Chapter 89 Returning to One's Roots
Chapter 90 Returning to One's Roots
Lu Xiangsheng led his men to deliver the one-armed villain's corpse to the government office, only to learn that the man's surname was Yelü and that he was a soldier who had fled from the north.
I don't know what wrong he did in Da Zhou, but he took a knife and scraped off all the brand marks on his arm.
At first, he was perfectly normal, but a few months later, his personality suddenly changed drastically, and he killed his neighbor's entire family.
They would move to a different city, stay for a few days, and then repeat the same actions.
Due to its egregious nature, it was reported to the court by three prefects and has already been submitted to the Privy Council for internal review.
Once this busy period is over, the Goldfish Envoy will come in person and invite a rogue cultivator who is extremely skilled in tracking and tracing to bring this person to justice.
Unexpectedly, he was discovered by the laborers while hiding in the boat and died outside Yichun City.
The county magistrate personally received them and, upon learning that the Lu family members who had killed Yelü the villain had already left, expressed his regret.
Unfortunately, there was no warrant for arrest in Shanghai, so there was no reward offered.
Lu Xiangsheng was in a daze throughout, showing none of his usual quick wit.
Such a vicious man, no one in the Lu family dared to say they could easily subdue him, yet this cousin killed him with a single sword strike.
Si laughed at himself for being a frog in a well, still considering the same issue from the perspective of the boatmen's leader.
In a few years, if Lu Li makes another step forward, he will probably become a well-known figure in the county, and may even go to the capital to develop his career.
The small business of the boat guilds was nothing to them.
"Master Lu, look at this wanted notice. It seems to refer to Young Master Li."
'
As he walked out of the county government office, his attendant pointed to several yellow papers pasted on the side door.
The first picture is of the recently executed villain surnamed Yelü.
The second picture shows a disciple of the Lushan Sword Alliance who betrayed his master and stole treasures.
The third picture, however, is exactly the same as Lu Li's in terms of its description.
"Kill the Silver Fish Envoy—quickly help me up! Did my family really send my younger brother to White Deer Academy back then?"
Lu Xiangsheng's face was deathly pale, and his eyes were black.
Lu Li's actions were a hundred times more outrageous than the most audacious thing Lu Xiangsheng had ever imagined.
Danyang Prefecture, Shicheng.
The 70th birthday celebration of the Iron Elder was a rare grand event for the martial arts community of Danyang County, with martial artists from all over the country coming to offer their congratulations.
Everyone knows that this top martial arts master of Shicheng only moved here from Wu County more than ten years ago. He subdued the local sects with his bare hands and established a strong foundation.
When he arrived, Ziran was alone. Over the years, he has taken on several apprentices and has become quite well-known among the younger generation in Shicheng.
These days I've been busy preparing for the birthday banquet, so busy I haven't had a moment to spare.
With so many people coming to offer birthday wishes, dozens of conflicts, large and small, have already occurred before the birthday banquet even started.
Just arranging the seating is a headache enough.
One must consider not only the identity and strength of the person arriving, but also whether there are any sworn enemies among the martial artists at the same table.
If anything goes wrong, the birthday banquet will descend into chaos, and the master will lose face.
"Elder Qiu, the only son of Master Ning from Zhenwei Escort Agency, along with two disciples from Xiaoxi Sword Pavilion, have sent their visiting cards. Which table should we place them at tomorrow's banquet?"
Liu Xinwu was the eldest disciple of the Iron Elder. He was a calm and steady person who was thorough in his work.
His martial arts talent was only average; at the age of thirty, he had only reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, but he was highly regarded by Elder Tie, and his fellow disciples also respected him.
"Let's arrange for them to sit at the next table, with that true disciple of the Lushan Sword Alliance, the elder of the Straw Raincoat Pavilion, and the young hero Jin, who is ranked thirty-sixth on the Human Ranking. It's just right for their status."
Old Qiu had a full head of white hair, his body had a somewhat decaying smell, and his face was covered with age spots.
The nearly 100-year-old man was the most senior martial artist in Shicheng. Although he was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, everyone gave him face.
He was considered the local martial artist with the best relationship with Old Man Tie, and his disciples would visit him during festivals.
Liu Xinwu specially invited the old man to help him keep an eye on things, so that he wouldn't make any mistakes when he was young.
"Alright, but shouldn't we put that young master Jin on the main table? He's a top expert on the Human Ranking, after all?"
"Tch, almost twenty-four years old and ranked last on the individual list, how much potential can he have? If he were a true outstanding talent on the individual list, he would naturally be qualified to sit at the head table."
Old Qiu was full of energy as he spoke.
"Xinwu, why haven't we seen Master Tie for several days? If he, the main character, doesn't show up, you juniors won't be able to keep things in order—especially those from Wu County, they're all so arrogant, and they're the ones who usually start all the fights. The local sects have a lot of complaints."
"I don't know either. The time for tomorrow's birthday banquet was personally set by Master, so it will happen eventually."
Liu Xinwu gave a wry smile. How could a disciple possibly inquire about his master's whereabouts?
The next day.
The Iron Palm Manor had a hundred tables set up for a lively feast.
Each guest presented a congratulatory gift and took their seats. Upon encountering familiar faces, they greeted each other with clasped hands and shared their heartfelt sentiments.
"There are so many people. It's probably every prominent figure in Danyang who has come."
Su Qingdai looked around excitedly, it was her first time traveling so far from home.
"It's not as grand as my father's fiftieth birthday celebration a few years ago. Elders from the Lu family of Wu County and the Gu family of Kuaiji were present, along with no fewer than ten other Refinement Spirit experts. Even the Arhat Hall of Shaolin Temple sent people!"
Having suffered a major setback in Chungu County a few days ago, Ning Xingzhou wanted to impress his sweetheart, so he spoke animatedly about his father's birthday banquet.
Ning Xingzhou didn't notice that Su Qingdai's face had turned cold. He thought to himself, "How come I didn't realize how annoying this person was before?"
After finally waiting for Senior Brother Lin to sit back down, his own senior brother also looked displeased and asked a question out of curiosity.
"That guy surnamed Jin only ranked thirty-sixth on the individual list, yet he's so arrogant and thinks he's above everyone else. He even left me waiting for ages when I went to serve him tea!"
Senior Brother Lin was so angry that his face turned red. He had never been treated like this in Wu County.
The reason he was able to earn the nickname "Young Master Yinmo" in the southeast was certainly not because of his superb swordsmanship, but because of his mastery of cursive script.
Master Su doesn't write calligraphy lightly, so Senior Brother Lin was pushed to the forefront, and his works were recognized by many calligraphy masters.
"Look at that young master Lu. We've only just met, and he doesn't even know who we are, yet he's been able to chat with us for so long in such an approachable manner—in terms of family background and martial arts, what can that Jin fellow have to compare with young master Lu!"
He then mentioned his chance encounter with Lu Li in Chungu County, ignoring Ning Xingzhou, who was practically burying his head in his bowl.
"Why hasn't Senior Iron appeared yet? The auspicious time seems to have passed, hasn't it?"
Su Qingdai chuckled inwardly, but then noticed something amiss in the atmosphere and asked a question.
Everyone came to celebrate the old man's birthday. It was one thing for him not to show up in the past few days, but it would be unacceptable for him not to appear at today's birthday banquet.
A low murmur arose, and discontent was growing rapidly.
"Xinwu, why aren't you going to invite Senior Tie out? — Chief Lin of the Canal Gang and Abbot Xue of the Dragon Gate Temple have come from afar. Is this how you treat your guests?"
At the main table, a middle-aged man with a face as red as a date and an imposing presence spoke. He was the Left Commandant of Danyang Commandery, representing the Commander.
"My lord, my master is not in his room. We have searched his residence and the place where he was in seclusion, but we still cannot find him."
Liu Xinwu looked miserable; how could he withstand the pressure in front of these important figures at the main table?
Old Man Tie usually travels to visit friends or goes into seclusion for cultivation. It is not uncommon for him to disappear for more than ten days at a time.
But he still hadn't seen anyone by this morning, and he was really panicking.
He outmaneuvered thousands of fellow martial artists, especially those at the main table, all of whom were experts in the Refinement of Spirit realm. How could Liu Xinwu, a mere Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator, possibly withstand such a challenge?
"Hehe, Old Man Tie has quite the airs—no wonder he offended the Gu family back then and had to leave for Shicheng."
Lin, the leader of the Grand Canal Gang, was thin and small, wearing a large fur coat and his hands were covered with huge gemstone rings.
He had the air of a nouveau riche, but no one dared to underestimate this leader.
He controlled the water transport of the entire prefecture, and he himself possessed the cultivation level of the early stage of the Spirit Refining Realm.
"Perhaps something has delayed us, let's wait a little longer."
Master Xue had white hair but a youthful face, and his skin was as smooth as a baby's. Longmen Temple and Baiyun Temple shared the same patriarch, so they were considered branches of the temple.
"Yes, I imagine Iron Hero will arrive soon."
Old Qiu was inwardly groaning, but since he had been asked to take on this task, he could only grit his teeth and smooth things over.
"Young Master Gu Jingyi of the Gu family of Kuaiji has arrived!"
Just then, a welcoming announcement from the resort resounded throughout the entire area, the voice trembling slightly.
Why would the Gu family of Kuaiji be at a birthday banquet?
According to Lin, the leader of the Cao Gang, it seems that Old Man Tie had a grudge against the Gu family in the past.
"So it's Detective Gu from the Thieves' Bureau! Shall we all go and greet him?"
The Left Commandant stood up and said with a smile.
"That's how it should be."
Several cultivators followed suit, but Master Xue remained motionless, as if he were still a sage.
Regardless of Gu Jingyi's cultivation level or her status as the Goldfish Envoy of the Thief Catcher's Office, it was not enough to make these Refining Gods leave their seats and come forward to greet her.
Being able to stand up and acknowledge them is already a sign of respect.
But besides these identities, he was also the most valued legitimate son of the Gu family of Kuaiji, and the most beloved junior of the Gu family patriarch.
Everyone knows that if Gu Jingyi hadn't insisted on joining the thief control unit, she would have already taken on several important duties for the Gu family.
The Gu clan patriarch held the nominal title of Duke of the Founding State, the title of Grand Master of the Three Offices, and was also granted a fief of 30,000 households.
Thirty percent of the officials in Kuaiji Commandery were directly appointed by the Gu family, and the court would approve them immediately once they filled out their official documents.
A country within a country, that's all there is to it.
Gu Jingyi always seemed to be dressed in a feathered robe and high crown, maintaining the demeanor of a nobleman, as he gracefully entered the manor, carrying a wooden box in his hand.
However, the sword scar on his forehead ruined his overall appearance.
Ignoring the group of Refinement Gods who came forward to greet him, he asked, "Which one is Liu Xinwu?"
"That is me. I wonder what Constable Gu has to say?"
Liu Xinwu took a deep breath and stepped forward in response.
"I have stepped down as the Goldfish Master, so there's no need to call me that—"
Gu Jingyi looked somewhat haggard as she handed over the wooden box.
"Five days ago, Old Man Tie and I intercepted and killed Zhai Baishi, but unfortunately he died. His last wish was to return to his roots, and he pointed to your name to escort his coffin back to his hometown."
"This is the ashes of the Iron Elder. With this gift, you can utilize all the resources of the Gu family along the way. All the crimes committed by his relatives will be cleared, the old house will be returned, and the Shicheng family business will be inherited by you from now on."
The old man Tie offended a powerful elder of the Gu family in Kuaiji, which forced him to leave his hometown.
But with just one sentence from Gu Jingyi, the problem became naturally simple.
His words caused a stir in the room.
Iron Elder, who was in the mid-stage of the Refining Spirit Realm and was about to hold his 70th birthday banquet, actually died because he was trying to intercept and kill Zhai Baishi, who ranked 29th on the Earth Ranking.
The key question is, when did this powerful figure from the Great Zhou Dynasty arrive in the territory of the Great Chu?
"Master, is he dead?"
Liu Xinwu took the urn, his face blank, still reeling from the sudden shock.
"What? Senior Iron is dead?"
"The birthday banquet turned into a vegetarian feast?"
Su Qingdai and her senior brother Lin looked at each other in disbelief. How could such a joyous occasion have turned out like this?
"Breaking news! Breaking news from the city! Yuan Guanyu, the Divine Eagle of the Southeast, along with Yu Ziqi, elders of the Lushan Sword Alliance, Old Man Tie, and eight other Refinement-level experts, intercepted and killed Zhai Baishi of the Northern Dynasty. Old Man Tie and the Jiujiang Inspector were killed on the spot, and the rest were all wounded—"
Zhai Baishi fled with serious injuries and his whereabouts are unknown!
Outside the manor, a martial artist rushed in, shouting the latest news from the county town.