Chapter 144 - 110: Shoot and Kill!

Chapter 144: Chapter 110: Shoot and Kill!

The Hu family’s attitude did not exceed Lu Jing’an’s expectations.

Lu Jing’an believed his father, Lu Huaiqian, also had early foresight into this.

At this moment, the deep worry furrowing Lu Huaiqian’s brows did not stem from the unexpected situation. Rather, it came from the Bai family’s terrifyingly swift and ruthless strike. It was like crashing waves against the shore, leaving no room for maneuver.

"Father, it is true that I gave the Bai family an excuse to strike this time—one they couldn’t possibly pass up."

Lu Jing’an’s voice was calm as he clearly explained to Lu Huaiqian the cause and effect of lending the boats to the Anping Bureau.

The firelight danced across his tranquil profile, reflecting the profound depth in his eyes.

Hearing this, Lu Huaiqian remained silent for a moment.

He lightly tapped his knuckles against the rosewood desk before saying, "You did the right thing.

"The Spirit Vein concerns the foundation of the nation’s destiny and is tied to the fate of our Great Xia.

"Even if we had to do it all over again, I would still support your decision."

At this point, a rare trace of hesitation appeared in Lu Huaiqian’s tone, and a look of struggle flashed across his eyes. "Jing’an, why don’t you..."

Lu Jing’an understood his father too well. Before the words could settle, he raised a hand to stop him. "Leaving hastily now will likely only invite more dangers along the way.

"Even if I were to leave, I must first severely cripple the hand the Bai family is extending toward us.

"Otherwise, there will be no true peace, even at the ends of the earth."

Looking into his son’s placid eyes, Lu Huaiqian finally let out a long sigh, swallowing the rest of his unfinished persuasion.

Only the occasional CRACKLE of the candle wick breaking the silence remained in the study.

The dim yellow halo of light made the newly added streaks of gray at Lu Huaiqian’s temples exceptionally distinct.

Overnight, the helmsman of the Lu family seemed to have aged considerably.

Lu Jing’an deliberately lightened his tone, even curling his lips into a faint smile. "I never really cared much for the position of bureau chief anyway.

"Being relieved of mundane worldly affairs will actually allow me to focus without distractions.

"Who is to say that devoting myself entirely to Martial Arts isn’t a blessing in disguise?"

Lu Huaiqian shook his head with a bitter smile. "You still hold the nominal title of an inspector from the Department of Education, after all. On the surface, the Bai family won’t dare to act too brazenly. It’s just..."

He paused, lowering his voice further.

"It is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark."

"Set your mind at ease, Father."

Lu Jing’an refilled his father’s cup with warm tea.

"Right now, the Bai family’s primary target is still the Hu family in the Provincial City.

"If they want the authority over the Yin Mountain County Water Patrol Bureau, what’s the harm in temporarily yielding it to them?

"Both the Hu and Bai families are colossal behemoths. The battle between them will definitely not be decided overnight.

"For our Lu family, the worst-case scenario is nothing more than abandoning our century-old foundation in Yin Mountain County and relocating far away."

Lu Huaiqian looked up, his gaze sweeping over his son’s young yet overly composed face. Finally, he waved his hand weakly, his voice laced with exhaustion. "You’ve also been running around exhausting yourself all day. Go rest first.

"The people sent by the Bai family to take over will arrive tomorrow. You don’t need to show yourself.

"They are undoubtedly coming to humiliate us and make a show of force. I will arrange for someone else to deal with them."

However, Lu Jing’an slowly shook his head, his gaze resolute. "Father, we can’t hide from this.

"Even if I don’t show myself today, they will have a thousand ways to force me out.

"Since that’s the case, it’s better to face them openly.

"It might actually blunt some of their momentum and save us a lot of subsequent entanglement."

Hearing this, Lu Huaiqian fell completely silent. He merely placed the long-cold teacup gently on the table, emitting a faint CLINK.

The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet study, as if bearing the full weight and guilt of a father unable to shelter his child.

Lu Jing’an could deeply feel that unspoken self-reproach. He said no more, standing up to bow respectfully. "The night is late. Please retire early, Father."

As he exited the study, Lu Jing’an reached back and gently pulled the heavy, carved wooden door shut.

He also sealed the almost imperceptible, heavy sigh from within the room, isolating it in the mellow night.

Under the corridor, the night wind began to pick up, sweeping through the courtyard.

Carrying the desolate chill unique to early autumn, it fluttered the hem of Lu Jing’an’s clothes.

The deliberately maintained calmness in Lu Jing’an’s eyes receded like the tide, gradually settling into a dense intensity, like a deep pool freezing over.

The Bai family’s moves were faster and more ruthless than his worst estimates.

The land and water routes had just been blockaded in the morning, and the dismissal decree had already arrived in the afternoon.

This was not a probe, let alone a warning.

Instead, it was a Thunderous Strike that left no room for escape, intended to completely crush any wishful thinking.

Such a posture nakedly declared two things:

First, the Bai family had absolute confidence in their own strength and disdained playing any roundabout political games.

Second, the once-flourishing Hu family had actually deteriorated to the point of needing to push out his insignificant Lu family as a shield, just to buy precious breathing room.

The Hu family had entrenched themselves in the Provincial City for over a century; their roots ran deep and their branches spread wide.

Their disciples and old acquaintances were scattered throughout the civil service system, and their influence permeated the very veins of the Jiangnan provinces.

To think that such a colossal entity could be forced into such a desperate predicament in just a few short days. The terrifying strength hidden beneath the tip of the Bai family’s iceberg caused the alarm bell in Lu Jing’an’s heart to strike heavily once more.

Lu Jing’an knew better than anyone that if the Hu family fell, the Bai family’s next step would definitely be to pull out the weeds by the roots, absolutely refusing to let any potential threat survive.

Even if the Lu family was willing to bear the humiliation and migrate the entire clan, how could the Bai family possibly let go of this ignorant thorn in their side?

Unless... they fled far overseas.

Completely escaping the circle of conflict in this land.

Thinking of the word "overseas," Lu Jing’an’s eyes grew even colder.

The overseas regions of this world were by no means the utopia in his memories.

They were surrounded by major powers, filled with treacherous Magic, and occupied by Demon Beasts, not to mention the numerous indescribable dangers.

A family forced to flee in panic with immense wealth, in the eyes of those blue-eyed, high-nosed Voiders and various overseas factions, would be no different from a toddler carrying gold while walking alone in a wilderness surrounded by hungry wolves.