"Have you found that Protector called Lu Yu?"
"He lives in the small courtyard behind Jimin Hall. However, he's often nowhere to be seen during the day and only returns at night."
"Should we send someone to test him and see if he's really discovered any clues?" asked the Gang Leader of the Fierce Tiger Gang, feeling a bit skeptical about what Yang Xiu had said a few days earlier.
Yang Xiu said that the Protector named Lu Yu might have discovered their clues, but they've been hiding in this secret place for so long and haven't seen anyone coming to investigate.
"Test what? Just kill him," said the Gang Leader of the Wild Wolf Gang, a hint of cruelty flashing in his sinister eyes.
He told a Martial Cultivator of the Wild Wolf Gang behind him, "Ma Gang, go to the town and kill him while he's in the courtyard at night."
"Okay," Ma Gang responded, then left this hiding place.
He had been cooped up here for far too long, so he was eager to go out and enjoy himself in town first.
Lu Yu was just a newcomer who had just entered Han's Mansion and started training. No matter how talented he was, he would only be at the third level of Body Refinement at most.
During the last battle, Ma Gang had already broken through to the fifth level of Body Refinement. Killing someone at the third level, like Lu Yu, should be a piece of cake.
...
After Lu Yu practiced for a while, someone came running to tell him that Han Yu was coming to town.
"Miss is coming to town, why are you telling me?" Lu Yu found it odd; Han Yu could come whenever she wanted, what did it have to do with him?
"Miss said she wants to see you, so the Shopkeeper asked me to inform you to prepare for meeting Miss."
See me for what? Lu Yu was even more puzzled now; he had nothing to do with her, why would she want to see him?
However, his current identity was a servant of Han's Mansion, and if Miss Han wanted to see him, he couldn't refuse. After instructing his pet to stay in the courtyard and not come out, he followed the guard to Jimin Hall.
Seeing the Shopkeeper standing at the door looking out, Lu Yu curiously asked, "Shopkeeper, do you know why Miss wants to see me?"
"How would I know? I only just recently got the news that Miss is coming to town."
Alright, since no one knows, he'll just have to wait to find out the reason when he meets Miss Han Yu.
The two stood at the entrance of Jimin Hall, with the Shopkeeper constantly peering at the road leading into town, while Lu Yu leaned against the doorframe, watching the flow of people coming and going outside.
Suddenly, he noticed someone seemed to be watching him. When he focused his attention to look at them, the person in the dark alley had already disappeared.
Lu Yu became cautiously alert, wondering who was surveilling him.
Could it be someone sent by the Divine Weapon Pavilion's Shopkeeper? He shouldn't have exposed his identity, but maybe the repeated times selling iron ingots drew some greed?
Or is it Boss Tang? He had asked a couple of days ago about how much iron it would take to enhance the Hundred Refinement Sword; perhaps it sparked some ideas?
Or just a passerby who noticed his frequent visits to the Divine Weapon Pavilion?
As for whether it was people from the Wild Wolf Gang, Lu Yu thought the possibility was minimal because recently, he hadn't investigated any clues related to them, so why would they target him?
While Lu Yu was contemplating randomly, the pharmacy Shopkeeper saw the Han Mansion entourage appearing at Windmill Town's entrance, quickly stating, "They're here, Miss is here, get ready to welcome."
The crowd lined up in two rows at the pharmacy's entrance, Lu Yu and the Shopkeeper standing at the forefront. When the sedan carrying Han Yu stopped at the pharmacy's entrance, everyone shouted in unison, "Miss, good day."
Han Yu stepped out of the sedan; she was wearing masculine attire that perfectly highlighted her straight figure.
She nodded at the crowd and walked into the pharmacy, heading upstairs.
As she climbed the stairs, she turned around and asked, "Who's Lu Yu? Come up and see me."
This Miss Han sure has a grand presence, traveling by sedan, and faced with her subordinates, she carries a cold demeanor, even the Chief Steward doesn't have such grandeur.
"I am," Lu Yu replied after a small pause, following behind Han Yu's guards up to the second floor.
Seeing that Yang Xiu wasn't with Han Yu today, Lu Yu sighed in relief.
Typically, when Han Yu went out, she always had Yang Xiu protect her closely. Not sure what happened, but today the guards around her were replaced by others.
Gazing at Lu Yu standing before her, Han Yu examined him calmly for a few seconds before speaking, "You don't seem to have anything special. Why does my Uncle and Steward Zhang value you so much?"
Lu Yu didn't reply, quietly watching her while pondering his own thoughts.
Han Yu frowned; Lu Yu's calm demeanor made her a bit uncomfortable. In Lu Yu's eyes, she didn't see the usual reverence others had for her. It was as if she was just a normal passerby to him.
Lu Yu recalled what Steward Zhang had said to him previously. Right, why does Steward Zhang value him? Moreover, from Han Yu's tone, it's not just Steward Zhang, but also her Uncle.
Who is her Uncle? Han Yu's Uncle is Han Yaozu's brother, isn't that Han Yaotong? Even this big shot is interested in him?
Lu Yu felt a little uneasy inside; being under the attention of big shots felt somewhat frightening.
"Hey! Did you hear what I said?" Han Yu asked, noticing the lack of reaction from Lu Yu.
"Yes, I listened carefully," Lu Yu returned to the present and replied quickly. He thought: What did she just say?
"Good, as long as you listened carefully. I'm telling you that you stand no chance; nowhere do you measure up to Brother Yang. Brother Yang is more handsome than you, more graceful than you, smarter than you, more..."
Lu Yu looked at Han Yu with some pity. This poor girl was deceived so miserably by Yang Xiu, would she collapse if she knew the truth?
He could see that Yang Xiu had no feelings for Han Yu at all. He was just using Han Yu to plot for the treasures of the Han family.
Poor Han Yu, caught in the middle of it all, helping Yang Xiu get so much information without even knowing, unaware that her Brother Yang doesn't love her at all.
"So, it's impossible between us." After comparing the Brother Yang in her heart with Lu Yu in every aspect, she said to him.
After saying so much, she felt a little thirsty and picked up the teacup to take a sip of water.
"Yes, you're absolutely right." Lu Yu didn't know what she was talking about, but it didn't stop him from agreeing with Han Yu's thoughts, as long as he didn't offend the eldest daughter of the Han family.
Han Yu nodded in satisfaction after hearing this, but felt something was off again.
Lu Yu's words sounded as if he was disdaining her, like he couldn't wait to have nothing to do with her.
Lu Yu indeed did not want to have any connection with her, not at all.
He just wanted to train quietly, and once he had the strength, go to Celestial Wind Academy to find Su Peng, and ask him what was really going on.
"Are you looking down on me?" Han Yu asked.
"No, absolutely not, how could I? Miss Han Yu is beloved by all, how could anyone look down on Miss Han Yu?" Lu Yu denied repeatedly.
"Hehe~ Your tone clearly says, I look down on you." Han Yu sneered.
Lu Yu was helpless, "Alright, I am indeed looking down on you."
Yes, yes, everything you say is right, you are the eldest daughter of the Han family, whatever you say is right.
Crack~ Lu Yu looked in the direction of the sound, the teacup was already crushed by Han Yu.
Thinking of something happy? So excited that even the teacup was crushed.
Anyway, he didn't need a cup to drink tea, if it broke, it broke, thought Lu Yu indifferently.
"Hehe~" Han Yu sneered twice, stood up, and said: "Let's go, back to the Han mansion!"
Lu Yu stood at the door to see Han Yu off, "Miss, take care, have a smooth journey."
When he was about to turn and leave, the shopkeeper hurriedly grabbed him and asked, "What did you say with Miss upstairs? The Miss doesn't seem in a good mood?"
"How could she be in a bad mood? I saw her smiling when she left, she must be very satisfied."
The shopkeeper let go, feeling a bit speechless, sneering counts as a smile?
Sitting in the sedan chair, the more Han Yu thought about it, the angrier she got. Lu Yu's words didn't even sound like they were refuting her, but why did they sound so provoking?
Taking a step back, the more she thought about it, the angrier she got, Han Yu shouted: "Stop."
She got off the sedan chair and let others carry it back, walking alone towards Windmill Town.
Actually, she usually doesn't travel by sedan chair, but this time she wanted Lu Yu to know the difference in their statuses, so she chose to travel by chair, and had people inform Lu Yu to welcome her at the door.
Lu Yu couldn't even speak properly, talking to him could infuriate her to death, and yet Uncle and Steward Zhang actually wanted her to marry Lu Yu.
He can't even compare to Brother Yang, not as handsome as Brother Yang, not as charismatic as Brother Yang, not as good at chatting as Brother Yang, not as pleasant to listen to as Brother Yang...
The shopkeeper suddenly saw Han Yu appear in the shop, he was shocked and quickly ran out from behind the counter and said, "Miss, why did you come back? Should I call someone to fetch Lu Yu over?"
"No need, don't tell him I'm here, arrange a place for me."
The shopkeeper was a bit confused whether she was here because of Lu Yu, not wanting to see Lu Yu, nor let Lu Yu know she was here.
Sigh~ these matters are not something I should be considering.
Soon the shopkeeper had arranged a place for Han Yu, right across from Lu Yu's small courtyard on the second floor, beside the pharmacy the inn's second floor.
Moreover, he specially chose one where once the window was opened, Lu Yu's small courtyard room was visible.
After sending Han Yu away, Lu Yu took his little follower to go panning for gold. When Han Yu opened the window, there was no one in the courtyard.
By the riverside in Windmill Town, Lu Yu was holding a sack and letting the river wash away the fine sand in the sack, next to him was the little follower squatting, using a magnetic ring to pick out iron essence from the remaining sand.
The little follower worked very cleverly, her hands and feet agile, making Lu Yu's prepared big magnetic ring useless.
Taking the cloth bag from the little follower's hand, he hefted it, nearly three pounds, plus what he hadn't sold before, now he had a total of twelve pounds of iron essence.
He tossed a gold coin to the little follower, every time he panned iron essence, Lu Yu would give her money as her salary.
But up till now, she hadn't spent a single copper coin, every time wandering the streets, it was Lu Yu paying, the gold coin in her hand had too large a denomination, unsuitable for purchasing ordinary goods.
Moreover, the gold coin Lu Yu exchanged for smaller coins, up till now, hadn't even spent one percent, the little follower was too frugal. Every time he told the little follower to buy more, but she just wouldn't spend money.
After a few days of gold panning, Lu Yu's wealth had already surpassed ten thousand, but just now it shrunk by half, Lu Yu was quite pained by this.