Chapter 96

A massive force struck Lu Buqi's left shoulder, definitely exceeding twenty thousand catties of strength.

Lu Buqi's entire body's integrated strength was suddenly shattered. His body, which had no support in the air, was like a package hit by a truck, flying out directly.

"I'm done for!" Just as Lu Buqi thought he would fly out of the tower, a powerful hand grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

However, as Lu Buqi stood dazed, a cool breath flowed into his side, and his dislocated shoulder bone snapped back into place. The surging blood and qi quickly calmed down.

Lu Buqi saw that the long arm that grabbed him was clad in smooth purple clothing. The owner of the purple clothing, Lu Tai, was now staring coldly at Lu Yang, who was helping Lu Zhang up: "Is this the demeanor of our Lu family's eldest? After pondering for so long, you finally found an opportunity to win people's hearts?"

Lu Yang had a faint smile on his face: "Ninth Brother, you're too extreme. I just saw this boy's murderous intent and feared that Zhang would be in danger, so I acted to stop it."

"Murderous intent? I think Lu Zhang's murderous intent was even more intense. He even used the Dragon Whirl Strike..."

Lu Hongshan coughed lightly, his eagle-like eyes flashing: "Enough, Ninth Brother. Your elder brother acted to stabilize the situation."

"Still, Father understands me." Lu Yang had a gentle smile on his face as he looked at Lu Buqi: "Little friend Buqi, it's been a long time since I've fought. I didn't control my strength well. Are you alright?"

In fact, if Lu Buqi hadn't timely contracted his body and used integrated strength to defend, the purpose of that kick would have been his left rib. With twenty thousand catties of force, hitting the left rib, even if Lu Buqi had reached the Bone Resonance stage, his ribs would break, and at that angle, it would definitely graze his heart, with unimaginable consequences.

Lu Buqi deeply despised and feared Lu Yang, this smiling tiger, but his expression was calm, and he lightly shook his head: "Thank you, Sir, for showing mercy..."

Pausing, Lu Buqi looked at Lu Tai, a smile on his lips: "Thank you, Ninth Sir, for your help. Otherwise, without wings, I would have fallen from this tower and surely died!"

"I didn't save you; I saved the face of our Lu family." Lu Tai's expression was indifferent: "If you died here, I can't imagine what other foolish people would still come to our Lu family!"

Lu Buqi didn't care about Lu Tai's coldness. Some people were just cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Compared to the gentle and refined Lu Yang, he knew with his toes that Lu Tai was the kind of person he could truly befriend.

"Ninth Brother just likes to joke around." Lu Yang still had an innocent smile: "Little friend Buqi, even if Ninth Brother wasn't here, Father wouldn't have let you fall from the tower. After all, you are a young talent who is slightly more skilled than Zhang!"

"I believe that!" Lu Buqi ignored the still unhappy Lu Zhang and stared straight at Lu Hongshan: "Old Sir, can I now ask for a favor?"

Lu Hongshan's linen eyebrows, shaped like eagle wings, raised: "Speak up, I've been waiting for this moment!"

"My background, I believe Old Sir already knows!" Lu Buqi said frankly: "In Yangze, I was just a small slave, but I managed to gain a name. Here, I want to ask Old Sir to grant me the Lu surname..."

A hint of joy appeared in the corners of Lu Hongshan's eyes: "That's easy. In my Hongshan County, anyone who reaches the Bone Resonance stage can be granted the Lu surname if they join our family. It's a small matter."

Lu Buqi shook his head: "If it were just that, it wouldn't be a favor. To be honest, even if I went to Guling County or returned to Yangze County, getting a surname would be quite easy."

A confidence that permeated from his bones made Lu Puxin and Lu Shaohui secretly admire him, but they also secretly worried. Lu Buqi's words were indeed bold. Although he was skilled, there were three people present who could easily take his life.

Lu Hongshan nodded: "What you say is true. No noble family would reject a warrior like you. Speak your other thoughts!"

Lu Buqi nodded: "I don't think I'm here to seek a living in the Lu family. I just want a surname and a free status."

Lu Hongshan frowned: "You mean you only want me to grant you a surname, but you don't want to join our Lu family? You just want to have a free status?"

"Yes, Old Sir, that's the favor I'm asking for!" Lu Buqi nodded, his eyes meeting Lu Hongshan's piercing gaze.

When Lu Buqi said this, Lu Shaohui was the most tragic. Originally, he was delighted to see Lu Buqi easily defeat Lu Zhang, thinking that Fourth Sir and Lu Zhang wouldn't be able to hold this against him. But now, his dream had suddenly turned into a nightmare.

A sneer sounded, and Lu Zhang grinned: "After all this, you're still a self-righteous slave. Do you think you..."

"Silence!" Lu Hongshan sternly rebuked: "Lu An, control your son. At twenty-seven or twenty-eight, he's not at all steady. What kind of talk is this!"

"Yes, Father..." Lu An shrank back, glaring fiercely at the now silent Lu Zhang.

Seeing this, Lu Buqi suddenly realized that Lu Hongshan was not a kind old man. In the Lu family and throughout Hongshan County, he was the one who truly held the power of life and death. Although he spoke little and occasionally mediated, his occasional anger was enough to intimidate everyone.

"This favor is quite unexpected!" Lu Hongshan looked at Lu Buqi calmly: "This reminds me of someone from thirty years ago... Give me a reason why you don't want to join our Lu family?"

In the calm voice, Lu Buqi sensed a hint of killing intent. He lightly pinched his nose and replied firmly: "I don't like being controlled in everything. I just want a bit of freedom to do my own things."

"Hmm, you're quite a thoughtful young man!" Lu Hongshan's eyes narrowed: "Do you have many things to do?"

Lu Buqi nodded: "In Yangze, I have family and enemies. To settle scores, it's better to have a free status... Of course, there's no free lunch. Since I'm asking for a favor, I will repay it!"

"Settle scores, huh?" Lu Tai suddenly responded thoughtfully, giving Lu Buqi a deep look but saying nothing more.

"Oh, I almost overlooked this!" Lu Hongshan's eagle-like eyebrows relaxed: "If I grant you a surname and a legal free status in Yunze Kingdom, how do you plan to repay this favor?"

Lu Buqi shrugged slightly: "I can promise to help Old Sir with one task, as long as it aligns with ethics and morality."

Lu Hongshan frowned slightly: "I understand morality, but what is ethics?"

Lu Buqi was slightly taken aback, almost forgetting that this wasn't Earth, and in this semi-slave, semi-feudal world, there was no concept of the Chinese "heaven, earth, ruler, kin, and teacher" ethical norms.

Lu Hongshan, however, was not ashamed to ask, and Lu Buqi smiled: "It's a moral standard for self-restraint. To put it simply, if Old Sir asked me to kill my father or rebel against my ruler, I naturally couldn't do it!"

Lu Hongshan nodded: "That's a rather fresh perspective... Just for this, I shouldn't be so fixated on your allegiance. But one task seems a bit too little. How about three?"

Lu Buqi's eyebrows raised slightly, and he lightly pinched his nose: "Three seems a bit too much... Let's compromise. I respect the elderly, and you love the young. How about two tasks?"

"Fine, fine, fine... Respecting the elderly and loving the young, that's a fresh perspective!" Lu Hongshan laughed: "Although there's never been a precedent, since I've met such a unique friend, I'll make an exception. It's settled."

Lu Buqi was slightly pleased: "Then, Old Sir, should I go get my identity plate now?"

"Sure, I'll have Shaohui deliver it to you later!" Lu Hongshan said: "And now, as the head of the Lu family, Lu Ying, I, in accordance with the laws of Yunze Kingdom, grant the wanderer Buqi the surname 'Lu' and accept him as a free person in Hongshan County, allowing him to freely settle and start a business."

Lu Hongshan's original name was Lu Ying, a secret known to many. However, after becoming the head of the family, he used the county name as his name to show his strong rule.

His rigid words at this moment made Lu Buqi think of the fat man Wang Yingfu, and he couldn't help but feel that these two were actually quite endearing.

After nearly sixteen years, Lu Buqi could finally use the surname "Lu" with dignity. Now, he had finally become "Lu Buqi." The excitement in his heart was uncontrollable. If his parents knew this news, their joy would be certain.