Good News

After resting for a while and waiting for his spirits to recover somewhat, Meng Zhao once again familiarized himself with the two martial arts he had enhanced through the Sky-Illuminating Mirror.

Partly out of caution, unwilling to leave behind any hidden dangers, and partly because of his passion for the extraordinary power known as martial arts.

After all, he had lived two lives. Especially since his previous life had been in a world resembling the Dharma-Ending Age, he understood even more clearly what possessing such power meant.

At noon, the sun hung in the sky like an enormous fireball, radiating endless light and heat as it baked the earth. Moisture evaporated and drained away, and the entire Nan'an Commandery City was wrapped in waves of heat.

Yet, thanks to the strength of his family background, Meng Zhao got to experience the pleasures of being filthy rich.

An unlimited supply of warm water, neither too hot nor too cold, allowed him to soak lazily in bathwater like a hot spring while others sweated profusely, scrambling for a living, washing all the fatigue from his body away.

After eating medicinal cuisine specially prepared by the mansion's master chef, he had chilled sour plum soup and iced watermelon as after-meal snacks.

If he still found the heat unbearable, he could retreat indoors to cool off. The walls had been hollowed out and packed with ice—crude air-conditioning facilities, primitive yet effective...

In Meng Zhao's original world, even ordinary families could manage such things, and often far better, with much greater variety.

But in this world, only those with power and influence could enjoy them.

Such was the unevenness of the world. To gain something, one was bound to lose something else.

As Meng Zhao reflected on this, he changed into a water-blue Shu Brocade martial tunic and sat in the study reading through some records of strange tales. Lü Yue hurried in excitedly and, after paying his respects, said with agitation,

"Young Master, good news.

This servant has just received word that the people Second Young Master placed in the businesses of our Second Branch have all submitted their resignations. We can finally breathe easy!"

Lü Yue was truly delighted. Before Meng Zhao returned, the vast enterprises of the Second Branch had been the money pouch of the two brothers, Meng Xi and Meng Wen.

Whenever they needed something, they came to take it. Even Lü Zhong, the chief steward, could only turn a blind eye.

Now that Meng Zhao, the rightful master, had returned, Second Brother Meng Wen finally knew to rein himself in.

This at last eased the worries of Lü Yue, who had feared that the two brothers' greed knew no bounds.

Sure enough, as long as the Young Master returned, everything would improve, and the Second Branch would grow ever more prosperous.

It was only a pity that the people under Meng Xi had shown no reaction.

Meng Zhao set down the volume of miscellany in his hand and, almost out of habit, began fingering the Jade Prayer Beads beside him.

This thing truly was excellent. Its dual benefits to body and mind worked subtly and imperceptibly, making it impossible to put down.

There was no joy on his face as he said calmly,

"That is only natural. I gave him peaches, and he repaid me with plums. There is no need to get too excited.

Send people to prepare for the handover. Make sure every aspect of the work transitions smoothly, so we do not get caught in a flurry and suffer unnecessary losses.

If necessary, let Meng Wen's people stay another month. Once they have explained everything clearly, they can leave.

After all, Meng Xi's people have yet to make any move. On top of that, the Sun Family is at odds with us. It is best to be cautious in all things."

Lü Yue was somewhat surprised, but even more delighted.

He truly had not expected Meng Zhao, who had spent ten years in a Buddhist temple, to display such steadiness.

Even he himself had been blinded by the sudden good news and had wanted to send those people away as quickly as possible, overlooking the lurking danger instead.

"Yes, Young Master. This servant will certainly handle the matter properly and will not disappoint you."

Meng Zhao nodded, then suddenly thought of something and looked up to ask,

"By the way, have you found the guards for this afternoon's visit to the estate outside the city? How capable are they?"

The martial strength of the powerful Meng Family came from many sources.

They had people in the military, and they also had their hand in the Heavenly Punishment Hall, renowned throughout Great Yong.

They also controlled several martial arts sects, escort agencies, martial academies, and other such businesses. These were all sources of the Meng Family's armed forces.

The burly men in black who normally patrolled and guarded Meng Mansion mostly came from retired soldiers and apprentices trained by martial academies. Their martial prowess was ordinary, but their discipline was strong.

Mixed in with a few experts, they were enough to patrol and protect the Meng Family well.

After all, in Nan'an City, few people dared to stir up trouble on the Meng Family's turf.

But guards chosen for travel beyond the city were different. Once outside, reputation and influence were secondary—neither was reliable.

Only martial strength was the one support they could truly rely on.

Lü Yue straightened his expression and replied solemnly,

"Rest assured, Young Master. This servant knows that things have not been peaceful lately, so I specially transferred two Postnatal Great Accomplishment Stage experts from my foster father's subordinates to protect your safety.

One is called Scarface. He excels in saber arts and hidden weapons. He once fought four opponents alone and slew two experts of the same level. He is fierce and valiant, treating death as if it were home.

The other is called Wang Tao. His palm force is exceptional, and his lightness skill is also quite good. He is highly praised by my foster father and bears the title Mountain-Splitting Hand. His martial arts are superior to Scarface's.

With another thirty nimble Postnatal Realm retainers accompanying you, equipped with Steel Sabers, concealed crossbows, and fine steeds, your safety will be sufficiently guaranteed."

In Meng Zhao's view, the strength of this escort was already quite respectable.

Although this world possessed countless ancient and primordial myths and legends, with evidence that powerful figures could destroy heaven and earth,

when it came down to the present age, martial arts were in a period of decline—an unprecedented decline.

The Postnatal Realm was the norm, and the overwhelming majority of martial artists remained at this level.

Those in the Innate Realm could already be called experts, their destructive power somewhat beyond the bounds of the ordinary.

As for the Grandmaster Realm above the Innate Realm, publicly speaking, there were only the Ten Absolute Masters of the World, existing as utterly unrivaled ultimate powers.

Even though the Meng Family dominated Nan'an Commandery City and was a prominent clan of Ji Prefecture, it could not possibly have many Innate Masters, much less use them as guards to protect Meng Zhao.

Thus, Meng Zhao was fairly satisfied with Lü Yue's arrangements. Given how peaceful and obedient he had been lately, if an Innate Master truly came to kill him merely because he left the city, then so be it. It would simply mean that fate had decreed it.

"Very good. Besides these men, prepare some silver as well.

Once we reach the estate, deliver it to the tenant families who have suffered deaths or injuries. Consider it a small token of my regard.

If they encounter any difficulties in the future, their matters may also be given priority."

The standard compensation had already been distributed by Lü Zhong, so this silver was a gift born of Meng Zhao's compassion.

A good reputation was also necessary for Meng Zhao. A shining and upright image was naturally what most people admired and trusted.

Moreover, as someone who had emerged from Great Compassion Temple—a lay disciple from a Buddhist monastery—such conduct suited his personal character.

All it cost was a little money that held no real significance to Meng Zhao.

Besides, Meng Zhao, whose heart harbored malice as he watched the entire Meng Family like a venomous serpent, also needed to cultivate such a benevolent persona to blind the two brothers of the First Branch, and even the elders of the Meng Family.

He might not yet have a practical plan to contend for the position of family head, but that did not prevent him from harboring such ambition.

As for the seeds he planted, they were merely casual foreshadowing. Whether they would prove useful or not did not concern him.

Naturally, Lü Yue knew nothing of this. He only felt that the Young Master had a kind heart and showed such consideration even for ordinary estate tenants. He was someone worth following.

After respectfully bowing to Meng Zhao once more, Lü Yue left the room.

Meng Zhao rolled the prayer beads between his fingers, his gaze fixed darkly ahead. He seemed to see the one in power over the Meng Family, and he also seemed to see the mysterious figure who had treated him as a chess piece and manipulated him. He smiled faintly.

The identities of prey and hunter were not fixed forever.

With the Sky-Illuminating Mirror, and with the resources of the Meng Family's Second Branch at his disposal,

he believed his days of lying low would not last long.