"Senior Brother Lu summoned me here. What are your orders?"
In the courtyard, after Chen Jinyang left, Lu Ming asked Li Hu to summon Wu San.
Wu San now stood in his courtyard with downcast brows and an obedient manner. Even his triangular eyes looked much gentler.
Wu San was truly afraid. Now that Lu Ming had risen to prominence, if Lu Ming wanted revenge, Wu San would have nowhere to hide.
Even if Lu Ming were ultimately killed by Shen Changfeng, what use would that be? Wu San would still be finished.
So, after lunch, he had arrived even earlier than Chen Jinyang, coming to visit Lu Ming ahead of time to apologize and make amends.
At the time, Lu Ming had not said much, only that there might be something he needed Wu San to do.
He had not expected Lu Ming to summon him again so soon.
Lu Ming gently stroked the jade pendant in his hand. The jade was of excellent quality, warm and smooth. The front bore the character "Chen," while the corner was engraved with the tiny characters "Jinyang."
This was the jade pendant possessed by every direct descendant of the Chen Family, a unique token of identity.
Chen Jinyang had given him this token to lure him away from the Military Service Bureau, never expecting that Lu Ming had no intention of keeping the appointment at all.
Seeing Wu San's meek appearance, he placed the jade token into a letter he had already written on the nearby table, sealed the envelope, and handed it to Wu San.
"Help me deliver this letter to..."
Wu San accepted the letter and listened carefully. Then he said respectfully, "Yes, this is easy. I will see it done properly. But after this matter?"
Lu Ming smiled. "After this, the grievances between you and me will be written off in one stroke."
Wu San's spirits surged, and he said delightedly, "Yes! Senior Brother Lu is broad-minded and magnanimous. I admire you!"
With that, he turned and left.
Lu Ming watched his retreating figure and smiled faintly. So long as Wu San could withstand the Chen Family's retaliation afterward, letting him go was no great matter.
He shut the courtyard gate and began cultivating again.
Not long after he began, he suddenly heard another knock at the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Wei Jinlin's voice followed. "Lu Ming, there's a letter for you."
Lu Ming opened the door in confusion and accepted the letter. He discovered that it was an invitation. Upon opening it, surprise appeared in his eyes.
Evening.
On the busiest street in the south of the city, the Red Sun Pavilion stood tall and magnificent. In the setting sun, most of the people entering and leaving through its doors carried extraordinary bearing and wore brocade robes and splendid attire.
Inside a private room on the second floor, a table full of fine wine and delicious dishes had already been served. The room was filled with exquisite delicacies, their fragrance wafting everywhere.
This was the private room where the Chen Family was meant to receive Lu Ming. Yet the appointed hour had already arrived, and not a single important figure from the Chen Family had appeared.
Chen Jinyang was the only person in the entire room.
After all, if one was putting on a play, one had to see it through to the end. Chen Jinyang feared Lu Ming might notice something amiss, so he had simply proceeded exactly as though he were truly recruiting Lu Ming.
Aside from the absence of any major Chen Family figure, he was certain that everything he had done was flawless.
He merely needed to wait here quietly. Before night fell, he would hear news of Lu Ming's death.
Then Chen Feng would secure a Lingyun Sect disciple's position in advance, and Chen Jinyang's own status would soar as well!
Chen Jinyang was nearly immersed in fantasies of the future when he heard a rapid series of footsteps—tap, tap, tap—heading swiftly toward his private room.
His heart stirred. Had the messenger arrived?
Unable to restrain himself, he immediately rose to his feet, hurried to the door, and opened it.
"It really is you!"
To his surprise, a burly man with a face brimming with Killing Intent stood outside. His eyes were bloodshot, his nostrils expelled heavy breaths, and he glared at Chen Jinyang with wide eyes as he roared, "So it was you who wanted to mediate the conflict between Lu Ming and me? You brat still wet behind the ears—let me see just how much you weigh!"
"Not good, it's that madman, Guo Zhengwei!"
Upon seeing the man's face clearly, Chen Jinyang's expression changed drastically, and terror filled his heart.
Guo Zhengwei of the Wei Yuan Escort Agency had been frightened out of his wits by demons, and then the demons had killed his beloved son. Recently, his mind had become somewhat unstable, and he had come to hate everyone involved in that day's arena battle.
Lu Ming in particular had changed the course of the arena battle, making Guo Zhengwei hate him to the bone. He believed that if not for Lu Ming, his family would not have been the only one to go celebrate at the restaurant that day, and the outcome would have been different.
The forces involved that day—the Red Snake Gang and disciples of the Blazing Flame Martial Hall—had recently suffered frequent harassment from people of the Wei Yuan Escort Agency, leaving them miserable beyond words.
Why had this madman come here? How did he know about the supposed mediation Chen Jinyang had mentioned to Lu Ming?
The problem was, Chen Jinyang had never even brought up Guo Zhengwei to Lu Ming!
"Ha!"
Chen Jinyang was thrown into complete disarray, unable to make heads or tails of it, while Guo Zhengwei had already charged forward regardless of everything. The terrifying pressure of Tendon Refining Grand Completion bore down upon him.
Chen Jinyang was seized by terror. "Misunderstanding, this is all a misunderstanding!!!"
He hastily retreated behind the dining table.
Boom-crash!
With a thunderous sound, Guo Zhengwei smashed the dining table into pieces with a kick. Cups and plates crashed onto the floor with a chorus of clatters and bangs, while sauces flowed everywhere.
Then, with another step, he crossed before Chen Jinyang and struck out with his palm, landing squarely on Chen Jinyang's abdomen.
"Puh!" Chen Jinyang spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward, smashing through the window lattice with a bang before crashing onto the street.
He tried to struggle to his feet, only to see Guo Zhengwei remove the Nine-Ring Blade from his back. With his eyes wide, Guo Zhengwei leaped down from the Red Sun Pavilion's second floor, his great blade cleaving down!
Chen Jinyang was overwhelmed by misery and terror. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted dead away.
Blood slowly seeped out beneath him.
"What happened?!"
"That's a direct descendant of the Chen Family, Chen Jinyang! Who is so bold as to dare beat him?"
"Not good, run! It's Madman Guo!"
When Chen Jinyang came flying out and crashed onto the street, the crowd had still been discussing the matter. But when Guo Zhengwei leaped out, they were horrified and scattered in all directions.
Guo Zhengwei possessed Tendon Refining Grand Completion strength. Unless the Bone Forging Realm leaders of the city's first-rate forces acted, there were scarcely any others who could stand against him.
A person like that had lost his mind and was striking out wildly. Getting anywhere near him was no different from courting death!
"Die!" Guo Zhengwei roared in midair, drawing a curved flash of blade light as he slashed down at Chen Jinyang on the ground.
Clang~ At the critical moment, a sword cry tore through the air and struck the back of the Nine-Ring Blade with perfect precision.
Clang! Blade and sword collided. Guo Zhengwei's body swayed, and he was actually forced slightly backward in midair, his strike failing to fall.
"Who?! Who dares ruin this chief escort's business?" Guo Zhengwei landed with his blade in hand and looked over.
He saw a young man holding a treasured sword, his gaze sharp. At that moment, the young man was glaring at him in towering rage.
"Chief Escort Guo, why are you ruining my plans for no reason at all?"
"You are... Shen Changfeng?" Guo Zhengwei recognized him. He seemed to regain a trace of clarity, then frowned deeply. "I received word that this man intended to mediate the conflict between Lu Ming and me. Hmph, he overestimated himself!"
Shen Changfeng roared angrily, "Mediate the conflict? Utter nonsense! Chen Jinyang is Chen Feng's man. He was helping me lure Lu Ming out so I could kill him and avenge my hatred!"
Guo Zhengwei suddenly produced a jade pendant in his hand, threw it to Shen Changfeng, and shouted, "This jade pendant is proof! If he did not sincerely mean to mediate, why would he give away his personal token?"
Shen Changfeng caught the jade pendant, his eyes narrowing.
"It is indeed the jade pendant of a direct Chen Family descendant. I understand now! He gave it to put Lu Ming at ease.
"Yet since this jade pendant ended up in your hands, it means Lu Ming was behind this!
"He had no intention of attending the appointment at all. Instead, he sent this jade token into your hands, borrowing a knife to kill someone. He has been toying with all of us!"
By the end, Shen Changfeng's face was exceedingly grim, with a faint burning sensation rising within him.
After going through such elaborate lengths, he had actually been played by Lu Ming.
A trace of brutality surfaced in Guo Zhengwei's eyes. He roared, "Lu Ming won the arena battle, while the Blazing Flame Martial Hall and Red Snake Gang lost it. You killed my son! You are all sinners, sinners!!"
With a furious shout, he charged at Shen Changfeng.
Sensing the terrifying vitality and blood qi on Guo Zhengwei's body, Shen Changfeng's expression changed slightly. He had yet to break through and was currently only at Tendon Refining, while Guo Zhengwei had reached Tendon Refining Grand Completion.
"This madman!" Seeing Guo Zhengwei charge in to kill without regard for anything, Shen Changfeng cursed inwardly. He was miserable beyond measure as he hurriedly retreated.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Guo Zhengwei's Six Harmonies Blade Technique opened and closed with immense force. Although Shen Changfeng's swordsmanship was exquisite and he spotted many flaws, the suppression of their cultivation levels made it impossible for him to seize any of them. He could only receive the attacks passively.
After taking several consecutive strikes, Shen Changfeng felt a force of vibration travel from his wrist to his heart. His stomach churned, and he nearly spat blood.
Guo Zhengwei had been famous for years, was in the prime of life, and carried an overwhelming might!
Shen Changfeng had no desire to fight this madman for long and was just about to seek an opening to pull away when his gaze suddenly sharpened. Killing intent immediately overflowed from his eyes.
"Lu Ming?! You actually dare show yourself!"
"Hm?" Upon hearing the name "Lu Ming," Guo Zhengwei regained a little more clarity. Turning his head, he truly saw that familiar face appear at the street corner.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
In an instant, the two martial arts experts who had just been trading blade and sword rushed toward Lu Ming at the same time.
Yet Lu Ming stood at the street corner calm and composed, neither dodging nor evading.
He carried no weapon. The only thing in his hand was an invitation, red and embossed in gold.
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