Chapter 41: The wind and clouds are rising! Open competition and secret struggles |
Over these days, Lu Xianghui had heard that many outstanding senior students were eager to become followers of Uncle-Master Liyao. Yet, so far, not a single one had succeeded.
Unexpectedly, Uncle-Master Liyao took the initiative to invite him.
Heart pounding, Lu Xianghui, after a moment's thought, suppressed his eager emotions and bowed respectfully, "Uncle-Master Liyao's kindness will be forever etched in my heart. However, a follower must be of great assistance to you to be worthy of recruitment. With my shallow learning and mediocre bloodline, I fear I'm not up to such a significant task. Only prodigies are suitable to be Uncle-Master's followers."
He knew that becoming Uncle-Master Liyao's follower would drastically change his life trajectory. Even his entire family would benefit immensely.
But Lu Xianghui didn't want to be a burden to Wang Liyao, nor did he want to accept charity without merit.
Wang Liyao slowly shook her head, "Having grown up with my father, I've learned that prodigies are easy to find, but true nature is rare. Brother Lu is steady and down-to-earth, able to maintain his true self in the face of temptation or danger. You are a rare talent. My invitation is not out of charity, but because I genuinely need Brother Lu's support."
In fact, regarding such a significant matter, Wang Liyao wouldn't act without reason. Before this, all information about the ninth-rank minor clan of Longquan Lu in Longzuo Commandery had already appeared on her desk.
As the saying goes, a clan nurtures its kind. Although the Longquan Lu Clan is weak, it is a sincere and honest clan with strict family teachings. The commoners within their jurisdiction live in peace and happiness, like an untouched paradise.
Faced with such a sincere invitation, Lu Xianghui carefully considered before responding, "If Uncle-Master Liyao invites me so earnestly, I dare not refuse any longer. From now on, I will follow Miss as my leader, ready to face death without hesitation."
Such practices were not prohibited within the academy. After all, prodigies and lesser prodigies might recruit followers, a tradition since ancient times. Especially those great prodigies, who would be influential figures in the future, who wouldn't have a group of followers?
"Brother Lu, please take a seat," Wang Liyao invited him to sit again, her attitude even warmer. The relationship between a follower and their lord was one of shared honor and disgrace, a very close bond.
"Yes, Miss," Lu Xianghui sat upright with a serious expression, understanding that Miss Liyao was about to assign him "work."
"As disciples of the academy, we naturally prioritize its interests," Wang Liyao said while sipping spiritual tea, "but we are ultimately born of noble clans, and we must devote ourselves to our families."
Lu Xianghui nodded, "Miss is absolutely right. To cultivate me, my family has scrimped and saved at the expense of my younger siblings' futures." Guilt flashed in his eyes as he mentioned this.
This was the sadness of many lower clans, limited resources meant not everyone could be supported, and sacrifices were inevitable.
The Longquan Lu Clan's situation in Longzuo Commandery was even more challenging due to the long-established hierarchy and suppression among the clans, making it difficult to break through.
To exaggerate a bit, the Ping'an Wang Clan could still venture outside their domain to try their luck, but the Longquan Lu Clan was surrounded by claimed lands, with no place to even hunt a fierce beast.
"Secure the home before repelling the invaders," Wang Liyao said, producing an identity jade token, "Our Changning Wang Clan is abundant in grain. Just take this token to the Changning Wang Clan, and arrangements will be made. I dare not promise too much, but doubling the Lu Clan's income should not be a problem."
Doubling the income?
Lu Xianghui's heart nearly leapt out of his chest. The family's tight finances were mostly due to the vast expenses, leaving little surplus.
If the costs remained the same and the income doubled, the Lu Clan wouldn't have to live so frugally, and the younger generation could have better opportunities.
"Additionally, my Wang Clan holds some shares in Shouda Trading Company. The company has a branch in Longzuo Commandery, and reliable children from the family can go there to learn," Wang Liyao casually arranged, "The treatment at Shouda Trading Company is quite good, and the prospects for development are promising."
Shouda Trading Company!
This newly emerged company had recently caused a sensation within the academy. Its bold move to contract all the academy's spiritual bird carriages had created a new business domain.
Many of the academy's carriage drivers saw their incomes soar, turning a once overlooked profession into a hot commodity. Even Lu Xianghui had considered learning to drive a carriage early on, to secure a decent job in the future.
Little did he expect that the popular Shouda Trading Company was related to the Wang Clan. And with just a word from Miss Liyao, one could be placed there.
For a moment, Lu Xianghui felt dazed. Indeed, the gap between social classes was vast. With just a few words, Miss Liyao had changed the fate of the Lu Clan.
"Miss, what... what should I do?" Lu Xianghui, moved, was eager to repay Wang Liyao.
"Cultivate, and strive to reach the Lingtai Realm as soon as possible. Before that, improve your bloodline," Wang Liyao said calmly, "Your talent is not poor; naturally, you are at the peak of the lower grade. Normally, a drop or two of stone marrow or a fourth-grade blood refining pill would easily elevate you to the middle grade, allowing you to awaken your bloodline in the Qi Refining Realm."
A drop or two of stone marrow? A fourth-grade blood refining pill?
Lu Xianghui felt parched. Both items were worth thousands of Top Gold, while his annual expenses were only five or six hundred Top Gold! Without eating, drinking, or cultivating, it would take eight or nine years to afford them.
Of those five or six hundred Top Gold, two hundred were subsidies from his family. The family had stretched itself thin to provide that subsidy...
Before he could speak, Wang Liyao swiped her storage ring, and several bottles of pills appeared before him: "Here is a blood refining pill, which should help you break through to middle grade. Brother Lu need not say more, I'll keep the account for you. You can pay it back once your cultivation succeeds."
"Yes, Miss," Lu Xianghui took a deep breath, regaining his composure, "I will definitely make Miss proud."
After Lu Xianghui left.
Wang Liyao took out a package sent by her father, which contained some cultivation materials and a letter. They were all reminders from her father that now that Shouda Trading Company had carved out its niche, everything at home was going smoothly, and she needn't worry too much, just focus on cultivating with Tianhe Zhenren.
Wang Liyao understood that her father was concerned that she, still young, might get involved in too many things, causing the academy's higher-ups to take issue. Even with her master being Tianhe Zhenren, it would be hard to suppress the Qian Clan of Longzuo Commandery.
The Qian Clan of Longzuo was an old fifth-grade Purple Mansion Clan with a complex and deep-rooted network of relationships, not something that could be easily dealt with.
The competition with the Qian Clan wouldn't be resolved overnight; it was a matter of using whatever means necessary.
***
At the same time.
In Longzuo Commandery City.
In a bustling city with countless shops.
A seemingly ordinary shop dealing in various goods welcomed a common-looking woman wearing a hood.
Under the shop boy's guidance, the woman entered the backyard, and after several turns, she reached the inner courtyard. Removing her hood, she revealed herself to be Cao Lina, the matriarch of the Qian Clan.
"Lina seeks an audience with Great-Aunt," she said softly.
"Come in," a gentle voice called from inside.
Cao Lina entered gracefully to find a young, beautiful woman with an ethereal air standing in the room. Upon seeing Cao Lina, she said, "It seems the Yuwen Clan has rejected your Qian Clan."
Her voice was light and airy, like a fairy whispering in one's ear.
Upon seeing this woman, Cao Lina showed a look of admiration, bowed deeply, and said through gritted teeth, "Great-Aunt, we didn't expect the newly risen Fire Fox Ancestor of the Yuwen Clan to have a deep relationship with the Wang Clan. They even threw out our clan's elder."
This "Great-Aunt" was Cao Youqing, a prodigy of the distant Cao Clan who had been sent to Lingyun Holy Land from a young age. Now, at just over a hundred years old, she was already at the seventh layer of the Heavenly Human Realm.
In the Holy Land, she was a renowned prodigy and fairy, and within her clan, many younger members idolized her.
Cao Lina had grown up listening to stories about Great-Aunt and had once aspired to follow in her footsteps in the Holy Land. However, her family needed her to marry into the Qian Clan of Longzuo to expand the clan's influence. As a mere woman, how could she control her own destiny? Despite her unwillingness, she had no choice.
"It's of no consequence. Since the Yuwen Clan is unappreciative, we'll teach them a lesson," Cao Youqing said indifferently. "After all, the Qian Clan of Longzuo controls immense commercial energy. It's still possible to suppress the Yuwen Clan with all our might."
"Great-Aunt, those Qian Clan elders are all cowards," Cao Lina said angrily, "talking about the way of commerce, valuing peace over conflict. A minor setback has led them to unanimously decide to reconcile with the Wang Clan. The representative they sent is none other than the legitimate eldest son of that old man, Qian Xuehan. If he manages to succeed, won't it be a slap in the face for Xuerui? It will surely diminish his status in the clan."
Cao Youqing nodded lightly, "The Qian Clan, being merchants, prioritize profit over pride. Such a decision is not surprising."
"Great-Aunt, what about Xuerui?" Cao Lina asked anxiously, "We wanted him to achieve a great feat, to persuade the family ancestor to list him as the second Purple Mansion seed, to cultivate him with the clan's resources. But now... If the Qian Clan reconciles with the Wang Clan, won't Xuerui be cast aside?"
"Great-Aunt, if Xuerui and I can't control the Qian Clan's voice, it's a minor issue, but I'm afraid it will hinder your and the young master's grand plans."
"Oh? It seems you're quite perceptive," Cao Youqing said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "Do tell, what grand plans do the young master and I have?"
"This..." Cao Lina hesitated but mustered the courage to say, "Actually, I've heard some rumors. That matter, I'm afraid it's only a matter of two hundred years. To have Great-Aunt plan in secret, intending for Xuerui to gradually control the Qian Clan's voice, is mostly for that matter..."
That matter was of utmost importance, so much so that even with no one around, Cao Lina dared not speak too plainly.
"Let it be," Cao Youqing said calmly, "The lifespan of that person is not a great secret. Many astute families have sensed the undercurrents. But old clans are cunning foxes; their silence now is because the situation is unclear, and they're waiting for the right price."
"And you and our Cao Clan, getting involved so early..." Cao Lina said with a hint of worry, "Could it endanger the family?"
"No worries," Cao Youqing said confidently, "I am a person of the Holy Land, unrelated to the family. Besides, the family ancestor has already made arrangements."
"Moreover, with such an extraordinary young master, even he is willing to support that person, how could the odds not be high?" Cao Youqing's eyes showed an obsessed and fervent look, "We just need to follow the plan and plot gradually. Whether you and Xuerui can control the Qian Clan is just a small piece in the grand scheme. Lina, I proposed this plan to the young master for your and your son's sake."
"Don't disappoint me!"
Cao Lina was shocked. She realized that Great-Aunt and those behind her were playing a much larger game. Losing the Qian Clan was just that, at most a slight regret.
But whether they could control the Qian Clan in the future was everything to her and her son. She refused to be just a tool for marriage, to be marginalized once the legitimate eldest son Qian Xuehan took over.
She also refused to let her son be just one of the many elders in the Qian Clan.
"Great-Aunt, I understand," Cao Lina's eyes flashed with a ruthless look, "As long as you and the young master are willing to support Xuerui strongly, I, as his mother, will pave the way for him!"
Cao Youqing looked at Cao Lina approvingly, "Truly worthy of being a daughter of our Cao Clan, such courage is reminiscent of our family ancestor. Entering the game early is risky, but the rewards are greater. I hope in the future, the Qian Clan can advance further under Xuerui's control. As for support, with me here, how could I neglect you and Xuerui?"
"Thank you for your guidance, Great-Aunt," Cao Lina's eyes lit up, and after a deep bow, she left, her heart burning with fervor.
***
Still in Longzuo Commandery City.
Tianyuan Danfang.
This was the most famous pill workshop in Longzuo Commandery, rumored to have an unfathomable background.
Recently, many significant events had occurred in Longzuo Commandery, including the recruitment of the renowned Pill Cauldron Master by Tianyuan Danfang, which naturally stirred up controversy and discussion.
The reason given by the Pill Cauldron Master was that he needed to teach his newly accepted disciple, hence the use of Tianyuan Danfang's facilities.
Moreover.
The hot topic in Longzuo Commandery was the spiritual bird carriages of the Shouda Trading Company branch. Now, ordinary people could enjoy the carriages once exclusive to the academy's core and direct disciples, as well as noble clans, just by spending a little Top Gold.
However, most people were unaware that Shouda Trading Company and Qian's Trading Company were already competing in secret.
Inside Tianyuan Danfang.
The handsome Wang Shouye faced off with the jolly-faced Qian Xuefu, both staring at each other.
"Shouye, I never imagined," Qian Xuefu said with a sigh, "I thought that our personal relationship wouldn't be affected by family business competition. Yet, here we are, at odds with each other. Fate is unpredictable."
"Uh..." Wang Shouye looked innocent, "When did we become enemies? Brother..."
"Don't call me brother!" Qian Xuefu exclaimed, his face a mix of sadness and anger, "If you still considered me a brother, knowing that I admire Sister Gu, why would you still discuss poetry and philosophy with her?"
"Brother, my relationship with Sister Gu is innocent," Wang Shouye protested, "We just talked about family business, and I already have a wife."
Qian Xuefu perked up, grabbing Wang Shouye, "Brotherhood should not be ruined over trivial matters, right? By the way, what did Sister Gu talk to you about?"
"Business!" Wang Shouye shook his head, "But it seems Sister Gu is quite interested in my fourth brother."
"What?" Qian Xuefu swayed unsteadily.