Chapter 453: Inside Story

"Kong Ming, come to think of it, I really must thank you properly this time."

Sun Lao stroked his beard and smiled kindly, "If you hadn't tried every possible way to obtain this Prescription, we wouldn't have been able to imagine, even if we were beaten to death, that there was such a unique way to refine True Qi Pills."

"Indeed. When I first laid eyes on the Prescription, I suspected it was fake. How could anyone refine Pills like this? Facts have proven that my level was simply too low; I couldn't see the brilliance within it at all."

"Who isn't the same? Even now, our understanding of this Prescription is far from thorough."

"By the way, Kong Ming," an old man asked, as if he had suddenly thought of something important, "Why haven't you invited the young brother Lu, who wrote this Prescription, to the Headquarters?"

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately resonated strongly with the others.

"Yes, it is truly a pity for such a talent to stay in a small place like Yongan City. Moreover, Yongan City is on the very outskirts of our Yanxia Country; if a Fierce Beast riot were to occur, Yongan City would certainly bear the brunt of it. You should hurry and find a way to bring him over."

"Qin Lao is absolutely right. If we bring him over sooner, we can exchange ideas with him, and perhaps learn even more alchemy techniques from him."

Only Yao Lao and He Lao remained silent, for they knew the inside story: it was not that Kong Ming was unwilling to invite Lu Yu to the Headquarters, but that the young brother was simply unwilling to come.

Kong Ming sighed helplessly and said, "Sun Lao, you don't know the situation. Counting the previous time, I have already earnestly persuaded young brother Lu three times, but all three times he decisively refused. In fact, the third time, the President even came forward personally to persuade him, but still failed to move him."

"What? Even with Zhou Yu that kid stepping in, that young brother still wouldn't agree?"

Hearing this, the several old men were all stunned.

Zhou Yu, that was the President of the Nanshan Branch Martial Arts Association, a man of extremely high prestige within the Association.

That young brother was, after all, a member of the Association; how could he not even give the President any face?

Furthermore, inviting him to the Headquarters was clearly a golden opportunity he should have been begging for.

"Refused three times? Then, if it really doesn't work, why don't we try a fourth time?"

"Exactly, perhaps on the fourth time, that young brother will be moved and agree?"

"Kong Ming, if he isn't willing when you step in, then let us try. We will go and have a good talk with him," Sun Lao said earnestly after some thought.

"I'm afraid that won't work." The smile on Kong Ming's face gradually turned bitter.

If that incident hadn't happened, perhaps there might have been a possibility of young brother Lu coming to the Headquarters.

But because of certain decisions made by the President, who was determined to protect Xiao Zhan, Lu Yu was extremely dissatisfied with the matter, to the point that even with the President stepping in, he was firmly unwilling to come.

As a result, this matter had become extremely tricky, with almost no room for maneuver.

Perhaps one day, young brother Lu would truly come to the Headquarters, but that would likely mean something terrible had happened.

"Why wouldn't it work? Kong Ming, it's not that I want to criticize you, but why jump to conclusions before even trying?"

"Exactly, give us his contact information, and we will communicate with him."

"It really won't work." Kong Ming let out a long sigh and said helplessly, "Sun Lao, there are some inside details about this matter that you are not aware of. Even if I gave you young brother Lu's contact information, you wouldn't be able to persuade him. It might even backfire and make him more resentful."

"It, it would even be like that?"

Sun Lao and the others looked at each other, their faces showing confusion; they were clearly very curious about the inside story Kong Ming mentioned.

"Inside story? What exactly is the inside story?"

"Tell us quickly."

The group urged him impatiently; they were dying to know the truth of the matter so they could find a way to invite Lu Yu to the Headquarters.

"This..."

Kong Ming hesitated, struggling with whether or not to tell these old men exactly what had happened back then.

Just at this critical moment, his cell phone vibrated quite coincidentally.

He took out his phone and looked at it; the name displayed on the screen made a look of surprise appear on his face.

Chen Yiru?

President Chen?

Why would she suddenly think of calling him?

"Sun Lao, I am truly sorry, I need to take a call first," Kong Ming said apologetically.

"Go ahead, but remember to come back after you finish the call," Sun Lao instructed.

"I will."

Kong Ming couldn't help but laugh; was he the type of person to run off just because of a phone call?

Moreover, he thought that if he told these old men what had happened two days ago, and they went to talk to the President, it might be more effective than him doing it himself.

Thinking this, Kong Ming walked into the lounge to the side, gently closed the glass door, and then answered the call.

"President Chen?"

"It is me, President Kong," Chen Yiru's voice came from the other end of the line, carrying a hint of a smile, "Why, are you surprised that I called you?"

"A little." Kong Ming sat down in a chair and responded with a smile, "Come to think of it, we haven't been in touch for two or three months. How have you been during your time in Guihua City?"

"Yes, it has indeed been two or three months." Chen Yiru first responded, then changed the subject, "President Kong, I heard that your Nanshan Branch Martial Arts Association has been developing quite well lately?"

"It's alright. Why does President Chen say that?"

Kong Ming felt a bit suspicious, not understanding the intent behind Chen Yiru's sudden remark.

"Hehe, is there a Martial Artist in your Association who uses a bow and arrow, named Lu Yu?"

"!" Kong Ming was startled upon hearing this.

Why did this President Chen mention young brother Lu specifically, out of everyone else? Could it be that young brother Lu had offended her somewhere? But judging by her tone, she didn't seem angry. What was going on?

"President Chen is correct," Kong Ming quickly adjusted his emotions and said in a steady tone, "We do indeed have someone named Lu Yu in our Association, and the weapon he uses is a bow and arrow. Why do you ask?"

"Hehehe, then I must congratulate President Kong," Chen Yiru said with a smile, her laughter seemingly tinged with a hint of envy, "Your Nanshan Branch Martial Arts Association has gained another True Essence Realm Martial Artist."

"True, True Essence Realm." Kong Ming was slightly stunned, then realized what she meant.

In fact, from the previous incident, he had vaguely guessed that Lu Yu's true strength was not simple; even if he hadn't reached the True Essence Realm, he was not far off.

However, how did Chen Yiru, who was far away in Guihua City, know about this? This filled Kong Ming's heart with doubt.

"Yes, it seems President Kong didn't know about this?"

"Yes, I am not quite clear on it." Kong Ming followed Chen Yiru's lead, pretending he was unaware, "Lu Yu's Realm should still be the Vein Refining Realm, right?"

"Is that so? Then that is strange," Chen Yiru said with confusion, "Just a moment ago, people from our Association saw with their own eyes that he used a bow and arrow to kill one Commander-level Fierce Beast and forty or fifty Elite-level Fierce Beasts."

"What!" When Kong Ming heard this, his voice suddenly rose by several dozen decibels, and he was completely shocked by this news.

"President Chen, you, what did you just say? Lu Yu, he killed a Commander-level Fierce Beast!"

"That is correct."

Chen Yiru smiled and said affirmatively: "People from our Association saw with their own eyes that he took the head of the Berserk Wild Bull King out of a Space Item. Since he could take this thing out, there is no need for me to say who killed that Berserk Wild Bull King, right?"

"By the way, when little brother Lu parted ways with us, he also gave us his contact information. Looking at the number prefix, it belongs to your Nanshan Branch Martial Arts Association. How about I send it to you to confirm?"