Chapter 97

"Congratulations, Brother Buqi!" Lu Shaohui and Lu Puxin exchanged glances, genuinely happy for Lu Buqi. Lu Puxin didn't have too many feelings about it, after all, his father was already a commoner, and he was born a commoner. As for Lu Shaohui, he had once been in a similar situation, which allowed him to escape the status of a slave.

Nodding slightly to the two, Lu Buqi looked at Lu Hongshan: "Old Master, I'm not fully joining the Lu family yet, so I wonder if Captain Shaohui and Captain Puxin's recommendation still counts?"

Before Lu Hongshan could respond, Lu Yang said calmly: "Little friend Buqi, this is an internal matter of the Lu family, and it's not something you need to worry about!"

"Is that so?" Lu Buqi looked straight at Lu Hongshan, ignoring Lu Yang: "I understand that, but Captain Shaohui has done me a favor by recommending me. If it weren't for him and Captain Puxin, I wouldn't have been able to meet you so smoothly. Therefore, as a friend, I should ask this question."

Lu Hongshan nodded slightly: "Though I don't need to explain myself to you, since you asked, I'll answer. Since your joining the Lu family is somewhat discounted, the recommendation from Shaohui and Puxin will naturally be weaker. However, even if it's weaker, it won't be considered a major offense, and a three-year salary deduction will suffice."

As Lu Shaohui rejoiced, Lu Buqi bowed slightly to Lu Hongshan: "Old Master, your fairness in rewards and punishments truly befits a local hero."

"I'm not senile yet. If I couldn't distinguish right from wrong, the Lu family would be finished!" Lu Hongshan was straightforward, saying whatever he wanted: "Buqi, since you haven't officially joined the Lu family, what are your plans for the future?"

"Thank you for your concern, Old Master. Now that you've accepted me as a commoner in Hongshan County, I plan to buy a house in the county town and open a small shop," Lu Buqi replied respectfully. "I have some skills and can support myself."

Lu Hongshan's eagle-like eyebrows raised slightly: "At your young age, what skills do you have?"

Lu Buqi pinched his nose lightly: "Just some basic skills, not something to be proud of, and certainly not comparable to Master Lixing."

"Lu Lixing is the top blacksmith in Hongshan, not only skilled in forging but also reaching the fourth level of Bloodline cultivation," Lu Hongshan nodded slightly: "So, you know how to forge iron?"

Lu Buqi nodded: "I know a bit. Forging ordinary farming tools and weapons should be no problem."

"Hmm, that's a good idea, self-reliance and establishing a home," Lu Hongshan said: "When you need to handle the procedures, you can go directly to the Engineering Department. This is handled by the fourth elder... don't worry, he's not a petty person."

"Thank you, Old Master!" Lu Buqi bowed slightly. Since Lu Hongshan said Lu An wasn't a petty person, even if he was, he wouldn't be in this regard, so Lu Buqi didn't need to worry about anyone making things difficult for him.

Lu Hongshan shook his head lightly: "No need to thank me... Yingcong, please escort our guest out."

Lu Hongshan had given the order to leave, and Lu Buqi naturally wouldn't say anything more to make things awkward. He knew that when Lu Hongshan needed him to do something, he would send someone to inform him.

"Puxin, Shaohui, you two go as well. Since the hunting is postponed, arrange an extra training session for your teams and submit the reports to me later."

Lu Puxin and Lu Shaohui were relieved, nodding and leaving the rooftop terrace with Lu Buqi, accompanied by Lu Yingcong.

As the stone gate on the rooftop terrace flipped and sealed, Lu Yang looked puzzled: "Father, why did you agree to such a request? Have you forgotten the lessons from the past?"

"He's different!" Lu Hongshan looked west: "A person who can uphold moral principles and stand up to your pressure to defend Shaohui is not someone who would easily betray others."

Lu Tai responded coldly: "Only those who don't understand the value of friendship can't see this. They can only see who might threaten their family's wealth."

"Old Nine, what do you mean by that?" Lu Yang's face turned cold: "Are you saying that I and the fourth and fifth elders don't understand friendship as well as you, who focuses solely on cultivation?"

"I didn't name anyone, but if you insist on identifying yourself, that's your choice," Lu Tai sneered: "I only remember that seventeen or eighteen years ago, when Father was trapped in the Frozen Land Demon Realm, some people were only thinking about who would be the head of the family, and who would..."

"Enough!" Lu Hongshan growled: "We don't need to bring up the past. Ninth son, your second brother is probably gone, don't keep dwelling on it... If you have the heart to return, I would be at ease entrusting the Lu family to you."

As Lu Yang and others' faces changed, Lu Tai's lips curled into a disdainful smile: "Father, you know I wouldn't give up my cultivation for this family's wealth. Similarly, I won't forget that my elder brother disappeared without a clear reason... Father, can you really forget that your beloved wife, due to worry over her son, has become insane, and if it weren't for the Heart Suppressing Powder..."

"Enough!" Lu Hongshan's eyes turned sharp: "Ninth son, you rarely come back, I don't want to talk about these unhappy things."

Lu Tai said calmly: "Alright, I have no interest in other matters, so I'll leave... Oh, there's one thing I want to mention. This Buqi... yes, Lu Buqi, I think he's a good seed. I suggest Father let him represent our Lu family in the entrance examination..."

"How can that be!?" Lu Yang suddenly interrupted: "There are so few spots in the Yunze Sect's entrance examination, how can we waste one on someone who isn't part of our Lu family?"

"Waste?" Lu Tai sneered: "Last time, with five spots, did anyone from our Lu family get in? Even Feng, your son, who is considered the most talented, didn't meet the eyes of the Yunze elders."

Lu Yang glared: "Old Nine, you're capable, having entered the Yunze Sect, but you can't be so arrogant!"

"I am arrogant, what are you going to do about it?" Lu Tai looked at Lu Yang calmly: "If there's anyone else from our Lu family who can enter the Yunze Sect, I would naturally look up to them. The entrance examination is coming up soon. With your approach of keeping everything to yourself, who do you plan to send? Lu Zhang and Lu Yi? Do you think they can outperform Feng?"

Lu Yang was speechless, unwilling to admit that someone else's son was better than his own.

But Lu An, standing nearby, was somewhat displeased: "Old Nine, how are Zhang and the others worse than Feng? They might be selected this time!"

"I would be happy if they were selected!" Lu Tai sneered: "But the entrance examination is so difficult that those who haven't participated will never understand... I'm just saying these useless things to you. Father, it's just a suggestion. Whether to adopt it or not is up to you, after all, you are the head of the Lu family, aren't you?"

"Finally, someone remembers I'm the head of the family!" Lu Hongshan, who had been looking west with his hands behind his back, said coldly: "I've already made my decision, no need to argue about it!"

"Yes!" Even Lu Tai, at this moment, put aside his arrogance. No matter how high his cultivation, he had never disobeyed his old father.

"Alright, all of you go back!" Lu Hongshan waved his hand, still looking west, as if he wanted to bask in the sun.

Everyone bowed and left. Not long after, Lu Yingcong, who had escorted Lu Buqi and the others, returned to the rooftop terrace. Looking at Lu Hongshan's tall, pine-like back, his gaze fell on his pure white hair, and then he looked at his own slightly hunched body, sighing lightly.

"Yingcong, you're not one to sigh often!" Lu Hongshan turned, a rare smile on his face.

"An old servant's sigh, if it can make Master smile, it's worth it." Lu Yingcong nodded slightly.

Lu Hongshan's eyes narrowed: "Only you can make me truly happy. That little guy is gone?"

"Gone!" Lu Yingcong replied.

"He's a very interesting little guy, don't you think?"

Lu Yingcong replied: "He even bowed to me in gratitude before leaving, a very polite young man."

Lu Hongshan chuckled: "To speak of ethics and righteousness, neither humble nor arrogant, and to see through the world, how can such a little guy be compared to Yangze, that white-eyed wolf?"

Lu Yingcong nodded in agreement: "Though it's the first time I've met him, I also have high hopes for this little guy."

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