The Mirror Master

On the way back, Lu Bai bought plenty of fish and meat, along with fruits and pastries. It was quite a sumptuous spread.

Madam Wang and Uncle Fu were both startled to see Lu Bai return carrying so many things.

The Lu Family had been struggling financially lately and hadn’t bought this much in a very long time.

"This must have cost a fortune."

Uncle Fu hurried over, took the food from Lu Bai’s hands, and asked, "Don’t tell me Hall Master Chen agreed?"

Madam Wang asked with concern, "Ah Bai, they didn’t give you a hard time, did they?"

"It went quite smoothly."

Lu Bai said, "I got five hundred taels back."

"That’s no small amount."

Uncle Fu’s face lit up with pleasant surprise.

Madam Wang was also filled with joy. "Hall Master Chen is a righteous man. He didn’t take advantage of us after your father passed, or kick us while we’re down. He even returned five hundred taels.

Ah Bai, we must find an opportunity to thank him properly."

"Let’s invite Hall Master Chen over for dinner tonight."

Lu Bai smiled. "Uncle Fu, please make tonight’s dinner a bit more lavish. Besides Hall Master Chen, I’ve also invited my uncle and his family."

"They’re coming too?"

Madam Wang frowned slightly.

Ever since she saw the true colors of Lu Ziyuan’s family, she had grown to detest them.

Lu Bai said, "Mhm, it’s the perfect opportunity to discuss the ownership of those four pharmacies with them."

Uncle Fu said, "There are still a few days left in the mourning period. Should we wait?"

Madam Wang sighed. "A few days earlier or later won’t make a difference. Let’s just do as Ah Bai says."

Lu Bai suddenly said, "Mother, after the mourning period ends, let’s all move to Bluestone County."

"Huh?"

Madam Wang froze.

Uncle Fu was also taken aback for a moment. "Young Master, why the sudden decision to move?"

"It’s not safe here."

Lu Bai said, "It will be safer if we move to Bluestone County."

’It’s difficult to obtain any High-Tier Martial Arts in Liuxi Town. I have to go to a bigger city.’

’If I leave Mother and Uncle Fu behind in Liuxi Town, I can’t guarantee their safety.’

"That may be true, but..."

Madam Wang gazed at her surroundings, her heart filled with reluctance to leave.

After all, they had lived in Liuxi Town for so long; it was hard to leave one’s home.

Especially to move to a large, unfamiliar town.

But on second thought, ’getting away from Lu Ziyuan’s family might not be a bad thing. Out of sight, out of mind.’

Uncle Fu also chimed in, "Young Master, Bluestone County is certainly better and safer, but we’ll have to make a living once we get there. We won’t know the people or the place. It’s hard to get by without any skills."

"I have five hundred taels."

Lu Bai said, "Then we’ll sell the family’s four pharmacies, which should get us over a thousand taels. That’ll be more than enough to live on in Bluestone County for some time."

’I don’t want to waste my time and energy running pharmacies. It’d be easier just to sell them.’

"Sell the four pharmacies?"

Both Madam Wang and Uncle Fu were stunned.

Uncle Fu gave a wry smile. "Young Master, you must be confused. Aren’t those four pharmacies being transferred to First Master Lu’s family?"

"We’ll talk about that tonight."

Lu Bai just smiled, offering no explanation.

Back in the West Courtyard, Lu Bai focused his mind on the Ancient Mirror.

He directed the two wisps of Soul Light within the Ancient Mirror toward the ’Martial Technique’ section.

In the span of a month, he had already cultivated both the Five-Step Fist and the Eight Sword Skills to the level of Minor Success.

’Tonight won’t be peaceful.’

’I must be fully prepared.’

’The Eight Sword Skills uses a weapon, after all. It’s far more lethal!’

After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Bai merged both wisps of Soul Light into the ’Eight Sword Skills’.

’Comprehend!’

Lu Bai recited in his mind.

Ripples spread across the mirror’s surface.

The characters began to blur.

[Martial Technique: Eight Sword Skills: Yellow (Great Success)]

After a brief pause, more ripples appeared.

The characters blurred once more.

[Martial Technique: Eight Sword Skills: Yellow (Perfection)]

-----------------

At dusk, Lu Ziyuan and his family left their house and headed for the Lu Residence.

"It seems that kid Lu Bai has finally seen reason."

Madam Li’s face beamed as she looked at the contract she had already drafted.

Lu Yao suddenly spoke up, "Father, Mother, I feel like Lu Bai has been a little different since he got back."

"Different how?"

Lu Ziyuan asked.

"I can’t quite put my finger on it."

Lu Yao shook her head. "It’s just... this invitation was so sudden. You don’t think it’s a trap, do you?"

Madam Li scoffed, unconcerned. "What is there to fear? What waves can that orphan and his widowed mother possibly make?

Besides, we have Zhou Yu with us."

As she spoke, Madam Li glanced at her son-in-law, Zhou Yu, her eyes full of adulation.

"Rest assured."

Zhou Yu said with a calm expression, "With me here, he’ll hand over those four pharmacies tonight whether he wants to or not. It’s not up to him."

"Master, we should still be careful."

Wang Shouzhong, the guard following Lu Ziyuan’s family, suddenly spoke up. "We must be careful they don’t poison the food tonight."

"He wouldn’t dare!"

Madam Li snorted coldly.

The other guard, Zheng Ke, added, "That kid Lu Bai wouldn’t dare, but there’s no guarantee that old dog Uncle Fu won’t do something reckless out of desperation. After all, the Lu Residence is full of medicinal herbs. We can’t let our guard down."

"Good point."

Lu Ziyuan nodded slightly, casting an appreciative glance at Wang Shouzhong and Zheng Ke. "You’re right to remind me. One can never be too careful."

Madam Wang and her son have no backing or resources. Their only chance is to use poison."

"Hmph!"

Zhou Yu sneered. "If they dare use poison, then don’t blame me for being merciless tonight. I’ll send them to the Underworld to reunite with Lu Ziheng!"

"A pipsqueak like Lu Bai wouldn’t even be able to take one of my punches!"

Zhou Yu raised a hand, clenching it into a fist.

Wang Shouzhong said with a fawning smile, "Young Master Zhou is at the Third Level of the Root Bone Stage, after all. Forget Lu Bai, even the two of us brothers combined couldn’t withstand you."

Zheng Ke chimed in, "With Young Master Zhou’s strength, he’s practically number one in Liuxi Town beneath the Inner Family masters!"

Lu Ziyuan laughed. "Once Zhou Yu begins cultivating Inner Strength, his progress will be staggering. The student will surpass the master. Given time, even his own master, Chen Tieshan, might not be his match."

Zhou Yu smiled, clearly pleased by the praise. "Chen Tieshan?" he said lightly. "I’m afraid he won’t live to see that day."

Upon hearing this, a chill ran down the spines of Lu Ziyuan and the others.

They exchanged glances but didn’t dare ask further.

After walking for a while, Lu Yao asked again, "Husband, why didn’t that talisman your mother gave me work?"

"I don’t know."

Zhou Yu shook his head. "I asked my mother, too. She said it might be related to that black dog that’s always with Lu Bai.

A beast like a black dog can be sinister. Did you get rid of it?"

"I didn’t get a chance."

Lu Yao said, "I tried to lure the black dog away during the day, but Lu Bai wouldn’t let it go."

"It’s no matter."

Zhou Yu said nonchalantly, "Once tonight’s business is settled, we’ll find an excuse and put that beast down. I doubt Lu Bai will dare to say anything."

Before long, the group arrived at the Lu Residence.

The main gate stood wide open, as if respectfully welcoming them.

Under the night sky, the white lanterns flanking the entrance flickered with a bleak, ghostly light, swaying gently in the wind and exuding a sinister, terrifying aura.

At a glance, it looked just like the Ghost Gate leading to the Underworld.

For some unknown reason, Lu Ziyuan and his party couldn’t help but shiver.

But when they saw the main hall of the Lu Residence brightly lit and caught sight of Uncle Fu and Lu Bai bustling about serving food, the group dismissed their concerns, composed themselves, and walked inside.

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