A Twist of Fate: Someone Comes Calling—The Young Master of Fire Kiln Lu Manor Is My Brother!

Ji Xiu's expression was grave as he strode through the stables without slowing.

This time,

he had truly vented his fury!

All the frustration and resentment he had bottled up over so many days had been unleashed in one burst. That whipping had been utterly satisfying.

Lin Steward was a House Born Slave of the Lin Residence. Having served for many years, he had clawed his way up only by relying on the powerful patron behind him.

As for ability, he had none whatsoever.

But,

no matter what,

this was the Lin Residence.

On this little patch of ground, even if someone like him had become a martial artist,

what he had done was still a slap across the Lin Residence's face—a slap across his master Lin Zhenhai's face.

Within the five hundred li of Anning County, Lin Zhenhai might not have been among the very best, but to have built such a vast estate and foundation, his skills could not have been poor.

He might not have measured up to the Three Great Gangs or Four Great Halls, nor to the masters who controlled the great businesses of Firewood Market, Fire Kiln, and Cattle and Sheep Market.

But further down the line, he was still someone who ranked among the notable figures.

If he set his mind to it, dealing with Ji Xiu would be as easy as turning over his hand.

As things stood, waiting helplessly for death was clearly no option. He had to leave first, then seek a way out.

First, I'll seek Master Duan for a solution. Or perhaps I can make a living under the Three Great Gangs or Four Great Halls. At worst, I can take shelter from trouble with one of the masters of the Three Great Rice Bowl Groups.

A martial artist who has entered the ranks surely won't be turned away at the door.

This is the confidence my fists have given me.

Ji Xiu's eyes flickered.

If an ordinary runaway slave dared strike his master, that was nothing less than turning the Heavenly Dipper upside down. He would be stuffed into a pig cage and drowned alive.

But since he was a martial artist, it did not necessarily mean a dead end.

As the saying went,

nothing in the world is difficult for one who dares to climb.

Since he had already done it, there was no need to look ahead and behind.

The urgent matter was to flee while the news had not yet spread.

Otherwise, if he was blocked here and caught, then beaten to death or crippled in some corner of the rear courtyard, he would have nowhere to seek justice.

After all, his Slave Status had not been lifted. Let alone being a martial artist, even if Ji Xiu became a Qi Refining Expert, if he died, he would have died for nothing. The authorities would not ask a single question.

With that in mind,

Ji Xiu moved like the wind. Along the way, he encountered servants of the Lin Residence, but with a taut face, he ignored every one of them as he drew closer and closer to the manor gates.

Yet,

the moment he reached the Lin Residence's entrance, Ji Xiu ran into someone unexpected.

"Senior Brother Lu?"

Lu Yu stood tall and straight, triumph dancing in his brows, dressed in a robe of green. He had just stepped through the gates of the Lin Residence, startling Ji Xiu as they met face-to-face.

Moreover, unlike when he had gone alone to Duan Chenzhou's residence before,

this time,

Lu Yu was flanked by sturdy, strong-boned retainers. At a glance, they were clearly trained fighters, and the garments they wore

were the uniforms of stewards who managed the iron-smelting and tempering workshops of Fire Kiln!

Ji Xiu's heart tightened.

That Fire Kiln steward, Qiao Jin, doesn't let grudges linger overnight!?

His heart clenched as he did not rule out the worst possibility.

Yet,

upon seeing him,

Lu Yu's eyes lit up, and he strode over in great steps.

"Junior Brother, I've finally found you."

Before he could finish,

tap, tap, tap!

A burst of chaotic footsteps came crashing over!

"Quick, quick!"

"Don't let that brat get away!"

"Bind him and drag him before the master! We must give him Three Cuts Six Holes!"

With a clatter,

one vicious-looking martial artist after another arrived at the gates, dragging blades and swords behind them. They were followed by a large band of guards, walking with wind in their steps and clearly harboring ill intent.

The moment they saw Ji Xiu, several guards clutching their faces began shouting.

"Instructor, it's him! This brat whipped Lin Steward unconscious! Just because he learned some martial arts, he thinks he can rebel against his master!"

"If we can't take him down, once word gets out, the master's face will be swept clean away!"

The man called Instructor wore lantern trousers below and a gray short jacket above. His powerful muscles twisted like ferocious coiling dragons with every breath.

Even as the biting late-autumn wind cut across his body, he did not tremble in the slightest. Instead, his blood and qi roared like a furnace, breathing fire. He was a genuine trained fighter who had already begun Bone Tempering!

In the entire Lin Residence, aside from the master, no one was stronger than him.

Instructor Du stood at the head of the Lin Residence guards, a hundred-fold forged saber in hand and a terrifying gleam in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, he was just about to make his move.

But as his tiger-like stride tore through the air and his blade had yet to rise, he spotted Lu Yu. He stopped short in shock.

"The young master of Lu Manor!?"

His hand pressed down on the saber at his waist.

As he looked at Ji Xiu, who was chatting and smiling with Lu Yu as though they were close friends,

shock and bewilderment gradually filled his eyes.

This brat actually knows the master of Lu Manor, the one who controls the Fire Kiln business?

Within the five hundred li of Anning County,

the Three Great Gangs, Four Great Halls, Fire Kiln, Firewood Market, and Cattle and Sheep Market!

Other than the authorities, only these places

possessed Skin Refinement experts who stood at the peak of the Strength Threshold, above hundreds of thousands of common laborers and martial artists!

They were the sky over all of Anning County.

The master of Lu Manor had traveled north and south in his early years. He had gone up to the Prefecture City to seek masters and train his fists, then ranged across the Five Hundred Li Mountain Road below, opening several kilns and forging iron and weapons. His business stretched far and wide.

He was also known as Great Manor Lord Lu and Great Arms Lord Lu.

He kept a claimed three hundred retainers under his command to manage his businesses, giving countless people in Anning County a bowl of rice to eat.

For instance, some of the Lin Residence's shops operated under Fire Kiln and had to pay rent to Lu Manor!

How could he possibly not recognize the only son of such a figure?

"Instructor Du, pardon the disturbance."

Seeing the Lin Residence's guard instructor lower his hand,

Lu Yu patted Ji Xiu on the shoulder and smiled at him. Then his expression turned solemn. Throwing an arm around Ji Xiu's shoulders, he spoke gravely.

"I came today

to free my brother from his Slave Status and specifically request an audience with Master Lin!

"He has achieved success in saber practice and has entered force, becoming a martial artist. By rights, he should no longer serve as another man's servant.

"If Master Lin requires redemption money before releasing this slave contract,

then Fire Kiln Lu Manor will advance it for him!"

The young master of Lu Manor swept out his arm grandly, his spirit soaring to the clouds.

Ji Xiu, who had originally been planning to force his way out and flee,

found his expression gradually turning splendid.

Fire Kiln's young master?

No wonder Master Duan once said that if I entered Senior Brother Lu's service before mastering the saber, my slave contract could be torn apart with a flick of the fingers.

So that was it.

His background was actually this immense!

He watched Instructor Du, who had previously placed tremendous pressure on him—so much that he could scarcely breathe—cycle through a storm of expressions before instantly sheathing his blade and putting on a smiling face.

Even though Ji Xiu had just lashed Lin Steward thirty times,

the man acted as though nothing had happened. He even praised Ji Xiu as "young and promising, with extraordinary courage," then prepared to take Lu Yu and him to meet Master Lin Zhenhai.

Even Ji Xiu

could not help but sigh.

Sometimes, having fists was not enough.

You also needed power!

Borrowing the power of Fire Kiln Lu Manor,

even a Bone Tempering martial artist at the second step of the Strength Threshold

had to lower his head!

With a great tree at one's back, one could enjoy the shade.

The urgency that had felt like blades pressed against his back was gone. Ji Xiu's mind became lively, his heart lighter than ever before.

But,

even amid that relief,

Ji Xiu understood perfectly well.

The reason he could borrow Lu Yu's power was Duan Chenzhou.

And the reason Duan Chenzhou was willing to favor him, in the end,

was still because his saber was hard enough!

If he ever slackened,

then all of this would become a castle in the air, vanishing in an instant!

Understanding dawned in his heart.

Then he silently told himself,

To forge iron, the iron itself must be hard.

After today, no matter what happens, I must practice eight hundred saber strikes every day. When I, too, possess the ferocity and prestige of a Skin Refinement expert, then within these five hundred li of Anning County...

What I say may not count for nothing!