Chapter 7: Big Fight (1)

Luo Zheng was excited, and he could not sleep at all; if ever he did, it was only a mere two hours, but he was still full of energy and vigor.

Early in the morning, a servant of the Luo Clan unlocked the cellar and put a chain on Luo Zheng before bringing him out.

After entering the Bone Refining Stage, there was a qualitative change in his body. It was hard to pinpoint in words. Though subtle, the change could be noticed in his movements. His gait was more relaxed, coordinated, and more labor-saving.

If it hadn't been for the d.a.m.ned shackles that limited his movements, he could have made a run for it.

Under the lead of his servants, Luo Zheng discovered something wrong with the path he walked on; instead of the Martial Arts Hall, the servant brought him elsewhere.

The entire Luo Clan occupied an enormous amount of s.p.a.ce, yet it was orderly. In addition to the Martial Arts Hall, the clan had a Business Pavillion, Hundred Herb Garden, and the Refining Workshop. Everything was orderly and built in the vestibule part of the residence.

Luo Zheng looked around. He remembered this path led to the inner place of the Luo Clan. It was as if the servants were taking him to the backyard of the Luo Clan.

Luo Zheng frowned slightly and wrinkled his brows, but he uttered not a single word, waiting to see what would happen.

It had been a long time since he had been to the Luo Clan's backyard. He quietly observed the changes in his surrounding as he walked. It had changed a lot, especially the clan's second and third houses. A few pavilions had been built. There was even a small pond with a small bridge running across it.

The craftsmans.h.i.+p of the new buildings was exquisite. Each new building had high roofs supported by an intricately carved dancing dragon made of gold. It glimmered under the early morning sun.

Seeing what his second and third uncle had done to the place, Luo Zheng could not help but sigh. For a cultivator, glory and wealth should be the last thing in their minds. If a clan like his were content only with present glory and wealth, pursuing nothing any further, the future of the clan would only end in bitterness.

It would be ruined--ruined by his second and third uncle.

After the servant guided Luo Zheng through a garden with a pond, he was then brought to a narrow pa.s.sage that led to a second yard.

There, he saw two people sitting across from each other drinking tea. They were happy.

Luo Zheng looked over and saw one of them was the steward who had disappeared for two days. The other person was an old man in his fifties dressed in vibrant, satin clothing. This old man, he was named Huang Ge. He was once a servant of the Luo Clan at one point.

Huang Ge's wife was employed as a wet nurse, a woman hired to suckle another woman's child, to Luo Zheng's uncle's eldest son, Luo Cheng. As Huang Ge worked for them, fawning every chance he had, his status as a steward rose, now t.i.tled as a senior steward.

And now that his second and third uncle took control of the Luo Clan, Huang Ge's status rose ever more, his arrogance higher than ever. He did not even put the branch members of the clan in his eyes.

Luo Zheng had long heard of his arrogance.

Before Luo Zheng had the chance to enter, he heard Steward Fang say, "Master Huang, this house awarded to you if of a true masterpiece. If I'm not wrong, the jade dragon carved on the door plaque is made from corundum seed, right?"

Huang Ge chuckled. "Only you would notice this kind of things. If you look carefully, you'll find that there are other treasures aside from this jade dragon. Look at the glazed roof designed with encaustic tiles, the copper lion made from the best craftsmen of Chongyang County…"

Steward Fang appraised each of the artifacts one by one. He clicked his tongue and said, "Master Huang, your courtyard is perfect, but it lacks something."

"I have everything here. What else can I lack?" Huang Ge replied complacently.

Steward Fang smiled. "You're short of hands and feet; you lack capable servants to take care of you. You need someone smart and hardworking, someone knowledgeable enough to help you with your daily diet. I have just the right person for you!"

"Really? Who is this person?" Huang Ge asked curiously.

Steward Fang pointed at the entrance of the courtyard. "Master Huang, look!"

Huang Ge's eyes followed Steward Fang's finger and saw Luo Zheng's figure. He quickly coughed. Standing in handcuffs was the former young master of the Luo Clan. How could he not recognize this person?

Luo Zheng stood at the entrance of the courtyard, listening on to Huang Ge and Steward Fang's conversation without missing a beat. Anger welled up in his heart, blood boiling to the core. How dare these dogs take such liberties? They were too presumptuous!

Though he had been demoted to a mere slave, Steward Fang had no right to offer him as a servant to Huang Ge. Even ordinary branch disciples dared not to be unreasonable in front of him. After all, he was the eldest son of the oldest branch in the Luo Clan. Moreover, Huang Ge was not a Luo!

This steward had the gall to urge Huang Ge to take him in as a servant and pour tea for him? Impossible!

Huang Ge sized up Luo Zheng with a pair of sinister eyes. A malicious spile soon formed on his wrinkled face. "Employing this kid to take care of my diet is not a bad idea. But I don't know if Master Cheng would approve of this."

"Don't worry Master Huang. You manage all the affairs of the Luo Clan, after all. You can easily send Luo Zheng over from the Martial Arts Practice Hall and into your residence with just a word. He's but an insignificant slave. Being beaten up every day, how comfortable would it be to be a servant here? At most, his worst job would be cleaning fecal matter." Steward Fang smiled at the thought of that.

Huang Ge nodded to show his agreement.

For someone like Huang Ge who climbed from the bottom up, what he wanted most was recognition and status. It was indeed an interesting proposal to have the former eldest young master of the Luo Clan personally pour a chamber of pot for him.

"You won't regret it!" Steward Fang nodded and stood up to call his servants to escort Luo Zheng in.

However, Luo Zheng stood rooted on the spot. He did not move an inch even under the tugging of the servants.