Fellow Sufferers on the Edge of the World

After arriving at the small, private courtyard shared by father and son, the two parted ways to return to their rooms. Lu Liang was busy every day, so rest was essential.

Moonlight spilled through the window onto the bedside, keeping the room from being completely dark, yet Lu Chuan lay on his bed, finding it difficult to fall asleep.

Undoubtedly, hitting a wall with Jiang Ziya this evening had dealt him a significant blow, causing the beautiful plan he had envisioned to fall through.

However, he was also very clear in his heart that in a world like this, wanting to be an ordinary person was far too dangerous; there were simply too many factors that could threaten his life.

Therefore, he had to cultivate this Dao.

The only problem was that finding a master had become his most pressing issue. Although Jiang Ziya was the closest to him, the man would not take him as a disciple, making it a case of "being near the water but unable to pluck the moon."

As for looking for another master of the Dao...

It was difficult. King Zhou had not yet gone to war with Xiqi, and those extraordinary people and recluses on overseas immortal islands and the great mountains had naturally not emerged; they were all tucked away in their caves, cultivating.

If he wanted to go looking for them, the journey would be long and treacherous, filled with demons and monsters—it would be no different from the pilgrimage to the Western Heaven.

"What should I do..."

Lu Chuan lay on the bed, his mind constantly searching for his next step.

A long time later.

"Perhaps I still have three paths to take..."

Lu Chuan whispered, having thought of three options.

The first was to join the Western Sect and cultivate the laws of the West.

However, although the West had loose requirements for accepting disciples, the journey from the East to the West was even longer and filled with more demons. He did not want to make a premature pilgrimage to the Western Heaven.

Besides, he did not have three disciples to protect him.

This strategy was a bit like seeking far for what was near, and it carried the greatest risk, so he decided not to consider it for now.

The second was to leave home and travel to seek out a renowned master of the East to learn the arts. However, once he left, choosing whom to apprentice under would be another problem.

Thinking of those extraordinary people in the Investiture of the Gods who had little real ability and were tricked by Shen Gongbao into acting like cannon fodder before the Exposition Sect, only to be crushed in an instant, Lu Chuan felt a toothache.

Therefore, even if he traveled to famous mountains to apprentice, he would have to seek out disciples of the Exposition Sect or the Jie Sect. Both were orthodox Mystic Gate, and at the very least, he could learn some real skills.

But if he had to choose his most favored sect—

It would still be the Exposition Sect.

Look at Guangchengzi and Chi Jingzi; they were quite good. When their disciples descended the mountain, they gave away all their magical treasures, only to be pressed to the ground and rubbed into the dirt by those same disciples after they turned traitor.

How sincere!

However, the cultivation grounds of these people were not easy to reach. The journey would surely be difficult and full of crises, so this was a middle-tier strategy.

As for the best strategy...

Lu Chuan thought of Jiang Ziya again.

Regardless of anything else, he was a disciple of the Primordial Heavenly Lord. A famous teacher produces excellent students; no matter how poor his aptitude was, he still possessed real skills, and he was the closest to him, posing the least risk.

"Forget it, I'll just persist a little longer and wait a while before going to try Jiang Ziya again."

Lu Chuan pondered to himself, "I've heard that some experts like to play hard to get to test whether a student's heart is firm. If I give up this early, then there's truly no hope at all."

He thought about it; the possibility that Jiang Ziya's refusal today was such a test could not be ruled out.

Of course, if he still refused next time, then he could not waste his time hanging himself from a single tree.

Only after thinking these things through did Lu Chuan close his eyes and fall asleep, satisfied.

The next day, because he had stayed up too late thinking about his apprenticeship, Lu Chuan did not wake up until lunchtime.

Lu Chuan got dressed, washed up, and stepped outside to see the sun shining brightly. Just as he finished stretching, Lu Liang returned carrying a food box.

Lu Liang glanced at Lu Chuan and scolded, "It's not that I want to nag you, but a young man shouldn't be so lazy. How will you make a living once you start a family?"

"That's only if I have a family to start!"

Lu Chuan followed him into the room, speechless. The authority of this old father was truly great. The father and son sat down around the table.

Lu Liang said, "I've thought it over. Since you've recovered, starting tomorrow, you will go to the accounting office and learn how to keep accounts from the master."

"What?"

Lu Chuan asked in surprise, "Father, you don't actually intend for me to become a servant, do you?"

At this time, the status of servants was very low.

Although he was at the Song Family, he had not signed a contract to become a servant of the Song Mansion. After all, given his previous state, what could he have accomplished as a servant?

Lu Liang reached out and tapped Lu Chuan on the head, scolding, "You brat, do you think the Song Mansion is so easy to get into? Many people want to get in but never get the chance..."

Lu Chuan could only offer a bitter smile. What could he say? That he didn't want to be a servant?

He couldn't even support himself right now; what grounds did he have to say such things?

"What are you spacing out for? Eat quickly."

Lu Liang looked up to remind his son to eat, but upon seeing Lu Chuan, he also fell silent.

"If you don't want to stay in the Song Mansion, then tomorrow I will set you up with a house here in Song Family Village."

Lu Liang smiled and said, "You're all better now. You can live on your own without me looking after you. Once we have a house, you can take a wife and start a family."

"And what about you, Father?"

Lu Chuan looked at Lu Liang and asked, "Do you plan to spend your whole life at the Song Mansion as..."

"Heh, I eat well and drink well here at the Song Mansion. Aside from the Song family themselves, I'm the one in charge. Why wouldn't I stay?"

Lu Liang laughed heartily. "Besides, the wages here are better than anywhere else. I earn five taels of silver a month. Once you settle down, my wages can help support you, can't they?"

Silver?

Lu Chuan was stunned. Was silver already in use during this era?

He remembered that during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, currency consisted of things like knife-money, and even earlier, it was either barter or seashells.

Lu Chuan voiced his confusion in a low voice.

"The ancient Human King, Great Yu, stabilized the world, received the Mandate of Heaven, divided the Nine Provinces, cast the Nine Cauldrons, and unified the currency..."

Lu Chuan fell silent upon hearing this. Since this world contained immortals and demons, it was indeed different from the history he knew.

"Anyway, I'll find some time in the next two days to go out and look for a house so you can move in as soon as possible."

Lu Liang smiled. "And then, I can find you a new bride and handle your wedding arrangements."

At the mention of this, Lu Liang became visibly excited and began to chuckle to himself.

"..." Lu Chuan.

Father, you're the one finding me a wife, why are you the one acting so giddy?

"Father, what about my mother? How come I've never heard you mention her?"

Once Lu Liang finished his reverie, Lu Chuan suddenly asked. Truth be told, he had never once heard Lu Liang speak of his mother.

Lu Liang froze for a moment, a flash of pain and sorrow crossing his eyes. He shook his head and said, "She passed away."

"Passed away?"

Lu Chuan was stunned for a moment, then muttered, "Please don't tell me she died giving birth to me."

If that were true, the plot would be far too cliché.

After mentioning his wife, Lu Liang's mood soured. He lost his appetite, set down his bowl, and stared blankly at the food on the table.

This was the first time Lu Chuan had seen Lu Liang like this. He finished his meal with his head bowed, resolving never to ask Lu Liang about his mother again.

After the meal, Lu Chuan went out for a walk to digest, but he hadn't gone far before he ran into Jiang Ziya.

"Oh, Lu Chuan, where has your master gone?"

Lu Chuan had assumed that after last night, things would be a bit awkward between him and Jiang Ziya, so he had planned to wait a couple of days before seeking him out.

He hadn't expected to bump into him the moment he stepped outside.

However, he and Jiang Ziya were indeed the two idlest people in the entire Song Mansion at the moment.

Lu Chuan shook his head and said, "I don't know. I slept in late last night and only woke up at noon today. Is Elder Jiang looking for my master for something?"

"Nothing important, I just haven't seen him for most of the day since I woke up," Jiang Ziya said with a smile.

As they spoke, the two of them turned toward the front courtyard.

"Oh, the master is back."

Lu Chuan suddenly pointed toward the gate. A carriage pulled up and stopped, the curtain was lifted, and Song Yiren stepped out, stooping as he exited the cabin.

Jiang Ziya hurried forward to greet him. "Brother, where have you been today?"

After stepping off the carriage, Song Yiren bowed to Jiang Ziya and began to offer congratulations with a smile: "Congratulations, my virtuous brother."

"May I ask, brother, what this... congratulation is for?"

Jiang Ziya looked at Song Yiren, completely bewildered, then turned to look at Lu Chuan.

Well, it looks like Song Yiren went off to play matchmaker.

Lu Chuan suppressed a laugh. He was being forced to marry by his own father, and Jiang Ziya was being forced to take a bride by his sworn brother.

Sigh, we are both fellow sufferers in this world!

Sure enough, Song Yiren laughed. "I went out today to arrange a marriage for you, brother. It's all settled now. Congratulations, brother! Hahaha..."

Watching the portly, amiable Master Song, Lu Chuan nearly burst out laughing.

Acting first and reporting later—this chubby Master Song is truly ruthless. He's already sealed the deal; by the time you find out, Jiang Ziya, you'll have no choice but to agree.

"Ah???"

Jiang Ziya looked as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning, standing there completely stunned.

Lu Chuan wore a smile, but suddenly, he couldn't laugh anymore. He hoped his own father wouldn't pull a stunt like this on him...

"This... this, this, this..."

Jiang Ziya was incoherent and at a loss for what to do. Finally, he could only let out a long sigh and smile bitterly. "Brother, may I ask which family's daughter this is?"

"The daughter of Ma Hong, a wealthy man from Ma Family Village. If you count it up, she's practically my own sister."

Song Yiren said proudly, "She is beyond reproach—talented and beautiful. Although she is sixty-eight, she is still a maiden. She is a perfect match for you, brother."

A sixty-eight-year-old spinster?

And talented and beautiful?

Lu Chuan's face twitched uncontrollably. A grandmother nearing seventy with one foot in the grave, and he still wants to carry on the family line?