Chapter 128 - 102: Auctioning the Fist Manual

Chapter 128: Chapter 102: Auctioning the Fist Manual

’But I wonder what level of masters that Commander of the Bai Family has under him... or rather, what kind of experts are hidden within the Bai Family itself.’

...

Defense Command, the White Tower.

Even late at night, the three-story building, constructed of white stone and heavily guarded, was still brightly lit. The lights were especially brilliant in the largest office on the third floor.

The brilliant electric light shone through the thick glass windows, carving out a conspicuous patch of brightness in the night.

The office was furnished with a crimson carpet and decorated with military maps and a Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain Painting.

Dressed in military uniform, his epaulets shining, Commander Bai sat behind a large mahogany desk.

His fingertips tapped intermittently on the polished desktop, producing a dull "TAP, TAP" sound.

The aide-de-camp had long been dismissed, leaving only Bai Bao, the captain of the Leopard Camp, standing solemnly before the desk.

Bai Bao’s posture was as straight as a spear. He held a list in both hands at chest level.

His voice was stiff and clear, as if he were reading a combat briefing:

"...We intercepted one black leather briefcase belonging to Zhou Renli. Upon inspection, it contained seven encrypted letters, several money orders for silver coins, and one copy of the Six Harmonies Fist Manual."

"Fist Manual?"

Commander Bai’s tapping fingers suddenly stopped, and he lifted his eyelids.

A sharp glint flashed through his narrow eyes.

"Zhou Renli is a pen-pushing civil official. What’s he doing carrying around a Martial Artist’s plaything?"

"Sir, according to our analysis, this item was likely intended for the Lu Family."

Bai Bao answered without hesitation, clearly well-prepared.

"The Lu Family?"

Commander Bai leaned forward slightly, propping his elbows on the desk.

"Who in the Lu Family practices martial arts?"

"Among the entire Lu Family, the only one confirmed to be formally practicing martial arts with a certain level of Cultivation is Lu Jing’an. His master is Chen Xuan, who once served in the Celestial Hunting Bureau of the former dynasty. He is a Great Martial Cultivator of the Inner Breath Realm. We have not been able to determine his specific rank."

"Celestial Hunting Bureau, Inner Breath Realm..."

Commander Bai’s fingers began tapping again, the rhythm slightly faster this time, his expression unreadable.

"He has quite the background, then. If you were to face this Chen Xuan, what do you think your chances of winning are?"

"I previously ordered Leopard One to probe him, but his awareness is extremely high. Leopard One was detected before he even got within a hundred paces and was forced to withdraw."

Bai Bao’s expression remained unchanged, but his words were cautious.

"Leopard One’s skills are about eighty percent of my own. Based on this, Chen Xuan’s Cultivation is profound. If I were to fight him, the outcome would be about fifty-fifty."

"Fifty-fifty..." Commander Bai leaned back in his high-backed chair, his face betraying no emotion.

An Inner Breath Realm Martial Cultivator was indeed troublesome, but that was all.

He had tens of thousands of elite troops and an arsenal of weaponry under his command.

Moreover, he held trump cards like Bai Hu. A single Chen Xuan couldn’t possibly turn the world upside down.

"What about that Lu Jing’an kid? What’s his strength like now?"

"Lu Jing’an has only been formally practicing martial arts for a short time. Even with his exceptional talent and a renowned master like Chen Xuan, based on his age and resources, he’s at most at the level of having just broken through the Blood Barrier."

Bai Bao’s responses were fluid, showing he had clearly investigated the Lu Family thoroughly.

"Furthermore, our investigation shows that the Six Harmonies Fist is extremely difficult to cultivate. It has strict requirements for innate talent, comprehension, and willpower, and also requires a massive amount of resources. Lu Jing’an wanting another manual is likely to help him break through the Blood Barrier or to prepare for his subsequent Cultivation."

Commander Bai nodded, unconsciously stroking his smooth chin, and suddenly asked:

"How much do you know about this Six Harmonies Fist?"

"Legend has it that this Fist Skill was created in the later years of a former dynasty’s Boxing Champion. He deconstructed the Essence of his lifelong Fist Dao, breaking the whole into parts, leaving behind six volumes. If someone could collect all six volumes and master them, they might be able to reproduce a fraction of that Boxing Champion’s former glory."

Bai Bao paused for a moment before adding.

"However, this Fist Skill is difficult to cultivate. It’s easy to learn but hard to master, and the backlash is also significant. It cannot be mastered by anyone without great willpower and great fortune. Since Lu Jing’an has already reached the Entry Level, the subsequent Fist Manuals are undoubtedly crucial for him."

"Oh?"

A playful glint flashed in Commander Bai’s eyes, like a beast that had found an interesting toy.

"So, you’re saying that the Six Harmonies Fist manual... is something the Lu Family’s kid absolutely must have?"

"That should be the case." Bai Bao nodded.

"Since they want it so badly..."

A cold smile curled on Commander Bai’s lips.

"Then let’s give them a chance. Go and arrange a proper underground auction in Jinshan Village. Spread the word that the complete Six Harmonies Fist Manual has appeared. Make it look real. Let’s see how much blood the Lu Family is willing to spill for this set of Fist Manuals."

"Yes! I understand. I’ll go make the arrangements right away. I will ensure the auction appears to have no connection whatsoever to the Commander’s Mansion."

Bai Bao clicked his heels together and snapped a military salute.

"Mm, go on. Do a clean job, don’t leave any loose ends." Commander Bai waved his hand.

"Sir!"

Bai Bao turned, his military boots silent on the carpet.

He gently closed the heavy wooden office door behind him.

The room returned to silence, with only the faint hum of electricity passing through the lamp filaments.

Commander Bai picked up the cup of strong tea on his desk, which had long since gone cold, and took a sip.

The bitter taste spread across his tongue.

He gazed at the heavy darkness outside the window, and that faint red glint in his eyes flashed and vanished once more.

He muttered to himself, his voice like the hiss of a venomous snake:

"The Lu Family had better not be ruined too quickly. I still need to use you to squeeze a few more ounces of fat from that fatted lamb, the Li Family."

The next day, the official Appointment Letter from the Provincial Government was delivered as an express dispatch to the Yin Mountain County Magistrate’s Office.

There were no beating gongs or clashing cymbals, no flood of guests at the door.

In a quiet room in the rear hall of the County Magistrate’s Office, witnessed only by a few trusted subordinates, Lu Huaiqian calmly accepted the document bearing the great seal of the Provincial Government.

Effective immediately, he was to assume his post.

He was now the acting chief of the New City Public Security Bureau, with the authority to recruit a thousand public security officers.

The special funds, firearms, and ammunition promised by the provincial authorities would also be allocated successively.

Secretary Hu had delivered on all his promises with an efficiency that was both surprising and unsettling.

At almost the same time, another letter of appointment was delivered to Lu Jing’an.

Inspector for the Provincial Department of Education.

It was an idle post, but it served as a Protective Talisman.

This was because his Appointment Letter had to be filed and stamped by the President’s Office.

In an era where the central government was still nominally respected, openly assassinating an inspector registered with the President’s Office was tantamount to tearing away all pretenses. Even a power as great as the Bai Family would have to think twice.

Three days later, a piece of news quietly began to spread through certain channels.

An underground auction was going to be held in Jinshan Village.

The final item, it was rumored, was the Six Harmonies Fist Manual passed down from the former dynasty’s Boxing Champion.

When the news reached the Lu Mansion, Chen Xuan immediately went to find Lu Jing’an in the courtyard.

After Lu Jing’an heard this news, he wasn’t particularly excited.

’For a Six Harmonies Fist Manual to suddenly appear at this time... you don’t need to be a genius to know the Bai Family is using it as bait. Otherwise, how could two of them show up in such a short period?’

"Young Master, I’ll take some men and win it at the auction," Chen Xuan offered.

Chen Xuan could naturally see that it was a trap.

But if he took the risk, Lu Jing’an wouldn’t have to go himself.

If he could bring the Fist Manual back, it wouldn’t matter if the price was a bit high.

But Lu Jing’an just shook his head calmly. "Master, since we know it’s bait, we won’t go."

Hearing that Lu Jing’an intended to give up, Chen Xuan quickly said, "Young Master, it’s no trouble for me to go. If the Fist Manual is real, I’m still confident I can bring it back."

Lu Jing’an’s attitude was firm. He shook his head again and said to Chen Xuan, "Master, there’s no need to go to such trouble over this."

"The Bai Family put the news out there, so someone is bound to win the auction."

"When the time comes, we just need to find the person who won it."

"Then we can just offer them double the price to buy it, or just make a copy."

"There’s no need for us to actually go."

After hearing Lu Jing’an’s words, Chen Xuan had to agree that this was the most appropriate course of action.

The auction in Jinshan Village was held soon after.

Lu Jing’an only sent a servant to keep an eye on things.

Neither he nor Chen Xuan went.

「Late that night.」

The servant returned, looking dejected.

"Young Master, at the last moment, the owner of the Six Harmonies Fist refused to put the manual up for auction."

Lu Jing’an was not the least bit surprised to hear this.

’This is just the sort of thing the Bai Family would do.’

It also further confirmed that this was all aimed at him, Lu Jing’an.