Old Lu Is Still Alive

"What outsider? Young Master Qin Zhao has acknowledged you already—who would dare gossip?"

"Thank you, Uncle Sun. Also, please don't treat me so respectfully. It feels strange."

Qin Yaxin stepped forward, took the meal basket from Sun Lianshan, and spoke.

"Hehe, that won't do. Now that Third Miss has gained Young Master Qin Zhao's recognition, my attitude naturally has to change."

"By the way, Third Miss, are these meals perhaps for those three?"

Remembering something, Sun Lianshan asked curiously.

"Yes. Hall Master Zhang and the others haven't eaten well these past few days. I was thinking that if I prepared some delicious food, perhaps they would eat a little more."

Qin Yaxin nodded.

"Third Miss, you've truly worked hard. But even if... no, it's nothing."

Before Sun Lianshan could finish, he shook his head and swallowed the rest of his words.

"Then, Uncle Sun, I'll be going back first."

Qin Yaxin politely dipped her head to him, then turned and disappeared beyond the gates.

Once the sound of her footsteps had completely faded away, the smile on Sun Lianshan's face was replaced by pity and regret.

Over the past two days, he had naturally heard about Hall Master Zhang's condition.

Physical injuries were easy enough to recover from, but damage to the meridians could very well become a lifelong affliction.

And even if he fully recovered, he would never return to the peak strength he once possessed.

That Hall Master Zhang had clearly possessed the potential to charge into Transformation Force, yet now he had ended up like Sun Lianshan, halted forever at Dark Force.

As Qin Yaxin passed through the rear courtyard, she naturally heard several relatives talking.

"Honestly, who knows what Qin Zhao is thinking? He actually took in someone from a collateral branch and let her stay in the Lineage."

"And I heard her whole family had died before she thought to come seek shelter. What bad luck."

"Exactly. She was even driven out of Lidu. What ability could she possibly have? No matter how hard she worked in some remote backwater, what could she achieve?"

"Could that collateral branch girl really think that sixteen-year-old little girl could enter the Haotian Sect? Ridiculous. Even among Lidu's geniuses, only a handful can get in. How could some little country girl manage it?"

The discussion was incredibly grating, and among them were quite a few relatives who were usually very kind to her.

Yet behind her back, they showed an entirely different face.

Such things were perfectly normal in great families.

Not to mention the Qin Household, a super family.

Qin Yaxin merely paused for a moment before continuing without hesitation toward the courtyard at the very back.

Soon, she returned to the courtyard Qin Zhao had arranged for them, carrying the food.

"Ah, Miss Qin, you're back. You could have let me handle something as simple as fetching food."

Shen Yuniang stepped forward and hurriedly took the meal basket.

"I happened to want to chat with Uncle Sun. By the way, where is Hall Master Zhang?"

Qin Yaxin replied with a smile.

"Him? He's still in the inner room, still acting like nothing can get through to him. He has no intention of eating at all."

Shen Yuniang sighed irritably.

What she lamented was not merely that Zhang Yao had lost all heart and become like a walking corpse, but also her own drifting, uncertain fate.

Over these past two days, she had thoroughly come to understand just how enormous the Qin Household was. Forget Dark Force martial artists—even Transformation Force Attendants numbered quite a few.

Even if Zhang Yao regained the strength of Late Dark Force, it would still be extremely difficult for him to gain a foothold in the Qin Household and acquire any say.

Not to mention that Zhang Yao now looked utterly disheartened, as if all hope had turned to ashes. Forget cultivation—he would not even eat.

How could she possibly count on him in such a state?

"Is that so? Then where is Zhi'er?"

Qin Yaxin's expression darkened slightly before she asked.

"As for Zhi'er, she's in the side courtyard. Thanks to that batch of pills Young Master Qin Zhao sent over, Zhi'er said her cultivation speed has increased greatly."

"Mm. Then I'll go in and check on Hall Master Zhang first. By the way, Aunt Shen, would you like to come in too?"

"Me? Forget it. I don't want to see that man's lifeless face. I'll put down the meal basket, then go check on Zhi'er."

Shen Yuniang shook her head repeatedly.

"All right, then."

Qin Yaxin did not press her. After Qin Yaxin entered the room, Shen Yuniang set down the meal basket and quickly withdrew.

Qin Yaxin took the dishes from the meal basket and greeted Zhang Yao, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor inside.

"Hall Master Zhang, the food from Fortune Mansion is very delicious. Would you like to try some? I can guarantee the taste."

"And I heard they recently hired a chef from Chi City. Perhaps it will suit your palate."

As Qin Yaxin spoke, she bit her lip and looked at Zhang Yao with a hint of pleading in her eyes.

Right now, she had no one in the Qin Household she could use. Zhang Yao was the only one who could be of use, the only one who could serve as fighting strength.

Though Early Dark Force was far from enough in the Qin Household, it was at least better than a martial artist who had lost the will to fight.

Two days ago, after taking over that shop from Qin Zhao, she had gone to manage it.

And while managing it, she came to understand one thing: to open any shop in this holy land of martial artists, one needed strength as backing.

Even the Qin Household's name could not be relied upon at all times. If martial artist guards were present, however, countless troubles could be avoided.

That was why martial artists carrying sabers and spears stood before the major shops along the streets.

Yet while Qin Zhao had handed that shop over for her to manage, he had also withdrawn every employee, including the shop's guards.

In other words, if she wanted to turn that shop into her own foundation, she first needed to find a guard capable of holding the fort.

Even though Zhang Yao was injured now, he had once been a hall master. His combat experience was certainly stronger than that of ordinary Dark Force martial artists.

"Miss Qin, I appreciate your kindness, but I..."

Zhang Yao did not raise his head, and his voice carried not the slightest trace of emotion.

But before he could finish, his nose twitched, and he abruptly sprang to his feet.

The sudden movement startled Qin Yaxin as well.

"Um, Hall Master Zhang?"

Zhang Yao did not answer her question. Instead, he crossed the room in a few strides and fixed his gaze tightly on the bowl of meat soup in Qin Yaxin's hands.

Only then did Qin Yaxin notice where he was looking, and she instinctively offered him the meat soup.

Zhang Yao took it, sniffed it first, then began drinking in great gulps.

Very quickly, the large bowl of meat soup was emptied.

Zhang Yao slowly placed the large bowl on the table. Two streams of tears ran down from the corners of his eyes, and intense excitement appeared on the face that had been lifeless until moments ago.

"This is Old Lu's meat soup!"

"Old Lu is still alive!"

"Miss Qin, where did you get this basket of food?"

Zhang Yao stared intensely at Qin Yaxin, his expression filled with joy.

After staring blankly for a moment, Qin Yaxin suddenly understood.

"Wait, Hall Master Zhang. You mean this basket of food was... made by Old Lu?"