Chapter 319: Face, Eating on the Road

Qiu Zhiheng, Lu Chunying, Ma Wu, and the others got off the train. Instead of going to Xiaoyao House or Lu Chunying's residence, they went directly to the He family mansion.

They had been ambushed at Black Stone Slope, and Qiu Zhiheng was injured. He should have rested longer, but he received news that He Haiqin's funeral was today. He felt compelled to bring Lu Chunying to pay their respects, as it was crucial not to neglect proper etiquette on such an occasion.

Duan Shaoxia also attended with Zhang Huaiyi. During the funeral, Qiu Zhiheng stood behind Lu Chunying, while Duan Shaoxia watched Qiu Zhiheng, her eyes filled with resentment and sorrow.

After the funeral, Tan Fucheng left early due to other commitments.

He Yuxiu approached Qiu Zhiheng. "Monkey," she said, "come have a drink with your sister."

"Where would you like to go, Sister?"

"Let's go to Xiaoyao House," she replied, "and support Ma Wu's business."

As He Yuxiu was now in charge of the He family, and she was initiating this gesture of goodwill, Qiu Zhiheng naturally agreed.

Upon arriving at Xiaoyao House, Ma Wu arranged a private room. He Yuxiu said, "Junyang, I'd like to have this drink alone with Monkey."

Ma Wu understood, exited the private room, and instructed his staff not to disturb them.

Qiu Zhiheng poured He Yuxiu a drink, which she immediately downed.

He poured another, and she drank it too.

After five consecutive drinks, He Yuxiu began to weep. "Haiqin is gone," she sobbed, "he's gone..."

Qiu Zhiheng remained silent, knowing that at that moment, nothing he said would be more helpful than allowing He Yuxiu to cry freely.

After a good cry, He Yuxiu looked at Qiu Zhiheng. "What do you think of my looks, Sister?"

"Beautiful," Qiu Zhiheng answered earnestly.

"Even at my age, I'm not much worse than those young girls, am I?"

"You're far better than them."

"Then why didn't you like me back then? I might have been a few years older than you, but I was a top-tier beauty. I practically threw myself at you, and you still wouldn't marry me?"

Qiu Zhiheng held his glass, silent for a long time, then said, "Sister, you know I couldn't. Our statuses were different."

"Did I ever care about status? Back then, if you'd just said the word, I would have changed my last name to Qiu for you!"

Qiu Zhiheng remained silent for a long time. He Yuxiu wiped her tears and said, "Haiqin is gone, and Haisheng isn't close to me. I don't have a single close person left in my life.

"Monkey, I called you here today for one reason: Haiqin entrusted the He family to me. I know my own limitations.

"I can't fight you. If I were to truly contend with you, the He family would surely be consumed by the Lu family.

"If you still remember our past affection, how about you work with your sister? I'll listen to everything you say. Will you come and be the chief steward of the He family?"

"The He family..." Qiu Zhiheng shook his head.

He Yuxiu sighed. "I know you belong to the Lu family. No matter where you go, you're always part of the Lu family."

"The Lu family..." Qiu Zhiheng gave a wry smile but said nothing.

He Yuxiu said, "It's fine if you don't come. Just give your sister a break. I won't contend with you for anything, and you shouldn't have designs on the He family. How does that sound?"

Qiu Zhiheng sighed. "Sister, I am a servant of the Lu family. A servant is a servant; I'm not the one who makes the decisions."

He Yuxiu nodded. "I understand what you mean. You want me to look after that girl, Lu Chunying.

"She's a good kid, and I like her. Lu Dongliang is gone without a trace, and Duan Shaoxia is utterly confused.

"Even though Lu Chunying isn't her child, she bears the Lu surname. And no matter whose offspring Zhang Huaiyi is, he carries the Zhang surname.

"I agree to this. I acknowledge Lu Chunying; she will be the head of the Lu family."

Qiu Zhiheng raised his glass. "With that promise from Sister, I, Qiu Zhiheng, will never be your enemy in this lifetime!"

"Then it's settled!"

They drank a few more cups. He Yuxiu looked at Qiu Zhiheng, her eyes growing hazy. "Monkey, after all these years, how are you still so handsome?"

Qiu Zhiheng chuckled. "Sister, you're still as beautiful as ever."

He Yuxiu leaned close to Qiu Zhiheng's face and subtly hinted, "How about we spend the night together?"

"Sister, I'm not really up to it today."

"Nonsense! What kind of master are you, saying you're not up to it? If you could go back twenty years and choose again, would you pick me or your wife?"

"We can't go back in time, so who can say?"

He Yuxiu poked Qiu Zhiheng with a finger. "You rascal, you can never say anything nice!"

Just as they were enjoying their drinks, a commotion erupted outside.

He Yuxiu frowned. "Who is it? What a buzzkill!"

Qiu Zhiheng stepped out to look and saw chaos in the corridor. He grabbed an attendant and learned that something had happened to Ma Wu.

How could something happen to Ma Wu in his own establishment, Xiaoyao House?

They quickly followed the attendant to the dance hall, where they saw a masked figure in black pointing a short dagger at Ma Wu's forehead, demanding fiercely, "Where is Li Qi?"

The voice was low and muffled, male, but unidentifiable.

Zuo Wugang, standing beside Ma Wu, was hesitating whether to charge forward. If the masked figure were to strike, Ma Wu would be dead.

He Yuxiu didn't hesitate. She burped from the alcohol and chuckled as she walked forward. "Stab him! Go on, stab him! If you don't stab him today, you're a coward!"

The masked figure flexed a wrist, intending to cut Ma Wu's face.

Qiu Zhiheng's gaze darkened. The masked figure's heart raced, and their wrist trembled involuntarily.

With a casual flick of her wrist, He Yuxiu snatched the dagger from the masked figure's hand.

No one present, including Qiu Zhiheng, saw how He Yuxiu managed to take the dagger.

The masked figure ripped open their clothes, and hundreds of throwing darts flew towards the crowd.

The darts came swiftly and accurately; Ma Wu couldn't dodge them, nor could Zuo Wugang.

Zuo Wugang shielded Ma Wu, intending to absorb the darts.

He Yuxiu kicked a fruit platter from a round table. The platter flew through the air, blocking every single one of the hundreds of darts without missing a single one.

Anything in her hands became a weapon, and an excellent one at that.

He Yuxiu walked forward, hands in her pockets, chuckling. "Do you have any more tricks? Let me see them."

The masked figure tapped a foot and retreated rapidly. He Yuxiu stepped forward, pursuing unhurriedly.

Was this masked figure a Traveler-cultivator? Their speed was truly impressive.

As the masked figure was about to retreat to the entrance of the dance floor, they suddenly felt a searing heat behind them.

Huoling suddenly appeared outside the door and spat a burst of fire at the masked figure.

Engulfed in flames, the masked figure struggled. He Yuxiu stepped back. "Where did this crazy woman come from? She almost burned me!"

With enemies on both sides, the masked figure had nowhere to escape. Huoling was about to burn them to death when the flames suddenly vanished, and the masked figure disappeared.

"Where did they hide?" Huoling gritted her teeth, her long hair transforming into fiery snakes that writhed and flew in all directions.

Ma Wu quickly interjected, "Ling'er, don't burn down Xiaoyao House!"

Xiaoyao House was in chaos, and all the customers had fled.

He Yuxiu chuckled. "Junyang, your attendants aren't doing their job. How did this person get in? Dressed like that, and no one noticed?"

Zuo Wugang's face turned beet red.

Qiu Zhiheng said, "That person was likely a high-level artisan-cultivator. They had an invisibility item."

Outside Xiaoyao House, across the street, He Jiaqing put the masked figure down.

"That woman's fire is intense," He Jiaqing said, waving a hand, from which a ball of flame appeared. "Alright, that's somewhat useful."

The masked figure eyed He Jiaqing warily. "Who are you?"

"I'm a friend of Ling Miaoying," He Jiaqing replied. "Let's talk somewhere else."

The masked figure took a step back. "I don't know you."

He Jiaqing smiled. "But I know you, Tu Yinghong, the film queen."

Late that night, Li Banfeng returned to Xiaoyao House to find it closed for business and the dance floor in disarray.

"Old Five, what happened?"

"Someone caused trouble here, claiming they were looking for you."

"Looking for me? What kind of person?"

"They were heavily cloaked and masked. The voice sounded male, but the person was likely female."

Li Banfeng trusted Ma Wu's judgment on this; Ma Wu could always discern if someone was female.

"A woman, coming to Xiaoyao House looking for me... who could it be?"

As he pondered, Qiu Zhiheng emerged from a private room.

He Yuxiu was deeply asleep, having had too much to drink.

Lu Chunying was nodding off, but seeing Qiu Zhiheng, she forced herself to perk up. "Brother Qiu, I have some business matters I wanted to discuss with you."

Qiu Zhiheng smiled. "For business matters, discuss them with Junyang. I've taught you everything I can. Junyang is better at business than I am."

After saying this, Qiu Zhiheng glanced at Ma Wu.

Ma Wu chuckled. "Brother Qiu, this is the Lu family's eldest young lady. You can't just dump her on me!"

"The Lu family..." Qiu Zhiheng murmured.

Lu Chunying cautiously asked, "Brother Qiu, is something wrong?"

"Nothing," Qiu Zhiheng replied. "I should go back." He draped an arm over his clothes, glanced at Li Banfeng with a faint smile, and left Xiaoyao House.

Thunder rumbled, and it began to rain.

Ma Wu looked out the window and sighed. "He's in a difficult position. As the chief steward of the Lu family, Duan Shaoxia is hard for him to handle. It's very likely that she orchestrated the ambush we suffered at Black Stone Slope."

Li Banfeng was silent for a moment, then told Ma Wu, "Old Five, go find the Defense Commissioner."

At the Lu family mansion, Duan Shaoxia waited in the main hall, her face grim.

When Qiu Zhiheng returned, Duan Shaoxia dismissed the servants and asked, "Xiao Qiu, do you still care about this family? Do you still care about me? Are you still part of the Lu family?"

Qiu Zhiheng was silent for a moment, then raised his head. "No, not anymore."

Duan Shaoxia was stunned. "Xiao Qiu, what do you mean? Are you upset with your sister-in-law?"

"No," Qiu Zhiheng calmly shook his head. "I'm leaving."

"Zhiheng, you can't leave!" Duan Shaoxia's voice trembled. "Do you know who that child is? Your sister-in-law didn't mean to make things difficult for you. Huaiyi, that child, is actually..."

Qiu Zhiheng calmly stated, "I know, Madam. I watched Yuanhai grow up from a young age. I know he is Yuanhai."

Duan Shaoxia was speechless with shock.

Qiu Zhiheng sighed deeply. "Madam, if you hadn't done this, things could still have been salvaged. I would have found a way to cure Yuanhai, no matter what.

"But the one lying there cannot be cured, because he isn't Yuanhai. And the one standing, I cannot support, because he isn't a Lu family member.

"Madam, I am powerless. I am leaving. My wife and child are already at the station, and I should go too."

His wife and child had already left?

When did this happen?

Duan Shaoxia stopped Qiu Zhiheng. "Zhiheng, don't leave. Everything I've done, I've done for the Lu family."

"I, too, have always done everything for the Lu family," Qiu Zhiheng smiled. "For half my life, every single thing I've done was for the Lu family. I've done all that I could.

"When Master picked me up all those years ago, I had nothing. Today, I'm leaving, and I'm taking nothing with me.

"Over the years, all my savings have been returned to the accounting office. The money for my train ticket and travel expenses, I borrowed. This suit, I also bought with borrowed money. Everything the Lu family gave me, I've returned to them.

"Madam, farewell."

Qiu Zhiheng turned and left the hall.

Duan Shaoxia gritted her teeth. "Don't go!"

A blood vessel burst in her eye.

This was the 'root of affection' she had planted in Qiu Zhiheng.

Under normal circumstances, Qiu Zhiheng would surely have turned back at this moment.

But Qiu Zhiheng didn't turn back. The 'root of affection' had long since been pulled out by him.

He strode out of the Lu family mansion.

The rain was heavy. Qiu Zhiheng stood at the mansion gate.

He straightened his back and walked through the heavy rain all the way to the station.

His wife and child were waiting for him in the ticket hall, with Tan Fucheng standing by their side.

Tan Fucheng had left the funeral early precisely to escort Qiu Zhiheng's wife and child to the station.

"Chief Qiu, please be careful on your journey," Tan Fucheng said, concerned that Duan Shaoxia might try something on the way. But then he thought, Qiu Zhiheng would surely be prepared.

"Brother Tan, you be careful too," Qiu Zhiheng thanked Tan Fucheng, then guided his wife and child past the ticket gate.

A whistle blew, and the train pulled into the station.

Qiu Zhiheng helped his wife and child board the train first. He then noticed someone on the platform watching him.

The person was dressed in a black suit, wearing a fedora with the brim pulled low.

Qiu Zhiheng walked closer and smiled. "Came to see me off? I'm no longer the Lu family's steward, so I won't be able to help you with anything in the future."

Li Banfeng handed Qiu Zhiheng a large cloth bag. "Noodles, for your journey."

Qiu Zhiheng was taken aback.

Li Banfeng explained, "There's no instant noodles here. Dried noodles are good too. These noodles should last you half a month."

The rain was heavy. Qiu Zhiheng wiped the rain from his face and took the cloth bag.

Li Banfeng pulled out a land deed. "Ma Wu found your train ticket and knows you're going to Yaowanggou. I actually have a favor to ask of you.

"I've always wanted to open a pharmacy in Yaowanggou, but I don't understand pharmacology and I'm worried about losing money. So, I'd like to entrust this pharmacy to you."

Qiu Zhiheng lowered his head. "You want me to manage a business for you? I'm not doing that anymore."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Not manage it, but be partners. I'll provide the funds, you provide the effort, and we'll split the profits fifty-fifty. You have a big reputation and can keep things in order. Let's call the pharmacy 'Qiu's Pharmacy'."

Li Banfeng extended the land deed to Qiu Zhiheng.

The rain was falling heavily, and the deed got wet.

Qiu Zhiheng took the deed. He looked at Li Banfeng but said nothing.

The train whistle blew.

The train was about to depart.

"Take care," Li Banfeng said, pulling his hat brim lower, and turned to leave.

"You too, brother," Qiu Zhiheng watched Li Banfeng until his figure disappeared, then boarded the train and sat beside his wife.

His wife took out a handkerchief and wiped the rain from his face.

There was a lot of rain on his face.

He handed the land deed to his wife.

His wife looked at it and asked, "What is this?"

"A business," Qiu Zhiheng replied, wiping the rain from his face, though it seemed he couldn't wipe it all away. "This is the Qiu family's business."