Good News

Whether it was Meng Xi, Lu Shun, or even Meng Wen and the others, most of their impression and understanding of Meng Zhao came from the child he had been ten years ago.

Back then, Meng Zhao had seemed rather frail and quiet, unlike other children who were mischievous and troublesome. Perhaps it had something to do with losing both his parents.

Over the years, Meng Zhao had lived in Great Compassion Temple, far from the family. No one knew what his temperament had become.

Thus, Meng Xi and the others had been viewing Meng Zhao through the eyes one would use for a child who knew nothing of the world.

After all, someone who had spent ten years in a temple of monks, eating vegetarian food and chanting sutras, with scarcely any contact with or guidance from the outside world—

How could he possibly have grown against the heavens into someone decisive in killing and deeply calculating?

That was simply too far removed from common sense.

But the truth was that this Meng Zhao was a fake. Not only had he not wasted ten years in a temple, he had lived two lives. His wisdom might not have been exceptional, but his mind was clear.

He knew what was of vital importance to him, and what was of no consequence.

Benefits that were of no consequence could be yielded in exchange for peace and stability.

But for what was vital, he had to fight on principle and yield not an inch of land.

Therefore, Meng Xi and Lu Shun had been utterly mistaken in thinking that Meng Zhao could be casually fooled, or frightened into submission.

For a moment, Lu Shun broke out in a cold sweat. He dropped straight to his knees before Meng Zhao and apologized, "Fourth Young Master, please calm your anger. This lowly one meant no disrespect, nor did I intend to drive a wedge between Fourth Young Master and Young Master. It was merely that, before coming here, I did not know these two businesses had been left behind by Second Master before his death. That was why I came so rashly.

Please rest assured, Fourth Young Master. This lowly one will never mention this matter again, and I will also persuade my Young Master to put it aside."

Lu Shun felt somewhat stifled. Before coming, he had considered many possible reactions from Meng Zhao.

But he had never anticipated one so unexpected. Meng Zhao had acted far too aggressively.

It was as though, if a single word displeased him, he would overturn the table outright. If things truly turned ugly, the one left suffering in the end would only be an outsider like him, not any member of the Meng Family.

If the matter truly reached the family head, even his master Meng Xi would be in serious trouble. Thus, lowering his head was the only choice he had.

As for the various exchanges and concessions of benefits he had prepared beforehand, there was no room to even bring them up. Naturally, Meng Zhao would find it difficult to sense their sincerity.

Afraid that Meng Zhao would completely fall out with Meng Xi over this, Lu Shun deliberately clarified the relationship between the two sides, lest he push the second branch over to Meng Wen's side.

After his outburst, Meng Zhao calmed down as well. Looking coolly at Lu Shun kneeling before him, he said softly, "Get up first. Perhaps my attitude was a little too extreme and caused you to misunderstand.

As for Elder Brother, I still admire and respect him greatly. I bear no disrespect toward him.

How about this? When you return, tell Elder Brother that the Red Leaf Ginseng and Wolfsbane Grass were left behind by my late father. They are a small memento to me and absolutely cannot be given away.

As for everything else belonging to the second branch, if Elder Brother wants it, he may take it all."

Naturally, this was advancing by retreating.

The nice words had been said, and the attitude had been displayed. He had done enough, at least enough to preserve a measure of dignity.

If Meng Xi truly pushed his luck, lost his mind, and treated the second branch like a dish on the table—wanting this and wanting that—then in the end, no one's face would look good.

Lu Shun was sharp-witted and naturally heard the meaning beneath Meng Zhao's words. He relaxed slightly and replied, "This lowly one understands. I shall take my leave."

Today's visit could be said to have utterly botched the task his master had assigned. He could forget about the Red Leaf Ginseng and Wolfsbane Grass.

The moment they touched that piece of cake, they would certainly enrage Meng Zhao. Of this, Lu Shun was incomparably certain.

As for Meng Zhao's attitude toward the two brothers of the eldest branch, Lu Shun had gleaned a little meaning from it and planned to discuss it with Meng Xi upon his return.

After Lu Shun left and shut the study door behind him, Meng Zhao finally let out a cold laugh. He tossed the prayer beads in his hand onto the table, his eyes icy enough to pierce bone.

At present, all his energy was focused on the Earth Spirit Pearl. This was his foremost priority; for it, he could even temporarily make peace with and use Sun Chuanshan.

For that reason, at such a critical juncture, he had not wished to become entangled with the two brothers of the eldest branch and divide his attention.

Yet he had not expected that a kind man would be bullied, and a gentle horse would be ridden—he had nearly let someone ride on his neck and piss and shit there.

What could be endured, and what could not? That was why he had rejected them so aggressively.

His attitude clearly sent Meng Xi a message: don't think Laozi is a soft persimmon for you to squeeze whenever you please.

Would this offend Meng Xi? The answer was certainly yes, but it did not matter in the slightest.

So long as he himself became strong enough, and the second branch's power grew until even Meng Jizu could no longer afford to disregard it—

What could a mere Meng Xi do to him then?

To forge iron, one must first be strong oneself. It was only through the matter with Sun Chuanshan that he had come to understand this.

Even if his wings had yet to fully grow, he could still join forces with Meng Wen for warmth.

If you, the eldest, were domineering and could not tolerate me, then naturally I would choose the second brother, who was friendlier to me and more worthy of investment.

As for whether he would become Meng Wen's lackey afterward, use each other, or turn guest into host and hold him in the palm of his hand, that would depend on Meng Zhao's own abilities.

Putting aside this somewhat vexing matter, there was some good news from Lü Zhong and Lü Yue.

First, Bai Yang. The woman he had redeemed from Spring Welcome Pavilion was the daughter of a poor family from a small county under Nan'an Commandery. Back then, in order to treat her younger brother's illness, she had willingly sold herself into Spring Welcome Pavilion in exchange for money.

This showed that the woman held deep feelings for her relatives back home. After learning this, Lü Zhong felt it was a direction worth pursuing, and had personally led men to that small county to track down Bai Yang.

Meng Zhao could not say for certain whether they would succeed, but there was always a sixty to seventy percent chance.

From Bai Yang's deliberate fabrication of his own death, it seemed he wanted to conceal his identity and settle down nearby.

This likely had much to do with that woman from Spring Welcome Pavilion.

Otherwise, with no ties or attachments, he could have made a far better choice.

The Great Yong Dynasty was vast, occupying more than half the finest lands of the Red County Divine Continent. If he left Ji Prefecture, he could live freely wherever he went.

He could even leave the Great Yong Dynasty altogether. The four directions of heaven and earth were boundless; there would always be somewhere for him to take shelter.

Moreover, Lü Zhong had weathered decades of storms. Whether it was his personal martial strength, the people working under him, or his experience and ability, there was nothing to criticize.

If even Lü Zhong could not successfully bring the man back, then even if Meng Zhao personally set out, he would likely return empty-handed.

As for Lü Yue's side, matters were more complicated.

That group of martial men from the Sun Family worked under a man named Sun Chuanxing. He was Sun Chuanshan's cousin, rather mysterious, and seemed to be one of the Sun Family's key figures for cultivation.

To capture and interrogate that group without alerting him, then conceal the matter afterward, would greatly test Lü Yue's abilities. It was pressure for him as well.

Thus, over the past two days, Lü Yue had been so busy his feet barely touched the ground. Even Meng Zhao often could not catch sight of him, and found himself rather missing him.

Still, with Sun Chuanshan, the traitor within, helping them, they would surely get what they wanted in the end.

Please bookmark and recommend.