In truth, Lianshan Xin knew there was no deep blood feud between his family and the Qu Family, and President Qu might not actually retaliate against them.
But the greatest vulnerability of ordinary families was their inability to weather risk.
A petty whim from someone above them could spell utter disaster for an ordinary family.
Great Yu was not a society governed by law like the one in his previous life. It was a typical feudal dynasty—and one where powerful Martial Dao practitioners could flout every law.
In such an environment, Lianshan Xin felt no sense of security.
Martial Dao, which concentrated tremendous power in one's own person, could give him that security—but he lacked the talent for it.
Then he could only blaze another trail. Authority could also give a person a sense of security.
No matter how dazzling the martial world was, the universe was ultimately one enormous Shandong. Emperors, kings, generals, and ministers would always stand at the top of the food chain.
Lianshan Xin's talent gave him no advantage in learning martial arts. But when it came to civil service and public-sector recruitment exams, the advantage was enormous.
People had to play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses.
The reasons Lianshan Xin gave left He Miaojun and Lianshan Jingcheng unable to argue any further.
What happened next only confirmed Lianshan Xin's foresight.
Barely half an hour after Kong Ningyuan left, President Qu from next door arrived bearing lavish gifts.
"Doctor Lianshan, I was so overwhelmed dealing with my brother-in-law's affairs that I neglected you, my dear friend. I've come today specifically to apologize. Please don't refuse."
President Qu had a bulging belly. One glance was enough to tell that he had enjoyed plenty of good living over the years.
The moment he saw Lianshan Jingcheng, President Qu, whose brother-in-law had just died, plastered his face with smiles. There was not a trace of grief.
Lianshan Jingcheng did not put on airs. He immediately accepted President Qu's gifts and warmly invited him to sit.
His attitude steadied President Qu's nerves.
But it did not let him relax.
He had always known that Lianshan Jingcheng was an obliging soul.
Lianshan Xin, however, was still young, and young people were the quickest to let their tempers flare.
He was not worried about retaliation from Lianshan Jingcheng, but he was very worried about Lianshan Xin.
After exchanging pleasantries, President Qu quickly came to the point. "My steward just told me that the Sixth Young Master of the Kong Family visited the Spring Revival Hall? And your son personally saw him out?"
He actually had no idea what had happened.
But just as a single word from him could cut off the Spring Revival Hall's supply of medicinal herbs, a single word from Kong Ningyuan could leave his merchant association reeling in a storm.
So Lianshan Xin did not dare gamble on his character, and he did not dare gamble on Lianshan Xin's either.
Hearing his question, Lianshan Jingcheng replied with a genial smile, "Yes. Young Master Kong came to deliver Xin's admission letter from the White Deer Grotto Academy."
"An admission letter?" President Qu's expression shifted slightly. "Your son was admitted to the White Deer Grotto Academy? Through a recommendation?"
"Yes. Young Master Kong recommended him."
Lianshan Jingcheng was not someone who liked showing off.
Except when it came to his son.
That was an instinct parents could not suppress.
President Qu regretted it.
He felt he had brought too few gifts of apology.
"A tiger father never sires a dog of a son. I've always thought your son excelled in both letters and martial arts. Today, he's finally soared into the sky." President Qu reeled off the praise without hesitation.
Lianshan Jingcheng said modestly, "You flatter him, President Qu. My Xin has never accomplished much in either letters or martial arts. He was simply lucky enough to become friends with Young Master Kong."
"That's hardly luck. If Young Master Kong recommended him, your son must have something that made him see him in a new light."
President Qu meant every word.
In Great Yu, recommending someone was a serious and important matter. If the recommended candidate performed too poorly, it damaged the recommender's prestige as well.
The two were not bound together absolutely, but saying that a loss for one was a loss for both was no exaggeration.
That was why Kong Ningyuan had personally delivered Lianshan Xin's admission letter, and why President Qu's heart was heavy. He had realized that Lianshan Xin and Kong Ningyuan were closer than he had assumed.
At that thought, President Qu stopped dancing around the issue. He rose and bowed deeply. "My dear friend, my brother-in-law's affairs truly left me at my wits' end, and I spoke harshly to you. The fault was entirely mine. Please tell me how to make amends, and I will make certain you're satisfied. A nearby neighbor is better than a distant relative. We mustn't let this damage the friendship between our families."
Lianshan Jingcheng was somewhat surprised that President Qu could humble himself so far.
Realizing that he was actually benefiting from his son's influence filled him with a father's pride. Still, he shook his head. "President Qu, there's no point speaking in shadows before someone who sees clearly. Naturally, I'd rather keep the peace and prosper, but Xin learned about this. Young Master Kong only came to the Spring Revival Hall in person because Xin asked him to."
President Qu's heart sank again.
"Xin stood up for me. I can't be generous at his expense. President Qu, I have no real objection myself. There's no deep blood feud between us. As long as Xin doesn't pursue it either, we can consider the matter settled."
President Qu could tell that Lianshan Jingcheng was speaking the truth.
Middle-aged men with wives and children seldom let hot blood rush to their heads. Keeping the peace and prospering was the choice of a middle-aged man with a family to support.
Young people were different. They were still young, with too few reservations and too many impulses.
So he bowed again and said earnestly, "Please invite your son out, my dear friend. I'll apologize to him."
"No need."
Lianshan Xin lifted the curtain and walked in.
He and He Miaojun had been listening in the back all along.
Glancing at President Qu, Lianshan Xin said with biting sarcasm, "President Qu, what a rare guest. It really is difficult to get an audience with you."
With a thud, President Qu dropped straight to his knees. "Every fault, every wrong—it was all mine. Please punish me, Young Master Xin."
The speed of that surrender rivaled France's.
Even Lianshan Xin had not expected him to go this far.
He could only say that the man deserved to be chairman of a merchant association. There was a reason he had built his family business to such heights.
He did not tell President Qu to rise. After eighteen years in Great Yu, he had thoroughly matured into an alcohol-tested warrior of feudalism.
Equality for all belonged to his previous life. When in Rome, he had to do as the Romans did.
"President Qu, you're better at bending and standing tall than I expected. Now you've made me almost embarrassed to give you a hard time."
Since ancient times, those who surrendered had been spared.
But retaliation was still due where it was due.
Fearing might rather than cherishing kindness was human nature, especially among merchants.
He brought out three jars of liquor and set them on the table.
"My father drank until he vomited at a banquet just to beg you to show mercy, yet he never even got to see you. President Qu, I'm not asking much. Drink these three jars, and the matter between our families is settled. Of course, I've asked around. You ruined your health drinking for business in your younger days, and haven't touched a drop in years. If you're unwilling, I won't force you."
President Qu gritted his teeth. Without another word, he pulled out a stopper and poured the liquor into his mouth.
After just three mouthfuls, he choked and began coughing.
"Keep going."
Lianshan Xin's voice was cold.
He was not the sort of protagonist from the webnovels he had read in his previous life who slaughtered an entire family because someone glared at him. But neither was he so saintly that he would sympathize with someone who had wronged his family.
A person could be ruthless, but not stupid.
Hearing Lianshan Xin's cold voice, President Qu abandoned every hope of getting off lightly.
By the time he finished one jar, he had already vomited.
After finishing all three, President Qu began vomiting blood.
Lianshan Xin said indifferently, "Dad, get President Qu some medicine to counteract the liquor. I'm softhearted. I can't bear to see someone fall ill in front of me. Charge him a little less for the treatment. We're neighbors, after all—we're bound to keep running into each other."
Lianshan Jingcheng went to fetch the medicine.
Looking at President Qu, who showed not the slightest resentment, Lianshan Xin spoke again. "President Qu, have your son take the White Deer Grotto Academy entrance exam again this year. He'll get in this time."
President Qu jerked his head up and looked at Lianshan Xin with delighted surprise.
"Thirty percent of Jiangzhou's officials came from the White Deer Grotto Academy. Thirty percent of Jiangzhou's martial artists came from it too. How devoted parents are to their children. President Qu, do you understand what I mean?"
"I do. Rest assured, Young Master Xin. As long as my family's merchant association exists, the Spring Revival Hall will prosper." President Qu nodded repeatedly.
By wielding favor and fear together, he had brought the Qu Family firmly under his thumb. His parents would be secure now.
Lianshan Xin lifted his teacup and gently blew across it.
Authority truly was no less effective than martial strength. It could give him an immense sense of security.
But it was still not enough.
The White Deer Grotto Academy was a place where he could gain more authority.
It also offered the possibility of advancing further in the Martial Dao, and even the path of immortality.
Getting into a good university meant more than studying and learning. It also meant fellow alumni, teachers, and circles he could never enter without gaining admission.
The far reaches of the martial world and the lofty heights of the imperial court were both beyond Lianshan Xin's grasp for now. But entering the White Deer Grotto Academy could connect him to both.
At eighteen, Lianshan Xin decided to formally acquaint himself with this world. And he wanted this world to formally acquaint itself with him!
Before you continue