Chapter 200

Chapter 200: Rewards for Worship, Enjoying the Incense of the People

“It is worthy of being the provincial capital.”

Looking at the bustling scene in front of him, Lu Qing couldn’t help

but sigh again. Compared with the county town, this place is more than ten times more prosperous.

After sighing for a while, Lu Qing began to stroll around.

Of course, he strolled around for a purpose.

Soon, after spending a little money and patronizing a few small vendors,

he got the information he wanted.

“You are talking about the Zheng Mansion, which is just in the west of the city. The mansions of the largest families in the provincial capital are all over there.

Young man, are you also going to pay your respects to the second son of the Zheng family and get the reward money?”

A vendor selling candied haws answered Lu Qing’s questions very enthusiastically after he bought two strings of candied haws.

“To offer condolences?” Lu Qing pretended to be ignorant. “No, I just heard that the Zheng family is the largest family in the provincial capital, and I wanted to go and see it for myself.”

“So, young man, you are also a martial artist?” The vendor suddenly realized. “But you came at the wrong time. The second young master of the Zheng family was killed by a villain a few days ago. They are currently holding a funeral, so I’m afraid they don’t have time to entertain you.

But if you are going to offer condolences, you should be able to go in.

The second young master’s funeral was held with great ceremony. The Zheng family has announced that anyone in the provincial capital who goes to offer condolences and pray for the second young master will receive a reward of one hundred coins.

I went yesterday, kowtowed to the second young master, and I actually got the reward.”

“Such a good thing, then I’ll go to offer condolences too.”

Seeing the vendor look like he had made a great deal, Lu Qing also said “pleased”.

After leaving the stall, Lu Qing’s face became calm, and there was a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.

“Let the people pray for him, and that scumbag deserves it?”

Following the candied haws vendor’s instructions, Lu Qing quickly arrived at the west side of the city.

Upon arrival, he noticed something different.

Compared to the bustling other areas, the west side was much quieter.

But the buildings were also much more imposing.

Most of them were huge mansions covering vast expanses, the kind only the truly wealthy could afford.

Lu Qing took a look around and quickly identified the Zheng residence from the largest of the buildings.

That was the only one draped with white silk and filled with mournful music.

Lu Qing slowly approached the residence, passing a number of ordinary people walking towards the Zheng residence, their faces tinged with joy.

They were clearly the citizens the candied haws vendor had mentioned, heading to the Zheng residence to pay their respects and ask for money.

As he walked, he observed his surroundings,

finally gazing several times at a towering tower in the city.

“Stop, what are you doing?”

A guard stopped Lu Qing at the Zheng residence’s gate.

“My name is Lin An, from Jizhou. I’m traveling to Cangzhou. I heard that the second son of the Zheng family was murdered by a traitor. I’m heartbroken and would like to come in to pay my respects. May I?”

Lu Qing fabricated an identity effortlessly.

“So you’re Young Master Lin? Since you’re here to pay your respects to the second son, then of course you may. Please come in.”

The two men looked Lu Qing up and down. They saw that despite his ordinary appearance, he clearly displayed the pulsing Qi and Blood Energy, indicating at least a perfect Qi and Blood cultivation.

They didn’t suspect anything and immediately greeted him politely.

This was because such incidents had occurred countless times.

The Zheng family was a prominent family, renowned throughout Cangzhou.

Countless people sought refuge with them daily.

In the past, a Qi and Blood Realm warrior with Lu Qing’s low cultivation level would have been impossible to enter the Zheng residence.

However, the residence was currently hosting the second son’s funeral, and the ancestor had instructed that no one should be stopped from paying their respects, no matter who came.

She wanted her Yu’er to enjoy the worship of the people, enjoy the incense, and accumulate good karma, so that she could also enjoy a prosperous life in the afterlife.

Naturally, the Zheng family dared not disobey the ancestor’s decision in the slightest.

To fulfill the ancestor’s wish, they even used money to attract the city’s citizens to come and pay their respects.

In this way, Lu Qing smoothly entered the Zheng Mansion.

Following the instructions of the Zheng family’s servants, he arrived at the mourning hall.

Inside, a number of people were queuing to pay their respects. Judging by their attire, most were likely city residents, drawn by donations.

Before his turn arrived, Lu Qing quietly surveyed the hall.

The most striking feature was the massive coffin placed in the center.

Made of an unknown wood, it was inlaid with gold and jade, a truly luxurious sight.

Clearly, the Zheng family wanted Zheng Yu to enjoy the luxury of his later life.

Several powerful auras lurked near the coffin, evidently guards assigned by the Zheng family to protect it.

However, Lu Qing paid no attention to these. His real concern lay with the figure seated beside it.

It was an elderly, frail figure, its face wrinkled like bark, and it sat there with a blank expression.

Though seemingly frail, Lu Qing sensed a subtle sense of strength from her.

“This should be the old woman, right?”

Lu Qing quietly activated his supernatural power and observed secretly.

Soon, a faint golden supernatural light emerged from the old woman, and at the same time, several notes floated out.

After reading the notes silently, Lu Qing lowered his eyelids and stopped looking at the other party.

The senses of the innate realm strongman are still very sharp. Even if he restrains his breath, if he keeps his eyes on the other party for too long, he will still be easily discovered. However

, with his head lowered, thinking of the words in the notes just now, Lu Qing couldn’t help but show a chill in his eyes.

This old woman really couldn’t quell his anger unless she was killed.

“City Lord’s Mansion, General Manager Wang is here!”

Just as Lu Qing was waiting, a shout suddenly rang out.

Not only did the worshipping crowd stir, but even the old woman who had been sitting there motionless also changed her expression slightly, raised her head, and a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes.

Soon, a middle-aged man with a square face, dressed in plain cloth and standing tall, walked in and bowed to the old woman.

The old woman did not remain seated this time, but stood up, bowed slightly, and returned the greeting.

“Madam Zheng, I, Wang, have come on behalf of the City Lord’s Mansion to offer condolences for the death of Second Young Master Zheng, under the orders of the City Lord,” the square-faced middle-aged man said gravely.

“The City Lord is so thoughtful. I will remember this kindness,”

the old woman said calmly.

Soon, someone presented incense and candles, and the square-faced middle-aged man offered his respects and lit the candles.

He then approached the old woman, bowed, and said, “Madam Zheng, the City Lord has a few words for you. Could you please move aside and speak?”

The old woman stared at him silently for a few moments before finally nodding, “Please, Steward Wang, follow me.”

“What a great opportunity!”

Seeing the old woman and the square-faced middle-aged man leave the mourning hall, Lu Qing’s heart stirred, and he quietly made his way out.

He had come merely to ascertain the strength and condition of the Zheng family’s old woman, not to pay his respects to that scumbag Zheng Yu.

After leaving the mourning hall, Lu Qing walked out of the Zheng Mansion openly.

The guards at the gate, upon seeing him leave, did not attempt to stop him.

They believed that a young warrior like Lu Qing, having the opportunity to enter the mansion to pay homage to the Second Young Master and leave a small impression on the old ancestor, was more than enough to express gratitude.

But they never imagined that this fellow would simply wander around the mourning hall and slip away.

Leaving the Zheng Mansion, Lu Qing did not stop, but continued on to the tall tower he had seen earlier.

This tall tower should be a scenic spot in the provincial capital.

At this moment, the tower was closed and locked. There was no one in the tower and no one could enter.

But how could this stump Lu Qing? He just moved his feet slightly, jumped a few times, and easily reached the top of the tower.

“The scenery here is really unique, and the location is also very good.”

Standing on the top of the tower, which is dozens of meters high, Lu Qing felt that the entire west area of the city was almost visible.

More importantly, by chance, this tall tower was facing the Zheng Mansion, which was hundreds of meters away.

After admiring the beautiful scenery on the tower for a while, Lu Qing looked at the Zheng Mansion with a gaze that gradually turned cold.

With a slight movement of his mind, a longbow appeared in his hand.

(End of this chapter)