Lu Yuan, drinking in the private room, raised an eyebrow. He spun his wine cup between his fingers, a look of amusement on his face.
Old Huang and the others beside him stopped what they were doing and looked toward him.
The Helian Clan's people had come at a time like this; they were undoubtedly here to poach him. Zhou He pressed his lips together.
A hint of worry showed in his eyes.
A moment later, Lu Yuan said, "A guest is a guest. Show him in."
A flash of delight crossed Helian Black Fox's face outside, and he immediately went in.
After pushing open the door, he saw the scene inside.
He bowed to Lu Yuan. "Lord Lu, you certainly know how to enjoy yourself."
After speaking, he pulled a box from his robes and presented it.
"This is a gift from our Captain, to congratulate you on your sweeping victory."
Lu Yuan took it and opened it without hesitation. Inside lay a jet-black fruit, exuding a rich fragrance.
"This is a Mystic Tendon Fruit. It's especially effective for experts in the Tendon Refining Realm."
Though the people present had never seen one, they had heard of the Mystic Tendon Fruit. It was said to be the finest medicine for tendon refinement, and usually only scions of great clans had a chance to take one.
Ordinary silver could not buy one at all. A single fruit cost eight thousand merit points.
It was an extraordinarily generous gift.
Then Helian Black Fox continued, "Lord Lu, our Captain is preparing to form an elite force no weaker than the Silent Cavalry. Right now, we're only missing a suitable Centurion. If you're willing, you can take up the post as soon as you arrive in Yellow Sand City. We also guarantee that you'll be promoted to Chiliarch within a year.
"The Helian Clan will spare no effort to cultivate you. All resources will be prioritized for your use."
After he finished speaking, he looked up at Lu Yuan, his eyes full of earnest anticipation.
If this had been any other Centurion, this steward of the Captain's Mansion wouldn't have been so deferential. He wouldn't even have given him the time of day.
Who was he? His surname was Helian, and he had the blood of a family of generals in his veins. Though he wasn't part of the main line, he still wasn't someone an ordinary low-ranking officer could compare himself to.
What's more, he was the steward of the Captain's Mansion.
Even ordinary Chiliarchs showed him respect.
He was a major figure in Sai City.
But Lu Yuan was different. Not only had he wiped out the Manyan Tribe's elite cavalry, he had now annihilated an entire company of Silver-Armed Iron Sparrowhawks. Those were concrete military merits. On top of that, the Marquis had taken notice of him. Helian Black Fox wouldn't dare underestimate someone like that.
Besides, the Helian Clan was now determined to poach him.
If he really offended Lu Yuan and ruined the plan with his arrogance, the consequences would be dire.
At that moment, the men under Lu Yuan kept their heads down and said nothing. Even the rather brash Wei Yong merely focused on drinking.
In short, they all thought the same thing: wherever Lu Yuan went, they would go too.
Only Zhou He's worry deepened. He was a member of the Zhou Family. If Lu Yuan really left, he definitely couldn't follow him.
Going elsewhere would be one thing, but the Helian Clan was out of the question.
Still, the terms they had offered were genuinely tempting. If he were in Lu Yuan's shoes, he wasn't sure he could resist.
A single Mystic Tendon Fruit was enough for anyone in the Tendon Refining Realm to suppress their cultivation at the peak before breaking through.
Then there was the promise of becoming a Chiliarch within a year. That basically meant the Helian Clan would funnel all its cultivation resources to him, guaranteeing he would break through to the Organ Refining Realm within a year.
And there was no need to even mention forming an elite force. What did that mean? It meant Lu Yuan would only grow stronger, with military merits as easy to obtain as reaching out and grabbing them.
In just a few years, he could reach heights they wouldn't even dare imagine now.
The meaning was clear: the Helian Clan intended to lift Lu Yuan to the skies with all its might.
How could Zhou He not worry?
"I appreciate Captain Helian's kindness, but I, Lu Yuan, rose from humble beginnings. If not for the Zhou Family, I would never have made something of myself. It would be hard to justify changing allegiance now."
"Lord Lu..."
"Steward Helian, there's no need to say more. I've made up my mind." Lu Yuan's decisive words made Zhou He's eyes redden. He was deeply moved.
"Then I'll take my leave. I won't disturb you any longer, Lord Lu." The steward finished speaking and turned to go.
Lu Yuan picked up the box on the table. "Steward Helian, take this back with you as well. I haven't earned it, so I can't accept it."
With that, he handed the Mystic Tendon Fruit to Helian Black Fox.
The other man took it and opened his mouth to speak, but when he met Lu Yuan's resolute gaze, he could only leave helplessly.
After he left,
the atmosphere in the room grew lively again.
The young women waiting outside also flocked in.
When Lu Yuan learned that Helian Black Fox had already paid the bill, he didn't say anything. There was no need to fuss over such a small matter.
That let Wei Yong and the others enjoy themselves to their hearts' content. They didn't leave until late into the night.
They headed home.
But after Zhou He left, he didn't go straight home.
He hesitated for a moment, then headed toward the City Defense Battalion.
He had to tell his uncle about this as soon as possible. The Helian Clan had already reached out, and the Zhou Family couldn't let Lu Yuan be treated unfairly.
Though he couldn't make the decision himself, the Captain needed to know what was going on. They couldn't let Lu Yuan down.
He couldn't go directly to Zhou Hongling, so this matter would have to be handled by his uncle.
Thinking of that, he didn't care how late it was.
At that moment, Lu Yuan had no idea what Zhou He was thinking. After entering the alley, he was about to head home.
But just as he passed Xiao Hua's house,
a clear voice came from inside. "Brother Yuan, you're back?"
The voice surprised Lu Yuan. Why was the girl still awake in the middle of the night?
Still, he stopped and replied, "Mm, I'm back. I just went out for a drink."
"Creak!"
The courtyard gate swung open, and a little head poked out. Her fair skin gleamed in the moonlight, and her cherry-red lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
Seeing her like that, Lu Yuan smiled. "Is something the matter?"
Xiao Hua twisted the hem of her clothes in her hands and worked up the courage to say, "Brother Yuan, from now on, just come eat at my house when you get back. Going to a place like Spring Breeze Pavilion all the time isn't very good."
"Haha, you heard me talking with Old Huang and the others? I only went there for a drink. What were you imagining? You stayed up this late just to tell me that? Hurry back and get some rest.
"Don't go opening the door at night again. It's dangerous."
"I knew it was you, so I opened it. I'll go back in now." Hearing that Lu Yuan had only gone for a drink, Xiao Hua seemed to relax, then closed the courtyard gate.
Under the moonlight, her cheeks flushed red.
At the same time, she grumbled inwardly: You were all talking about going to Spring Breeze Pavilion so loudly. It would've been harder not to hear you.
Lu Yuan shook his head. After opening his own courtyard gate, he went straight inside to rest.
Meanwhile, at the Captain's Mansion, the banquet had just ended, and Zhou Hongling was getting ready to rest.
A guard hurried over.
"Captain, Centurion Zhou Xiong requests an audience."
Zhou Hongling was puzzled. What had brought him here so late?
But since he was family, she said, "Have him wait in the front hall."
After watching the guard leave,
she headed for the front hall of the Captain's Mansion as well.