Under One Person: The Seeker of the Dao in the Lü Family

Chapter 353 Arrival in Northeast China, Tianchi Island

Seeing this, Lü Ci carefully put away the invitation in his hand, and a rare, kind smile appeared on his face.

"Alright, then I'll take my great-grandson to eat at a fancy restaurant. Don't be stingy, bring out all the good stuff for us to taste."

Gao Zhan caught a glimpse of Lü Ci's awkward smile, spat, "You've got some nerve. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of food and drink. Just make sure you look good for me."

As he spoke, he looked up at Lü Qian on the upper bunk, and after a few breaths of silence, he said, "There is one more thing that I need to trouble Little Lü Zu to help with."

"My lineage has been passed down to my grandson Gao Lian. There are no male grandsons after him, only two granddaughters, both of whom are quite talented. However, my younger granddaughter has encountered a calamity."

"We originally named her Erzhuang in the hope of having another grandson, but now Erzhuang is physically disabled and mentally unstable. Before, we only hoped to save her life."

As Gao Zhan spoke, he looked at Lü Ci and earnestly requested his old acquaintance, "I've heard everything from Gao Lian about what happened at the Lü family's birthday banquet. Your Lü family is now practicing both medicine and martial arts, and I would like to ask Young Master Lü to help treat my granddaughter."

"Ideally... we could use our dual-wielding techniques to completely restore her physical body and soul. My Gao family will surely repay you handsomely in the future."

"Alright, let's not talk about the future anymore. I'll get Lü Qian to help you, so you have to help me in return."

Lu Ci interrupted Gao Zhan's promise and pointed directly to the towering mountains outside the window, "This time I came to the Northeast in a personal capacity and did not bring any members of my clan."

"You know what I'm looking for. Things have changed, and it's probably buried somewhere in some ravine. Send some people to help me, and while you're at it, keep an eye on those Japanese and some yellow-skinned devils."

As he spoke, Lü Ci's previously unrestrained demeanor was once again replaced by murderous intent. "If they make any moves, don't stop them. Just tell me their location. I haven't killed enough back then."

"Hehe, these are all minor matters."

Gao Zhan waved his hand. During the war, every family had been caught off guard and ambushed by that strange sword. Naturally, some members of the Gao family had also died under the demonic sword. They certainly did not want that Japanese sword, stained with blood, to be taken back to Japan so easily.

"If you really turn that knife into a chamber pot, remember to give it to this old man for a couple of days."

"It's your turn to speak."

Gao Zhan and Lü Ci engaged in a witty banter. Afterward, Gao Zhan left his seat, opened the door, and walked outside. The corridor was now clean and tidy, just as it had been when he got into the car, and the bloody scene from before was gone.

"Alright, now that we're past Shanhaiguan, I need to hurry up and deliver the invitations on time. If we miss the date, the Gao family banquet won't be able to take place."

Gao Zhan walked out of the room and waved back into the room behind him, "Thanks, Hedgehog Lü. I'll send you two ginseng roots later."

Before he finished speaking, the surrounding light distorted almost imperceptibly for a moment before returning to normal, and Gao Zhan's figure had already disappeared, as if he had blended into the surrounding light and shadow.

Lu Ci closed the door and explained to Lu Qian, "Gao Zhan is from the same generation as us, and he is the only old man in the Gao family who is still alive on the surface."

"I met this old guy on the battlefield back then. Back then, this old guy relied on the Gao family's methods to appear and disappear mysteriously in the Japanese regiment and take the heads of many soldiers."

Recalling the glorious past, a glint of light flickered in Lü Ci's eyes, as if the scene from back then was being replayed.

"When I first learned of your great-grandfather's death, I brought the Lü family to the Northeast. We rampaged through the battlefield, and it was thanks to the Gao family's help that I was able to survive; otherwise, I would have been lying on this very ground long ago."

"But since I survived, I'm going to kill my fill now."

"Speaking of which, sir, what was the story behind the Gao family banquet?"

Lu Ci suppressed his murderous intent and took out the invitations he had been carrying in his bosom again, handing Lu Qian's copy to him.

"As mentioned before, the Gao family cultivates medicinal herbs, and their methods are unique and their yields are abundant. They can be said to be the main source of medicinal herbs in the industry. Even if there are four Gao families, they cannot possibly fill such a large gap by themselves."

"Therefore, every now and then, the Gao family would hold a grand banquet to invite guests from other families to discuss the profit sharing of the medicinal herbs."

"At the banquet tables, the Gao family will bring out the precious medicinal herbs and spiritual materials they have cultivated for guests from all directions to enjoy, which can be considered the 'Peach Banquet' of the circle."

Lu Ci stroked his chin. "The last grand banquet was back in your great-grandfather's generation. After the war broke out, the banquet was not held for a long time, and I have never tasted those so-called delicacies."

"As for the Gao family's small banquet, it's not for outsiders. It's a banquet for the Gao family members themselves, and it's for the immortal spirits of this land."

"After all, the Gao family makes a living on this black soil, and they have to give some explanation to the spirits and fairies in the mountains and forests."

Lu Qian unfolded the invitation in his palm. The contents were formal and serious, inviting guests to attend the grand banquet at the Gao family's residence.

After reading the invitation, Lü Qian casually swiped it, and the dark red paper disappeared into thin air, leaving a whisk in his hand.

"Last time I came to the Northeast, those spirits had some schemes against me. I don't know if they will come knocking on my door again this time."

Lu Qian turned his wrist, and white dust swept across his sleeves, hanging neatly at his elbows. He closed his eyes and began his cultivation.

The train travels through the mountains and forests, heading north. The wind and snow along the way become increasingly fierce, and the scenery is gradually filled with pure white, leaving only the train tracks pointing into the distance.

Deep in the Northeast, a mountain range lies in layers upon layers. Here, peaks and ridges abound, and hidden in the dark green valleys are many species, as well as many histories and legends.

This is the legendary last living dragon vein – Changbai Mountain.

Nestled atop countless mountain peaks are sparkling, clear "gems," naturally formed "heavenly pools." These pools, embedded in the mountaintops, gather the auspicious energy from all directions, making them exceptionally beautiful and spiritually resonant.

"Big sister, please give us a straight answer on what we should do next?"

In the center of a heavenly lake atop a mountain, some rocks naturally rise up, forming a lake island in the middle of the lake.

At this moment, two wisps of smoke-like creatures gathered on the island, each occupying a corner of the island, looking anxiously toward the center of the island, where a white fox sat cross-legged.

This white fox is much larger than its kind, and it sits with its five palms facing the sky, resembling a cultivator, with its eyes closed and breathing. With each breath, the white mist rising from the surrounding lake is drawn into its body and then turns into wisps of white smoke that drift away.

"As things stand, so be it. What wicked schemes are you plotting now?"