"Recruitment Envoy, this humble girl truly did not know it was you. My apologies for the poor reception and for disturbing your meal. Everything was Qi Jie's fault, and it has nothing to do with the Qi family. I beg the Recruitment Envoy not to hold the Qi family accountable." As soon as Qi Jie arrived, she immediately bowed nervously and apologized.
She had just made a call home, and unexpectedly, the family head had guessed it was the Recruitment Envoy. This had terrified her, and she had rushed over. The news of the Recruitment Envoy destroying the Silver Spear Xue family had spread throughout the martial world; who would dare offend him?
"Alas! I intended to deliver a message discreetly, but it seems even that is not possible! Very well! I shall visit the Qi family then!" Lu Fan knew that if he remained too polite, the Qi family would only become more anxious. It appeared his notorious reputation for destroying the Xue family indeed had a significant deterrent effect.
Upon seeing the Recruitment Envoy agree to stay, the Qi family members were overjoyed. Qi Muyun and Qi Jie led the way, and they all returned to the Qi family. The Qi family had already prepared a grand banquet, and almost everyone from the Qi family was present, all eager to catch a glimpse of the Recruitment Envoy's esteemed presence.
"Recruitment Envoy! It was my oversight before, not recognizing the esteemed Recruitment Envoy. I shall punish myself with a drink and then offer you another." After speaking, Qi Jie indeed drank a cup herself, then poured a cup for Lu Fan and refilled her own.
"Esteemed Recruitment Envoy, I shall drink first to show my respect!" Qi Jie downed the wine in one gulp. After two cups, Qi Jie's small face began to flush.
Lu Fan smiled faintly. The Qi family seemed overly nervous. He didn't appear to be that ferocious, did he? He picked up his wine cup and finished it in one go.
"Esteemed Recruitment Envoy! I have already read the letter from the old family head. Thank you for your care of our ancestor. Here is a deposit slip for four hundred million; please accept it!" At this moment, Qi Muyun handed over a deposit slip.
"Patriarch Qi! I cannot accept payment without merit; I cannot take this money!" Lu Fan hastily declined.
"Esteemed Recruitment Envoy, the old family head wishes to ask for your guidance on the Qi family's cultivation methods!" After speaking, Qi Muyun handed the letter back to Lu Fan.
Lu Fan took it and understood. It turned out that the cultivation methods passed down in the Qi family were only suitable for women. Therefore, for countless years, the powerful figures in the Qi family had all been women, while the men's skills were mediocre. The Qi family had thus evolved into a rare matriarchal clan in the world.
Hence, Hua Liu wished for Lu Fan to help the Qi family, asking Lu Fan to provide guidance in exchange for generous gifts.
"So that's how it is! However, this would require me to understand the Qi family's ancestral cultivation methods. This... isn't quite appropriate, is it!?" Lu Fan said hastily.
To perfect a cultivation method, one must first understand its flaws, which necessitates understanding it. This would mean the Qi family's secret, unpassed knowledge would be revealed to others.
"It's fine! If our ancestor trusts you, how can we be suspicious? Here are the Qi family's ancestral cultivation methods; please guide us." Patriarch Qi, Qi Muyun, directly produced a cultivation manual and handed it to Lu Fan.
Lu Fan took it and read it carefully, immediately understanding. This cultivation method was similar to the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra that Liu Ruyan and others practiced; it was indeed most suitable for women. However, it was not as advanced as the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra.
"I can help you modify it, but it will take some time," Lu Fan said.
"Then we shall trouble the esteemed Recruitment Envoy to reside at the Qi mansion for a period. Please state any needs you may have, and we will certainly comply," Qi Muyun said joyfully and hurriedly.
The banquet dispersed, and the moon hung high. Lu Fan was arranged to rest in a rather luxuriously decorated room. However, just as the butler who had brought Lu Fan left, Qi Jie, with a flushed face, presented herself.
"Rec... Recruitment Envoy, if you have any needs, please tell this humble girl," Qi Jie said, her face flushed red.
"Alas! She's trying to learn from Hong Xiaojiao again!" Lu Fan shook his head slightly. Qi Jie was certainly trying to emulate Hong Xiaojiao: drink first, then offer herself, to win his favor. These people all thought he was a great lecher, but they didn't know that he and Hong Xiaojiao were merely drinking companions.
"Then you shall first cultivate your Qi family's cultivation methods!" Lu Fan did not let Qi Jie leave and directly had her cultivate. He would guide her from the side. Not for any other reason than for Hua Liu's trust in him.
"Cultivate?" Qi Jie was somewhat surprised. Wasn't it supposed to be...? Was she not beautiful enough? Or did this brat have other preferences? Fine... cultivate!
Throughout the night, Lu Fan guided Qi Jie in her cultivation while also modifying the Qi family's cultivation methods. He devised a set of cultivation techniques suitable for men.
The next day, when Lu Fan handed the modified cultivation methods to Qi Muyun, Qi Muyun took a look and repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Lu Fan did not stand on ceremony, accepted the three hundred million deposit slip, and then took his leave.
After seeing Lu Fan off, Qi Muyun's gaze fell upon Qi Jie. Qi Jie immediately blushed and shrugged her shoulders, "Patriarch! The Recruitment Envoy merely guided my cultivation; he did nothing else."
"Did nothing? Did nothing... it can't be said he did nothing! Immediately build a stone statue of the Recruitment Envoy in the temple, a golden effigy. Publicly, you must say that the Recruitment Envoy stayed at the Qi family for several nights..." Qi Muyun immediately said.
"Patriarch, the Recruitment Envoy's character is not that kind of person... Alright! You want to use the Recruitment Envoy's name to establish prestige in the martial world." Qi Jie understood instantly. However, she felt uncomfortable. This had linked her and the Recruitment Envoy together; she was afraid no one would dare marry her in the future. Would she be single for life?
"Qi Jie! With your aptitude, you will surely become the patriarch of the Qi family in the future. What is this small sacrifice compared to that!" Qi Muyun, seeing Qi Jie's thoughts, rolled his eyes and said. He himself wished he could be linked with the Recruitment Envoy, even in a real, tangible way! But would the man even fancy him? Humph!
Lu Fan was driving back when he suddenly encountered a crowd blocking the road. Traffic had come to a standstill. Moreover, many people had gotten out of their cars and rushed to the front to watch the commotion.
What had happened? Lu Fan was curious, so he stopped his car and joined the crowd ahead.
"There's been a car accident! I heard an old lady was trying to stage a hit-and-run, but she encountered a female driver. The female driver was a novice and unfamiliar with the road conditions. She was too busy looking at her phone's navigation and didn't notice the old lady lying in front of the car. So, she ran over her. And then it became a tragedy!"
Someone in the crowd said.
"Holy crap? Could it be that elder who supported a whole family?" Lu Fan heard this and rushed to the front. Upon seeing, it was indeed that old elder. The sedan had clearly run over her chest, and she was already deceased. Around her, a large group of people were kneeling and crying profusely, including the five fellows who had threatened to teach him a lesson and smash his car yesterday.