Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Young Master Donghuang, I have not seen you for two months, but you still look as good as ever.” Zhao San stood beside Lu Qinghu, looking at the young man at the stone table with a complicated gaze.
Two months ago, the young man had helped to treat him of his illness after he had practiced too intensely, allowing him to recover to level-four of the gathered qi. At that time, although he felt that this was no simple young man, he never would have thought that in just two short months, the young man would achieve a level that he himself found difficult to reach.
This time when he met Zhou Donghuang again, he addressed him as “Young Master Donghuang,” a much more respectful address compared to ‘Esteemed Master Zhou’ in the past. Although he could not be sure if Zhou Donghuang had indeed reached level-five of the gathered qi, Zhou Donghuang had just killed the Lin family head elder a few days ago, displaying power comparable to a level-five adept. Based on this alone, the Zhou Donghuang of today was equal in status to his elder brother, Zhao Lishang, the governor of Yunfeng prefecture.
“Why are you looking for me?” Zhou Donghuang asked calmly. He squinted his eyes in the sun and sipped his tea.
Seeing that Zhou Donghuang was so direct, Zhao San did not beat about the bush either and said, “Young Master Donghuang, I am here today to invite you to become a guest elder of the Zhao family of the governor’s household.”
Before arriving at the Lu family household, Zhao San had not only found out that Zhou Donghuang was extremely powerful but also knew that he had numerous precious medicine formulas with him. For example, the blood staunching elixir sold by the Lin family that had monopolized the high-end market in Yunfeng prefecture had come from him. Recently, the cheap qi-gathering elixir, sold by the Lu family that had been dominating the markets, had also come from Zhou Donghuang. This was why Zhao San had looked for his elder brother and agreed to invite Zhou Donghuang into the Zhao family.
“Not interested,” rejected Zhou Donghuang immediately.
“Young Master Donghuang, as long as you join us, the Zhao family will fulfill all your requests!” Seeing as Zhou Donghuang had rejected him without any hesitation, Zhao San hurriedly added in their terms.
“I already said, I’m not interested… do you not understand?” Zhou Donghuang suddenly opened his eyes as he said impatiently.
Zhao San breathed in deeply and said with a forced smile.
“Young Master Donghuang, I know that I had previously told everyone that I would not protect you as the new owner of Yunxuan Restaurant and offended you. Can you now give me a chance to make up for my mistake?
“Protect me?” Zhou Donghuang laughed brilliantly. “Zhao San, aren’t you too full of yourself? Me, Zhou Donghuang, needing your protection?”
Zhao San’s expression changed. He remembered that the power that Zhou Donghuang had displayed just a few days ago simply did not need his protection.
“No matter, I will always be grateful for your favor in the past.” By now, Zhao San could also see that Zhou Donghuang simply had no interest in joining their Zhao family, and he stopped trying to invite him.
“I helped you then because you had a good reputation, and I knew that once I helped you, you would stop finding trouble for the Magnolia guild… you gave me Yunxuan Restaurant, so that makes up for it. You no longer owe me anything.” Zhou Donghuang shook his head gently.
Although he really did not need Zhao San’s protection, if Zhao San had not made any comments about the ownership of Yunxuan Restaurant after he had left, Zhou Donghuang would possibly be more courteous towards him now.
However, not only had Zhao San done that, he had boasted in public that he would no longer care about who owned Yunxuan Restaurant after him, as if he was trying to cause trouble for Zhou Donghuang.
He had no reason to blame Zhao San; after all, Zhao San had given him Yunxuan Restaurant and returned the favor. But he now had the freedom to no longer associate with Zhao San any more.
“Chief Lu, please see our guest out,” said Zhou Donghuang to Lu Qinghu as he stretched.
“Yes, Young Master Donghuang.” At that point, to Lu Qinghu, he was better off listening to Zhou Donghuang than the governor. He immediately saw Zhao San out of Zhou Donghuang’s courtyard and out of the Lu family household.
“Back then, when I announced that I would no longer be caring about who owned Yunxuan Restaurant, I had purely wanted to test his depth… who would have thought that it would backfire and make him prejudiced towards me.” Standing outside the Lu family main door, Zhao San smiled bitterly. He never would have imagined that his mistake would cause such a result now.
…
10 March 1228 of the Ziyun era.
In the capital city of Yunfeng prefecture, on a previously empty piece of land in the Lu family household, an expansive house had been erected. On the main door of the house, a plaque was hung, that read in large flowing characters, “Magnolia Guild.” The words were inscribed powerfully as if to give the reader a visual shock if they looked closely.
At the bottom right corner of the plaque was inscribed the name of the donor: Zhou Donghuang.
A month ago, after leaving the Lin family household with Lin Lan, Zhou Donghuang had called Lu Qinghu and asked him to help to rebuild the Magnolia guild. Lu Qinghu could not be happier to have Zhou Donghuang ask for help. Of course, he accepted the request without any questions asked.
Fortunately, there was an empty piece of land on the side of the Lu family household that the family had bought from the governor’s household some time ago, but it had not been used since. Seeing this opportunity, Lu Qinghu gave this piece of land to Zhou Donghuang.
In a month’s time, the Magnolia guild was rebuilt on the empty land with the help of the Lu family. From the interior to its exterior, it was exactly the same as the guild in Qingshan town. The construction was based on Zhou Donghuang’s demands and supervised throughout by Granny Lian personally.
Today was the opening day of the Magnolia guild. Since early that morning, Lin Lan and Granny Lian had already been standing at the main door of the guild, welcoming guests who had come from all over to congratulate them on the opening.
At the main door of Magnolia guild, a group of people had gathered.
“Today is the opening day of the Magnolia guild of Lin Lan, the adopted mother of Young Master Donghuang… I wonder who will turn up.”
“The Lin and Li family will definitely not be coming.”
“The Lu family will definitely be here, but as for the other two preeminent families in the capital city, the Hong and Zhao families, who knows if they will be coming.”
“Logically, they ought to show some respect to Young Master Donghuang.”
…
As the day passed, under the watchful eyes of everyone, a figure walked up the stairs to the Magnolia Guild, flanked by two men.
“The lesser Fang family congratulates the Magnolia guild on its new opening… Guild Master Lin, please accept this gift from our Fang family.” Fang family chief, Fang Jishan, was the first to congratulate Lin Lan with two hundred thousand silver notes.
“Many thanks to Chief Fang.” Lin Lan thanked him with a smile, and Granny Lian behind her put the notes away.
“The lesser Ma family congratulates the Magnolia guild on its new opening… Guild Master Lin, I am Ma Dongfeng, the new Ma family chief.” After Fang Jishan, the Ma family chief, Ma Dongfeng, arrived as well and presented two hundred thousand silver notes as a gift.
“Many thanks to Ma chief.” Lin Lan smiled while giving her thanks.
“The preeminent Lu family congratulates the Magnolia guild on its opening.” Soon, Lu family chief, Lu Qinghu, appeared as well. As for his gift, Lu Qinghu had presented a million taels of silver!
“A million taels of silver? This Lu family chief is really generous!”
“I always knew that the Lu family had good relations with Young Master Donghuang, but I never knew it was so good… this is my first time seeing so much money in my life.”
“Accordingly, the Lu family’s qi-gathering elixir was a formula from Young Master Donghuang… Young Master Donghuang had given the Lu family so many benefits, it’s only normal that the Lu family presents such a gift.”
Lu Qinghu’s gift shocked many of the onlookers.
“Chief Lu, this… is too much. You have helped out the Magnolia guild enough, we simply cannot accept these notes,” Lin Lan said.
“Guild Master Lin, this money cannot compare to the help that Young Master Donghuang has given me.” In the end, Lu Qinghu pushed the notes into Granny Lian’s hands.
After Lu Qinghu, many seniors from the lesser families outside of the prefecture capital also came forth to present congratulatory gifts for the opening of the guild. All of them wished to use this chance to make good relations with Zhou Donghuang.
However, compared to the gifs from the Lu, Ma, and Fang families, theirs was much more inferior. The most was fifty thousand taels of silver. Of course, it was not because they were stingy, but because they were that much poorer than the Lu, Ma or Fang families. Although they were all lesser families, there was still a stark difference between them.
“That is… the governor?!”
Suddenly, as gasps erupted, the crowd parted knowingly to open a path to the Magnolia guild.
A tall, burly figure appeared before everyone’s eyes, wearing a yellow gown with silver trimmings. The man had a majestic looking face, and as he walked, his presence gave others some kind of huge pressure.
Zhao San and an old man in a white robe followed behind him like a shadow.
“Governor!”
“Greetings to the governor!”
Along with Lu Qinghu, chief of the preeminent Lu family, the other seniors of the lesser families all walked down the steps of the Magnolia guild to greet the man.
The man was none other than the governor of Yunfeng prefecture, Zhao Lishang, the widely recognized chief of Yunfeng prefecture and a powerful level-five adept!
“Governor.” Lin Lan also came forth with Granny Lian. Being a member of Yunfeng prefecture, Lin Lan had a strange respect for the governor. Just as she said this, the old man in blue stepped forward and looked sharply at Lin Lan.
“Where is Zhou Donghuang? The governor is here, but he is not coming out to greet him?” he questioned.
“Governor, my son has been busy practicing recently, so he is not around. Please forgive him,” apologized Lin Lan to Zhao Lishang.
“Practicing?” The old man in blue laughed coldly. “Now the governor is here, shouldn’t you call someone to tell him to stop his practice and come out to greet him?”
