Hardline

As he spoke, Lu Shun observed Meng Zhao from the corner of his eye, and a few traces of goodwill could not help but arise in his heart.

Compared with Meng Xi's overbearing strength and Meng Wen's steady grandeur, Meng Zhao was more handsome and possessed a gentler, more refined temperament.

His bearing was proper as well. He gave the impression of a green pine standing proudly amid the mountains—upright and aloof, standing head and shoulders above the rest.

It was easy for others to develop a favorable impression of him.

However, Lu Shun knew his own position well. Goodwill was goodwill; whether they would be enemies or friends remained to be seen.

After all, he had come today not only to carry out an errand for his master, but also to test the Fourth Young Master's attitude.

That night, Meng Xi had been somewhat angered upon learning that Meng Zhao had attended Meng Wen's banquet.

His exact words had been for Lu Shun to tell Meng Zhao directly that his Elder Brother had set his sights on the Red Leaf Ginseng and Wolfsbane Grass businesses and wanted him to hand them over.

The attitude was forceful, the conduct far too overbearing—enough to inevitably breed resentment.

But after considering it again and again, Lu Shun had taken the matter upon himself, claiming that he had acted on his own initiative and come to Meng Zhao only to ease his master's burdens. That showed considerable finesse.

First, it removed his master, Meng Xi, from the matter. Whether Meng Zhao believed it or not was irrelevant.

The appearance of one's attitude mattered more than the truth.

Second, it left room for reconciliation.

Even if Meng Zhao refused and the matter came to nothing, the relationship between the masters of the two branches would not be affected on the surface.

All the blame would rest on Lu Shun alone.

That was the mindset a qualified and outstanding tool should possess.

Though Meng Zhao did not know the hidden details and twists within it, he understood one thing clearly.

Lu Shun's visit was absolutely Meng Xi's intention, not something he had decided on his own.

He could not help but look at Lu Shun in a new light.

Lü Yue had greater potential by comparison, but he had not yet been tempered. He was far inferior to this man in smoothness and seasoned experience.

Still, Meng Zhao believed that at the same age and with the same experience, Lü Yue would only be more outstanding than Lu Shun—far more outstanding.

As it happened, he had come into contact with some of the Second Branch's businesses over the past two days and understood the importance of Red Leaf Ginseng and Wolfsbane Grass.

Red Leaf Ginseng, as its name suggested, was a type of ginseng with red leaves. It had a hot nature and favored shade. When consumed by martial artists, it could not only strengthen one's foundation and nourish one's vitality, but also increase the body's strength to a certain extent.

It was an extremely precious herbal ingredient suitable for cultivating external body-training arts.

The Red Leaf Ginseng under Meng Zhao's businesses supplied several gang factions within and beyond Nan'an Commandery City. Its annual output was not high, yet it brought in money hand over fist and won the goodwill of numerous forces.

The Jade Bone Sect was a representative example.

The Jade Bone Sect was a small sect with no more than a few dozen members, yet experts emerged from it one after another. Its strength ranked among the foremost in Nan'an Commandery.

That was because its disciples cultivated not only internal force, but also their physiques, making them exceptionally formidable.

Its sect master, Yu Chaoen, in particular, had cultivated the Mysterious Nether Jade Bone and possessed Nine Apertures Innate Realm cultivation.

His strength was unquestionably strength among the strong.

Earning the goodwill of such an expert and such a force was absolutely a fortunate thing.

And Red Leaf Ginseng maintained the relationship between the two sides to a certain extent.

Then there was Wolfsbane Grass. It was a special plant that grew amid vast mountain ranges. It usually had six leaves, each covered in sharp, poisonous barbs that were extremely hard.

This plant could neither be used as medicine nor for cultivation, but it could be used to craft weapons such as long whips.

In the hands of those who possessed secret forging methods, they could often turn decay into wonder, transforming ordinary Wolfsbane Grass into a terrifyingly powerful Wolfsbane Whip.

When wielded by experts, it was flexible and ever-changing, blending hardness and softness. It could tear apart blades and swords or coil around a person's body.

By the same token, Wolfsbane Grass served a broader range of clients, and the profits and influence it brought were no less than those of Red Leaf Ginseng.

It could be said that either of these businesses could not only cover the Second Branch's daily expenses, but also strengthen its ties with the outside world, rather than confining it within the Meng Family.

Both businesses had been vigorously promoted and developed by Meng Zhengan while he was still alive. Thus, they had always belonged to the Second Branch rather than the entire Meng Family.

Without taking the Earth Spirit Pearl into account, the two warehouses of Herbal Ingredients lost from the estate and the thirty mu of Medicine Field were but a drop in the ocean compared to the value of Red Leaf Ginseng and Wolfsbane Grass.

Yet now, Meng Xi of the First Branch actually wanted Meng Zhao to hand over both businesses. That truly caught him by surprise.

Meng Zhao could understand Meng Xi's urgent desire to strengthen his own power, suppress the younger brother who had always competed with him, and secure his position as heir—even if it meant forcibly seizing what he wanted.

The monetary value of the Red Leaf Ginseng and Wolfsbane Grass businesses was secondary. More important were the connections and resources they represented, which would bring Meng Xi unimaginable assistance.

That was why he wanted to snatch these businesses from Meng Zhao's hands.

But wanting something was one thing. Doing it was another.

Because this involved the distribution of family assets.

Today, Meng Xi could seize the Red Leaf Ginseng and Wolfsbane Grass businesses. Tomorrow, could he take the estates, lands, shops, and other businesses under the Second Branch? The day after that, could he swallow the entire Second Branch into his grasp?

Whether or not he harbored such intentions, this action at least made such a possibility real.

This was a matter of principle. Therefore, Meng Zhao could not yield, nor did he dare to yield.

If he truly gave in, the most immediate consequence might be Lü Zhong's utter disappointment in him.

Thus, Meng Zhao directly refused.

"Lu Shun, let me put this plainly: this is absolutely impossible.

Whether it was your idea or Elder Brother's, you may as well give up on it.

The Red Leaf Ginseng and Wolfsbane Grass businesses were personally established and developed by my father while he was alive. Profit is secondary; what they symbolize is what matters.

If I were to hand these two businesses over to you today, how could I face my father on the road to the Yellow Springs in the future?

So do not blame me for being heartless. Even if my Eldest Uncle demanded that I hand them over, I would go to the ancestral hall and ask our forefathers whether the line of Meng Zhengan can still be considered part of the Meng Family.

If I were not even allowed into the ancestral hall, then I would carry the three treasures of Heavenly Injury, enter the capital, meet the Great Emperor, and ask him to uphold justice for me."

The moment Meng Zhao opened his mouth, Lu Shun knew things had gone badly, because the change in the other man's expression was far too obvious.

The surging anger, as well as the undisguised cold gleam in his eyes, made that clear.

But only when Meng Zhao reached the end did Lu Shun realize that he had completely underestimated this Fourth Young Master.

Especially the contents of his words—they frightened him badly, and his face grew so dark it seemed water could drip from it.

To put it more bluntly, let alone Meng Xi, even Meng Jizu himself would have to weigh the consequences before trying to take anything from Meng Zhao's hands.

They were blood relatives, uncles, cousins, and brothers. If they seized the property of a nephew or younger brother, did they still have any regard for their ancestral forefathers?

If they truly disregarded ties of blood, Meng Zhao still possessed the honorable status of a Subordinate Third Rank Heavenly Gang Guard. With the three treasures—the Heavenly Injury Saber, Heavenly Injury Token, and Heavenly Injury Seal—he could enter the imperial court of Jade Capital directly, meet Great Emperor Beitang Sheng, and seek justice.

If it truly came to that, the Meng Family would likely become the laughingstock of the entire realm, and Meng Jizu might as well hang himself before the ancestral hall.

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