Chapter 80: No Shortcuts, Strength Is the Only Truth

"Who is it?"

"Who has heard of Lu Family Stockade?"

"Are they all from Lu Family Stockade?"

"Where is Lu Family Stockade?" The crowd discussed it in a hubbub, most of them looking blank.

"It's just the small Zhai to the east of Zhou Family Fort. It's really strange, what kind of great luck did they have? To actually get so much prey!"

"Four whole Spirit-horned Deer, that can be traded for quite a lot of supplies!"

"It's worth at least three or four thousand!"

Someone in the crowd exclaimed, their eyes flashing with envy.

You must know, the Spirit-horned Deer is no ordinary prey; its meat is tender and rich in nutrients.

This team loaded with prey was already eye-catching, and this conversation made them the focus of the entire scene.

Amidst the surrounding whispers, some were curious, some were envious, and some even held hidden hostility.

Zhao Shan and the others had gloomy expressions, their anger almost overflowing from the corners of their eyes.

Lu Yu stared fixedly at the gray-clad man who had spoken—the other party was squinting at everyone, a provocative smile hanging on the corners of his mouth, a smile that was like a sharp Dagger.

"Lu Guohao, your Zhai has good luck! So much prey, where did you pick it up?" the gray-clad man said sarcastically, his tone full of mockery and disdain.

"That's right, we even gave them meat a while ago; it seems that was a waste of effort."

"Congratulations, congratulations, you can trade for quite a lot of money this time, right? Don't come reaching out for relief next time."

More mocking voices came one after another from the Li Family Fort team.

This situation was like a nouveau riche bumping into a former poor neighbor who suddenly started driving a luxury car; their hearts were full of sour jealousy, so they couldn't help but vent their inner imbalance through words.

Liu Tianhong and the others' faces instantly turned as pale as paper, their eyes full of helplessness.

They had just finished trading their supplies and were preparing to leave, but they never expected to run into Lu Guohao and his group here, and to have their identities exposed mercilessly in public.

They knew that the people of Li Family Fort were always arrogant and domineering, with ruthless methods.

Lu Guohao's expression changed slightly, his gaze lingering on Liu Tianhong and the others for a moment before turning to the burly man in the lead, saying in a low voice, "Li San Ge, I want to discuss something with you."

The noisy crowd suddenly quieted down, and even Li Laosan showed an expression of surprise.

"Oh?" A playful smile appeared on his face, "What do you want to discuss?"

"The Zhai has had good luck recently and obtained this prey. I want to take Liu Tianhong and Liu Tianyao back with me, would that be possible?" Lu Guohao's voice trembled slightly; although he tried hard to remain calm, his inner tension was revealed involuntarily.

He knew in his heart that Liu Tianhong and the others' families were all in Li Family Fort; without Li Laosan's nod, it was impossible to take them away.

The Li Family Fort team suddenly exploded, with exclamations and sneers ringing out in one piece.

Liu Tianhong's eyes turned red, and Liu Tianyao clenched his fists and was about to speak, but was pulled back hard by his older brother—the Li Family Three Brothers had ruthless methods, and if they rashly contradicted them, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Want to take them back? Back to your Lu Family Stockade?" Li Laosan deliberately drew out his tone, saying word by word, as if savoring this absurd request.

"Yes, I wonder..."

Lu Guohao was just about to explain when he was rudely interrupted by Li Laosan.

"You are really interesting!" Li Laosan interrupted, the mockery on his face growing stronger, "Why are you asking me whether they are willing to leave? Ask them!"

After a dead silence, a burst of laughter erupted.

"Haha, Lu Guohao, is your brain muddled? Of course you ask the people involved in this kind of thing!"

"Exactly, lived for half a lifetime and don't even understand this simple logic?"

"Liu Tianhong, Liu Tianyao, someone is asking you, do you want to go back?"

Zhao Shan and the others clenched their fists, anger surging in their chests.

This group from Li Family Fort was simply too arrogant! To actually insult everyone in the entire Zhai so unscrupulously in front of so many people.

But the next second, a sense of powerlessness flooded them like a tide.

So what if the other party was arrogant? Li Family Fort was the undisputed strongest Zhai in the vicinity; they had powerful strength as a backing, which was why they dared to be so swaggering and were not afraid of being targeted.

Compared to them, the disparity in strength between Lu Family Stockade and them was too great to compete.

Lu Yu took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.

He knew that being impulsive now would only make the other party more smug, and Liu Shu and the others were caught in the middle and would never agree to leave.

Sure enough, Liu Tianhong squeezed out a smile: "Guohao, I appreciate your kindness, we are doing quite well here, don't you worry about us."

"That's right, Li San Ge treats us well and shares quite a bit of meat every time we hunt." Liu Tianyao gritted his teeth and echoed, his smile uglier than crying.

"Liu Tianhong..." Lu Guohao opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

"See? It's them who don't want to leave, it's not that I won't let them go." Li Laosan spread his hands, "Anything else? If not, move aside, don't block the way."

Lu Guohao was silent for a long time, finally let out a long sigh, and led everyone to clear the path.

"Lu Guohao, consider yourselves lucky this time. There won't be such a cheap deal next time!" Li Laosan threw down a harsh threat and swaggered away with his team.

"Guohao, Liu Tianhong and the others have no choice..."

"Their families are all in Li Family Fort, they can't just ignore the lives of their loved ones."

"If only we hadn't gone in the first place..."

Everyone spoke one after another, full of indignation and helplessness.

Lu Guohao's expression was dejected; he had thought there was still room for negotiation, but he had been humiliated in public by the other party, and they hadn't even given him a glimmer of a chance.

"Dad, Liu Shu and the others will come back." Lu Yu's gaze was burning, "Leave this matter to me."

Lu Guohao looked up abruptly, hope igniting in his eyes: "Xiao Yu, you have a way?"

The crowd also gathered around one after another, their eyes full of anticipation.

"Actually, there is no shortcut." Lu Yu stared at the backs of the Li Family Fort group as they walked away, "They dare to be so arrogant only because they rely on having a Refining Flesh Realm expert sitting in their Zhai."

"Once I break through to the Refining Flesh Realm, or even step into the Entering Force, one word will be enough to make them obediently let people go."

The crowd was stunned for a moment, then erupted into passionate shouts.

"Right! Strength is the only hard truth!"

"Once we are stronger than them, let's see if they still dare to be this arrogant!"

"Go back and train with your lives; one day we will trample them under our feet!"

Qin Hai looked at the crowd, who had been dejected just a moment ago but now had fighting spirit burning in their eyes, and could not help but feel a bit dazed—is it really that simple?

After all, the strength of Li Family Fort is there for all to see; wanting to surpass them is easier said than done.

Lu Yu silently withdrew his gaze.

That may be what is said, but the Realm of that person from Li Family Fort is likely at least mid-stage Flesh Refining, or even late-stage; even if he has broken through now, his odds of winning are not high, and if things go poorly, he might even lose his own life.

But it does not matter, that day will not be too far off; he hopes that by then, Liu Shu and the others will all be safe and sound, otherwise, what does it matter if one is at late-stage Flesh Refining or even has entered the Force?

Li Laosan and the others must die! That is what I say.

He secretly swore in his heart.