From Cellar to Throne: Zen's Quest for Immortality novel Chapter 7

Zen was so excited that he could barely sleep for more than half an hour.

The following morning, Zen was made to wear the leather armor before being escorted from the cellar in handcuffs.

Now that he had entered the bone refining level, his body produced a qualitative change. Although subtle, the change could be noticed in the way he walked. His gait was more relaxed, more coordinated, and more labor-saving for him.

If it hadn't been for the cuffs that limited his movements, Zen felt as though he could have made a run for it.

Zen was surprised when he saw that instead of the Martial Arts Hall, the guards were taking him elsewhere.

Although the Luo residence occupied a large area, it was planned well. In addition to the Martial Arts Hall, the residence had a Council Pavilion, Planting Park, and Weapon Refining workshop. Everything was well-planned and built in the vestibule part of the residence.

Zen looked around as he walked. He remembered that this path led to the inner area of the residence. Once they reached, the guards guided him down a narrower path that seemed to lead to the backyard of the Luo residence!

Zen's brow wrinkled, but he did not say anything. 'Let's wait and see where they are taking me, ' he thought.

Zen had not been to the backyard in a long time. He quietly observed the changes as he walked. The houses for his uncles and their families had been added to the Luo residence, along with several pavilions, and open halls. Once outside, Zen noticed that they had even made a few ponds, built bridges over them, and added a waterside pavilion pool.

The workmanship for these new buildings was exquisite. Each new building had high roofs supported by intricately carved beams. Dragons painted in gold glimmered under the early morning sun.

After seeing what his uncles had done to the residence, Zen could not help but wonder. Although the Luo's were a rich family, only the stronger people survived in this world. For a warrior, glory and wealth should be the last things to think about. If a family like his was content with the present glory and wealth and didn't pursue something more important, it wouldn't end up well surely.

Therefore, he believed that the Luo Clan would be ruined by his uncles sooner or later.

After the guards led Zen through a garden with a pond, they guided him through a narrow passage that led to a second yard.

There he saw two people enjoying tea.

When Zen looked carefully, he realized that one of them was Darren, the steward who had disappeared for two days. The other person was dressed in rich, satin clothing. He looked much older than fifty. Zen raised a brow as he recognized the second man to be Grey Huang. At one point, he too, had been a servant in the Luo Clan.

Grey Huang's wife had been the nanny to Andrew Luo. He was Zen's younger uncle's oldest son. Grey Huang was very good at patronizing. Perhaps that was what finally led to the elevation in his status within the Luo Clan.

From what Zen had heard from the gossip of the guards, his two uncles had been growing in influence and power. Since Grey Huang worked for them, his status had risen as well. He was a senior steward in the Luo Clan now. Since Grey was ambitious and thought highly of himself, he didn't pay much attention to Luo's collateral relatives.