Qingyun County seat!
The previous Qingyun County, because it had suffered a Calamity-level eerie disaster a month ago,
still hasn’t recovered its former hustle and bustle.
However, the Lu Family Pharmacy in the county seat has been providing free diagnosis and treatment to the city’s common people since last month, charging nothing at all.
Of course, these enormous expenses weren’t borne by the Lu family alone.
The county office and most of the wealthy merchants and rich businessmen in the county were also quietly donating a lot of resources to the Lu family.
Under Lu Xuan’s special arrangements, the Baidao Prefecture office continuously shipped all kinds of necessary food and resources to Qingyun County.
Because of these actions, the reputation of Old Master Lu Jiahe, the patriarch of the Lu family, spread wider and wider.
Titles like “practicing medicine to save the world,” “the healer’s heart,” and “highly respected and virtuous” were all heaped upon Lu Jiahe.
Finally, some common folks even wanted to build a temple and gild a statue for Lu Jiahe to show that his deeds were of boundless merit.
Of course, Lu Jiahe didn’t even entertain this shocking idea. He personally stepped in immediately to stop this exaggerated act.
He was just a doctor. How could he be worthy of bearing the incense offerings from a temple and a golden statue?
Even so, it didn’t hinder the growth of the Lu family’s fame at all.
The Lu family’s name was no longer confined to Qingyun County. Even in neighboring Dengfeng County, most people had heard of the Lu family’s deeds.
This also led most wealthy merchants and rich businessmen, as well as officials large and small from various places, to want to marry their daughters into the Lu family, trying to establish a relationship with them.
In the main hall of the Lu family residence, quite a few people had gathered, all of them direct descendants of the Lu family.
Lu Jiahe sat upright with his eyes closed in the main seat, not saying a word. But from the deep frown on his forehead, you could tell he was struggling with something.
Sitting on the chairs on either side in front of Lu Jiahe, besides his second brother Lu Jiaqing, was his elder cousin’s entire family.
To be precise, it was his eldest cousin Lu Jiayong, who had long ago separated from the main family.
And the reason this whole family had come knocking was, of course, because of a huge matter they wanted to beg Lu Jiahe for.
“Jiahe, given your current reputation and standing in Qingyun County, if you just say the word, my unfilial son can escape this death sentence.”
“He’s still young and doesn’t understand. We only have this one son. You don’t want your elder cousin to end up all alone, do you?”
After Lu Jiayong spoke, he signaled to his wife and daughter behind him.
The next moment, Lu Jiayong’s entire family actually knelt down at the same time, kowtowing heavily to Lu Jiahe.
The sound of their kneeling and kowtowing echoed continuously in the main hall.
Every sound of kneeling and kowtowing reached Lu Jiahe’s ears.
These sounds made Lu Jiahe’s heart begin to ache painfully, as if a large hand was constantly squeezing his heart.
However, even so, Lu Jiahe remained unmoved. His closed eyes twitched non-stop beneath his eyelids.
After a moment, a line of hot tears streamed down from the corner of Lu Jiahe’s eye.
“Cousin, please go back.”
“I’m powerless in this matter.”
“I would rather die myself than try to get Yunfei off the hook.”
Lu Jiahe spoke each word slowly, as if using tremendous effort.
Lu Yunfei, as his cousin’s son, had been pampered and spoiled since childhood. They indulged him, letting him do whatever he wanted, satisfying his every need.
This had led to Lu Yunfei having a stubborn and mischievous personality, causing trouble, and acting recklessly without restraint.
But if these things were kept within certain limits, it wouldn’t have led to any major disaster.
However, what no one expected was that ever since the Lu family’s fame and status had risen in Qingyun County,
even the cousins who had separated from the main family, like Lu Jiahe’s cousins, had benefited from this favor.
So, that beast Lu Yunfei actually took advantage of this situation to become even worse, finally creating an unforgivable disaster.
That beast Lu Yunfei, five days ago, along with two sons from major county families, had violated two sisters, the daughters of a small wealthy merchant.
When the two sisters resisted, Lu Yunfei and the other two accidentally killed them.
Upon learning of this, Ye Qingshan flew into a rage and immediately arrested Lu Yunfei and the other two.
Except for Lu Yunfei, the other two were sentenced to beheading by the furious Ye Qingshan, according to the laws of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty.
As for why Lu Yunfei’s sentence hadn’t been carried out yet, it was because his surname was Lu, the same ‘Lu’ as the Lu Family Pharmacy.
So, Ye Qingshan was also in a difficult position, having to see how Old Master Lu Jiahe would choose.
For a beast like Lu Yunfei, who treated human life like grass, Ye Qingshan wished he could get rid of him with his own hands!
If Lu Jiahe wanted to protect Lu Yunfei, then Ye Qingshan would also go against his conscience and not sentence Lu Yunfei to beheading.
“Cousin, Yunfei has been spoiled rotten by you.”
“A few years ago, I mentioned this issue to you, but you always ignored it.”
“A life for a life, paying debts is only right and proper. Don’t you understand these principles?”
“Besides, I am just a commoner. The power to sentence Lu Yunfei lies solely with the County Magistrate in all of Qingyun County.”
“So, Cousin, please take your family and go back. Your younger cousin is powerless in this matter!”
After saying the last sentence, Lu Jiahe stood up, opened his eyes, and his pupils were bloodshot.
If it were any other trivial matter, he, Lu Jiahe, would have swallowed his pride and helped his cousin for sure.
But when it came to something as inhumane as this, Lu Jiahe still had his conscience and absolutely would not cover up for the murderer.
“Jiahe, our whole family is kneeling and begging you!”
Seeing Lu Jiahe resolutely reject him, Lu Jiayong quickly stood up, his face panicked, unable to believe that Lu Jiahe would refuse his request.
“Jiahe, your heart is so cruel. Yunfei called you uncle when he was little, and now you want to watch Yunfei get sentenced to death?”
“If Yunfei dies, I will have no descendants.”
“Jiahe, you know, I lost the ability to have children years ago. Yunfei is my only son.”
“How can I face my dead father? Like that, even if I die, I will die with my eyes open, unable to rest in peace!”
Faced with Lu Jiayong’s various accusations, Lu Jiahe’s face suddenly turned pale. An invisible stream of heat flowed backward and counter-current within Lu Jiahe’s body.
The next moment, the corner of Lu Jiahe’s mouth was slowly stained red by dazzling, bright blood, which then slowly trickled out.
Lu Jiahe had suffered a seizure of extreme anger, causing some blood to reverse and come out of his mouth.
“Father!”
“Are you okay? Please sit down.”
Seeing this, Lu Yunan, who had been silently watching from the side, suddenly became frantic.
Like a startled bird, he sprang up, wanting to go forward and support Lu Jiahe.
Just at this critical moment, the abnormality within Lu Jiahe’s body inadvertently triggered the Gang Yuan power that Lu Xuan had left inside Lu Jiahe.
Lu Jiahe’s eyes flashed with a purple light, and his whole body suddenly radiated a dazzling brilliance.
A purple Gang Yuan protective shield, radiating a terrifying aura, enveloped Lu Jiahe’s entire body.
As soon as this purple Gang Yuan protective shield appeared, it immediately isolated Lu Jiahe from the surrounding space. Even Lu Yunan couldn’t get close or touch him.
Lu Jiayong’s entire family was deeply startled by this strange scene, forgetting even what they were about to say next.
Especially Lu Jiayong, who was himself a martial artist who had practiced martial arts.
Although he was only at the Body Tempering realm, Lu Jiayong could still feel the terrifying nature of that purple Gang Yuan protective shield.
However, this scene only lasted for a few breaths. Then, that purple protective shield gradually shrunk back into Lu Jiahe’s body.
And nourished by that purple Gang Yuan protective shield, Lu Jiahe’s physical discomfort vanished without a trace. He even felt strangely refreshed and clear-headed.
Was it the power left by Xuan’er?
Feeling that mysterious warm current inside his body, Lu Jiahe finally felt some comfort.
Opposite Lu Jiahe, Lu Jiayong looked at him with eyes full of boundless envy and jealousy.
Others might not know, but he, Lu Jiayong, knew it very well.
The Lu family’s true strength and foundation lay in Lu Jiahe’s most outstanding and astonishing eldest son, Lu Xuan!
Thinking about how his own son was that kind of wretched creature, while his cousin’s sons were each more exceptional than the last,
it truly showed that the gap between people was as vast as that between heaven and earth.
“Sigh, Cousin, things have come to this point. You already understand my resolve.”
“Don’t mention this matter again!”
Hearing this, Lu Jiayong felt like his heart was dead, his face pale, not a trace of blood visible.
He knew that in the county town, Lu Jiahe was his son’s only hope.
If Lu Jiahe was unwilling to plead for mercy, then his son would be sentenced to beheading just like those two others!
No!
I cannot become the sinner of the Lu family.
Otherwise, even if I die, I won’t die satisfied!
With this thought, Lu Jiayong seemed to think of another way to make amends. A glimmer of hope reappeared on his face.
“Jiahe, since that’s the case, I won’t force you anymore.”
“Can you give Yunfei one month? I want him to leave behind a child!”
As he spoke, Lu Jiayong prostrated himself at Lu Jiahe’s feet, gripping Lu Jiahe’s thigh tightly, completely disregarding his dignity as a man.
Seeing his elder cousin in such a miserable and wretched state, Lu Jiahe couldn’t make a decision right away.
Lu Yunfei was currently locked up in the county jail. Without the permission of County Magistrate Ye Qingshan, no one could see him.
Moreover, in Lu Jiahe’s eyes, Lu Jiayong’s request was equally difficult to decide upon.
At that moment, the main hall became eerily quiet. Only Lu Yunfei’s biological mother remained kneeling there, sobbing softly.
Lu Jiahe stood there, lost in thought, pressing his right hand firmly on the table beside him as if to support himself.
Just then, outside the main hall entrance, the space inexplicably twisted and deformed.
Along with a flash of dazzling purple light, a figure suddenly appeared outside the entrance, as if stepping out from an unknown time and space.
The first person to notice the person who had suddenly appeared outside the entrance was Lu Yunan, who was standing by, at a loss.
Seeing the man outside the door, Lu Yunan’s eyes widened hugely.
He was completely frozen in place as if under a immobilization spell, unable to move.
“B-b…big brother?” Lu Yunan’s voice trembled slightly as he looked incredulously at the man outside the door.
Yes, the person who had appeared outside the door was none other than Lu Yunan’s elder brother, the young master of the Lu Family Pharmacy, Lu Xuan!
Before Lu Yunan could recover from his shock, he dashed out the door.
At this moment, Lu Jiahe, who hadn’t yet made a decision, suddenly noticed Lu Yunan’s strange behavior and followed his direction.
This look instantly struck Lu Jiahe like lightning, freezing him in place. His eyes were filled with disbelief.
“Xuan’er!”
He spoke these two words almost trembling, his voice laced with an indescribable joy.
Lu Xuan casually looked around. Seeing the kneeling people, he slightly raised an eyebrow.
However, he didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he spoke to Lu Jiahe first.
“Father!”
“It’s me!”
“Good! Good! Good!”
Seeing Lu Xuan, Lu Jiahe said “good” several times in a row, a heartfelt joy shining through.
Meanwhile, Lu Jiayong, who had been clutching Lu Jiahe’s leg, saw that Lu Xuan had returned.
His expression immediately became tense and uneasy. He quickly let go and stood back up, not daring to speak anymore.
“Big brother!”
Lu Yunan finally reached Lu Xuan and shouted excitedly.
“Hmm,” Lu Xuan nodded slightly in response, then without any pause, changed the subject.
“What happened?”
He was still very familiar with these kneeling people.
Over the years, although Lu Xuan had been hiding within the Lu family, diligently cultivating martial arts, he had still had the chance to see them.
He had to address Lu Jiayong as “Uncle”!
But now, his uncle’s entire family was kneeling on the ground.
Lu Xuan didn’t need to think to know that something huge must have happened.
Hearing Lu Xuan’s question, Lu Yunan didn’t hesitate and quickly explained everything.
However, after Lu Yunan finished speaking, the smile on Lu Xuan’s face gradually faded, and his expression became calmer and calmer.
That scoundrel Lu Yunfei had indeed caused a huge disaster, doing something so outrageous that gods and men would despise it.
Five or six years ago, because of Lu Yunfei’s temperament, Lu Jiayong wanted to hand him over to Lu Xuan for guidance.
As a result, Lu Xuan showed no mercy. Whenever Lu Yunfei dared to do something excessive, Lu Xuan would simply and ruthlessly take action.
Talking more was useless. Breaking a bone or two was the best way to teach a lesson!
It’s just that this teaching method of Lu Xuan’s truly terrified Lu Jiayong and his wife. They took Lu Yunfei back that very night.
What a pity. If Lu Jiayong and his wife hadn’t been so soft-hearted back then, Lu Xuan would have already corrected that scoundrel Lu Yunfei’s character.
Lu Xuan looked coldly at Lu Jiayong and spoke expressionlessly.
“Fine. I’ll give you one month. After this matter is settled, you are never allowed to set foot here again.”
His father certainly couldn’t bring himself to do something that went against his conscience like this, but Lu Xuan didn’t mind.
Lu Xuan never explained his actions to anyone.
Besides, after helping them, their family bond ended there. From now on, this family of theirs could not come seeking help from Lu Jiahe again.
