Killing Monks

Tang Yan was about fifty years old, thin and frail, dressed in a respectable butler's uniform. His face was gaunt, but his eyes revealed shrewdness and worry.

He was Tang Miao's childhood playmate. Although they were nominally master and servant, they were like brothers and Tang Miao's most trusted confidant.

When Tang Yan saw Guangyuan and Chu Kuangjun appear like ghosts in the side hall where he was handling his affairs, he was first taken aback, but he quickly calmed himself down.

His eyes remained wary, yet he still followed the rules of the martial world, clasped his hands in a salute, and tentatively asked:

"May I ask which of you gentlemen you are from the martial arts world? What brings you to my humble abode?"

He paused, his tone softening.

"If you are temporarily short of funds, please let us know, and the Tang family will prepare a small gift as a token of goodwill."

He mistook Guangyuan and his companion for江湖客 (jianghu people, wandering martial arts world) travelers who were passing through the area and came to "beg for alms".

For wealthy families, when encountering such people, as long as it's not excessive, they are often willing to spend money to avoid trouble, offering a little silver to establish a superficial friendship and avoid unnecessary conflict. This is a common way of dealing with people.

Guangyuan shook his head and stated his purpose directly: "We are not here for money. I am Guangyuan, and this is Chu Kuangjun. We have a friend named Lu Fei."

Upon hearing the name "Lu Fei," Tang Yan's expression changed drastically, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

Guangyuan continued, "He came to attend the family banquet on the fifteenth of August at the invitation of your esteemed young lady."

"But there has been no news of him. I came to inquire today, and it seems that not only is he not at home, but also... Master Tang, Madam, and Miss Tang have all disappeared without a trace."

He said sincerely, "Where did they go? If they are in any trouble or being coerced, we, as Lu Fei's friends, will never stand idly by."

Tang Yan's face showed obvious hesitation and struggle, as if he was having an internal battle.

Upon seeing this, Guangyuan described in detail Lu Fei's physique, appearance, clothing, and his signature, somewhat cynical smile.

Upon hearing these precise descriptions, Tang Yan finally let out a long sigh and said dejectedly:

"Well... the Tang family is already in dire straits, and there's nothing left to hide. Since you two are friends of Young Hero Lu, perhaps... alas, perhaps it truly is fate."

He invited the two to sit down, poured them a cup of cold tea, and then, with a hint of regret, slowly explained the whole story:

"The mistake we made was... that our Tang family shouldn't have provoked the Luo Qinglu family in the first place..."

According to Tang Yan, when the head of the family, Tang Miao, learned that his daughter, Tang Shuangshuang, was going to invite a friend from the martial arts world to a banquet at their home, he agreed, but was still uneasy about it.

He went to great lengths to get his wife to tell their daughter that the other person's surname was "Lu" and that his family lived near "Luoqing County." Tang Miao then secretly sent people to the Luoqing County area to inquire about the background and character of this "Young Master Lu."

This inquiry led to a huge problem!

The Lu family of Luoqing County is the most prominent and powerful clan in the area.

It is said that most of the farmland, forests, and shops within a radius of hundreds of miles belong to the Lu family, making them practically local tyrants.

An outsider suddenly appeared on the Lu family's territory, furtively inquiring about a young master surnamed Lu...

This behavior was highly suspicious and immediately aroused the Lu family's high vigilance.

Because Lu Fei, the direct descendant of the Lu family, has been missing for several years!

The Lu family has been secretly searching for Lu Fei's whereabouts, but Lu Fei's whereabouts are elusive and he has not made any name for himself.

Searching for someone who intentionally conceals their whereabouts in a vast sea of ​​people is like looking for a needle in a haystack, and there has been no real progress.

For the Lu family, the Tang family's inquiry was like a godsend!

They were immediately targeted by the Lu family.

The Lu family reacted swiftly, immediately dispatching their head steward, Lu Daobei, to personally lead a team to Qujiang County to investigate.

Lu Daobei was not only a confidant of the Lu family, but also a master of unfathomable martial arts.

Although the Tang family was considered a wealthy household in Qujiang County, compared to the powerful Lu family who dominated the area, they were like small-time landlords encountering local tyrants—they were simply not on the same level.

Lu Daobei acts with extreme domineering and efficiency.

After verifying that Tang Shuangshuang was indeed in contact with a young man who resembled Lu Fei, he disdained roundabout negotiations and directly used swift and decisive measures to kidnap Tang Miao and his wife.

They threatened the lives of the two elders, forcing Tang Shuangshuang to cooperate by drugging Lu Fei, who was attending the family banquet on the fifteenth of August.

Afterwards, Lu Daobei secretly took the unconscious Lu Fei, along with the three members of the Tang family who had been held hostage, and several guards from the Tang family, away from Qujiang County and headed straight for the Lu family in Luoqing County!

"So, they're all... at the Lu family's place in Luoqing County now?" Guangyuan asked in a deep voice.

"That's right." Tang Yan nodded bitterly. "Since that day, there has been no news of the master, madam, or young lady."

"I tried every possible way, asking around among my friends in the underworld, and even attempting to rescue him..."

"But when those friends heard that the 'Luo Qing Lu family' was involved, their expressions all changed drastically. They either politely declined or shook their heads directly, saying, 'We can't help you,' or 'The Lu family is too complicated to deal with,' and so on..."

After listening from the side, Chu Kuangjun said, "Judging from the behavior of Lu Daobei, the Lu family's butler, it's clear that the Lu family is used to being domineering!"

As he said, how can someone just kidnap someone's parents, threaten someone's daughter to drug and harm their friends without saying a word?

This is no longer a simple case of "power," but rather an extreme form of authoritarian logic that treats others like dirt and uses any means necessary to achieve its goals.

Guangyuan and Chu Kuangjun exchanged a glance, both seeing the solemnity and determination in each other's eyes.

Lu Fei is imprisoned by his family, and the Tang family of three are also kidnapped as a result. This matter must not be left unresolved.

"In that case, we must go to Luoqing County," Guangyuan said.

Chu Kuangjun nodded as well.

It wasn't just for Lu Fei, but also for the Tang family; they had suddenly kidnapped him.

Wouldn't that be no different from bandits?

Upon hearing that the two were willing to provoke the infamous Luo Qinglu family for the sake of the Tang family, whom they had never met, Tang Yan's face immediately showed disbelief, surprise, and gratitude.

These days, he had nowhere to turn for help, and he was tormented by the sight of his master's family suffering misfortune.

At this moment, it was as if I saw a glimmer of light in my despair.

"Thank you! Thank you, Master! Thank you, Young Hero Chu! The entire Tang family is deeply grateful!"

Tang Yan was so excited that his voice trembled. He quickly turned around, took out several packets of gold and silver that had been prepared in advance from a cabinet box, and presented them with both hands.

"This journey is fraught with danger. This small amount of travel money is a token of my appreciation; I hope you two will accept it!"

"If we can save the master, mistress, and young lady, the Tang family will spare no expense to repay this great kindness!"

Why would Guangyuan and Chu Kuangjun accept it?

After declining, the two of them said no more and, just as they had come, silently slipped out of the side hall. With a few leaps, they had already crossed the wall and disappeared outside the Tang residence.