Chapter 86: Repaying a Debt of Gratitude

The next day, before dawn had even broken, Lu Chengfeng and his men left the inn carrying Chen Mei's two corpses, and Qu Lingfeng followed along silently, without saying goodbye to Wu Chengyu.

Wu Chengyu's senses were astonishing; even from inside his room he was fully aware of their movements, yet he had no intention of getting up to see them off.

One could only say this arrangement was for the best for both parties — better not to meet than to meet; Lu Chengfeng had finally shown some tact this once.

He would never again refer to those two as martial brothers; the rivers and lakes are vast, each going their own way was just fine.

Wu Chengyu's current character was such that he would cut ties as quickly as possible with people he disliked and matters he refused to be entangled in again, or if he once owed someone a debt of gratitude, if it could be repaid he would certainly not keep owing it forever.

The original body's relationship with Lu Chengfeng had always been ordinary, but Qu Lingfeng had shown the original body considerable care back then; this time, capturing Chen Mei and the other gave Qu Lingfeng hope of returning to Peach Blossom Island, so he would not have to enter the palace to steal treasures with a crippled body, and might avoid a future ending of mutual destruction with someone.

Gu Gu would not become a simple-minded, cheerful girl because of a fright; at least she would have her father to look after her in her childhood.

Wu Chengyu felt this already counted as repaying the debt for the original body; in the future if they crossed paths, a nod would suffice, with no burden at all.

But Lu Zhiyi and the others, merely upon receiving a single letter from Wu Chengyu, rallied their men and came to help without hesitation, not retreating even though they knew the enemy were martial arts masters who killed like hemp; for that single word "righteousness" Wu Chengyu had to record this favor.

Put that way it sounds a bit double-standard: those useful to him he associates with properly, those who would bring trouble he cuts off as early as possible — actually very pragmatic.

In the end Wu Chengyu is a selfish person too; fortunately he has a clear conscience about it.

Two days later, at Wumei Tower, the most famous restaurant in Gusu City, the Wu Family's business had originally been merely passable, falling short compared to the best restaurants in the city, but since last winter they introduced the latest-style Ancient Antique Soup, their reputation suddenly boomed, especially in winter when customers came like clouds every day.

Wu Zhengliang also accepted Wu Chengyu's suggestion and hoisted a large banner beside Wumei Tower, inscribed with "Wu Family Hot Pot," introducing the name "hot pot" to the Song Dynasty for the first time, which counted as a branding operation for hot pot.

This day, Wumei Tower did not receive outside guests; Wu Chengyu had notified Fourth Uncle early on that today he was booking the venue to thank Lu Zhiyi and those friends.

This time Lu Zhiyi brought nearly thirty people in total; the huge restaurant was not even half full, but the atmosphere was extremely lively.

Wu Zhengliang did not ask what Wu Chengyu had actually done; he knew this nephew of his always had his own ideas, and his connections outside were not to be underestimated, but as an elder he still came over and drank three bowls of wine with Lu Zhiyi.

Wu Chengyu specially called Wu Zhenghui over to accompany the drinking; he and Niu Wanrou went into action immediately — usually boasting of drinking all of Wu Family Slope undefeated, this time he thoroughly knelt before Big Sister Niu; Niu Wanrou lifted him with one hand, casually tossed him onto a nearby table, then turned her gaze toward Wu Zhengliang.

Feeling Niu Wanrou's gaze, Wu Zhengliang couldn't help but shiver; he hurriedly pulled Lu Zhiyi into idle chat; fortunately several other uncles from the Third House arrived upon hearing the news, and only then did they barely manage to fend off Niu Wanrou.

There was also Yu Xiaowu, who kept pulling Wu Chengyu to discuss hot pot; this time he couldn't give him the hot pot base, but Wu Chengyu still taught him the preparation methods for a few dishes.

Host and guests enjoyed themselves to the fullest; after three rounds of wine, Wu Zhengliang led the Wu Family people, along with Wu Zhenghui who had gone soft as mud, away; the rest of the Yue Family Army descendants were also settled in the Wu Family's inn; Wu Chengyu pulled Lu Zhiyi, Niu Wanrou, and Yu Xiaowu into a quiet room to drink tea and sober up.

A mere hot pot meal could only be Wu Chengyu's hospitality; it could not repay the favor of the other party drawing their blades to help this time.

Wu Chengyu took out two books and placed them before the three.

One was Iron Cloth Shirt, the most commonplace martial art; at every temple fair those selling strength pills and smashing boulders on their chests basically all know Iron Cloth Shirt; in the Murong Family's collection alone there are no fewer than three or four versions, among which two are completely different from those ordinary goods — both have some real substance.

Ordinary Iron Cloth Shirt versions are all incomplete; they only have methods for training impact resistance, lacking the internal energy circulation mental methods and medicinal baths for treating hidden injuries; these Iron Cloth Shirts have average effects, barely able to withstand ordinary blades and swords, and after forty or fifty the hidden injuries erupt — if not dead then crippled.

The two versions Wu Chengyu selected both have external training, internal training, and medicinal baths complete, with different emphases.

One emphasizes external defense, greatly enhancing impact resistance, but is slightly lacking in strength training.

The other combines strength training and defense enhancement, but in terms of defense alone it is inferior to the first.

The one Wu Chengyu gave to Lu Zhiyi and the others was the second, which he considered more suitable for people like Lu Zhiyi who cultivate battlefield martial arts.

Battlefield martial arts never pursue exquisite subtlety; greater strength and ability to endure damage are most important; the former Yue Family Army, as generals, wore armor when going into battle, so Iron Cloth Shirt's utility was low, but now Lu Zhiyi and the others are no longer in the military and have no armor, so enhancing their own defense is only fitting.

At the same time, this Iron Cloth Shirt can also increase their strength; compared to starting from scratch cultivating internal family mental methods, this enhancement method is the most immediate and effective way to boost their combat power.

Of course, the most suitable for increasing strength is still Wu Chengyu's Ox-Horse Stake; this martial art cultivated to Great Accomplishment, with armor donned, makes an unrivaled fierce general.

But Ox-Horse Stake consumes too many resources, unsuitable for large-scale promotion, and it is Wu Chengyu's non-transmitted secret — absolutely not taught to anyone but the closest kin.

As for the first Iron Cloth Shirt, Wu Chengyu decided to keep it for the Wu Clan; his plan for the Wu Clan is that the younger generation will mainly cultivate internal energy in the future, and as an external art, being able to raise defense to not fear blades and swords is already enough.

Even if they want to increase strength, he also has the first five layers of Dragon Elephant Prajna Art to provide.

The Wu Clan will certainly become a martial arts aristocratic family in the future; external arts are only auxiliary, but absolutely cannot be neglected.

The Black Wind Twin Demons were repeatedly encircled and suppressed; Mei Chaofeng's injuries were always heavier than Chen Xuanfeng's — Chen Xuanfeng's horizontal training of tendons and bones was indispensable.

As for the second book, it also came from the Murong Family's secret manuals, but it was not a conventional martial arts manual; rather, it was a small-scale battle array method.

This manual should have been scavenged by Murong Fu's grandfather; it is most suitable for use by small groups of soldiers in confrontation, and is one of the few resources the Murong Family collected that truly pertains to the battlefield.

Pity such manuals are too few; they were soon shelved by Murong Bo.

Wu Chengyu does not understand — they want to restore the nation and rebel, yet they study martial arts day and night, completely ignoring things used on the battlefield that could enhance army strength.

Relying on those jianghu tricks is even less reliable than a scholar's rebellion; at least a scholar can incite people's hearts.

Wu Chengyu has only seen this one similar manual; the Wu Family might have use for it in the future, but for Lu Zhiyi, Big Sister Niu, and the others it is extremely important.

The two of them faced Chen Xuanfeng and were in dire straits within just two moves — precisely because battlefield martial arts have a natural defect against jianghu techniques; with such a small-scale battle array method, a mere ten or twenty people coordinating can, in the future when encountering a master of Chen Xuanfeng's level, not be without the power to fight back.

After hearing Wu Chengyu's introduction, Lu Zhiyi reached out, took the two manuals in hand, casually flipped through a few pages, knew these two things indeed targeted their weaknesses, and magnanimously accepted Wu Chengyu's thank-you gift.

Having shared life and death, and interacted for over two years exchanging what they had, when Wu Chengyu called for their aid they would not hesitate; naturally they did not need to stand on ceremony when Wu Chengyu gave them things.

Although there was no formal oath of alliance, Wu Chengyu and the Yue Family Army descendants already counted as an interest collective.

(Chapter End)