Chapter 90 - 88: Li Family’s Finishing Move: Fate Cultivator

Chapter 90: Chapter 88: Li Family’s Finishing Move: Fate Cultivator

"But Sir, for someone like me, Smiling Tiger, to make a living in this lawless land, I’ve naturally got my own methods and a sharp eye.

If you’re really worried, Sir, you can send someone to investigate at any time. I’ll cooperate fully.

I only ask one thing, Sir. Please, be careful. Don’t tip them off."

Lu Jing’an seemed to consider it for a moment before saying:

"I will send people to investigate. Your job is to keep them there.

Also, tell the staff wielder that regarding the Crimson Gold Copper he has...

He can name his price, as long as the item is genuine."

"You got it! Don’t you worry, Sir, I’ll pass on the message, word for word."

Before Smiling Tiger had even finished speaking, a CLICK came from the receiver.

Lu Jing’an had already hung up.

The dial tone sounded again.

Smiling Tiger slowly lowered the receiver.

The Supervisor straightened up from the doorway and strode over, his shadow once again falling over Smiling Tiger.

"How sure are you that he bought it?"

Smiling Tiger turned, his face once again breaking into that practiced, slightly fawning smile.

"Sir, you’re really putting me on the spot.

When Immortals fight, how can a little imp like me hope to understand their thoughts?

If I had that kind of skill, I’d be a ’sir’ myself, wouldn’t I?"

"I told you to speak, so speak." The Supervisor’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

"Yes, yes."

Smiling Tiger’s smile vanished. He pretended to mull it over seriously for a moment before speaking cautiously.

"In my humble opinion, it’s unlikely that Young Master Lu will come in person.

After all, his status is different now. He’s a government official.

And as you heard, he’s extremely suspicious himself, worried that it’s a setup."

He paused, stealing a glance at the Supervisor’s expression before continuing:

"But one thing is definitely true.

Young Master Lu is genuinely interested in that Crimson Gold Copper. The kind of interested where he’ll spare no expense.

So, as long as this ’carrot’ is still dangling here, there’s still a chance he’ll come.

The key is that we have to put on a complete performance, without letting him see a single flaw."

The Supervisor listened without comment, simply giving a cold order:

"Here in Jinshan Village, you will continue business as usual. Nothing changes.

If Lu Jing’an really does send people to investigate, you know what to do."

"I understand. I’ll make sure it’s seamless."

Smiling Tiger agreed profusely, but then a troubled look appeared on his face. He wrung his hands and said.

"But, Sir, there is one thing I must report to you."

"Speak."

"I used to have a subordinate who’s now with Young Master Lu."

"He may be an idiot, but he knows Jinshan Village like the back of his hand. Not a single blade of grass escapes his notice.

So it’s best if your skilled men stay out of sight in the village for now, to avoid any unnecessary complications."

Hearing this, the Supervisor stared at Smiling Tiger for a long moment.

Suddenly, he let out two short, cold snorts, his gaze seeming to pierce right through the man’s heart.

"Cut the petty scheming.

This pathetic village of yours is only useful for this one thing.

When this is over, you’ll just stay here obediently and keep making money for us.

Don’t get any other ideas."

A chill ran through Smiling Tiger’s heart, but his face blossomed into a wide smile as he bowed again and again.

"You’re absolutely right, Sir, absolutely right! I’ll be sure to know my place, I promise!"

...

「Meanwhile, at the Yin Mountain County Water Patrol Bureau Director’s office.」

Lu Jing’an hung up the heavy, black office phone. The receiver landed in its cradle with a soft CLICK.

He leaned back in his high-backed chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the polished mahogany desk.

His gaze drifted to the gloomy sky outside the window, and he remained silent for a long time.

The office was somewhat dim, with only a green-shaded desk lamp casting a circle of faint yellow light.

It illuminated his sharp profile and a slight furrow in his brow.

After a long moment, he pressed the call bell on his desk.

A short while later, Chen Xuan pushed open the door and entered.

"Young Master, you sent for me?" Chen Xuan walked to the desk and stood at attention.

Lu Jing’an recounted the contents of Smiling Tiger’s phone call.

After listening, Chen Xuan’s brow immediately furrowed. "Young Master, this is a problem," he said decisively. "It’s definitely a setup."

A cold, knowing, and mocking smile touched Lu Jing’an’s lips.

"Of course there’s a problem.

Smiling Tiger’s performance practically had ’I’m making this call with a gun to my head’ written all over his face.

What’s more, he practically told me exactly who’s behind this trap."

"Oh?" Chen Xuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"The Li Family is leading, with the Liu Family assisting."

Lu Jing’an’s finger traced a line across the desk, as if carving an unseen prey.

"Right now, he’s most likely in the palm of the Li Family’s hand."

Chen Xuan mused, "What makes you so certain, Young Master?"

Lu Jing’an gave a cold laugh, devoid of any warmth.

"That Smiling Tiger is a complete opportunist, swaying with whichever way the wind blows. What does he know of real principles?

The day I took office as Director, his congratulatory telegram arrived.

He couldn’t stop calling me ’Director Lu.’ I was sick of hearing it.

Now he’s suddenly lecturing me about the code of the Jianghu.

That can only mean someone is using the ’code’ to force his hand."

He paused before continuing:

"Also, whenever Smiling Tiger called in the past and mentioned our three families...

...to suck up to me, he always put the ’Lu Family’ first.

But just now, the first thing he said was ’the Li Family, the Liu Family, and your Lu Family’.

The order has changed, and so has the meaning.

It was all too deliberate, too obvious."

Chen Xuan nodded slowly, his expression grave. "Since we know it’s a trap by the Li Family, how do you plan to respond, Young Master?"

Lu Jing’an raised a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, showing a rare trace of fatigue and gravity.

"That’s the difficult part.

The Li Family has likely found out that I urgently need Crimson Gold Copper, but they probably don’t know what I need it for specifically.

But for me, this Crimson Gold Copper is absolutely indispensable."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan took a step forward without hesitation and said in a low voice:

"Young Master, I’ll go. I will go to Jinshan Village and retrieve the Crimson Gold Copper for you."

"No." Lu Jing’an shook his head firmly.

"Master, I suspect that the Li Family’s most conservative goal in this move is to eliminate you.

The Lu Family’s current stability, and my father’s ability to run his affairs with peace of mind, are largely because you are here to hold the line.

If you weren’t here, the Lu Family would lose its greatest guardian.

Aside from me, everyone else would lose their greatest safeguard.

The Li and Liu Families would have far fewer reservations about making a move against my father and the others."

This was no exaggeration.

To the Lu Family, Chen Xuan’s existence was like a sharp sword poised in the darkness, a silent mountain of support.

You might not use it, but you could not be without it.

With him around, even if the Li and Liu Families wanted to move against Lu Huaiqian, they would have to weigh the risk of an equal, or even more brutal, retaliation.

The last time the Li Family dared to make a move on Lu Jing’an, it was precisely because they were certain that Chen Xuan was only responsible for Lu Huaiqian’s safety at the time and had no deep connection to Lu Jing’an.

Had they known of the master-disciple bond the two now shared, the Li Family might not have dared to take such a risk.

After a moment of silence, Lu Jing’an spoke again:

"Master, in your opinion, what kind of methods, or what kind of person, could the Li Family use that would truly be capable of threatening your life?"

He had a clear understanding of Chen Xuan’s strength.

Ordinary Martial Artists, Cultivators, and even common firearms...

...would find it difficult to truly threaten a Martial Artist like Chen Xuan, who had tempered his Flesh Body to an extremely high level.

Unless he was caught in a deathtrap and bombarded by heavy firearms...

...it would be exceedingly difficult to stop Chen Xuan if he decided to leave.

Hearing this, Chen Xuan lowered his gaze, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long while, Chen Xuan finally raised his eyes.

"There is one person," he said slowly.

"Among the Li Family’s retainers, there is a ’Fate Cultivator’.

He is the only one I believe could pose a threat to me."

"A Fate Cultivator?" Lu Jing’an raised an eyebrow.

He had never directly encountered this school of cultivation.

"Yes."

Chen Xuan nodded, his voice steady, each word clear.

"Those who are Fate Cultivators do not cultivate physical power, nor do they refine qi.

They specialize in the study of destiny and fortune.

They can alter fate... and gamble with it."

Just hearing those concepts made Lu Jing’an’s heart sink slightly.

"Alter fate... and gamble with it?"

Those two abilities sounded a bit overpowered.