Greenwater City, Lu Maoxian’s Residence.
Lu Maoxian had flipped through the newspaper sent from Black Stone Slope and sat silently in his chair, uttering not a word.
He knew something had happened at Black Stone Slope and had expected that someone would cause trouble there over the "Blood Gun Detective" incident.
But he hadn’t anticipated such an outcome.
Tang Peigong was seriously injured and had nearly become a cripple.
Wu Decheng had gone missing, with no news to date.
The butler brought a cup of tea, and Lu Maoxian gestured for him to set it aside.
"Go buy a train ticket; I’m leaving for Black Stone Slope today."
"Master, are you going alone?"
Lu Maoxian replied with a smile, "Otherwise? Who else can I bring along?"
"Master, there are some things I don’t know if I should say."
"Speak." The butler had been with him for many years, and Lu Maoxian had always been kind to him.
"Master, in my opinion, you shouldn’t go to Black Stone Slope. What’s your status? What’s your reputation? What has Black Stone Slope become? You can’t get yourself involved in this."
"Would there be no problem if I don’t get involved?" Lu Maoxian let out a bitter smile. "Everyone knows Black Stone Slope is my turf; I can’t escape this even if I wanted to."
"You make money from the territory, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should manage the affairs of the territory."
Lu Maoxian shook his head. "There are some things I have to manage; otherwise, I might not be able to retain my status."
The butler was silent.
Lu Maoxian continued with a smile, "I must keep my trip to Black Stone Slope a secret. You handle things steadily; I shouldn’t have to worry."
"Rest assured, Master."
「...」
Lu Yuanhai, reading the newspaper, laughed. "In my opinion, the newspapers from Black Stone Slope are much more interesting than ours. If we start writing like this, I guarantee we could knock the Ling Family down completely!"
Lu Yuanshan shook his head. "Greenwater City is different from Black Stone Slope. Black Stone Slope is inhabited by laborers; anything goes there and isn’t considered shocking. Greenwater City is inhabited by civilized people. If we dare to do the same, the Lu Family’s reputation would be finished. However, this situation does present an opportunity."
While speaking, Lu Yuanshan looked towards Monkey Qiu.
Monkey Qiu was earnestly browsing through the newspaper from Black Stone Slope; he had always enjoyed the newspapers and magazines from there.
"Uncle Qiu, I just mentioned that this situation is an opportunity," Lu Yuanshan repeated.
Monkey Qiu nodded and said, "It is indeed an opportunity. You should also publish a few articles in the newspaper, exposing all the misdeeds of the Clear Water Society over the years, just like the incidents in Black Stone Slope—assaulting an old lady, being splattered with manure, losing in the arena and refusing to accept it—all of it written down."
Lu Yuanhai said, "Such incidents must be rare, right?"
"They are rare, but we have to look and ask. If there’s a bit of trouble, we should make it sound seven or eight times worse, just like the writing style in this newspaper. You need your newspaper staff to think more carefully. The most important thing is that this must be tied to the old master."
Lu Yuanhai scratched his head. "That’s going to take some effort."
Lu Yuanshan frowned. "Uncle Qiu, do you mean that we should berate him?"
Qiu Zhiheng was startled. "Isn’t that your intention? What was your idea of a good opportunity?"
"Uncle Qiu, I think that Great-uncle will definitely go to Black Stone Slope, and yet he doesn’t want too many people to know about it."
"So, you’re thinking...?"
Lu Yuanshan said, "If Great-uncle goes to Black Stone Slope alone, that would be a rare opportunity for us. We should settle things one way or another; why not take the chance to settle it now?"
Lu Yuanhai was shocked at these words, and after the shock, somewhat excited.
He looked at Qiu Zhiheng.
Qiu Zhiheng was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "It’s not appropriate."
Lu Yuanshan didn’t understand. "Why not?"
Qiu Zhiheng put down the newspaper. "Secret actions and being unguarded are two different things. The old master might not go to Black Stone Slope alone; he could have hidden his men in the dark."
Lu Yuanshan said, "Uncle Qiu, I think that’s highly unlikely. Great-uncle is so concerned about his reputation. With Black Stone Slope’s reputation so tarnished, how could he possibly let others know that he has connections to Black Stone Slope beyond business? Isn’t he afraid of being dragged down with Black Stone Slope in the newspapers?"
Monkey Qiu shook his head. "Let’s not think about this any longer. There are some things that aren’t worth the gamble because we can’t afford to lose."
After speaking, Qiu Zhiheng got up and left.
Lu Yuanshan sat on the couch, his expression dark.
Madam Duan Shaoxia came down the stairs. "What were you discussing just now?"
Lu Yuanshan remained silent, while Lu Yuanhai said, "We were talking about Great-uncle’s situation. Nothing, nothing serious."
Duan Shaoxia looked at her two sons and warned, "Whatever you are discussing, you must listen to your Uncle Qiu. Don’t make decisions rashly on your own, do you hear me?"
Lu Yuanhai agreed repeatedly, and Lu Yuanshan got up and left.
「...」
In the outer residence, Lu Yuanshan was drinking sullenly in his bedroom alone when Lu Yuanhai pushed the door and entered.
"I thought you were somewhere else. Is it worth it for such a trivial matter? Uncle Qiu has his own plans, and he is definitely doing what’s best for us."
Lu Yuanshan poured a cup of wine for Lu Yuanhai. "Xiao Hai, don’t you think Uncle Qiu acts very much like someone?"
"Like who?"
"Like our dad."
"That’s true!" Lu Yuanhai took a sip. "He came up with our dad from the trenches. Our dad said that a third of his world was fought for by Uncle Qiu."
"They were indeed capable of conquering territory, but neither was good at holding it!"
Lu Yuanhai waved his hand. "You can’t say things like that!"
"But I’m not wrong. Just look at our dad. How many troubles has he left at his side these years? First it was Second Uncle, then Zhuo Yuling, and now it’s Great-uncle. Aren’t they all ruthless people?"
"Dad knows about these matters and has always been on guard."
"What’s the use of just being on guard? Has he ever taken any action?"
"They’re family; it’s not right to strike against them..."
"The hardest to defend against is a traitor within the family. You can guard for a moment, but not forever. This time was such a good opportunity, but Uncle Qiu doesn’t want to act. To tell you the truth, I’ve already found out that Lu Maoxian has bought a train ticket for tomorrow night. He’s going to Black Stone Slope alone. If we miss this chance, there might not be another."
Lu Yuanhai looked at Lu Yuanshan, his eyes blinking. "What do you plan to do?"
"Didn’t I tell you? Sooner or later, we’ll have to make a decision. Let’s settle it now while we have the chance!"
"Just the two of us, brothers?"
"I’ve found the manpower. Our Lu Family has plenty of capable people, and there’s someone else willing to join us. Do you know who killed our Second Uncle?"
"Second Uncle is dead?" Lu Yuanhai was stunned. "Wasn’t it said that he went missing?"
"He’s dead, killed by He Haiqin. I’ve found out about this. Originally, he poisoned He Haiqin, and now He Haiqin has taken his revenge. Lu Maoxian planted rumors about He Jiaqing, incurring He Haiqin’s grudge. This time He Haiqin also plans to settle the score with Lu Maoxian."
Lu Yuanhai was dumbfounded. His own biological brother had done so many things behind the scenes, and he had been completely unaware.
Lu Yuanshan sighed. "He Haiqin is someone who can rule the realm. When he fell ill, the He Family was on a downward path, but once he recovered, the He Family’s momentum rose again. With him taking action, the plan is foolproof."
Lu Yuanhai hesitated. "Brother, it might be best to discuss this with Uncle Qiu..."
"I discussed it with him, you saw it yourself, he simply dares not to act! If we keep being so timid with him, what can we accomplish? When Lu Maoxian later turns against us brothers, what can he do? Won’t he end up just like Zuo Wugang, wringing his hands, watching helplessly? Yuanhai, I won’t make it difficult for you. I’ll make my move tomorrow night. Just cover for me at home when that time comes."
Lu Yuanhai stood up. "Brother, that’s not right. This concerns both of us. How can I let you go alone? I’m with you in this."
「The next evening」
Lu Maoxian sat in a rickshaw heading for the train station.
He was dressed in a blue cloth robe, wore a beige hat, and carried a willow basket, looking like an elder with a bit of money, but no one would guess he was the Lu family’s old master.
Fearing the news might leak, Lu Maoxian didn’t dare to use his family’s coachman; the cart had been randomly hired on the road. Halfway through the trip, the coachman steered the rickshaw down an alleyway.
Lu Maoxian frowned. "Where are you going?"
"Old Man," said the coachman, "I am taking you on a shortcut."
"Don’t take shortcuts. Go back to the main road."
"Old Man, this really is a shortcut. You’ll get there sooner, and I’ll have to run less. Isn’t that perfect for both of us?"
"I’ll pay you more. No shortcuts. Where on earth are you taking me?" While Lu Maoxian verbally sparred with the coachman, he prepared himself, knowing something was wrong.
"Where to?" The coachman chuckled. "I’m sending you to the netherworld!"
As the words landed, the coachman’s wrist flipped, suddenly overturning the rickshaw, trapping Lu Maoxian underneath.
Lu Maoxian was stunned.
He had prepared for a battle.
The coachman wasn’t fast, nor was his technique sophisticated. If Lu Maoxian had just taken a small jump before getting off, he could have leaped out of the cart.
But Lu Maoxian didn’t jump; in fact, he didn’t even stand up.
It was only when pinned under the cart that he realized he had been immobilized.
He heard the coachman speaking from outside the cart.
"Old master, after pulling you this far, letting you sit a while longer is only fair, right?"
Lu Maoxian was alarmed and tried hard to move his hands and feet.
Lu Maoxian pushed against the rickshaw trapping him, but the cart was extremely heavy. Despite his efforts, it barely budged.
"Courtyards unkept for lack of visitors, gates finally open for you today!" Lu Maoxian recited a line of poetry, hoping to create a door on the carriage.
The carriage did not respond.
Lu Maoxian then took out a brush from his bosom and wrote a character on the cart’s canopy—Open!
This was a high-level technique, and the brush in Lu Maoxian’s hand was a high-level Spiritual Object.
Upon writing the character, a red glow emanated, and the cart’s canopy seemed to crack, but it still did not open.
Lu Maoxian was frantic, not knowing that stepping out now would be even more perilous.
He Haiqin, Lu Yuanshan, and Lu Yuanhai were all standing outside the cart by now.
The coachman, once a subordinate of Lu Dongliang, was the Feng Cultivator Tan Fucheng.
He Haiqin admired, "Xiao Shan, your Lu family really does have no shortage of capable people."
Lu Yuanshan smiled. "Uncle Qin flatters us. Now that it’s done, I’ll leave the final act to you, Uncle Qin."
He Haiqin shook his head. "I didn’t exert much effort; the credit belongs to this brother.
"Besides, this old fellow is someone from your family; you’re more suited to act.
"Don’t worry, as long as you don’t speak of today’s event, it definitely won’t spread. After all, I’ve been involved as well; I can’t implicate myself."
Lu Yuanshan looked towards Lu Yuanhai.
Lu Yuanhai was ashen-faced, stammering, "I, I can’t do this..."
He Haiqin frowned. "What is there to fear? I am here watching. If this old guy dares to fight back, I’ll take care of him directly!"
Lu Yuanhai remained silent.
He Haiqin sighed. "You two are still young. If Monkey Qiu were here, this old guy would already be dead."
Lu Yuanshan didn’t like to hear that.
Lu Yuanshan said, "Yuanhai, why don’t you go on lookout at the corner? You should be able to handle that much, right?"
Lu Yuanhai, with his head bowed, quickly went to the corner.
The coachman created a gap in the carriage canopy.
Lu Yuanshan drew a long sword.
"Great-Uncle, may you depart in peace!"
PS: This coachman and the one from Medicine King Valley are not the same person.