Chapter 48: Steward Huang Killed

By afternoon, Lu Xuan began to formulate a plan.

He had originally thought that, with the Lu and Shen families locked in such a fierce conflict, no one would continue watching him or the Iron Mountain Escort Agency. However, he had been wrong. Even after what had happened last time, Steward Huang still had not given up.

Lu Xuan did not know whose orders Steward Huang was following, but since the opportunity had presented itself, he decided to investigate thoroughly. If he could find out what kind of organization Heaven's Net Pavilion was, he might also uncover a clue about the true nature of the Yin-Yang jade pendant.

Steward Huang had served the Lu Family for many years and should know something.

After nightfall, Lu Xuan headed west of the city.

Steward Huang's residence was located deep within a quiet alley. It was a small courtyard with two sections, shrouded in darkness, except for the faint light spilling from the window of the main room.

Lu Xuan vaulted over the wall using the Crane Form. His toes touched the ground as lightly as a falling leaf.

The courtyard was silent, without even the chirping of insects.

He walked beneath the window and heard voices coming from inside. Steward Huang's voice carried a hint of drunkenness.

"Lately, it's been terrible luck. The Lu Family has suffered heavy losses, and even my share of the profits has decreased..."

A woman's voice answered, delicate and sweet.

"Master, why don't we stop working? We could return to our hometown, buy a few acres of land, and live a peaceful life."

Steward Huang spat.

"What do you know? If the Lu Family falls, where will I get my money? Buy land? Is that little bit of ambition enough to buy you enough rouge?"

The woman acted coquettishly.

"Then Master, buy me a new rouge, there is a new type of rouge in market.."

Steward Huang chuckled.

"Buy, buy, buy. Fine, once this trouble passes, I'll buy you two..."

Lu Xuan did not listen any further. He pushed open the door and entered.

Steward Huang was embracing his concubine while drinking. Hearing the door open, he abruptly turned his head.

A stranger dressed in black stood before him, someone he had never seen before.

However, Steward Huang had served in the Lu Family for more than a decade. He had witnessed all kinds of situations, and his hand had already reached for the dagger at his waist.

"Who are you?"

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Lu Xuan didn't speak and took a step forward, Steward Huang pushed his concubine aside and stood up.

His hand was steady as he drew the dagger from his waist, the blade glinting in the candlelight.

Seventh level of the Martial Apprentice Realm.

In the Lu Family, this realm wasn't considered high, but for dealing with ordinary people, it was more than enough.

"I don't care who you are, get out now, and I'll pretend I didn't see anything."

His voice was kept very low, the concubine shrank into the corner, covering her mouth and not daring to make a sound.

Lu Xuan took another step, Steward Huang's eyes narrowed.

He wasted no more words and lunged with the blade, Fast, accurate, and ruthless... having been a steward in the Lu Family for over a decade wasn't for nothing.

The tip of the blade went straight for Lu Xuan's throat, Lu Xuan sidestepped.

The blade grazed his shoulder, cutting his clothes but not harming his flesh.

Steward Huang's strike missed, his center of gravity leaning forward, and his heart skipped a beat.

Before he could react, a hand had already gripped his wrist, Crack.

The sound of bone shattering rang out.

The dagger slipped from his hand and fell to the floor with a clang, before Steward Huang's scream could escape, Lu Xuan's other hand had already seized his throat.

The sound was stuck in his throat, turning into a low whimper, the concubine opened her mouth to scream.

Lu Xuan flicked a pebble, hitting her on the back of the neck, the woman slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Lu Xuan released Steward Huang's throat.

Steward Huang collapsed on the floor, clutching his wrist and trembling all over in pain, while sweat poured down his forehead like rain.

He looked up at Lu Xuan, his eyes filled with terror.

"You... who exactly are you?"

Lu Xuan pulled over a chair and sat opposite him, as if sitting in his own home.

"I ask, you answer."

His voice was very calm.

"For every wrong word, I break a leg."

Steward Huang gritted his teeth and didn't speak.

Having been in the Lu Family for over a decade, it wasn't as if he hadn't been threatened before.

Lu Xuan didn't wait for his answer and stepped on his leg, Crack.

Steward Huang's scream was exceptionally piercing in the night, the scream tore through the deep night.

He curled up on the ground, trembling all over, with tears and snot flowing together.

"What is Heaven's Net Pavilion?"

Steward Huang's pupils shrank suddenly.

"Don't ask me, I don't know, I don't know..."

He knew this person hadn't come for money.

Lu Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly, staring at Steward Huang like a knife.

"You don't know?"

"I don't know, I don't know, I really don't know."

His lips quivered.

"I... I don't know... I only know their power is immense... the Lu Family can't afford to provoke them..."

Steward Huang's voice trembled.

"Those matters regarding them were all handled directly by the Family Head... I only occasionally heard them mention it..."

Lu Xuan looked at him, Steward Huang's eyes were dodging.

He was lying or hiding something, Lu Xuan stood up, walked over to him, and looked down at him, "You have one more chance."

Steward Huang looked into his eyes.

Those eyes held no anger, no killing intent, nothing... they were as calm as a pool of stagnant water.

He knew this person wasn't just trying to scare him, he swallowed hard, his voice raspy.

"I... I only heard it once... the Family Head said, 'The thing Heaven's Net Pavilion wants is with the Shen Family... it seems... it seems to be related to some Holy Lord...'"

Lu Xuan's eyes narrowed.

Holy Lord.

"I... that's all I know... really... I don't know anything else..."

Steward Huang wept and begged for mercy, "I've told you everything I know."

Lu Xuan stared at him, judging from his aura that he wasn't lying now, Lu Xuan looked down at him.

Steward Huang knelt on the ground, his leg broken, while blood seeped from his trouser leg and spread in a small patch on the floor.

He was trembling all over, like a dog with a broken back, "One last question: who told you to keep an eye on the Iron Mountain Escort Agency and Lu Xuan?"

"Hmm?"

Steward Huang suddenly looked up, staring at Lu Xuan in shock, "You... you are..."

Lu Xuan bent down and picked up the dagger from the floor, "That's right. I am."

Steward Huang's eyes bulged, "No, that's impossible!"

"You're clearly a waste, a waste..."

Lu Xuan smiled slightly.

One strike.

Throat slit.

A mist of blood sprayed.