Although the Han family estate belongs to Windmill Town, it is not located in the town but rather on the mountainside of Wind Rock Mountain, about twenty miles from the town.
Zhang Lun led the caravan belonging to the Han family estate, guiding everyone towards Windmill Town.
Wind Rock Mountain produces wind rock, a special type of stone that maintains higher hardness than ordinary stone but weighs only one-tenth of the equivalent volume of stone.
It is a widely used rare stone and the main business of the Han family estate. The wind rock submitted to the official government each year alone is worth over a hundred thousand gold.
Presently, the caravan led by Zhang Lun was transporting a batch of freshly mined wind rock.
It wasn't just Zhang Lun; there were several Protectors responsible for escorting the stones, among whom Lu Yu spotted Yang Xiu.
After not seeing Yang Xiu for a long time, Lu Yu couldn't help but recall his previous suspicions.
He quietly moved within the crowd, trying not to draw Yang Xiu's attention.
He lamented in his heart that his strength was still too weak!
He learned from Zhang Lun that Yang Xiu was a Martial Cultivator at the seventh level of Body Refinement.
However, knowing that Yang Xiu might be scheming for something in the Han family estate, Lu Yu cautiously assessed Yang Xiu's strength to be above the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Someone who plays with conspiracy naturally hides his true strength.
The caravan arrived in Windmill Town without any incidents on the way, and Lu Yu left the caravan to carry out new tasks at the location Zhang Lun told him about.
However, he didn't receive a new daily task, which Lu Yu found somewhat regrettable.
But then he thought, given how simple the daily tasks were, they were likely benefits for beginners; now that he's left the beginner's village, it made sense that there were no more daily tasks.
Following the route described by Zhang Lun, Lu Yu found an industry owned by the Han family—Jimin Hall.
Jimin Hall is a pharmacy that sells medicines to treat common people's ailments and also sells elixirs needed for Martial Cultivators' training.
Currently, the one managing Jimin Hall is Manager Zhang. Under Han Yaozu's orders, he came to Windmill Town to investigate the mysterious mastermind behind forces like the Wild Wolf Gang, Blood Saber Association, and Fierce Tiger Gang.
It was also he who arranged for Lu Yu to be here.
"Hello, I'm looking for Manager Zhang," Lu Yu said as he walked into the pharmacy and spoke to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper glanced at Lu Yu and asked, "Are you Lu Yu?"
"Yes."
"Go up the stairs at the back; Manager Zhang is waiting for you upstairs."
Hearing this, Lu Yu walked to the back door of the pharmacy, seeing a staircase leading to the second floor, and went up.
Manager Zhang was sitting in the hall on the second floor, listening to the information his subordinate had collected over this period. He took a sip of tea and turned to see Lu Yu coming upstairs.
He said to the subordinate reporting behind him, "You may leave now."
The subordinate responded and then left the second floor.
Seeing only himself and Manager Zhang left on the second floor, Lu Yu was a bit at a loss. What did Manager Zhang want to do? He hesitated to move from the staircase, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
"Come here, why are you still standing there?"
Lu Yu responded with an "Oh," and walked over to Manager Zhang.
"You've already cultivated to the third level of Body Refinement?" Manager Zhang examined Lu Yu carefully. When he received this news, he was a bit surprised.
He hadn't broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, so he couldn't sense exactly which realm Lu Yu was in unless Lu Yu allowed him to feel it. Then he could determine Lu Yu's Qi Blood level.
Manager Zhang didn't actually want to touch Lu Yu to verify if he was indeed at the third level of Body Refinement as he trusted Han Yaotong's judgment.
"Yes, when I was in danger last night, I suddenly broke through. I didn't expect it either."
Manager Zhang took a sip of tea and said, "Breaking through in the midst of life and death is quite normal. Combat stimulates Qi Blood to boil, especially at critical moments of life and death. When Qi Blood boils to the extreme, a breakthrough is natural."
"This shows that you not only have the talent for cultivation but also for combat; only those with strong will can break through realms in life-and-death situations."
Lu Yu quietly listened to Manager Zhang speak.
"I called you to Windmill Town this time because I have a task for you," Manager Zhang set down the teacup, his expression becoming serious.
"The group of people in black who broke into the Han family estate last night was originally from underground gangs like the Wild Wolf Gang, Blood Saber Association, and Fierce Tiger Gang from Windmill Town. They were all orchestrated by a mysterious mastermind behind recent events at the Han family estate."
"I suspect even Young Master Han Fan's intrusion into the patriarch's study was coerced by this mastermind. After his failure, the mastermind killed Han Fan to prevent him from revealing their identity."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu felt a bit helpless. Not only did I know that Han Fan was killed by the mastermind, I also knew who the mastermind was.
However, he was now contemplating whether to tell Manager Zhang that Yang Xiu was the mastermind.
Based on his judgment, it was impossible for Manager Zhang to collaborate with Yang Xiu to scheme these matters.
However, better safe than sorry. If by any chance, Steward Zhang is in cahoots with Yang Xiu, revealing this would mean getting silenced.
Moreover, now that Yang Xiu has left the Han residence with the team, even if Steward Zhang is not his accomplice, telling him the truth might not lead to capturing Yang Xiu.
If Yang Xiu manages to escape, I would have to live in fear.
It's important to know that Han Fan was killed silently by Yang Xiu in the heavily guarded Han residence, while several body refining realm guards were not far from him.
The Han family would definitely not provide me with personal guards, and whether the guards could withstand Yang Xiu is another matter unless the family is willing to assign a Protector to me.
After thinking through the consequences, Lu Yu decided to wait a little longer and disclose this truth once his strength has increased.
Alternatively, he could use another person's words to convey the message to the Han family, but that would mean missing out on the reward for uncovering the mastermind hiding within the Han residence!
Considering various situations and outcomes, Lu Yu decided not to expose Yang Xiu until he had enough strength.
Thinking of this, Lu Yu felt relieved and quietly listened to the clues collected by Steward Zhang in recent days.
"The underground gangs like the Wild Wolf Gang, Blood Saber Association, and Fierce Tiger Gang were raided by a mysterious masked person a year ago. After this incident, the conflicts between the gangs decreased significantly. I suspect this masked person is the mastermind."
"Combined with the fire that happened last night, it is now certain that there is a traitor in the Han residence; whether this traitor is the masked person remains uncertain."
"However, uncovering the traitor within the Han residence is far more important than tracking down the masked person's whereabouts. I need to go back and find a way to identify the traitor within."
"I called you over because I trust you," Steward Zhang continued, "The task of finding the masked person is entrusted to you."
"If you can find the mastermind behind all these events, with your talent, you would have enough merit for the Patriarch to decide to accept you as an adopted disciple of the Han family, granting you your freedom."
"If you wish to attend the Official Academy for further studies, the Han residence will also fully support you, providing cultivation resources."
"The incidents over the past few days have indeed been a disaster for the Han residence, but for you, this is an opportunity. Seize it, and you can soar to great heights," Steward Zhang advised earnestly.
The Han family desperately needs a genius, a powerful Martial Cultivator to rely on.
Even if he is not of Han blood, as long as he has been favored by the Han family during difficult times, remembering the kindness is a good thing once he becomes strong.
Although Han Yaotong has reached the Qi Control Realm, for the Han family, as a pillar of strength, it is still far from enough.
If possible, by having a powerful person emerge from the Han family, there is still a chance to revive the glory of their ancestors.
Steward Zhang knows how powerful the Han residence once was. He yearns for revival, yearns for strong supporters of the Han family to reclaim all that was lost.
He places the hope of reviving the Han residence on Lu Yu, which is why he values Lu Yu so highly.
Especially after realizing that Lu Yu's talent far exceeded his expectations, he has thought through all subsequent steps to bind Lu Yu to the Han family. Alternatively, bind the Han family to Lu Yu.
Of course, things cannot be enforced. Harsh methods would only backfire, so entrusting Lu Yu with the task of finding the masked person is a way to create an opportunity to bind Lu Yu and the Han residence together.
Accept Lu Yu as an adopted disciple of the Han family, provide Lu Yu with cultivation resources, send Lu Yu to the Official Academy for further studies...
The subsequent steps are all planned out by Steward Zhang. As long as Lu Yu can grow, the Han family has hope for rejuvenation.
Of course, over the years, Steward Zhang has invested in more than one Lu Yu. It's just that Lu Yu is the most talented among those he selected as investments.
After hearing Steward Zhang's words, Lu Yu felt a bit puzzled. Steward Zhang seemed overly good to him.
Giving such a good opportunity and explaining so much, it's like I'm his long-lost illegitimate child…
Shaking his head, Lu Yu cleared the unnecessary thoughts from his mind.
Now sitting on the chair on the second floor, Steward Zhang has already left. Currently, everyone at Jimin Hall listens to him, following the instructions Steward Zhang gave to the subordinates at Jimin Hall before leaving.
Lu Yu poured himself a cup of tea and drank it all in one go, feeling somewhat incredulous.
Just from one trip out, I directly went from a Protector to the head of an important Han family enterprise? The rise in status is simply too great.
Jimin Hall is responsible for the medicine and elixir business and also supplies many of the daily consumed elixirs for the Han residence. It is undeniably important.
Yet such an important enterprise was so easily handed over to him, Lu Yu did not know what Steward Zhang was thinking.
Picking up the teapot, he directly poured the tea into his mouth. Forget it, can't figure it out, just stop thinking.
After putting down the teapot, he went downstairs to ask about his assigned residence. Someone took him through Jimin Hall, to the street behind, to a courtyard specially prepared for people from the Han residence.
A small courtyard, along with a two-story building, was Lu Yu's residence.
After sending the others away, Lu Yu took out a Qi Blood Pill to see the effects of the pill.
As for finding the mastermind, it's an exceptionally easy task for him, only that right now he does not have enough strength to enjoy the benefits and consequences of finding the mastermind.
He popped the Qi Blood Pill into his mouth, chewed it casually a few times, and swallowed it, concluding that the taste is not as good as the Body Refining Pill.
After ingesting the Qi Blood Pill, Lu Yu soon felt his Qi and blood circulate faster, and he started practicing in idle mode.
While practicing the Fierce Tiger Fist in idle, Lu Yu thought about going to buy a sufficiently heavy and strong knife later.