Even though they had delayed their journey quite a bit, Yan Liqiang and Qian Su were still on time when they managed to arrive at the Lu Residence.
As a powerful clan of Huanglong County, they would be considered failures if they still didn’t know what happened to the Wang Fortress at this point, or that the Gong Barracks that were stationed at Huanglong County had already been dispatched to the Wang Residence.
And just for those reasons, when Qian Su and Yan Liqiang arrived at the Lu Residence and saw the situation around them, the atmosphere in the Lu Residence was filled with more murderous intent than usual.
As they continued on the path toward the Lu Residence, there were informers and cavalries all over the place. The entrance to the Lu Residencewas locked tight. The defensive walls outside the Lu Residence had already been occupied by the disciples of the Lu Clan. Each of them wielded bows and swords as they regularly patrolled on top of the wall as if guarding against all possible dangers.
As a powerful clan that was equally as famous as the Wang Clan, it would be entirely impossible for the Lu Clan to be devoid of defenses at a time like this after witnessing the Wang Clan’s catastrophe.
After both of them announced their names at the entrance to the Lu Residence, they waited for about ten minutes before the gates were finally opened for them. It was then that Yan Liqiang and Qian Su realized that Lu Peien was the one who was coming out to greet them in person.
Even after a long period of not seeing each other, Lu Peien was still very fat. His figure didn’t seem to suggest that he had slimmed down even in the slightest. He was wearing a sable fur coat that the falling snow would not stick on, and he had an unprecedented stern expression on his face as well.
“Don’t you know that something big has happened to the Wang Residence?” The first thing Lu Peien mentioned was the Wang Fortress when he saw Yan Liqiang and Qian Su.
“Of course we know. Liqiang and I just came from the Wang Residence. This time, they are utterly finished…” Qian Su shook his head.
“Ah, so both of you just came from the Wang Residence. What happened?” Lu Peien promptly inquired, “We have dispatched a few people to the Wang Fortress and Huanglong County to inquire for information, but nothing concrete has really come back to us…”
The three of them continued to chat while walking toward the Lu Residence. As soon as the three of them went in, the door that had opened for them was closed again in an instant.
Qian Su summarized the entire incident that had happened at the Wang Fortress to Lu Peien.
After listening to Qian Su’s account, Lu Peien let out a sigh of relief. Yet he couldn’t resist feeling a bit anxious: “So you are saying that the real target of the troops from Pingxi City is only the Wang Residence?”
“Positive. We even met Gong Tieshan and exchanged a few words just now. Gong Tieshan received an order from Pingxi City, but it was only to bring his troops to surround the Wang Fortress and assist the troops from Pingxi City to apprehend a bunch of people from the Wang Clan…”
The expression on Lu Peien’s face somewhat became a bit relaxed. He let out a long sigh and said, “The information you have delivered was duly needed. We have to let Old Master know about this. He’s still discussing matters with the convenor at home. I’ll bring you all to meet him…”
“Alright!”
After a few minutes, Lu Peien accompanied Old Master Lu and they hastened their footsteps into the living room inside the Lu Clan.
“We respectfully greet Old Master Lu…” Yan Liqiang and Qian Su quickly stood up and paid their respects to him.
“Ha, I didn’t expect Liqiang to be here as well…” Old Master Lu sat down at the head table and gazed at Yan Liqiang with a rare smile on his face.
“It’s been a long time since Uncle Qian and I have seen you, so we took some time and came back from Pingxi City. We came here today to specifically pay our respects to you. However, we didn’t expect to bump into a group of mounted troops during our journey…” While Yan Liqiang gave his greetings, he quickly added a sentence about the incident that had befallen the Wang Residence, which Old Master Lu was most concerned with and explained the details about what happened.
Yan Liqiang recounted the incident vividly and with clarity. With such descriptions, even if Old Master Lu wasn’t at the scene, he felt as if he had seen everything that had befallen the Wang Clan with his own eyes.
Old Master Lu’s long brows trembled as he continued to listen to Yan Liqiang’s account. The emotions on his face continued to change, until at last, he showed an expression of relief. However, a frown was still creased on his forehead and that had not been completely released. Old Master Lu caressed his beard and said, “Seems like the Wang Clan indeed was involved in that incident in Pingxi City. The incident that happened during the last few days was ginormous that it has been spreading throughout Gan Province. We have specially dispatched people to the main hall in Pingxi City too. Liqiang, you were at the martial arts academy at Pingxi City, so you must have heard of it. I heard that it was a few students from the martial arts academy who discovered the Shatu people in disguise, thus leading to a lot of things afterward!”
“Old Master Lu, you have asked the right person by talking to Liqiang…”
“Oh, perhaps Liqiang knows the students from the martial arts academy who discovered the Shatu people?”
“It’s not that Liqiang knows those students from the martial arts academy, but the student from the martial arts academy whom you spoke of is none other than Liqiang!”
Old Master Lu and Lu Peien were instantaneously shocked by Qian Su’s revelation. Their eyes widened, and they stared at Yan Liqiang with an expression beyond belief, “What, it was Liqiang who discovered them? What’s going on?”
“Liqiang, tell the whole story of that night to Old Master Lu. I believe he doesn’t know a lot of the details regarding the incident yet!”
“Alright…” Yan Liqiang nodded his head, “If I have to tell the story of that night, we will have to trace it back the cause which was two months prior. I was just about to report myself to the martial arts academy in Pingxi City that day. When I was entering the city, I saw a trade caravan belonging to a group of Shatu people….”
Yan Liqiang then recounted the whole impeccable incident and what happened that night to Old Master Lu and Lu Peien. They didn’t expect Yan Liqiang to be the one who personally experienced the incident of that night. Both of them were listening quite intently as Yan Liqiang recounted the dramatic and unexpected events of the incident.
At the end of the story, Yan Liqiang added, “When I was at the martial arts academy, I heard that the young master of the Wang Clan, Wang Haofei, who was killed by King Cobra, was a good friend of the Prefectural Governor’s son, Ye Xiao. Both of them were really hand in gloves with each other. Wang Haofei would often stop by Ye Xiao’s manor for a visit, and he would always flaunt his relationship with the son of the Prefectural Governor to his classmates. I didn’t think the Wang Clan would actually do those things just to flatter the son of the Prefectural Governor…”
The last part Yan Liqiang said was actually the most important part. Based on the insights of wisdom of Old Master Lu and Lu Peien, both of them were able to connect the dots and they instantaneously understood the reason why the Wang Clan would suffer such a disastrous calamity today after Yan Liqiang was done iterating his story.
Old Master Lu and Lu Peien exchanged looks with each other before letting out sighs of relief.
“Peien, go instruct the guards outside the wall to withdraw from the post. After that, reopen the gates to the Lu Residence. Don’t make it too hasty, otherwise it will make our clan look like we are doing this out of guilt. Just leave some men on the way and it will be fine…” Old Master Lu informed Lu Peien.
“Yes…” Lu Peien nodded his head, stood up immediately, and walked out of the living room. When he arrived outside, he called a steward over and gave him a few instructions in a low voice. Meanwhile, the steward of the Lu Clan continued to nod his head before jostling away immediately to pass on the orders.
Lu Peien then returned to the living room and sat down.
Old Master Lu gazed at Yan Liqiang. He felt like he liked him more each time he looked at him. With a smile on his face and his eyes squinted, he remembered that Yan Liqiang had saved his grandson’s life the first time he came to the Lu Residence. This time again, when the Lu Residence was in a state of panic and anxiety, Yan Liqiang’s words were able to instantaneously allow the Lu Clan to assess the situation clearly and find out the cause behind the situation. Yan Liqiang was simply the Lu Residence’s lucky star. The moment he came, good things would soon come to them.
“Liqiang, both of you don’t have to go back in a hurry tonight. The hunters from the village have delivered unto us a bear last night. The bear paw is still being steamed in the kitchen. I allowed the kitchen staff to prepare a few dishes last night. Let us have a meal together, drink some wine, and be lively. Both of you will have to stay at the village tonight…” Old Master Lu said smilingly to Yan Liqiang.
“The Wang Clan deserves to be punished. With that, the Lu Clan doesn’t have to worry about the Wang Clan avenging their young master’s short life by creating another lousy problem. Indeed, we must have a celebration for this…” Lu Peien smiled as well.
“Alright, then I better follow your advice. Uncle Qian and I will drink with Old Master Lu and Sixth Brother tonight!” Yan Liqiang said with a smile, earning a nod of approval from Old Master Lu and Lu Peien. “Mm, besides paying our respects to Old Master Lu today, Liqiang actually has another thing to discuss with both Old Master Lu and Sixth Brother…”
“We are friends. Liqiang, if you have anything to say, don’t hold back!” Old Master Lu caressed his beard and smiled.
“It’s like this, Liqiang has thought of a way to make a fortune. Uncle Qian and I don’t have confidence in this one, which is why we want to discuss it with Old Master Lu and Sixth Brother to see whether this method works or not…”
“Hahaha, Liqiang, I didn’t know you were able to think up a business deal to earn money. Alright, tell me about it and allow me to review whether this deal is adequate or not…” Lu Peien guffawed as he assumed the role of an investment advisor.
Afterward, Yan Liqiang told them about the idea of the honeycomb briquette; oh, it shouldn’t be called the honeycomb briquette now. He told them about what should be known as the lotus root briquette to Lu Peien and Old Master Lu in detail.
At the beginning of his explanation, Old Master Lu and Lu Peien listened intently with smiles on their faces. But when Yan Liqiang started talking about the production method and the formula to the lotus root briquette, the expressions on both their faces were completely replaced with solemnity and shock…
In comparison to Yan Liqiang and Qian Su, a large business such as the Lu Clan had a deeper understanding of the great value and business prospects that involved this small lotus root briquette.
Was this business deal possible? Of course. Those who turned their backs away from this deal were fools. Where would one be able to find a business that could sell soil as coal in this entire world? Even if the Lu Clan was not able to do this business, they could find others to join them and swallow this cake. As long as they could dominate Pingxi City’s market, this could be an endless supply of gold…
…
Naturally, Yan Liqiang had his dinner with the Lu Clan. When he saw the dinner table full of dishes, he didn’t know what to say. Fortunately, there weren’t any wildlife protection acts or social media in this era. If there were such things, his social circle would instantly go berserk if he took a photo of the dishes and posted them to his social media.
Yan Liqiang drank a bit of the fresh deer blood and wine but not that much due to their high intensities. After he took some sips, Yan Liqiang felt as if his body was burning up in flames.
After he was done with dinner, the sky was completely dark. Lu Peien secretly pulled Yan Liqiang outside when a bunch of people at the dining table were not paying attention to them. With a sneaky expression, he whispered, “Liqiang, do you want to see Beixin….”
Looking at the lewd expression on Lu Peien’s face, Yan Liqiang quickly thought about a certain affiliate occupation with an old profession. The tipsy sensation he had earlier disappeared in an instant.
