Chapter 101 - 93: The Decisive Moment

Chapter 101: Chapter 93: The Decisive Moment

Making a move on the water was the safest and most unexpected option.

However, besides the Water Monkey, Lu Jing’an had another matter to consider.

The Li and Liu Families were so impatient, they probably wouldn’t rely on the Water Monkey as their only trump card.

No, to be more precise, they would never limit themselves to a single move.

So where would they make their second move?

The answer was blindingly obvious: the Lu Family’s main residence.

They would definitely launch a two-pronged attack.

On one hand, they would use the Water Monkey to pin down Lu Jing’an and the main force of the Water Patrol Bureau; on the other, they would secretly send men to infiltrate Yin Mountain County.

Taking advantage of the Lu Family’s vulnerability, they would strike directly at their heart.

If that happened, even if Lu Jing’an dealt with the Water Monkey, he would likely return in triumph only to find his family destroyed and his home in ruins.

This was an outcome Lu Jing’an could never accept.

It was not only because of his family ties, but also because the Lu Family’s Old Mansion was the foundation they had built over many years.

With this foundation, Lu Jing’an could save a great deal of time and energy, allowing him to focus more on his Martial Arts cultivation.

’So, the old mansion must also be heavily guarded.’

’Having the entire family evacuate is not a good plan. If we leave Yin Mountain County, the only place to go is the Provincial City. But the Provincial City is probably even more dangerous. We have to hold our ground in Yin Mountain County.’

’As for when to deal with the Water Monkey, I’ll need to wait a few more days.’

Lu Jing’an wasn’t waiting because he needed time to prepare for the Water Monkey.

Rather, he was waiting for Lu Huaiqian to use this incident to bind the interests of the Lu and Hu Families even more tightly together.

If they won this battle, the next enemy they would most likely face was the Bai Family.

The Lu Family stood little chance of winning on their own.

Their only hope for survival was to advance and retreat as one with the Hu Family.

Having sorted through the various threads of his plan, all Lu Jing’an had to do now was wait for the right moment.

「Three days later.」

In the faint light of dawn, a truck arrived from the Provincial City.

Concealed by a thin fog, it drove silently into Yin Mountain County.

Escorting the truck was Special Commissioner Zhou, whom Lu Jing’an had met on three previous occasions.

The truck was carrying heavy deep-water Water Mines, an item that was extremely rare and difficult to obtain in this era.

These were military-grade items that Lu Huaiqian had acquired through Secretary Hu, who had used the Hu Family’s secret channels.

Of course, they wouldn’t need these to deal with the Water Monkey.

But they had to "go off."

Only by detonating them would the Lu and Hu Families truly be in the same boat.

Special Commissioner Zhou raised a hand and patted two tightly wrapped wooden crates on the truck, which produced a muffled THUD THUD.

"The Secretary pulled a lot of strings for these two items."

He turned to Lu Jing’an, his gaze solemn.

"Young Master Lu, don’t let the Secretary down."

Lu Jing’an cupped his hands seriously. "You can rest assured, Special Commissioner Zhou. Please tell the Secretary that I will not disappoint him."

Special Commissioner Zhou’s expression softened slightly as he clapped him on the shoulder. "You handled the last two matters beautifully. The Secretary has high hopes for you. Once this is settled, the Secretary should be due for a promotion. And your Lu Family will naturally rise with the tide."

"It is all thanks to the Secretary’s patronage," Lu Jing’an said.

At that moment, Lu Huaiqian, who was standing to the side, spoke up. "Special Commissioner Zhou, there is one more matter that remains unclear. If we can’t investigate it thoroughly, I fear it will cause trouble down the line."

Special Commissioner Zhou understood. "You’re talking about the person backing the Li Family?"

Lu Huaiqian nodded. "We still haven’t been able to determine their background. I’m worried something will go wrong at a critical moment."

Special Commissioner Zhou pondered for a moment, then said, "That person is indeed well hidden. But you don’t need to worry too much. Once the Secretary takes control of the Security Command, there will only be a handful of people in the entire province who can contend with him. For now, you just need to do what you have to do, and the Secretary will handle the rest."

Lu Jing’an added, "I will arrange for men to exterminate the Water Monkey as soon as possible. If the opportunity arises, perhaps we can try to eliminate another River Demon."

A sharp glint flashed in Special Commissioner Zhou’s eyes. "If you could eliminate another River Demon, that would be the icing on the cake!"

"I will certainly do my utmost."

After seeing off Special Commissioner Zhou, Lu Jing’an immediately began arranging the operation to exterminate the Water Monkey.

He also informed Lu Huaiqian in detail of his deduction that the Li and Liu Families might launch a sneak attack on their old mansion.

After listening, Lu Huaiqian simply said, "I have already prepared for this. You focus on dealing with the Water Monkey. Leave things here in Yin Mountain County to me."

Lu Jing’an didn’t say more, just nodded firmly.

After Lu Huaiqian left, he turned and found Chen Xuan.

He handed over the Monkey Gong and the two Water Mines.

He also taught Chen Xuan how to use the Monkey Gong.

"Master, just take the Water Mines to the waters where the Catfish Demon appears and deploy them. As for this Monkey Gong, please take it with you to deal with the Water Monkey."

Chen Xuan took the Monkey Gong. It was cold and heavy in his hand, its ancient patterns leaving a faint, textured impression on his palm.

Chen Xuan looked up at Lu Jing’an, his eyes filled with concern. "Young Master, you’re not coming with me?"

Lu Jing’an shook his head. "I will go with you to the docks, but I won’t board the ship. I will turn back afterward. Someone needs to stay behind and guard the house."

Chen Xuan frowned in thought. "Young Master, how about I stay behind, and you go deal with the Water Monkey? With the Monkey Gong, it shouldn’t be difficult to handle that beast."

But Lu Jing’an said, "If you don’t make an appearance, Master, and only I do, they will definitely suspect something. That could create unnecessary complications."

Lu Jing’an paused, his voice growing steadier. "The Monkey Gong’s summoning range is also limited. If the Water Monkey really goes into hiding, we’ll be at an even greater disadvantage."

Seeing that Chen Xuan was still unconvinced, Lu Jing’an added in a low voice,

"Besides, my staying home is just a precaution, just in case. I’ll have the officers from the Public Security Bureau create the illusion that they are accompanying you, and we will have plenty of backup plans at home. After all, Yin Mountain County is the Lu Family’s foundation. It’s out on the Canglan River where there aren’t as many backup options available. It’s safest for you to go, Master."

Chen Xuan was about to speak again, but Lu Jing’an had already raised a hand slightly.

His tone was soft, yet it carried a reassuring calm:

"Master, the method I used to deal with that assassin... I can still use it again."

Hearing this, Chen Xuan was finally no longer conflicted.

The technique used against the assassin that day was on par with someone of his own caliber.

If he could still use that same trump card, Lu Jing’an’s safety was indeed assured.

With all arrangements made and the men assembled, Chen Xuan led the men from the Water Patrol Bureau, along with the skilled fighters disguised as Public Security officers, aboard two Ironclad Ships that sat low in the water.

The sun set in the west, its blood-red afterglow spreading across the river’s surface.

The two Ironclad Ships pushed through the golden-red water, heading for the area plagued by the Water Monkey, leaving long wakes trailing behind their sterns.

Lu Jing’an, of course, made an appearance, standing on the docks to see the ships off, his shadow stretching long and thin in the sunset.

What no one knew, however, was that moments after stepping into a cabin, he used the cover of dusk and the shadows of the hull to slip off the ship as silently as a wisp of smoke, returning to the city without alerting a soul.

「Meanwhile.」

The spies from the Liu and Li Families, who had been watching the docks, confirmed that the two Ironclad Ships had completely disappeared around the riverbend. They then emerged from their hiding spots among the cargo piles and in the shadows of tea sheds, quickly leaving the city and speeding off toward their respective masters.

The river wind began to pick up, sweeping across the deserted docks and kicking up scraps of paper and dust.

Tonight, or tomorrow night at the latest,

the future of the three counties would be decided.

Lu Jing’an returned to the Lu Family’s home.

He did not alert anyone.

He couldn’t be sure if there were spies from the Liu or Li Families within the residence.

After all, money could sway anyone’s heart.

「Aboard the Ironclad Ship.」

Chen Xuan was in command.

The Monkey Gong hung from his waist.

It was just a small gong, and no one paid it much mind.

After all, nobody believed that such a small gong could possibly deal with the Water Monkey.

Most of the men on board, knowing they were going to fight a Water Demon, were extremely tense.

By the time the two Ironclad Ships entered the waters where the Water Monkey was active, the sun had completely sunk below the horizon.

Both Ironclad Ships were equipped with high-powered lamps.

The lamps and torches illuminated everything around them.

However, the waters of the Canglan River were still too deep; it was impossible to see what lay beneath the rolling currents.

CRACK!

The sound of a whip crack, so faint that only Chen Xuan heard it, echoed from somewhere nearby.

Hearing the sound of the whip, Chen Xuan’s hand tightened into a fist.

That was the whip his wife once wielded.

He would get it back tonight. But before that, the Water Monkey had to die.

「Yin Mountain County.」

Two phantom-like figures slipped into Yin Mountain County without alerting anyone.

Their target was obvious: the Lu Family’s Old Mansion.