Chapter 31: Thousand-Household Lu, Who Stays Away from Women, and the Arrogant Holy Son (Seeking Monthly Votes)

The provincial capital, Jingguan City.

Inside the Jing'an Guard North Town Shuzhou Thousand-Household Office, the Thousand-Household Lu Dingchuan, unrestrained and with his chest open to reveal a torso of bronze-colored muscles, was concentrating on processing official documents.

Accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps, a subordinate stepped inside quickly and said, "My Lord, an urgent report from Tongzhou."

"Pass it on." Lu Dingchuan raised his head, revealing a square face with a small mustache and an air of uprightness.

"Yes!" The subordinate received the order and left.

A moment later, Sun Youliang trotted all the way over. As soon as he entered the door, he knelt on one knee and said loudly, "Small Flag Sun Youliang of the Jing'an Guard Tongzhou Hundred-Household Office pays respects to the Thousand-Household!"

"What is the matter?" Lu Dingchuan looked at Sun Youliang lazily; he looked refined, more like a scholar than a martial artist.

Sun Youliang set down the bundle on his back, took Pei Shaoqing's letter from his bosom, and presented it with both hands, "This is a personal letter from General Flag Pei Shaoqing to the Thousand-Household. The reasons for this are all within; please, My Lord Thousand-Household, open it yourself."

A round-faced, slightly chubby, fair-skinned General Flag with a full beard stepped forward, snatched the letter from his hand, and turned to present it to Lu Dingchuan.

"The son of the Weiyuan Marquis, how do I remember him only being a Small Flag?" Lu Dingchuan did not rush to open the letter after taking it, but asked in a flat tone.

It was impossible for him not to know that the son of such a big shot had come to work as a small fry under his command.

Sun Youliang knew for certain that Zheng Xuancheng had not yet sent out the document requesting a merit-based promotion for Pei Shaoqing, so he replied respectfully, "Replying to the Thousand-Household, General Flag Pei performed a great service as soon as he arrived in Tongzhou. At that time, a General Flag position happened to be vacant, so Hundred-Household Zheng appointed him to act in that capacity temporarily. This matter should also be stated in the letter."

"Heh, Zheng Xuancheng has a sharp eye for talent and knows how to use people well." Lu Dingchuan chuckled, assuming Zheng Xuancheng wanted to curry favor with the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion, then lowered his head to tear open the letter in his hand and read it carefully. His expression became increasingly ugly, and his brows gradually knitted together.

"Slap!" He slammed the letter onto the desk heavily and stared fixedly at Sun Youliang, "Is this true?"

"I dare not lie," Sun Youliang responded respectfully.

Lu Dingchuan's expression was uncertain. It would have been one thing if that disgraceful fool Xu Zhiyong had just impersonated mountain bandits to rob people—that was a small matter—but the fact that Zheng Xuancheng was actually the Helmsman of the Xuan Sect's Tongzhou Branch was a huge deal!

He, as the superior, bore the responsibility of negligence.

The only thing to be thankful for was that the person who resolved this matter was also Pei Shaoqing, who belonged to the Jing'an Guard.

It counted as internal self-correction, making up for a fault with a merit.

However, the rumors he had heard through his channels all said that Pei Shaoqing was incapable of great things. How could he be like a tiger released from a cage the moment he left the Capital? Could there be something fishy about this?

"A tiger father has no dog for a son; he is indeed the seed of a noble military family. General Flag Pei has done very well." Lu Dingchuan came back to his senses, looked at Sun Youliang, and said, "You stay in the provincial capital for a day. Tomorrow, take my reply and General Flag Pei's appointment document back with you."

"Yes!" Sun Youliang replied. He glanced at the bearded General Flag and squeezed out a fawning smile at Lu Dingchuan, "My Lord, General Flag Pei had some other words he asked me to convey to you in person. Would it be convenient to dismiss those around you?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Dingchuan waved his hand lightly.

The bearded General Flag saluted and walked out.

"What else does General Flag Pei have to say? Speak."

Sun Youliang took the bundle off his shoulder, opened it, took out a pair of exquisitely crafted White Jade Cups, held them up with both hands, and said, "This is stolen property seized from Zheng Xuancheng's home. The General Flag suspects that the secrets of the Xuan Sect may be hidden within, so he specifically ordered me to bring them for you to examine."

Lu Dingchuan was stunned for a moment, then he was amused.

Interesting.

This Young Master Pei not only knows how to do things, but he also knows how to handle people. Was he just playing the pig to eat the tiger while in the Capital, and now that he has escaped the cage, he is no longer pretending?

"Present them," he said with a laugh.

"Yes!" Sun Youliang stood up with a grin, holding the cups with both hands to offer them. While Lu Dingchuan was playing with and admiring them, he said in a low voice, "General Flag Pei could not get away to see you in person, so he specifically instructed this subordinate to express his sincerity on his behalf. I have long heard that the beauties at Furong Xuan in Jingguan City are as numerous as clouds, and I would like to boldly ask you to take me to see the world when you have time."

Bribery, after all, is nothing more than money and beauty.

"Presumptuous!" Lu Dingchuan, who had just been smiling, sank his face and scolded. He put down the White Jade Cup in his hand and said coldly, "What kind of person do you take me for? How could I go to such a place of debauchery! This time, for the sake of General Flag Pei, I will not hold it against you. Withdraw!"

"This subordinate spoke out of turn, please forgive me, My Lord." Sun Youliang was broken out in a cold sweat and left looking dejected.

"Hmph!" The bearded General Flag outside the door gave a cold snort and said with schadenfreude, "In Jingguan City, who doesn't know that our Thousand-Household has always been unmoved by beauty and stays away from women, possessing the character of a gentleman? You deserved to be scolded."

"Yes, I am a vulgar person..." Sun Youliang just wanted to say a few nice words, but the bearded man had already turned and entered the office, so he could only lower his head and leave awkwardly.

Damn it, I misjudged him.

I didn't expect Thousand-Household Lu to be such an upright gentleman.

"My Lord, what happened in Tongzhou?" After the bearded General Flag entered the room, he walked directly to Lu Dingchuan's side and sat down in his lap to ask.

Thousand-Household Lu took the opportunity to embrace the bearded man, "The letter is on the table, see for yourself."

Hmm, he was indeed not interested in women.

The bearded man picked up the letter, and after reading it, his eyes rolled and he said, "I didn't expect Zheng Xuancheng to be hiding so deeply. In that case, hasn't a Hundred-Household position opened up in Tongzhou? My good Lord~"

"Fine, fine, fine, I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you." Lu Dingchuan beamed, then sighed, "I really am reluctant to let a beauty like you leave, but I never treat my bedfellows poorly. After you go to Tongzhou, investigate the ins and outs of this matter properly; there may be other hidden circumstances."

"Many thanks, My Lord." The bearded General Flag was immediately overjoyed; he had finally made it and didn't have to sell his body anymore. Once he was promoted to Tongzhou, he could rule a territory on his own.

…………………………

At the same time.

The Holy Son Kaiyang of the Xuanhuang Sect arrived in Tongzhou.

"Respectfully welcome the Holy Son!"

The manager of Juyuan Inn led people to welcome him.

The Holy Son Kaiyang looked to be in his early twenties, his white robe spotless, holding a folding fan, quite handsome and dashing.

He looked down at the crowd bowing before him, "Where is the Helmsman of the Tongzhou Branch?"

"Replying to the Holy Son, the Helmsman cannot get away, so he ordered us to come and welcome you. I am Lao Ma, the Vice Branch Master of the Tongzhou Branch," the manager said respectfully.

"Cannot get away?" The Holy Son Kaiyang's face immediately turned cold, and he snorted, "Is this not putting this Holy Son in his eyes, or is it not putting the Sect Leader in his eyes?"

Old Ma and the others all frowned secretly. Is this Holy Son Kaiyang too arrogant? He is not easy to get along with.

But who made him the Holy Son?

Although he had feelings in his heart, Lao Ma dared not show them, "Holy Son, please understand, the Helmsman is loyal to the Holy Sect and has no such intention; he is truly unable to get away."

"Enough, no need to make excuses for him. I will report this matter truthfully," the Holy Son Kaiyang said.

A young man dressed as a waiter could not help but retort, "The Holy Son is being too overbearing."

"Presumptuous!" The folding fan in the Holy Son Kaiyang's hand flew out instantly. The waiter was struck, his body flew backward for more than ten meters, and he spat blood as he slammed heavily onto the ground.

"Xiao Wu!" "Xiao Wu, are you okay!"

A group of people hurriedly went over to support him, while simultaneously glaring at the Holy Son Kaiyang, though they all dared to be angry but dared not speak.

The Holy Son Kaiyang gripped the folding fan that had flown back to him and looked on coldly, "Even an ordinary disciple dares to speak rudely to this Holy Son; no wonder the Helmsman dares not come to welcome me. Is your Tongzhou Branch still a part of my Holy Sect or not?"

"Holy Son, please forgive us. It is all because of my poor discipline that he offended the Holy Son. I hope you will show mercy and spare him this once." The shopkeeper knelt down immediately to plead for mercy.

"If there is a next time, I will kill!" The Holy Son Kaiyang warned in a cold and stern tone, then flicked his folding fan open and shook it lightly, "This Holy Son has come to Tongzhou this time burdened with the important task of hunting down a traitor to the sect. During this period, the Tongzhou Branch must obey my every command. Do you understand?"

"We obey!" Although everyone was holding back a foul breath in their hearts, they had no choice but to submit to him.

A look of satisfaction appeared on the face of the Holy Son Kaiyang.

(End of this chapter)