Lu Yulin was a little shocked too.
Could it be that their ancestors had blessed them, and the Lu family bloodline had finally awakened in Zhan'ao?!
Approval on his face, Lu Yulin nodded.
"Zhan'ao has a point. Do as he says. Use her to fish out the Yu family's surviving bastard."
"Yes, master."
Expressionless, Master Chai carried Yuniang, drenched in black dog blood, away in long strides.
"Tonight's show really was spectacular."
Lu Sui could not help marveling. His bargain-bin father seemed to have opened his Heavenly Eyes, toying with the adulterous pair in the palm of his hand.
He had turned their scheme against them to pull out the planted spy and eliminate a hidden threat, then seized the opportunity to deal with the remnants of his enemies. So many birds with one stone!
If the Yu family's descendant was captured too, Lu Sui could practice in peace from now on and climb the martial path that led to the heavens.
"Stay seated here."
The matter was settled, yet Lu Yulin showed no intention of leaving. After that brief instruction, he bent at the waist and ducked out of the carriage, standing on its shaft.
What else does my bargain-bin father have up his sleeve?
Lu Sui wondered.
Then he saw Lu Yulin cup his fists and declare in a strong, resonant voice:
"Fellow townspeople of Changle County, I apologize for the disturbance just now. Anyone who suffered losses may come to the Dacheng Trading Firm to collect compensation."
Well, damn. There's even a cleanup-and-win-hearts segment!
Lu Sui marveled at how his bargain-bin father never left a single crack for water to seep through.
Before he could begin studying this seriously, a voice rang out from the crowd gathering around them:
"Master Lu! Head Manager Luo's son is still in that house. Could he have been harmed by that fiend drenched in black dog blood?"
Lu Yulin clutched his chest, his face filled with anguish.
"To tell you the truth, Head Manager Luo of the Yihe Workshop and I had a friendship forged through life and death. But misfortune befell his household, and he raised an unfilial son.
"The five cartloads of goods stolen from the Dacheng Trading Firm were taken by Luo Dongsheng in collusion with that fiend.
"But Brother Youxian noticed something amiss. Seeing that paper could no longer contain the fire, Luo Dongsheng committed the ultimate outrage and murdered his own father..."
By this point, Lu Yulin was choking up. He raised a hand to cover his face.
Just then, Lu Sui heard another voice from inside the carriage:
"To think Young Master Luo was so utterly depraved! Could the commotion in the west of town earlier have had something to do with him?"
Tears streamed down Lu Yulin's face as he said in grief:
"Brother Youxian gave me his word that he would recover the missing goods. Early this morning, he said he had received a lead... little did he know that the warehouse in the west of town was a trap laid by Luo Dongsheng!
"Brother Youxian! To lose my right-hand man over five cartloads of goods-oh, the agony! Pfft!"
Amid his tears and lamentations, Lu Yulin actually spat out a mouthful of crimson blood.
Alas, how did a kind soul like me end up born into this wolf's den of a Lu family?
His bargain-bin father's performance could have won him a best actor award. Lu Sui watched in repeated admiration.
He even arranged the extras in advance. Such depth and calculation... I might as well make an appearance too.
Lu Sui hurried out of the carriage and supported Lu Yulin, who swayed on the verge of collapse, calling loudly:
"Father, hold on! Lord Youxian's spirit in heaven wouldn't want to see you like this either!"
At those words, the crowd immediately erupted.
"The Lu family is righteous and benevolent!"
"Master Lu, please restrain your grief!"
"The eldest young master is right..."
Amid the chorus of agreement, Lu Sui helped Lu Yulin back into the carriage.
Once the curtain fell, Lu Yulin's face regained its composure, and he studied Lu Sui intently.
Now that his son had come to his senses, he really was becoming more and more like a true member of the Lu family.
"Zhan'ao, after tonight, you can practice martial arts in peace."
"I will train diligently, Father. I won't disappoint you."
Lu Sui was still counting on building up his "credit score" and increasing his standing with Lu Yulin.
If nothing else, he could ask for a bigger allowance!
"Back to the manor."
Lu Yulin closed his eyes. Whether he was thinking of Luo Youxian or something else, a trace of weariness appeared between his brows.
"Fusheng should be home by now too. Hopefully, the Yu family's surviving bastard hasn't amounted to much yet, so I can end this feud that has dragged on for over a century."
A side room in the Lu manor's outer courtyard.
Lu Yulin pushed the door open and entered. Following behind, Lu Sui sniffed.
He caught a pungent smell of blood mixed with the heavy scent of medicine.
"Second Steward Duan is injured?"
"Cough, cough..."
Duan Fusheng lay flat on the bed. Seeing Lu Yulin enter, he tried to get up.
"Master, I failed in my duties..."
Lu Yulin knitted his brows and snapped:
"At a time like this, you're still worrying about empty formalities? Lie down and rest!"
Duan Fusheng smiled wryly.
"Master, I'm not going to die. I just capsized in a gutter. If word gets out, the youngsters will laugh at me."
Lu Yulin sat beside the bed and examined the wound closely, asking with a grim face:
"Has the Yu family's surviving bastard reached the second threshold of the Fleshly Body Realm? Fetus Embracing?"
Duan Fusheng shook his head.
"If he really had reached Fetus Embracing, how could I have survived? He wouldn't need to hide in the shadows and plot murder either.
That kid was about on par with me, having undergone Blood Exchange several times and refined his inner force.
"He's very cunning. He deliberately lured me into chasing him, then turned around and slashed me... that saber was extraordinary. At least hundred-refinement grade!"
Lu Yulin's face darkened.
"Yu Feilong of Wind and Sand Saber roamed unchecked across Guandong with his Eighteen-Form Listening Wind Saber and Five Poisons Sand. That surviving bastard actually inherited his skills! And that treasured saber has fallen into his hands too!"
Lu Sui inwardly clicked his tongue. Weapons in the Land Beyond the Pass started at "ten-forging" grade and reached perfection at "ten-thousand-forging" grade, sharp enough to sever a hair blown against their edges and slice through iron like mud.
Anything that reached the level of "ten-refinement" or "hundred-refinement" was an exceptionally rare treasure!
Only the finest master craftsmen could forge them.
Lu Yulin asked again:
"What did Doctor Lu say?"
Pale-faced, Duan Fusheng forced a smile.
"I won't die. Just took a slash across the chest and belly. My guts nearly spilled all over the floor. Luckily, I had my martial foundation and kept my Qi and Blood under control."
Lu Yulin patted the back of Duan Fusheng's hand.
"Then focus on recovering. Don't trouble yourself with the manor's affairs anymore. I'll tell Wanrong to use the best medicinal ingredients."
"Thank you, master."
Duan Fusheng nodded and added:
"Right, that brat isn't very old. He has grayish-white eyes and wears a black wolf mask.
"He's a deep schemer. After that house exploded, he deliberately waited a while before coming in. He kept his guard up too, so my ambush failed..."
"Yes, I'll remember."
Lu Yulin rose.
"As long as he dares stay in Changle County, I'll dig three feet into the earth to find him!"
The inner courtyard.
Lu Sui entered his room and sat down at the desk.
"White eyes, black wolf, treasured saber... tsk, he really is hard to kill!"
A shadow settled over Lu Sui's heart. His opponent bore a blood-deep vendetta, had now mastered his skills, carried a treasured saber, and even had a senior sister he was involved with...
By the conventions of storybooks and storytelling, that fellow had the protagonist template. The Lu family were the villains!
"Multiple blood replacements and condensed internal force, huh? Damn it, when it comes to training, I've got a turtle on my left and a snake on my right. Why would I fear you!"
Lu Sui rallied his spirits. Master Chai was so formidable that, with his protection, his life should no longer be in danger.
Next, he needed to seize every moment and grind like mad.
[Seeing your unyielding resolve and soaring fighting spirit, Turtle-Snake Stance was greatly encouraged!] [Qi coursed through every bone and completed a heavenly circuit, achieving one perfect guiding cycle...]
"Even getting fired up can stimulate Turtle-Snake Stance. Diligence Rewarded really is a good mark."
Lu Sui immediately felt warmth rise throughout his body. A current of Qi four fingers thick moved like a spirit snake, making circuit after circuit.
Closing his eyes, Lu Sui carefully experienced Turtle-Snake Stance's perfect guiding cycle. His chest rose and fell faster and faster, like pumping bellows, stirring gusts of air.
Moments later, the entire room was filled with the swift, forceful sounds of exhalation and inhalation.
Thin streams of air escaped between his lips and teeth with a hissing sound, like a snake flicking its tongue.
"Young master practices even while sitting. He's so diligent."
Xiaohuan and Xiaotang came from the side chamber into the main room. Seeing Lu Sui wholly absorbed, they stood to one side without disturbing him.
Almost there!
With this intense breathing, Lu Sui discovered that the current of Qi four fingers thick was growing longer and longer.
Slowly guided through his entire body, it permeated his sinews, bones, skin, and flesh, strengthening his physique.
His skin rapidly reddened, radiating heat like a little furnace.
Her voice as faint as a mosquito's, Xiaohuan stood on tiptoe and quietly leaned toward Xiaotang's ear to ask:
"Sister Xiaotang, is young master all right?"
Xiaotang answered in a low voice:
"This is a sign of breaking through a threshold... young master is about to strengthen his Qi and Blood."
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Sweat poured from Lu Sui, soaking him through. Clouds of white mist wreathed his mouth and nose, as though he were swallowing clouds and breathing out mist.
At this moment, both Turtle-Breathing Tuna and Spirit Snake Circulating Qi had been pushed to their limits.
Here it comes!
Lu Sui's brows relaxed, and delight appeared on his face.
The current of Qi four fingers thick within him had reached fullness, becoming a nimble swimming snake that passed through his flesh, washing through it again and again.
At the same time, it drew on his scalding blood to condense even purer internal Qi.
It circulated a full seven times seven-forty-nine rounds.
Thump!
Lu Sui suddenly felt his heart pound violently, like a drum, deep and powerful!
Immediately afterward, the thick current of Qi, like a nimble swimming snake, darted into his arms and dissolved little by little into his scalding blood.
Veins bulged along both arms like little snakes covering his skin, and a formidable strength arose.
"Finally, it's flowing!"