Chapter 46 - 45: Harvest 1

Chapter 46: Chapter 45: Harvest 1

The matter of the Tiger Demon had finally come to an end.

For the Lu Family, this was more than just providing a satisfactory answer to their superiors. It also lifted a heavy mountain off their chests. From now on, they wouldn’t have to spend every waking moment on guard against a hidden thief. That invisible, tightly wound string could finally relax a little.

Of course, Lu Jing’an’s gains from this trip had yet to be fully realized; it would still take some time. Watching the bustling crowd below, he did a quick mental calculation and found the expenses of this operation to be quite staggering. Not counting the personnel costs, the expenditure on White Phosphorus and ammunition alone was approaching one hundred thousand silver coins. If personnel costs were included, it would easily surpass that mark.

As for the Tiger Demon itself, there wasn’t much profit to be squeezed out of it. A Demon Beast’s flesh and blood were highly toxic to ordinary people. Even for Cultivators, the harm far outweighed the benefits. The only usable part was its pelt, but it had been riddled with holes during the fight and probably wouldn’t sell for much.

Lu Jing’an sighed inwardly, "War is truly a money-burning endeavor."

Although it was expensive, in his eyes, any problem that could be solved with money was best solved with money. After all, if one had the funds, there was no need to put their life on the line.

Lu Huaisan had to escort the Tiger Demon’s corpse and did not return in the same vehicle as Lu Jing’an and Chen Xuan. Wen Ling and the other two members of the Anping Bureau took a separate car.

Inside the carriage, Chen Xuan’s fingers remained resting on Lu Jing’an’s wrist, examining him with deep concentration. His fingers pressed against the young man’s pulse, as steady as ancient mountain vines. Not a single fluctuation escaped his perception.

"Master, I’m really fine now," Lu Jing’an spoke up again, his voice steady.

Chen Xuan slowly withdrew his hand, but his gaze remained locked on Lu Jing’an’s face, as if trying to pierce through his skin and see deep into his Divine Soul. "Once we get back, we still need Doctor Cui to take a closer look."

"Alright, I’ll listen to you, Master."

Lu Jing’an agreed, then asked, "Master, do we Martial Cultivators have any specific Techniques to counter Spiritual Attacks?"

"Martial Cultivators do not excel at harming others with their Spirit," Chen Xuan replied. "Only some unorthodox Sound Skills can shake a person’s mind."

Changing the subject, Chen Xuan continued, "However, when it comes to defending the Divine Soul, very few within the same realm can break a Martial Cultivator’s state of mind. The cultivation of Martial Arts is inherently a process of enduring thousands of hardships and trials; the tempering of spiritual willpower is a constant throughout. Therefore, a Martial Cultivator’s Divine Soul is naturally more resilient than others, just like Hundred-refined Fine Steel."

Lu Jing’an looked thoughtful. "In that case, those with exceptional talent who have smooth sailing in their early stages... might actually be lacking when it comes to tempering their willpower?"

"Correct. But that’s only in the early stages," Chen Xuan nodded.

"Then in the Late Stage of Martial Cultivation, are there specific Techniques to temper the Spirit?" Lu Jing’an grasped the key point.

"There are, but they are still far out of your reach," Chen Xuan said bluntly. He then added, "However, if you want to hone your Martial Arts willpower right now, there is a way."

"Please guide me, Master."

"Life-and-death combat," Chen Xuan spat out the words, each one heavy and solemn. "Tempering your Spirit in desperate situations yields the fastest results."

Lu Jing’an’s gaze sharpened, and he cupped his hands. "Then please make the arrangements for me, Master."

Lu Jing’an’s request for life-and-death combat was not primarily for his Spirit. The Spirit could be increased using Energy Points. What he truly thirsted for was the battle-tested combat experience and adaptability forged in actual combat. This was something the system panel could not directly bestow.

"Alright," Chen Xuan said, giving him a deep look as he agreed.

The car swayed gently as it passed through the increasingly bustling streets, eventually stopping in front of the Lu Mansion. Lu Huaiqian was not at home; he was still at the Public Security Bureau handling the aftermath. Upon returning to their room, Chen Xuan immediately instructed Orchid, who was standing by, "Go invite Doctor Cui."

Orchid replied with a "Yes" and hurried off. It didn’t take long for Cui Jieyi to arrive with her. After Chen Xuan explained the situation, Doctor Cui sat solemnly opposite Lu Jing’an.

She didn’t immediately check his pulse. Instead, she carefully observed his complexion and eyes before extending three fingers to rest lightly on his wrist. Her fingers were long, slender, and fair, her fingertips slightly cool, leaving a distinct sensation on his skin.

After taking his pulse for a moment, she signaled for him to tilt his head back. Placing both her thumbs gently on his temples, she began to massage them slowly. At the same time, she closed her eyes in concentration, seemingly sensing something. Her expression was entirely focused, her long eyelashes drooping and casting faint shadows beneath her eyes.

After a long while, she withdrew her hands and opened her eyes, a clear flash of surprise crossing her gaze.

"How is it?" Chen Xuan pressed for an answer.

Cui Jieyi carefully examined Lu Jing’an’s pupils once more before speaking slowly. "Young Master Lu was indeed subjected to a Spiritual Attack; both his pulse and the lingering traces in his spiritual center can attest to this. But..." She paused, seemingly organizing her words. "This invasion not only failed to weaken the Young Master’s Divine Soul, but it actually made it much more robust. I have practiced medicine for many years, and this is the first time I have seen such a situation."

Lu Jing’an thought to himself, "This is naturally the effect of adding points." Outwardly, however, he revealed just the right amount of confusion. "Are you sure you didn’t misdiagnose, Doctor Cui?"

"I checked three times, and the result is the same," Cui Jieyi said with certainty, her tone bearing the unique rigor of a Healer.

Chen Xuan pondered, "Could it be that the Tiger Demon left a portion of its spiritual origin in Jing’an’s sea of consciousness with the intent to control him, resulting in this anomaly?"

Cui Jieyi shook her head. "I considered that possibility as well. However, upon careful examination, the Young Master’s spiritual center is clear. There is no murky sensation of any lingering foreign Divine Soul, nor are there any signs of parasitic erosion."

Taking the opportunity to guide the conversation, Lu Jing’an mused aloud, "Then... is it possible that it did leave something behind, but because its main body died, and my Master unintentionally erased the Tiger Demon’s will during his earlier examination, that remaining, masterless spiritual origin turned into nourishment for my Divine Soul?"

Hearing this, the contemplative look in Cui Jieyi’s eyes deepened. After a moment, she slowly nodded. "Young Master Lu’s theory... does make some sense. The path of the Spirit is exceptionally profound and mysterious. While such a transformation is rare, it is not entirely impossible."

Lu Jing’an chuckled lightly. "In that case, I suppose this is a blessing in disguise. I’ve increased my Spiritual Cultivation for nothing."

Cui Jieyi nodded. "Perhaps." Pausing for a moment, she added, "To be on the safe side, I will still need to check your pulse every day for the next few days until I can confirm there are no hidden dangers."

Lu Jing’an naturally had no objections and said frankly, "I’ll have to trouble you then, Doctor Cui."

"It’s my duty," Cui Jieyi smiled faintly. Then, recalling something, she added, "I have already prepared the medicinal bath for your Six Harmonies Fist, Young Master, but I suggest you wait a couple of days before starting your Cultivation."

Lu Jing’an nodded and said, "Alright."

He was just thinking about checking the rewards from the Tiger Demon anyway. Suddenly, an idea came to him. "The Tiger Demon’s corpse is about to be brought back. If you need any herbs or materials, Doctor Cui, you can go take a look first. If there’s anything useful, feel free to take it."

Cui Jieyi’s eyes lit up slightly. "Alright, I’ll go take a look later."

At this moment, a servant’s voice came from outside the door, "Young Master, the Master invites you and Military Officer Chen to the study."

"Understood."

Lu Jing’an stood up and straightened his clothes slightly.

In the study, the atmosphere was completely different from before. The sunlight filtering through the window lattices seemed much brighter, and even the specks of dust floating in the air carried a hint of languor.

Lu Huaiqian sat behind the large desk, with Lu Huaichuan and Lu Huaisan seated on either side. Seeing Lu Jing’an enter, Lu Huaisan immediately leaned forward in his chair, asking with concern, "Jing’an, I heard you were attacked by the Tiger Demon’s Spiritual Secret Skill? How do you feel now? Is there any discomfort anywhere?"

He had been at the machine gun position at the time and hadn’t witnessed it firsthand. Hearing about it afterward had left him in a cold sweat.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Huaisan. I’m fine now. Doctor Cui has already examined me carefully," Lu Jing’an replied with a smile.

Hearing this, the three men in the room visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu Huaichuan chimed in, his tone carrying a hint of reproach but mostly lingering fear, "Jing’an, don’t get involved in such dangerous matters so easily in the future. We old bones aren’t dead yet; it’s not your turn to stand on the front lines."

Knowing that his anxiety stemmed from care, Lu Jing’an didn’t argue and merely answered respectfully, "Yes, Uncle Huaichuan, I will remember."

Chen Xuan also spoke up, a look of shame on his face. "It was my poor guarding this time that put the Young Master in danger."

"You’re being too harsh on yourself, Master," Lu Jing’an quickly said. "It happened so suddenly, and the demon was cunning. How could anyone blame you?"

Lu Huaiqian added gently, "There’s no need to blame yourself, Mr. Chen. Jing’an is absolutely right. Demons are treacherous and impossible to completely guard against. Being able to resolve this smoothly is already a great fortune." He waved his hand and changed the subject, "I called you here because there are two pieces of good news."

Lu Huaiqian’s tone lightened, carrying a sense of relief. "I have already spoken with Secretary Hu on the phone, and he is very satisfied with the outcome this time. In a few days, he will apply for a special batch of military supplies to compensate for our losses. Furthermore, he has granted us permission to double the personnel quota of the Public Security Bureau."

Upon hearing this, joy immediately appeared on the faces of Lu Huaisan and Lu Huaichuan.

In this era, arms control was extremely strict. Although the Lu Family had the financial resources, they were hindered at every turn when trying to legally expand their armed forces. For their superiors to proactively distribute firearm supplies and allow an expansion of personnel was tantamount to giving the Lu Family an Imperial Sword. Their strength could now legitimately soar—this was truly a good thing that money couldn’t buy.

"What about the Li Family?" Lu Jing’an asked casually.

Lu Huaiqian picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip. "Secretary Hu will ’remind’ them."

Lu Jing’an understood and asked no further questions.

Next, Lu Huaichuan gave a breakdown of the approximate expenses for this operation. Lu Huaiqian had asked Lu Jing’an to come precisely so he could thoroughly learn about these matters. Thus, Lu Jing’an listened with utmost attention.

"The White Phosphorus cost a total of fifty-seven thousand silver coins.

"Ammunition and personnel expenses are roughly between seventy-five thousand and eighty thousand silver coins..."

Lu Huaichuan listed them out one by one. The final total was approaching one hundred and fifty thousand silver coins—a bit more than Lu Jing’an had estimated. And this was just for hunting down a single Demon Beast.

When his Uncle Huaichuan finished, Lu Jing’an commented casually, "Uncle Huaichuan, I’m afraid we took a loss this time."

Hearing this, a shrewd smile typical of a businessman blossomed on Lu Huaichuan’s face. He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his chair. "A loss? With me around, how could I let the family do a losing business deal?

"Leaving everything else aside, just the flesh and blood of that Tiger Demon will be enough to recoup our costs, with plenty of profit to spare."

"The Tiger Demon’s flesh and blood?" Lu Jing’an feigned appropriate surprise. "That stuff is toxic. Are there actually people who want it?"

Lu Huaichuan chuckled, a glint in his eye. "We might not have a use for it, but others treat it like a treasure. Those Void Merchants, as well as certain Voiders’ academies in the Concession that conduct ’biological research,’ are desperate for the corpses of such formidable Demon Beasts.

"Before we made our move, I contacted two Voiders who are willing to buy it for one hundred silver coins a pound. The flesh and blood on that Tiger Demon must weigh several thousand pounds, which will sell for at least several hundred thousand silver coins. As for the heart, liver, spleen, and lungs, those will be sold separately.

"Selling a single Tiger Demon for eight to nine hundred thousand silver coins won’t be a problem at all. If we have a few more good opportunities like this, our Lu Family’s wealth could easily double. In short, as long as your Uncle Huaichuan is here, it’s impossible for the Lu Family to do a losing deal."

Hearing that Voiders were buying it for biological research, Lu Jing’an couldn’t help but frown slightly. Ultimately, however, he didn’t delve deeper into the matter. Still, he added, "By the way, Uncle Huaichuan, I told Doctor Cui to go check the Tiger Demon tomorrow to see if there’s anything she can use."

Lu Huaiqian replied, "That’s easy. Let her pick whatever she wants. It would be best if she takes all the good parts."