Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 327 The Huo Family Also Has a Succession Struggle
Lu Xingzhou still decided to attend the meeting, after all, Huo Zhang was an important figure in this matter, and he should be able to learn something from him.

I didn't bring Ah Nuo this time; I went alone.

Once outside, they realized that Huo Zhang was alone, and the place he took them to was a small restaurant nearby.

Compared to the extravagant lifestyles of others he had seen in the past, Huo Zhang, who frequented restaurants, was surprisingly approachable and easygoing.

The two entered a small private room in the restaurant. It was dirty and damp, with an oil lamp lit and several plates of peanuts on the table. The sounds and fumes from the owner cooking outside could be heard into the room.

"This place is really good. No matter what city you go to, the food you find in the alleys is always the most authentic, not places like Yanyulou." Huo Zhang sat down casually and poured wine for Lu Xingzhou: "I can tell you've had a tough childhood, so you probably don't pretend like them. You should be used to eating and drinking in places like this."

Lu Xingzhou found it quite interesting: "Hmm, that's good."

Huo Zhang raised his glass and clinked it with his, then drank it first without waiting for a response: "No matter what you think, we are brothers in essence, right?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled but didn't respond; instead, he drank his wine.

In fact, they were distant cousins, which is why Lu Xingzhou often called him "Fourth Brother" or "Sixth Brother" on purpose, but in other people's eyes, he was definitely Huo Shang.

Seeing that he was willing to drink, and that his attitude wasn't as stubborn as he had imagined, Huo Zhang smiled and said, "The old man has regretted it for a long time, but he just wanted to bow his head and apologize to you, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Now that you've risen to the third rank at such a young age, they're even more regretful—last time you were in the capital, your father even brought gifts to try and make up, didn't he? Unfortunately, he didn't swallow his pride, and all his efforts were in vain. Now I think, if we had lowered our stance a little more back then, the family would have another third-rank official now."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "The Huo family is full of talented people, so they don't need another third-rank official."

"Lacking? Of course we're lacking!" Huo Zhang said, "We've invited many third-rank officials, and even some second-rank ones! But are they all surnamed Huo? Huh? You know that Yang Dechang, he's very capable, right? But his surname is Yang! And you, dare you say you're not surnamed Huo?"

Lu Xingzhou really couldn't say he wasn't surnamed Huo, and he was both amused and exasperated by these words: "Yang Dechang's loyalty to the Huo family surpasses that of me, who is surnamed Huo. Second Young Master's words are rather hurtful."

Huo Zhang waved his hand: "That's different! I didn't say he was disloyal."

Lu Xingzhou glanced at Huo Zhang. If we're talking about the Huo family, this guy is actually a third-rank official.

Of the Huo family members, only Huo Qi and Huo Zhang hold the third rank. Huo Qi is over thirty-one years old, while Huo Zhang just turned thirty last month. Their breakthroughs were mostly achieved one or two years ago. By calculation, Huo Zhang's breakthrough was at a younger age than Huo Qi's. According to common judgment, Huo Zhang's talent is stronger than Huo Qi's, but not by much.

Lu Xingzhou twirled his wine cup, then said leisurely, "Second...brother, do you mean you want me to acknowledge my ancestors?"

Huo Zhang said, "The whole family wants it, who doesn't? It's already a laughing stock that your bloodline is scattered outside, and now it's turned into an enemy. That would be a laughing stock for the whole world, don't you think?"

"So it was the Grand Tutor and the Marquis who sent my second brother to persuade me?"

"No, I came by myself."

The two looked at each other and saw the smile in each other's eyes.

Who sent them makes a big difference.

At least in Huo Zhang's own mind, others had a grudge against Huo Shang, but he did not. Therefore, he could join forces with Huo Shang to do things that others would not suggest.

I didn't expect "Huo Shang" to be so perceptive, almost seeing through my thoughts at a glance.

At this moment, the waiter brought out the stir-fried dishes, and the two stopped talking and each ate some food.

Lu Xingzhou exclaimed, "Indeed, the stir-fries here are quite good."

"Right!" Huo Zhang said smugly, "These are the meals my soldiers invited their friends over when they went home. They didn't invite me, but I found out and came to eat by myself the next day. Do they think I'm broke?"

Lu Xingzhou almost burst out laughing: "I know someone with the same name as you, surnamed Liu. That person's personality is the complete opposite of yours, which made me think that your name was similar when I first saw it. What a contrast!"

Huo Zhang said, "Everyone in my family names has the 'Wang' radical, but it's actually the 'Yu' radical. They all hope that we'll all be gentlemen like jade. Others are fine, but I can't learn that. Who told them to make me join the army? But speaking of which, all those other so-called gentlemen like jade are just pretending. They're like monkeys wearing crowns, and they're really laughable. The one who is truly the most gentlemanly is actually you, the only one who doesn't have the 'Wang' radical."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "I was pretending too."

"That's perhaps true; you're ruthless."

"That's natural. Some people are like jade, while others are tragic."

Now that things had come to this point, Huo Zhang stopped pretending and said directly, "You have no grudge against me, but you have grudges against everyone else. Therefore, if you acknowledge your ancestors and return to your clan, you will be my most natural ally, and of course I hope you will go back."

Lu Xingzhou poured himself a glass of wine, watching it drip, and said calmly, "Are you vying with Huo Qi for the position of family head?"

"That's right..."

"What counts as 'considering'?"

"Because both my father and grandfather are first-rank officials and live long lives, the succession of the family head position cannot be a recent matter; it's still a long way off."

Don't be fooled by the fact that being by Ye Tinglan's side makes it seem like even super-grade items are worthless, as they're everywhere you look. In reality, that level represents the very pinnacle of power, bringing together the strongest sects of the human race, demon kings, visitors from the ancient realms, and other top-tier forces. In a general sense, first-grade forces are still at the top of the world. The Huo family, with two first-grade members, remains one of the strongest forces in the Great Qian Dynasty, enough to inspire awe in 99% of the population.

According to the lifespan calculations of a first-rank cultivator, they might still be alive even after their children and grandchildren have all died out, so the succession of the family head is naturally different from that of ordinary people. But things seem to have played a trick on them. When a person reaches the first rank, the desire to surpass the rank will become more and more dominant, and they will have no interest in managing worldly affairs. They will then gradually transfer power to the next generation, and invisibly, they will become closer to the mortals' path of passing on power.

Grand Tutor Huo Liancheng had stopped managing affairs of the family a long time ago and passed the leadership of the family to his son, Huo Xingyuan. As a result, Huo Xingyuan also became a first-rank official a few years ago. His sons felt that their father would eventually become like their grandfather, so they naturally had their own ideas.

These ideas are just ideas. Before Huo Xingyuan has shown any intention to pass on the throne, they can only be considered as preparations.

Huo Zhang continued, "As I just told you, I was sent outside to learn martial arts from a young age, and later I joined the army. Doesn't that sound normal? But you're not just anyone; you naturally know that the Huo family itself is a family that has passed down martial arts. Sending me outside to cultivate Taoist magic is somewhat understandable, but sending me outside to learn martial arts is a big deal."

Lu Xingzhou nodded: "It was probably the moment you were born that the decision was made not to let you compete with your elder brother. Originally, it might have just been to avoid the two sons fighting, but as more and more children were born, the original idea became a bit ridiculous. But since you've already been sent away, we can only make the best of a bad situation and simply cultivate both civil and military talents." "That's right, that's how it is, but why?" Huo Zhang's voice rose: "It's said that I'm in charge of the military, so it seems like I have more power, but in reality, the system in this dynasty is different. The old man is just acting as the emperor's military commander; the real power belongs to the emperor. Even if I take over the position, I'm just taking over as the steward. My elder brother is steadily and surely building his career in the court; he's the one shouldering the heavy responsibility, wanting to make the Huo family the Pei of Hedong."

All power belongs to His Majesty…

The Huo family has ties to the demon race...

These two pieces of information kept clashing in Lu Xingzhou's mind, but he remained silent.

Huo Zhang had no idea that his words would resonate with Lu Xingzhou in this way. He continued, "Anyone with eyes can see that the old man still prefers the eldest brother as the head of the family. But why? Right? Is his cultivation level higher than mine, or is his talent better than mine? Even his first suggestion to the court was taken from you!"

Lu Xingzhou finally smiled and said, "Yes."

“I’ve been away from home for a long time, and I’m not close to my other brothers. Compared to my eldest brother, I’m practically isolated and helpless. But it will be different if you come back.” Huo Zhang laughed. “You wish they were all dead, don’t you?”

Actually, I also want you to die, but unfortunately you don't know it.

Lu Xingzhou said leisurely, "Second Brother wants to recruit me as an ally... but what can I gain from that?"

"Is it enough to send them all to their deaths?"

Lu Xingzhou looked at Huo Zhang with great interest, finding it quite amusing.

His audacity in attacking his own city showed he was a ruthless character; I never imagined he could be this ruthless.

"Talking about this won't do any good," Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly. "At least one of us should die first, let's see how strong we are?"

"What if you see it? Then you'll return?"

Lu Xingzhou swirled his wine glass, his pupils gleaming with an enigmatic light in the candlelight: "Then I'll at least try to go back to the Huo family for a meal."

It sounds like he's at least willing to try to reconcile... You know, before, his "biological father" Huo Xingyuan personally brought gifts to invite him home for dinner, but he refused.

Huo Zhang downed the wine in his cup in one gulp: "Then we'll wait and see."

While everyone was enjoying themselves at the banquet, Pei Chuyun stayed up late into the night, then skillfully climbed over the wall and headed straight for the "dormitory" of Dan Academy, where she excitedly rang the bell to enter the cave.

She thought Lu Xingzhou would carry her inside and do *that* as soon as he opened the door, but when the door opened, there was no one there.

Looking down, I saw a little boy standing there, looking up at me with the same gaze one would give a prostitute offering herself up as a hostess.

Pei Chuyun was speechless: "Why is it you? Don't you have your own cave next door?"

Ah Nu blinked: "Master is planning to give you a surprise and has you wait for him here."

Pei Chuyun was quite pleased: "He's getting a bit more romantic now."

Ah Nuo dashed out the door: "I'm going to sleep now, Sister Ah Lu, please wait patiently."

And you say you had great ideas but were just a novice who got scammed... You're not a novice anymore, so why are you still getting scammed?
So it's not that Ah-Lu is stupid, it's that Ah-Nuo is too smart.

Unfortunately, even the clever Anuo didn't expect that Lu Xingzhou and Huo Zhang's banquet wouldn't last long before it was interrupted by an unwelcome guest.

"Hey, you two brothers are drinking? Why don't you find some other brothers?" The door to the private room opened, revealing Huo Qi's smiling face: "Second brother, that's not fair."

Huo Zhang's expression turned very ugly.

Lu Xingzhou looked at Huo Zhang, then at Huo Qi, and focused on Huo Heng, who was with Huo Qi.

I wonder if his teeth have been repaired.

Huo Qi laughed and said, "What, Second Brother doesn't welcome the brothers?"

Lu Xingzhou said coldly, "So what if I don't welcome you?"

This time, Huo Qi looked grim, while Huo Zhang smiled.

Lu Xingzhou stood up abruptly and walked towards the door, saying, "Unwelcome guests have ruined my mood for drinking. Excuse me, I need to go home and rest."

Huo Heng was furious when he saw Lu Xingzhou and instinctively blocked his way.

With a "bang," Lu Xingzhou slapped Huo Heng across the other side of his face, sending him spinning like a top, and a tooth flew out into the air.

"You never learn." Lu Xingzhou cleared a path and walked right past Huo Qi, ignoring him completely.

Huo Qi's face looked like he had eaten shit.

Despite both being of the third rank, he couldn't stop Lu Xingzhou from assaulting his brother right in front of him!
Sheng Qingfeng had already been informed by secret agents of the Demon Suppression Division.

Upon receiving the report, Sheng Qingfeng dropped his teacup: "Didn't he say there would be absolutely no public violence? What is he doing now?"

(End of this chapter)