Chapter 45 Reopening for Business (1/2)

Seeing Zhou Donghuang looking silently at Fang Jishan and Ma Dongfeng for a long while, Lu Qinghu spoke up, “Young Master Donghuang, please accept these… they are doing this to thank you for the palm technique, Lesser Weighted Sand Palm.”

Evidently, Lu Qinghu had shared the technique that Zhou Donghuang had given him several days ago with the Fang and Ma Families.

“Fu.”

At Zhou Donghuang’s word, Fu, who was standing to the side, came forward to receive the gifts from Fang Jishan and Ma Dongfeng.

“Patriarch Fang, Patriarch Ma, go and organize the people we brought here… Young Master Donghuang and I will follow shortly,” Lu Qinghu told them both.

“Okay.”

They acknowledged and greeted Zhou Donghuang respectfully before leaving.

Seeing Lu Qinghu attain level-four of Qi-gathering after currying favor with Zhou Donghuang and leading the Lu family into the ranks of the preeminent families, both Fang Jishan and Ma Dongfeng were naturally envious.

Because of this, they now tried to curry favor with Zhou Donghuang. However, they both understood clearly that they occupied a lower position in Zhou Donghuang’s eyes compared to Lu Qinghu.

Now, whether as an indication of Lu Qinghu’s strength or out of concern for their image in Zhou Donghuang’s eyes, they did not dare linger even though they would have liked to stay and cultivate a relationship with Zhou Donghuang.

Soon, only Zhou Donghuang, Fu, and Lu Qinghu remained in the spacious front yard.

“Young Master Donghuang, I know ordinary objects are nothing to you… in the future, if you need any errands to be done, just say the word and I, Lu Qinghu and even the entire Lu family will not hesitate to be at your service!”

Lu Qinghu stated this respectfully to Zhou Donghuang and effectively put his family at Zhou Donghuang’s disposal.

“Just because I gave you a lesser-grade technique and a bottle of qi-gathering elixir that helped you attain level-four of Qi-gathering… you would put your family with its newly-attained status of a preeminent family at my disposal?” Zhou Donghuang asked searchingly as he looked over Lu Qinghu casually.

“Young Master Donghuang, it is thanks to you that the Lu family has become a preeminent family… I, Lu Qinghu, clearly acknowledge that without your qi-gathering elixir, I would never have attained level-four of Qi-gathering in this life,” Lu Qinghu said earnestly.

Practicing martial arts became more difficult as one progressed, and it was especially difficult to progress to the higher levels.

Lu Qinghu’s father, the grand patriarch of the Lu family, had attained level-three of Qi-gathering at about the same age as him, but he had never managed to attain level-four of Qi-gathering for the rest of his life.

His father’s greatest regret was not being able to obtain a bottle of qi-gathering elixir that could increase his sensitivity to qi by twenty percent. He was highly confident that he would have been able to attain level-four of Qi-gathering and lead the Lu family into the ranks of a preeminent family if he had that qi-gathering elixir.

Lu Qinghu knew well that without Zhou Donghuang’s gift of the qi-gathering elixir, he would probably go down the same road as his father.

“That lesser-grade technique was a gift to you… why did you share it with the Fang and Ma families?”

Zhou Donghuang raised the teacup on the table to his lips and questioned Lu Qinghu as he sipped tea.

“Young Master Donghuang, those herbs were from our three families… therefore I felt they should also have a share in the lesser-grade technique.”

Lu Qinghu bowed in apology as he spoke. “However, I did not have Young Master Donghuang’s permission to share it with them, which was presumptuous, and I beg Young Master Donghuang’s forgiveness.”

“And this was probably a show for me?”

Zhou Donghuang looked intently at Lu Qinghu, his piercing gaze seeming to bore into his mind and leaving him with an awkward expression on his face.

Indeed it was.

The main reason for doing so was indeed to put on a show for Zhou Donghuang.

He intended to use his actions to send the message that he was someone who did not forget those who had helped him.

“You are a clever man,” Zhou Donghuang said, “otherwise, I would not have given you that bottle of qi-gathering elixir that day before I left the prefecture capital. After all, if the effectiveness of that bottle of qi-gathering elixir became known, it would have been enough to shake the whole country of Yunyang. You probably have not told anyone else of the effectiveness of that bottle of qi-gathering elixir, have you?” Zhou Donghuang asked leisurely, staring at Lu Qinghu.

“Young Master Donghuang, it was precisely because I knew how valuable and special that bottle of qi-gathering elixir was that I did not dare tell anyone else of its effectiveness.” Lu Qinghu nodded hurriedly and continued, “Including my own brother Lu Bao, to whom I said that Young Master Donghuang had given me a bottle of qi-gathering elixir that increased the sensitivity to qi by twenty percent. A qi-gathering elixir that increase the sensitivity to qi by forty percent… if that became known, the entire country of Yunyang would be in upheaval.”

Lu Qinghu’s expression turned serious.

“Young Master Donghuang has given me a new lease on life; I could not possibly do anything to hurt you.”

“Hmm.”

Zhou Donghuang nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Fu and instructed him, “Fu, prepare ten bottles of the qi-gathering elixir that increase the sensitivity to qi by forty percent as a gift to the patriarch of the Lu family.”

“At once, Young Master.”

Fu left to carry out the instructions.

Ten bottles?

Lu Qinghu’s eyes lit up, and his breathing quickened. He had assumed that the supply of that qi-gathering elixir was limited.

He never imagined that Zhou Donghuang could give him ten bottles just like that.

What he did not know was that those bottles of qi-gathering elixir were merely the rejects of what Zhou Donghuang had, and even Fu did not use them.