Chapter 42: Lu Qinghu's Decision

"Patriarch, that Zhou Donghuang not only wields a black iron spear weighing one thousand two hundred jin like an extension of his arm, but is also capable of using swiftness martial art techniques..."

"I've seen the Zhao family members demonstrate the Zhao family's swiftness technique... but it is far inferior to what Zhou Donghuang demonstrated."

As a lady, the head elder of the Lu family, Lu Pinglan, noticed every detail, and this was something that even Lu Qinghu, the patriarch of the Lu family, could not match.

"There is definitely something mysterious about him!"

"Why don't we... deliberately spread the news that Zhou Donghuang has a level-three swiftness martial art technique? After all, not many people in Yunfeng prefecture and even superior-level and intermediate-level prefectures know what a level-three swiftness martial art technique is like."

"His swiftness martial art technique is stronger than the one belonging to the governing Zhao family, and even if it is only a lesser-grade technique, people will believe us if we say it is a level-three swiftness martial art technique."

"And if the news that he possesses a level-three swiftness martial art technique spreads, even the grand families and tycoons will have their eyes on him... and if he is unable to hand over a level-three swiftness martial art technique, they will not let him off!"

As Lu Pinglan finished, a cold smile spread over her aged face, and her eyes glittered coldly.

Just when her idea was beginning to gain traction with Fang Jishan and the others, Lu Qinghu shook his head and said, "Head Elder, this is indeed a good way to exact revenge on Zhou Donghuang... but what if the outcome is different from what we planned?"

"A martial invalid from Qingshan town has demonstrated abilities on par with a level-five adept of Qi-gathering and thrashed us all... and most importantly, he is still only seventeen years old!"

"In the whole of Yunfeng prefecture, probably only the governor himself has the ability to beat us so soundly by himself."

"And how old is the governor compared to him?"

"If he attracts the attention of the grand families and tycoons and they are able to kill him, all will be well... but what if they cannot? What if he manages to defeat them? With his talent, even if he practices only casually for the next twenty years, who in the country of Yunyang will be able to stand up to him?"

"And if he investigates and gets to the root of the matter, or even if he cannot ascertain that we had spread the news... he could extinguish our three families if he had even the slightest hint of suspicion."

Lu Pinglan was deflated by Lu Qinghu's words, and Fang Jishan and the others broke out in a cold sweat.

Although that youth was only seventeen years old, he was truly that fearsome.

Give him twenty years more, and when he was thirty-seven years old, who in the entire country of Yunyang would be able to stand against him?

"I suggest that we do as he asks, to his satisfaction. If we do well, we could even attempt to establish a relationship with him."

Lu Qinghu's eyes glittered with wisdom. "When those three fellows returned home, they agreed that he maimed Ma Jin first because Ma Jin bullied and humiliated one of his employees. That he would put himself in danger to stand up for a lowly employee proves that he has a kind heart."

"We all have something to gain and nothing to lose from being on good terms with him."

"Besides, I have a particularly strong hunch that if our three families want to advance to become a preeminent family, he... he could be the key to achieving that."

Lu Qinghu's eyes burned fiercely. Leading the Lu family into the ranks of the preeminent families was his life's ambition.

"Brother Qinghu, you may be able to compromise and adjust, but what if I, Fang Jishan, cannot do the same? But after all, Zhou Donghuang spared my life today... from today, the Fang family will follow the decision of the Lu family."

Fang Jishan was the first to make his stance clear, with the backing of the head elder of the Fang family.

"Patriarch Lu, it's all well and good for the Lu and Fang families... but the Ma family has lost its patriarch today, and I am the only one who has seen how fearsome Zhou Donghuang is. Although I am inclined to go with the Lu and Fang families, I'm afraid the others of the Ma family will not agree." Second Elder Ma Dongfeng of the Ma family smiled bitterly.

The issue was that although a junior of each of the three families had all lost a leg to Zhou Donghuang, now, the Ma family had lost their patriarch to Zhou Donghuang in addition to a leg of a junior member.

"Elder Dongfeng, if I remember correctly, you are also of the direct line of the Ma family... as of today, Tianba is gone, and you are the strongest person in the Ma family. As long as our two families support you in becoming the patriarch of the Ma family, who in the Ma family will object? Who would dare to object?" Lu Qinghu asked conspiratorially with a gleam in his eye.

Ma Dongfeng's eyes lit up when he heard this. "If I am the patriarch of the Ma family, I will follow Patriarch Lu all the way."

...

Back at the inn, Zhou Donghuang returned to his room and consumed a portion of qi-gathering elixir and began to replenish his qi.

The qi in his body had been almost entirely spent, and for his qi to recover to its previous level, he would need only half a day with the aid of the qi-gathering elixir.

By the time night fell, Zhou Donghuang's qi had recovered to its previous level.

Just then, Fu delivered a piece of news that ruined Zhou Donghuang's plans for the next day.

"Young Master, I've learned that Lin Tonghong, the fourth elder of the Lin family, left the prefecture capital several days ago, and it seems that he was heading to Qingshan town."

"Heading to Qingshan town?"

Zhou Donghuang's eyes narrowed, and he smiled coldly.

"That old fellow... could he also have eyes on our Yunxuan Restaurant?"

At first, he planned to visit the Lin family the next day to look for the fourth elder, Lin Tonghong, and settle the matter of him misappropriating the formula for the blood-staunching elixir that he had given to his mother. But now, from what Fu had said, he could return earlier than planned.

"Fu, you'll make another trip to the Lu family shortly... We'll return to Qingshan town early tomorrow morning."

"Young Master, shouldn't we hurry back and travel through the night? That Fourth Elder Lin Tonghong of the Lin family could very well be heading straight for Yunxuan Restaurant," Fu said worriedly. "You're not at home, and my lady and the others..."

"Don't worry." Zhou Donghuang was not the least bit worried. "Freezing Wind is there, so even if Lin Tonghong shows himself, he will leave empty-handed."

"Young Master, that Fourth Elder Lin Tonghong of the Lin family is a level-three adept," Fu reminded him.

From what he knew, the former second-in-command of the Green Wolf Bastion, Freezing Wind was almost a level-two adept.

"I know," Zhou Donghuang said with a nod. "But he is no match for Freezing Wind."

"Not a match for Freezing Wind?"

Surprise and incomprehension filled Fu's eyes, and he suddenly seemed to remember something as he fell to his knees with a thud and begged, "Young Master, Fu would like to practice under you."

At this point in time, he no longer dared to doubt Zhou Donghuang's words.

Therefore, he guessed that with his Young Master's help, Freezing Wind's ability was now no less than Lin Tonghong's.

"Previously, when I wanted to pass on techniques and give you a qi-gathering elixir to aid you in practicing... didn't you refuse, saying it was too troublesome? Why do you now want to practice?" Zhou Donghuang mocked gently.

This question made Fu feel awkward, and it was Zhou Donghuang who finally dispelled the feeling of awkwardness. "When we get back, I'll pass on some techniques to you."

"Thank you, Young Master."

Fu kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude, his face flushed with excitement.

Today, his young master had single-handedly thrashed the best of the three elite lesser families, leaving him stunned.

To put things into perspective, just the mention of the three elite lesser families was enough to frighten all the staff away from Yunxuan Restaurant, except for him. And even he did not expect his young master to be able to withstand the fury of the three elite lesser families.

Yet today, the best that the three elite lesser families had to offer, including Lu Qinghu, had been soundly beaten by his young master, and the patriarch of the Ma family, Ma Tianba, had been killed with a single spear thrust from his young master. He now realized that his fears had been laughable.

"From what Young Master has demonstrated today, there is no need to fear even the preeminent Li family," Fu said softly as realization dawned. "No wonder Young Master dared to maim that level-two adept of Qi-gathering from the Li family and kill Second Young Master Li Pingyun and Ninth Elder Li Yan."

That night, Zhou Donghuang passed Fu a letter that he had written and asked him to deliver it to Patriarch Lu Qinghu of the Lu family.

The letter listed down various herbs, some of which were those that the grand patriarch of the Qin family, Qin Yi, had not been able to buy when he made the journey to the prefecture capital. The rest of the herbs were even more valuable and were to be used to produce a qi-gathering elixir of even better quality.

Zhou Donghuang had originally intended for the herbs to be brought to Qingshan town along with the servant girls and waiters from the three elite lesser families.

Just as he and Fu were about to leave the prefecture capital to return to Qingshan town the next day, Lu Qinghu showed up in person, looking for him.

"Young Master Donghuang, these are the herbs you wanted. This is a million liang of silver in notes."

Lu Qinghu had brought all the herbs listed down in the letter and also the money that Zhou Donghuang had demanded from the three elite lesser families in exchange for their lives.

Zhou Donghuang did not expect Lu Qinghu to be so efficient as to be able to procure all the herbs in a single night. However, from his bloodshot eyes, Zhou Donghuang knew that Lu Qinghu had gone the entire night without sleep.

"Wasn't it nine hundred thousand liang of silver for the six of you?" Zhou Donghuang asked calmly, refusing to accept the stack of notes that Lu Qinghu was holding out.

"The remaining hundred thousand liang is a token of respect from the Lu family to Young Master Donghuang," Lu Qinghu replied humbly with a smile.

"How much are these herbs worth?" Zhou Donghuang asked, looking at the pile of herbs that Lu Qinghu had put down on the table.

"Young Master Donghuang, don't worry about the cost." Lu Qinghu shook his head and waved Zhou Donghuang off. "The more valuable herbs are from the treasure vaults of our three families... and the rest that we bought did not cost much."

"You really do know how to conduct yourself."

Zhou Donghuang gazed deeply at Lu Qinghu, and the piercing gaze made him feel as though all his thoughts were laid bare.