Chapter 172 - 118: You Dug Your Own Grave

Chapter 172: Chapter 118: You Dug Your Own Grave

"We must clear Third Master’s name and get Lu Lutong back in business as soon as possible!"

"Yes! Yes! We’ll go to the Provincial City!"

Lu Huaisan looked at their eager faces and slowly nodded.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you all."

Lu Huaisan cupped his hands, his tone placid.

"If Lu Lutong can reopen, I will remember this favor."

"Not at all, not at all! It’s what we ought to do!"

After a few more pleasantries, Lu Huaisan raised his teacup, signaling it was time for them to leave.

The group backed away, thanking him profusely, their footsteps fading across the courtyard.

The moment the last person disappeared behind the spirit screen, the polite smile on Lu Huaisan’s face instantly turned to ice.

"Pah," he spat into the empty hall.

A curtain in the back hall stirred, and Third Aunt emerged with a bowl of ginseng soup, placing it gently by his hand.

She glanced toward the door and lowered her voice. "Huaisan, are you really going to help them transport their goods?"

Lu Huaisan picked up the ginseng soup, drained it in one go, wiped his mouth, and sneered, "Help them? In their dreams!"

Third Aunt sat down beside him, her brow furrowed with worry. "But just now, you..."

"This was Jing’an’s idea."

Lu Huaisan chuckled, a glint in his eyes.

"That kid predicted this bunch of fair-weather friends would come looking for me.

Jing’an told me the Hu Family is currently biding their time, looking for a chance to ruin our Lu Family.

Even if we have evidence, they can still stall for time in the Provincial City.

But if we let this group go beg their own connections for help, that’s a different story."

Lu Huaisan set down the bowl, his fingers tapping on the table.

"These guys managed to make a name for themselves in the three counties. Who among them doesn’t have a few backers in the Provincial City?

To save their own goods, they’ll be willing to spend a fortune to grease the wheels.

Having them push things along will be more than ten times faster than if we went begging ourselves."

Realization dawned on Third Aunt, but she hesitated. "But once Lu Lutong reopens and they come asking again, how will you turn them down?"

"Turn them down?" A hint of ruthlessness crept into Lu Huaisan’s smile.

"There are Water Demons in the Canglan River, and their men are afraid to die.

Are my Lu Family men not their mothers’ sons, too?

We can resume operations, sure, but the river isn’t safe. I have to be responsible for the lives of my men.

We’ll set sail when the demons are gone.

No matter who I say that to, I’ll be in the right!"

After a pause, Lu Huaisan’s tone softened.

"That kid, Jing’an, he’s got a quick mind.

This move—using their strength against them—will not only get Lu Lutong unsealed sooner.

It’ll also leave those ungrateful bastards wringing their hands.

Just you wait. There’ll come a time for them to cry."

Third Aunt’s brow finally relaxed, but then she seemed to remember something.

She glanced outside again, her voice dropping to a near-whisper.

"Huaisan, there have been some rumors going around these past few days.

They’re saying... that the Snake Demon in the river was raised by our Lu Family."

Lu Huaisan’s expression suddenly darkened.

"What a load of horseshit!"

He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups jump and clatter.

"If our Lu Family really had the skill of Demon Taming, would we have been suppressed by the Li and Liu Families all those years ago?

That Snake Demon was clearly a mess Bai Lang failed to clean up, a problem he left behind!

Now our Lu Family just managed to profit from a disaster, and suddenly we’re the suspects?"

The more Lu Huaisan spoke, the angrier he got, his chest heaving. "These gossiping bastards just want to sling mud at our Lu Family!

What the Li Family did a while back...

...secretly raising Water Monkeys, murdering for profit—they were caught dead to rights!

They want to paint us with the same brush. Their intentions are truly malicious!"

Third Aunt took his arm, persuading him in a gentle voice:

"I know.

When Bai Lang was here, whether it was Jing’an, or First Brother and Second Brother...

...aside from reporting for duty at the Public Security Bureau, they spent most of their time at home.

Even if they did have some method of Demon Taming, they would’ve needed the time to go set it up on the river, right?

This rumor doesn’t hold water."

Lu Huaisan took a few ragged breaths and slowly calmed down, but a cold glint remained in his eyes.

"In a bit, I’ll send some men out to find which son of a bitch is spreading these rumors.

If I get my hands on him, I’ll rip his damn mouth off!"

"You shouldn’t handle this personally." Third Aunt held him back.

"You’re still under suspicion. How many pairs of eyes are watching you?

Let Jing’an and First Brother handle the investigation. They can act openly now, which makes things easier."

Lu Huaisan was silent for a moment, then sighed heavily. "Fine. We’ll do it your way."

...

「The rear courtyard of the Water Patrol Bureau.」

The sun had already climbed to its zenith, a rare, beautiful day for winter.

Bright sunlight shone on the blue brick ground, and the accumulated snow had almost completely melted.

Only dark, wet patches remained in the shaded corners by the walls.

Some thirty-odd Water Patrol Officers stood in three rows in the courtyard.

These were all men who had chosen to stay behind when Bai Lang arrived, rather than leave with Zhao Laosuan.

They wore half-worn black uniforms and stood in a relatively orderly fashion.

But every one of them had their head bowed, their gazes evasive, not daring to look forward.

Lu Jing’an stood on the steps with his hands behind his back. His black cloak was open, revealing an indigo cotton robe underneath.

Lu Jing’an didn’t speak, merely watching the men in silence.

Director Liu stood attentively at his side, holding a roster in his hands.

The air was deathly still, the only sound the mournful cry of the cold wind whipping past the corners of the eaves.

After a long time, Lu Jing’an finally spoke. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to every person’s ears. "You have all worked hard these past days."

No one dared to respond.

Lu Jing’an paid it no mind and continued:

"When Bai Lang came, you all chose to stay. Each of you had your own difficulties, I understand that. It’s not easy to make a living in chaotic times."

He paused, and then his tone shifted.

"But some things can be tolerated.

And some things cannot."

Lu Jing’an gave Director Liu a slight nod.

Director Liu took a deep breath, unfurled the roster, and read out in a strained voice, "Fang Mian, Feng Guiyuan, Chen Sixi..."

With each name that was called, two armed officers would step out from behind the ranks.

One on the left and one on the right, they would escort the named man out of the formation.

Of the men whose names were called, some turned deathly pale, while others’ legs went soft.