Chapter 3: Motive for Murder

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Motive for Murder

An English translation of the Chapter, formatted for publication:

Kui Shan’s facial muscles visibly stiffened for a moment after hearing Lu Jing’an’s words.

Behind him, Wen Ling let out a soft chuckle. Her voice was crisp, carrying a hint of a young girl’s charm, yet every word stabbed right into Kui Shan’s heart. "Boss, I told you your acting was terrible. I said we should let Sister Lin come with me, but you refused to listen. She’s a professional Drama Cultivator, after all. Look at you. You were seen through by Young Master Lu right away, weren’t you?"

Being called out to his face, Kui Shan flew into a humiliated rage. He abruptly waved his hand to interrupt Wen Ling and barked gruffly, "What are you clamoring about? What’s wrong with my acting?"

With that, he took a deep breath. Forcing himself to calm down, he fixed his sharp eyes on Lu Jing’an. With a scrutinizing gaze and a trace of imperceptible inquiry, he asked, "Kid, you’ve got a sharp eye. Tell me, how did you figure out I was acting?"

Lu Jing’an opened his mouth, as if to say something, but he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and changed his tune instead. "Senior, your acting is actually quite exquisite. It’s just that there was one crucial flaw. If you wish to know the details, you might as well visit my home tomorrow. I will certainly explain everything in detail for you."

Hearing this, Kui Shan raised his eyebrows high. "Deliberately goading me into seeking you out?" He gave a cold snort, carrying the vigilance of a Jianghu veteran. "Kid, what are you scheming?"

Lu Jing’an quickly waved his hand, his demeanor calm and open. "I absolutely have no ulterior motives. I just figured that the murderer’s target is clearly me. If I continue to linger outside, not only will I be in danger, but the brothers following me will likely be implicated as well."

Kui Shan stared at Lu Jing’an for a few seconds. Seeing that his gaze was clear and didn’t seem fake, he slowly nodded, his tone softening a bit. "Fine, I’ll trust you this once. Tomorrow, I will pay a visit to your residence."

Chen Xuan immediately stepped forward, guarding Lu Jing’an closely without leaving his side as they departed. After walking for a distance, the two got into a black Studebaker sedan.

Kui Shan watched the four-wheeled foreign car slowly start up. Smacking his lips, he muttered under his breath with a complex tone, "So fucking rich..."

"Boss, don’t just stand there envying him. Are we still investigating this or not?" Wen Ling urged impatiently from behind him.

Only then did Kui Shan retract his gaze and turn to look at the Lamp Master’s corpse. His expression darkened instantly, and his voice returned to its usual cold hardness. "Investigate! Investigate this thoroughly for me! Even if this person merely paid to be affiliated under my Anping Bureau, he is still one of ours! Anyone who dares to touch someone from my Anping Bureau must pay the price!"

Hearing this, Wen Ling’s expression turned serious. She closed her eyes slightly, then opened them. An unusual, faint golden light had already surfaced in her eyes. This was exactly one of the abilities of a Literature Cultivator—Observing the Minor and Understanding the Major. She bent down, her fingertips almost touching the bloodstain on the ground, and began to inspect the scene with extreme concentration.

After a careful examination, Wen Ling reached the same conclusion as Lu Jing’an. The wound was caused by a blade held in the left hand. However, this person was definitively right-handed.

***

Inside the sedan, Lu Jing’an and Chen Xuan sat side by side in the back seat. The hustle and bustle outside the car windows were isolated, making the interior feel somewhat stifling. Between Lu Jing’an’s slender fingers, an exquisitely carved Pure Gold lighter flipped up and down.

At this moment, Lu Jing’an’s gaze wasn’t on the lighter but cast out the window. The streets of Yin Mountain County were bustling with activity. Various shop signs, from wooden boards to cloth banners, were crammed together. Rickshaw pullers shouted as they wove through the crowd, while peddlers carrying poles over their shoulders loudly hawked their wares. Occasionally, dozens of trackers could be seen arduously dragging heavy Void World machinery that looked like massive iron beasts, forcing the sedan to slow down time and again.

This vibrant yet slightly chaotic scene was reflected in Lu Jing’an’s deep eyes, but it didn’t stir the slightest ripple.

The slow speed of the car gave Lu Jing’an ample time to think. He rapidly reviewed everything that had recently happened in his mind.

The identity of the person hell-bent on taking his life was temporarily unknown. But one thing was certain: the other party was currently incapable of succeeding. Or rather, forcing an attack would require an unbearable price. This meant the Guard forces around him made the enemy wary. This was good; at least his safety was basically guaranteed in the short term. However, he absolutely couldn’t just sit and wait for death; he had to actively seek this person out.

As for the killer’s identity, Lu Jing’an already had a direction. The other party deliberately used their left hand to conceal their right. This meant their right hand definitely had a characteristic that could easily expose their identity. Chen Xuan could recognize this characteristic, and the people from the Anping Bureau probably could too. Following this clue, the scope of the investigation could be narrowed down significantly.

The only thing Lu Jing’an couldn’t figure out was the motive. Although the original owner of this body was a playboy, he was not a heinous villain. In these turbulent times, his father, Lu Huaiqian, could be considered a good official capable of maintaining peace in the region. The Lu Family certainly had rivals, but who would completely tear up all pretenses in such an extreme manner when the family was at the height of its power? There had to be a greater profit driving this from behind the scenes.

Aside from finding the murderer, Lu Jing’an also realized he had to improve his ability to protect himself. In this world filled with various magical Cultivators, power was the foundation of everything. This was also the main reason he had invited Kui Shan to visit the mansion tomorrow.

"Young Master, we’re home," Chen Xuan’s voice interrupted Lu Jing’an’s train of thought.

Lu Jing’an looked up, and the imposing gatehouse of the Lu Mansion came into view. This compound, converted from the residence of a high-ranking official from the Previous Dynasty, retained its ancient charm while seamlessly adding modern amenities like electric lights, telephones, and flush toilets. This made Lu Jing’an, a modern-day transmigrator, feel exceedingly comfortable.

After getting out of the car, Chen Xuan continued to follow closely behind him. They passed through the main gate and bypassed the spirit screen carved with a fierce descending tiger, revealing the full view of the front courtyard. The carved wooden doors of the main hall were wide open. His father, Lu Huaiqian, wearing a navy-blue long gown, sat upright in the seat of honor with a calm and collected expression.

Two people were seated on the lower left and right, respectively. On the left was Uncle Huaichuan. He wore a well-tailored dark suit. Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze was shrewd and steady, and the gold pocket watch chain in his pocket gleamed. On the right was Uncle Huaisan. He was also wearing a suit, but the fabric was stretched tight over his burly physique. His entire being exuded a rugged, reckless heroism.

Thirty years ago, the three brothers had fled as refugees to Yin Mountain County. Over the course of three decades, they successfully established themselves as the number one Major Clan in Yin Mountain County. This wasn’t just achieved through ruthless brawling, but also through brilliant maneuvering.

Now, Uncle Huaichuan ran a banking business; half of the silver coins in Yin Mountain were connected to him. Uncle Huaisan ran the pier’s water transport business; fifty percent of the freight in Yin Mountain was controlled by his Cao Bang.

Uncle Huaichuan had two daughters, both of whom had come of age and married. The eldest was married to the son of the biggest rice merchant in Yin Mountain County, while the second was married to the son of a bank president in the Provincial City. Uncle Huaisan had a son and a daughter, neither of whom had come of age, and they lived in the compound just like Lu Jing’an. The Lu Family was currently deeply rooted and flourishing. This made it even harder for Lu Jing’an to guess the motive for the murder.

"Father, Uncle Huaichuan, Uncle Huaisan," Lu Jing’an said as he stepped into the main room, respectfully bowing to his three elders.

"Jing’an, have you completely recovered? Is there anywhere that still feels unwell?" Uncle Huaisan was the first to speak. His voice was like a booming bell, his concern evident in his words.

Lu Jing’an bowed slightly and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Huaisan. I am completely fine now. I also have to thank you for the century-old ginseng you sent over."

Lu Huaisan waved his large hand, completely unbothered. "Why are you being so polite with your uncle! In a couple of days, I’ll get you something even better to nourish your body!"

After Uncle Huaisan finished asking, Lu Huaiqian finally spoke in a deep voice. His tone was steady but carried an unmistakable seriousness. "Did you see him?"

Lu Jing’an nodded and replied, "I saw him. But by the time we arrived, he was already dead."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the main room suddenly tensed. Lu Jing’an then recounted the entire course of events exactly as they happened.

SMASH!

Just as Lu Jing’an finished speaking, the hot-tempered Uncle Huaisan violently slammed his hand onto the tea table. A high-quality Cyan Jade chrysanthemum-petal lidded teacup shattered upon impact, sending tea splashing everywhere!

"Fucking hell! This is going too far! Do they really think our Lu Family is made of soft clay?" Lu Huaisan abruptly stood up. "Brother! Leave this matter to me! I’ll go arrange for people to blow the ancestral homes of the Li Family and the Liu Family to the ground right now! Let’s see if they still dare to overstep!"

The Li Family and the Liu Family? Lu Jing’an’s heart stirred as he caught onto this crucial piece of information. He felt as though he was on the verge of discovering the motive of the person trying to kill him.

"Uncle Huaisan, what Li Family and Liu Family?" Lu Jing’an asked.

Uncle Huaisan was just about to speak when Lu Huaichuan took over the conversation. "Jing’an, this matter has nothing to do with you. We can handle it."

Clearly, Uncle Huaichuan had no intention of dragging Lu Jing’an into this affair. Lu Jing’an looked up at his father. His father was still the one who called the shots in this household.

Lu Huaiqian pondered for a moment before giving Lu Jing’an a general overview of the situation. At this point, Lu Jing’an finally understood why someone was trying to kill him.

The so-called Li Family and Liu Family were the Major Clans from the two neighboring counties next to Yin Mountain County. Just like the Lu Family, these two families controlled the Public Security Bureaus of their respective counties. The difference was that both of these Major Clans had a profound legacy spanning over a century.

The reason they chose to make a move on Lu Jing’an was that word had recently leaked from higher-ups about plans to merge the three counties into a single city. Following that, a new Public Security Bureau would be established. The position of the Bureau Chief would most likely be chosen from among the directors of the three counties.

This wasn’t just a simple matter of gaining an extra title. It involved immense power and a massive distribution of profits. Under such fierce competition, Lu Jing’an naturally became one of their targets.

Lu Huaiqian’s competitors clearly intended to use Lu Jing’an’s assassination—or even his death—to create a scenario where Lu Huaiqian couldn’t even protect his own son. This would make the higher-ups thoroughly disappointed in Lu Huaiqian’s competence.

Now, the murder motive was fully pieced together. Knowing the motive meant their counterattack had a clear direction.

Lu Huaiqian waited for his son to digest this information before asking with a serious expression, "Jing’an, they came after you this time. You will be the one to make the decision on this matter. Whether we strike back, and how we strike back—I will support you."

Lu Huaisan immediately patted his chest, his anger still unabated. "That’s right! Xiao An, just say the word, and your Uncle Huaisan will immediately take his men to level them!"

Lu Huaichuan also nodded slowly, his gaze calm yet sharp. "My money and connections are at your disposal anytime."

The gazes of the three elders landed squarely on Lu Jing’an as they awaited his decision.

In the center of the main room, Lu Jing’an stood tall and straight in his exquisite suit. Meeting the gazes of his father and two uncles, his handsome face didn’t show much emotion, save for his exceptionally deep and bright eyes.

He took a deep breath and spoke clearly and steadily, "We must retaliate."

Before Uncle Huaisan could cheer, he changed the subject. His tone was composed and calm, carrying a level-headedness unsuited for his age. "However, we cannot launch a full-scale retaliation."