Chapter 116: Lu Xian
Ever since winning that day, Lu Yun had become a rising new star of the Lu Clan. The clan members also saw clearly that he and Lu Xin’s father and son were destined to soar into the sky, and no one could suppress them.
At Lu Yun’s home, guests filled the door again, but this time the deeply shaken Old Master Lu Xiang did not host the guests noisily as before, seemingly having been thoroughly hurt by the warmth and coldness of human relationships.
On Lu Yun’s side, he received a pile of invitations every day, not only from the elders and brothers of his own clan, but even invitations from other families. Clearly, he had entered everyone’s sight, and the quiet days were about to never return.
Lu Yun wanted to decline and not go, but that would be too offensive and unfavorable for the upcoming Nine Rank Official Appraisal. Fortunately, at this time the clan issued an order, commanding him and Lu Bai’s trio to go to Lu Ward every day starting from now to receive guidance from the elders and fully prepare for battle for the Grand Competition a few months later.
Only then did Lu Yun not have to worry, politely declining those invitations and easily going to Lu Ward to report.
When leaving in the morning, however, he saw Lu Xin also on the same road as himself, and not wearing an official robe.
“Father doesn’t need to go to the yamen?” Walking on the road, Lu Yun asked strangely.
“The matters at the yamen have just come to an end, so Father took long leave, and by order of the Clan Leader, to provide service to the clan for a period of time.” Lu Xin smiled and replied. In the eyes of scions of noble families, clan matters were far more important than the court’s assignments, so neglecting public duty for private matters was common.
“Gao Guangning’s case has a result?” Lu Yun asked softly.
Lu Xin nodded and replied in a low voice: “Yesterday the Minister of the Temple and the Censorate, Ministry of Justice discussed until midnight, determining that the river course design indeed had unreasonable places, but the Ministry of Works had no corruption or dereliction of duty, thus suggesting the court to dismiss the Director of the Water Management Bureau from office, and for Gao Guangning it was determined as negligence, with salary deducted for one year.”
“It really is…” Lu Yun was slightly surprised, not expecting the Xiahou Clan’s Bone Dissolving Cotton Palm to be so powerful, the Initial Emperor’s elaborate great fanfare with the stance that not killing Gao Guangning would be insufficient to appease public anger was thus lightly resolved by the Xiahou Clan.
“You only now know the power of the Xiahou Clan?” Lu Xin said as if it were a matter of course: “But it’s also because this time the Emperor was not only targeting the Xiahou Clan, but also wanted to warn the other various clans, so everyone went along with the Xiahou Clan’s intentions.”
“Share the same root, suffer together, a well-deserved reputation.” Lu Yun sneered and laughed: “But they miscalculated this time, Huangfu Yu still has a follow-up move that hasn’t been used.”
“Who knows.” Lu Xin said somewhat disinterested: “Even if they take down Gao Guangning, what of it, it won’t shake the Xiahou Clan’s foundation at all.”
“Take it slow.” Lu Yun smiled, seeing that the Luo River Bridge had arrived, and said no more.
.
When Lu Xin father and son arrived at Lu Ward and entered Sanwei Hall, they saw that Lu Bai’s trio had already arrived. Seeing Lu Yun, Lu Song and Lu Lin winked at him, but did not come forward to greet.
Because present were also two stewards from the clan, Lu Yi and Martial Guard Steward Lu Wei.
Lu Yi had a serious face, and upon seeing Lu Xin father and son, a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face, nodding as a greeting. Lu Wei, however, was full of smiles as he saluted Lu Xin, then vigorously patted Lu Yun’s shoulder, laughing: “Good kid, hope your martial arts are as outstanding as your article!”
“Everyone’s here, go pay respects to the Clan Leader.” Lu Yi lightly coughed, and without waiting for anyone to speak, he turned and walked away.
“Let’s go, my old man wants to see you.” Lu Wei called out to Lu Yun and the other four juniors, walking shoulder to shoulder with Lu Xin behind Lu Yi.
Only then did Lu Bai’s trio walk to Lu Yun’s side, with Lu Song and Lu Xia sandwiching him in the middle, saying softly: “For the next few months, we’ll have to see each other every day in heaven.”
“Can’t ask for more.” Lu Yun had a good impression of these three peers; actually in the Lu Clan, good people still made up the majority, it’s just that the bad eggs always stood out particularly.
“Be quiet.” Lu Bai glared at Lu Song and Lu Lin, saying softly: “Don’t lead Lu Yun astray too.”
“What do you take us for.” Lu Song couldn’t help but bitter smile, but the three still shut their mouths as instructed, with solemn expressions following behind the three elders to inside the Clan Leader’s Courtyard.
After announcing, the seven entered the Clan Leader’s room, and saw besides Lu Shang and Great Steward Lu Xiu, there was also a thin middle-aged man sitting on the cushion beside Lu Shang. Only to see him with long hair draped over shoulders, face like golden paper, eyes slightly closed, appearance sorrowful, as if pondering some profound difficult problem. Affected by him, the air in the room seemed to stagnate, making it hard to breathe and suffocating.
Upon seeing this person, Lu Yi and the other two couldn’t help but show full faces of surprise, while Lu Bai’s trio were stunned on the spot, momentarily forgetting to pay respects to the Clan Leader.
Although Lu Yun did not recognize this person, he could sense that suffocating feeling was transmitted by this person. And the other party wasn’t deliberately targeting anyone, it was completely natural, yet making everyone in the room unable to breathe!
‘Grandmaster!’ Three words suddenly jumped in Lu Yun’s heart, already guessing the other’s identity—the Lu Clan’s only Grandmaster, Vice Sect Master Lu Xian!
Lu Xiu was accustomed to their reactions, and couldn’t help but feel endless envy for Lu Xian in his heart. Speaking of it, he was even half a year older than him, but the other was Heavenly Rank while he was only Earth Rank, one in heaven and one underground. If he were also Heavenly Rank, why would he make his old father so difficult…
“Why haven’t you paid respects to the Sect Master and Vice Sect Master yet!” Lu Xiu said in a deep voice.
Everyone hurriedly bowed in salute, Lu Shang smiled and nodded: “Good, good, all sit down.” Lu Xian however had no reaction, still lost in thought there, yet absolutely no one would think him rude.
Once everyone knelt in sitting position, Lu Shang looked at Lu Yun and the four, smiling and asking: “These four children are the ones you selected?”
“Replying to Clan Leader, yes.” Lu Yi hurriedly replied respectfully: “Clan Leader knows Lu Bai’s three,” saying so he pointed at Lu Yun: “This is Lu Xin’s son Lu Yun.”
“Good, good,” Lu Shang was also very interested in Lu Yun, carefully sizing him up for a while before saying: “Indeed a talented appearance.”
Lu Yun hurriedly saluted respectfully again.
“No need to be too restrained, from now on your treatment will be the same as those three boys.” Lu Shang smiled kindly at Lu Yun, then softly said to the four: “You four are carefully selected from thousands in this clan, bearing the heavy responsibility of striving for honor for this clan in the Grand Competition a few months later.”
Pausing, he looked at Lu Xian beside him: “This old man and the Vice Sect Master have discussed, and in the coming period, will fully help you improve your levels, striving to let you advance another level.”
In front of Lu Shang, Lu Song and Lu Lin became obedient babies, let alone the serious and cautious Lu Bai type, all listening to the Clan Leader’s instructions with fear and trepidation.
“The Grand Competition will divide into civil and martial tests. For articles, the Fourth Steward will be responsible for teaching. For martial arts, the Fifth Steward will be responsible.” Lu Shang looked at Lu Xin: “Additionally, your Tenth Uncle’s articles once won the championship in the Grand Competition, and he is an Earth Rank Grandmaster. So this old man has arranged for him to assist the two stewards in jointly teaching you.”
“Yes.” The four hurriedly paid respects to the three elders; the Clan Leader’s arrangement flattered them, fully showing the clan’s importance to them.
“And…” Lu Shang then said something shocking: “The Vice Sect Master has exceptionally agreed to occasionally give pointers to your martial arts.”
“Ah! Really?!” Lu Lin couldn’t help but cry out upon hearing this! Lu Song and Lu Bai also had faces full of surprise; they completely didn’t expect the Vice Sect Master who never bothered with mundane affairs to exceptionally teach them these juniors.
“These guys.” Lu Wei laughed and cursed upon seeing this. But he also fully understood their feelings. In the past ten-plus years, Lu Xian had not given pointers to anyone, otherwise the Lu Clan’s Earth Rank Grandmasters wouldn’t be countable on two hands.
“Thank you Vice Sect Master, we will certainly earnestly seek teachings and not waste Vice Sect Master’s pains!” Lu Bai and the four excitedly thanked Lu Xian.
Lu Xian finally opened his eyes, looking at the four with those black-and-white clear eyes, faintly saying: “Every three days, half an hour before sunset.”
“Yes!” Lu Song and the others were slightly disappointed, but thinking again, for the Vice Sect Master to make an exception was already a great opportunity from heaven, so they became excited again.
“Cousin,” Lu Wei chimed in smilingly, half-seriously asking Lu Xian: “Can you also give us a little extra class, even half an hour every five days would do.”
“No time.” Lu Xian flatly refused.
