Inside the Hall of Patriarchs, the current Family Master, Lu Zhengtan, was convening a meeting with patriarchs of the External Clan and hearing reports on their work recently.
Lu Zhengtan was away for a while. As the Family Master, he must have an understanding about the situation of the family.
The Lu Family was wealthy. The entire eastern part of Central Plains was under the influence of the Lu Family where there were many lobes, treasured lands, and farms. The Lu Family being sealed off only meant that disciples of the Lu Family could not get out, not that the Lu Family had forsaken their interests.
Right at this moment, a deacon on internal affairs suddenly walked in and whispered to Lu Zhengtan. He waved his hands and said, "We are all families here. Say your matter openly. There is no need to hide."
Lu Zhengtan didn"t look old actually. He had rosy cheeks and handsome features, albeit his hair was a bit grey. He had big eyes and a hard-lined face. Every movement of him suggested power. There was something about him that made people feel oppressed and were afraid to look at him directly.
The deacon had to report since Lu Zhengtan said so, "Young Master Li left just now. He said… he was sleepy, and he was going to get some rest and that he would come back and meet you in the future."
"What!"
The deacon"s words made the hall boil with clamor. There were many people here. All the patriarchs, except for the Chief Patriarch who was in cultivation, were here. Lu Suan and Lu Ni stood behind Lu Fenghuo. More than a dozen of those people came from the External Clan. There were some important deacons here as well. Altogether, there were 20 or 30 people in here.
How dare Lu Li just go away when Lu Zhengtan wanted to see him? He was defying the Family Master. If everyone was like this, then there was no need for Lu Zhengtan to continue on this role. How could he command the family when he couldn"t even order the family members?
"That b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"
Lu Fenghuo was enraged. Lu Zhengtan was his father. Disrespecting Lu Zhengtan was worse than slapping on his face. He stood up suddenly and said, "Come and grab Lu Li. Put him into prison and wait for our verdict."
Last time, since the Great Patriarch protected Lu Li, Lu Fenghuo didn"t have a chance to vent his anger. Now, Lu Zhengtan was back but Lu Li was still so arrogant? They must teach Lu Li a lesson. Otherwise, they would be having a harder time controlling the Lu Family from now on.
Patriarch Eight and Patriarch Four looked at each other with a bitter smile. Lu Li was such a punk that he made yet another trouble. He had to behave poorly just as Lu Zhengtan came back…
A group of warriors came from outside. They all turned to Lu Zhengtan after they heard Lu Fenghuo"s words. Lu Zhengtan, on the other hand, didn"t seem to be displeased. He stroke his beard with a smile and said, "He is just a kid. Fenghuo, what are you shouting for? I have heard some stories about Lu Li. He has just come back so I think it"s understandable that he is not familiar with our rules. We can spend some time teaching him."
"Family Master, you are wise!"
Patriarch Eight and Patriarch Four stood up and bowed. They were just wondering what could be done. Since Lu Zhengtan said so, they were overjoyed.
The other patriarchs of the External Clan all nodded. This was a Family Master should be like, open-minded. Lu Li was Lu Renhuang"s son after all and the Family Patriarch was still alive.
"Hmm!"
Lu Fenghuo snorted and said, "Lu Li couldn"t provide a single piece of evidence and he didn"t have the King Kong Bloodline. We have not confirmed that he is the son of Lu Renhuang. He is so supercilious already. Won"t he be overweening if and when we confirm his ident.i.ty?"
Lu Zhengtan waved his hands and said, "Uncle Five already said it. He is a disciple of the Lu Family. He must be at least as talented as Lu Renhuang if he could beat Qiu Wenze as a warrior of the Soul Pond Realm, regardless whether he is the son of Lu Renhuang or not. Talented disciples normally are arrogant and rebellious. They have no regard for rules. These are not problems. I have a lot on my plate recently, but later when I meet him in person, I will be teaching him. It will be good for our family if he can grow."
"Sure!"
Lu Fenghuo couldn"t go on with his anger after Lu Zhengtan said so. The several patriarchs looked at each other. They were not fools and they could all read between the lines. There was more to what Lu Zhengtan said.
It was no doubt that Lu Li was a disciple of the Lu Family! Lu Li was talented, which was certain as well.
But Lu Zhengtan was not convinced that Lu Li was Lu Renhuang"s son.
Lu Zhengtan also said Lu Li had no regard for rules and that he would teach Lu Li in person. It was a clear signal—he didn"t like Lu Li. He would also dislike any patriarch that was close to Lu Li.
The master of a family actually was quite similar to a king of a country, especially for a family like this one, the overlord of the eastern Central Plains.
Lu Zhengyang was the Family Patriarch which meant that he practically was the king of the eastern Central Plains. He had been replaced by Lu Zhengtan who was telling others in a subtle way that they must choose their sides cleverly. Otherwise… he wouldn"t be happy.
"Uncivilized man!"
Lu Suan said in a low voice. He and Lu Ni had Lu Fenghuo"s looks. They were handsome and had impressive manners. There was not much shown on their faces. They were standing behind Lu Fenghuo quietly. They only looked at each other and showed a cold smile after Lu Zhengtan said his piece.
What Lu Li and Lu Lin had guessed was right. Lu Suan and Lu Ni did not like Lu Li. They were not narrow-minded per se… but they shouldn"t even really be called bad people even if they treated Lu Li poorly.
It was all about interests!
Lu Li"s return was not in line with their interests. They not only believed that Lu Li was Lu Renhuang"s son, but they were also convinced. They had a theory—Lu Li was sent back by Lu Renhuang in advance to make arrangements. How else would Lu Li be so bold?
When they were not in power, they didn"t know how good it felt.
Now, however, Lu Fenghuo and his sons had tasted the sweetness of power. Having all the resources in the family, Lu Fenghuo and his two sons, Lu Suan and Lu Ni, could have all they wanted and all the treasures would be at their disposal.
When Lu Suan and Lu Ni went away with Lu Zhengtan, the families outside received both of them as if they were the most distinguished grandsons of the Lu Family Master. Many young ladies even wanted to devote themselves to their beds willingly.
Lu Zhengtan had been standing in the shadows of Lu Zhengyang. Everyone and everything was about Lu Zhengyang but n.o.body would throw Lu Zhengtan another look even though the two had similar strengths. However, Family Patriarch was called so for a reason. A Family Patriarch represented not himself, but the entire Lu Family!
Therefore…
Those kinds of disputes were not to be reconciled. Lu Zhengtan had made himself clear. He wanted to teach Lu Li a lesson. At the same time, he wanted to win people over and warn all the other patriarchs that he was the one in control. Taking the wrong side would result in grave consequences.
Patriarch Eight and Patriarch Four looked at each other gloomily. If they continued to be warm to Lu Li, they might be suppressed by Lu Zhengtan and they might lose their status as patriarchs.
"Sigh. If Family Patriarch can wake up, everything can be changed. Too bad…"
Patriarch Eight sighed. In 10 years" time, the situation at the Lu Family had been changed. The Lu Family was different now.
Nothing could be changed back unless Lu Zhengyang woke up. Not even Lu Renhuang could do anything if he came back, not to mention Lu Li.
That was right!
The information Lu Feixue got was right. Lu Zhengyang did go to the South Land of Voodoo. He was badly injured and he was harmed by a terrible kind of voodoo.
He had been sleeping for 10 years now. Many patriarchs, including Patriarch Eight and Patriarch Four, had lost hope for Lu Zhengyang to wake up.
Lu Family thought of many ways and used many treasures, but nothing could make it better. Lu Zhengyang was a powerful warrior. If he couldn"t wake up after 10 years, it was possible that he would sleep for all his life…