The First Venerable of the Prosperous Age

Chang'an has calmed down a lot now, and he has started lying again.

“He and I did go to Shuixin Pavilion together, saying that he wanted to ask the Pavilion Master of Shuixin Pavilion for a favor…” Chang’an said without batting an eye.

"How did he get to know the Water Heart Pavilion Master? As far as I know, just meeting the Water Heart Pavilion Master once is already incredibly difficult."

Chang'an scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly, "I... don't really know much about their private affairs, hehehe."

Hua Chan crossed her arms and asked in surprise, "Aren't you very familiar with him? How come you don't know him? Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken you to Shuixin Pavilion with him."

"I...he and I just happened to be at Shangyang Gate, and he took me to Shuixin Pavilion only because...I just happened to be able to help him." Chang'an tried hard not to let his eyes wander.

Hua Chan gazed at him quietly for a long time before finally asking softly, "And then? Where did he go?"

Chang'an was slightly startled. "Senior Sister, why don't you ask what happened to us in the Water Heart Pavilion?"

He dared to ask that question because he had already prepared a story in his mind.

Hua Chan smiled slightly, "Why should I know so much about him? As long as I hand Su Xiaotao over, I'll have nothing to do with him anymore. And right now, I just want to know why he can't come here to pick her up himself?"

Chang'an nodded: "After he finished explaining those things, he left alone. He said he wanted to find a place he liked, and then..."

Hua Chan sighed and said, "He was indeed a proud and arrogant person, but unfortunately he was diagnosed with such an incurable disease."

Chang'an tentatively asked, "Senior sister, do you really think that Lu Xiaosan has already...?"

Hua Chan shook her head. "At that time, he wouldn't have lived past the next day. But I still had a deep feeling that he wasn't dead yet."

"Why...why?" Chang'an was actually quite pleased.

Hua Chan smiled gently, "If he really died, he would appear in my dreams."

As soon as she finished speaking, her gaze immediately became unfocused, and her demeanor became languid. Compared to her previous seriousness, she was completely different, as if nothing in this world could concern her anymore.

Seeing her like this, Chang'an subconsciously touched the blue pearl in her arms and said softly, "But it seems that he has already appeared in my dream."

Hua Chan, of course, did not hear his words, but simply strolled back to where she was.

Chang'an hurriedly caught up with her, "Senior Sister Hua, there's something else I'd like to ask you. Does your Hua family have a medicinal herb called 'Flowing Lotus Grass'?"

"Flowering lotus grass?"

"Yes, that's a red herb."

Hua Chan only thought for a second before casually replying, "I'll tell Coco."

Chang'an smiled more brightly than flowers, "Then thank you very much, Senior Sister. However... there is one more thing I would like to ask for your help with, and this matter can only be done in person."

Hua Chan pouted her little mouth, glanced sideways at her, and said, "What is it? Will it disturb my sleep?"

Chang'an laughed awkwardly, "No, no, I just want you to take me to the prison."

Hua Chan yawned: "Alright, I'll have the soldiers arrest you and put you in jail right now."

"No, no, no, Senior Sister, you've misunderstood. I have a friend in jail, and I want to go talk to him for a few minutes and confirm a few things," Chang'an hurriedly explained.

Hua Chan stared at him quietly for a long time before finally managing to squeeze out four words: "Your friend?"

When Hua Chan led him to the prison gate, it was already dawn.

"I've already given them instructions. Now I'm going back to sleep," Hua Chan said lazily, and walked away without looking back.

"Have a sweet dream, senior sister. Oh, and whatever you do, don't dream about Lu Xiaosan!"

The two guards couldn't help but tease, "Young man, you've come to visit He Lai, haven't you? With such a powerful background, is this all you're good for?"

"Having connections is great. Those without connections can only cause trouble in front of the Hua Mansion in the sweltering heat, thinking they're being glorious and righteous. Hahahaha."

Chang'an tossed his hair and said arrogantly, "Can you two see clearly who I really am?"

The two soldiers stared at his face for a while before exclaiming with delight, "Oh! So you're also a champion: Chang'an Little Hero! It seems you really are different from those lunatics at the gate, hahaha, my apologies!"

Chang'an laughed and said, "If I'm not mistaken, there should be championship commemorative shirts with my image printed on them on the market right now, right?"

"Of course, every contestant who helps Shangyangmen win the championship receives a commemorative jacket specially made of royal silk, which is sold all over the country."

"That's right. That red-haired demon is wearing my elder brother's commemorative shirt, and those fanatical disciples in front of the Flower Mansion are wearing He Lai's commemorative shirt. Hehe, I just wonder who will wear my commemorative shirt."

Chang'an was secretly delighted, and the image of Hua Chan wearing his clothes began to appear in his mind, making his mouth water.

"Young man? Young man? Let's go in now."

Chang'an asked in confusion, "Are you all going in with us?"

The two soldiers suddenly stopped smiling and said seriously, "Although you are of noble status, intruding into a prison is already a serious crime, so there should be a bottom line in everything. Unless..."

Looking at their malicious smiles, Chang'an sighed, "Sigh, the imperial court hasn't paid me yet, so hurry up and lead the way."

The three entered the empty courtyard. There was only an ordinary wooden door in front of them, and the prisoners were being held inside.

"Oh, young man, I suddenly remembered that we need to go in and get a very important prisoner first before we can bring you in. Please go in first..." the two soldiers gestured.

"Okay, I'll wait for you here."

Two soldiers used a key to open the wooden door, only to find it dark inside and still unguarded. Only the occasional painful groans of the prisoners could be heard from within.

After about half a cup of tea's time, two soldiers were seen carefully helping a plump, bald middle-aged man out.

"Please take your time."

"Be careful not to bump or hurt yourself anywhere."

The two officers and soldiers treated him with the utmost respect, fearing that they might neglect him in the slightest.

The fat, bald man had his eyes closed and was clutching his chest, as if he still had an old wound that hadn't healed.

Judging from his appearance, he was none other than Lu Lun, the teacher of Hua Mingfu.

But Chang'an didn't know his identity. He just continued to laugh with the soldiers, "If I'm not mistaken, you two brothers must be martial arts masters, right?"

The two officers replied with a smile, "Young man, what makes you say that?"

"Stop pretending. If you two weren't masters of martial arts, why would the government have only sent the two of you to look after Guan He?"

The two soldiers were both amused and exasperated: "If He Lai wants to come out, it doesn't matter how many people we send to guard him. If he doesn't want to come out at all, then it doesn't matter how many people we send to guard him."

Chang'an said "Oh," and then added, "So that means you two actually..."

"Hey! Actually, young brother, you have a pretty good eye. Although we are no match for He Lai Hero, we are more than capable of beating that beast surnamed Zhan."

"Hahaha, if we had been sent to fight Raymond a few days ago, the training ground wouldn't be in such a terrible state now, hahahahaha."

The two soldiers then turned to Luren: "We were right, weren't we, Luren... um...!"

The two soldiers suddenly fainted at the same time, without any warning.

Chang'an was shocked and looked at Lu Lun, who still had his eyes closed: "You...you...what did you do?"

Luren opened his eyes, looking confused: "What happened?"

"Huh? Why are these two young people falling asleep right away? Get up and help me up again!" Lu Lun exclaimed in surprise.

"Master!" A burly man in black suddenly appeared behind Luren, looking extremely surprised. It was Raymond.

Lu Lun quickly cleared his throat, pretending to be very serious: "You've come, my disciple. It seems your injuries have almost healed."

“Master, I’ve searched the entire Hua Manor, except for this prison. I never expected you to actually be here. Hahaha, it’s so good to see you’re alright,” Raymond said happily.

"But speaking of which, Master, why did you go to the prison?"

Lu Lun suddenly became furious, "Isn't it all because of you that you made such a mess of the Hua residence!"

He took another deep breath. "As a teacher, I should at least show some appreciation."

Raymond nodded somewhat ashamed, "Indeed, I was too presumptuous."

Lu Lun sighed, "So, in order to avoid trouble... no, to punish myself, I've decided to lock myself in jail for three days and fast for three days!"

Raymond couldn't help but laugh: "Master, you can... fast for three days?"

Lu Lun grinned wickedly, "So I eat the food of my cellmates next door!"

"They'd give you food?" Raymond asked in surprise.

Lu Lun leaned close to his ear and whispered with a chuckle, "I said I'd reduce his sentence after I get out!"

"So Master is going to reduce that prisoner's sentence?"

"Of course, we should increase his sentence! Hahahahahahahahaha!"

The two burst into laughter, looking more like brothers working together than master and apprentice.

After laughing, Lu Lun felt that he had acted inappropriately, so he coughed twice and asked, "Disciple, you have come here at such great risk, there must be some other matters."

Raymond clasped his hands and said, "Master guessed correctly. I did come here on other important business, which is why I knocked out these two soldiers."

Lu Lun asked suspiciously, "Since it's such an important matter, why not knock him out as well?" Lu Lun was pointing at Chang'an, who had already sneaked to the door.

Chang'an was startled and quickly turned around. He saw Raymond staring at him with a serious expression and said, "Because these important matters happen to be related to this person!"