My spirit appeared on the road to exile, and I was treated as an ancestor.

Chapter 43 Former Master and Disciple Turn Against Each Other
Lu Xingyao was once the eldest grandson of a Grand Secretary of the court and was considered a worldly man, yet he was still awestruck by the vast collection of rare treasures before him.

He swallowed hard. "Grandfather, Master Yu doesn't have much of a salary, does he... how can he be so rich?"

With so many rare treasures, if converted into silver, they could buy more than a dozen mansions in the capital!
He remembered that on the day his house was raided, the things they found were less than a tenth of what he had here.
These officials outside the capital are earning more than those in the capital!

Lu Qing was so angry that his face turned black. It wasn't that Yu Heng was rich; it was clearly the Prince Su behind him!

Gu Xingzhao watched as the nearly seventy-year-old man, carrying a cane, limped into the mansion, his imposing manner suggesting he was about to personally dismember that wicked disciple.

She hurriedly chased after him and even kicked open Yu Heng's door for Lu Qing.

With a loud bang, the two personal servants inside the room were startled and drew their swords from their waists. Yu Heng, who was sitting on the couch, looked over and said, "It seems that my master is not satisfied with the offerings outside."

Lu Qing's face turned red with anger, "In the end, I misjudged you!"

Yu Heng's eyes were dark. "Those outside are just gifts from His Highness Prince Su. As long as my mentor helps His Highness Prince Su, His Highness will arrange a place for you. The Lu family, all twenty-odd people, will no longer need to go to the North."

Lu Qing: "Are you trying to help Prince Su force me to my death!"

Yu Heng looked embarrassed. "I didn't mean that. I was just doing my duty for Your Highness. I really did want to catch up with you today..."

Lu Qing was so angry that his face turned red and he was panting heavily. He finally understood today that before he even arrived in Laiyuan Town, this wicked disciple had already started plotting. Under the guise of reminiscing, he was now truly doing his best to serve Prince Su.

Back then, I treated the person in front of me like my own son. When he was transferred away from the capital, I was determined to help him return. Later, when we lost contact, I even sent people to look for him. Even today, I shamelessly asked my ancestor to treat him.

With all the past events vividly flashing before his eyes, Lu Qing angrily slammed his cane on the ground several times, then looked at Lu Xingyao and shouted, "Let's go! We're leaving right now!"

Lu Xingyao had never seen his grandfather so angry before. He didn't dare to delay for a moment and helped the old man away.

The two personal servants brandished their knives and blocked the doorway, preventing the grandfather and grandson from leaving.

With a gleaming knife held before him, Lu Qing trembled with rage. He turned around, pointing his cane at Yu Heng on the bed, "You beast! Do you intend to force us to stay here today?!"

Yu Heng said calmly, “This student has no intention of hurting my teacher. His Highness Prince Su will arrive tomorrow. This student only wishes to ask my teacher to stay one more day.”

At this point, he gestured to his attendant, instructing him to escort the person to the backyard to rest.

The two servants immediately stepped forward, but the grandfather and grandson refused to cooperate. The two servants dared not actually harm the two, so they retreated.

Yu Heng said in a deep voice, "Please, my esteemed teacher, do not put your student in a difficult position."

He was puzzled. The emperor was incompetent and ruthless. Why wouldn't Lu Qing submit to Prince Su? Prince Su held military power and had only achieved his great ambitions in the last few years. What exactly was Lu Qing's so-called loyalty to the court and the people?

Lu Qing frowned, his face grim. If he didn't submit to Prince Su once he saw him, he would face certain death. He could not stay in Laiyuan Town any longer and had to leave tonight!

Watching this dramatic scene of master and disciple falling out, Gu Xingzhao was greatly disappointed. He had thought that this man surnamed Yu could help the old man, but he didn't expect him to be a man of Prince Su. With this attitude of betraying his master and ancestors, it was all for nothing that he had saved him.

Gu Xingzhao's hands were already itching; he couldn't stand seeing this kind of ingrate acting so obnoxiously in front of him. "Lu Qing, get out of the way! I'll take care of this ungrateful wretch for you!"

Lu Qing gripped the crutch that was almost broken, looked at Yu Heng, and wanted to give him one last chance.

"If you still have any lingering feelings for us from back then, let us leave now, and I will pretend that what happened today never happened."

Hearing this, Yu Heng gripped the bedding tightly, his brows furrowed in conflict. In the end, he chose Prince Su over Lu Qing. He closed his eyes, steeled his resolve, and said resolutely, "Quickly escort Old Master Lu to the backyard for accommodation."

The two servants exchanged a glance, knowing their master had made up his mind. They immediately drew their swords and stepped forward without hesitation. Gu Xingzhao waved his hand, and before the two men could even get close, the roof above their heads suddenly collapsed!
With a loud "bang!", a huge sound was made.

Yu Heng suddenly opened his eyes and saw that a large section of the roof had collapsed, landing right between Lu Qing and the two servants!

Outside, the sky, where the bright moon was just visible, was now covered with dark clouds, gathering above the mansion. With a few rumbles, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and the people looked up to see that the clouds were very low.

The sudden changes above the mansion caused panic and much discussion among the crowds outside.

"Why is it thundering?"

"This area is always thundering and lightning, it's kind of scary."

"Could it be related to this memorial tablet...? Who are the deities of the Lu family?"

"The Lu family in the capital!?"

"It's that family from the capital. They came to our town yesterday, and I even brought them food. This Lord Yu is a student of Master Lu."

"I just heard Old Liang say that the strange illness that Master Yu couldn't cure anywhere was actually cured today... Don't you think that's strange?"

"If even Old Liang can't cure the illness, who else can?"

"I heard that the Lu family is protected by the gods. When they were robbed before, there was thunder just like today!"

"Shh! You can't say things like that..."

Suddenly, a clap of thunder rang out, followed by a flash of lightning that illuminated half of the dark night sky. The people gathered outside the mansion cried out in alarm, "The...the memorial tablet!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the tablet that had been standing upright on the altar, bearing the inscription "Lu Family Deities," had been smashed to pieces, and the incense burner had been split in two.

"This...this is truly a miracle!"

Some of the more timid people in the crowd collapsed to the ground, their legs giving way.

The people knelt down before the offering table, kowtowing and burning incense, all chanting incantations.

The servants of the Yu family also rushed to fetch incense and offer prayers, their hands trembling with excitement.

A divine intervention is a rare occurrence, happening only once every thousand years. They've been fortunate enough to witness it today!

"I had no intention of offending you, I only wish for peace!"

May the gods bless my son so that he may pass the imperial examinations soon!

"May my daughter-in-law give birth to a big, healthy boy... no, no, two or three, and may my son earn some money to bring honor to the family..."

"I want to get rich!"

"I am wholeheartedly devoted to serving the imperial court; I humbly beseech the gods to bless me so that I may attain an official position in the capital!"

The area was dark and smoky, with thunder rumbling overhead. The people knelt before the shattered memorial tablet, praying fervently.

(End of this chapter)