Chapter 44: Lu Ci Explodes Again

Inside the sprawling Lu family estate, guests filled every seat, while in the innermost longevity hall, direct relatives of the Lu family and a gathering of distinguished visitors were all present.

As the guest of honor for this birthday banquet, Old Master Lu wore a bright red mandarin jacket, sitting upright in the middle on a pearwood armchair.

"Even during the Lunar New Year, we rarely see this kind of lively gathering," Old Master Lu said with a smile as he looked out over the crowded room.

"Indeed, Uncle. In recent years, the wars have been endless, and a gathering like this hasn't happened for many years!" said Lu Xuan, the father of Lu Jin.

"Isn't this all thanks to your fortune, Elder Lu?" chimed in the head of the Wang family.

Old Master Lu shook his head and laughed, "Ah, what fortune of mine? It is I who am basking in all of your good fortunes, for you are still willing to show a bit of respect to this old man who has one foot in the grave!"

"What are you saying, Elder Lu? Your health is still remarkably robust!" said the head of the Lü family.

"I won't be able to enjoy it for much longer. Each generation produces its own heroes; from here on out, this world of martial arts, this entire nation, will rely on your generation to save it!" Old Master Lu remarked.

The head of the Wang family sighed and shook his head. "Elder Lu flatters us too much. Our generation has already passed the age of forty, yet our minds remain full of doubts. They say that at fifty one knows the Mandate of Heaven, but where on earth is that mandate?"

"In the end, we are just mediocre and unremarkable people. This martial world, this country, still depends on the younger generation. In my view, the two boys from the Lü family and your young Lu Jin, Elder Lu, are true dragons and phoenixes among men, and they are bound to achieve great things in the future!"

Although the Wang family head was ostensibly praising the Lü family's peerless duo and Lu Jin, uttering such words on this particular occasion carried a distinct undertone of building them up only to see them fall.

The head of the Lü family could not sit still a moment longer and hastily said, "Brother Wang, look at what you're saying! Your own boy isn't bad either!"

The Wang family head sighed. "Brother Lü, spare me the comfort. You'll see once you look over there!"

The group all turned their gazes in unison.

Over at the table reserved for the younger generation:

Little chubby Wang Ai was holding several strings of candied haws, standing near little chubby girl Guan Shihua, and said with some hesitation:

"Uh, Shihua, I brought the candied haws over. These are for you!"

Guan Shihua turned her head, looking rather impatient as she said, "Not again! Why are you so endless? Why are you everywhere I go?"

She had already brushed off the little chubby guy several times. Any normal person would have known to back off by now—why was this fat boy so annoying?

"Shihua, is that any way to speak to young master Wang?" teased one of Guan Shihua's close friends nearby.

"Indeed, this is the young master Wang from the Four Great Families!" others chimed in, joining the mockery.

The more they egged it on, the uglier Guan Shihua's expression became.

Unaware of Guan Shihua's growing impatience, Wang Ai held up the strings of candied haws and spoke in a very timid, quiet voice:

"Um, Shihua... you know... last time, didn't my dad and your master say that our two families should grow closer, and that we could interact more often? They clearly said so..."

"Oh, please! That was my master who said it, not me. Aren't you sick of this?" Guan Shihua had zero desire to look at this annoying little fatty.

"Hahaha... Fatty, nobody wants to pay attention to you, why don't you just come back here!"

"Hahaha, this silly fatty just isn't very lovable!"

This scene amused those all around, and people continually jeered and mocked him.

Hearing this, Wang Ai flew into a rage. Brandishing the two sticks of candied haws, he glared around at everyone: "Who? Who was making sarcastic remarks just now?"

Yet, his current appearance lacked any real deterrent power. No one took him seriously; they simply roared with laughter, mocking him for losing his temper.

"Big brother, I can't watch this anymore. Even if the fatty is a bit hopeless, we can't just let people bully him like this!"

With his anger flaring, Lü慈 could no longer worry about his bruised, blackened eye. He stood up and strode straight toward Wang Ai.

Lü Ren covered his face with his hand, worried that his younger brother would stir up trouble, and hurried after him.

Lü Ci reached Wang Ai's side, pressed down on his shoulder, and forcefully pulled him out from the center of attention:

"I say, Fatty, can't you save Elder Wang a little bit of face?"

When Wang Ai saw Lü Ci, his mouth opened, ready to retort, but upon seeing Lü Ci's somewhat furious expression and the dark bruises around his eye, he instantly shut his mouth.

Among the playmates of the four families, he feared neither Lü Ren nor Lu Jin, but he was quite afraid of Lü Ci. Of course, Lü Ci was also the one he was closest to.

Seeing that the fatty had been subdued, Lü Ci shot a fierce glare around him:

"Laughing?!"

"What's so funny?!"

"Is it that funny?!"

"Just how funny is it?!"

"Come on! Look at me and laugh!" Lü Ci pointed at his own bruised eye and shouted furiously, "Look right here and laugh!"

The previously lively atmosphere abruptly fell into a dead silence.

"Laugh!"

Not a soul at the younger generation's table made a sound. Everyone knew that the second of the Lü family's stellar duo bore the nickname "Little Mad Dog" and was not to be messed with. This posture made it blatantly clear that while he wanted to stick up for little chubby Wang Ai, he was also looking for someone to vent his anger and let off some steam.

Not a single person present was willing to court that kind of trouble.

On the other side, in the longevity hall, the three family heads and Old Master Lu were watching this exact unfold.

"Ah, this silly boy, what on earth is he doing? In the end, it was Lü Ci who had to step up. Brother Lü, to be honest, I truly envy your Lü family duo!" the head of the Wang family sighed.

"Brother Wang, please don't envy me. This boy is constantly spoiling for fights every single day; he's driving me to distraction!" The head of the Lü family replied with a helpless expression, then added, "Besides, your son isn't bad either—he has a natural look of prosperity and is quite adorable!"

"Yes, indeed! He's just still young, he'll be fine in a couple of years!" Lu Xuan comforted from the side.

"Ha, stirring up trouble—that kid Lü Ci is quite interesting!"

Zhang Zhiwei watched Lü Ci with keen interest. That temper of his hit all the right notes, and he nudged Lu Jin with his hand.

"Little Brother Lu, it looks like a brawl is about to break out over there again. You're the host, aren't you going to go over and mediate?"

Lu Jin: "............"

That line sounded a bit too familiar!

Lu Jin hesitated somewhat. Should he go over? He had just finished fighting with Lü Ci—now he was supposed to go back over there?

Before he could wrestle with the thought for long, the housekeeper trotted in from outside and reported, "Young Master, Sect Master Zuo and the Celestial Master have arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jin dropped all thoughts of Lü Ci's business and sprinted to the longevity hall to inform his father and grandfather.

"Hahaha!" Old Master Lu stood up and laughed heartily. "With both Sect Master Zuo and the Celestial Master gathering here, this old man really does have quite a bit of face!"

"Uncle, I'll go welcome them right now!" Lu Xuan stood up, flicked his sleeves, smoothed out his attire, and said.

"Ah, since both the Celestial Master and Sect Master Zuo are here, it's only natural for us people from all four families to go out and greet them together!" proposed the head of the Wang family.

Following that, the group headed together toward the entrance to welcome the guests.

At the main hall's entrance, Zhang Jingqing, with his sword-like eyebrows and white hair, arrived side-by-side with the ethereal and immortal-like Zuo Ruotong.

"Lord Lu, long time no see! Your health is as robust as ever!" Zhang Jingqing laughed heartily.

"Lord Lu, this junior hopes he hasn't arrived late!" Zuo Ruotong said with a calm smile.