Great Dao Lord through Deducing Myriad Arts

When Wu Liangchen walked into the small courtyard, Third Brother Xie was sitting in the middle of it, enjoying the rare spring sunlight.

Upon seeing Wu Liangchen, she smiled faintly, patted the chair beside her, and gestured for him to sit down.

The weather in Huangpu Guard was truly wonderful today. The sky was a clear, cloudless blue.

The warm sunlight spilled down unobstructed, filling anyone it touched with a sense of bliss.

Wu Liangchen sat on the chair, savoring the rare moment of leisure.

Third Brother Xie said nothing either, and the two of them just sat there in silence.

After a long while, Third Brother Xie finally broke the silence. "You’ve worked hard during this time."

Wu Liangchen smiled. "You’re too kind."

"I’m not being kind. I’m thanking you on behalf of the girls of Flower Square," Third Brother Xie said with great earnestness. She then leaned back in her chair, squinting as she looked up at the sky.

"If you hadn’t turned the tide and stepped up to take control in time, I can’t imagine what kind of exploitation and oppression these already unfortunate girls would have suffered."

Wu Liangchen fell silent.

’Actually, his initial reasons for getting involved weren’t as noble as Third Brother Xie made them out to be. It was simply because the incident had affected him directly.’

’But now, after managing Flower Square for some time, he had come to deeply understand the hardships these women faced.’

’After all, no matter how you dressed it up, Flower Square was still a place where women sold their smiles by the door.’

’To put it more bluntly, he, Third Brother Xie, and the young men responsible for maintaining order were all supported by these women selling their smiles.’

’But what could be done?’

’In this rotten world, ordinary people already had to give their all just to survive, let alone these women with their tragic backgrounds and no one to rely on.’

’Of course, you could choose to shut down Flower Square to pursue some flawless moral high ground, but the result would only be to plunge these women into an even deeper hell.’

That was why Third Brother Xie’s actions truly deserved to be called an act of bodhisattva-like compassion.

The mere fact that she never exploited these women was commendable enough.

And Wu Liangchen, without realizing it, had been influenced by this atmosphere, which was why he was now tirelessly managing the situation.

"What happened last night?" Third Brother Xie proactively changed the subject.

"Mo Daoyuan hired two assassins from the Moon Pavilion in the East Sea to kill me. I ended up killing them instead. As for Ni Jingtian..."

"You could say he came looking for death."

Wu Liangchen then recounted the details.

After he finished, a look of disgust appeared on Third Brother Xie’s face.

"You did the right thing. Those recluses from the East Sea are the most insidious and vicious scum. You can’t afford to leave any loose ends."

"There’s one more thing. Zhu Wan’Er, the legitimate daughter of the Zhu family, came to see me this morning. She offered very generous terms to open a restaurant in the Square, so..."

"I have no objections!" Third Brother Xie cut Wu Liangchen off directly. "I’ve said it before: until I’ve recovered from my injuries, Flower Square is yours. You can handle anything as you see fit. You don’t need to consult me."

"But you need to think this through. Zhu Wan’Er’s intentions aren’t as simple as just opening a restaurant."

"I know. She wants to borrow our influence."

Third Brother Xie smiled. "I knew you’d have figured that out. I don’t need to say any more, then. Besides, this is a good thing."

"After all... these girls can’t spend their whole lives selling their smiles."

At this, Third Brother Xie’s expression suddenly grew dim.

"I opened the First-Class Restaurant for that very reason. It’s a shame it was burned down. I’ve been wanting to reopen it, but I never managed to."

"Now that this Zhu Wan’Er is willing to do it, just let her. The Zhu family are professionals when it comes to opening restaurants and eateries. And if they’re willing to hand over management rights, that’s even better."

"If you can, you should call back all the former employees of the First-Class Restaurant, especially the women who did odd jobs and washed dishes. They lost their jobs at the restaurant, and while the Square gives them a monthly stipend, it’s not a long-term solution."

"Alright!" Wu Liangchen nodded and stood up.

"I’ll be going then!"

"Go on," Third Brother Xie said with a smile.

Just as he walked out of the small courtyard, Wen Yunlong hurried over. "Brother Wu, Chengchun Mountain suddenly sent someone with a generous gift. This is the gift list. Should we accept it or not?"

Wu Liangchen knew of this Chengchun Mountain.

All the cloth and clothing shops on the street opposite Flower Square were opened by him. Combined with his shops elsewhere, he was a veritable textile tycoon in Huangpu Guard.

And the girls of Flower Square were his biggest customers, spending large amounts of silver coins in his shops every year.

But he’d never shown any gesture of goodwill before. Forget sending gifts; he rarely even exchanged pleasantries during holidays.

For him to suddenly send such a valuable gift now, the meaning was self-evident.

So, Wu Liangchen took the gift list, gave it a casual glance, and said, "Accept it. Why not? That iron rooster Chengchun Mountain is finally willing to pluck a feather; of course we should oblige him."

"Great! I’ll go tell the brothers to unload the carts right now." Wen Yunlong left, full of excitement.

...

「The Zhu Family Estate.」

This vast estate was left behind by Zhu Wan’Er’s great-grandfather. With a history of over two hundred years, it was considered an antique in a young city like Huangpu Guard.

Zhu Wan’Er’s carriage entered through a side gate and went straight to the courtyard where she lived.

After getting out of the carriage, Zhu Wan’Er first took a bath and changed her clothes before heading toward the main residence.

At the center of the estate was a courtyard with a front hall and a rear garden; it was also the residence of Zhu Wan’Er’s father, Zhu Zeyuan.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Zhu Wan’Er saw a woman standing and waiting with a boy of about eight or nine.

She recognized the woman.

It was the eleventh concubine her father had taken ten years ago when he was still robust, and the boy with her was her own half-brother.

Just then, the woman also saw Zhu Wan’Er. Her expression stiffened, and she quickly stepped aside, gently nudging the son standing beside her.

The little boy timidly stepped forward and bowed.

"Greetings, Sister!"

"Mm," Zhu Wan’Er nodded slightly and walked straight past them.

Only after she had left did the woman let out a long breath and mutter under her breath in a voice only she could hear.

"Who does she think she’s fooling? No matter how capable she is, she’s still a woman. In the end, won’t she have to find a man just like everyone else?"

Of course, she only dared to say such things to herself, never letting anyone else hear.

Zhu Wan’Er, oblivious to this, walked into the room and was immediately hit by the strong smell of medicine.

When she reached the inner room, she saw Uncle Zhong brewing medicine by the window.

"Uncle Zhong, let me do it!"

Zhu Wan’Er reached out to take over, but the old servant, who had followed Zhu Zeyuan for most of his life and was utterly loyal, waved his hand.

"Go on, the Master is waiting for you in his room, Young Miss."

’Waiting for me?’

Zhu Wan’Er’s mind raced. She nodded, then lifted the curtain and walked into the inner chamber.

The curtains in the room were drawn, making it somewhat dim. The air was filled with an indescribable smell.

It was a mixture of an old man’s body odor, the heavy scent of medicine, and the fragrance of flowers wafting in from the backyard.

The combination of these smells was enough to make one want to sneeze.

And there, the once-mighty Patriarch of the Zhu family, Zhu Zeyuan, was propped up against the headboard, half-lying and half-sitting, his eyes slightly narrowed in a state between sleep and wakefulness.

He no longer had any trace of his former vigor. His face was gaunt, his expression bleak, no different from any of the countless other elderly men in the world on the verge of death.

Although she came to his bedside to attend to him whenever she had the chance, seeing this scene still made Zhu Wan’Er’s heart ache.

She tiptoed to the bedside, about to tuck in the blankets for her father.

Suddenly, as if startled awake, Zhu Zeyuan’s eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing within them.

Though it was fleeting, it was a faint echo of his former commanding presence.

"Father!"

"Oh, it’s Wan’Er!" Zhu Zeyuan’s eyes gradually dimmed again, and he gave a weak smile.

"Have you eaten?"

"Yes, I’ve eaten!"

As she spoke, Zhu Wan’Er personally fetched a basin of hot water and, soaking a towel in it, began to wipe Zhu Zeyuan’s face.

Zhu Zeyuan closed his eyes, enjoying his daughter’s care. Suddenly, he asked, "You went to Flower Square?"

"Yes." Zhu Wan’Er had known her father was likely waiting to ask about this, so she confirmed it.

"Did you see that Wu Liangchen?"

"I did!"

"What did he say?" Zhu Zeyuan opened his eyes and looked directly into his daughter’s.

Though he was terminally ill and his powerful aura was gone, when Zhu Wan’Er met her father’s gaze, she still felt a piercing sting in her eyes.

It was as if those eyes could see right into the deepest secrets of a person’s heart, making one tremble with fear.

"He himself has already agreed in principle. He just said he needed to consult with Third Brother Xie, and then he would permit us to build a restaurant in Flower Square."

"Is that all?"

"That’s all!"

Of course, Zhu Wan’Er didn’t mention that she had eaten two large meat buns and ended up so full she threw up as soon as she got in the carriage.

Zhu Zeyuan’s expression gradually softened. "Very good. I support your decision. This Wu Liangchen’s momentum is at its peak right now. By opening a restaurant in Flower Square at this time—even as a joint venture where they take the lead—you can successfully borrow their influence."

"Moreover, this is a long-term investment. If Flower Square and this Wu Liangchen advance even further in the future, then this restaurant will be the Zhu family’s stepping stone to greater heights."

Though Zhu Zeyuan was paralyzed and bedridden, his mind was exceptionally clear, and he instantly dissected the pros and cons of the situation with perfect clarity.

Zhu Wan’Er nodded. "Yes, Father. That’s what I was thinking as well."

"You’ve done well. You’ve been busy all day; go back and get some rest." Zhu Zeyuan raised a hand as thin as a bamboo stalk and gently patted Zhu Wan’Er’s shoulder, speaking in a soft voice.

"Mm!" Zhu Wan’Er’s nose stung, and she almost burst into tears. But she quickly turned her head away, choked back a sob, and responded with a small hum through her nose before getting up to leave.

She didn’t dare let her father see her cry.

Ever since she was a child, whenever she shed tears, she was never met with comfort, but with her father’s stern lectures.

In Zhu Zeyuan’s words: "You are the one who will take charge of the Zhu family’s vast enterprise. How can you cry?"

So even now, as a grown woman, Zhu Wan’Er still didn’t dare show her father her vulnerable side.

And so, she hurried through the front courtyard, not even sparing a glance for the woman and her "brother."