Chapter 16 Changing Situation (Part 1)

"Still okay, the targeted yin nourishment these days helped."

He carefully sensed his physical condition inwardly.

Although weak, it was much better than when first initiated.

Looks like his recuperation these days had indeed been effective.

Phew...

Exhaling deeply, Lu Sheng felt the circle of inner qi between his chest and abdomen thicken from the thickness of chopsticks to nine full strands.

The nine strands merged together were much thicker than before.

Reaching the second layer, Jade Crane Skill's feeling was clearly different from before.

With every breath, Lu Sheng felt full of energy and his reactions were much faster than usual.

"According to the second layer Jade Crane Skill's record, there should be life extension and fast blood clotting effects."

"I'll test the internal skill's effects tomorrow. Contact Duan Mu Wan too and see if I can obtain more internal manuals from her."

Since Jade Crane Skill was real, the other internal skills might be too. He wanted to see what it would be like with multiple internal skills cultivated together.

Logically speaking, internal skills without conflicting attributes could integrate together.

With this in mind, Lu Sheng lied back down to rest.

But just after lying down, he heard faint footsteps outside in the yard seemingly moving farther away.

From the rhythm, it sounded like Lu Qing Qing.

Lu Sheng shook his head without paying more attention. Recently his sister had been sneaking out every other night it seemed.

He didn't know what clues she found.

In the beginning he cautiously followed for a stretch, but discovered his movement techniques were far from Lu Qing Qing's level. Losing her trail after just a few moves, he no longer wasted effort afterwards.

Early next morning, Lu Sheng directly took his prepared money orders and headed for Duan Mu Wan's lodgings at Wan Fu Inn.

"What? She checked out?"

Lu Sheng stared at the innkeeper, frowning.

"When?"

"Around half a month ago, Miss Duan Mu received several young masters' invitations to tour Red Lotus Temple. She sent people to check out after that."

The innkeeper had a good impression of Duan Mu Wan too.

After all she was originally a beauty, and many young pursuers with deep pockets and high consumption left a deep memory on him.

"Red Lotus Temple..."

Lu Sheng frowned.

He intuitively felt Duan Mu Wan wouldn't be at Red Lotus Temple.

Such an abrupt checkout was merely an excuse.

"Forget it then."

He shook his horsetail whisk and exited the inn. Two guards stood outside waiting.

"Young Master, did you find Miss Duan Mu?" Guard Xiao Song was close to Lu Sheng these days. He was often in charge of cleaning up during Lu Sheng's martial arts practice, even filling in as a sparring partner sometimes. His skill was decent.

"No, she's gone." Lu Sheng shook his head.

"Where to now then?"

"Where? Back to the manor."

Lu Sheng's mood soured somewhat now that he couldn't get the secret manuals.

The three got into the carriage and rode straight back to Lu Manor. On arrival before the manor gates, they saw a yellow carriage already parked there with "Zhang" hugely engraved on its side.

"Zhang family?" Lu Sheng's expression changed. After so long, the Zhang family finally came for revenge.

But he wasn't worried, letting Xiao Song and the others leave first as he entered alone through the main gate.

From the entryway he could directly see inside the main hall, his father Lu Quan An entertaining the Zhang member who came while accompanied by a warrior escort.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Only one person came from the Zhang family.

Bushy eyebrows and narrow eyes, around thirty years old.

"....My son could never do such a thing! The Zhangs must have seen wrong!" Lu Quan An sat at the head seat, face tranquil.

"Many saw it happen with their own eyes! How can that be fake?!"

That man's chest burned hotly with rage.

"I don't care how powerful your Zhang family is in Purple Cloud City, here is Jiu Lian City, not your Purple Cloud!

No matter how formidable the Zhangs are, my Lu family isn't vegetarian either! If you continue framing my son, then don't blame Lu Quan An for being impolite!"

Lu Quan An said coldly.

The man shook all over with fury. One finger pointed at Lu Quan An, rendered speechless.

"Good, good!! Lord Lu certainly has imposing manner! I will be sure to convey this, verbatim to Master Song Xi of my family! Goodbye!!"

He turned and strode toward the main gate.

Lu Sheng bumped into him midway. Not recognizing Lu Sheng, that man still charged forward angrily.

Lu Sheng was not surprised. Nowadays in the weakened Great Song dynasty, everywhere was divided with various warlords ruling their land, let alone all the way up north here. The city and local powers were tyrannical kings.

Even in central China, large houses like the Lu family often merely paid lip service to authorities while defying them in private, causing no end of trouble.

These Zhang family members still thought they were back in Purple Cloud City it seems, actually coming to accuse them!

That man brushed past Lu Sheng and furiously boarded his carriage before leaving.

Lu Sheng walked inside the main hall and saw his father Lu Quan An sitting there blanantly distracted.

"Father, took care of things?"

He said softly, gesturing the surrounding guards to leave them be for a private discussion.

Lu Quan An sighed. Seeing it was Lu Sheng, his face involuntarily showed a smile.

"My son, take care of your sister more. Don't let her wander around the city."

"I can't control her movements." Lu Sheng bitterly smiled and shook his head. "Father, did we find what we were tasked to search for? Was it a thing or a person to find?"

"Could be either, hard to say!"

Lu Quan An shook his head, lowering his voice.

"What's giving the prefect headaches now are the Xu case and the concubine well case outside the city. Especially the well case. So many catchers still can't find clues while your sister thinks she can accomplish something alone there? Tell her to obediently stay home when you get back."

"She went to investigate the Wang Manor case?" Lu Sheng was surprised.

"You didn't know? Catchers at the yamen even saw your sister's maid over there. She sends in two fugitives or suspects for bounty every few days. People at the yamen almost recognize her now."

Lu Quan An said, exasperated.

"I see..." Lu Sheng frowned. "I was busy collecting martial arts recently so didn't have the chance to supervise her."

"Collecting martial arts... you've spent close to five thousand taels already. What are the results?" Lu Quan An casually asked.

"I've gathered multiple manuals. I'll organize them to build a scripture house on our property. It'll be convenient for nurturing experts in our Lu family later."

Lu Sheng said solemnly.

"I can roughly guess your train of thought. These are chaotic times. Relying on just a few dozen people at home isn't enough. We need to nurture more elites belonging to our Lu family. That's why I fully supported you collecting martial arts when I heard about it."

Lu Quan An earnestly said.

"Including guards and servants, there are eighty-six people in the family we can mobilize immediately. But most need to guard the manor, so there are really only around forty who can deploy externally."

Lu Sheng tallied it up.

"Those forty also need to be responsible for the safety of our family's thirteen farmsteads and sixteen shops outside. It's far from enough."

"Your father naturally knows that too... but trusted men are hard to find...." Lu Quan An sighed.

"How about adopting orphans? Surely there are many wandering children in and outside the city?" Lu Sheng suggested.

"That's... I'd still need to consider what the other families think...."

Lu Quan An hesitated.

"Our own manpower is severely lacking. Why do we need to worry about other families? Can't we develop covertly?" Lu Sheng reasoned.

"It's a sensitive topic that could shake up everything badly if discovered by the other families. They would certainly denounce our Lu family for harboring ambition and being too conspicuous."

Lu Quan An shook his head slightly.

Lu Sheng persuaded for a couple sentences more to no avail.

He understood that Lu Quan An no longer had the drive of his younger days. Back then with nothing holding him back, he made decisions firmly and took responsibility, building up the Lu family's enormous household.

But now... always anxious and indecisive.

Lu Sheng could tell Lu Quan An supported collecting martial arts because he harbored hopes of expanding the family.

But when it came time to act, he hesitated again, unable to make up his mind.

After a few words, Lu Sheng stopped persuading. He only asked about a few people's health and safety before taking his leave.

Lu Quan An stood alone in the great hall, brows deeply knitted, still wavering.

But Lu Sheng no longer wanted to rely on this old father.

In such chaotic times, those without sufficient personal power would sooner or later end up as fat meat in others' eyes.

Leaving the main hall, he resumed practicing martial arts in the field.

After Jade Crane Skill reached its peak at second layer, his spirit and energy remained abundant all day. Even busy from dawn to dusk, he didn't feel tired.

When slightly drowsy, a short rest rejuvenated him to vigorously train for hours.

He kept practicing saber techniques outside until dusk.

Only after sweating all over did he rinse off then hurry to dinner.

At the dining table, it was Lu Quan An, his second wife, and Lu Sheng at one table, the rest of the closer relatives all at another large one.

This was custom.

Lu Quan An was the family head, Lu Sheng the future head. Lu Sheng and his second mother also had an extremely close relationship with Lu Quan An. She also managed the inner residence's female servants and maids daily.

These three held the highest status in the Lu family.

Then there was the Third Madam, Fourth Madam, Fifth Madam, Lu Qing Qing, Lu Ying Ying, Lu Chen Xin and the rest of the family.

Despite being first generation upstarts, the Lu family still observed some formalities of powerful households.

No talking while eating was one rule.

The two tables of people ate amid only the occasional clinking of bowls and chopsticks. Utter silence otherwise.

"My son."

The seldom speaking Lu Quan An unexpectedly opened his mouth during the meal.

At his words, the entire family gradually slowed eating to listen respectfully. Etiquette dictated that unless an extremely important matter, he normally wouldn't speak during meals.

"Father, what is it?"

Lu Sheng set his chopsticks down looking toward Lu Quan An.

"You said there are no more martial arts to be found in Jiu Lian City. What about taking a trip to Cliff City?"

Lu Quan An solemnly said.

"Cliff City?" Lu Sheng was surprised. He didn't expect his father to suggest leaving Jiu Lian City.

"That's right." Lu Quan An nodded. "I have an old friend there. He mentioned in a recent letter that genuine formidable martial arts masters from central China opened schools in Cliff City. If you're willing, you could go take a look. Maybe it's possible to bring back one or two truly extraordinary central martial arts."