Volume Two: The Winds Rise in Anxi Prefecture Chapter 148: A Powerful Backing
An incense stick’s time passed, and Guard Mo smiled wryly, saying, “A distinguished guest like you, it’s understandable to take some time.”
Another incense stick burned away, yet the steward had still not appeared. Guard Mo continued with a smile, “Brother Lu, no need to rush, let’s wait a bit longer.”
...
After an indeterminate amount of time, Guard Mo could no longer hold back.
“Brother Lu, my apologies for the wait. Shall we head inside first?”
Embarrassment showed on Guard Mo’s face.
Earlier, he had boasted about his extensive connections.
Now, reality had slapped him in the face.
Why wait any longer? It was clearly just wasting time standing here. Better to go in directly.
“Alright!” Lu Jiuzhang nodded.
Just as the two were about to enter, a burst of hearty laughter came from outside.
A middle-aged man was escorting a guest to the main gate.
Upon seeing the middle-aged man, Guard Mo’s face brightened. “The steward’s come out!”
Taking quick strides, Guard Mo reached the middle-aged man’s side.
“Zhao… Director Zhao?”
When Guard Mo caught sight of the guest beside the steward, he was taken aback.
He had assumed the steward was attending to some important visitor, but it turned out to be Director Zhao!
“Guard Mo, you’ve arrived!”
The steward smiled gently. “I was just accompanying Director Zhao earlier, so I may have neglected our honored guest. Please forgive me.”
“Not at all, not at all!”
Guard Mo hastily cupped his hands and then whispered a few words into Director Zhao’s ear.
Moments later, Director Zhao’s gaze turned toward Lu Jiuzhang. “Mr. Lu, you’ve arrived at Anxi Prefecture as well!”
Apologetic expressions adorned Director Zhao’s face.
They had a brief encounter when she purchased a pearl from Lu Jiuzhang in Changshui County.
That pearl had indeed been of great assistance to Director Zhao, though unfortunately it did not help Lu Jiuzhang out of his predicament.
Recalling this, Director Zhao felt a twinge of guilt.
“Director Zhao!”
Lu Jiuzhang respectfully cupped his hands.
“Mr. Lu, are you here to cultivate?” Director Zhao asked. “Today’s expenses will be on my tab!”
Though a woman, she wore a long white robe, her hair neatly tied and crowned, conducting herself with remarkable efficiency.
Such a woman was undoubtedly rare.
---
“Thank you, Director Zhao, but please don’t trouble yourself with the bill. I have some silver on hand.” Lu Jiuzhang disliked owing favors, and cultivation here wouldn’t cost much.
Just last night, that woman in the bamboo hat and veil had given him a token.
He wondered if that token held any significance.
Lu Jiuzhang pulled the token from his bosom and handed it to the steward. “The owner of this token should have some authority here, right?”
“Let me see!”
The steward took the token. The smile on his face gradually stiffened, then turned to shock.
“Honored guest, please forgive my earlier negligence!”
Flustered, the steward immediately instructed the attendant beside him, “Prepare the best secret chamber for Lord Lu. Clear out the Dao Hall and remove all unrelated personnel. Under no circumstances are they to disturb Lord Lu’s cultivation.”
Just a token had elicited such a reaction?
Was the woman from last night someone of tremendous status?
Director Zhao was equally astonished. She had visited the Northern Mu Dao Hall many times but had never witnessed such a response from the steward.
“Director Zhao, I will accompany you later!”
With that, the steward, like a loyal servant, approached Lu Jiuzhang. “Lord Lu, does this arrangement meet your satisfaction?”
“No need to go to such trouble. Just arrange a place for me to cultivate. Why kick others out?” Lu Jiuzhang replied with displeasure.
“As you wish, Lord Lu. We’ll prepare the best secret chamber immediately without disturbing others.”
The steward gave instructions, and attendants began tidying up.
“Two rooms, please. I’m here with Guard Mo,” Lu Jiuzhang said.
“Understood, Lord Lu. Rest assured, everything will be perfectly arranged!” the steward assured. “Please follow me.”
The steward led Lu Jiuzhang toward the back.
Guard Mo glanced at Director Zhao. He had accompanied Lu Jiuzhang here but now that his superior was present, he could not leave so easily.
“Go ahead. Today is your day off, no official duties. You don’t need to stay with me,” Director Zhao waved him off.
Guard Mo acknowledged the order and followed closely.
...
This was the best secret chamber in the Northern Mu Dao Hall, costing hundreds of taels of silver per hour.
Cultivating for a day would cost thousands of taels.
After explaining some precautions to Lu Jiuzhang, the steward quietly withdrew.
Lu Jiuzhang sat upright inside the secret chamber. It was not large, roughly ten zhang square.
The room was equipped with a spirit-gathering formation and an isolation array, so cultivation would neither be disturbed by others nor disturb them.
---
Thanks to the spirit-gathering formation, the spiritual energy here was extremely dense.
Compared with the outside of Anxi Prefecture, the concentration was dozens of times higher.
Though it paled in comparison to the ancient ruins world Lu Jiuzhang had ventured into before.
Regardless, it was at least a place to cultivate.
Lu Jiuzhang calmed his mind, seated himself on the floor, and began his cultivation...
...
Elsewhere, at the gatehouse.
After the steward returned, Director Zhao had yet to leave.
“What kind of token was Lu Jiuzhang carrying?” Director Zhao asked curiously.
“Director Zhao, have you heard of the Yingtian Tavern?” the steward inquired.
“Yingtian Tavern?”
Director Zhao fell into thought.
When she first came to serve at the Qianji Tower in Anxi Prefecture years ago, her family had warned her never to provoke the Yingtian Tavern.
The tavern’s owner’s status was beyond what her family could confront.
The Qianji Tower was already powerful, secretly controlled by a certain prince backed by twelve great clans.
Those twelve clans were the real power behind the scenes.
Director Zhao’s family, the Zhao clan, was one of those twelve, but she was not from the main branch; her father belonged to a secondary line, so their influence was somewhat limited.
Against the Yingtian Tavern, the Zhao clan was still far from sufficient.
“What exactly is the origin of the Yingtian Tavern?” Director Zhao asked.
“Do you think such secrets would be known to a minor like me?” the steward smiled bitterly. “The Yingtian Tavern has existed in Anxi Prefecture for many years. Anyone who causes trouble there meets a fate worse than death.”
“The tavern has never revealed its true cards, but those who cross it never end well.”
“Meanwhile, the Yingtian Tavern stands firm and undisturbed.”
“There’s a saying in the marketplace: ‘Better to provoke the governor than the tavern owner.’”
Seeing the steward’s reluctance to share more, Director Zhao did not press further.
Still, she was curious about the relationship between Lu Jiuzhang and the tavern’s owner.
Why did Lu Jiuzhang have the tavern owner’s token?
When she had gone to Changshui County, she had thought she knew most of Lu Jiuzhang’s background. Now it seemed that knowledge was merely scratching the surface.
This young man harbored a powerful background even she did not know.