Chapter Four: An Unexpected Encounter

The thirteen individuals silently surrounded them, exuding a somewhat aggressive demeanor, which was quite an impolite act. Jiang and the other person felt displeased, and Jiang Daqian was the first to speak: "Hey, what are you people doing? Why are you surrounding me here?"

Wang Shuzan said: "Your manner of speaking is quite disrespectful, and it is only right that you receive a lesson. Stand there obediently and do not move; no matter how your seniors choose to strike you, you must not evade, and certainly cannot retaliate. Do you understand?" His words sounded pleasant, but within him, his internal energy was subtly gathering, and the joints of his fingers emitted a faint sound akin to frying beans. If Jiang and Yu were truly to engage in a fight, there would still be time to intervene. His reasoning for saying this was merely a gamble on the personalities of Jiang and Yu, believing that their arrogance would prevent them from striking a junior who did not fight back. However, his internal energy was subtly gathering, and the joints of his fingers emitted a faint sound akin to frying beans. If Jiang and Yu were truly to engage in a fight, there would still be time to intervene. His reasoning for saying this was merely a gamble on the personalities of Jiang and Yu, believing that their arrogance would prevent them from striking a junior who did not fight back.

The two individuals could no longer use their arms to abduct Zuo Yuanmin, so they positioned Zuo Yuanmin in the middle. Each of them took hold of the waistband of Zuo Yuanmin's pants and simultaneously pulled upward, then sprinted forward.

Upon hearing these words, it is needless to say that Jiang and the two elders were taken aback; even Wang Shuzan and Shi Fenjin were astonished. Only Wang Guanzhi showed no reaction, continuing without pause to walk back behind his father

Uncle Wang Shuzan's group dispersed and began to work separately. Soon, stones were being piled up around the well, and before long, there were no less than thirty or forty pieces, weighing at least four to five hundred pounds in total. The passageway at the bottom of the well was narrow, allowing only one person to pass through. It appeared that without assistance from outside to remove the stones, those trapped below would absolutely be unable to escape on their own. The people down in the well were crying in unison, their voices echoing thunderously, faintly audible to those on the surface. It seemed that without help from outside to move the stones, those below would be utterly unable to free themselves. The cries of the people down in the well were a cacophony, their voices resonating powerfully, barely heard by those above.

The young girl smiled slyly and said, "What’s the matter? Afraid of feeling embarrassed? Who told you to pretend to be a hero without the ability? The place is on fire everywhere, and my father along with two esteemed elders are quite capable; they can definitely extricate themselves. If you faint here, it will only burden others!" Zuo Yuanmin found her reasoning sound; he indeed could barely stand and staying would certainly drag others down. However, while he could leave, it was quite humiliating to be supported by a girl. He struggled to break free from her grasp, but then he heard the girl chuckle softly and tease, "What’s there to be shy about? To me, you’re still just a kid!" With a firm grip, she didn’t care whether Zuo Yuanmin was willing or not, and she hurriedly helped him to the wall, leaping up onto the top of the wall.

Zuo Yuanmin said, "I mean they have all left." While speaking, his subordinates were not idle either, starting to move the stones, and he continued, "Two seniors, could you please help and move these stones?" Jiang Daqian widened his eyes and said, "You want to save them?" Zuo Yuanmin urged, "Saving people is like putting out a fire, seniors, I beg you!" Jiang and the others exchanged glances, and Jiang Wanxiang said, "This might not be very appropriate..."

At the same time, Lu Jianhong's mouth was stuffed with rags, and he was tightly bound on a wooden cart. Soon, someone hitched the cart to a horse. Before long, the searchers returned one after another, all reporting nothing. Wang Shuzan immediately ordered a fire to be set, while he and his son took Lu Jianhong away first. As they passed under the wall where Jiang and Yu were standing, he clasped his fists in salute and said, "Esteemed seniors, I shall take my leave!" It seemed that the two had distanced themselves from the matter from the very beginning, and it was unlikely they would intervene at the last moment. Moreover, the Lu family members underground were of little use, and the Lu family village above had already begun to burn. Wang Shuzan showed no concern and left without looking back.

In a moment of confusion, I suddenly heard Jiang Daqian agree to forgive Wang Guanzhi's rudeness and decided to let him free from their control. In a rush of anxiety, without knowing where the thought came from, I suddenly blurted out: "Wait!"

Zuo Yuanmin could only see flames all around him, unable to discern any path. However, the young lady supporting him did not pause her steps, weaving left and right. Soon, everything went dark before him, as they had already left the courtyard of the Lu family. The girl pressed on, moving forward for about two arrow lengths before stopping to look back. At that moment, with a loud crash, the main building collapsed, followed by a thunderous roar as flames shot up five or six zhang high, sparks flying in all directions, creating a truly astonishing spectacle

After rushing for a while, Zuo Yuanmin floated on the wind, feeling completely at ease, as if he were detached from the world. Suddenly, he heard Yu Wanxiang say, "When we arrive at the manor later, please do not speak out of turn; let us brothers handle everything for you."

Wang Shuzan remained unmoved and said calmly: "Madam Lu, it is unfortunate that you have spent most of your youth for the Lu family, only to end up unable to enjoy a peaceful life. Alas, perhaps Lu Jianhong has long viewed you with disdain and wanted to use my hand to eliminate you. If my sword were aimed at the neck of Fourth Madam, he might have confessed long ago!" As soon as he finished speaking, he exerted force, and the tip of the sword, still stained with old blood, was once again tainted with fresh blood. Madam Lu's eyes widened in shock as she uttered, "You..." Her body weakened, and she collapsed to the ground.

Lu Jianhong wept bitterly and shouted, "Wang Shuzan, you bastard, son of a dog, you have already decided to kill her, why do you still speak such nonsense!" Wang Shuzan coldly replied, "Do you wish to seek benevolence and receive benevolence? I will make sure she dies with her eyes wide open!" Lu Jianhong, with red eyes, cursed loudly, "You are not human! You are a beast!" The curses continued unabated

Yu Wanxiang said: "So, you do not know who your enemies are." Wang Shuzan replied: "Nothing is difficult in this world; I hope the senior can provide guidance." Yu Wanxiang asked: "What do you mean by that? Hehe, rest assured, if my brother and I were to kill the Wang brothers, we would definitely not deny it, ha, ha, ha!" Jiang Daqian also laughed and said: "Not only would we not deny it, but we would also spread the word everywhere. Who knows, we might even be like Old Man Lu, posting invitations for a feast!" The two continued to laugh heartily.

At that time, Huo Butong was different from Zuo Pinghan. After they jointly killed Wang Bozong, they both died one after the other. Before his death, Zuo Pinghan had some final words he wished to convey, but unfortunately, he could only leave behind a treasured sword named "Cold Moon" and had no time to say anything else. At that moment, the mother and son faced the four corpses of the big men, unsure of what to do. They could only work together to drag the bodies of Huo Butong and Zuo Pinghan into the house, close the door to prevent wild dogs and beasts from intruding. Remembering Zuo Pinghan's admonition that it was not suitable to stay here for long, Madam Zuo immediately took Zuo Yuanmin to the banks of the Yishui River, looking for Huo Butong's small boat, and set off downstream.

Wang Shuzan laughed and said: "Everyone listen, he is about to die and yet he still wants to keep his wives! Brother Shi, you need to learn more about this!" Shi Fenjin chuckled and replied: "Women, you can have them if you have money; it's nothing special, there's nothing to learn about it." Wang Shuzan laughed again: "Haha, Brother Shi, you can forget about having a harem in this lifetime." Shi Fenjin responded: "Clothes, as long as they are enough to wear, that's all that matters." Wang Shuzan said: "Indeed."

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Uncle Wang Shuzan's face showed no signs of joy or anger, and he softly said, "Obsessed and unrepentant!" Then he killed Lu Jianhong's fourth wife again

Yu Wanxiang said: "Why should I intervene? Brother, has Old Man Lu ever asked you for anything?" Jiang Daqian shook his head and replied: "No, didn't you say you came because you received an invitation from Old Man Lu?" Yu Wanxiang responded: "What kind of relationship do I have with Old Man Lu? Can he really invite me? I came only because you said you were coming." Jiang Daqian said: "I don't even know this Old Man Lu, how could I say I would come?" Yu Wanxiang remarked: "This shows how much you love to drink, it's simply beyond measure"

Wang Shuzan said: "This is where your cleverness lies; in reality, it is empty, and in emptiness, it is real. It is a pity that your cleverness has backfired on you. This knife may not truly be in your possession, but given your close friendship with Zuo Pingxi, how could you possibly be unaware of how he obtained it? Perhaps all of this is still due to your significant assistance."

Then Jiang Daqian said: "As long as the two of us are here, they absolutely cannot touch a single hair on you." Yu Wanxiang replied: "What is the point of saying this? Do they really dare to take action against us?" Jiang Daqian responded: "I am just afraid that upon realizing they cannot match us, the Northern Duo, they might become furious and foolishly attempt to take action, which is also a possibility." Yu Wanxiang pondered: "That is true; one should always be wary of others. It is always better to be more cautious."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shuzan thought that the two of them were concerned about their reputation rather than standing up for the Lu family estate, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He stepped forward and clasped his fists, saying: "My son has a hot temper and often speaks without thinking. Please do not take his words to heart, esteemed seniors. I, Wang, would like to apologize to both of you here, and I hope for your understanding." He bowed deeply and then continued, "Guanzhi, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and apologize to the two esteemed seniors!" Although Wang Guanzhi was reckless, he was very obedient to his father's words. He then said, "I, the younger generation, have spoken thoughtlessly and have offended you. I hope the two esteemed seniors will forgive me!" Saying this, he bowed deeply to the ground.

As soon as Zuo Yuanmin spoke, he indeed struck at the core of the matter concerning Jiang and the other two. They couldn't help but laugh heartily, both exclaiming, "Yes, yes, yes! You are absolutely right; we will go and take a look right away." One on each side, they tugged at his waistband and set off. Before long, they caught up with Shi Fenjin near a courtyard, and the two of them chose a wall to leap onto, positioning themselves to observe the situation from a higher vantage point.

As soon as the words were spoken, Jiang and the other two suddenly appeared less than three feet in front of him, staring at him with wide eyes. Their movements were swift and strange, leaving one in awe. Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback and said, "Both of you seniors possess remarkable lightness skills, which is truly admirable!"

Lu Jianhong's anger flared up again, and he indignantly said: "Brother Zuo has been dead for over ten years, yet you still want to place the blame on him? Or have you all intended from the very beginning to pin it on a dead man to cover up your incompetence? Don't say I've never seen this so-called treasured blade or broken sword; even Brother Zuo has never seen it. Wang Shuzan, if you have the guts, go ahead and kill us all. Otherwise, the brothers you brought today will sooner or later find out that you are both incompetent and a shameless coward"

Lu Jianhong was taken aback and stammered, "You... how do you know..." He thought to himself, since Uncle Wang Zhan knew that his two sons had gone to Jiangnan, they were likely in grave danger.

Jiang Daqian had not yet responded when Zuo Yuanmin spoke first: "Two seniors, it will be ready soon, it will be ready soon, just a little longer..." Before he could finish his sentence, there was another loud "boom," and a large tree caught fire and fell, landing not far from the three of them. Jiang Daqian shouted and darted to the side, only to see that the hair on his left side was curled and in disarray.

Zuo Yuanmin interjected, "Esteemed seniors, the people of Lu Family Village may have encountered an unexpected situation, but they should not have suffered any misfortune yet." Jiang Daqian asked, "What is the difference between this unexpected situation and misfortune?" Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback, his face suddenly flushed, and replied, "Yes, there is only a slight difference between the two. What I mean is that Lu Family Village may have faced some sudden circumstances, but they should currently be safe and sound." Jiang and Zuo engaged in daily banter, constantly pointing out each other's flaws. They had no other specialties, but they were extremely precise in their choice of words and meanings. When Zuo Yuanmin was interrupted by him, his face instantly turned bright red. "Yes, there is only a slight difference between the two. What I mean is that Lu Family Village may have faced some sudden circumstances, but they should currently be safe and sound." Jiang and Zuo engaged in daily banter, constantly pointing out each other's flaws. They had no other specialties, but they were extremely precise in their choice of words and meanings. When Zuo Yuanmin was interrupted by him, his face instantly turned bright red.

As Yu Wanxiang saw him come out, the smile on his face had not faded. He said, "Are we ready? Let's go quickly!" He reached out to take his hand, his attitude having taken a complete turn. Jiang Daqian suddenly said, "Wait a moment, I just remembered something, I just remembered something." Yu Wanxiang asked, "What is it? Let's talk while we walk." Jiang Daqian's expression turned displeased as he replied, "No, I just remembered that this kid was laughing at me at Qunfang Building, and of course, you are happy about it!"

Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself that this must be Master Lu. Indeed, he saw that Wang Shuzan approached, instructing the man holding the sword, who was pointing at the white-bearded old man, to step back. He then moved forward and squatted in front of the white-bearded old man. After a moment, he said: "Master Lu, as the esteemed owner of a manor, you have at least twenty or thirty subordinates managing such a vast expanse of farmland, with no fewer than two or three hundred tenant households. You are clearly a local tyrant. How can you disregard your status and hide in this dark, small, and damp underground stone chamber? Does this not greatly disappoint people?"

Although he and Jiang had only spent a couple of hours together, their conversation had never ceased. As the saying goes, too much talk leads to mistakes; what is lost are a person's character and true abilities. After listening for a while, Xiao Zuo gradually grasped the thought processes and character flaws of the two, and thus, in accordance with their dispositions, he expressed these words.

These thoughts flashed through his mind and, turning his head, he pretended to be very anxious as he said to Yu Wanxiang: "They are going to kill someone here. If the authorities investigate, we will all be implicated!"

Yu Wanxiang was completely focused on the matter at hand, unaware of the arrival of the two individuals. Suddenly hearing voices, he was startled and quickly turned to look. He saw two figures, one tall and one short, jumping down from the other side of the wall. As they approached, he could clearly see that they were a middle-aged man and a young girl. Seeing that the two were unfamiliar, Yu Wanxiang felt a sense of caution. However, the two did not stop; the man went to help move the stones, while the girl leaned over to support Zuo Yuanmin.

Lu Jianhong was finally awake, his eyes wide open, almost popping out of their sockets, and he shouted: "Wang Shuzan! Even if I become a ghost, I won't spare you!" Wang Shuzan replied coldly: "I wasn't afraid of you when you were alive; do you think I would be afraid of you now that you're dead? Master Lu, where have you hidden your youngest son? If you tell me now, I can send someone to fetch him; otherwise, if he gets burned to death, it would be a pity!"

A look of anguish twisted the face of Lady San, her hands pressed against her chest as blood gushed uncontrollably through her fingers, as if her very life was slipping away through them. With a piercing scream, Lady San fell forward and died. This scene profoundly shook Lu Jianhong's heart even more than the deaths of the previous few.

Upon hearing this, Zuo Yuanmin felt a bit frightened and thought, "What on earth is going on? Aren't they going to meet a friend?" Unable to restrain himself, he asked, "Is there anything I should be aware of?" Yu Wanxiang replied, "Let's talk while we walk."

In a serious and straightforward manner, it was said: "Brother Zuo, is there anything else? We still have to travel through the night." Jiang Daqian, feeling quite pleased with himself, replied: "Our lightness skill is indeed unique, quite different from the usual lightness skills."

The robust middle-aged man shouted into the underground chamber: "Those below, hurry up and come out, the courtyard is on fire!" His tone was earnest and powerful, exuding a sense of authority. Although those below hesitated upon hearing this, some still emerged first. Upon reaching the surface, they saw that the fire was already quite significant, and they quickly turned back to call for their companions to come out. The robust man then said to the young girl: "You help this young brother out first; I can see he can’t hold on any longer." The young girl chuckled and said: "Alright, since you say he has a chivalrous spirit, let me, a little girl, rescue this great hero, hee..." She took hold of the right hand of Luo Yuanmin with her right hand, crossed it over her shoulder, and prepared to lift him up.

Xiao Zuo Yan realized that he had passed this hurdle. Although he felt a cold sweat in his heart, the heavy burden was suddenly lifted, and he felt much more relaxed. He then let out a few silly laughs, which were no longer forced smiles.

As Wanxiang was about to help him up, he suddenly heard a young woman's voice beside him saying, "Father, look, there are actually such people in this world, it's truly rare." Then a deep male voice said, "Let's go, down."

Indeed, the old man with the white beard is the owner of this place, Lu Jianhong. Although he is constrained by others, his spirit remains unyielding. He said, "Uncle Wang Zhan, if you are a true man, then confront me alone and do not involve my family. If that is the case, even if you demand my life, I can willingly offer it to you. If I were to frown even slightly, I would not be worthy of being called a hero!" His words were filled with fervor, and although Zuo Yuanmin was unaware of the entire situation, he could not help but silently commend, "Good!" Zuo Yuanmin, despite not knowing the full context, still found himself thinking, "Good!"

Zuo Yuanmin certainly did not have the leisure to listen to the sarcastic remarks of these two individuals. In his heart, Wang Shuzan was undoubtedly a representative of the evil side, while the people of Lu Family Village were relatively weak, thus becoming the objects of his sympathy. However, it is not just that he lacks any martial arts skills; even if he were skilled, facing so many opponents at present, even the argumentative Jiang Yu and his elder did not wish to wade into this murky water, which illustrates how tricky this situation was. Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard someone say: "Third Master, the people hiding in the underground secret chamber have all come out now."

In the midst of all things, one feels a sense of ease and comfort, and said: "This young man is quite sharp and speaks interestingly. I have mentioned to Miss Yun that as long as you survive this time, I will definitely reward you handsomely. Indeed, indeed, young man, may I ask your esteemed name?" He had originally referred to him with terms like 'little brat' and 'old man', but now he has changed his address to 'young man' and referred to himself as 'old man', which indicates a favorable regard.

It is said that since Zuo Yuanmin told Wanxiang, "Go call Wang Bozong or Wang Zhongqi out," his two eyes have been fixed intently on the person named "Wang Shuzan," while his heart had flown back to over five years ago, to that harrowing and bloody battle, completely unaware of the events unfolding before him.

The remaining eleven individuals, upon seeing their companion captured, although they shouted in protest, did not dare to act recklessly. Yu Wanxiang held the man's collar with one hand and pressed on his back with the other, laughing heartily as he said, "Did you not boast that you would first beat us brothers? Here it comes, ha, ha, ha!" The man, having been subdued in one move, felt humiliated but still defiantly replied, "If you do not let me go, how can I beat you?" The man in the blue robe shouted sternly, "Guanzhi! Do not be disrespectful!" The man replied, "Father..."

Zuo Yuanmin was eager to escape from their grasp, but he heard Jiang Daqian say, "Since that is the case, we have important matters to attend to, so we shall take our leave first." With that, he and Yu Wanxiang turned to leave. Zuo Yuanmin, seeing them turn back, shouted, "Sirs, where are you going?" Without looking back, Yu Wanxiang replied, "We must first return to Bianjing City." Zuo Yuanmin was worried about this, thinking, "Their original intention was to find Sister Yun; capturing me was merely a sudden change of plan. Now that they do not wish to take me along, they must naturally return to find Sister Yun." Observing the two moving swiftly and lightly, Zuo Yuanmin realized that if they broke into a run, he would not be able to catch up. He quickly shouted, "Esteemed sirs, please allow me to say a word!"

Xiao Zuo observed that although the two individuals were peculiar, they also exuded a sense of innocence and romance. He said, "I am surnamed Zuo, with the given name Yuanmin. Yuan, as in the beginning of a new year, and Min, meaning sensitive. If you two seniors are willing, you may simply call me Xiao Zuo." Jiang Daqian remarked, "Zuo Yuanmin, Zuo Yuanmin, that is a nice name..." Yu Wanxiang, overjoyed, grasped Xiao Zuo's hand and added, "What do you mean nice? It is simply fateful. Haven't you heard? 'As the beginning of the year arrives, all things are renewed.' It turns out that the moment I encountered you, I, Yu Wanxiang, was renewed! Ha, ha, ha!" He was utterly delighted.

At the moment when Yuanmin Bian was in a state of confusion, Wang Shuzan killed Lu Jianhong's fifth wife. Lu Jianhong's second wife had already passed away, so currently, he has only one wife left, the third wife.

Yu Wanxiang said: "No, no. What I mean is that I fear they might die, not that I fear they might become ghosts." Jiang Daqian replied: "Old Lu has died; if he doesn't become a ghost, can that scoundrel of his become an immortal? That would truly infuriate me." Yu Wanxiang continued: "That may not be the case; perhaps he firmly believes in the Bodhisattva path and achieves enlightenment on the spot, ascending to the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss." Jiang Daqian corrected him: "Since you say 'may not be the case,' then you cannot say you fear all the people of Lu Family Village will die; you should say: 'I am still a bit afraid that all the people of Lu Family Village will die.'" Yu Wanxiang continued: "Why are you being so particular about it? When practicing, why are you not so particular?" Jiang Daqian interjected: "If speaking is not particular, it would be better not to speak at all. As for practicing, heh heh, there are not many in the world who can reach my level; besides, if we talk about being particular, there really isn't much to be particular about." Once the two began their conversation, they immediately talked endlessly.

Yu Wanxiang looked on in astonishment and asked with concern, "Brother, are you alright?" Jiang Daqian replied, "If you are fine, how could I possibly be in trouble?" Yu Wanxiang said, "Who said that the elder brother is fine? I, your elder brother, have matters to attend to." Sweat poured down Jiang Daqian's forehead, and his eyes were nearly shut; he wiped the sweat with his sleeve and said, "What matters do you have, brother?" Yu Wanxiang replied, "I have already thought about running away. According to what you said, if that is the case, then it would be too late, right?"

At this moment, Lu Jianhong's voice had long since become hoarse from shouting. No matter how strong he was, after losing two family members, he had to show signs of weakness. Seeing the terrified expression on the Fourth Lady's face, he suddenly spoke in a voice that was almost pleading, saying: "Uncle Wang Zhan, I truly did not take that knife. If I had, wouldn't I have fled far away by now? Why would I still be here waiting for you to come looking for me? I beg you, please let them go. The one who deserves to die is me"

Wang Shuzan let out a cold laugh, casually asking a companion for a long sword. He walked up to the group of elderly, weak, women, and children, and said: "You may be wondering who we are, these fierce and ruthless figures, daring to be so arrogant. You might not believe it, but your Lord Lu was once my peer and senior many years ago. At that time, he was ruthless and had a nickname: 'The Knife Behind a Smile,' which referred to his seemingly kind exterior and cruel methods. He was someone I, as a younger generation, looked up to. However, at some point, he actually had a change of heart, claiming he wanted to wash his hands of the past and retreat to the mountains. We, his younger friends, even held a farewell banquet for him, getting drunk for three days and nights. Little did we know that his desire to retreat was merely a facade; in reality, he played the role of an external supporter, swallowing something he should not have obtained, thinking that by retreating, he could remain uninvolved and unnoticed. Unfortunately, I can only say that he has misjudged his target."

Jiang and the other person exchanged glances. Both of them loved to debate, but it was not merely for the sake of being unreasonable. Moreover, Xiao Zuo's words were more complimentary than derogatory, which felt more comfortable than pure flattery. After a moment of silence, Jiang Daqian finally said: "What you said makes a lot of sense. If one only sees the superficial appearances, how is that different from an ordinary person, a village man or a foolish woman? I am getting caught up in this narrow perspective, which unfairly tarnishes the reputation of our ever-changing, dual heroes of the northern frontier." Yu Wanxiang then added: "It's all my fault, brother, for comparing handsomeness with you for no reason. Whether one is good-looking or not is innate and has nothing to do with a person's abilities." For the first time, the two acknowledged their mistakes, and it felt quite different; from then on, their feelings unknowingly deepened.

As soon as Shi Fenjin made contact with them, he realized that once they began to argue, there would be no resolution. Without waiting for them to finish their quarrel, he said: "It seems that this Master Lu does not regard the two seniors as friends. I wonder what kind of relationship the two seniors have with Master Lu here?" Jiang Daqian waved his hand and said: "Wait a moment, why is it always you asking the questions? Since you refer to us as seniors, shouldn't we be allowed to ask a question first?" Shi Fenjin replied: "Of course." He thought to himself: "You two are not foolish after all." He did not know that these two were unwilling to be at a disadvantage in conversation, and it was a great pleasure for them to ask questions that left others speechless. At this moment, if others kept asking and they kept answering, wouldn't that be a hindrance to their ambitions?

With a loud shout, Wanxiang pulled Jiang Daqian aside and said: "Brother, since Brother Zuo is such a generous person and has taken our brotherly feelings into account, he is our friend. We cannot make things difficult for a friend or force him to go to a place he does not wish to go." Jiang Daqian expressed his agreement and added: "Indeed, forcing a friend to do something is absolutely out of the question!"

Xiao Zuo clasped his fists and bowed to the two individuals, continuing: "As for appearance... Since ancient times, heroes and great men, true gentlemen, are first judged by their character and abilities, followed by their achievements and martial prowess. As for beauty or ugliness, it is fundamentally a trivial matter, entirely unimportant. At that time, I observed the two seniors finishing their martial arts demonstration, and then they began to scrutinize each other's appearances. I couldn't help but feel that these esteemed seniors, despite their high status, were also influenced by the mundane nature of the world, preferring superficial matters, which is why I unconsciously smiled."

Wang Shuzan said: "They should not have died; it was you who killed them." He slowly walked in front of a beautiful woman in her thirties and continued, "Fourth Madam, you gave birth to Lu Jianhong's most beloved and intelligent youngest son. Look around, all the Lu family members are here, and the two sons of the Third Madam are also with me. Yet, your son is the only one missing. You see, your contribution is not small; you exchanged your life for something that originally did not belong to him. I suppose he should not abandon you, right?" Fourth Madam's originally charming face turned pale and ashen, and she said, "Fourth Madam, you gave birth to Lu Jianhong's most beloved and intelligent youngest son. Look around, all the Lu family members are here, and the two sons of the Third Madam are also with me. Yet, your son is the only one missing. You see, your contribution is not small; you exchanged your life for something that originally did not belong to him. I suppose he should not abandon you, right?" Fourth Madam's originally charming face turned pale and ashen, trembling and unable to speak