Chapter 238: Chapter 143: This Lu Yuan Must Be Confused

"Nice one. Your skills have improved," Lu Yuan couldn’t help but praise. He had to admit that Gu Gaoxu’s talent for Martial Arts was truly exceptional.

In just a few short days, Gu Gaoxu had made such huge strides in his Martial Arts.

If Lu Yuan was pursuing all-around development, then Gu Gaoxu was wholeheartedly focused on achieving the pinnacle of Martial Arts.

"This is nothing! Brother Lu, take this!" Gu Gaoxu shouted, launching a flying kick.

Lu Yuan blocked the kick with his right hand, using its momentum to deflect it, then immediately struck out with his left palm.

Gu Gaoxu crossed his arms to shield his chest and was knocked back two or three steps by the blow.

Then came a low sweep...

The two exchanged dozens of moves. Compared to their first meeting, when Gu Gaoxu was defeated in a single blow, his improvement was indeed immense.

"Again, again!" Gu Gaoxu, unconvinced, shot forward like an arrow, trying to use his speed to tackle Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan naturally saw his intention. He leaned back, swiftly shot out his hands to grab Gu Gaoxu’s shoulders, and used the power of his waist to throw him!

Gu Gaoxu stumbled and nearly face-planted. After steadying himself, he said, "Forget it, forget it. I’m no match for you, Brother Lu. I know when to quit."

Lu Yuan said, "I never imagined you’d improve so much in just a few days. I bet very few people could beat you in a one-on-one fight now."

Hearing Lu Yuan’s words, Gu Gaoxu beamed. "Of course, of course! And Brother Lu, you haven’t even seen my skills on horseback. When it comes to riding and archery, I’m a real expert."

’This kid can’t take a compliment without it going to his head,’ Lu Yuan thought. ’But he’s telling the truth.’

Lu Yuan put on a show of going into his room and came back out with five sets of Golden Silk Armor, which he handed to Gu Gaoxu.

Gu Gaoxu stared at the sets of Golden Silk Armor in his hands, completely stunned.

The workmanship of this Soft Armor was incredibly intricate; even the Manufacturing Office in the Imperial Capital would have a hard time producing it.

And yet Lu Yuan had just casually produced five sets.

"This... is this for me? Brother Lu, you should keep it for yourself," Gu Gaoxu said incredulously.

"I have a few more. I don’t need these extra sets, and I figured you might have a use for them in the future. I can’t have you calling me Brother Lu for nothing, so take them as a gift." Lu Yuan didn’t feel the slightest bit of regret giving them away.

’To be blunt, even though the system gave me this stuff, it was only because I completed a mission for the Emperor.’

’So, in a way, these came from Gu Gaoxu’s grandfather. Giving five sets back to the grandson is no big deal.’

Gu Gaoxu hugged the five sets of Soft Armor. They were incredibly useful to him. The workmanship was so precise that the Soft Armor he had worn before wasn’t even in the same league.

And they were made of gold. Wearing something like this would be unbelievably cool.

Gu Gaoxu set down four of the sets, picked one up, and hung it on the wall. He then drew the Big Treasure Sword from his waist and slashed at it.

CLANG!

Gu Gaoxu picked it up for a look. There wasn’t a single scratch on the Soft Armor. It was truly a priceless, top-grade piece of equipment.

’He had to admit, Lu Yuan was loaded. Even Governors or a National Guardian General would find it almost impossible to get their hands on a single set.’

"With this Soft Armor, I can go all out when fighting the Beast Race in the future," Gu Gaoxu said, ecstatic.

Before they knew it, the sun had begun to set.

"Brother, Prince Gu, come and eat. Mother and I have already prepared dinner," Su Liyan said, approaching the two of them.

"Don’t mind if I do! Let’s go, Sister-in-law, time to eat," Gu Gaoxu accepted before Lu Yuan could even speak.

Lu Yuan shook his head. ’This Gu Gaoxu really makes himself at home, doesn’t he?’

Seeing the lavish spread on the table, Gu Gaoxu immediately started digging in. "Mmm, not bad, not bad," he said between mouthfuls. "Sister-in-law, your cooking is amazing."

As Lu Yuan ate, he started wondering how his hybrid crops were doing.

’My wife’s cooking skills are naturally top-notch, but even the most skilled chef can’t make a feast without good ingredients. No matter how good the chef, a meal made with subpar ingredients will always be lacking.’

To someone like Lu Yuan, who had transmigrated from another world, the ingredients in the Divine Ling Empire were still not tasty enough.

At that moment, Lu Yuan felt an even stronger urge to return to Taiping City.

After dinner, Gu Gaoxu packed up the five sets of Golden Silk Armor and left.

「The next day」

Lu Yuan instructed everyone to pack their luggage, preparing to set off for Taiping City the following day.

Gu Gaochi and Gu Gaoxu were also packing to return to Yandu.

Several men wearing Flying Fish Suits, with swords at their waists, arrived at Gu Gaoxu’s residence.

"By Imperial Decree, the second son of King Yan is summoned for an audience with the Emperor."

Gu Gaochi and Gu Gaoxu exchanged a look, said nothing, put down what they were doing, and followed the Jinyi Guard.

On the way, Gu Gaoxu wondered to himself, ’Why are we being summoned all of a sudden? Don’t tell me he found out about the Golden Silk Armor? That’s impossible. Only Brother Lu and I know about it.’

In the Divine Ling Empire, private ownership of Armor was forbidden. Even the number of Armor sets for King Yan’s Army had to be reported to the Court annually.

According to the laws of the Court, secretly possessing these five sets of Golden Silk Armor was a serious crime.

However, Gu Gaoxu couldn’t care less about that, so he had simply stashed away the five sets of Golden Silk Armor he brought back from Lu Yuan yesterday.

He hadn’t even shown the Golden Silk Armor to his older brother. Gu Gaoxu figured there were too many of the Emperor’s spies in the Imperial Capital. He would wait until they returned to Yandu to show them to his old man.

Soon, Gu Gaochi and Gu Gaoxu arrived before the Emperor.

The Emperor took out a radio and other similar items, asking his two grandsons, "Were these things produced in Yandu?"

Gu Gaoxu took one look. ’Aren’t these the things Lu Yuan had me produce by building factories and settling refugees in Yandu? I can’t believe that in less than a month, these items have already reached the Imperial Capital. Or rather, the Emperor’s Jinyi Guard really earns its keep.’

"Replying to Your Majesty, yes, these were indeed produced in Yandu," Gu Gaoxu answered truthfully.

The Emperor turned on the radio, and a sound came out of it.

"You have such wonderful things, so why didn’t you bring any to honor your Imperial Grandfather?" the Emperor asked, a hint of accusation in his tone.

’Well, it seemed they really had forgotten to bring a few nice gifts for their Imperial Grandfather this time. But then again, the main purpose of their visit was to see Empress Ma. It wouldn’t have been the right time to present these gifts to the Emperor anyway.’

Upon hearing this, Gu Gaoxu grinned and said, "Replying to Your Majesty, that is our fault. We were merely waiting for an auspicious day to present these treasures to our Imperial Grandfather all at once."

The Emperor continued, "I doubt an ordinary person could have created these items. Who is this person? Might I have the pleasure of meeting him?"

Although his tone was inquisitive, both Gu Gaochi and his brother knew exactly what this was: he was trying to poach their talent. The Emperor probably already knew who it was anyway.

"It was Magistrate Lu of Taiping City, the one who came to treat the Empress yesterday," Gu Gaoxu said, seeing no way to dodge the question.

"Oh? It seems I have truly underestimated him. For such a man not to be in service to the Court is a great loss for the Court indeed."

The Emperor had already deduced this from the Jinyi Guard’s intelligence. But seeing is believing, so he had summoned the two of them to confirm the facts.

Just as Gu Gaoxu finished speaking, the Emperor’s personal eunuch scurried to his side and whispered, "Magistrate Lu is waiting outside the hall."

Gu Gaoxu couldn’t help but exclaim in his mind: ’Damn. So you were just setting us up. You already knew who it was, but you still had to ask us. Well played, old man. You really know how to play games.’

"Show him in," the Emperor said with a wave of his hand.

After entering the hall, Lu Yuan caught sight of Gu Gaochi and Gu Gaoxu. He, too, had been summoned here for reasons he couldn’t fathom.

When the Emperor saw Lu Yuan enter the hall, he said directly, "Magistrate Lu, We are a keen judge of talent. We have decided to grant you the position of Inspector General. What do you say?"

’Damn, he’s generous. Going straight to a high-ranking official, a top provincial post.’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lu Yuan refused. "Your subject has no great achievements to his name. I cannot accept a reward I have not earned. I dare not accept such a title."

His words left everyone in the room stunned.

’Has Lu Yuan lost his mind? To directly reject a reward from the Emperor himself!’

A moment later, Gu Gaoxu was inwardly ecstatic. ’That’s Brother Lu for you! So much courage and backbone. I love it!’