parentshiftbook Chapter 61: The Lu Family's Worries
Chapter 61: The Lu Family's Worries
The next day, Wang Dashan led his disciples who were willing to stay and ran around the city, taking over the shops one by one according to the account book given by Zhang Ping.
"This used to be Tianxing Martial Arts School's shop? Now it belongs to our Sitong Martial Arts School!"
Wang Shan kicked open the door of a brothel and strode in, slamming his broadsword onto the counter.
The madam trembled with fear and warned in a shrill voice, "This is the prefectural city! No trouble is allowed in the government offices!"
Behind her, several martial arts practitioners who had refined their bodies stepped forward. Judging from their demeanor, they were owners of small martial arts schools in the city. They shouted sternly:
"Go back to your Lingchuan! This is our territory now!"
News of the demonic calamity that struck Lingchuan County had already spread, and the martial arts schools in the prefectural city had become highly sought-after properties, all waiting for the original owner to die so they could get a share of the profits.
Wang Dashan was prepared. He sneered and tossed the land deed for Piaoxianglou out of his pocket.
All properties within the city require official land deeds stamped by the government; whoever holds the land deed owns the shop!
Upon seeing the land deed, the madam's face turned deathly pale.
What happened? Wasn't it said that Tianxing Martial Arts School perished in the demonic calamity?
Where did this person get the land deed?
The meat-refining chefs from several martial arts schools looked at each other in bewilderment.
Wang Dashan stopped talking nonsense, his blood surging, and he was about to make a move.
"Farewell!" Seeing this, the group could only leave dejectedly.
We're in the wrong first, and if we fight, we'll have to be wary of the Sitong Martial Arts School's reputation. It's not worth it.
"Hmph! Men, tie up this traitor and throw him into the Lanjiang River to feed the fish!" Wang Dashan's eyes were icy cold. As a martial artist, he never showed mercy to ordinary people.
"My lord, spare my life!"
In just one day, Tianxing Martial Arts School's properties in the prefectural city were acquired one after another. When they encountered government officials for questioning, they simply showed them the land deeds and were allowed to proceed without hindrance.
"I never imagined that old dog Mao Xiangrong had a treasure-hunting habit."
Inside the Tianxing Martial Arts Academy's headquarters in the city, the disciples had been dispersed. Zhang Ping led Fu Huiying into the courtyard and tried out each of the keys he had obtained from Mao Xiangrong.
The last black key, but I don't know which lock it opens.
Just as he was about to leave, his eyes narrowed as he spotted a secret door to a hidden room in the corner of the courtyard.
The black key was inserted into the lock, and it opened with a click, yielding an amazing reward.
"What a grand gesture! These few boxes of silver alone must be worth no less than five million taels."
The rectangular, secret chamber had walls inlaid with luminous pearls, and twenty large sandalwood chests were laid out on the floor. The first few were open, with silver ingots piled up to overflowing.
Fu Huiying roughly estimated that the value of this secret room was equivalent to ten years' income of Sitong Martial Arts School!
"Heh, this isn't the property of Tianxing Martial Arts School; it's Mao Xiangrong's private stash accumulated over decades," Zhang Ping chuckled.
He had seen this kind of thing many times before.
However, now all this money belongs to the Zhang family.
"Have people move it out, sell what needs to be sold, and use it as a foundation for the future." He stood with his arms crossed. Now not only would the Nangong family's dragon bloodstone be secured, but they would also have a considerable amount left over.
"Hmm." Fu Huiying nodded, then suddenly asked, "Then... what about the mountains?"
The two have been inseparable these past few days, making no attempt to hide their relationship; even a fool could see through it.
Wang Dashan couldn't possibly be unaware. He was Chongxin's most trusted disciple and the designated successor. Now that his master had disappeared, his master's wife was sleeping with a former martial arts school student.
Such a situation is difficult for anyone to accept calmly.
In Wang Dashan's eyes, it was probably Zhang Ping, who came from a male escort background, who seduced his master's wife, and he was likely uncomfortable about it.
Zhang Ping had naturally already planned ahead regarding this matter.
"I will go to the Lu family. If nothing unexpected happens, the martial arts school will be handed over to my senior brother, and I will move to the Lu family with my wife." He had already made these plans.
"Living under someone else's roof?" Fu Huiying's eyes flickered, and she poked his chest hard with her fingertip. "Or... should I become your sister Rou's concubine?"
Zhang Ping had already revealed everything about Lu Wanrou, including eliminating the elders of the Lu family.
"Madam is joking," Zhang Ping said seriously. "Am I that kind of person? I went to the Lu family only to fulfill my contract and become their guest instructor."
"Hmph, I'm afraid in the end, the 'appointment' will all end up in Lu Wanrou's bed, won't it?"
"Hehe, I'm a gentleman..."
The Lu family.
Artificial hills and flowing water, shady pavilions.
Lu Wanrou looked haggard, her fine pen constantly circling and marking in the account book.
The maid Xiaoqing ground the ink, looking at her master with a worried expression.
After a long while, Lu Wanrou put down her pen, feeling a stinging pain in her eyes, and slumped wearily onto the stone table.
"Madam!" Xiaoqing quickly turned around and massaged her temples.
"It's alright."
"There was trouble again at the shops in the west of the city yesterday, and it was just quelled in the north of the city; our family doesn't have enough martial artists, and our trade routes... are completely cut off."
Thinking about how her family's situation had deteriorated over the past few months, she felt a surge of helplessness.
She had thought that by eliminating the elders, she could unite the Lu family and restore its former glory under her leadership.
To comfort her deceased husband's spirit in heaven.
Unexpectedly, it was all just a dream.
Lacking formidable military strength, the family faced immense difficulties in the city, surrounded by wolves and jackals.
Although those corrupt forces did not make a move, small martial arts schools and families rushed over, all wanting to tear a piece of flesh from the Lu family!
If Master Lu were still alive, wouldn't all these villains be extremely respectful?
Xiaoqing said indignantly, "Those people are despicable! They say they're here to apply for instructor positions, but everyone knows what filthy thoughts they're harboring!"
"Sigh..." Lu Wanrou sighed, and for some reason, Zhang Ping's image suddenly appeared in her mind.
Lingchuan County was struck by a demonic calamity... I wonder if he is still alright...
Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the moon gate of the courtyard.
"Sister Rou!"
Lu Wanrou looked up at the sound and saw a familiar figure stepping in.
She was momentarily dazed, thinking she was hallucinating, until Zhang Ping sat down opposite her with practiced ease and poured himself a cup of tea.
It took me a while to realize it was true.
"Brother Zhang!" Lu Wanrou excitedly stood up and went around the stone table to take his hand.
He was walking too fast and tripped over a stone bench, stumbling forward.
Zhang Ping quickly reached out to help, but then thought better of it, worried that he might not be able to hold on properly.
He simply opened his arms and firmly pulled her into his embrace.
"Sister Rou, be careful!"
He touched her soft waist with both hands, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and he stood up.
Lu Wanrou is a typical woman from Jiangnan, with a soft and plump figure, exuding the charm of a mature woman.
Her height was just up to his shoulder, and the position in his arms was just right. If his palm slid down slightly, he could touch her small, round buttocks.
"Brother Zhang!" Realizing her position was inappropriate, Lu Wanrou hurriedly broke free, her cheeks flushed.
"It's been months since we last met; my sister has lost her composure."
"It's alright," Zhang Ping's smile deepened, "These past few months, my little brother has been thinking of Sister Rou day and night."
He casually raised his hand to sniff, while Xiaoqing, watching from the side, inwardly cursed him as a lecher. But seeing that her master's face only turned redder, she could only look away and pretend not to see.
"I noticed you looked worried, Sister Rou. Are you having some trouble?"
Having taken advantage of the bargains, let's get back to the main topic.
When he asked, Lu Wanrou recounted in detail how she had been targeted by the small martial arts school and her family.
After listening, Zhang Ping seemed to be deep in thought.
"So, they're trying to use the Lu family's recruitment of instructors as an opportunity to gradually erode the Lu family's power?"
"Exactly. Even if we spread the word that we're no longer recruiting, those martial arts schools will still resort to underhanded tactics, and might even... ambush and kill those of us leaving the city."
"I see……"
The city is shrouded in deep waters, making it difficult for new branches to grow and for old trees to survive.
Thinking of how Wang Dashan had recently been thwarted by local forces when he helped him sell his assets, he understood the situation.
Whether it's the Lu family or the martial arts school, they both need to establish their authority and demonstrate their strength in a way that matches their status.
"Sister Rou, please send out challenges to those martial arts schools for me—Zhang Ping, the Ghost Blade, will come to challenge me in three days!"
If you want to establish your authority, why not challenge them?
Whether he goes to the Nangong family or establishes himself in the prefectural city, Zhang Ping needs a suitable social status.
His status as an apprentice at the Sitong Martial Arts School and a mere Skin Tempering Realm cultivator was no longer sufficient. Even revealing his Flesh Refining Realm cultivation level wouldn't be enough to justify his actions.
Thus, he was given the title "Master of Knife Skill, Ghost Blade Zhang Ping".
Let's do it in their place.