Under One Person: The Seeker of the Dao in the Lü Family

Chapter 47 The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain, Subduing Demons in the Year of Jiazi

Inside the Zhenwu Hall of Wudang Mountain

At this moment, the sun was shining brightly outside, and the brilliant sunlight shone into the hall through the open door, illuminating the entire space.

Inside the main hall, five people stood facing each other.

Zhou Meng stood with his hands clasped behind his back against the offering table, while Daoist Yunlong, wrapped in bandages, sat in a wheelchair.

The two of them looked at the three members of the Lü family opposite them in silence, or more precisely, at Lü Qian, who was hiding behind Lü Ci.

"Haha, Brother Zhou Meng, we're all family, so let's not stand on ceremony. Lü Qian thanks you Wudang for your guidance."

With a smile on his face, Lü Ci stepped in front of Lü Qian, blocking the view of the two Wudang members.

He looked down at Zhou Meng, who was barely taller than the offering table, bent down, and said kindly, "Don't worry, I'll give this child a good talking-to when I get back. Honestly, he doesn't know how to respect his elders at all."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Yunlong, who was sitting silently in the wheelchair, and then said, "Yunlong Daoist's injury will be covered by our Lü family. Xiao, remember to send the best medicine from the clan's storeroom to Wudang Mountain as soon as possible in a couple of days."

After saying that, he looked at Zhou Meng again, "Brother, in the end, it's my Lu family's fault for being dishonest. How about this, you give me the bill for the martial arts arena as well, and my Lu family will contact someone to start construction immediately, and I guarantee that you will get a venue that is even better than before."

Lu Ci's usually intimidating old face was now full of kind smiles, and his usually sharp tongue was now uttering only gentle concern.

The long scar running down his face was hidden in the folds of his face.

If Zhou Meng weren't short, and if Lü Ci had forced himself on Zhou Meng's shoulder, which would have been seen as humiliating, Lü Qian had no doubt that he would have put his arm around Zhou Meng's shoulder and become his sworn brother.

Even so, Lü Ci bent down, trying to make himself appear sincere.

Zhou Meng tilted his head slightly to watch Lü Ci's performance, his lips twitched twice, and he gave a passable smile.

"You're too kind, Patriarch Lü. Let's proceed as you suggested, except for this Lü Qian..."

"Don't worry, brother. I will definitely take this Lü Qian back to the Lü family and discipline him properly, so that this brat will know what it means to respect his teacher!"

Before Zhou Meng could finish speaking, Lü Ci waved his hand and patted his chest to assure him.

Zhou Meng felt completely uneasy watching the once cold and aloof Lü Ci transform into this drastically different persona.

"Just as Patriarch Lü said, Lü Qian's trip down the mountain was arranged in advance. Although he is going down the mountain in a hurry, with Patriarch Lü's help, he should be able to make thorough preparations."

As he spoke, Zhou Meng turned around, picked up a blue cloth bundle from the offering table, and threw it to Lü Qian.

"Young man, here is your ordination certificate and credentials. After you go down the mountain, you can first travel around the north and visit the various Quanzhen sects, and then head south. First, go to Longhu Mountain to pay your respects to the Celestial Master, and then visit the various Zhengyi sects. Cultivation cannot be limited to just one sect, and you cannot just focus on walking with your head down."

He smiled kindly and gave Lü Qian some instructions on the precautions for traveling.

"Alright, it's getting late, and the tourists will be arriving soon. I won't keep you any longer."

As Zhou Meng watched the sunlight gradually extend from the ground towards the offering table, he turned and pushed Yunlong's wheelchair toward the back of the hall.

"Waaaaah—"

"Kid, your master told you to be careful on your journey."

"Waaah—"

"What? I'm too old to hear clearly."

Along the way, Master Yunlong moved slowly in his wheelchair, making whimpering sounds. Zhou Meng translated as he pushed him towards the back of the mountain.

"Grand Tutor, Master, please take care!"

Lu Qian slung the bundle across his body and kowtowed three times in the direction Zhou Meng and Yunlong had left.

"Alright, Grandpa, let's go."

After performing the grand ceremony, Lü Qian stood up abruptly from the ground, dusted off his knees, and turned to walk out of the hall.

Lü Ci and his son followed them out of the main hall and walked down the mountain path.

Along the way, the number of tourists gradually increased, and they walked up the mountain path in twos and threes.

Wearing a Taoist robe and shoes with the ten directions on them, and with a blue cloth bundle slung across his body, Lü Qian walked step by step down the stone steps towards the foot of the mountain.

He silently walked against the flow of people from the Zhenwu Hall all the way to the stone archway at the foot of the mountain.

He looked up at the stone archway, then took another step and silently crossed it.

A Taoist priest descends from Wudang Mountain, cleansing himself of worldly dust.

Lü Ci and Lü Xiao followed behind him, remaining silent the entire way.

Upon arriving at the foot of the mountain, Lü Qian followed Lü Ci and the other person to the accommodations arranged by the Lü family.

"Grandpa, you seem down. Has something happened at home?"

Upon entering, Lü Qian ignored Lü Ci and Lü Xiao and plopped down on the sofa in the main seat.

Seeing Lü Qian's completely unreserved demeanor, Lü Ci rolled her eyes with a smile and then sat down opposite him.

Lü Xiao hesitated and stood behind Lü Ci, not daring to sit on equal footing with Lü Ci like Lü Qian did.

"snort!"

Seeing Lü Xiao cowering like a quail, Lü Ci snorted coldly and turned away, no longer looking at him.

"How do you know it's something wrong at home? Could it be that I, an old man, am reluctant to spend the money I just spent today?"

His face lost its amiable demeanor from the mountains, turning cold and ruthless once more. The eye hidden behind the scar was tightly closed, and he exuded a chilling aura.

"You little brat, you've really got some nerve, daring to hit your master now!"

"Should I say you're highly skilled, or that you're incredibly cunning?"

He made a sarcastic remark to Lü Qian, who was sitting sloppily across from him.

"Hey, I was thinking that I would cause some trouble when I went down the mountain, so that he wouldn't worry and come down the mountain to bring me back. That's why I came up with this plan to let Master Yunlong rest for a while."

"Alright, let's not change the subject. Grandpa, something big has happened at home, let me guess."

As he spoke, Lü Qian glanced at Lü Xiao, who was cowering behind Lü Ci with his head down. "The way Master Xiao looks today, it seems something must have happened to his branch of the family?"

Recalling the plot in his mind, Lü Qian guessed that Lü Huan and Lü Liang's affair must have come to light.

For the past six years, he has stayed in Wudang Mountain and has not returned to the Lü family, single-mindedly pursuing his own path of cultivation.

When Lü Ci came to visit him on the mountain once, he mentioned it briefly, but didn't take the rest to heart.

What does it matter to him whether others live or die!

Thinking of this, Lü Qian leaned back on the sofa and said rather lazily, "Let me think, could it be that someone died, cutting off Master Xiao's future path?"

Lu Qian's words made Lu Xiao tremble all over, and he stood shakily at the back, not daring to move.

Lü Liang and Lü Huan are his grandson and granddaughter. If something happens to them, he, as their grandfather, will not only be ashamed, but will also bear responsibility for his inadequate supervision.

Lu Ci looked at Lu Qian and said coldly, "The incident from a couple of days ago hasn't been long ago. Taking advantage of my absence from the village, you've stirred up this mess."

"snort!"

"Some say Lü Liang killed Lü Huan. Lü Qian, what do you think?"

Lu Qian lay on the sofa and pointed to himself, "Me? I'll sit and watch!"

"As for the claim that Lü Liang killed Lü Huan? That's highly unlikely!"

"Although I don't live in the village, I still have some impression of the character of those brothers and sisters."

"You can let Lü Liang steal chickens and do some petty thievery, but to actually turn against his own family and kill his sister in the village you govern?"

"I don't think he has the guts. After all, you are the emperor of the family. Life and death, taking away authority, are all decided by your word."

"Of course, they say children change a lot at eighteen. If he suddenly becomes wicked and his mind goes blank, then I'll disregard that."

Lu Qian shrugged. "We should kill this fool as soon as possible to uphold the clan's moral standards."

Lu Ci sneered twice. "Some people say he's jealous of Lu Huan's talent in the Soul-Brightening Technique. What do you suggest we do about that?"

"How would I know? I've been holed up in the mountains for the past few years. Of course, if that were true, while I was still alive, Lü Liang would have been brutally mutilated in front of the whole village!"

Lu Qian's eyes changed, becoming cold and ruthless. "Our Lu family internally determines status through force. In each generation, the strongest people basically control the power."

"This may seem cold-blooded, but it's the optimal solution!"

"To outsiders, these strongest individuals can use their fists to bring more resources and wealth to the family, allowing the family members to live a better life."

"Internally, these strongest individuals are also the shapers and referees of the next generation's order in the village. They determine a relatively fair competitive environment for the next generation, ensuring that the selected next generation are also the strongest."

"Through this cycle of internal and external interaction, the Lü family has gradually grown stronger and solidified its position in the world of supernatural beings."

"If Lü Liang really harms Lü Huan because of this, then he'll break the rules. Grandfather, as long as I'm safe, you won't let him get away with it!"

"Hahahaha... The successor is here! The successor is here!"

As Lü Ci laughed loudly at Lü Qian, he slapped his thigh forcefully and pointed at Lü Qian, saying, "I want you to do it!"

Lu Qian was taken aback, then pointed to himself, "Me?"

Realizing what was happening, Lü Qian waved his hand and said, "Alright, it's just a matter of killing someone."

"No, it's not one person."

Lu Ci stopped what he was doing, looked at Lu Qian from behind his bangs with his other eye, and said mysteriously, "This is a trial I arranged for you."

"I let Lü Liang go, and as I expected, he joined Quanxing."

"Hey! You weren't wrong, kid. He's been a true 'All-Sex Seed' since he was a child."

"These past two days, the matter of Lü Liang has stirred up a storm in the industry, affecting the Lü family."

"Who would have thought that someone from one of the four families would openly join the Quanxing Sect!"

At this point, Lü Ci's mouth stretched to his ears, and his frosty expression made people break out in a cold sweat.

"Thump!"

Lu Xiao knelt directly behind Lu Ci and kowtowed to his father, Lu Ci, without getting up.

"snort!"

Without even glancing at Lü Xiao, whose body was trembling like a leaf, Lü Ci turned his head to look at Lü Qian again.

"Even if you have to search the entire Quanxing Sect, you must bring Lü Liang back to me!"

"I'm afraid I'll have to kill quite a few people on this trip. Are you sure you can handle it, sir?"

Lu Qian was taken aback for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he looked at Lu Ci with great interest, asking a question out of the blue.

Looking at Lü Qian's somewhat erratic behavior, Lü Ci nodded with satisfaction. "I can't cover for you, but someone else will!"

He pointed upwards, "They've been developing better and better these past two years, and the company's influence has gradually grown. They've encountered a problem, which can be described as a problem that has been left over from our land for thousands of years."

"All Sects!"

Lu Qian's answer made Lu Ci nod, "We members of reputable families have to make a living, we manage our own affairs, and we haven't caused any major trouble that the company has to deal with, so they naturally turn a blind eye to us."

"But the Quanxing are different; they do whatever makes them happy."

"In the past two years, the company has lost a lot of manpower due to the Quanxing incident, and a lot of the company's energy has been spent on calming down the turmoil caused by Quanxing."

"Sometimes, they need Quanxing as a dumping ground to help them balance their power and find excuses to take on trouble."

"But the current Quanxing is beyond the company's control. Last time, the company called on the entire community of supernatural beings to purge Quanxing."

"This also gives us a reason and a justification to take action."

"The company is very pleased to see scions of prominent families like yours and disciples of Wudang descend the mountain to uphold justice."

"I'll take care of things for you, then you can focus on using your skills and protect yourself."

Lu Ci poured himself and Lu Qian a cup of tea. "With your current cultivation level that defeated Yunlong, you can still run away even if you can't win."

"good!"

Lü Qian took the teacup handed to him by Lü Ci and took a full sip.

"Then I'll do a [Jiazi Demon Slayer] too!"