No Medicine For Regret

"Lu Kai, tell me what happened? Where is Lu Fang? What happened to the Liu and the Bai clan?" Questioned Lu Donghai.

"Chief Hai is that you?" Asked Lu Kai. He then knelt on the ground, kowtowed nonstop and begged for forgiveness.

"Get up Lu Kai, calm yourself," said Donghai. He lifted Lu Kai and waited for him to settle his mind. Then he said again, "Tell me what happened."

After narrating the things that happened to the Woodsman Village Lu Kai begged for forgiveness again. Arthur, who was with his grandfather said, "You'll be forgiven and you'll be able to join our clan if you work for us. There will be some punishments for you so do you still want to follow us?"

Arthur knew that if there are punishments then only there will be discipline and any individual who suffers punishment for their crimes will be more guilt-free afterwards because the penalties would have already been paid. The guilt-ridden individual would never be able to grow in their cultivation. Only individuals who are free from restraints can rise high facing the obstacles.

Lu Kang felt relieved to hear Arthur's words because it shows that he was still accepted after what he had done. Similar things happen to other Lu clan members who were present. There were 45 deserted members. Some were Lu Fang's people and some belonged to Lu Taio's followers. When the war broke out most of the younger generation and some instructors who followed Lu Fang escaped to Blooming Lily Town to join Lu Taio and his men.

But, when they reached the town, they found out that Lu Taio has joined the traders association. In order not to be subjugated by others in town he used all the wealth of his clan that was in his possession to enrol himself to the business elites of town. As he became a mid-class business trader no one in the town was able to touch him...He was protected by the town mayor himself, a true Tribulation Realm expert. There was a rule that no traders in town were allowed to have a clan of their own, they were not allowed to join any clan either. They were only permitted to have their family handle the business and remain neutral. The policy behind it was to limit the powers of the trader's association and also to make them dependent on their masters for protection.

The town had 5 Tribulation realm experts two from the Mayor's family and the others belonged to the three major clans of the town.

Lu Kai also informed Donghai that only Lu Taio and his direct descendants were allowed to live in their new residence which they bought before and the remaining Lu clan members were thrown out into the streets. And when the senior members of the Lu Clan protested against Lu Taio they were arrested by the mayor's men and thrown into prison.

Hence, the juniors and instructors who were left out, along with the Lu clan members who escaped the war in the village and left for town, returned to hunt and earn money to bail out the seniors from the prison. They were confused and had no direction anymore.

Therefore, even though they were ashamed of their previous actions they were happy to see Lu Donghai again. Whether they have to face severe punishments, that would be their redemption. Acceptance by Donghai once more would give them hope for their wives and children. Besides, Lu Donghai was now more powerful than before.

Numerous other smaller clans came back to live in the ruined village as well. They escaped the war but came back because they knew that they cannot survive in town.

Hearing the treatment of Lu Taio, Lu Donghai was very angry. At first, he thought of forgiving him but now he wanted to kill him, he wanted to remove the scum of the earth to purify it. He said, "That degenerate is becoming worse and worse."

Although Donghai didn't use the name they all understood who Donghai was speaking of so Lu Xiang added, "Let's go and kill him."

Arthur whispered, "Father, don't stain your hands with his blood. Just don't do anything to him, let him rot in the bottom layer of the Town's power and regret it all his life."

Both Lu Donghai and Xiang exclaimed, "Well said Sansan." And Xiang repeated, "Let him rot at the bottom and regret all his life."

The other clans and families, upon witnessing the recourse of the Lu clan members who came together with them from town, also cried out, begging for forgiveness and asking Lu Donghai to take them. Some were the Liu clan's subordinates, some belonged to the Bai Clan's subordinate clans, some were the Lu clan's subordinates who betrayed them and some belonged to the neutral ones. Most of them belonged to younger generations ie, the second generations and third generations.

Lu Yehan said mentally, "Old Hai, let's accept them. There are nearly 300 people and we need people to work for us." He laughed softly like he had some evil thoughts and came out of the forest.

Lu Donghai replied, "Yehan, I told you to stay at the Woodsman village to guard and cultivate to Tribulation Realm. Why do you have to follow us all the way here? Do you want sister Nuan and brother Kong to surpass your cultivation?"

Lu Yehan said, "Old Hai, you know that they cannot surpass me, moreover I cannot use the crystal before I stabilise my cultivation. Those two lovers can guard the village so they don't need me." He called them lovers because they had been old lovers when they were young. No one knew what went wrong between them and they both got married to different people. Now, that they were both single again they were starting to act weirdly and Lu Yehan being Yehan doesn't let them act discreetly.

Soon, Lu Donghai and Yehan began to bicker between themselves. Lu Yehan followed them because he wanted to be with Arthur, he wanted to snatch Lu Donghai's grandson as his own. The two old men knew about it and always compete with one another to become the better grandfather.

Lu Xiang, getting annoyed by his father and uncle said, "We should go to town and rescue those seniors."

Zhao Mei emphasized, "No, we should not create another trouble, we should bail them out and bring them along with us."

Lu Xiang said, "Why should we waste our resources? The money and treasures we carry are for another purpose." Then he looked at Arthur.

The two bickering oldies also looked at Arthur. Arthur said, "Mother is right, we shall bail them out but isn't our village destroyed? There should be some certain village who should be accounted for this destruction. If no one takes responsibility then no village will be safe."

"Hahaha, Let's visit Breaking Dawn Village and ask for the explanation for destroying our village," said Lu Yehan after getting what Arthur meant behind his words. He was the most excited one when it comes to bullying others.

Then they gathered 60 strong and capable men from their ruined village and went to Breaking Dawn Village. The men were not brought along for attack but to transport the payment that they were about to receive.

The remuneration received by the Lu Clan from the Breaking Dawn Village was huge. Not only did they get back all the wealth that was ransacked but the treasury of the breaking down village was emptied by half. It was paid in full as a war reparation. Messing with a Tribulation Realm is not advisable thus, the village head who was at Pseudo Tribulation Realm immediately complied with the demand.

After returning to the ruins of Woodman village. Lu Donghai ordered, "Lu Yehan, you take these people to the Woodsman village and wait at the entrance of the groove and message the sentries to take these people inside. Now, our people don't need those seeds because we have dragon blood essence in our blood but don't give away those protective seeds yet, until we return, just escort them in. And I think we need to buy more desolate rain flower and their seeds for future use."

Lu Yehan said, "I didn't follow you to go back with these children, both Xiang and Mei are already in the Alleviation Realm, any one of them can do the job easily."

Zhao Mei immediately lifted Arthur in her arms and said, "Sansan needs her mother."

All of them laughed and looked at powerless Lu Xiang. Lu Xiang gritted his teeth helplessly and muttered remorsefully, "Fine, I'll take them back." He knew that even if Lu Yehan wasn't following them it would still be his job ultimately and if his uncle Yehan goes to town then both his son and his wife would be safer than him heading to town with them. His only regret was that his family's joyful excursion was spoiled.

The journey to the town went without any disturbance. Two small coaches given by the Breaking Down village trodded peacefully along the narrow path. They took the Lu clan members who had been staying in town for a year or more. So, when they reached the town they immediately rent an inn and bailed out the imprisoned Lu members. The captives on hearing the story of Lu Donghai and his profitable move against the Breaking dawn felt both apprehensive and ecstatic. And when they finally met Lu Donghai, Lu Yehan and Zhao Mei they broke down in tears and felt regretful for their actions. Nothing is forgiven effortlessly, nothing is forgotten easily; they had to earn respect once more, and they had to prove that they can be trusted again. It was an uphill battle but that was the only path left for them if they want to live in dignity and pride. Thenceforth, if anything disastrous comes their way they had to jump into it first to demonstrate that they are men of their word and honour.

The next thing the excursion party did was buy the essential things for the clan. They were richer than the richest people in town because they had the blood and carcasses of the flood Dragon but they cannot expose it casually. Thus they used the money which they carried with them and also the ones they got from war reparations. They bought good quality weapons, tools, and some herbs. They also bought some raw materials like iron, cotton, threads, salts, vegetable and crops, etc.

Arthur said, "let's visit shops where they sell cultivation manuals, battle skills and other important books. Then we should visit academies too. Maybe we should buy a mansion and a place to live in and a place to settle."

They soon bought the books that they needed, it was not to Arthur's satisfaction but it was enough for the present.

All the three members of his team didn't like to live in town and he also found that the standard of the education was not up to his expectations so he also gave up the idea. Besides, to open a shop in town, only the traders association was given full authorisation thus, they were left to sell their belongings to the traders who profited the most. This was also for this profit why selfish Lu Taio abandoned other Lu clan members.

Since the plan to settle in town was abandoned the trade route to the city was to be established so they decided to return back soon and occupy the snow-capped mountain.

Inside the inner chambers of commerce, Lu Taio was happily accounting for the business deals he had formed recently and grinned at the profits he had made. It was not up to his expectations but it was moderately profitable. Getting success quickly in town while competing with other tough and vicious wolves was not easy. He still made some progress, his family was in safe hands. He had already heard about the plight of his clan which makes him sad at times. However, at least his family had made progress which became his consolation. He felt that he had to make some tough choices thus, he did what was necessary for himself. He convinced himself that he had made the right decision, given these circumstances one cannot look after everyone. He believed that if he didn't make this choice none of his clan members would live.

The seniors who protested against him made their own foolish mistakes leading them to their own downfall. He thought, "Let them rot inside the prison for some time, when they learn their lessons I'll ask the mayor to release them."

At present, he had no clan, it was only the Lu family, a small family of merchants.

Just as he was running on all these thoughts, his grandson who had taken up a new job as town guard came running into his chamber calling him loudly.

Lu Taio shouted, "Hou'er, how many times do I have to tell you not to run inside this chamber?"

Lu Hou said, "Grandpa, bad news, bad news." He was breathless and wasn't able to speak out about anything.

"Calm down grandson, breathe first and then talk," said Lu Taio and waited patiently.

After partially controlling his breath Lu Hou spoke, "Grandpa, the prison guard said that an old senior whose name was registered as Lu Donghai came and bailed out all the Lu Prisoners, they said that he was a Tribulation Realm."

On hearing it, Lu Taio fell on his chair and sat there like a paralysed person for a long time.

Then when he settled down a little he inquired, "Did you hear his name correctly?" He knew that no one would come and rescue his clan members except for his own clan members but he hoped to hear a different name.

Lu Hou said, "They also said that another senior, a Pinnacle Stage Alleviation Realm named Lu Yehan registered and entered the prison with expert Donghai. There was also one woman with a child."

That was the final nail in his coffin, it cannot be another person. It was surely his brothers whom he betrayed. He was completely terrified of their revenge and he felt ashamed too. He felt too powerless and sat there without moving. He knew that both Lu Donghai and Lu Yehan had met a fruitful encounter and their rise in cultivation meant that even if a child or two escaped with them the Lu clan's rise was imminent.

They were entirely on a different level now. He also knew that he had no more chance to redeem himself, he had already proved his unworthiness twice. He thought, perhaps his children could be forgiven, but he was powerless to speak out about anything.

"Grandpa, Grandpa wake up," Lu Hou called him for a long time but he sat there motionlessly.

At last when Lu Hou left the room. He knelt on the ground banging his head on the floor and cried. After a remorseful episode, he stood up and quietly left the room and went home.