Chapter 156: Chapter 156: When Old Deng Makes a Move, You Know

Having successfully slipped away, Lu Wu returned to her residence. The moment she pushed open the door, she saw Uncle Li from next door climbing over the wall.

These days, Uncle Li wasn’t even bothering to pretend anymore.

"I heard there’s a feast tonight?"

Uncle Li sidled over, his intense desire to freeload assaulting Lu Wu’s defenses.

"Yes, Uncle. You should join us."

Uncle Li, who had been waiting for just those words, was satisfied.

Tonight, Lu Wu was preparing a home-cooked meal. The menu and guest list had been decided early on.

In the kitchen, Lu Wu was busy, occasionally glancing toward the courtyard gate.

’This is a bit strange.’

Why hadn’t her Tool People—Numbers One, Two, Three, and Four—arrived yet?

In a residence somewhere in Yuanhai City, Long Zhang was squatting in the restroom, clutching his endlessly gurgling stomach, his face deathly pale.

It didn’t hurt.

But the moment he took a single step out of the restroom, he was struck by the dreadful feeling that he would soil his pants.

"Boss Lu, wait for me!"

Long Zhang was frantic.

With dinnertime drawing ever closer, he was still unable to leave the restroom. Was he really going to miss it just like this?

"Hee hee."

Listening to the commotion inside, Long Zhu covered her mouth and giggled sweetly.

She was preparing to attend the feast in her brother’s place.

She even had her excuse ready.

’He’s feeling unwell, so his little sister is filling in for him.’

’How perfect.’

’Boss Lu, here I come!’

Long Zhu hummed a Sea Clan tune as she walked out. As she passed a corner, a club came down hard on her from behind.

Completely unprepared, Long Zhu was knocked unconscious just like that.

Behind her, Long Zhen caught Long Zhu’s body and carried her into a room to lay her down.

"Little sister, your big brother won this time."

The last time, Long Zhu had played dirty with him. As her older brother, it was only natural for him to return the favor. An eye for an eye—the logic of the Human Clan was always so beautifully simple.

After tucking Long Zhu in with a blanket, a simple, honest smile appeared on Long Zhen’s guileless face.

’Even an honest dragon knows how to use his brain.’

He walked toward the door with a cheerful spring in his step, only to find it closed.

’Did I close the door just now?’

Having had his hands full carrying his sister, Long Zhen figured he’d had a brief lapse in memory. But it didn’t matter.

The feast was waiting for him.

CLANG! CLANG!

After yanking on the door a few times, Long Zhen found that it wouldn’t budge. Even when he used his Spiritual Power, he couldn’t open this ordinary wooden door.

"Who is it?"

It finally dawned on him. Someone had locked him in here.

"Tsk. The kid wants to compete with me?"

The one who had locked him in was Long.

The Dragon King clapped his hands. Listening to the shouts from inside, he felt that fathers always came out on top.

"My dear, wasn’t that well done of me?"

A proud-looking Dragon King sidled up to Queen Zhang, chuckling. "Let’s go. We’re off to the feast."

"You did very well."

"And we should indeed go to the feast. But not ’we.’ ’I’."

Queen Zhang gave the Dragon King a bewitching smile, her captivating eyes flowing with charm.

The mesmerized Dragon King failed to notice the tentacle that Queen Zhang extended from behind her back.

THWACK.

The Dragon King was knocked unconscious by Queen Zhang and fell to the ground.

’Boss Lu only invited our youngest son. With the rest of the family now feeling unwell, it’s only natural for a mother to attend in their place, isn’t it?’

Queen Zhang cast a spell, thoughtfully shielding the Dragon King from the outside chill. Then, lifting the hem of her skirt, she departed leisurely with a long-prepared gift in hand.

...

「At the same time, in the City Lord Mansion.」

Qin Zhan was getting ready to go with Jiang Yunhe to Boss Lu’s residence.

"Old Jiang, are you ready yet?"

There was no response from inside.

The door was ajar. Believing he should give his pal some privacy, Qin Zhan pushed the door open with his eyes closed.

"Old Jiang, hurry up! We’re going to be late."

He called out, unable to hide the joy in his voice. Still, no one answered.

"Damn, you didn’t leave without me, did you?"

At that thought, Qin Zhan quickly opened his eyes, only to lock gazes with Jiang Yunhe, who was trussed up and gagged.

’Oh no, it’s a trap.’

A true brother is one who, upon seeing his bro in mortal danger, immediately runs for it.

"Heh heh heh... The boy reacts quickly, but unfortunately for you, you’re one step too late."

As an ancient voice drifted from the corner, Qin Zhan’s limbs began to feel weak. Before his eyes closed, the only thing he saw was Jiang Yunhe’s furious, disappointed glare.

"Poisonous Woman, you owe me a favor for this."

The Heavenly Wind Taoist sauntered in from outside, and another figure appeared in the room.

It was an old madam, dressed in plain coarse linen, with a full head of white hair. She was unremarkable in appearance, looking like any ordinary old woman.

But in reality, she was the current Valley Master of the Divine Doctor Valley, and also Jiang Yunhe’s master.

"Old Feng, I let you lay a hand on my disciple this time. If tonight’s banquet disappoints me, I’ll make sure every disciple of your Holy Sword Sect is impotent for life."

The threat was truly severe.

For the sake of his own disciples’ future happiness, the Heavenly Wind Taoist was full of confidence.

"Rest assured, I absolutely will not disappoint you."

"Sigh. In the end, it’s because I’m too soft-hearted. I couldn’t bear to do this to my own disciple. If not for that, I wouldn’t have needed to cooperate with you."

The Heavenly Wind Taoist lamented.

In the corner, Jiang Yunhe, who could only lie there and watch the two old geezers conspire, was practically fuming.

’You couldn’t bear to target Qin Zhan, so you came after me instead.’

’Such a respectable senior, yet you act like a common thief.’

The Heavenly Wind Taoist, of course, saw his expression. With a flick of his finger, Jiang Yunhe passed out.

’Good bros. Sleep together.’

’When you wake up, it’ll be a new day.’

"Is everyone taken care of? Let’s go."

At the door, Dan Ji and Cang He Guang had been waiting for a long time.

In another courtyard, Shan Hanzhi and Zhang Yue were lying on the same bed, off in the land of dreams.

The four of them exchanged glances, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

"Alas, it seems the children aren’t fated to enjoy this meal. Let’s go and apologize to Boss Lu on their behalf."

The corners of the Heavenly Wind Taoist’s mouth couldn’t help but curl upward.

"Indeed. That child, Zhang Yue, wasn’t feeling well and insisted that I, the City Lord, go in her stead. Such a polite child is truly a rare sight."

Cang He Guang chimed in.

Then, the group turned into streaks of light and vanished.

In Lu Wu’s small courtyard, Huohuo was on the branches of a plum tree, picking plum blossoms. One by one, the green blossoms were dried with Spiritual Power before falling into a teapot.

The water boiled, and the green blossoms bobbed up and down within it. An elegant tea fragrance filled the small courtyard.

Queen Zhang, who had arrived a step earlier, watched the four people at the gate, her eyes glinting. "You’re also..."

She asked tentatively.

’Why am I sensing the aura of kindred spirits from these powerful figures?’

"In that case, you’re also..."

Cang He Guang raised an eyebrow at Queen Zhang. Their gazes met for a moment, conveying all the necessary information, and they looked at each other and smiled.

"Quickly, quickly, let’s go in together. We mustn’t keep Boss Lu waiting."

"Yes, yes, I can already smell the aroma. Boss Lu’s skills have really improved."

"Look, just Boss Lu’s wok-tossing technique is something we could spend a long time learning."

"Yes, yes. The young people these days are really incredible."

In the kitchen, Lu Wu, spatula in hand, stared at the group of seniors standing at the door who were finding all sorts of creative ways to praise her. Her expression was wooden.

’Wait, where are my Octopus Balls and my handful of tool people?’

’Why is it that everyone who showed up is a big shot I can’t afford to offend?’

"Ahem, please have a seat, seniors. Dinner is served."

Lu Wu gave a humble smile.

It really wasn’t that she lacked loyalty; it was just that her guests were so sweet-tongued and generous that they’d blinded her.

’As for the truth... she decided to let it go.’

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