Chapter 31 - 30: Murdering the Heart

Chapter 31: Chapter 30: Murdering the Heart

His cheek burning from the slap, Li Zhaolin felt a stinging pain. Yet, this physical pain was nothing compared to the stifling grievance and resentment in his heart. Given the request Li Zhaolin had just made, Lu Jing’an naturally had no reason to refuse. Besides, he had intended to let them take the bodies away all along.

"Of course," Lu Jing’an said, slightly raising his hand.

The security guards behind him silently stepped aside, clearing a path.

Li Zhaolin kept his head down, avoiding Lu Jing’an’s gaze as he gritted his teeth and waved his hand. Lu Jing’an watched coldly as the Li Family’s men moved in. Silently and swiftly, they began carrying out the corpses that had been scattered haphazardly across the courtyard. One by one, the bodies were loaded onto the tarpaulin-covered truck. Trails of dark red blood dragged across the bluestone pavement, glaringly harsh under the slightly bleak afternoon light.

Seeing that Li Zhaolin was only focused on collecting the Li Family’s dead, Lu Jing’an spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it was clear enough for everyone to hear.

"Lin Qingyi has, after all, received your Li Family’s betrothal gifts. She can be considered a member of your family now. Take her along as well; it will give you something to report when you return."

Lu Jing’an’s tone was devoid of emotion, yet his words acted like a fine needle piercing into Li Zhaolin’s most sensitive nerve. Li Zhaolin stiffened, forcing a cold snort from his throat.

"I don’t need your reminder." He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, barely suppressing his seething anger as he ordered hoarsely, "Load those two up as well!"

Eventually, the back of the truck was packed to the brim. The thick stench of blood could be smelled from a distance. The corpse-laden truck slowly started its engine, driving heavily away along the main road they had arrived on—a street adorned with bright red lanterns, meant to be filled with festive joy. The bystanders on both sides of the road, who had originally been peeking out to watch the spectacle, now held their breath, staring in horror at the eerie convoy. The vivid red lantern light reflected off the cold bodies of the vehicles and illuminated the contours of pale, bloodstained faces, creating a scene that was incredibly ironic and chilling.

Li Zhaolin sat in the newly purchased wedding car, which now looked exceptionally glaring. His face was so gloomy it seemed to drip with water. The shifting light and shadows outside the window flickered across his taut jawline. Not long after the convoy left Yin Mountain County Town and reached a secluded dirt road, Li Zhaolin suddenly ordered in a hoarse voice, "Stop the cars!"

The convoy ground to a sudden halt.

"Go and bring the one in the gray robe over to me," he commanded, pointing at one of the corpses. It was the mysterious Martial Cultivator.

His men did not dare delay. They obediently carried the body, which was already beginning to stiffen, and placed it before him. Li Zhaolin crouched down, his eyes fixed on the corpse’s abdomen. A final flash of desperate ruthlessness flickered in his eyes.

"Cut open his stomach."

Though bewildered and alarmed, his subordinates complied. A sharp blade sliced through skin and flesh, releasing an even thicker, nauseating stench. Enduring their discomfort, several men rummaged through the messy internal organs for a long time, but they found no trace of the Wax Pill Li Zhaolin had mentioned.

"Mr. Zhaolin, there’s nothing..." one of the men reported with a trembling voice.

"Useless! Get out of the way!" Li Zhaolin forcefully shoved his subordinate aside. Disregarding the filth, he dug in with his own bare hands, desperately groping and searching through the bloody mess. Warm, cold, and slippery sensations transmitted from his fingertips. His breathing grew heavier, and his gaze shifted from frantic urgency to utter panic, ultimately settling into complete despair.

THUD!

His hands covered in sticky, crimson gore, Li Zhaolin collapsed backward onto the cold ground, completely drained of strength. He stared at his blood-stained hands, the last shred of false hope extinguishing like a candle in the wind.

It was truly over now.

Earlier, he had endured the slap and swallowed every humiliation, bearing it all for one primary reason: the hope of bringing these bodies back. Specifically, he needed this particular corpse. Before they had departed, Li Jinglin had privately informed him that a Wax Pill containing the voucher for the Lin Family’s massive wealth was hidden inside this man’s body—a sum worth over one million silver coins. At the time, Li Jinglin had called it their final fallback plan, but to Li Zhaolin, it had been his last chance to turn the tables.

But now, there was nothing.

Absolutely nothing!

"Could it be... he didn’t swallow it?" he murmured absentmindedly, but immediately dismissed the thought. He knew Li Jinglin well; the man was meticulous and never spoke empty words. Since he had mentioned it, the arrangements must have been made. Since the Wax Pill had been swallowed but was nowhere to be found, there seemed to be only one remaining answer.

Lu Jing’an.

He had discovered it early on and taken it first.

Li Zhaolin suddenly began to chuckle softly. The laughter, suppressed at first, grew louder and louder, sounding shrill and desolate across the open wilderness.

"Lu Jing’an, I really underestimated you! No, all of us underestimated you! What a brilliant move to destroy our very hope."

He laughed for a long while before stopping to catch his breath. His gaze swept over Elder Lu and Elder He, who had been silently guarding him the entire time. The two experts dispatched by the family had placid expressions, merely fulfilling their duties as guards. A sudden, absurd surge of envy welled up within Li Zhaolin.

In the Lu Family, Lu Jing’an’s words were absolute commands. But in the Li Family, what was he, Li Zhaolin? He was nothing more than a disposable pawn that could be replaced and held accountable at any moment.

"Mr. Zhaolin, it is time to hit the road," Elder Lu’s flat voice sounded. There was no concern in his tone, nor any sense of urgency—he was simply stating a fact.

Li Zhaolin wiped his face, smearing a streak of blood across his cheek. Propping his hands on his knees, he stood up unsteadily. Staring blankly toward the north, where his family resided, he whispered, "Yes, it is time to hit the road."

Now that the dust had settled, he felt an almost draining sense of relief.

Inside the study of the Lu Family Mansion.

Instead of keeping the massive money order he had retrieved from the mysterious Martial Cultivator for himself, Lu Jing’an handed it directly to his Uncle Huaichuan. Lu Huaichuan took it and reached for the imported lighter on his desk.

CLICK.

A flame sprang to life. Without a moment of hesitation, he held the corner of the voucher to the fire. The flames instantly devoured the paper, turning it into wisps of gray ash that drifted down to the floor.

With the money order destroyed, the Lin Family’s debt of one million three hundred thousand silver coins naturally vanished into thin air. Without spending a single penny, the Lu Family had completely taken over the Lin Family’s vast properties. And this was merely the appetizer. The Qian Family had also been annihilated in this lightning-fast operation, their wealth and territories—accumulated over many years—swept entirely into the Lu Family’s pockets.

From now on, over eighty percent of the circulation of silver coins, shops, and commerce in Yin Mountain County would have to pass through the Lu Family’s hands. Even if they simply sat back and governed passively, the grease they skimmed off their annual dealings would be enough to make them obscenely wealthy.

However, the most important harvest was not these tangible riches and businesses. Through this battle, the Lu Family’s title as the Number One Family of Yin Mountain County had been forged in iron and blood, leaving no room for doubt. More crucially, clashing head-on with a century-old Noble Family like the Li Family and emerging victorious was a clear declaration to the world: the Lu Family’s foundation and ruthlessness ran far deeper than anyone had guessed.

The ensuing reputation and invisible deterrence constituted a heritage that no amount of money could buy. Furthermore, this battle was like a massive boulder thrown into a deep pool; the resulting ripples would inevitably draw the attention of those in higher places. While danger certainly accompanied such scrutiny, without the qualifications to be seen, they would never grasp the opportunities and resources of a higher echelon. The Lu Family’s gains from this campaign far exceeded their initial expectations.

"Brother!" Uncle Huaisan’s voice boomed like a bell, his face alight with hearty exhilaration. "I believe the greatest merit for this victory belongs to Jing’an! The strategic planning and the decisive strike were all his doing!"

Lu Jing’an hurriedly interjected, stating that he hadn’t even entered the fray himself and thus didn’t deserve such credit.

Yet, Uncle Huaichuan countered, "Though Jing’an didn’t fight on the front lines, the entire operation hinged on his command. He absolutely deserves the greatest merit."

Lu Jing’an bowed slightly, his attitude humble. "Uncle Huaichuan, Uncle Huaisan, you flatter me. I was merely executing a part of the plan. If not for the family acting as my backing, and the valiant fighting of our elders, uncles, and brothers, this victory would have been impossible. I truly dare not accept the title of greatest merit."

Sitting at the head of the room, Patriarch Lu Huaiqian looked at his composed, level-headed son who showed neither arrogance nor impatience. A glimmer of gratification flashed through his eyes as he spoke slowly, finalizing the decision.

"Jing’an, your planning this time was comprehensive, and your contributions were monumental. You deserve the greatest merit without a doubt."

"In that case... thank you, Father, Uncle Huaichuan, and Uncle Huaisan, for your recognition." Lu Jing’an said no more, clasping his hands in acceptance.

Next, the three elders began to discuss the aftermath and the potential fallout from the Li Family or other factions. Lu Jing’an had little interest in participating in these tedious yet vital family matters. Seeing that the primary issues had been settled, he found an excuse and respectfully took his leave.

Leaving the study, Lu Jing’an subconsciously quickened his pace. To him, greatest merits and praises were far less tangible than the spoils of war currently lying quietly in his Zhengqi Furnace. That was his true, personal harvest. As early as when they captured and killed the foreign cultivator, Lawrence, Lu Jing’an had already chosen to begin Refining his soul. Just moments ago in the study, a notification had appeared in his mind: [Refining Complete].

Returning to the peace and quiet of his own room, he closed the door behind him. Lu Jing’an centered his mind and focused on his rewards.

[Refining Complete] ℴ

[Obtained Green entry: Practicality First]

[Obtained Green entry: Fighting Bravely]

[Obtained Memory Pearl of Lawrence x1]

[Energy Points: 4]

He already possessed the [Practicality First] entry. Although this one was of a higher tier, he figured the effects would be largely similar. Lu Jing’an’s gaze zeroed in on the newly formed green entry. With a slight shift of his will, its detailed information appeared.

[Fighting Bravely] (Green)

[Note]: By equipping this entry, the longer a battle lasts, the slower the consumption of stamina and True Qi will be. Tenacity increases over time. When All Attributes drop to ten percent of their peak state due to exhaustion, a full recovery effect lasting thirty minutes will be triggered.

"A sharp weapon for prolonged combat..." A brilliant light flashed in Lu Jing’an’s eyes.

In battles of attrition or moments of crisis, this entry was tantamount to an extra layer of insurance. As for the pearl carrying fragments of Lawrence’s memories and experiences, it was of extraordinary value. He might be able to glean the secrets of the Void World Cultivation System from it, or perhaps uncover some hidden intelligence.

And he still had four more such Divine Souls waiting to be refined.

This was what he called a truly bountiful harvest.