Chapter 148: Secret Plot
From the most realistic perspective, if today’s events spread out, in the upcoming Grand Competition, Lu Yun will definitely become the target of all, with everyone going all out and using every means to defeat him. Once Lu Yun is defeated, the Lu Clan will be seen as having boasted emptily, becoming a laughingstock among the various clans.
Therefore, everyone deeply agreed with the Clan Leader’s order, guaranteeing they would not reveal even a hint of today’s events.
“Alright, that’s it for today.” Lu Shang slowly stood up, preparing to leave the small courtyard.
“Clan Leader, many clan members are gathered outside. We need to give an official statement to avoid their wild guesses.” Sixth Steward Lu Kan said softly.
“Mm.” Lu Shang nodded and glanced at Lu Xian, saying: “Just say the Vice Sect Master had some insights and called us over for guidance.”
“Yes.” The group of high-level members all nodded, then stood up to congratulate Lu Xian again, and went to Lu Xiang’s family, offering congratulations whether genuine or not.
There were those who were genuinely happy, like Lu Xiu, Lu Wei, Lu Xia, and Second Elder and others. At such a time, Lu Yun still thought of Lu Bai and the other two, which made them very grateful and naturally added much warmth toward Lu Xiang and Lu Xin. There were also some who were jealous in their hearts but polite on the surface, saying they came too hastily without prepared congratulatory gifts and would make it up later.
As for Great Elder Lu Wen and Third Steward Lu Jian, they naturally did not approach, just greeted Lu Xian and then left directly with a few confidants.
Lu Tong was also one of Great Elder’s confidants. He felt that as Lu Xiang’s blood brother, he should say some polite words and not just leave like this. But he also feared being misunderstood by Great Elder, so for a moment he neither stayed nor left, standing there extremely embarrassed.
“Uncle.” Lu Xin had long noticed Lu Tong and walked over to greet him.
“Lu Xin, come here quickly!” Unexpectedly, Lu Xiang’s shout came from behind: “People are congratulating you, what are you running around for!”
Lu Tong immediately turned red in the face, stomped his foot hatefully, and turned to leave the bamboo forest.
Lu Xin helplessly shook his head. His old man was getting more and more like an old child with age. Holding such a stalemate with his own brother, he didn’t know if it looked good on the face or felt good in the heart.
Lu Xiu and the others were all shrewd people, naturally pretending not to see. Second Elder Lu Lu smiled at Lu Xiang: “Come on, all to my place. Let’s have a good drink and celebrate.”
“The Clan Leader just said not to make a fuss.” Lu Xiang glanced at Lu Shang, who was talking with Lu Xian.
“Indeed not the time for drinking.” Lu Shang had just finished talking with Lu Xian, smiled and walked over, saying: “But us old brothers, having some tea together is fine.” With that, he pulled Lu Xiang with one hand and Lu Lu with the other, saying insistently: “Come, to my place!”
Lu Xiang naturally did not object, and Lu Lu hesitated a moment before following Lu Shang.
“Let’s go have tea too.” Lu Xiu also smiled and called Lu Xin, Lu Xia, and others.
“You go ahead, I won’t go.” Lu Wei shook his head and glanced at Lu Bai and others: “Still need to properly train these kids!”
Lu Bai and the other two were chatting happily with Lu Yun. Hearing this, they immediately pulled long faces, made an appointment with Lu Yun to meet in the evening, and obediently followed Lu Wei away.
Lu Yun had become Lu Xian’s disciple, so naturally Lu Xian would personally teach him, no need for Lu Wei to worry.
Considering his body had just had an issue yesterday, Lu Xian let Lu Yun go back to recuperate for a few days, and return for teaching after fully recovering. Of course, Lu Xian was habitually lazy, so expecting him to teach Lu Yun every day without fail like Lu Wei was unrealistic.
Lu Yun then bid farewell to his Master and left the small bamboo forest together with Lu Ying, who had been waiting quietly to the side.
Outside the bamboo forest, the clan members had already been driven away by the various stewards and elders. It was now empty, with no one in sight.
The brother and sister walked side by side for a good distance before Lu Yun softly said: “Sorry, Elder Sister, I worried you again.”
Lu Ying smiled and shook her head, softly saying: “Elder Sister knew you would be fine.” Though she said that, her red and swollen eyes could not deceive anyone.
“Fortunately, this time it was a blessing in disguise,” Lu Yun smiled: “I’ve become a Heavenly Rank Grandmaster’s disciple. Let’s see who dares to have ideas about you again!”
“Yes…” Lu Ying nodded, wanting to say something light-hearted, but tears fell uncontrollably. She looked up, eyes brimming with tears at Lu Yun: “Younger Brother, was it my words that caused your issue? Don’t worry, Elder Sister won’t hold you back anymore. Do whatever you want, Elder Sister won’t say anything!”
“Elder Sister, what are you thinking?” Lu Yun took out a handkerchief, heartachingly wiped Lu Ying’s tears, and hurriedly smiled lightly to ease things: “It was from looking at the bamboo that I had the issue, what does it have to do with you?” He made a funny face: “Don’t believe me? Go home and find a bamboo stalk to stare at all day, guaranteed in less than half a day, you’ll have Qi Deviation too.”
“Really not because of me?” Lu Ying looked hopefully at Lu Yun, and only relaxed upon his nod. But she worried again: “Why would the Vice Sect Master have you stare at bamboo all day? Is it okay to have such a Master?”
“Haha, I was worried too…” Seeing this, Lu Yun changed the subject: “Finally have half a day free. Come on, I’ll go shopping with you!”
“Really?” Lu Ying was instantly delighted, then shook her head: “Better not, you need to go home and rest.”
“I’m completely fine now, going home is just reading and cultivation practice.” Lu Yun smiled: “Elder Sister, are you going or not?”
“Going, going!” Lu Ying finally couldn’t help but smile broadly, pulling Lu Yun straight toward the bustling North City.
.
After leaving the small bamboo forest, Lu Jian did not return to his Finance Department, but followed Lu Wen to the Elder Council.
Great Elder knew he had something to say, so dismissed the attendants, leaving only Lu Jian to have tea and talk with him.
Before Lu Jian could figure out how to start, someone came in to report that Lu Shang had pulled away Second Elder and Lu Xiang, and Lu Xiu had pulled away Lu Xia, Lu Xin, and others.
Lu Wen sneered repeatedly upon hearing: “The Clan Leader is truly skilled, able to stir up waves three feet high without wind!”
“Yes, the Clan Leader used Lu Xian accepting a disciple to engage in alliance and cooperation,” Lu Jian nodded, his gaze gloomy: “Now in everyone’s eyes, probably Lu Xian, Lu Lu, Lu Xia will all stand on his side.”
Lu Wen nodded. He hadn’t expected Lu Shang to make such a big article out of such a small matter. Lu Shang called the clan’s high-level members to the small bamboo forest, letting them see with their own eyes Lu Xian accepting Lu Yun as disciple. And Lu Yun’s father Lu Xin was the Clan Leader’s confidant. In the eyes of the high-level members, with this connection, Lu Xian would definitely lean toward the Clan Leader intentionally or not in the future.
Moreover, previously the Clan Leader had taken unprecedented measures to cultivate Lu Song, Lu Lin, and others, precisely to win over Lu Lu, Lu Xia, and others. This time although Lu Xian did not accept Lu Bai and the others as disciples, he agreed to let Lu Yun pass on the essentials of the cultivation method to them, so now Lu Lu, Lu Xia, and the others would owe a great favor to Lu Xin and his son. In this way, they would probably half-push half-accept and board the Clan Leader’s chariot.
Although these people had not been in the same pot with him before, seeing Lu Shang use this small matter to pull them all over, Great Elder still felt extremely anxious. Especially Second Elder Lu Lu, who had always been at odds with him. Once he decided to stir things up, how could he concentrate the Elder Council’s power to oppose the Clan Leader?
Thinking of this, Lu Wen looked at Lu Jian and said hatefully: “A thousand-mile dam is destroyed by an ant hole. We can’t let Lu Shang succeed so easily!”
“It won’t immediately pull these people over.” Lu Jian said in a deep voice: “Lu Xian emphasized again today that he won’t interfere in clan affairs, even giving the Vice Sect Master’s token as a gift to his disciple. In plain words, doesn’t that mean he doesn’t want to fall into the Clan Leader’s trap or be used by him?”
