Chapter 104 - 94: Capturing the Water Monkey Alive, Lu Family Under Attack!

Chapter 104: Chapter 94: Capturing the Water Monkey Alive, Lu Family Under Attack!

The flame burned steadily within the glass cover, dispelling the shadows at the base of the wall.

In front of the main gate, two high-powered light bulbs bought from the Provincial City illuminated the bluestone steps, the stone lion gate blocks, and even half of the street ahead. The harsh, pale light exposed every minute detail.

Eight carefully selected guards of the Lu Family’s Nursing Home stood dressed in uniform short jackets and trousers. Their waists bulged with concealed weapons, and their hands tightly gripped loaded rifles. With gazes sharp as a Falcon, they scanned the street ahead, which was sliced into alternating patches of light and shadow. Not even the slightest rustle of grass in the wind could escape their eyes.

Deep within the residence, inside the main hall, the atmosphere was as heavy as iron. The three Lu brothers and all their dependents had been ordered to gather here tonight. The women and young children were sheltered in the most secure wing of the backyard. The doors and windows were shut tight, heavily guarded by trusted maids and older female servants; no one was allowed to enter or leave casually.

In the front courtyard’s corridors, the side rooms, and even behind the rockeries, a squad of elite security guards lay in ambush. Lu Jing’an had specifically left them behind before his departure. Each man was equipped with a fully loaded pistol, holding their breath in deep concentration.

In the main hall, Lu Huaiqian sat upright like a pine tree in the red sandalwood Grandmaster’s Chair at the seat of honor. He held a cup of Junshan Silver Needle tea that had long since gone cold, yet he hadn’t taken a single sip. His calm gaze bypassed the wide-open doors of the hall, gazing into the boundless night beyond the courtyard as if waiting for something.

Lu Huaichuan leaned against the heavy mahogany Eight Immortals table, repeatedly opening and closing an exquisite Void World silver pocket watch in his hand. The cover produced a rhythmic and faint CLICK, CLACK that sounded exceptionally clear in the silent hall.

Lu Huaisan, on the other hand, appeared somewhat agitated and could not sit still. He frequently stood up to pace to the door, peeked outside for a moment, and then walked back with a frown.

"Are Jinhao and Jingyun both settled and asleep?" Lu Huaiqian suddenly asked, his steady voice breaking the suffocating silence.

Lu Huaisan turned around at the sound and nodded, forcing a strained smile on his face. "Rest assured, Huaiqian, they are both asleep.

"The two little rascals insisted on pestering the two concubines in Huaichuan’s room to play earlier.

"They tossed and turned for half the night, but they are children after all; they are sleeping soundly now."

With a sharp SNAP, Lu Huaichuan closed the pocket watch and tucked it into his vest pocket, attempting to ease the tension with a relaxed tone.

"Huaiqian, don’t worry too much. Jing’an does things methodically.

"He has an Exotic Treasure like the Monkey Gong to suppress the Water Demon, along with Chen Xuan’s unfathomable skills for protection. This trip will undoubtedly be a success.

"The Li Family and the Liu Family have completely miscalculated this time."

Lu Huaisan hastily chimed in.

"Huaichuan is right.

"They wanted to use the Water Monkey to do their dirty work and cut off our Lu Family’s escape route.

"They probably never dreamed that we possess a Magical Treasure specifically designed to deal with that beast!

"After tonight, we’ll see who in Yin Mountain County still believes the nonsense of the Li and Liu families!"

Lu Huaiqian slowly shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the night outside as he spoke in a low voice.

"The more we feel certain of victory, the more we must tread on thin ice and take defensive precautions."

He turned his head to look at Lu Huaisan.

"Huaisan, go patrol another round. The front courtyard, the backyard, every corner.

"Make sure to inspect the shaded areas that the lights can’t reach carefully.

"There must be absolutely no oversights."

"Alright, I’ll go right now," Lu Huaisan agreed. He tightened his leather belt and strode outside.

Lu Huaichuan looked at his brother’s still-solemn profile and smiled, maintaining his deliberately relaxed tone. "Huaiqian, this mansion of ours has open sentries and hidden posts inside and out. It’s set up like an impenetrable fortress.

"Even if someone had a death wish and dared to poke the bear..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a wisp of zither music drifted in, ethereal and barely perceptible. It was impossible to tell if it came from some corner of the county town or seeped straight out from the depths of the night wind.

At first, the melody was incredibly soft and slow, like a warm breeze on a spring night, or a lullaby from the depths of memory that a mother had hummed a thousand times. Thread by thread, it burrowed into their ears and brushed across their hearts, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort and tranquility.

The few people in the hall, including Lu Huaisan who had just reached the doorway, involuntarily relaxed their tense nerves upon hearing the sound. A heavy weariness washed over them without warning. Their eyelids became as heavy as lead, and their consciousness seemed to sink into a warm, gentle current, slowly drifting downward...

Alarm bells blared in Lu Huaiqian’s mind. He fiercely bit the tip of his tongue. The sharp pain, accompanied by the metallic taste of blood spreading in his mouth, granted his mind a momentary flash of clarity.

Seeing that his two brothers’ eyes were already losing focus—with Lu Huaichuan even clutching the edge of the table as his body swayed slightly—he didn’t hesitate. Mustering all the strength he could currently command, he violently smashed the ice-cold teacup in his hand onto the bluestone floor!

CRASH!

The crisp sound was piercing. The White Jade porcelain cup shattered into countless pieces. The clear tea and emerald-green leaves splashed in all directions, tracing chaotic arcs under the light.

This sudden shattering noise acted like a sharp pair of scissors, viciously snipping through the pervasive, languid zither music.

Lu Huaichuan and Lu Huaisan both shuddered, jolting awake as if from a dream. The moment their eyes regained focus, a layer of cold sweat broke out on their backs, and their hearts pounded wildly.

"Huaisan!" Lu Huaiqian barked, his voice slightly hoarse from his recent internal struggle. "Fire into the air! Sound the alarm!"

Lu Huaisan reacted with lightning speed. Without thinking, he drew the Mauser pistol from his waist, raised his arm toward the heavy night sky outside the hall, and pulled the trigger!

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three gunshots rang out, each more urgent than the last, boldly tearing through the eerie silence that the zither music had draped over them!

The gunshots echoed through the courtyard and the streets. The Nursing Home guards stationed in open and hidden posts around the mansion, as well as the security squad ambushing in the backyard, were all startled by this sudden signal!

However, before they could fully recover from the brief lucidity the gunshots had brought, grab their weapons, or rush to their posts... the zither music changed.

After a trill or two, the gentle and sleep-inducing melody suddenly twisted and pitched upwards, transforming into an agonizing cacophony of wailing ghosts and howling wolves!

It sounded as if countless vengeful spirits were shrieking in their ears, as if joints were being crushed inch by inch, and flesh was being ripped apart alive!

This demonic sound no longer tried to hypnotize; instead, it carried naked malice and a direct Attack on the Spirit. It bored into everyone’s ear canals, violently battering their brains!

Even if they clamped their hands tightly over their ears, the sound seemed to resonate directly from deep within their marrow, bringing a severe agony akin to being stabbed with needles and hacked by axes.

In the courtyard, two Nursing Home guards near the door instantly screamed and clutched their heads, rolling on the ground as their rifles hit the floor with a CLATTER. From the backyard came uncontrollable, agonized groans and the sound of overturning furniture.

Lu Huaiqian knew he could not afford to wait any longer.

The enemy had already struck, and their first move was an extremely wide-ranging Evil Skill that launched a direct Attack on their minds!

Forcing himself to endure the needle-like dizziness and ringing in his brain, he propped up his weak body and stumbled—yet walked resolutely—toward the northern wall of the main hall.

Hanging there was the Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain Painting, taking up nearly half the wall. The ink in the painting was bold and flowing. A vividly colored, fierce tiger crouched upon a rocky cliff, poised to leap. With wide, glaring eyes, it exuded a commanding and majestic aura as it looked around, its presence completely overwhelming!

Its form and spirit were identical to the stone tiger carved on the spirit screen at the mansion’s entrance.

Facing the scroll, Lu Huaiqian took a deep breath that was long yet trembling. He fiercely slammed his palm against the character for ’King’ on the fierce tiger’s forehead!

ROAR!!!

A soul-shaking tiger roar erupted, not from the painting itself, but seemingly straight out of the walls, the underground, and every inch of brick, stone, and wood within the mansion!

At the same time, outside the courtyard gate, the giant stone spirit screen suddenly shimmered with light. In the eyes of the stone tiger that had lain dormant for years, a flash of crimson-gold light flickered!

A visible, slightly illusory, yet terrifyingly imposing tiger-shaped Qi Force burst forth from the spirit screen. It hovered in the air above the Lu Family’s Old Mansion and let out a heavenward roar!

ROAR!!!

The tiger’s roar was ancient and vigorous, carrying the awe-inspiring majesty of the king of beasts and an aura of righteousness that vanquished evil. Like tangible ripples, the soundwaves blasted outward, violently colliding with the pervasive, shrill demonic music!

THRUM!

A low, muffled sound echoed through the air. The night wind instantly became erratic, and all the lamps in the courtyard violently flickered. The fluctuating light stretched and shrank the shadows of the people, making them look like a horde of dancing demons.