Chapter 42 - 41: Besieging the Tiger Demon

Chapter 42: Chapter 41: Besieging the Tiger Demon

The next morning, the early mist had not yet dispersed.

Lu Jing’an tucked the tan file folder under his arm and walked through the damp, bluestone-paved streets.

The air was filled with the greasy smoke from breakfast stalls and the lingering dampness from the night before.

He walked quickly, his leather shoes making a rhythmic CLACK-CLACK sound on the stone slabs.

The sound startled a stray cat curled up at the alley’s entrance.

Since he was a familiar face, no one stopped Lu Jing’an as he entered.

Lu Jing’an headed straight for the side hall.

Wen Ling was usually there, organizing things and reading.

Sure enough, after bypassing a screen painted with a faded depiction of mountains and seas, he saw her slender figure leaning over a wide pearwood desk.

The morning light slanted in through the lattice of the high window.

It illuminated the motes of dust floating in the air and outlined her focused profile.

Today, she wore a moon-white, slant-collared tunic.

Paired with an indigo pleated skirt.

Her hair was loosely gathered into a bun at the back of her head.

A plain silver hairpin was tucked into it at an angle.

A few stray strands of hair by her ear swayed gently with her movements.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw it was Lu Jing’an.

A hint of a smile bloomed in her almond-shaped eyes, which always seemed to hold a mix of weariness and sharp intelligence.

"Young Master Lu, you’re early today." Her voice was crisp and clear, like ice water melting from the eaves.

Lu Jing’an brandished the file folder in his hand. "I’ve come to return the file."

"And I’d also like to borrow a map of the Black Pine Forest."

Wen Ling took it, her fingertips unintentionally brushing against the back of his hand. They were cool and delicate.

"Wait here a moment, I’ll go get it for you." After speaking, Wen Ling stood up and went to retrieve the map.

The Public Security Bureau also had maps, but none as detailed as the ones at the Anping Bureau.

Looking at the detailed map before him, Lu Jing’an sketched and wrote on it, refining the plan in his mind.

Wen Ling watched Lu Jing’an copying the map from the side and asked, "Are you preparing to make a move on the Tiger Demon?"

Lu Jing’an nodded. "I have no choice. I originally wanted to delay for a few more days, but the Tiger Demon has targeted my family."

"Last night, it even sent Chong Ghosts to raid my home."

"Knowing the Tiger Demon’s nature, it definitely won’t stop until it gets what it wants."

"So I have no choice but to act early and eliminate it."

The reason Lu Jing’an didn’t hide this from Wen Ling was because the matter couldn’t be concealed anyway.

Sooner or later, people would find out.

By revealing it voluntarily now, he could lay the foundation for future cooperation.

Secondly, the Anping Bureau typically kept its distance from the Government Office.

Even if the Anping Bureau knew, it was unlikely that Secretary Hu would find out.

Sure enough, after hearing Lu Jing’an’s words, Wen Ling looked him up and down with concern.

After confirming he was unharmed, Wen Ling’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly.

"The Tiger Demon attacked your Lu Family?"

"How is that possible?"

"Wasn’t it the Li Family that provoked it?"

Lu Jing’an shook his head lightly.

"Who knows."

"Perhaps Li Zhaolin was too tough to chew."

"So the Tiger Demon decided to settle the score with my Lu Family instead."

"Pfft!"

Wen Ling couldn’t help but laugh at Lu Jing’an’s joke, her eyes sparkling.

"You can still joke about it," she said. "It seems you weren’t scared by those Chong Ghosts at all."

Lu Jing’an gave a wry smile.

"Even if I were scared, would it have let me go?"

Wen Ling nodded.

"True. Once that beast has a grudge against you, a lot of trouble follows."

Lu Jing’an nodded in agreement.

"That’s what I was thinking too."

"Being targeted by something like that is like having a thorn in my back."

"If it only came after my Lu Family, that would be one thing."

"I’m worried it will go after the workers and servants of my Lu Family, the ones who have to walk the streets and alleys or work at the docks."

"They’re all ordinary people with families to support. They can’t withstand such a disaster."

"So, it must be eliminated as soon as possible."

Wen Ling’s smile faded. "Do you have a concrete plan?"

Lu Jing’an nodded, his gaze clear as he looked at Wen Ling. "I have a rough plan. Would Sister Wen Ling like to hear it?"

Wen Ling met his gaze for a moment, then slowly shook her head. "It’s better if I don’t hear about things like this."

Lu Jing’an understood Wen Ling’s concerns, but he still extended an invitation. "Would Sister Wen Ling like to come and watch when the time comes?"

"Perhaps it could give you some ideas for dealing with this kind of Demon Beast in the future."

Wen Ling thought for a moment. "That should be fine."

"When do you plan to make your move?"

Lu Jing’an was delighted. "I’ll have someone notify you when everything is ready."

Wen Ling nodded. "Alright."

This was Lu Jing’an’s second purpose for coming to the Anping Bureau.

To try and sound out the Anping Bureau’s opinion on his plan.

Or, to find a way to get the Anping Bureau to the scene.

The words written in the files were static.

But the Tiger Demon was alive.

Only the Anping Bureau had fought the Tiger Demon before.

And only they knew its characteristics.

If he could get their guidance, that would be for the best.

But obviously, the first idea wouldn’t work.

The Anping Bureau needed to avoid suspicion.

However, achieving the second objective would be good enough.

’If the Anping Bureau was actually at the scene... and things really went haywire, would they just stand by and watch?’

"What a clever scheme. Pushing all of us to the front to shield your Lu Family from the Tiger Demon while you hide in the back."

The only person who would say something like that was Kui Shan.

Lu Jing’an didn’t know why Kui Shan held such deep-seated disdain for rich young masters like himself.

But fortunately, Lu Jing’an had no intention of interacting much with Kui Shan anyway.

’Isn’t it much nicer to deal with the gentle Wen Ling?’

Lu Jing’an looked levelly at Kui Shan as he walked in and said calmly, "I won’t be hiding in the back. I’ll be at the front. The Tiger Demon needs me to draw it in."

Kui Shan was somewhat surprised to hear Lu Jing’an’s words.

Wen Ling, on the other hand, asked with concern, "The Tiger Demon needs you, the great young master of the Lu Family, to attract it?"

Lu Jing’an gave a wry smile. "I don’t want to put myself in danger either."

"But last night, the two groups of Chong Ghosts..."

"...had a very clear target: the children of my Lu Family."

"I can’t possibly let my two younger siblings, who are still just toddlers, act as the bait, can I?"

"If we can lure the Tiger Demon into the encirclement as planned, the rest will be much easier to handle."

After hearing him out, Wen Ling said with a grin, "Not bad. Brave and resourceful. I like you even more now."

"When you send word, I’ll bring a couple of people along to observe and learn."

Lu Jing’an cupped his hands. "Thank you, Sister Wen Ling."

Before Kui Shan could say anything, Lu Jing’an said, "Sister Wen Ling, I have a lot to attend to at home, so I won’t stay any longer."

Wen Ling said, "Go on, then."

Lu Jing’an picked up the map. "Sister Wen Ling, can you sell this to me?"

Wen Ling waved her hand. "I’m not that greedy."

"What you gave us the last two times has already solved the Anping Bureau’s problems."

"This one’s a gift."

Lu Jing’an didn’t stand on ceremony. He put the map away and cupped his hands again. "Thank you, Sister Wen Ling."

Lu Jing’an took the map and left immediately.

He didn’t greet Kui Shan as he passed him.

Wen Ling glanced at Kui Shan, then also chose to ignore him and left.

Kui Shan stared at the empty doorway for a long while before grumbling in a rough voice:

"When the time comes, I’ll go take a look too. I want to see just how this pampered young master deals with a Tiger Demon."

With that, he also turned and strode away.

...

After Lu Jing’an returned to the Lu Mansion with the map, he called his third uncle back from the docks.

Lu Huaisan hung up the phone and was back in less than twenty minutes.

"Jing’an, is there news about the Tiger Demon?" Lu Huaisan asked urgently.

Lu Jing’an spread the map flat and pointed to the specific location he had learned about from the Martial Artist surnamed He.

"This area is the Tiger Demon’s exact lair."

"The terrain here is high in the east and low in the west."

"Over here in the west, there’s a flat, low-lying basin."

"Our goal is to lure the Tiger Demon here and kill it."

"Third Uncle, take some men and dig a fifty-meter-wide firebreak around this circle."

"Then, upwind to the east, pile up some dampened hay."

...

Lu Jing’an explained in detail.

Lu Huaisan listened and noted everything carefully.

After Lu Jing’an finished speaking, Lu Huaisan couldn’t help but praise him. "Jing’an, you’ve really got a sharp mind. If it were me, I couldn’t come up with a plan this ingenious for the life of me."

Lu Jing’an replied humbly, "You praise me too much, Third Uncle."

A thought occurred to him, and Lu Jing’an added a reminder, "Third Uncle, when you take the men to clear the trees, don’t let them spread out."

"Don’t give the Tiger Demon any chance for a sneak attack."

"Also, everyone must tie a conspicuous red cloth on their arm and head."

"Anyone without a red cloth who doesn’t answer when questioned..."

"...is to be treated as a Chong Ghost. We absolutely cannot give the Tiger Demon any more chances to kill."

Lu Huaisan slapped his chest and said, "Don’t worry. I absolutely won’t give that beast another chance."

With things arranged on Lu Huaisan’s end, news soon came back from Lu Huaiqian.

Secretary Hu had helped find the phosphorus.

And there was about a hundred kilograms of it.

Lu Jing’an was genuinely surprised they could find so much.

Huaxia’s current industrial base was extremely weak.

A substance like phosphorus was almost entirely dependent on imports.

Not only was it expensive, but it was also very scarce.

To be able to procure a hundred kilograms spoke volumes about Secretary Hu’s influence.

It also showed just how desperate he was for this promotion.

The key components were ready.

All that remained was the execution.

Over at the Black Pine Forest, Lu Huaisan was leading the men from the Cao Bang, and they were working with great enthusiasm.

Just as Lu Jing’an had instructed, while they were working, they were indeed spied on by the Tiger Demon twice.

But seeing their large numbers and their weapons, the Tiger Demon took one look and vanished.

They also encountered Chong Ghosts twice.

Relying on their superior numbers and the Hanyang-made rifles in their hands, the two Chong Ghosts had their heads blown to smithereens.

The white phosphorus was delivered on the third day after Lu Huaiqian made the call.

Arriving with the white phosphorus were the medicinal herbs for his medicinal baths, which Cui Jieyi had someone purchase for Lu Jing’an.

Because of the matter with the Tiger Demon, Lu Jing’an wasn’t in a hurry to practice his Six Harmonies Fist cultivation. ℴ

After seven busy days of preparations, everything was in place according to Lu Jing’an’s plan.

「On the morning of the eighth day.」

Lu Huaisan, Lu Huaichuan, and Chen Xuan led the teams.

In the front courtyard of the Lu Mansion, three black cars were already running, their engines letting out a low rumble.

Lu Huaichuan had changed into practical, close-fitting clothes with a dark jacket over them.

The usual scholarly air about him was gone, replaced by a cold solemnity.

Chen Xuan had also changed into practical attire.

Lu Huaisan was doing a final head count, giving last-minute instructions in a low voice.

Lu Huaiqian, meanwhile, would remain in Yin Mountain County to hold the fort.

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle, I’m going with you."

Just as everyone was about to set off, Lu Jing’an jumped into one of the cars.

Seeing Lu Jing’an get in the car, Lu Huaisan said, "Jing’an, stop messing around! Get out, now! We’re going to kill a demon, this isn’t a game." He was about to push Lu Jing’an out of the car.

Lu Huaichuan also said, "Jing’an, get out. Your Second Uncle and Third Uncle are enough."

"Don’t be fooled by your Second Uncle wearing suits all the time now. Back in the day, he was even more ferocious in a fight than your Third Uncle."

Lu Jing’an was unmoved by this, simply stating calmly:

"I am the other key to this plan.

Only if I’m there will the Tiger Demon enter our pre-set encirclement."