Chapter 1145 Returning South in Disgrace
There is a barren hillside with uneven terrain in the southern suburbs of Dengzhou, with no village in front and no shop behind, and it is called "Luangang".

To the south of Luangang there is a naturally nurtured, wildly growing forest, often covered with thick fog, which is called the "Fog Forest".

At the junction of chaotic hills and foggy forests, there is a weathered and dilapidated tea stall called "Shun Da".

Although the tea stall is located in the wilderness, although it serves mostly strangers, although its environment is extremely simple, the tea it sells is expensive and of extremely poor quality, and even the attitude of the shopkeeper and the waiters towards the customers is indifferent and perfunctory, it has still been operating here for many years and has remained standing.

The reason for this is that it is located at the border between Mongolia and the Song Dynasty. Going north over the chaotic hills, you can reach Dengzhou under the jurisdiction of Mongolia, and going south through the foggy forest, you can enter Junzhou under the jurisdiction of the Song Dynasty.

After the fall of the Jin Dynasty, the war finally came to an end, and peace and vitality returned to Dengzhou. Gradually, merchants and escort vehicles shuttled between Song and Mongolia, and peddlers and hawkers came and went in an endless stream. As the only resting place within a radius of 40 to 50 miles, Shunda Tea Shop never had to worry about business.

Tracing back to the origin, Luangang and Wulin were originally under the jurisdiction of Dengzhou, which belonged to the sphere of influence of Mongolia. However, due to years of war and rampant banditry, the people who lived and multiplied here fled one after another. Over time, the houses here collapsed, the fields were barren, and it finally became a wasteland.

The deserted area meant that there was no money to be made, so the government turned a blind eye. The robbers gradually dispersed because there was no one to rob.

In a few years, the barren land that was once “no man’s land” turned into a “paradise”. As a result, some bold and careful people bribed the Dengzhou government, opened a shop here under the banner of “official post station” to sell tea, recruit cross-border customers, and make a profit from the one-time business.

It is called a teahouse, but in reality it is just two straw huts with drafts on all sides, which is as rudimentary as it can be. Looking at the long tables and benches of different heights and the pots, bowls, cups and plates with missing edges, it is not difficult to see how the shopkeeper is just making do with this business? It is also not difficult to guess his selfish intention of "running away when things get bad".

After all, a pile of broken tables, broken stools, and soup would not cost much money even if all were thrown away. Especially in a place where people don't even need to be buried, who knows what will happen tomorrow? At a critical moment, saving one's life is far more important than saving these "broken belongings".

This kind of "doing the job as usual" is quite similar to many outlaws who commit murder for money.

The difference is that the owner of Shunda Tea Shop only wants to make money but does not have the courage to kill people.

May 10th, noon.

The sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind was blowing suddenly, the sky and earth were filled with a yellow chaotic mist, and the air was filled with the fragrance of rain and dew. It was as if the heavens were planning a thunderstorm, just waiting for the world to be unprepared and pouring down.

Seeing the strange phenomenon in the sky and fearing unexpected events, many merchants passing by did not dare to rashly enter the chaotic hills or foggy forests. They all stayed at Shunda Tea House, planning to continue their journey after the weather cleared.

What’s interesting is that although there are clearly two tea stalls here, today’s merchants tacitly chose to sit in the front tea stall. Even though the stall was already overcrowded, they still refused to move to the back tea stall. Even though there was only one person sitting in the back tea stall and the space was very spacious, no one was interested.

The reason was that outside the tea stall behind there were a dozen burly men with ferocious looks and sharp blades in their hands. They stared at everyone who approached with gloomy and fierce eyes. The unsheathed swords were held in their hands with great fanfare. The shiny blades were flashing with a faint cold light, which was breathtaking and frightening.

Keep away from idle people, it is self-evident.

When traveling abroad, peace is the most important thing. Moreover, the merchants had never met these burly men before and had no grudges against them, so there was no need to risk their lives and cause trouble.

Compared to the noisy and bustling tea stall in front, the tea stall in the back is a different scene.

But sitting at the long table in the middle of the tea stall was a middle-aged man with a golden and jade-like appearance and a handsome appearance. He held a teacup in his right hand and held a letter between two fingers of his left hand, examining it carefully.

This person was none other than Jin Fu Yu, who had lost interest in the anti-traitor conference and temporarily left.

On the left and right of Jin Fuyu stood a man and a woman. The two people on the left with gloomy and solemn expressions were Song Yu and Leng Yiyi, who accompanied Jin Fuyu to the anti-traitor meeting. The two people on the right with wandering eyes and uneasy thoughts were Ding Ao and Dong Xiaoer.

Although Ding Ao and Dong Xiaoer did not show up at the anti-traitor conference, they had been lurking in Luoyang City to gather information.

Everything was arranged by Jin Fu Yu. He led Song Yu and Leng Yiyi in the front, while Ding Ao and Dong Xiaoer followed quietly behind. One in front and one behind, one in the light and one in the dark, they looked after each other to ensure everything was in place.

As for the letter in Jin Fuyu's hand, it was from Lu Tingxiang. On that day, Lu Tingxiang, Zuo Hongxuan and Miao'an were turned away at Danfeng Garden, and were sent away from Luoyang City by Xie Xuan with false affection. The two sides had already known each other's attitudes.

Different from the indignant Zuo Hongxuan and the hesitant Miao An, the cautious Lu Tingxiang was the first to understand the situation. He knew that he could never integrate into Liu Xunyi's camp, and he also understood that the Jiangnan Lu family alone would not be able to survive for long in the turbulent world of Jianghu.

As everyone knows, the Lu family has dominated Jiangnan for four generations, and it has been nearly a hundred years since then. There are countless heroes and overlords in the martial arts world who have coveted this rich land, but they only regret that they can't find an opportunity to change the ownership of Jiangnan.

In the past, relying on the prominent reputation of the ancestors of the Lu family, and the fact that the martial arts structure of the six major sects and four major families was very stable, others only dared to covet the Lu family secretly but did not dare to act rashly.

The present is different from the past. Luo Tianjin and Qingfeng, two former leaders of the martial arts world, have died one after another. The Xianwang Mansion and Wudang have fallen into a precarious situation. Liu Xunyi has jumped from an unknown person to a hot figure in the Central Plains martial arts world... The sudden turmoil in the martial arts world is bound to break the old and establish the new. In such a critical situation, the Jiangnan Lu Mansion, which has occupied the wealthy land of Jiangnan with its ancestral property, has a long-standing grudge against Liu Xunyi, and is relatively weak compared to other sects and families, is very likely to become the first victim of this catastrophe.

Lu Tingxiang has both self-knowledge and the ability to judge people. He knows that in the current martial arts world, only Jin Fuyu has the qualifications and strength to compete with Liu Xunyi's lineage. Perhaps only Jin Fuyu can keep the Jiangnan Lu Mansion prosperous in the turbulent times.

After careful consideration, Lu Tingxiang believed that the Jiangnan Lu Mansion had reached a critical moment of life and death and he could not afford to hesitate. The wisest choice now was undoubtedly to take the lead in showing goodwill to Jin Fuyu before other sects and forces surrendered to him, and seek a strong and stable backing.

Therefore, in order to seize the initiative, Lu Tingxiang wrote this heartfelt and touching handwritten letter on his way home, and sent someone to deliver the letter overnight.

However, unlike what Lu Tingxiang expected, Jin Fuyu did not show much joy after reading his letter. Instead, he inadvertently revealed a hint of disgust.

This section can also be seen from the action of Jin Fu Yu holding the letter with just two fingers.

When Jin Fuyu read the last word expressionlessly, he actually threw Lu Tingxiang's handwritten letter on the table like waste paper.

Seeing this, Song Yu and the other three looked at each other in surprise.

"Master, what did Lu Tingxiang say in the letter?"

Seeing that Jin Fu Yu was reluctant to express his opinion, Song Yu, who was full of doubts, hesitated again and again under the urging of Leng Yiyi, Ding Ao and Dong Xiaoer, and finally gritted his teeth and asked in a low voice.

The reason why he spoke first was because among the four people, Song Yu had followed Jin Fu Yu the longest and their relationship was closer than that of the others.

In fact, Jin Fu Yu had been in a bad mood since the Anti-Traitor Conference. Although he did not show much emotion, he was taciturn and serious along the way, and even often turned a deaf ear to the active concern of Song Yu and others.

Those who could accompany Jin Fuyu were all shrewd people who could read people's expressions and see the big picture from the small details. What kind of person was Jin Fuyu? He always remained calm even when faced with a great crisis. His unusual behavior recently was not seen for more than ten years. It was extremely rare. How could it not alert Song Yu and others?

Because of this, Song Yu, Ding Ao and others privately issued strict orders to the accompanying disciples, asking them to be careful all the way to Jingjiang Prefecture, not to say what they shouldn't say, not to do what they shouldn't do, not to look at what they shouldn't look at, and not to ask what they shouldn't ask. Strangers should try to stay away, so that no one will accidentally offend Jin Fuyu and make his already gloomy mood even worse.

Even Jin Fuyu's close confidants such as Song Yu, Leng Yiyi, Ding Ao, and Dong Xiaoer have been walking on tiptoe and speaking in a pinched voice these days. They are cautious in everything they do and think carefully about everything, for fear of causing Jin Fuyu's displeasure.

Faced with the curiosity of Song Yu and the other three, Jin Fu Yu remained silent and just sipped his tea.

Song Yu was well aware of Jin Fu Yu's temperament and knew that he had no intention of hiding anything, so he took the initiative to pick up the letter on the table and motioned Ding Ao, Leng Yiyi and Dong Xiaoer to read it together.

"It seems that our prediction was correct. Qingcheng, Emei and the Lu family did not get any advantage from Liu Xunyi." Dong Xiaoer sneered, "These three fence-sitters who change their minds according to the situation deserve to be the laughing stock of the world."

"People like Xie Xuan and Teng Sanshi have been in the martial arts world for many years. They are cunning and sly, and they are as smart as a human. How could they not see the secret intentions of Lu Tingxiang and others? However, Leng Yiyi pondered, "Now is a time of trouble. Even if they don't make friends with Qingcheng, Emei and the Lu family, they shouldn't offend them."

"Xie Xuan did not offend them, otherwise the owner would not have received only Lu Tingxiang's letter. I guess... Zuo Hongxuan and Miao An are still hesitating." Ding Ao carefully observed Jin Fuyu's expression while carefully guessing the trick behind the letter. "It's not that Xie Xuan doesn't know how to be decent, but Lu Tingxiang is too cunning. He knows that there is no room for two tigers in one mountain, and the Central Plains martial arts world will never return to the era of coexistence of the north and the south. Whether it is the owner's pursuit of the world's ambitions, or the connection between the sects behind Liu Xunyi, they have determined that they are stumbling blocks to each other. The existence of the other party is not only a threat, but also an obstacle. Therefore, we are with Xian Sooner or later, there will be a life-and-death battle between the palace...or between the palace and Liu Xunyi and the huge forces behind him. In this dangerous situation, anyone who takes it lightly may be caught in the crossfire. Anyone who is unclear about his position may become a lamb to be slaughtered. Even the six major sects and four great families that were once so powerful are no exception. As the owner of the Jiangnan Lu Mansion, Lu Tingxiang will certainly not be satisfied with a delicate relationship that is neither close nor distant, and he dare not put the life and death of his family in an ambiguous and dangerous situation. Therefore, after he is sure that he cannot get close to Liu Xunyi, he will surely be eager to establish an unbreakable offensive and defensive alliance with us. "

……