Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 111 - 101: Time Flies

Next, while waiting for the passage document to come through, Lu Chang’sheng began handling affairs at home.

There were dozens of people up and down Lu Mansion; it was impossible to take them all, and servants and the like were obviously going to be let go.

This residence had been given to him when he served as magistrate; now that he had resigned, it was naturally being taken back. With Lu Chang’sheng’s current wealth, he could of course buy a similar house, but it would be troublesome.

A mansion of this size isn’t just a symbol of wealth, but of status too. Now that he no longer held official rank, finding such a big house would be much harder.

After a dozen days, the passage document finally arrived.

Lu Chang’sheng first took a trip to the Martial Artist Institute, walking along the somewhat familiar road and heading inside.

"Scholar Lu, I heard you resigned from your official post?"

As soon as he stepped into Jixia Academy, he ran into Instructor Qu, whose face was full of regret as he mentioned it.

"That’s right!"

"What a shame. It was so difficult for you to earn that position." Instructor Qu sighed.

The two chatted for a while, then went their separate ways.

Lu Chang’sheng entered the Martial Artist Institute and bid farewell to Dean Hong Yuan.

"As a disciple of the Institute, you’re supposed to take action when war comes. However, you’re different from the others. If the conflict isn’t over in five years, go meet them on my behalf. The matter of seeking immortality should be handed over to you all as well."

Hong Yuan spoke mildly, gave Lu Chang’sheng some final advice, and then gifted him all his treasured books on the pursuit of immortality.

Lu Chang’sheng was moved, thinking to himself: I must owe my teacher too much in this life.

Leaving the Institute and returning home, he barely stepped in the door when he heard cries and wails coming from the side courtyard.

"What’s going on?"

Lu Chang’sheng’s face darkened a little as he asked his subordinates.

Over these ten days, many servants had gradually been dismissed, each given their due silver coins—this much, Lu Chang’sheng wouldn’t skimp on. A few who wished to follow him remained.

Now his parents were old, and it was good to have someone to look after them.

"It’s the madams from the main wing—they don’t want to leave," someone replied.

Lu Chang’sheng frowned and walked over; soon he saw two women kneeling, wailing and lamenting that the Lu family was foolish—for why leave the good Prefecture City?

They didn’t even spare Lu Chang’sheng.

These days, since word spread that Lu Chang’sheng had resigned, a lot of folks had held him up to ridicule.

Lu Haozi stood in front of them, face flushed, and slapped both women right across the face.

Despite still having a bit of the peasant’s temper to him, he wouldn’t tolerate anyone speaking poorly of Lu Chang’sheng.

"Big brother, if the two sisters-in-law don’t want to leave, just let them stay in Prefecture City!"

At these words, the two concubines cheered up and hurriedly said, "Don’t worry, Chang’sheng, we’ll stay here and help look after your estates. When you come back, you’ll have somewhere to stay right away, won’t you?"

Lu Chang’sheng was both annoyed and amused.

They were trying to take over what he owned.

Quite ambitious.

But—

"No need. I’ve already transferred the estate. You won’t need to trouble yourselves."

The two concubines froze for a moment, then quickly said, "It’s all fine, this works too. With so much left in the mansion, we’ll manage!"

Lu Chang’sheng no longer felt any need to talk to them. He called out to Lu Haozi and asked, "So, brother, what do you think of the two sisters-in-law?"

Lu Haozi answered shamefully, "I must’ve been blind to ransom them out of a brothel back then."

"So you don’t really like them anymore? Since they don’t want to leave, why not write out a letter of divorce and ask them to go their own way?"

Lu Chang’sheng was simply offering a suggestion, but judging by Lu Haozi’s reaction, that divorce letter was sure to come.

Sure enough, by evening, howls and curses erupted from the side courtyard—the two concubines had thought they could handle Lu Haozi, but he had cut them off at the root.

The two tried to take their grievances to the old matriarch, but several men from the Protector Institute threw them out directly.

Of course, their severance pay was given, showing the Lu family’s full measure of kindness and duty.

At a time like this, when someone drags you down, Lu Chang’sheng wouldn’t tolerate it for a second.

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The household began packing up. Seeing the hour was right, Lu Chang’sheng left the mansion and headed to the Xiao Market courtyard.

Soon after, all the core members of the Martial Artist Council who could make it arrived.

"War will probably break out within a year’s time. If anyone here wants to avoid fighting, you may leave with me, but my quota isn’t large. For each of you, I can take just two family members."

As long as you weren’t a True Qi Realm martial artist, Lu Chang’sheng was confident he could bring you along. It was easy enough for him to do.

At these words, the core members’ faces showed deep gratitude.

But they hadn’t gathered here just for this; they’d come to exchange two rare items, and the agreed-upon martial arts techniques.

There were dozens of martial arts skills in total, along with a sizeable stock of medicinal herbs.

This was the fruit of the Martial Artist Council’s efforts to collect resources for him. Afterward, he changed the meeting place, double checked everything, and left.

War brings opportunities; many in the Martial Artist Council had clawed their way up from the bottom, and none wanted to miss their chance.

These days, the council had fully matured; even without Lu Chang’sheng’s help, they could stand firm in Black Mountain Prefecture.

In the days to come, the power he could draw from the council would only grow.

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