Lu Fan lazily leaned against his wheelchair, his eyes slightly closed.
He was very satisfied with this choice.
The Drunken Dust Pavilion was truly a pleasant surprise, perfectly in line with his expectations.
Beiluo City was vast, and within the city, there was a place called Beiluo Lake, where talented scholars and beautiful ladies gathered.
Flower boats often docked there, attracting scholars and romantics.
In the center of Beiluo Lake, there was an island. It wasn't large, and there was only one building on the island, which was the Drunken Dust Pavilion.
The mission required Lu Fan to build a transcendent force from scratch, so he had to choose carefully.
Because once he chose the right location, Lu Fan would infuse spiritual energy into the area, turning it into a cultivation ground that would nurture future cultivators.
Therefore, the choice of power base was crucial for Lu Fan.
A place like the Drunken Dust Pavilion, separated from Beiluo City and independent on the island, was indeed Lu Fan's best choice at present.
When Lu Fan saw the land deed, his heart was touched.
Chen Beixun looked at Lu Fan, who had closed his eyes, with a slightly strange expression on his face. He didn't know if Lu Fan was serious or not.
Could Young Master Lu really want to enter the Spring Pavilion industry?
Or could this be an idea proposed by Lord Lu Changkong?
Chen Beixun's mind wandered as he contemplated many possibilities.
Now that chaos reigned in the world, the various schools of thought and the twelve feudal lords united to erode Da Zhou.
Beiluo City was the target of the sword faction, and as someone who was openly supported by the sword faction, Chen Beixun naturally felt great pressure. Any decision had to be carefully considered.
"Young Master Lu..."
Chen Beixun took a deep breath and regained his smile on his face.
"The Drunken Dust Pavilion is a place for romance and pleasure. Although scholars have always been known for their romantic pursuits, Young Master Lu, this place is really not suitable for you to spend your twilight years."
Lu Fan opened his eyes, and his expression gradually turned cold.
"What's wrong with a place for romance and pleasure?"
Lu Fan said lightly, "If you can't bear it, just say it. Lu Ping'an never forces anyone."
Chen Beixun squinted his eyes, and the Confucian scholars behind him fell silent as well.
They were too afraid to speak up.
Lu Fan was too dominant, but he had the capital to be dominant.
Because he was backed by the City Lord's Manor. If it hadn't been for Chen Beixun of the sword faction supporting him, the Chen family might have already been crushed by the City Lord's Manor.
In the moment when Lu Fan's words became colder, Ning Zhao slowly lifted her Cicada Wing Sword.
Her long skirt moved without wind, and it seemed like there was a surge of air flowing above the tip of the sword.
Nie Changqing also raised his butcher knife, his face expressionless. Just standing there, he emitted an intimidating pressure.
Chen Beixun laughed.
"Young Master Lu, don't worry. Since you are interested, my Chen family will definitely keep our promise. But..."
"The Drunken Dust Pavilion is jointly operated by the Chen, Liu, and Zhu families. I alone cannot make the decision."
Chen Beixun said seriously.
"Moreover, the Drunken Dust Pavilion is involved in many things. Once you close the Drunken Dust Pavilion, it will definitely cause dissatisfaction among the scholars and literati of Beiluo City. By then... you may become the target of public criticism."
Chen Beixun implied, looking at Lu Fan quietly.
The night gradually became hazy.
The Chen family's garden became extremely quiet.
Lu Fan leaned against his wheelchair and raised his hand to receive the land deed from Ni Yu. Holding it between his index finger and middle finger, he waved it in front of Chen Beixun.
"Since it is jointly operated by the three major clans, then it's perfect. You can personally go and negotiate with the other two families. Each family will contribute two thousand taels of silver, in addition to this land deed of the Drunken Dust Pavilion. Deliver them to the Lu Manor tomorrow, then the rent from the City Lord's Manor will be deemed paid."
"Otherwise, I will personally visit each of you tomorrow... and by then, the rent won't be this price anymore."
Lu Fan said.
Chen Beixun was stunned, looking at Lu Fan with some disbelief.
Lu Fan really balanced madness and arrogance perfectly.
But both this madness and arrogance were within the rules.
"As for... the dissatisfaction of the scholars and literati of Beiluo City."
Lu Fan leaned back in his wheelchair. Playing with his slender fingers, he revealed a slight smile and glanced at Chen Beixun.
Moonlight shone on his face, making this smile even more meaningful.
"What does their dissatisfaction have to do with me?"
"If they have the ability, let them come find me."
"As for being criticized by the public... Hm, let them try."
Lu Fan's smile was full of playfulness.
"Sister Ning, push me back. I'm tired."
After saying that, Lu Fan closed his eyes and didn't bother explaining or getting entangled with Chen Beixun any further.
After gracefully returning to the wheelchair, Ning Zhao gently inserted the Cicada Wing Sword back into its scabbard and slowly pushed the wheelchair forward. The sound of wooden wheels rolling over the green bricks lingered in the quiet night garden.
Ni Yu returned the land deed to Chen Beixun. Together with Nie Shuang, they followed beside Lu Fan's wheelchair. Nie Changqing carried a blood-stained butcher knife but remained still, standing guard and scanning the Chen family members with sharp eyes.
Chen Beixun recalled the profound smile from Lu Fan and took a deep breath. He picked up a stack of land deeds and patted it lightly. Then, his voice trembled as he bowed and saluted in the direction Lu Fan had left.
"Chen Beixun respectfully sees Young Master Lu off."
After Chen Beixun finished speaking, he turned around to signal the other members of the Chen family to also join in the farewell. The Confucian scholars of the Chen family, filled with reluctance, dared not disobey.
"Respectfully seeing Young Master Lu off."
Their synchronized shouts, filled with resentment and humiliation, pierced through the sky, as if tearing the night into pieces. Meanwhile, Lu Fan, sitting in the wheelchair with his chin supported, had long been pushed away by Ning Zhao and disappeared into the darkness.
Nie Changqing, carrying the butcher knife, gave Chen Beixun a cold glance and slowly retreated, disappearing into the darkness as well. After Lu Fan left, Chen Beixun straightened his posture and smiled lightly.
"It's quite interesting. I thought Lu Changkong's son was just a naive scholar who only knew how to read books and had no knowledge of the world. Now it seems... People's perception of this Young Master Lu has deviated. Indeed, troubled times are emerging, and remarkable talents will arise."
"This young man is definitely not an ordinary person. He has acquired extraordinary opportunities and abilities, transforming into a dragon that controls the wind and clouds."
Chen Beixun stroked his well-groomed beard, suddenly laughed to himself.
"But as for me, Chen, I prefer to strip off dragon tendons and drink dragon blood."
...
When Lu Fan returned to the Lu residence, it was already very late in the night. Yi Yue stood at the door, waiting for Lu Fan and the others to return.
"Has it been taken care of?" Lu Fan glanced at Yi Yue and asked.
"They are all placed under the stone and submerged in Beiluo Lake," Yi Yue wiped off the blood stains on her pale yellow skirt, pursed her lips, and said.
"You've worked hard. Arrange rooms for Old Nie and Xiao Shuang, thanks to Ning Jie," Lu Fan nodded slightly.
He pinched his brow and let Ni Yu push him back to his room.
"Ning Jie, don't worry too much about what happened today. I, Young Master Lu, am not really powerless. However..."
"But this mistake should serve as a lesson. Although you possess spiritual energy, you are indeed ahead of others. But spiritual energy is not omnipotent. When it hasn't formed overwhelming superiority... don't underestimate martial artists in the world," Lu Fan said while Ni Yu pushed the wheelchair, and he lightly tapped the thin woolen blanket with his fingers.
"There must not be a next time," Lu Fan said indifferently.
As his words fell, silence enveloped the surroundings, and only the sound of wooden wheels gradually faded away and disappeared.
Ning Zhao stood still, her face slightly pale. Her fists clenched, leaving deep imprints on her plump lips.
This mistake had indeed dealt a heavy blow to her. If it weren't for Young Master Lu's means, tonight's outcome would have been different. The one thrown into Beiluo Lake might not have been Han Lianshao, but Lu Fan.
Of course, Ning Zhao knew that Lu Fan didn't blame her. After all, she had only recently gained control over spiritual energy.
However, this failure was not only due to her unfamiliarity with the use of spiritual energy, but more importantly, it was due to her arrogance and inflated ego.
She could have done better.
She thought that possessing spiritual energy made her superior to ordinary martial artists.
She did not take the grandmasters of the world seriously.
In reality, grandmasters were divided into nine ranks. Not to mention a ninth-rank grandmaster, even any grandmaster above the fifth rank would easily defeat the current Ning Zhao.
"Martial artists should guard against arrogance and rashness. Underestimating one's opponent is a major taboo. Even when a lion pounces on a rabbit, it still exerts its full strength. Not to mention you are facing a grandmaster," Nie Changqing said to Ning Zhao under the night sky, as he rubbed Nie Shuang's head.
He was kindly reminding her and speaking from his own experience.
The discouragement on Ning Zhao's face disappeared, and she slightly bowed to Nie Changqing.
"Thank you, Brother Nie, for your guidance."
"Brother Nie, follow me this way," Ning Zhao smiled and led Yi Yue and Nie Changqing towards the wing room.
S: Please collect it!