Chapter 121: Friends
Lu Yun and the other three trained day after day in Lu Ward, receiving special training from the clan. They practiced martial arts in the mornings and literature in the afternoons, living very busy days. However, Lu Yun also became thoroughly familiar with Lu Bai and the other two. In his sixteen years of life, he finally had the concept of ‘friends’.
Lu Song was gentle and interesting, Lu Lin was straightforward and bold, and although Lu Bai always had a stern face, he was still very easy to get along with. The three also greatly appreciated the shy and reserved Lu Yun and took good care of this youngest younger cousin.
This morning, Lu Yun and Lu Xin arrived at Luo River Bridge and saw Lu Bai and the other two waiting there as usual, having arrived early.
“Here they are, here they are.” Lu Song grinned and saluted Lu Xin, then grabbed Lu Yun’s arm and looked him up and down as if seeing him for the first time, saying: “Freshly minted Black Rank Expert!”
Lu Lin and Lu Bai also smiled and congratulated Lu Yun, leaving him completely baffled.
“You don’t know yet? The Investigative Bureau’s latest rankings are out.” Lu Song explained with a smile.
“Weren’t they supposed to be published tomorrow?” Lu Yun asked puzzled.
“They are indeed to be announced tomorrow, but last night, the Investigative Bureau already sent the list to the various clans.” Lu Bai said softly: “I saw it from my grandfather.”
“I…” Lu Yun hesitated before asking: “Did I make the list?”
“Of course you did. You beat Xie Tian until he was searching for his teeth on the ground, so naturally you’re on the list.” Lu Song laughed: “Xie Tian was originally ranked 222nd on the Black Rank List, and now that ranking is yours…”
“222nd…” Lu Yun was somewhat speechless. He looked at the three and asked: “Then what are your rankings?”
“I’m only Yellow Rank, so the Investigative Bureau doesn’t even rank people like me.” Lu Song chuckled, but he didn’t seem to mind.
“I’m barely Black Rank, but I’ve never fought, so I’m not on the list either.” Lu Bai said softly. The Investigative Bureau’s list couldn’t possibly include every expert; there were plenty like Lu Bai who had sufficient strength but were unnamed on the list.
“After the Grand Competition, you’ll probably make the list, right?” Lu Yun said as they walked toward Lu Ward.
“Probably.” Lu Bai nodded, took a deep breath, and said: “I hope the ranking isn’t too embarrassing.” The Investigative Bureau’s list was deeply rooted in people’s hearts; even someone like him, a favored son of heaven, valued it greatly.
“Then third brother must be on the list, right?” Lu Yun looked at Lu Lin again. The Lu Clan had countless disciples, and there were over ten thousand of his generation. If ranked strictly by the clan genealogy, Lu Yun should call Lu Bai 139th brother, Lu Song 197th brother, and Lu Lin 206th brother. The three should call him 471st younger brother.
Obviously, such appellations were both awkward and comical. So Lu Yun and the other three called each other older brother, second brother, third brother, and fourth brother privately based on age. Lu Lin was only a bit older than Lu Yun, so Lu Yun addressed him that way.
“Heh heh… I’m ranked 170th, a bit higher than you.” Lu Lin grinned smugly: “But don’t be jealous. Since I was sixteen, I’ve fought countless battles to climb to this rank. Unlike you, who easily jumped into the high ranks.”
“Is 222nd high?” Lu Yun asked puzzled.
“Hey!” Lu Lin rolled his eyes at him: “Looks like you still don’t get it!”
“Fourth brother, the Investigative Bureau ranks all Black Rank Experts from the noble clans who are between sixteen and fifty years old together!” Lu Song hurriedly explained to Lu Yun: “You’re just barely old enough and already ranked over 200. If you still think that’s low, what about those uncles ranked outside the top thousand?”
“It’s indeed very high.” Lu Bai nodded: “If only those under twenty are considered, you could rank 17th.”
“That high?” Lu Yun was somewhat surprised.
“But your ranking has some water in it.” Lu Lin said straightforwardly: “That Xie Tian always relied on his status to challenge powerless Black Rank Experts. They feared offending the Xie Clan and could only throw the fights to lose to him.”
“That’s true, but fourth brother truly deserves this ranking.” Lu Song smiled and teased Lu Lin: “Don’t believe me? You two fight and see if your 170th can beat his 222nd?”
“Sure, let’s give it a try?!” Lu Lin agreed readily, looking at Lu Yun expectantly. These days, he had always wanted to spar with Lu Yun to see what level the kid was really at, but Lu Yun always refused. Plus, Lu Wei hadn’t had them practice actual combat yet, so Lu Lin never got the chance to fight Lu Yun.
“There will be a chance.” Lu Yun smiled, still refusing to fight.
“Fine, I’ll keep waiting…” Lu Lin nodded helplessly, then laughed with some schadenfreude: “But some people probably can’t wait.”
Lu Bai and Lu Lin nodded. Many people were unconvinced by Xie Tian’s ranking and only refrained from challenging him due to his status as the Xie Clan’s direct grandson. Now that the ranking belonged to Lu Yun, those people would surely challenge him.
“I’m just looking to gain more actual combat experience anyway.” Lu Yun said nonchalantly.
“Can’t you gain experience by fighting me?” Lu Lin grumbled, very dissatisfied.
“I’m afraid of losing to third brother and losing confidence.” Lu Yun said softly.
“Hahaha, I love hearing that!” Lu Lin burst into laughter, threw his arm around Lu Yun’s shoulders, and strode forward.
Lu Xin walked behind the four, seeing Lu Yun getting along so well with the three, a smile of relief on his face.
.
The daytime training proceeded as usual, but the four felt the day was exceptionally long because at dusk, they would finally receive guidance from Lu Xian.
Speaking of which, this Lu Clan Vice Sect Master was really somewhat unreliable. He had clearly agreed to guide them once every three days, but several such periods had passed, and he was always in seclusion. The four went on time but were unceremoniously turned away outside the door by the young attendant guarding it.
After being shut out several times like this, even Lu Xian felt a bit embarrassed and sent the young attendant early this morning to relay the message that they could come to him for instruction in the evening.
As a result, the entire afternoon, everyone was a bit distracted. Even the steadiest Lu Bai made several mistakes with rhymes while writing articles. This left Lu Xin, who was teaching them literature, somewhat helpless, so he exceptionally let them end class early to go fulfill their long-held wish with Lu Xian.
“Thank you, tenth uncle!” Before Lu Xin finished speaking, the four were as if granted a general amnesty and dashed out of the study room.
Lu Xin shook his head with a bitter smile, packed up the books, and prepared to head home first.
Passing by Sanwei Hall, Lu Xin saw Great Steward Lu Xiu coming face-to-face and hurriedly greeted him: “Older brother, where are you headed?”
“Oh.” Lu Xiu looked preoccupied and only looked up when he heard Lu Xin’s voice: “I was just about to find you.”
“Find me? What’s up?” Lu Xin asked.
“Sigh, let’s talk over here.” Lu Xiu beckoned Lu Xin to the small garden on the left side of the Ancestral Hall. At this time of year, after the Limit of Heat, mornings and evenings brought coolness, and the plants were gradually losing their vibrant green, inevitably giving rise to a sense of desolation.
Standing in the pavilion of the small garden, Lu Xiu frowned tightly, seeming hesitant to speak.
“If there’s something, older brother, just say it directly.” Lu Xin said softly. He and Lu Xiu were ten years apart and hadn’t interacted much when young, but he knew this eldest son of the Clan Leader was a loyal and taciturn man.
“It’s like this…” Lu Xiu said in a deep voice: “Today is the deadline for the Discipline Department’s investigation of the Finance Department. On Lu Xia’s side, aside from the Yuqing Room misappropriating public funds, not much else was found. Therefore, the Elder Council neither accepts the Discipline Department’s conclusion of Lu Jian’s dereliction of duty nor agrees to continue investigating him deeply.”
Lu Xin nodded; he had known it would end this way. Under the Lu Clan’s dual system, the Elder Council had no direct power but held veto rights. Even decisions by the Clan Leader could be vetoed if they provided sound reasons.
When the ancestors set up this set of rules, the original intent was to prevent the Clan Leader from acting recklessly and leading the entire sect into ruin. But once a sharp opposition arose between the Clan Leader and the Elder Council like now, it would fall into endless wrangling.
“Under the Elder Council’s agitation, calls for Lu Jian’s reinstatement have been high in the clan recently, and the Clan Leader is in a difficult position.” Lu Xiu looked at Lu Xin with full apology: “So the Clan Leader asked me to tell you that, considering the big picture for now, your taking over the steward position still needs to be delayed…”
“So, Lu Jian is being reinstated?” Lu Xin asked expressionlessly, cutting straight to the point.
“The Clan Leader can only suspend the steward’s duties. If no issues are found in the investigation, there’s no reason to keep suppressing Lu Jian…” Lu Xiu said, unable to contain his anger: “In my view, Lu Feng’s crimes are Lu Jian’s problems! But the Elder Council insists on separating father and son, purely favoritism!”
“I know the Clan Leader’s current situation, so don’t make it hard for him.” Lu Xin nodded and said softly.
“Don’t worry, the Clan Leader doesn’t approve of Lu Jian. Even if he succeeds temporarily, sooner or later you’ll replace him!” Lu Xiu could sense Lu Xin’s disappointment and hurriedly comforted him.
“Older brother, please tell the Clan Leader that I, Lu Xin, am not one who craves power. Ask him not to worry; everything should prioritize the big picture.” Lu Xin stated his position, ending the conversation.
