Chapter 47 - 46: Harvest 2

Chapter 47: Chapter 46: Harvest 2

After they finished discussing Cui Jieyi,

Lu Jing’an retreated to a rosewood armchair on the east side of the hall,

and said nothing more.

He was well aware that his main purpose now was to learn.

Deep down, he had no real desire to take charge of the vast family enterprise.

For Lu Jing’an, the current situation was ideal.

He had no worries about silver coins and could spend all his time practicing martial arts or pursuing other things he enjoyed.

This lesson on family, connections, and interests continued until dinnertime before finally taking a break.

Lu Jing’an ate quickly, his movements crisp and possessing the characteristic efficiency of a Martial Artist.

Putting down his chopsticks and wiping his mouth with a warm towel, he rose to take his leave.

"Father, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, I’ll be heading back now."

Lu Huaiqian merely grunted in acknowledgment.

His gaze never left the teacup in his hand, where the Biluochun tea leaves were slowly sinking to the bottom.

Lu Huaichuan, however, offered a gentle smile and a nod.

Stepping out of the warm and bustling dining hall,

the late autumn night wind immediately enveloped him, carrying the last lingering fragrance of the courtyard’s late-blooming osmanthus.

It slipped into the standing collar of his cotton robe, sending a cool, sobering chill through him.

He didn’t look back, his steps steady and swift as he passed through two moon gates,

following the covered corridor toward his own private courtyard.

Inside the hall, watching his nephew’s back disappear beyond the ornamental gate,

Lu Huaichuan cleaned his glasses and spoke slowly:

"Eldest Brother, some things can’t be rushed.

We three old men can still hold on for a few more years.

Jing’an... he’s already doing very well."

Lu Huaiqian finally lifted his gaze from the teacup, looking out at the heavy darkness of the night.

After a long moment, he let out a heavy sigh.

"There’s something I didn’t tell Jing’an just now."

"Secretary Hu’s side has let something slip.

He wants to support our Lu Family in competing for the position of Director of the Xin City Public Security Bureau."

"That’s wonderful news!" Lu Huaisan’s eyes lit up, his voice rising before he quickly lowered it again. "Eldest Brother, we should let Jing’an know so he can be happy about it too!"

But Lu Huaichuan’s face showed no trace of joy. Instead, his brows slowly furrowed.

"Is it just another empty promise of ’support’?"

Lu Huaiqian was silent for a moment before nodding.

The candlelight flickered in his eyes, reflecting a darkness as deep as a bottomless pool.

Lu Huaisan looked at his eldest brother’s grave expression, then at his second brother’s grim one.

He belatedly understood the implications.

Only a verbal promise of support.

The meaning couldn’t be clearer.

Secretary Hu wanted to use the Lu Family as his hired gun to stir the already muddy waters.

If they succeeded, the director’s position wouldn’t necessarily fall into the Lu Family’s hands.

If they failed, the Lu Family would be the ready-made scapegoat, devoured until not even bones were left.

But if they refused this "kindness,"

a slight twist of that Secretary’s lips,

and the Lu Family’s many businesses would likely find themselves in dire straits.

The Lu Family originally had no intention of vying for a position so exposed and dangerous.

Lu Huaiqian knew full well that his family’s foundations were still shallow.

Like rootless duckweed, even if they won by a stroke of luck, they might not be able to hold on to it.

On the contrary, if they failed, the various factions watching like tigers

would surely pounce like sharks smelling blood and devour the Lu Family completely.

"Then can we just feign compliance and put on a show?" Lu Huaichuan mused, suggesting a possibility.

Lu Huaiqian slowly shook his head. "I’m afraid that will be difficult. Since Secretary Hu has spoken, he wants us to go in with real swords and spears."

Lu Huaichuan fell silent. They couldn’t just pay lip service.

It meant they would have to truly commit resources and connections to clash with those old, deeply-rooted Noble Families.

Before those true behemoths decided the winner among themselves,

they would likely join forces first to eliminate the Lu Family—this seemingly plump

but toothless "nouveau riche"—from the game.

This outcome was almost predictable.

After a long while, Lu Huaichuan suddenly slammed his glasses down on the table with a sharp CRACK.

"If we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t... then we’ll fight!

Let’s go all out and fight for that one-in-a-million chance!

What if fortune happens to smile on our Lu Family?"

"Right! Second Brother is right, let’s fight!"

Lu Huaisan puffed out his chest.

"Our Lu Family isn’t made of clay!"

...

Lu Jing’an hadn’t left the table early out of impatience.

It was because the Zhengqi Furnace was about to complete its Refining.

He returned to his quiet, secluded courtyard and stood alone in its center.

The moonlight, as cold as frost, spilled onto the bluestone slabs, casting a hazy glow.

He took a deep breath, and the cool autumn night air filled his lungs.

It carried the scent of earth and withered chrysanthemums, steadying his mind.

Immediately, he assumed a stance and began practicing a set of his most familiar Long Arm Fist.

Only through his Fist Skill, when his blood and qi surged and his mind was clear,

could he truly forget the intricate schemes and heavy responsibilities

and feel a sense of pure existence.

Time flowed by in the silence.

The countdown reached zero, and a clear notification appeared:

[Refining Complete]

Lu Jing’an’s focus sharpened, and he banished all distracting thoughts.

The rewards from slaying that terrifying Tiger Demon were finally about to be revealed.

[Obtained Orange entry: Mind Control]

[Obtained Green entry: Mountain Lord Carrying the Mountain]

[Obtained Green entry: Tiger Roar in the Forest]

[Obtained Green entry: Tiger-Backed Gang Body]

[Obtained Energy Points: 8]

[Obtained one Tiger Demon Memory Pearl]

’Four entries!’

’And one of them is actually orange!’

Even with Lu Jing’an’s calm and steady disposition, a warmth spread through his chest at this moment.

These gains had far exceeded his expectations.

He immediately tapped on them one by one to inspect them closely:

[Mind Control] (Orange)

[Note]: While wearing this entry, you can forcibly control any living being whose Spiritual Power is less than one-third of yours.

If the target’s Spiritual Power is higher, you can attempt to strike first

and take control after destroying a portion of their Spirit.

This entry permanently increases Spiritual Power by 4 points.

[Mountain Lord Carrying the Mountain] (Green)

[Note]: While wearing this entry, when you are in a forest or mountain environment,

you will receive the "Mountain Lord" blessing.

Defense Power increases by 50%, Speed increases by 50%, and Spiritual Power increases by 50%.

In the mountains and forests, you are the unseen king.

[Tiger Roar in the Forest] (Green)

[Note]: While wearing this entry, you can use your vocal cords to simulate the roar of a ferocious tiger,

unleashing a roar that shocks the Divine Soul.

Within a twenty-meter radius, all targets will suffer a spiritual shock

and, depending on the strength of their Spiritual Power, will fall into a brief stupor.

[Tiger-Backed Gang Body] (Green)

[Note]: While wearing this entry, you will gain a tough and resilient physique like that of a Tiger Demon.

Your qi and blood will be vigorous, and your Tendons and Bones will be strong.

This entry permanently increases Attack Power by 2 points and Defense Power by 2 points.

"Excellent!"

These four entries boosted his combat power in every way.

Especially on the spiritual level.

He had personally experienced the terror of the Tiger Demon’s spiritual assault.

If he hadn’t managed to endure it through his own special methods, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Now, this power was about to become his.

And it was even more subtle, more impossible to guard against.

Without hesitation, Lu Jing’an equipped all four new entries.

The moment the entries were equipped,

Lu Jing’an noticed

that the ’+’ signs behind his original Green entry [Extraordinary Physique] and the newly acquired [Tiger-Backed Gang Body] both lit up.

Lu Jing’an wasn’t surprised.

Both entries focused on tempering the foundations of the body; it was perfectly normal for them to be compatible.

With a thought, he tapped on ’Upgrade’.

[Upgrade entry? This will consume 5 Energy Points. Upgrade now?]

"Upgrade."

[Upgrade initiated. Estimated time: 4 hours.]

’Fusing two green physique entries should produce an orange one at the very least, right?’

A flicker of anticipation rose in Lu Jing’an’s heart.

For a Martial Artist, a powerful orange physique entry was equivalent to building a foundation that reached the heavens.

With such a foundation, his future achievements might truly surpass those of his astonishingly brilliant master, Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan’s strength lay in his divine Fist Skill and his supreme comprehension.

But his physical talent was merely among the best of the green-tier.

After dealing with the entries, Lu Jing’an turned his attention to the last item: the faintly glowing "Tiger Demon Memory Pearl."

This was the key to solving the biggest mystery in his mind.

Why had that Tiger Demon been relentlessly targeting the Lu Family?