Chapter 70: Memories of the Imperial Capital

Three days later, at the City Lord’s Mansion in Maple Leaf City.

“Brother Lu, as you know, my Treasure Pavilion is under imperial jurisdiction. Now that you are the esteemed City Lord of Maple Leaf City, we both serve the empire. Come, let me toast you.”

There were more than ten people at the banquet table.

The Lu family’s patriarch, Lu Tianhong, Lu Tianlin, and Lu Han.

The Lie family’s old head, Lie Zhong, Lie Xiong, and Lie Ru Ge.

And Qian Santong, the master of Treasure Pavilion.

“Brother Qian, you know my current condition. I’ll use tea instead of wine,” said Lu Tianhong. Now, he was no different from an ordinary mortal; he could not channel his energy or cultivate. The tiger toad poison was only temporarily suppressed, not eradicated.

Three days ago, Wen Hao died, and the Li family was destroyed.

Qian Santong suddenly visited the Lu family, bringing a message from the princess, instructing Lu Tianhong to take over Maple Leaf City immediately, with an imperial notice posted at the city gates.

The Lu family had always enjoyed a good reputation in Maple Leaf City, and with the support of the Treasure Pavilion and the Lie family, they quickly moved into the City Lord’s Mansion.

Over the past three days, families both large and small came bearing gifts in an endless stream. Only today did the commotion finally subside.

Lu Tianhong seized the opportunity to invite the Lie family and the master of Treasure Pavilion for a meal.

Though it was called a meal, Qian Santong knew well that Lu Tianhong was probing for information.

As expected—

“Brother Qian, how would you describe our personal friendship?” Lu Tianhong’s expression turned serious.

“Brother Lu, you are one of the few true friends I have,” Qian Santong replied without hesitation.

“Good. Since you regard me as a friend, you must know why the princess intervened this time… Brother Qian, I doubt anyone in the Lu family has enough influence to persuade the princess to speak for us at the imperial capital, to save me, let alone grant us control of Maple Leaf City.” Lu Tianhong pressed on.

Before Qian Santong could answer, the old patriarch of the Lu family spoke as well, “The Wen family is one of the five great families of the capital; their power is unquestionable. For the princess to go against them on our behalf, I simply cannot understand. Master Qian, since you are my son’s close friend, if you know anything, please tell us. Otherwise, our Lu family will never be at peace.”

“I knew you would ask me this today. Since I agreed to come, I am prepared to tell you everything,” replied Qian Santong.

He recounted the entire matter from beginning to end.

The former city lord, Wen Hao, was a direct descendant of the Wen family, the head of the local Wen clan. Eighteen years ago, Wen Hao and Yu Shaobiao, a talented young man from the capital, both fell in love with Shen Die, the daughter of the Sword King, Shen Feng.

The Sword King, Shen Feng, was the only non-royal prince in the capital, a powerful Lord of Earth. While it might be debated who was the strongest among the Lords of Earth in the capital, if one spoke of offensive and destructive power, all would name the Sword King, Shen Feng.

He had only one daughter, whom he cherished deeply. He allowed her to decide her own marriage. In the end, Shen Die chose Yu Shaobiao, who was considered a prodigy at the Royal Academy, though his family background was modest—his father was a merchant.

The Sword King cared little for such things; his only concern was his daughter’s happiness.

Shen Die’s choice left Wen Hao humiliated. He blamed Yu Shaobiao for everything and, a few days before the wedding, invited him for drinks under false pretenses—only to poison the wine, crippling Yu Shaobiao’s legs.

When the Sword King learned of this, he stormed the Wen family, injuring many elders. That battle shook the entire capital.

The Sword King, wielding his long sword, flew to the Wen residence, and with a single sword beam dozens of feet long, split open the Wen family gates.

The Wen family paid a heavy price, enlisting the help of the Lü family—another of the five great families—just to barely fend off the Sword King.

That battle was truly earth-shattering, and it made the capital realize the terror of the Sword King.

The matter eventually alarmed the Retired Emperor, who had been a benefactor to the Sword King. Out of respect, the Sword King heeded his words.

The Wen and Lü families were both among the five great families. The Wen family was determined to protect Wen Hao. Had the Sword King insisted on killing him, chaos would have engulfed the capital.

In the end, the Retired Emperor decreed that Wen Hao would receive a palm strike from him, then be banished from the capital and never return to the Wen family.

Though the Retired Emperor held back, he had to appease the Sword King as well. Thus, that palm left Wen Hao severely wounded, hindering his cultivation ever since.

“…If not for that palm strike,” Qian Santong sighed, “with Wen Hao’s talent, he would not still be stuck at the second level of the Profound Lord Realm.”

“After Wen Hao came to Maple Leaf City, he visited me in secret. He did not want there to be three great families here—he wanted Maple Leaf City to be his alone. After that, I passed the headship to Tianhong and retired into seclusion, knowing that if I did not advance further in cultivation, the City Lord’s Mansion would eventually swallow us up,” said the old patriarch of the Lu family, sighing.

He, too, wished he could, like Lie Zhong, enjoy a small courtyard, play chess, stroll among the family, and watch his grandchildren.

“To exchange an arm for the safety of the Lu family was worth it,” he murmured, looking at his empty sleeve.

Everyone at the table sighed in sympathy—at his age, the old patriarch still had to endure the pain of losing an arm.

“But Master Qian, what does all this have to do with the princess helping our Lu family?” someone asked.

“That is the crux of the matter,” Qian Santong replied. “The current emperor has three sons and one daughter. The eldest prince is obsessed with divination and uninterested in succession. The battle for the crown will be between the second and third princes. In recent years, both have been expanding their influence, but the princess has always been close to the second prince. If, because of the Wen Hao affair, the princess returns and wins the Sword King’s support for the second prince, then half the throne is already his. The Sword King is practically the emperor’s mentor.”

Upon hearing this, both the old patriarch and Lu Tianhong relaxed. If things stood this way, the Wen family would be unable to retaliate openly.

“Ah, such is the way of the world—only strength and cultivation determine everything. If the Lu family had an Earth King among us, even the Wen family would have to think twice,” said Lu Tianhong, clenching his fist.

“Brother Lu, it will not be long before the Wen family learns of this. Once the Sword King hears, he will not stand aside. He has never let go of what happened back then. If not for the Retired Emperor, not only Wen Hao, but even the Wen family head would not have escaped his wrath. So you need not worry about the Wen family’s revenge,” Qian Santong reassured them, knowing what was on Lu Tianhong’s mind.

As one of the capital’s five great families, the Wen family’s power was immense. If they sought revenge for Wen Hao, the Lu family would have no room to resist.

“But as for Young Master Lu, surviving such calamity in the Abyssal Forest and returning stronger than ever, there must have been a stroke of fortune,” Qian Santong remarked meaningfully.

Lu Han’s pupils contracted. “What do you mean by that, Master Qian?”

“Do not misunderstand,” Qian Santong smiled. “You know I’m a businessman. If you have any treasures, bring them to my Treasure Pavilion. I will offer you a fair price.”

So that was all; Lu Han relaxed.

“I do have a few high-grade Yellow-level techniques and martial skills. I’ll bring them to Treasure Pavilion another day.”

He still had Zhang Yuanqin’s storage ring, which contained some high-grade Yellow-level martial skills and techniques. As for the Profound-level Stonewall Art, Lu Han intended to keep it for his family.

“Only high-grade Yellow-level?” Qian Santong sounded a little disappointed.

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