Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 444 Encounter in the Demon Realm

Back at the Lu residence, Sheng Yuanyao, Pei Chuyun, Anuo, and even a pig stood dumbfounded in the courtyard staring at him.

It's clear that Sheng Yuanyao has already relayed what happened over there to everyone.

Even Ah Nuo hadn't expected his master to be so wild... well, although he sometimes seems to go wild, this time it's way too much.

"Are you sure everything will be alright?" Sheng Yuanyao asked cautiously. "What if they really have another baby when they go berserk?"

Lu Xingzhou chuckled: "Huo Xingyuan hasn't had any more children since Huo Shang was born. His wife was perfectly healthy back then, which means it was already difficult for her, let alone now that she's a first-rank official. Gambling on an unknown future isn't easy; human nature usually leads people to rush into having children, only to kill me once the birth is confirmed. Before that, they really have to protect my only bloodline, even if it means they're at odds with me."

Sheng Yuanyao was still shaken: "Luckily, Old Sheng wasn't so obsessed with carrying on the family line."

"Are you sure he doesn't want to...?"

"..." Sheng Yuanyao remembered that she had just woken her father out of her mother's bed and knew that it was hard to say, that they might really be trying to make a baby.

You think I've ruined your child?
“Um…” Pei Chuyun also said cautiously, “Twenty years ago, Huo Xingyuan was at most a third-rank official, right? And he already had trouble conceiving, right? Now you’re a second-rank official, so we…”

Sheng Yuanyao's expression changed, and even Ye Tinglan, who was sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed on the rooftop not far away, opened her eyes.

"It's not like we can't have children, so we have to try harder!" Lu Xingzhou hugged her on both sides and tried to run into the house.

"Stop!" Ye Tinglan finally lost her temper and fell from the rooftop, her face ashen: "With such an important matter at hand, you still have the mind to make babies?"

Lu Xingzhou's eyes darted around, and he really wanted to say, "Are you not going to act anymore? Are you going to join us?" But he forced a smile and said, "It's nothing serious..."

"You just killed Huo Heng in public at the Marquis's residence, why do you think nothing happened?" Ye Tinglan was extremely anxious: "What if they can't swallow this and insist on killing you? Or what if someone leaks it out, wouldn't you be the second Huo Qi?"

"No one will leak it out." Yang Dechang, who had been watching the show for a while, bowed and said, "Grand Preceptor, before the Marquis's mansion makes a decision, anyone who easily leaks it out will not actually offend the Physician, but the Grand Tutor and the Marquis... Besides, given the current progress, no one dares to gamble on whether the Physician will become their master in the future. Whoever does something so foolish, even if some idiot can't keep their mouth shut, the Marquis's mansion will cover it up..."

Ye Tinglan was well aware of this principle, but she clearly felt that Lu Xingzhou was at a very critical juncture. However, no matter how she analyzed it, it seemed that everything was fine. As long as Lu Xingzhou dared to have a threesome, she couldn't shake off her worries.

Lu Xingzhou then said something even more explosive: "It would be even better if people spread it."

This time, Edward Yang was dumbfounded: "Huh?"

"Of course, the rumor isn't about me beating Huo Heng to death, but rather that Huo Heng murdered Huo Jin and was beaten to death during family discipline. While the two old men haven't made up their minds what to do, let's just define the story and see if they can deny it and say that Lu Xingzhou did it?"

Edward Yang's expression was a jumble of emotions. He considered himself a rather cunning old man, usually sent out to do the kind of work where he was a treacherous figure behind the scenes, but at this moment he still felt that he was actually a good person.

"Ahem..." Yang Dechang realized what was happening and bowed, saying, "Then I will take care of it right away."

"Wait, Lao Yang, how much is your monthly allowance at the Huo family again?"

"Ten taels of silver, one mid-grade spirit stone, and one of each of the following conventional medicines: Qi-boosting pills."

"……That's it?"

Edward Yang paused for a moment, then said, "It's not low."

While silver can't buy the high-end goods needed by cultivators, its purchasing power for ordinary daily necessities is quite high. Yang Dechang is an elderly man with a family, and his family can live comfortably on its own. Spirit stones, let alone mid-grade ones, are all quite valuable. More than ten a year is no small amount. Add to that regular medicine, and many inner disciples of major sects receive roughly the same treatment. And this is just a monthly salary; those who obtain high-end breakthrough pills or magic treasures can earn additional rewards for their merits.

There were also various dirty jobs and gifts from others; Old Yang's extra income far exceeded his monthly allowance, and the Huo family turned a blind eye and didn't ask for it. Overall, the Huo family wasn't stingy in this regard; for a retainer, this income could be considered high-paying, stable, and lucrative.

Lu Xingzhou still felt it was too little... because this was a peak third-grade cultivator, almost second-grade. Was this treatment only comparable to that of an inner disciple?
If this were placed in the Heavenly Sword Sect, guess how much income it would generate?

It's true that retainers have no rights. Old Yang actually thinks it's not low. Are you comparing yourself to servants? Do you think you're paid much more than others?

Lu Xingzhou was at a loss for words, so he simply said, "Now that you're following me to be the first retainer of my Lu family, the Lu family will naturally set a precedent for you. Hmm... the treatment my Lu family gives to third-rank experts is three times what you just mentioned. If you successfully break through to the second rank, it will be tripled again."

Lu Xingzhou felt that even three times more wouldn't compare to Zhang Shaoyou's income from the Heavenly Sword Sect, and it wouldn't amount to much money for Yang Dechang, who was already quite wealthy. But Yang Dechang's eyes still widened in disbelief.

It's true he has a lot of extra income and quite a bit of assets, so he feels his income is already pretty good and doesn't care about the fixed allowance. But extra income is unstable, especially since he was stripped of his position a few months ago, which means much less... The fixed allowance is a stable, steady stream of income. A small increase might not make much of a difference to a wealthy person like him, but a big increase is a different story!
Doubling your salary is a huge increase for a normal person, so what does it mean to triple your salary three times over?
Lu Xingzhou said, "Besides spreading rumors about Huo Heng when I go back this time, I also want to find out what the other retainers of the Huo family are thinking. After all, joining me doesn't necessarily count as betrayal." Yang Dechang realized that this high salary wasn't specifically for him, but a price for a large-scale poaching operation. He took a deep breath and said, "Understood, I will definitely handle it properly for you, Master."

The fact that the Seventh Young Master had become the Master signified that Lu Xingzhou was now the master in Edward Yang's heart.

Watching Yang Dechang leave, Sheng Yuanyao clicked her tongue and said, "Even if he finds out you're not Huo Shang this time, he'll probably only recognize you, right?"

“Even without this trick, it would be the same. Does the Huo family not know that he has already sided with me? I was the one who instigated Huo Qi. He has no choice but to follow me completely, or he will surely die.” Lu Xingzhou said, “In this situation, he will work harder than anyone else, wishing he could hollow out the Huo family. The weaker the Huo family is, the safer he will be.”

Then he turned to Ye Tinglan and said, "Oh, by the way, sir, please send a few people to secretly protect Lao Yang. I suspect that Lao Yang has some evidence of the Huo family's dirty deeds and may be assassinated."

Ye Tinglan nodded slightly: "Knowing how to do these things is more like it. If you then bring them into the house with one on each side, see how I'll beat you up."

"...But now that everything is done," Lu Xingzhou asked cautiously. "Would you like to stay here tonight, sir?"

"Get lost!" Ye Tinglan shouted angrily and rode away on the wind, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Sheng Yuanyao and Pei Chuyun blinked their eyes: "But tonight, we really can't stay, or we'll be beaten to death... You can use your right hand, see you later."

With two quick "whoosh" sounds, the two disappeared at the same time.

Lu Xingzhou looked at the suddenly empty courtyard and sniffed: "Anuo is still the best. She won't abandon her master."

Ah Nuo, carrying the piglet, wobbled away, saying, "Sorry, I have to go feed the fish."

After taking a few steps, he turned around and grinned, "Congratulations, Master, you've avenged half of your great grudge."

Lu Xingzhou grinned and said, "My other half will be here soon too."

Lu Xingzhou achieved a crucial milestone on his path to revenge, while Yuan Muyu traveled north, and the vast and desolate scenery of the Demon Realm somewhat lifted her spirits.

However, the heavy snow in winter, the vast land and sparse population, while beautiful, made one feel even more lonely.

They were also completely disoriented.

Originally, I was just wandering around aimlessly. After three days of doing nothing, I naturally started to find a goal for myself.

I originally planned to go to the Holy Mountain, which is said to be the place where Lu Xingzhou fought.

But then I thought about it again and it didn't seem to make any sense. The Holy Mountain was now supposedly guarded by the Dragon Clan general Long Lie, who was apparently going to become the abbot. It was no longer the same as before, and it had nothing to do with Lu Xingzhou.

Should we go directly to Shanghai then?

I heard that the Dragon Emperor and him... Back then, I intercepted the Dragon Emperor at sea and captured him. At the time, I thought it was because the Dragon Emperor valued ability. Now, looking back, perhaps my first reaction was the right one.

There must be something fishy going on between the Dragon Emperor and him.

I want to see... why would the Dragon Emperor and he, who should have no connection whatsoever, be involved...?

Even though I know it's pointless to watch, I just want to take a look for some reason.

But in my current state, infiltrating Dragon Cliff? That might be a bit difficult.

As Yuan Muyu hesitated and walked, a convoy came from the southwest, and the rumbling of the wheels made him instinctively turn his head to look back.

Then they saw a group of people escorting the convoy, dressed in white like snow, their swords flashing like frost.

Yuan Muyu's heart skipped a beat when he caught sight of the woman leading the group from afar.

Shen Tang!

(End of this chapter)