A Clean Break

It was still the same shop where he had bought arrows earlier. Lu Feng explained his purpose to a shop assistant.

"Does your shop accept custom orders for arrows?"

"Arrows?" The assistant looked puzzled.

Lu Feng nodded and took out several engraved design sheets. Pointing at the finely drawn arrow patterns on them, he said, "I want to commission arrows made to these specifications. Can you produce them?"

In the distance, the owner, who had been resting in a recliner, heard the commotion. He coughed twice and slowly walked over. Taking Lu Feng's drawings and glancing at them, his face filled with shock. "Did you draw these?"

Lu Feng nodded. The designs he had brought out this time were all basic arrow specifications; he had not yet drawn the more intricate ones.

He was not worried about these special arrows spreading, either. Without specialized archery techniques, the arrows alone would be useless.

"It's been a long time since I've seen someone who likes using a bow and arrows." The owner sighed. "You have quite a few arrow specifications here. If you only need ten or so of each, then this shop..."

Lu Feng cut him off. "For now, make a hundred of each specification."

"There are no fewer than ten types on these drawings. The cost of making them won't be low."

The owner spoke bluntly. Ordinary arrows were not particularly expensive, but the arrows Lu Feng wanted were far too unusual, strange in every conceivable way. For some of them, the materials alone cost far more than ordinary swords or sabers.

Lu Feng took out an exquisite jade pendant and handed it to the shop owner. "Keep this as collateral for now. Once the arrows are finished, I'll come pay the remainder and redeem it."

The owner took the jade and examined it. Both its material and craftsmanship were rare in the mortal world, and its value was extraordinary—far beyond the price of these arrows. He immediately trusted this forthright young man much more.

"They will definitely be finished within three days," the owner promised solemnly. He did not dare entertain the slightest thought of keeping the jade pendant for himself. He knew that anyone who could produce such peerless jade was not someone he could afford to offend.

Lu Feng nodded in thanks, then added, "This jade pendant means a great deal to me. Please keep it safe and do not lose it."

The jade pendant had been a gift from a Senior Brother of the Clear River Sect. Lu Feng had always treasured it dearly. If he had not been so strapped for cash, he never would have done this.

"Of course, of course." The owner nodded as he watched Lu Feng leave.

After finishing everything, Lu Feng returned to Jiang Manor. Just as he was about to wake Jiang Ruoyun, he discovered that she was not in the Side Courtyard.

From Xiao Rou, he learned that Jiang Ruoyun had been summoned by the Manor Lord.

Thinking that it might be because Jiang Feng and the others had been injured in the Side Courtyard, Lu Feng feared Jiang Ruoyun would be put in a difficult position and hurried over.

Though he was already considered one of Jiang Manor's people, he still had to sneak around while moving through the manor.

Jiang Manor's rules were strict: slaves were not allowed to enter the inner hall without permission. In his urgency, Lu Feng could only use Exquisite Steps to evade the patrolling guards.

Fortunately, when Lu Feng reached Jiang Manor's inner hall, he saw Jiang Ruoyun just as she lifted her foot to step through the doors. He called out to her from afar, then went over and followed at her side.

Inside the inner hall, Jiang Batian, seated in the place of honor, stopped speaking with his guests when he saw Jiang Ruoyun enter. "Ruo Yun, you're here. Come, sit."

Seeing the smile on Jiang Batian's face, Lu Feng knew that Jiang Ruoyun had not been summoned to answer for what had happened to Jiang Feng and the others.

Looking around at the younger generation seated on either side of the hall, Lu Feng was surprised to find Jiang Feng and the others among them. Their injuries also seemed to have healed already. He guessed Jiang Manor had spent heavily on healing pills to treat them.

Jiang Aotian and Jiang Juetian, seated on either side of Jiang Batian, looked at Jiang Ruoyun with cold eyes. Jiang Aotian even seemed impatient and disdainful.

Jiang Ruoyun acted as though she had not seen them. She swept her gaze through the hall, only to discover in astonishment that there was no seat for her...

Jiang Ruoyun could not help giving a self-mocking laugh. "My standing in Jiang Manor really is getting worse and worse. In the past, it was one thing, but today, they have to make me lose face like this in front of guests."

Seeing Jiang Ruoyun standing where she was, at a loss over what to do, several young men and women seated nearby burst into laughter.

Jiang Batian, seated at the head, noticed Jiang Ruoyun's embarrassment. He frowned in displeasure and ordered, "Go bring a stool for Young Miss."

"No need," Jiang Ruoyun said coldly. Since things had already come to this, why should she sit?

Her gaze swept across the room, as though she were looking at a group of strangers.

Jiang Ruoyun straightened her back and asked Jiang Batian, "May I ask why the Manor Lord summoned Ruo Yun here?"

Though Jiang Ruoyun still held a trace of familial affection for Jiang Batian in her heart, the scene before her forced her to strangle it and bury it deep within her heart.

Hearing Jiang Ruoyun's cold, distant tone, Jiang Batian felt helpless. How could he not know of the cold stares and ridicule Jiang Ruoyun had endured over the years? Jiang Manor had forced her to become this indifferent.

"Old Man Shi wished to see you." Jiang Batian glanced at an elderly man seated below.

Jiang Ruoyun followed his gaze and saw an elegantly dressed old man seated on the other side. Looking closely, he seemed familiar. Searching her memories, she recalled that the elder who had delivered a speech at Azure Dragon Town's annual gathering last year was this very man—the previous head of Shi Manor.

The old man said with feeling, "I had only intended to come and meet Young Miss Jiang, yet I ended up witnessing such a performance. Young Miss Jiang truly possesses remarkable fortitude."

Naturally, he was referring to the earlier unpleasantness in Jiang Manor. Anyone who was not blind could see that Jiang Ruoyun and Jiang Manor were not on good terms.

"May I ask why you have come, sir?" Jiang Ruoyun asked in confusion.

The old man was somewhat puzzled. Could it be that Jiang Ruoyun had not left the letter?

A trace of concern flashed across his face. He urgently needed that prescription, for someone in the manor was anxiously awaiting treatment.

Lu Feng bent down and quietly explained the reason in Jiang Ruoyun's ear. He briefly covered the important points, telling her that he had revealed the prescription to Shi Manor, though he did not have time to mention the hoarding of Lotus Insect Grass.

When the old man saw Lu Feng beside Jiang Ruoyun, a shrewd glint flashed through his eyes, as if he understood something. "Name your price," he said.

Everyone present, including Jiang Batian, was utterly baffled. They had no idea what this old gentleman meant.

What could possibly warrant the personal appearance of the retired former head of Shi Manor?

Jiang Ruoyun raised her head and looked at Lu Feng, seeking his opinion. After all, the prescription was his, and he obviously knew its worth better than she did.

Yet that casual glance sent ripples through everyone's hearts.

Who was the young man standing beside Jiang Ruoyun?

Why had they never seen him before?

Someone had already been puzzled when Lu Feng appeared, but because the setting was inappropriate, they had temporarily assumed he was some kind of servant to Jiang Ruoyun.

But now, Jiang Ruoyun was actually asking a "servant" for his opinion?

That was impossible to see through.

Lu Feng bent down once more and whispered a few words into Jiang Ruoyun's ear. Jiang Ruoyun hesitated before saying, "One hundred thousand."

She did not dare speak too loudly.

Asking one hundred thousand for a single prescription, Jiang Ruoyun even wondered whether she had heard Lu Feng wrong, or whether Lu Feng had misspoken.

But she still repeated his words.

Old Man Shi hesitated, seeming to weigh something. But soon, he rose to his feet and said solemnly to Lu Feng, "One hundred thousand. I shall deliver it tomorrow."

That was right. The old man had not spoken to Jiang Ruoyun, but to Lu Feng.

With the experience of his age, how could he fail to see that Lu Feng was the one orchestrating everything?

As the old man rose, bid Jiang Batian farewell, and prepared to leave, Lu Feng called out, "There is no need to trouble you to deliver it, sir. Ruo Yun and I will visit tomorrow."

The old man nodded and walked out the door.

Jiang Ruoyun was ecstatic inside, though she did not reveal it because of the awkward atmosphere.

One hundred thousand Copper Soul Coins!

She had never seen so much money in all her life.

With those one hundred thousand Copper Soul Coins, she would never have to worry about lodging again.

Everyone in Jiang Manor wore expressions of shock. What ability or virtue did the girl before them, once regarded as Jiang Manor's worthless fallen Young Miss, possess to negotiate on equal terms with the former head of Shi Manor, a man of such great prestige?

It even seemed that Old Man Shi was the one asking something of Jiang Ruoyun?

Jiang Batian was equally incredulous, but he was even happier. Over the past two years, he had not cared for Jiang Ruoyun much. He had never fulfilled his duty as her grandfather, so seeing this change in Jiang Ruoyun naturally filled him with gratification.

Jiang Batian coughed twice and said to Jiang Ruoyun, "Ruo Yun, what exactly are you trading with Old Man Shi?"

Jiang Ruoyun looked up at Jiang Batian. This grandfather of hers in name had indeed cared for her greatly in earlier years, but after her strength had declined, his concern had gradually faded as well.

And now, the eagerness in Jiang Batian's eyes was exactly the same as when Jiang Ruoyun had been at her most outstanding. Had she not experienced so much over the years, Jiang Ruoyun might even have believed that none of it had ever happened.

But how could things that had already happened be forgotten?

"This is Ruo Yun's private affair. If it has caused Jiang Manor any trouble, Ruo Yun offers her deepest apologies."

As Jiang Ruoyun spoke, she bowed deeply to the elders seated above. The coldness in her words made that bow seem like a ceremony marking her break with Jiang Manor.

Jiang Batian felt somewhat embarrassed. Looking at Jiang Ruoyun's familiar yet unfamiliar figure, he did not know what to say for a moment.

"Let's go," Jiang Ruoyun said to Lu Feng.

"Stop! If you do not explain where those one hundred thousand came from, do not even think of leaving." Second Manor Lord Jiang Aotian spoke icily. He had always despised this former genius girl to the extreme.

"Oh? If I do not explain the origin of those one hundred thousand today, does the Second Manor Lord intend to use force to keep us here?"

Jiang Ruoyun sneered, sparing him not the slightest shred of face. Nor did she need to. Over the years, the Second Manor Lord had done no small amount to indulge his grandchildren in bullying her.

"You receive no more than a thousand Copper Soul Coins a month. How could you possibly possess something worth one hundred thousand? If you do not explain yourself, I will expel you from Jiang Manor and report this to Prison Manor for handling!" Jiang Aotian snorted coldly.

Jiang Batian, at the side, came back to himself and wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.