Chapter 111: Musashi's Editing and Review

“Are you Lu Sheng?”
“The one who just defeated Lu Yunfei?”

Before Luo Liheng could respond, a thin, somewhat disheveled elderly man emerged from the room. After exchanging greetings with Lu Chunyuan, he addressed Lu Sheng.

As one of the chief editors of the Grand Jing Musang and the actual person in charge of its compilation, Luo Boqing held a first-rank official position and was himself a powerful martial saint, ranked thirty-third on the Heavenly List.

Facing such a formidable figure, Lu Sheng naturally dared not be negligent. He bowed respectfully and replied, “I am Lu Sheng, the one who just defeated Lu Yunfei!”

No matter what he had done before or how many he had defeated, in Yujing and in Wuyuan, his most resounding title now was that of the victor over Lu Yunfei, becoming the foremost young talent of the Lu family in the Grand Jing.

“Hmm.”

Luo Boqing examined Lu Sheng carefully and seemed quite pleased with his demeanor. He then said to Lu Chunyuan, “Since he wishes to join, let him be an editor.”

“It’s rare to have such a promising young talent voluntarily join the Musang Institute.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Luo Liheng with a mix of frustration and disappointment. “Look, he’s only eighteen, stronger than you, and yet he’s eager to be an editor at the Musang Institute—”

“You’re no longer young. Always acting like a child. When will you ever mature?”

“This time, no matter what you think, you must come to the Musang Institute!”

With that, he and Lu Chunyuan discussed and decided to transfer Luo Liheng to the Musang Institute.

“No!”

Luo Liheng, who had been looking for a chance to slip away, suddenly stamped his foot in frustration at these words.

Seeing Lu Chunyuan already agreeing to transfer his position, he suddenly turned to Lu Sheng, his eyes glinting as he loudly declared, “If you want me to come to the Musang Institute, then I must be an editor!”

“I don’t want to be a reviewer, just running errands for those old geezers!”

Within the Musang Institute, editors had the autonomy to independently revise martial arts techniques, whereas reviewers only performed checks and filled in omissions.

Such work was intricate and tedious, with little autonomy. Given Luo Liheng’s impulsive nature, he naturally could not tolerate it.

Thus, seeing the situation was irreversible, Luo Liheng presented this condition to his grandfather.

“Hmph!”

With a cold snort, Luo Boqing’s beard bristled with anger as he shouted, “You dare ask to be an editor at the Musang Institute? You’re just a martial artist! Allowing you to be a reviewer here is already me showing you favor!”

“If not, with your current attitude, no one would even want you to guard the gates of the Musang Institute!”

As a center for martial arts compilation, the Musang Institute might not wield great power, but it was a sacred place many yearned for.

Ordinary great martial artists, once affiliated with the court, were often immediately granted a seventh-rank official position.

However, within the Musang Institute, newly arrived great martial artists, even if holding seventh-rank status, had to start as seventh-rank reviewers.

For Luo Liheng, a martial artist, to be on par with those great martial artists upon entering the Musang Institute was already Luo Boqing indulging his grandson.

Precisely because of his grandson’s ingratitude, Luo Boqing felt not only anger but also a sense of humiliation and fury.

At once, he and Lu Chunyuan forcibly fixed Luo Liheng’s position.

—

“Sigh!”

“It’s over! It’s over!”

“From now on, I’ll be running errands for those dull old men who only care about martial arts!”

Lamenting, Luo Liheng knew the situation was beyond redemption. Looking at Lu Sheng, an unscrupulous idea formed in his mind:

“Grandpa, though this Lu Sheng is stronger than me, he is still young. His martial arts insight surely isn’t as deep as mine.”

“Why not let me team up with him? I’ll actually handle the editing while he assists me!”

After their recent confrontation, Luo Liheng already knew Lu Sheng’s strength far surpassed his own. But in his mind, an eighteen-year-old young man’s insight could never compare to his own at thirty.

If he could swap positions and truly oversee the martial arts revisions—

That outcome might still be acceptable!

As he schemed quietly, Luo Boqing said, “You want to partner with Lu Sheng?”

“Fine! I’ll grant you that!”

“In the future, any martial arts edited by Lu Sheng, you shall review and fill in the gaps—”

“If any mistakes occur, see how I deal with you!”

Then, Luo Boqing instructed, “Since Lu Sheng has just arrived, you will take him around and help him settle in nearby.”

“Tomorrow, I will personally take you both to the Editing Hall!”

Handing Lu Sheng and Luo Liheng each a token, he told them to find a nearby courtyard to reside in—

From then on, both officially joined the Musang Institute.

“Ah!”

Holding the token inscribed with “Musang Institute Seventh-Rank Reviewer Luo Liheng,” Luo Liheng sighed heavily and grimaced as he said to Lu Sheng, “Editor Lu, take it easy while editing the books. Don’t wear us out!”

Then, seemingly resigned but secretly pleased, he saluted his new superior—

For Luo Liheng, working under Lu Sheng, a young man with a bright future, was far preferable to serving under the old men.

At least they could share some common ground.

That speech he made earlier was actually part of this plan!

—

“Hmm, then go ahead.”

Waving them away, Luo Boqing gestured for Lu Sheng and Luo Liheng to leave, then called to Lu Chunyuan as they headed toward the living room.

“Wait!”

Stopping him, Lu Chunyuan said, “There’s one more thing, Boqing, I’ll need your help with.”

Then, looking at Lu Sheng, he said, “Lu Sheng, where is the Snow Eagle Beast that the Old Ancestor Wan Shan gave you? Why haven’t you brought it out yet?”

“You’ve kept this secret for so long—is it because you intend to keep it for yourself?”

If not for overhearing this matter during his recent visit to Lu Wanshan, Lu Chunyuan wouldn’t have known that Lu Sheng carried the corpse of a Snow Eagle Beast.

However, whether Lu Sheng had forgotten or was deliberately withholding it, he had never mentioned it.

Seeing him about to leave with Luo Liheng, Lu Chunyuan had no choice but to bring it up himself.

“Snow Eagle Beast?”

“Oh! Oh! It’s with me.”

As if suddenly recalling, Lu Sheng produced a spatial pouch and handed it to Lu Chunyuan, smiling awkwardly, “It’s right inside here.”

At the same time, he discreetly expended merit energy to scan the corpse of this fourth-rank Snow Eagle Beast.

“Eagle Eye Technique? And the manipulation of ice and snow power—”

“This Snow Eagle Beast’s innate talents are quite decent!”

Finally, after acquiring merit energy, he had obtained the divine runic pattern of this Snow Eagle Beast’s innate ability—

This was also the reason he had never handed it over to Lu Chunyuan before!

—

“Hmm, you’re an honest kid—”

“You haven’t tampered with it!”

Looking at the Snow Eagle Beast corpse inside the spatial pouch, Lu Chunyuan noticed its primordial core was missing but assumed it had been taken by Lu Wanshan.

He then handed it over to Luo Boqing, saying, “Brother Boqing, the Old Ancestor Wan Shan has arranged for the Wuyuan, especially your Musang Institute, to use this Snow Eagle Beast as a basis to organize relevant martial arts and techniques.”

“This task will be the main focus of the Musang Institute in the coming years, so you must give it your utmost attention!”

Though the Musang Institute primarily focused on compiling the Musang, it also bore the important responsibility of organizing and innovating martial arts—

This grand master’s task was precisely why Lu Chunyuan personally brought Lu Sheng to the Musang Institute.