Full Load on Return

"Although the Li family won the arena battle, the only one with any real promise, the eldest young master Li Yunfei, lost an arm. He's crippled now, his fortune spent.

"Besides, Pavilion Master Qin didn't come for the Li family in the first place. Since he's already made an appearance, it's not good to keep pressing.

"We'll stop here for today."

After Qin Zhonghai left, Zhu Lie, Yin Zheng, and Guo Zhengwei exchanged a few brief words and immediately withdrew from the area.

Regardless, the Li Family Bank had been stirred up like this. Even if they won, they'd already lost face completely. They posed no threat going forward.

Their task was done. Next, it was time for the Chen and Shen families to step in.

And so, the crowd dispersed. Among them, Wei Yuan Escort Agency's chief escort Guo Zhengwei took his son Guo Yuan and a few disciples to a nearby tavern for a hearty drink.

Guo Zhengwei looked at Guo Yuan with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes and said:

"Though we lost the arena battle today, A Yuan was the only one who won. The battle was lost, but A Yuan wasn't."

The others heard this and raised their glasses in celebration.

Guo Yuan was riding high on success. In this arena battle, not only had he not lost, but he'd used Li Youning as a stepping stone to break through to the Meat Refining Realm on the spot, directly ranking among the top ten disciples of the Military Service Bureau.

Even Heavenly Secret Pavilion's Qin Zhonghai had praised him as someone with a bright future.

Guo Yuan, brimming with pride, downed his cup in one gulp and couldn't help saying:

"I'm on a roll. Brothers, Father, I'm on a roll."

Everyone burst into laughter at that.

The tavern's private room was filled with a lighthearted atmosphere inside and out.

In the backyard of the Li Family Bank. The Li family had won the arena battle and finally breathed a sigh of relief, hosting a grand feast at noon.

Lu Ming, whose cultivation was merely at the Skin Refining Realm, sat in the seat of honor. The Li family repeatedly thanked and praised him.

"Young friend Lu, at the Skin Refining Realm, defeated Chu Wufeng, who was at the Great Perfection of Skin Refining. While other Military Service Bureau disciples are still training hard, you stood up for righteousness, stepped onto the city-wide arena, and saved my Li family from fire and water. That deserves the title of young hero!"

When Li family head Li Mingyuan said this during his toast, it made Lu Ming's heart bloom with joy.

The Li family ran a bank. In the past, they were a major clan on par with the three great families. Even now, Li Mingyuan's cultivation matched Guo Zhengwei's and Yin Zheng's—he was a true local power.

Hearing such a figure utter the words "young hero" filled him with considerable pride.

He had indeed come this time to repay Li Youning's kindness. Spreading this story would earn him a certain reputation.

But he was clear-headed. This arena was just a small stage, nothing worthy of being called "city-wide attention."

If not for Qin Zhonghai showing up at the end, Zhu Lie, Guo Zhengwei, and Yin Zheng wouldn't have appeared either.

So he said humbly, "If the eldest young master hadn't fought desperately to win the first round, even if I'd won, it wouldn't have mattered. In the end, it was Pavilion Master Qin's appearance that scared them off. Uncle, you flatter me."

Li Mingyuan smiled and shook his head, then said, "Bring it out."

Immediately, a servant came to Lu Ming's side, holding a tray covered with red cloth in both hands.

Li Mingyuan stood up, walked over, and lifted the red cloth from the tray. In an instant, silver light flashed—on the tray lay six silver ingots.

Lu Ming's breath caught. One silver ingot was fifty taels; six ingots made three hundred taels.

Li Mingyuan said, "These three hundred taels of silver are a small token of my appreciation. Please accept them, young friend Lu."

Really giving them to him? Lu Ming stared at Li Mingyuan in surprise. With these three hundred taels, he might be able to learn a finger technique or palm technique from Wei Jinlin.

Wei Jinlin would at least teach him second-rate martial arts. Three hundred taels couldn't buy second-rate martial arts outside.

Just then, the Li family's second young master, Li Yunping, was startled and said from the table:

"Father, didn't you say there was no money? These three hundred taels..."

"Shut up!" Li Mingyuan turned back and glared at him.

Li Yunping's performance in this matter had been deeply unsatisfactory. Asking such a question now only proved his mediocrity.

Earlier, when the Li Family Bank was on the verge of collapse, they naturally couldn't touch the treasury. Now that the crisis was temporarily relieved, the treasury could be loosened a bit.

Li Yunping, scolded by Li Mingyuan, gave an awkward smile and shrank back, as if he understood something.

Then he gritted his teeth and said to Li Youning across from him:

"Third sister truly had an eye for talent this time.

"If not for third sister discovering young hero Brother Lu, our Li family would have been in real danger.

"Second brother had some complaints earlier, but it was also for the Li family's sake. I hope third sister won't take it to heart."

Li Youning had been enveloped in a huge wave of joy ever since Lu Ming won the arena.

She hadn't expected Lu Ming to not only come help her but also be this formidable. Her beautiful eyes flickered as she frequently glanced at Lu Ming, privately glad she'd decisively chosen to win him over.

Now, suddenly hearing Li Yunping apologize to her, she recalled his earlier resentful accusations compared to his current groveling apology—it made her feel vindicated.

These past few days, she hadn't dared to walk upright at home, as if she were the Li family's sinner.

Now that she'd proven her sharp judgment, she couldn't help lifting her head, revealing her long, smooth neck, and said with a clever smile:

"Second brother needn't be like this. We're all thinking of the Li family. Now that the crisis is resolved, let's just be happy for everyone."

Li Yunping let out a relieved sigh and said:

"Third Sister speaks truly."

He then cast a secretly envious glance at Lu Ming, never expecting that such a talented disciple of the Military Service Bureau would be won over by Li Youning. Her luck was simply too good.

Just then, Li Mingyuan had someone bring over another item. Lu Ming looked—it was ten packets of medicinal powder, and even through the bags, a scent of herbs wafted out.

Li Mingyuan said: "This is the unique cultivation medicine of my Li family, Sweet Dew Powder.

"After each day's training, place this powder in a wooden tub to prepare a medicinal bath. Sit in it, and it can relieve bodily fatigue.

"It can only be used once per day.

"With Sweet Dew Powder, you can train twice as long as others. I imagine it will be of some help to you.

"Alas, if not for the lack of capable juniors in my Li family, relying solely on Sweet Dew Powder, we would be in no way inferior to other clans."

While Li Mingyuan was still lamenting, Lu Ming's heart was already brimming with joy. Double the daily training time? The Sweet Dew Powder actually had such an effect!

Cultivation medicine? It seemed every martial force had its own unique medicine.

Yet with such medicine, among the wealthy disciples of the Military Service Bureau this year, those who had reached the Flesh-Tempering realm were still few and far between. A trace of contempt involuntarily surfaced in Lu Ming's heart.

What a terrible waste.

No wonder Chen Jinyang and Shen Jue had to cultivate people like Zhu Ming and Wu San—it turned out they themselves were nothing special, purely relying on their families' nurturing, their cultivation built up by medicine.

After the banquet, Li Mingyuan wanted him to stay the night, but Lu Ming was eager to return to training and firmly refused.

Before he left, Li Youning also sent him ten packets of Qi-Nurturing Powder. His own supply had long run out, so he gladly accepted.

By dusk, Lu Ming returned fully laden, his mood light as he arrived at the Military Service Bureau.

Just as he reached the bureau's gate, night had fallen. A sudden burst of fire erupted somewhere in the dark Red Cloud County, and cries of alarm rang out from all directions.

Lu Ming turned his head in confusion. On the streets, many people seemed to be fleeing in panic—this was no ordinary fire.

"Demon! A demon is coming!"

"The Red River Restaurant has collapsed! Many are dead!"

"Don't panic! I just saw a dark shadow flee into the distance. The demon should be gone."

"I heard the Wei Yuan Escort Agency crew was celebrating Guo Yuan all afternoon and ran right into the demon. Only Chief Escort Guo escaped."