Three days later, Central Capital.

The Central Capital is the most prosperous and affluent area among the Thirteen States of the World, connecting the North and South, with a constant flow of merchants and travelers.

Lu Chengfeng, dressed in a black robe and wearing a jade crown, rode a tall black steed, with a sword at his waist, followed by a dozen trusted entourage, all carrying swords and exuding a fierce aura.

This group looked formidable and intimidating, causing merchants and commoners alike to avoid them.

From a distance, Lu Chengfeng could see the tall and imposing city walls of Central State, standing ten zhang high, cast from huge ink iron rocks, resembling a black dragon coiling on the earth.

Outside the Central State city walls, there was a jade belt river encircling it, the wide river rushing endlessly, resembling a white dragon roaring and tumbling.

Thousands of years ago, the Central Capital was the core of the entire world. The ancients diverted the waters of the jade belt river, carving a moat outside the entire capital, making the already strong city walls even more impregnable.

To the north of the Central Capital, there are a total of seven arched gates, the one in the middle being called the North Tai Door, which does not open unless a major event shakes Central State.

Famous alongside the North Tai Door are the gates of Xiyong, South Town, and Dongping, meaning to keep eternal peace.

At the gates of Central State, warriors and captains from the Celestial Patrol Department stand guard, with heavy troops and crossbows stationed on the city walls to prevent any disturbances or accidents.

As for those entering and leaving the city gates, the Celestial Patrol Department does not probe into their backgrounds, except for those pursued and apprehended by them. Be it infamous thieves or local tyrants, anyone can enter openly from both North and South.

Under the identity of the Handsome Yama, Lu Chengfeng paid the entrance fee and entered the city's gates with ease.

The Central State City was indeed incredibly prosperous. Even outside the gates, one could see the 33-layer pagoda standing in the east, known as the Ten Thousand Forms Massacre, acclaimed as the first pagoda in the world.

Additionally, in the south of the city, stands the Immortal Tower, reputedly built by an immortal, erected overnight. It boasts twelve layers, intricately carved and painted, exquisitely beautiful.

"East Tower, South Tower, West Sea, North Garden, Central Divine Palace."

"The five spectacles of Central Capital, each a wonder of the world. Just catching a distant sight of the Ten Thousand Forms Massacre today affirms these renowned spectacles indeed live up to their fame!"

Lu Chengfeng gazed afar at a towering structure piercing the clouds, revealing only twenty-four layers, with the remaining nine layers in the sky, impossible to discern with mere eyesight.

Such a masterpiece of craftsmanship truly inspires awe.

The entire Central State is divided into the five major zones of the East, West, South, North, and Central by four broad avenues, named after the landscapes.

East Tower Street, South Tower Street, Path of the Western Sea, and North Garden Avenue.

Lu Chengfeng and a dozen entourage traveled along North Garden Avenue, heading straight to their destination.

After roughly two hours, they arrived at an incredibly bustling alley, flanked entirely by a continuous line of wooden buildings, with many flamboyantly dressed women soliciting customers at the entrance.

This was a smoke alley, not a renowned spot in the Central Capital, frequented only by those of the lower echelons.

After entering the alley, Lu Chengfeng dismissed all his entourage except for two attendants and then proceeded to a brothel named Chungui Tower.

He gave a signal, and one of his attendants immediately went out, finding a woman soliciting business inside, and after slipping her a few liang of silver, he began inquiring.

Soon, the attendant returned to Lu Chengfeng and said, "Sir, that Zhao Tianyou is still here. It's said there's a girl named Fu Qin caring for him."

"The girl said that Zhao Tianyou drank flower wine all night last night and is still dead drunk, yet to wake up."

Lu Chengfeng nodded, "Go secure a private room, spend some silver, and bring him over. Also, redeem Fu Qin, if the procuress disagrees, reveal your identity. Make sure this is taken care of properly."

The two attendants agreed and quickly went to handle it.

...

An hour later, in a private room on the third floor of Chungui Tower, Lu Chengfeng sat on a chair drinking tea, while on the bed beside him lay a middle-aged man dressed in a gray robe, with disheveled hair and an unkempt beard.

He reeked of alcohol, clad shabbily, his hair and beard seemingly unmanaged for a long time. If not for being in this place, he'd be mistaken for a vagrant.

Lu Chengfeng slowly sipped a sip of tea from his cup. Naturally, there was no fine tea here, just to cleanse his mouth, and then, regardless of the other being in a deep sleep, he spoke in a faint tone, "I am the Handsome Yama from Three Immortals Mountain, you should have heard of this name."

"I came specifically to find you today, and the purpose is simple, I intend to deal with the Li Family, using the Zhao Family's identity to proceed."

The man on the bed continued to sleep deeply, not reacting even slightly.

"Of course, the identity of Handsome Yama is nothing significant, and to the enormous Li Family, it's inconsequential."

"However, I have another identity."

Lu Chengfeng spoke straightforwardly, without the slightest concealment, "I am a clan member of the Xiang Family from You State, serving as the commander of You State, while also working at Life-taking Tower."

"This time, the mission target is Li Chengqian."

"The contract for Fu Qin's indentured service is right here, and I've also arranged for someone to buy back your Zhao family ancestral home."

"What you need to do is very simple, invite Yu Chai, your grandmother, to come here for me."

"I believe you must have had some suspicions about her identity over the years, otherwise, you wouldn't have survived until now."

Finally opening his eyes, Zhao Tianyou, who had been lying in bed, spoke in an incredibly hoarse voice, "What do you mean by these words, I don't understand."

"Let's cut to the chase. Just the fact that you've survived until now proves you're not a fool," Lu Chengfeng said in a light tone. "Of course, even if you are a fool, it's irrelevant."

"To achieve my goals, using a fool as leverage is no big deal."

Zhao Tianyou was silent for a long while, "How can I believe what you're saying?"

Lu Chengfeng couldn't help but let out a chuckle, "If I were sent here to test you, I could have just cut off your head with a sword by now. Even considering the Heaven-Suppressing King's face, I could find some excuse to deal with you, without bothering to say these pointless words."

Zhao Tianyou slowly got out of bed. Despite having no Martial Arts skills and relying on a courtesan for support, he had a tall, strong build and deep eyes. However, the sense of decay and oppression around him was impossible to conceal.

Even a tiger, if it pretends to be a coward its whole life, will truly become one.

"If I do this, I'll have no way out. Once things are exposed, death will be my only path. You must arrange a way out for me."

"It's simple. In half a month, I'll arrange for you to go to the Northern Lands, which is our territory," Lu Chengfeng also stood up. "Even with the vast power of the Celestial Patrol Department, they can't reach the Northern Lands."

"Alright, it's a deal," Zhao Tianyou spoke.

Lu Chengfeng nodded, taking several silver notes from his bosom, "No matter what it takes, get that dear grandmother of yours to come over."

"Right now?" Zhao Tianyou hesitated.

Lu Chengfeng said, "Since the decision is made, act swiftly to avoid complications from delay."

Zhao Tianyou thought for a moment, then took the silver notes and went straight out the door.

...

About two hours later, as the sky gradually darkened, the candles were lit in the elegant room.

Lu Chengfeng ordered his subordinates to buy back the Zhao family ancestral home. The Zhao family home, located on the riverbank outside the city at the Jade Belt River, was a spacious and beautifully constructed waterside pavilion.

But almost everyone knew the Zhao family ancestral home was a hot potato, entangled with the Li Family and the Celestial Patrol Department, even linked to the Heaven-Suppressing King. Anyone capable of purchasing such a house wouldn't want to get involved in such a whirlpool for the sake of a mere house.

Ever since Zhao Tianyou was stripped of his Martial Arts 20 years ago and the ancestral house was taken away, the property remained uninhabited and fell into decay.

When Lu Chengfeng sent people to buy the house, the brokers almost looked at them as fools, eagerly finalizing the transaction as if they feared they might change their minds.

...

Lu Chengfeng waited in the elegant room for about half an hour, before finally hearing a commotion outside the door. After a moment, the door opened, and two sturdy men entered, carrying a soft palanquin.

Zhao Tianyou and another man with a sharp mouth and monkey-like cheeks followed them in.

"You two be careful, if you hurt my great-grandmother, you couldn't take the responsibility," the sharp-mouthed man swaggered in, shouting while side-eyeing Lu Chengfeng.

"Hey Zhao Tianyou, who is this guy? Why is there someone else here?"

As he spoke, Zhao Tianyou had already paid the carriers and sent them away, assisting an old lady to sit down.

The old lady had a head full of silver hair, clutching a string of Buddhist beads, dressed in luxurious silk and satin, resembling an elder from a wealthy family.

"Zhao Tianyou, I'm talking to you, didn't you hear me?" The sharp-mouthed man, seeing Zhao Tianyou didn't respond, got angry and scolded him.

"San'er, how can you speak to Young Master Tianyou like that?" The old lady scolded, seeing the situation, manipulating her Buddhist beads a few times, she then looked slowly at Zhao Tianyou and said, "Tianyou, what San'er said isn't without reason. How can such matters be spoken of in front of strangers?"

"Perhaps it would be better if this young brother would leave first?"

At this moment, two sturdy men entered from outside the room, who were Lu Chengfeng's followers,

They silently moved forward, one quickly covering the man's mouth, while the other delivered a strike to the back of the sharp-mouthed man's head, knocking him unconscious.

The men were swift, taking just a few breaths to drag the person out.

The old lady's expression changed slightly, her Buddhist beads spinning faster, but soon her face resumed a smile, "Tianyou, you mentioned finding the secret your grandfather left behind that requires my help to retrieve."

"Could it be related to this gentleman?"

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