Laying Down The Bait

Zhao Mei's said, "Before returning home I wanted to introduce Sansan to my family."

Hence they visited the Zhao clan. Zhao clan was an independent small clan, bigger and stronger than the prior strength of the Lu clan. They had good numbers in population too and being the smithing clan they were also among the affluent ones. They further had good relations with the bigger clans, making them one of the most respected clans in the town. The Marriage between Lu Xiang and Zhao Mei happened because of Zhao Mei's love for Xiang when Xiang was studying in the Town academy otherwise Mei's parents would never allow their only daughter to marry off to the village.

Currently, two students from the Lu Clan who were studying in the academy were also looked after by the Zhao clan hence they escaped the crises that occurred at home. One was Lu Yehan's grandson and another was Lu Taio's grandson.

As they reached the gate of the Zhao clan the guard first got startled by the approaching Tribulation Realm expert and when he saw Zhao Mei, he came forward enthusiastically and said, "Young Mistress welcome home, your parents will be very excited, go and meet them, they are currently at the clan hall. Wait, let me bring you to them." Then he bowed to Lu Donghai and Lu Yehan and said, "Welcome to our Zhao clan, seniors."

He walked them through the lawn, garden, and courtyard and when they reached a huge building he stood at the door of the clan hall, and before opening it he announced, "Master, Mistress, young Mistress has come back home."

The delighted parents welcomed them excitedly, hugging Zhao Mei and kissing Arthur. After the pleasantries and excitement cooled down Zhao Haoran, Zhao Mei's father said, "You all must be tired come and rest at our home and he welcomed the two old men.''

By this time Zhao Qinyang had already taken her daughter and her grandson away.

After some time Zhao Haoran asked, "Brother Hai, brother Yehan, you are surely blessed with a fruitful encounter. Congratulations! Now, you have surpassed me and reached the Tribulation Realm. Brother Yehan had also reached the Alleviation Realm." His appreciation was filled with jealousy which satisfied the duo from the Lu clan.

Lu Donghai said, "Ah! It's just a small matter nothing to be mentioned about." He downplayed it because it also involved their clan's secret. Unless Arthur wants to share it with them they cannot tell to anyone.

Zhao Haoran was frustrated but the two old men didn't open their mouths on the topic.

Inside Zhao Qinyang's chamber, Arthur was nearly squished to death by his grandmother. Zhao Mei, knowing Arthur's nature tried to save him but her mother was too dominating.

Zhao Qinyang said, "It's good that you didn't bring your useless husband. You have already reached the Alleviation Realm chasing even your elder brother. I knew you were talented...only if you didn't marry that boy Xiang you would have been worshipped by everyone."

Arthur who was already annoyed at his grandmother also said, "Grandma, how can you say bad things about my father in front of me and my mother? If you teach this kind of lesson to your children how are they supposed to treat other people? Do you want your children to speak foolish things and act like a complete idiot when they go out?''

Zhao Mei also replied, "Mother stop it, you cannot say this anymore. Xiang is a good man and he is more talented than me. He is already in the Advanced Stage Alleviation Realm now. He will surpass gege Chuan soon."

Zhao Qunyang was shocked at her daughter's remark. She did notice Lu Donghai and Lu Yehan's cultivation Rank too. It was because of maintaining courtesy that she controlled her desire to ask as soon as they met. She knew that the Lu clan has their secrets.

Zhao Qinyang was startled and wanted to rebut Arthur but she was unable to say anything, she only stumbled with her words.

Zhao Mei laughed at her mother, it was the first time seeing her mother stuttering with words. Her mother who doesn't even spare her husband and her father was finally silenced by her son.

After regaining her wit Qinyang was just about to berate her grandson but, Zhao Mei interrupted her, " Mother Don't. Stop it."

"Oh! Now, that you have a child of your own you want to protect him and even talk back to your own mother?" Said Qinyang.

"No, mother it's not like that, don't treat Sansan like a child, he doesn't like it. He hates it when other people treat him like an idiot. Sansan is different from others, he doesn't play with other children because they bore him. Treat him like an adult with respect and you'll learn a lot of things from him," replied Zhao Mei.

Zhao Qinyang was not angry at her daughter, not at her grandson. It was her character of showing her dominance and control, that made her speak in such ways and also her bad judgement of looking down on others especially a person from villages, she came from a village too and had a very low origin, she always had this inferiority complex which was not known by others.

Qinyang looked at her grandson in a challenging manner and asked, "Oh! Village boy wants my respect now? Tell me why should I respect a villager who shits in open? Hahaha." Her interest aroused and she tried to test Arthur.

Arthur knew what his grandmother was trying to do. Since he came in with his mother she has been adoring him and had been trying to pamper him to the core with lots of sweets and gifts. Arthur accepted the gifts out of courtesy.

Arthur replied, "Grandma, did I ask you to respect me? Who shits in open, didn't my mother tell you that I have made them built toilets in every house of my village? Oh! My bad! My mother didn't tell you because you are only interested in people shitting in open." Arthur also laughed back at her grandmother copying her.

Zhao Qinyang who was about to counter Arthur saw her daughter looking very amused at them and noticing the expectation to see her mother trampled said, "Enough of playing around, my grandson is already clever and wise, hahaha."

Arthur thought, "This old lady is not simple, she is cunning."

Zhao Mei was disappointed and Zhao Qinyang was curious. She realised that her daughter has secrets and she wanted to dig them out, she only had to get off her clever grandson for some time. After a short useless rebuttal, she noticed that Arthur is really different from any ordinary child. It was like meeting an old sage who knew her secrets, he appeared confident and not easily offended which is scary because he was unnervingly calm. Of course, there was no danger or threats between them but being the mastermind behind Zhao Clan, who manages everything underneath, she wanted to dig out her daughter's secrets. Even in minor and redundant issues digging out secrets from others was her favourite sport.

"My beloved Sansan, since you are not a small child it is not good to hear women talking to each other about woman's issues so can you please go with your grandfather and talk to them? I have lots of women's stuff to talk to your mother," said Qinyang.

"Okay grandmother, enjoy your talk with my mom," replied Arthur and then he walked away.

And just when Zhao Qinyang was about to pressure her daughter to spell out everything Arthur turned back and said, "Mother, discuss openly, everything related to women's talks but if grandma asks you anything about our clan's secret tell her that you are from Zhao clan so you are not permitted know any of our clan's secrets and also don't say anything about our secrets to her because if she wants to know, she can ask me, grandpa Hai or grandpa Ye directly, we'll surely entertain her with our answers." After saying that he left the room leaving the agape Qinyang unable to close her mouth or say anything and his mother giggling. Qinyang always had her ways to dig out information and it was so easy when it comes to her children but Arthur left her dumbfounded. Arthur saw through her personality the moment they start conversing with one another and thus annoyed her once more before leaving the room.

Inside the old men's office chamber, the conversations were more amiable. Arthur appreciate it better because the old guys respected the secrets one another. Even if they were curious, as long as someone doesn't like to share them they stopped asking about it and if they want to know they always approach the right person and ask them directly, they simply don't use the underhand method. He would have answered her grandmother directly letting her know about some of their secrets and ease her mind but she wanted to use a devious way to know it which he completely disapprove. Yes, it was a mother asking questions to her daughter but her daughter belongs to another clan now. Although he didn't mind he still didn't approve of his grandmother's conduct.

As soon as Arthur entered Lu Donghai said, "Come my good grandson, pay respect to your Grandpa Haoran."

Arthur came near Zhao Haoran, kowtowed and said, "Grandpa, Lu Sansan, your unfilial grandson pays respect to grandfather Haoran."

Zhao Haoran laughed and lifted him on his lap and said, "Sansan, both your grandfathers Hai and Ye, have praised you so much. I am really curious to know about you."

Arthur replied, "Grandpa, Ask anything you wish to know and your grandson will try his best to answer them."

Zhao Haoran said, "Sansan, before asking questions let me apologise to you for not being able to visit you on your birthday and your naming ceremony. My family weren't present in town during that time. We called your mother but she also didn't come to us."

Arthur brushed off the apology without making it an issue, he didn't care about it either.

Zhao Haoran was already very pleased with the behaviour and the way Arthur carried himself. The way he reacted and the way he responded to him was respectful. It was neither arrogant nor humbling too much. It was just perfect of how a gentleman should act, and Zhao Haoran was amazed because Arthur was just a small boy, even his own grandson who was already 10 years of age or his eldest granddaughter who was 16 didn't act this way.

Zhao Hoaran said, " Brother Hai and brother Yehan said that you are the key to all the secrets of your clan so if you cannot tell me something then just say it and I won't ask about it."

Arthur seeing the uneasiness of his grandfather on how to proceed with his questions because it involved another clan's secrets said, "Grandpa, I'll narrate the things that happened to our clan and our fruitful encounter so if you find any questions that perplex you then please interrupt me anytime." Then he starts narrating everything that happened with the clan. He did omit most of the secrets and only narrated how they survived and why they asked for the desolate rain flower from the Zhao clan, how lucky they were to encounter the dead flood dragon and found two crystals on its head...how they demanded reparation from the aggressor. He narrated everything till their entry into the Zhao clan.

Zhao Haoran asked one or two questions but since it was explained in detail without any misgivings he listened more than interrupting. He bought the story, and so did Lu Donghai and Lu Yehan. Lu Donghai and Lu Yehan were also convinced by Arthur even after knowing the actual story because it was safer to guard the secret and more convincing for others to believe. All three of them admired Arthur and liked his story. Zhao Haoran marvelled at the mind of Arthur and the luck of the Lu clan while the other two gaped at the cleverness and acting of Arthur. Arthur even paused at times to create an impact on his story like how they were terrified by the carcasses of the flood Dragon when they first encountered it. How no one approached it thinking that it was a sleeping dragon and we were nearly about to move out of the groove. Until a foolish member of the Lu clan who wanted to show his bravery to impress his admirer, hacked his sword at the paws of the dragon and that was how they discovered its death.

Arthur finally threw his bait, "Grandpa Ran, do you want to follow us to the groove and live there with us? We are planning to connect our clan to the city, I think this town will only limit both our clans from growing further. My parents, Grandpa Hai and Grandpa Ye had already used the crystal for themselves, using a third of the crystal. Now the crystals are being used by Grandpa Kong and Granny Nuan. After the two use it only the last third will be remaining. If you wish to follow us we can give it to you and Granny Yang. We are short of manpower and we need more strength to connect with the city. But if you want to use then we need to hurry because if we delay and grandpa Kong and granny Nuan give those crystals to others we'll be too late."

Most of it was true, Both Donghai and Yehan had used one-third of the crystal and it was with them already. Not only them but his parents also have two more which were only consumed a fourth, but Arthur's story was like they had only two. The sole purpose of coming to the Zhao clan was to lure them to the Woodsman village. Connecting to the city and trading in the city is not to be taken lightly. It was filled with numerous power and they needed strength to go there.

His parents cannot use the crystal further if they want to reach greater heights, depending too much on external energy would limit their outcome in a long run. After reaching the Tribulation Realm Rank Lu Donghai understood it. Thus, he also feared Arthur's constant usage of the energy source left by Li Jun. Donghai guessed that since the energy source was very much pure and enormous so Arthur's growth should also be higher than the Earthly Realm Cultivation Rank which the Flood Dragon claimed. Thus, it was his only solace to think that Arthur would still grow stronger than he could imagine. But, he clearly knew that depending on external energy more than one's body limit is also impermissible.