Chapter 518: Chapter 52: Betraying the Master
At the banquet, a red-faced Lu Dingkui went from table to table, cup in hand, offering toasts and talking nonstop.
By the time the last guest had been seen off, night had fallen.
“Phew…”
Lu Yifei let out a long sigh, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“It’s finally over.”
“Sigh.”
Lu Dingkui, however, wore a complicated expression.
“I grew up in Taiyuan Prefecture. I married, had children, and supported my family by teaching martial arts. All my friends and family are here…”
“Once we leave, I’m afraid I’ll never see many of these people again in this lifetime.”
Unlike the young, who looked forward to a new place, he felt a deeper nostalgia for the life he was leaving behind.
The decision to move to the Divine Capital—a journey that would take months, if not a whole year—was one made after careful deliberation.
How could it ever be easy to return?
“Father,”
Lu Yifei said,
“Mother, Xiao’e, and I will be with you on the road. Besides, Big Sister is waiting for us in the Divine Capital. Once we arrive, our family will finally be truly reunited.”
“And…”
“Wasn’t it your childhood dream to go to the Divine Capital to make your mark and see the world?”
“Yes,” Lu Dingkui nodded slowly.
“The Divine Capital is vast and prosperous, overflowing with talent. A small place like Taiyuan Prefecture can’t compare.”
“I was just feeling sentimental.”
He wasn’t actually eager to go to the Divine Capital; he no longer possessed the drive of his youth.
But his son was still young.
If he wanted Lu Yifei to achieve something with his life and not end up aimless like himself, their only chance was to leave this place and try their fortunes in the Divine Capital.
So, this departure was more for his son’s sake than his own.
“Master.”
Zhang Luo walked in.
“You’ve had too much to drink, and you have to travel tomorrow. Have some sobering tea to soothe your throat.”
“Mm.” Lu Dingkui straightened his robes, took the tea and downed it in one go, then pulled open a nearby drawer.
“Zhang Luo, you became my disciple at the age of eight. All these years, we may have been master and disciple in name, but in truth, we have been like father and son.”
“As I prepare to leave for the Divine Capital, my original plan was to sell off the family property here to fund our journey.”
“But on second thought…”
He took several deeds from the drawer and placed them in Zhang Luo’s hands.
“Lu’s Boxing Hall is now in your hands.”
“Master!” Zhang Luo’s eyes turned red as he quickly fell to his knees.
“Th-thank you, Master.”
“Sigh,” Lu Dingkui said, waving his hand.
“There’s no need for such formalities between us, my disciple.”
“Master,” Zhang Luo said with a sniffle.
“Are you leaving first thing tomorrow morning?”
“Yes,” Lu Dingkui nodded.
“Though I have tried to be amicable over the years, I’ve still made some enemies. To be safe, we will leave before dawn. I’ve already booked tickets with the Sanhe Gang to travel north by river.”
“After we part, I don’t know when we will meet again. Once I’m settled in the Divine Capital, I’ll send you a letter.”
“Mm,” Zhang Luo’s voice choked with emotion. “I will never forget your kindness and guidance over all these years. My only regret is that I cannot continue to serve by your side.”
“Good boy.” Lu Dingkui was already sentimental, and his expression softened at these words. He bent down to help him up.
“Get up, get up. I…”
“Hm?”
His expression suddenly changed.
“What’s going on?”
He suddenly realized the Qi Blood within his body felt obstructed, its flow sluggish.
Even his breathing became difficult.
‘Poison!’
“Master.”
Zhang Luo rose slowly, his expression turning to ice.
“I am so grateful for your years of teaching. So grateful, in fact, that I simply can’t bear to let you leave.”
“You…” Lu Dingkui’s face paled.
“You did this?”
“The tea just now?”
“What do you want?”
“Nothing much,” Zhang Luo sneered.
“For all these years, I’ve served you hand and foot, more attentive than your own son. Don’t you think you should have left your true legacy to me?”
“What do you mean?” Lu Dingkui’s eyes darted around.
“I already gave you the secret manual for the Dragon Elephant Force.”
“No!” Zhang Luo shook his head, leaning in closer.
“You know exactly what I want. The true legacy of the Lu Family, the Third Grade technique—the Giant Spirit Divine Skill!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?!” Lu Dingkui roared.
“There’s no such—”
“I wasn’t unconscious that day,” Zhang Luo cut him off, his voice cold.
“Don’t bother, Master. No one is coming to save you. And I’m not the only one taking action tonight.”
BANG!
Just as he spoke,
The door was kicked open. Two burly men stormed in and threw a heavily injured Lu Yifei and a young girl to the ground.
One of them spoke up.
“Brother Zhang, you’re a ruthless one. Not even sparing your master and junior brother, who were about to leave.”
“I like it!”
“Ten thousand taels of silver when this is done,” Zhang Luo said, his face cold. He found some rope and threw it to them.
“Tie them up. The old man is stubborn; it won’t be easy to make him talk.”
“Got it.”
The two men were clearly experienced in this. They deftly tied up the Lu father and son and separated them.
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
Suddenly,
an urgent knocking came from the front gate.
“Hm?”
Zhang Luo froze.
‘Who could be here at this hour?’
He frowned, hesitating for a moment. The knocking grew more insistent, as if the person wouldn’t leave until the door was opened. He gave a quick order to his two henchmen, straightened his clothes, and walked out.
…
“Brother Zhang.”
Zhu Ju, dressed in lavish robes, stood before the Martial Arts Hall’s entrance. He clasped his fist in greeting as Zhang Luo opened the door.
“I was held up by some matters today and have arrived late.”
“I know I shouldn’t be intruding at this hour, but with Master Lu leaving tomorrow, I feared that if I didn’t see him tonight, I might never get another chance. So, I hope you’ll forgive my imposition.”
“Ah, it’s Young Master Zhu!” Zhang Luo feigned surprise, then put on an apologetic expression.
“My sincere apologies, but my master actually left tonight. One can never be too careful, you see. It would be troublesome if someone were to ambush him on the road tomorrow.”
“Ah!” Zhu Ju’s face fell with disappointment.
“Is that so.”
“Sigh.”
He let out a soft sigh and shook his head in resignation.
“It was my own fault for being delayed. I truly shouldn’t have… In any case, I apologize for the disturbance.”
“Not at all,”
Zhang Luo said with a smile,
“Take care, Young Master Zhu.”
After watching the Zhu Mansion’s carriage disappear into the distance, the smile vanished from his face. He gave a soft snort and shut the main gate.
Back in the room,
the atmosphere was strange.
“Trying to sow discord, Master?” Zhang Luo chuckled and shook his head.
“It’s useless. Those two were born with blocked meridians. An Immortal Grade Technique would be worthless to them, even if you placed it right in front of their faces.”
“As for me…”
He grinned.
“After you’re gone, Master, I will be unable to support this place alone. Naturally, I will have to sell the estate, entrust the Martial Arts Hall to a worthy successor, and leave this place for good.”
“Zhang Luo!” Veins bulged on Lu Dingkui’s forehead as he roared in fury.
“You… you bastard!”
“Hah…” Zhang Luo’s expression remained unchanged. He spoke slowly,
“Master, you wouldn’t want to see your son suffer, would you? Just hand over the Cultivation Technique.”
“Pah!”
A glob of spit flew right at his face.
Zhang Luo failed to dodge in time and was splattered. His face instantly darkened.
“You’re courting death!”
POW!
He threw a punch that landed squarely on Lu Dingkui’s abdomen. The ferocious Fist Force sent the older man flying several meters.
“Go!”
“Break one of Lu Yifei’s legs!”
“Wait.”
Zhang Luo’s eyes flickered. His gaze fell upon the girl, and his expression shifted.
“Zhang Luo!”
Lu Yifei’s face drained of color when he saw the look in Zhang Luo’s eyes.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Come after me if you want! Leave Xiao’e out of this!”
“Oh?” Zhang Luo raised an eyebrow. He grabbed the girl by the collar and hauled her to her feet.
He seized her chin with his left hand and gestured toward the bound Lu Yifei on the floor.
“If you don’t want anything to happen to her, then you’d better hand over the Giant Spirit Divine Skill. Otherwise…”
“Hmph!”