Chapter 77: An Acquaintance

"What are your plans next, Brother Tu?"

On the second floor of the inn, the three were bidding farewell to Tu Lu.

"For now, I plan to find some work in the provincial capital," Tu Lu replied with a modest smile.

"Oh? If you don't mind, why not come with me?"

Wu Hao laughed. "My grandfather is a Grand Elder—I'm not boasting. When it comes to matters in this Taixu Province, once he speaks, even the old governor must take heed. Arranging a comfortable position for you in the city is effortless, just a word!

You'd receive offerings without having to actually work, and your cultivation wouldn't be delayed. How pleasant! We could meet often as well."

"Go on, Wu Hao, what a terrible suggestion," Zhang Cheng interjected, waving his hand and frowning. "It's exactly because of ideas like this that people see you as a lazy second-generation scion. It's bad enough you ruin your own reputation, but you want to drag Brother Tu's name through the mud as well?"

Wu Hao's expression turned cold at these words.

"Zhang Cheng, so what if I'm a second-generation? Aren't you the same? If it weren’t for your father's status, you'd have been beaten to death countless times!"

"What did you say!"

Zhang Cheng immediately puffed up in anger.

"Alright, enough," Tu Lu hurried to mediate, separating the two.

He was pretending to be a cultivator seeking employment in the provincial capital for the sake of Zi Ling, and for now, nothing seemed amiss.

"In truth, I've already made up my mind, so there's no need for you two to worry," Tu Lu said with a chuckle.

"I know a little about inscription arts, and I heard Zi Tuo Feng is recruiting inscription masters. So I plan to try my luck there."

As expected, the room fell silent the moment he spoke. Even Zhang Cheng and Wu Hao, who had been bickering, frowned and looked at him.

Their expressions were as if they’d discovered a friend was actually an enemy.

"Why would you go there?" Xu Feng's face was equally displeased.

"You misunderstand," Tu Lu said with a wry smile, shaking his head. "To know yourself and your enemy is the only way to win a hundred battles. The man surnamed Zi managed to make it from Huangyun City all the way to the provincial capital—he can’t be underestimated."

"Though it seems impossible for him to reach the Zi Mansion Realm now, just in case he does, if I see the possibility, I... cannot sit idly by!"

At this, a cold gleam flashed in his eyes.

The three were stunned, at first dismissive, but after hearing him out, each furrowed their brows.

"Well said," Xu Feng murmured after a moment of silence, a trace of murderous intent flickering in his eyes. "There are countless spiritual medicines in this world—if he has the old governor backing him, even if breaking through seems impossible, who knows what miraculous pills might appear and help him succeed?"

Keeping him alive is no good; should such a thing happen, we’d regret it forever."

"Brother Tu, you’re truly far-sighted!"

The three quickly expressed their apologies to Tu Lu.

"But what should we do?" Zhang Cheng asked, frowning.

"The answer is simple—kill him. What the governor failed to accomplish from Huangyun City to the provincial capital, we’ll finish," Tu Lu declared, startling the three.

The answer was already in their hearts, something they all wished to do, but none dared act recklessly in such sensitive times. So they pretended ignorance and drank their wine in silence.

They might be second-generation scions, but they weren’t foolish enough to court disaster.

After a long silence, Xu Feng downed a gulp of wine and, gritting his teeth, slammed his hand on the table.

"Brother, when you make your move, just let me know—I’ll cover for you!"

Zhang Cheng and Wu Hao were startled by Xu Feng’s boldness.

"We’re with you too!"

The two exchanged glances and nodded solemnly.

"This is the Wu family’s clan seal, Brother Tu. If you ever need it, you can use the status of a Wu family guest to handle any difficulties!"

"Ha! Since Wu Hao is offering his clan seal, I can’t be stingy either. Here’s my communication jade—should the Wu clan seal fail, just contact me!"

"As long as it’s within Taixu Province, whatever you need, if it’s within my power, I’ll see it done!" Zhang Cheng promised, thumping his chest.

Xu Feng, meanwhile, was silent for a moment before finally speaking.

"With the support of Zhang and Wu, I can’t think of anything more useful right now, but since Brother Tu plans to infiltrate that fellow as an inscription master, I do have something related to inscription arts."

He took out a book from his storage ring.

"This is an ancient legacy I acquired by chance some time ago, concerning inscription arts. Brother Tu, you may find it helpful."

Tu Lu was delighted and quickly accepted it.

A brief glance was enough to fill him with joy.

"Thank you, all of you!"

"Heh, then we won’t keep you. If you run into trouble, contact us. When the time comes, don’t stand on ceremony!"

After a few more sighs and farewells, Tu Lu fell silent, left the inn, and at a street corner, quietly changed his appearance.

He slipped through several corners, continuously changing his looks wherever crowds gathered.

He finally settled on the appearance of an utterly inconspicuous young man with a pointed chin and monkey-like features.

"Drinking with the three famous young lords of Taixu Mansion will surely attract attention, but I should have shaken them off by now."

Of course, such tricks would be meaningless before a Nascent Soul Venerable.

Still, he believed he wouldn’t be targeted by a Nascent Soul Venerable over such a minor matter.

As for other concerns, though he didn’t know the reason, news from Tianlong Workshop hadn’t leaked yet, so he wasn’t nervous.

He remained vigilant nonetheless.

Now he had a Wu clan guest seal, a communication jade for contacting Zhang Cheng, and an ancient treatise on inscription arts.

Meeting the three was risky, but the rewards were substantial.

In Taixu Mansion, at his level, personal strength meant little.

But these resources, skillfully used, would be his greatest cards.

He finally arrived at the central district of Taixu Mansion, outside the provincial capital’s guest residence.

Originally a place for entertaining guests, it had become the private residence of Zi Tuo Feng and his party.

There were over a dozen guards outside, most of them powerful cultivators at the Filling Sea Realm.

Following the directions, he reached the site for inscription master selection.

Inside a small house, over a hundred candidates were crowded together, each exuding a potent medicinal scent.

"Why does Zi Tuo Feng need inscription masters?"

Surveying the crowd, Tu Lu pondered, then shook his head.

No matter what, with his skills, infiltrating Zi Tuo Feng’s faction was a certainty—soon, he’d find out.

This was the only opening he’d found.

Otherwise, whether to obtain the origin for Zi Ling or to deal with Zi Tuo Feng, he’d have no way forward.

"Master Zhao has arrived! Those wishing to inscribe for Young Lord Zi, testing begins now!"

Tu Lu suddenly heard a familiar name, making him pause.

Perhaps he’d misheard.

Out of curiosity, he glanced toward the inner room—and nearly bulged his eyes out.

Seated inside, radiating inscrutable depth, was none other than Zhao Yu Yang!

"He's alive—and thriving?"

Tu Lu’s jaw dropped, his mind buzzing.

It wasn’t strange that Zhao Yu Yang survived that explosion, but... how was he here in Taixu Mansion?

Taixu Mansion and Qingxuan Mansion were separated by two or three provinces!

.

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PS: Something came up today, I've been busy all day and am exhausted. Only one chapter, sorry.