Had his great-great-grandfather borrowed fortune and ruined Physician Yu?
Made him take the blame and suffer punishment, bringing disaster upon the Yu family's descendants?
The story Uncle Wen had told actually had another version!
Lu Sui's brows drew together slightly, doubts stirring in his heart.
Those three wild gods had their rare treasures stolen, yet instead of considering how to recover them, they concerned themselves only with laying curses. However he thought about it, it seemed strange.
Besides, his great-great-grandfather Lu Ping'an's "scheme" was far too crude.
If Physician Yu failed to keep their appointment fifty days later, wouldn't he have missed his opportunity for nothing?
"Truth and falsehood, all tangled together."
Lu Sui suddenly curled his lips, as though he had spotted the key:
"But looking at what both stories have in common, one thing is certain: the Lu family definitely has some extraordinary treasures hidden away.
"Otherwise, people wouldn't be coveting them like this!"
Thinking along those lines, his ready-made father truly had deep schemes and a heart of iron.
Even with his own son lying at death's door for half a year, he had refused to bring out a treasure to save him.
Lu Sui sighed softly:
"The original owner was too much of a disappointment, too. The Lu family's sole heir, yet he didn't even know his own family's secrets. That shows just how disappointed Lu Yulin was in this son."
He pondered whether he could max out Lu Yulin's favor with some "earth-shattering filial piety."
While inheriting the Lu family's vast holdings, he could get his hands on the "treasures" along the way.
"Junior brother."
A woman's cloyingly sweet voice rang out, so seductive it seemed ready to drip:
"Once you've taken your revenge, we'll return to the mountain and be a pair of happy mandarin ducks, with no one to interfere!"
Next came a stretch of decadent sounds: clothes rubbing together, lips and tongues entwining.
Those two shameless bastards are getting this young master all fired up!
Lu Sui cursed inwardly.
Previously, he had been sickly and frail, his Qi and Blood depleted, his body liable to topple in a breeze. Naturally, he had entertained no thoughts of that kind.
But as he practiced his stance, his internal Qi grew stronger by the day. Together with all the nourishing medicinal meals he consumed in quantity, his physique gradually grew solid and strong.
Suddenly hearing a man and woman entwining, kneading and moaning, he inevitably experienced some normal reactions for a young man.
"Senior sister, you're the best person in the world to me. If I weren't burdened with the Yu family's vile curse, I..."
The man seemed genuinely moved, his voice tender:
"Once I've brought down the Lu family and reclaimed those three supreme treasures, I'll use them as betrothal gifts and marry you!"
Hearing this, the woman grew still more overcome, saying sweetly:
"Don't worry, junior brother. However capable Lu Yulin is, with our strength combined, we might well be able to defeat him.
"If we really can't, I can send word to eldest senior brother and ask him to act! He's already about to become a 'Mountain Patrol Envoy'!"
The man fell silent for a few breaths, then changed the subject:
"There's no need to trouble eldest senior brother over my family's private grudge.
"Is that mole you planted still reliable, senior sister?"
Pride colored the woman's laughter:
"Even if you don't trust me, don't you trust the 'Transferred Affection Gu'? My 'Witchcraft and Gu Art' rarely fails.
"Speaking of which, your methods were truly incisive, junior brother, using those five cartloads of goods to set a trap for Lu Yulin..."
A mole?
Could it be Luo Dongsheng?
It could also be head manager Luo Youxian, or perhaps father and son were in league?
There's a traitor hiding beside my ready-made father. I wonder whether he's noticed...
Lu Sui's thoughts raced, and he couldn't help worrying about Lu Yulin. Without the towering tree that was the Lu family, how could he enjoy peaceful days?
That shameless pair were like wolves and tigers, and had even learned that blasted Witchcraft and Gu Art and Suppression Art. They would probably be difficult to deal with.
The woman giggled:
"Junior brother, just what are the Lu family's treasures... Those are my 'betrothal gifts,' you know."
The man said quietly:
"There are three altogether. As the saying goes, ginseng at seven taels is precious, at eight taels a treasure. When a fifteen-tael mountain child gains sentience, it's a ginseng king, also called 'Seven Stalks and Eight Vajras.' It restores youth and extends life by sixty years-a medicinal treasure of the highest order.
"Then there's the 'Gold and Silver Basin Feng Shui Formation,' which stores fortune and gathers wealth. The great merchants within the pass like to stockpile grain, build grand houses, and erect memorial archways. Beyond the pass, they accumulate capital instead.
"Not long after the Lu family founded the Ganzi Gang, they turned it into the Dacheng Trading Firm. They borrowed from the major money houses to do business-borrowing a hen to lay eggs, using money to make money.
"They never touched their principal, saving every bit of it to set up this feng shui formation."
The man's voice burned with excitement, as though he already considered it his own:
"As far as I know, the Lu family has a secret cache containing six great earthenware vats of horseshoe gold, arranged in the configuration of the Civil and Martial Gods of Wealth.
"It's precisely because of this feng shui formation that the Lu family's business flourishes and wealth pours in."
The woman was moved as well, crying out:
"Six great earthenware vats of horseshoe gold! That could probably buy all of Changle County!"
Then the man sighed:
"The last treasure is rather mysterious. It seems to be some sort of ability to communicate between yin and yang and bind ghosts and gods.
"In any case, only Lu Ping'an obtained it. None of the later generations of the Lu family, including Lu Yulin, acquired it."
Communicate between yin and yang, bind ghosts and gods?
Could his great-great-grandfather really have had a "Seven-Apertured Exquisite Heart"?
But how could something like a "heart" be passed down?
Could you cut an opening and force another one inside?
"Junior brother, enough talking... I'm getting a little needy!"
As they talked, their passion deepened, until the woman could no longer restrain herself:
"Eat it properly, like last time. Didn't you say my toes were your lingzhi grass, junior brother~?"
Lu Sui had intended to keep listening to this live erotic show, to see whether the shameless pair would whisper any more secrets while doing the deed.
If he learned where they were hiding, he could tell his ready-made father and have him round up a team to catch them all in one net!
Unfortunately, the current of Qi flowing nimbly through his limbs and bones could no longer hold out.
With his ears buzzing and his head spinning, Lu Sui had no choice but to stop.
"Tonight's haul was substantial. You little monkey certainly got your fill of listening."
Inside the ancient temple's shrine, the little six-eared monkey bounded up and down in excitement.
Lines of tiny tadpole-like writing flickered into view.
[Seeing you concentrate on listening, the "Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Great Art" pricked up its ears as well.] [It feasted on the Lu and Yu families' decades-old grievances, eating until its belly bulged and it kept belching.] [After this bout of gluttonous indulgence, the "Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Great Art" made tremendous progress, approaching minor accomplishment...]
Lu Sui looked at the stick of incense. A small section had visibly burned away, its smoke curling and gathering into a haze, within which endless insights unfolded.
"The Earthly Hearing Chapter has three levels as well: hearing the wind, hearing breath, and hearing hearts.
"This little monkey that loves eavesdropping swallowed so many secrets. It got its fill, and saved me a great deal of hard training."
Lu Sui opened his eyes. He could not readily judge who was right or wrong in this old grudge between the Lu and Yu families.
After all, each side had only given its own account. It was difficult to part the fog and see the truth.
The priority now was finding the traitor and preventing the Lu family's downfall.
"Find a suitable excuse to pass what I know to Uncle Wen?"
Lu Sui thought for a long time. Because of the original owner's past behavior, his words carried no weight whatsoever with Lu Yulin.
He either had to completely change his ready-made father's opinion of him and give his words more weight;
Or produce conclusive evidence...
"I could spend more time around Luo Dongsheng and use him as my opening."
Lu Sui thought that, with the Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Great Art, uncovering someone's secrets would be as easy as turning his hand over.
"Young master, it's time to wash up."
Xiaotang brought hot water. Looking at Lu Sui's strange posture as he supported himself against the desk, she asked in confusion:
"Young master, why are you bending over? Does your stomach hurt?"
Struggling to keep his gun down, Lu Sui gave a dry laugh:
"I'm training. A new training method I learned from Uncle Wen."
Confusion covered Xiaotang's oval face. What sort of martial art required a posture like that?
The next day.
As the sky was just growing light, Lu Sui rose early as usual.
With the Turtle-Snake Stance urging and supervising him, he could only maintain disciplined habits and train diligently.
A current of Qi four fingers thick rose from three inches below his navel, slowly traveling through his limbs and bones.
His muscles, taut from prolonged stance training, now felt as though they were soaking in warm water, an indescribably comfortable sensation.
The strain throughout his body was also dissolved little by little.
"Health-nurturing arts are slow to practice, but they build exceptionally solid foundations and leave no hidden injuries or future troubles."
Half an hour later, Lu Sui opened his eyes, immediately feeling relaxed all over, his mind clear and refreshed.
Just as he finished, Xiaohuan came running like the wind, her cheeks flushed:
"Young master, the master wants you to come over."
Lu Sui paused briefly, quickly reviewing the events of the past few days.
It should be about Granny Ma. Given my ready-made father's temperament, he certainly wouldn't want a fire breaking out in his own backyard.
He went inside and changed into a long gown before heading to the front hall.
"You're here, Zhan'ao."
Lu Yulin wore a dark teal long gown that day, without a trace of embroidery. Sitting upright in a grand armchair, he still looked imposing.
"Uncle Wen said your martial training has been quite productive. I thought I shouldn't hold you back, so I had Fusheng send invitations to each of Changle County's four great schools, to see which of their masters would accept you as a disciple and let you enroll."
Rubbing the jade thumb ring on his right hand, Lu Yulin chuckled:
"All four masters have done me the courtesy and are willing to accept you, so I called you here to ask your preference."
My ready-made father's money power works pretty well.
Lu Sui grumbled inwardly.
He had heard a little of Changle County's four great schools. They counted as fairly famous local "first-rate martial arts academies."
Martial arts schools as numerous as hairs on an ox were a distinctive feature of the Land Beyond the Pass.
They were not simply places where martial artists planted a flag, hung a signboard, and taught fighting skills. Most were linked with trading firms and gangs.
On the one hand, they trained household guards for wealthy families; on the other, they supplied men to escort cargo and guard shipments.
"I've never had any dealings with martial circles and don't know much about the four great schools. I'll leave everything to you, Father."
Lu Sui chose the safest answer.
"Fusheng, which school do you think the eldest young master should enroll in?"
In the past, hearing Lu Sui say something like that would certainly have displeased Lu Yulin inwardly.
He would have considered it a sign of weakness and a complete lack of independent judgment.
But Dou Xiaowen had kept him informed of Lu Sui's recent circumstances: not only was he training enthusiastically and making rapid progress, he had also detected Granny Ma's murderous intentions and promptly eliminated her...
All these actions greatly pleased Lu Yulin, making him find Lu Sui much more agreeable.
"Master, old Master Ma of the Hongyun Martial Arts School is advanced in years. I'm afraid he can no longer execute his Lightning and Startling Thunder Hand. There's no need to send the young master there."
Duan Fusheng smiled affably, all geniality. Though he addressed the "master," he actually faced Lu Sui as he explained in detail:
"Master Tan of the Hundred Victories Martial Arts School comes from within the pass. He specializes in kicks, known as the 'Seventy-Two Forms of the Shadowless Kick.' If you're interested, young master, you might consider him."
"As for Master Xu and Master Li, who preside over the Might-Shaking Martial Arts School and the Shunyi Martial Arts School, one excels at throws, earning the nickname 'Eighteen Falls on Touching Clothes.' The other practices external arts tirelessly, and is known as 'Iron Palm Splitting the Mountain.'"
These martial artists who had established their own schools each had a grander reputation than the last.
At first hearing, they all sounded intimidating. It really was difficult to choose.
"Uncle Wen did say that my 'sinews' are rather ordinary, but my 'bones' are well formed, with something of a wasp's waist and mantis's legs. In that case, learning a kicking art should be a good choice."
After pondering briefly, Lu Sui cupped his hands:
"Then I'll join the Hundred Victories Martial Arts School and enroll under Master Tan."
Lu Yulin nodded:
"Fusheng, later, send someone to deliver a hundred taels of silver to each of the other three schools, along with two fifty-year-old wild ginseng roots apiece.
"Those masters showed me courtesy, so we must acknowledge the favor."
Duan Fusheng bowed his head in assent.
Tsk, money really lets you do whatever you like. A hundred taels of silver just for showing him courtesy, plus two well-aged wild ginseng roots. With my ready-made father's generosity and way of doing things, who wouldn't be happy to oblige him?
Lu Sui quietly took notes. As the Lu family's eldest young master, he should not hesitate when the time came to throw money around.
"As for Master Tan at the Hundred Victories Martial Arts School, prepare ample apprenticeship gifts and tea-offering gifts according to the customs of martial circles.
"From now on, the disciples of the Hundred Victories Martial Arts School will handle cargo escorts and transport for Guangfa Pharmacy and Xingtai Oil Mill."
In just a few sentences, Lu Yulin settled the matter, fully displaying the confidence and character of a chamber of commerce heavyweight.
"Certainly."
Duan Fusheng said with a smile:
"There's no need to trouble yourself over such trifles, Master. I'll see to everything properly."
"Mm. With you handling it, I can rest easy."
Lu Yulin waved his hand:
"Fusheng, leave us for now. I want to speak with Zhan'ao alone."
A smile on his round face, Duan Fusheng slowly backed out of the front hall without turning around.
The Mud Buddha, with his vast circle of acquaintances and a thousand faces for a thousand people...
Judging by appearance and bearing alone, Lu Sui found it hard to connect him with Second Steward Duan of the Lu household.
"Zhan'ao."
Lu Yulin rose, walked up to Lu Sui, and said softly:
"Granny Ma was indeed an old servant in Wanrong's courtyard, but Wanrong knew nothing of her making a straw effigy to curse you. On that point, you have your father's word."
Wanrong was Second Concubine's name.
"I think so too. If Second Concubine wanted to harm me, why go to all that trouble? There are more secretive methods, less likely to be noticed."
Last night, through the Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Great Art, with Calamity Qi as his medium, Lu Sui had heard that adulterous pair's conversation.
The woman addressed as "Senior Sister" had claimed she had controlled someone with a Transferred Affection Gu and planted them as a nail at Lu Yulin's side.
However he considered it, that person should not have been Second Concubine Wanrong.
"Your father is glad you can see that clearly."
A few wrinkles gathered at the corners of Lu Yulin's eyes as he smiled sincerely, then continued:
"But you've been targeted by underhanded attacks time and again. We can't simply let that pass.
"Before you go hang your curtain at the Hundred Victories Martial Arts School, I'll pull out a nail first, to set your mind at ease.
"And while I'm at it, I'll beat the mountain to shake the tiger, so that bastard who's outlived his kin doesn't get too brazen."
Lu Yulin raised a hand and rested it on Lu Sui's shoulder, carefully studying his son standing so close before him.
Those brows and eyes bore a striking resemblance to his first wife, who had died of illness.
Yet Uncle Wen had said that ever since Zhan'ao woke up, he had looked more and more like him.
Especially when he swung the peachwood axe to break the straw effigy's Baleful Intent, his eyes filled with murderous intent-he had looked as though he had been cast from the very same mold!
At that thought, Lu Yulin could not help wondering:
Perhaps that ordeal really did knock some sense into Zhan'ao?
Pull out a nail?
Lu Sui's heart tightened slightly at those words.
His bargain-bin father had known all along that there was a mole at his side!
It seemed he had far underestimated the true worth of Changle County's number-one dealer in blades, spears, and firearms.
"In three days, I'll take you to watch a show."
Lu Yulin showed a rare trace of fatherly tenderness:
"Once the nail is pulled out, you can settle down to practicing martial arts. Let them come with spears in the open or arrows from the shadows. With your father here to shelter you from wind and rain, you needn't fear a thing."