcheng.

In the afternoon, at the Liu Family residence.

After finishing lunch, Liu Kui was drinking tea in the rear garden.

A steward brought over the account books. Liu Kui checked the accounts one by one, personally attending to every matter. This was the foundation on which he had established the family.

The accounts looked excellent.

The Liu Family was developing healthily.

Since annexing the Liu Family last year, the Liu Family had gone on to annex two more lineages.

The Liu Family's financial strength had soared. They could now afford to hire three Blood Tempering Fifth Level attendants.

One of those attendants had exceptional potential. If he could help that person achieve the Muscle Tendon Realm, giving the family another Muscle Tendon attendant, then the Liu Family would truly be able to join the ranks of Fengcheng's third-tier lineages.

Whenever Liu Kui imagined that scene, the corners of his mouth rose slightly.