Apology and Compensation

"Hurry, hurry, hurry..."

On the carriage, Lu Zhihao was urging the driver with an anxious face. "If we're any later, we'll miss the excitement."

So the driver cracked the whip faster, racing through the city at top speed.

Lu Zhihao then turned to blame his servant. "I told you to wake me up early. Why didn't you come get me? If I miss seeing that brat get what's coming to him, I'll hold you responsible."

The servant lowered his head in grievance. How would he dare? Twice before, he'd followed the young master's orders and called him early in the morning, only to get two solid slaps across the face. Once bitten, twice shy—he wasn't that stupid.

Finally, Show Water Street arrived.

Lu Zhihao stuck his head out the carriage window and saw the entrance of the Chen Estate packed with people, even more than yesterday's crowd, blocking the entire street. He immediately got excited. "Looks like the Martial Hall Guild people are still here. Haha, let's get out and watch the fun."

With that, he grabbed his servant and jumped off the carriage, pushing into the crowd.

Lu Zhihao finally squeezed his way to the Chen Estate's entrance. Peering inside, he found the situation wasn't what he'd expected.

Chen Ming was sitting in the courtyard without a scratch.

Meanwhile, at the doorway stood a row of over a dozen people, all dusty-faced and bearing injuries, with two more lying on the ground.

What was going on?

Lu Zhihao was stunned for a moment.

The servant whispered, "Young master, it looks like Chen Ming beat up the Martial Hall Guild people!"

Sss—

Lu Zhihao then caught the murmurs around him. First came a shock, then a burst of delight. "Good fight!"

"Huh?"

The servant was taken aback by his words, thinking the young master must have gone mad with anger.

Lu Zhihao snickered. "The Martial Hall Guild isn't easy to mess with. Now that Chen Ming has hit their people, they won't let it go. Just wait—there'll be a good show soon."

And honestly, that reasoning did hold some water.

The servant was just thinking this when a commotion erupted outside.

Someone shouted, "The Fenglei Martial Hall people are here!"

"They're coming, they're coming."

Lu Zhihao's face lit up with excitement as he stood on tiptoe to look outside. Soon, the crowd parted to make way, and a group of people in dark blue training uniforms walked toward them.

He recognized the leader—a Fenglei Martial Hall instructor named Yue Bin. This man was an Eighth Rank cultivator, and his "Lingfeng Blade Technique" was quite formidable.

Lu Zhihao waited eagerly for the drama to unfold.

Not just him—everyone else was waiting too.

Yue Bin stopped at the door, didn't even glance at the group standing there, and first cupped his hands toward Chen Ming. "Yue Bin of Fenglei Martial Hall greets Young Master Chen the Second."

These words caught everyone present completely off guard.

Wasn't that too polite?

Many people muttered to themselves—was Fenglei Martial Hall planning to back down?

Others thought it was probably "courtesy before force," the usual routine of reputable sects.

Chen Ming, seeing that Fenglei Martial Hall had sent someone polite, returned the gesture. "Instructor Yue, have you come to demand an explanation as well?"

Since he planned to open a martial hall, he had naturally already investigated the largest martial halls in the city—who the experts were, what weapons they favored, and so on.

Yue Bin said, "I wouldn't dare. Since you are an Eighth Rank cultivator, you qualify to open a martial hall. The prerequisite is passing the Martial Hall Guild's assessment. Today, our people acted rashly and offended you. I hope you can forgive us."

These words were heard clearly by everyone present, and a wave of disappointment swept through the crowd, with some even booing.

No one had expected that the prestigious Martial Hall Guild, after being slapped in the face publicly, would just roll over like this.

Just then, Li Xiangrong, who had been lying on the ground pretending to be unconscious, scrambled up and shouted angrily, "Brother Yue, are we just letting this brat off?"

Yue Bin looked at him expressionlessly. "This is the Old Hall Master's decision."

Li Xiangrong's face flushed red, unable to accept this reality. He roared, "Then where does the face of our Fenglei Martial Hall go? Others will only think we're afraid of this brat..."

Yue Bin's face darkened. "You still have the nerve to talk? If you hadn't acted so recklessly, would things have come to this?"

With that, he ignored him and turned to Chen Ming. "The Martial Hall Guild will replace your estate's door with a new one. The five hundred taels of silver as compensation will also be paid in full. I hope this matter ends here."

Chen Ming was quite surprised. The other side had lowered their stance so much that he had no excuse to start a fight.

This Fenglei Martial Hall—were they really that spineless?

Disappointed as he was, he still had to be polite. "Instructor Yue is so reasonable; I admire that. Consider the five hundred taels as medical expenses for these men."

With that, both sides took a step back, turning conflict into peace.

Yue Bin didn't refuse, only reminded him, "However, I hope you will abide by the Martial Hall Guild's rules. The Old Hall Master awaits your visit."

Chen Ming replied, "In three days, I will certainly come to pay my respects."

The lively affair fizzled out anticlimactically.

The most disappointed, naturally, was Lu Zhihao.

"Some Fenglei Martial Hall—letting someone walk all over them and still swallowing it! They're nothing but cowards..."

On the carriage, Lu Zhihao cursed the people of Fenglei Martial Hall with the most venomous words.

He was nearly mad with rage. He'd gotten up early, rushed over eagerly, hoping to watch that bastard get what was coming to him, only for the guy to make a spectacular show of himself.

Disappointment, fury, and a faint, inexplicable fear shattered his composure entirely.

The attendant beside him grew uneasy. His young master's enemy had already reached the Eighth Rank Martial Artist level. Even Fenglei Martial Hall didn't want to provoke him...

That fact unsettled him deeply.

He hadn't forgotten how his young master had humiliated that man, framed him, and thrown him into prison, nearly killing him.

Just thinking about it sent a chill of fear through him.

He knew his young master's hysterics came from fear too.

In his rage, Lu Zhihao didn't go home. He went to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant for a heavy drinking session, and after dark, headed to the Joyful Court. Just as he was about to find his usual flame to vent his frustration, someone burst in and hauled him away.

He didn't dare resist—he recognized the men as his brother-in-law's people.

Lu Zhihao was taken to a quiet courtyard, where he met his brother-in-law, Qi Xingdong, the young master of Golden Source Commerce.

Inside the study.

Qi Xingdong, just past thirty with two thin mustaches already grown above his lip, was wielding a brush at his desk. He didn't look at the dragged-in Lu Zhihao. "He reeks of alcohol. Take him to sober up."

So Lu Zhihao, who had just called out "Brother-in-law," was led away again.

After finishing his calligraphy, Qi Xingdong asked an elderly man standing nearby, "Uncle Zheng, what do you think of my writing?"

Uncle Zheng chuckled. "Third Young Master is asking the wrong person. I've spent my life on an abacus; I know nothing of calligraphy."

Qi Xingdong rinsed the brush in the washbasin, set it down casually, and picked up a cloth to dry his hands. "Uncle Zheng, have a seat."

"Thank you, Third Young Master." Uncle Zheng sat in a chair to the side.

Qi Xingdong didn't beat around the bush. "Uncle Zheng, do you still remember Chen Ming?"

Old Steward Zheng replied, "Of course I do. His grandfather had some dealings with me when he was alive."

He was a cautious man, saying not a word more than necessary.

Qi Xingdong knew he wouldn't commit easily and silently cursed the old fox. He took the initiative. "Speaking of which, back when he was with us at Golden Source Commerce, he was diligent, sharp, and loyal to his duties—a rare promising talent. A pity Zhihao was so useless, driving him away. And making such a mess of it. Every time I think of it, I regret losing a capable man."

Old Steward Zheng was puzzled, unsure why he was bringing up old grudges. "What does Third Young Master mean?"

Qi Xingdong said, "I'd like you to act as a mediator. What happened back then was Zhihao's fault. Let him go apologize in person, and hope Chen Ming doesn't hold a grudge against Golden Source Commerce."

"This—"

Old Steward Zheng was even more baffled. Had the Third Young Master changed his nature?

Or perhaps...

Qi Xingdong continued, "Uncle Zheng probably hasn't heard yet. That Chen Ming has already broken through to the Eighth Rank. Such talent is truly remarkable."

Eighth Rank?

Old Steward Zheng was startled, finally understanding why Qi Xingdong had summoned him so urgently to act as mediator.

"I'm not going!"

Just then, Lu Zhihao, who had overheard their conversation, burst in and dropped to his knees. "Brother-in-law, are you afraid of a mere Eighth Rank Martial Artist?"

Qi Xingdong's face was expressionless. "If you don't go, I'll break your legs and deliver you to him for whatever he wants."

"Brother-in-law—"

Lu Zhihao's face went pale. He stared in disbelief, meeting his brother-in-law's icy gaze, and felt as if he'd fallen into a frozen pit.

His sister might only be a concubine, but his "brother-in-law" had always doted on her.

Who would have thought...

It was all a lie.