Chapter 52: Confrontation in Unison

"Knock! Knock!"

Just as Lu Sheng was pondering what information he could reveal and what terms he should propose, a sudden knocking sounded from outside.

"Master, Lady Murong Yu of the Fire God Sect, Divine Son Duanmu Yun, Martial Master Duanmu Qun, and An Guoyan, the head of the Snow Eagle Branch, have come together to pay their respects!"

An attendant entered the room and reported to Guan Yingfan.

"Four martial masters? That means all the martial masters of the Fire God Sect in Snow Eagle City have gathered here!"

Guan Yingfan frowned. When he had invited Lu Sheng into the Four Seas Trading Hall, he had already anticipated that Murong Yu might pursue him upon hearing the news. To him, this was an excellent opportunity to highlight the Murong clan's regard for their longstanding feud with the Lu Hun clan, and it also allowed him to extend a favor to Lu Sheng.

"Still, I didn’t expect the Duanmu clan to get involved as well—"

"Perhaps An Guoyan instigated it, hoping to use this as leverage against me!"

In the past, the Four Seas Trading Company had two resident martial masters in Snow Eagle City. Compared to the Fire God Sect, which had only one, they were the stronger force. Now, with the other martial master of the Four Seas Trading Company away, Murong Yu, Duanmu Yun, Duanmu Qun, and An Guoyan had all come together—there was no denying the pressure they sought to exert.

"Brother, we've been talking for so long, and I still don’t know your name!"

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Guan Yingfan looked at Lu Sheng and suddenly had an idea—regardless of the visitors’ intentions, he would use this as an opportunity to confer a favor upon Lu Sheng. The Four Seas Trading Company had gained countless debts of gratitude through such means in the past. Many, even if they understood, had no choice but to accept.

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"My name?"

"You may call me Lu Hun. After all, I am the last of the Lu Hun clan—"

"And soon, I will return to my ancestral family!"

When the Fire God Sect’s people arrived at the entrance of the Four Seas Trading Hall, Lu Sheng already knew of their arrival through his Heart-Control Gu and had begun considering his response. Hearing Guan Yingfan’s question now, he instantly understood the man’s intent.

"Some things, even when one understands, cannot be avoided."

He had originally planned to rely on the Four Seas Trading Company to withstand the pressure from the Murong clan, so he followed Guan Yingfan’s lead and replied with feigned melancholy—

His words not only acknowledged that he was a descendant of the Lu Hun clan, but also expressed his intent to return to his ancestral roots.

"Lu Hun?"

Guan Yingfan seemed surprised by Lu Sheng's sudden admission and that he had directly taken his clan name as his personal name. He paused before saying:

"That’s a fine name!"

"It keeps your ancestral surname in mind and suits your return to your family—"

"It bridges past and future!"

He praised the name as though it were truly exceptional, then continued, "Brother Lu Hun, the descendants of the Murong clan have arrived outside. Would you like to meet them?"

"The Murong clan?"

Lu Sheng frowned. "I know there’s some old resentment between the Murong and Lu Hun clans, but I don't know the details."

"Would you be willing to enlighten me on these matters, Master Guan?"

"You don’t know the details? Your ancestors never passed them down?"

Guan Yingfan was puzzled. However, before Lu Sheng could answer, he seemed to realize something and said with understanding, "Ah, perhaps the Lu Hun clan considered the feud with the Murong clan already settled. Your ancestors likely felt it unnecessary to burden future generations with it, and so nothing was passed down."

Saying this, he instructed the messenger, "Have the managers show the Fire God Sect’s party around for a while. Tell them I’m bathing and dressing, and will join them shortly."

He then had preparations made for a bath and ordered, "Bring the records of the Lu Hun clan and the deeds of Lu Hun Xuan for Brother Lu to review!"

Using his bath as an excuse, he was actually giving Lu Sheng time to learn about his clan’s history and its old grievances.

"Thank you, Master Guan!"

"And if you could prepare a copy of the Murong clan’s history and their surviving prominent figures as well."

Lu Sheng was not the least bit reserved. After this long conversation, he had come to understand Guan Yingfan somewhat. Though his cultivation was not remarkable, his conduct was the epitome of a shrewd merchant.

Merchants, without enough profit or certainty, would never offend others lightly. But when the benefits were sufficient, they would not hesitate to take risks—

Now, the information Lu Sheng possessed about the sixth-grade snow lotus was more than enough to make Guan Yingfan take that risk.

"For now, as long as the people of the Four Seas Trading Company believe I’m useful in finding the sixth-grade snow lotus, they’ll agree to almost any demand I make."

"And they’ll surely bear the pressure from the Murong clan for me!"

With these thoughts, Lu Sheng formed a plan.

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"Master Guan, how long do you intend to leave us waiting outside while you discuss matters privately with the last of the Lu Hun clan?"

In the room, just as Lu Sheng finished reading about the history of the Lu Hun and Murong clans, researching his great-grandfather’s deeds and learning about the surviving prominent figures of the Murong clan, a clear, melodious female voice rang out as the door was thrown open.

Without waiting for Guan Yingfan’s instructions, Murong Yu, Duanmu Yun, Duanmu Qun, An Guoyan, and several managers of the Four Seas Trading Company all entered one after another.

"Miss Murong, Young Master Duanmu, Martial Master Duanmu, Hall Leader An—may I ask what brings the four of you here?"

Blocking the managers from delivering their reports, Guan Yingfan stood and spoke. There was not a trace of anger at being interrupted, nor any embarrassment at deceiving his guests—

For a merchant, such things were simply routine!

"And you ask why we are here?"

"Master Guan, do you truly not know?"

Completely ignoring Guan Yingfan’s words, Murong Yu fixed her gaze on Lu Sheng, who was still reviewing the records of the Murong clan’s powerful figures, and said coldly:

"Descendant of the Lu Hun clan, do you intend to hide in here forever?"

Her voice carried a hint of suppressed fury.

Earlier, in the Snow Eagle Branch of the Fire God Sect, when she heard a report that Guan Yingfan of the Four Seas Trading Company had invited the martial master suspected of being Lu Hun Xuan’s descendant to their hall, she immediately realized her mistake:

The man she had met at the city gate was not merely suspected of being Lu Hun Xuan’s descendant—he truly was.

Otherwise, the people of the Four Seas Trading Company would never have invited him!

Because of this, Murong Yu had rushed to the Four Seas Trading Hall without a moment’s delay.

Duanmu Yun, who had long harbored affection for Murong Yu, learned of her purpose and immediately volunteered to accompany her, along with his protector, Duanmu Qun.

As for An Guoyan, he was merely the head of the Fire God Sect’s Snow Eagle Branch—a common martial master. With the Divine Son and Divine Maiden of the Fire God Sect present, it was only natural for him to follow. Besides, the one who reported to Murong Yu had been acting on his orders.

Thus, the four martial masters of the Fire God Sect in Snow Eagle City had come together to the Four Seas Trading Hall to demand answers from Guan Yingfan and Lu Sheng.