The Lu clan members shouted in unison, “Charge!”

“Break it down!”

Lu Yang shut his eyes and, carrying the hopes of the entire clan, charged forward… Behind him, the others clenched their “weapons,” ready to rush out as soon as the door broke, intending to take down the guards and rescue the old master and young lord.

“What the…?!”

When Gu Xingzhao returned with her note, the first thing she saw was Lu Yang’s massive body hurtling toward her. Startled, she instinctively kicked out and, in the process, accidentally threw out some lightning with her raised hand…

Before Lu Yang even reached the door, he was struck and knocked out by the lightning, collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.

The sudden turn of events left everyone in shock, exchanging confused glances before quickly retreating.

“Second Brother!” Lu Zhou rushed forward to check on him.

Mrs Xu turned pale and hurried to her husband’s side. “How did this happen?!”

Not only were the people in the room scared, but Gu Xingzhao was also startled. She had acted on instinct—hopefully, she hadn’t accidentally killed him!

Feeling a bit guilty, she quickly had the system check on him.

[Replying to the host, the guardian Lu Yang is fine, just unconscious. There is no danger to his life.]

Gu Xingzhao sighed in relief. Thank goodness, he’s okay. If something had happened, I wouldn’t know how to explain it to the old man.

Looking at the group inside the room, she was exasperated. Do they think charging and fighting solves everything? Can’t they use their heads for once?

If she had been just a little later, who knows how things might have spiraled out of control? The old man would probably have had a heart attack when he returned and saw the mess.

This was the very definition of “Pig teammates.”

She was so frustrated that she slapped the note onto Lu Yang’s forehead with a loud “smack!”

The note slowly appeared, startling everyone in the room. One person even jumped up, stammering, “Th-this…”

The note had appeared right before their eyes!

“Is this… a ghost?!”

After confirming his brother was okay, Lu Zhou smacked the person who spoke on the back of the head. “Nonsense! Look carefully!”

This was obviously the ancestor manifesting, how could they be so disrespectful?

The other clan members crowded around, noticing that the note on Lu Yang’s forehead read: Lu Qing and his grandson are safe. Do not cause trouble.

Someone’s knees gave out, and they dropped to the ground, kowtowing to the note on Lu Yang’s forehead with a loud thud!

Lu Zhou also knelt down, “We were too hasty today. Please forgive us, Ancestor!”

One by one, the others followed suit, kneeling in unison, their heads hitting the ground in rhythm.

Thud, thud, thud…

Gu Xingzhao sighed, thinking, They’ve got good rhythm, at least.

Seeing everyone kneeling again, yet not gaining any merit points, she felt a bit disappointed. She hadn’t meant to scare them.

Gu Xingzhao wrote another note and placed it on Lu Zhou’s forehead.

Trembling, Lu Zhou carefully peeled the note off and saw the word “Forgiven” written on it. He let out a long breath, “Thank you, Ancestor, for your mercy.”

When Lu Yang slowly regained consciousness, he saw a white piece of paper on his forehead and everyone kneeling around him. Thinking they were mourning him, he turned pale and fainted again.

Such a coward, and he was the one egging everyone on to break the door?

Gu Xingzhao sighed, thinking this Lu Yang was really something.

At that moment, Lu Qing called out to her from the other side. Remembering the offerings someone had promised her, Gu Xingzhao didn’t want to miss out while they were still fresh. She left the box of meals in the room, wrote one last note, and quickly departed.

The Lu clan members slowly helped each other to their feet, their legs still trembling. Seeing Lu Yang still unconscious on the ground, no one blamed Gu Xingzhao for striking him too hard.

After all, this was the ancestor, and both blessings and curses were forms of grace!

With Lu Qing and Lu Xingyao absent, it naturally fell to the eldest son, Lu Zhou, to receive the offerings from the divine being. He carefully opened one of the boxes, his hands trembling slightly, worried he might damage it.

Inside was a hot meal, fragrant and delicious!

He finally relaxed, relieved that the ancestor was not angry.

Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight of the meal in Lu Zhou’s hands, and they slowly turned to the box, realizing it was… filled with meals!

Meals with meat, vegetables, and soup!
Their hands trembled as they took the food, some even shedding tears as they ate, mumbling that in their next life, they wanted to be part of the Lu family again.

The Liu family members were also given a few meals, and as they ate, they couldn’t be more content. They secretly glanced at the young master, worried he might notice that they too wanted to be part of the Lu family in their next lives.

It wasn’t that the Liu family was bad… It was just that the Lu family’s ancestor gave so much!

Liu Xiangbai lowered his head, staring at the meal in his hands, his veins bulging as he clenched his fists in frustration and fear. He handed the meal to someone else.

In times of hunger and cold, he could hold onto his hatred, but he feared that once his stomach was full, his clothes warm, and his life comfortable, he might forget the pain of losing his father.

With this in mind, Liu Xiangbai tightened the red string on his wrist, reminding himself to never forget.

Shunyu, tears in her eyes, stuffed her mouth with food, occasionally glancing at the still-unconscious Lu Yang. She gripped her chopsticks tightly. Her brother had abandoned her, and she feared he would send more assassins after her…

No, she had to survive, even if only for Cai He. One day, she would take back everything that had been taken from her!

…

When Gu Xingzhao arrived at Yu Heng’s residence, she found several large offering tables set up at the entrance, laden with all kinds of delicacies, fine silks, and exquisite jade and jewelry, all glimmering under the candlelight. The tables were packed with treasures.

But what caught her eye was the plaque on the offering table, with four glaring characters: Deity of the Lu Clan.

It nearly blinded her.

Incense was burning on the altar, and townspeople were gathered around, watching the spectacle, chattering amongst themselves.

Gu Xingzhao had come because Lu Qing had told her that Yu Heng was offering her something. But looking at this setup, who would dare accept such offerings?

With so many people watching, if she took anything now, the news of the Lu clan’s divine being would be the talk of the town by morning!

This Yu Heng wasn’t offering her anything; he was trying to publicize the divine being of the Lu clan, so that he and that Prince Su could benefit from it.

She looked around but didn’t see Lu Qing or Lu Xingyao.

Faced with so many treasures that she couldn’t take, Gu Xingzhao was furious, finding it almost laughable. “Lu Qing, Yu Heng is being so generous with his offerings. You must thank him properly on my behalf.”

Lu Qing was confused. “?”

Sensing the odd tone in the ancestor’s voice, Lu Qing hurried over with his grandson to see what was happening.

He had expected Yu Heng to set up a small altar in the courtyard, but the courtyard was empty. Growing suspicious, he heard the commotion outside.

Several large offering tables, filled with treasures, and surrounded by townsfolk, greeted him as he stepped outside. Lu Qing’s vision went dark, and he nearly collapsed on the spot..