Chapter 296 - 152: Ambiguity? Lu Yun’s Confusion

Chapter 296: Chapter 152: Ambiguity? Lu Yun’s Confusion

A Grandmaster of Huajin under the age of thirty was certainly a rare sight, but whether she could make it to the very end would depend on her own destiny.

Lu Yun withdrew his gaze and gave a slight nod to Gong Jue and the two other elders. "The three of you are much older than I am, so there’s no need for such grand formalities. If you don’t mind, you can just call me Lu Yun."

These words were polite, but no one would actually take them seriously. ’Call him Lu Yun? That was the name of a Grandmaster of Divine Intent, a symbol of the Martial Arts Peak in the Daxia New Country. Who would dare address him directly by name?’

As expected, before anyone else could speak, Second Elder Gong Shouchen had already strode forward and preempted them.

"Oh, Lord Lu, that is out of the question!"

"We who practice Martial Arts never consider age. It’s as they say: the accomplished one is the teacher! You are the guiding light on the path for every Martial Artist in the Daxia New Country and the greatest role model for old fogeys like us in this lifetime!"

"For me, Gong Shouchen, getting to see you in person is a blessing I must have cultivated over several lifetimes!"

The grand hall fell silent for a moment. Gong Jue and the Fourth Elder had complex looks on their faces. The corners of their mouths twitched slightly as they both turned to look at Gong Shouchen.

Gong Yuanshan couldn’t help but glance at his Second Elder, an indescribable expression on his face.

’This hundred-something-year-old, hot-tempered Second Elder was once capable of infuriating two clan elders to the point of apoplexy. Who would have ever thought he’d one day be sucking up to someone?’

After everyone was seated, the atmosphere in the hall gradually grew warmer. Gong Jue was naturally a calm and composed person who rarely showed much emotion in front of others.

But whether it was Lu Yun’s exceptionally calm demeanor or the relaxed atmosphere in the hall, as the conversation went on, she gradually let go of her usual reserve as an Elder.

The Fourth Elder, too, was usually a woman of few words, but today she uncharacteristically joined the conversation a few times.

The two of them worked in tandem, overtly and covertly expressing the same message: since the Gong Family had come to Yun Port City, they would henceforth be under Lord Lu’s command. Come what may, the Gong Family would serve with all their strength and unwavering loyalty.

As the conversation wound down, Gong Jue inconspicuously shot a look at the Fourth Elder.

The Fourth Elder nodded in understanding, then reached up to take down the silk-wrapped package she had slung across her shoulder.

The silk was unwrapped, layer by layer, revealing a black box a few inches square.

Gong Jue stood up, holding the box with both hands and bowing slightly. She said with great solemnity, "Lord Lu, this is a small token from our Gong Family. Please do not refuse it."

Lu Yun glanced at the small, tightly sealed box. He had no intention of refusing it.

’Since the Gong Family presented it publicly, they would certainly not take it back. To go back and forth refusing it would be a disservice to their sincere gesture.’

"Then I shall accept it."

As soon as he said this, the rest of the Gong Family members stood up and bowed in unison.

"Thank you, Lord Lu! In that case, we won’t disturb you any longer. We shall take our leave."

Just then, a soft voice suddenly rang out. "Three Elders, Father."

It was Gong Ning. She stood her ground instead of turning with the others. "I’ve just broken through to the Grandmaster of Huajin realm, so I might need to ask Lord Lu for some guidance. You can all head back first."

Gong Jue, the other two elders, and Gong Yuanshan were all stunned for a moment. ’A breakthrough to Grandmaster of Huajin? Isn’t asking for guidance on such a trivial matter a gross misuse of Lord Lu’s time and talent?’

’What was there to ask? Matters like qi and blood circulation, power control, and realm stabilization could all be answered by old-timers like us. Why bother a great figure like Lord Lu?’

’Who was Lord Lu? A Grandmaster of Divine Intent, the Stabilizing Needle of Martial Arts for the Daxia New Country. To ask him to give pointers to a newly-minted Grandmaster of Huajin... wasn’t that like using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?’

Gong Yuanshan opened his mouth to say something, but before he could speak, Lu Yun had already spoken.

"Granted."

That single word shattered all the concerns held by Gong Jue, the other elders, and Gong Yuanshan, blowing them away like smoke.

’Since Lord Lu has agreed, this is an opportunity for young Gong Ning.’

"Xiaoning, we’ll wait for you outside."

Gong Yuanshan gave Gong Ning one last instruction, then turned and walked out of the grand hall with the three Elders.

Only two people remained in the hall. Lu Yun tilted his head slightly to look at Gong Ning as she slowly walked toward him.

As he recalled, Gong Ning had always been a cold and distant young woman, but her behavior at this moment was a departure from her usual style.

Gong Ning walked up to Lu Yun and stopped, inappropriately close.

"Lord Lu, ever since I broke through to the Grandmaster of Huajin realm, the qi and blood in my body have felt a little... off. It speeds up and slows down on its own, and I find it difficult to control. Could you possibly take a look for me?"

He faced her stunningly beautiful face, now just inches away. Her lips were a dewy pink, and her breath was as fragrant as an orchid.

Both the distance and her actions seemed somewhat suggestive. Lu Yun frowned slightly; he couldn’t quite figure out what was going on.

Before Lu Yun could react, Gong Ning reached out a fair, delicate hand and, without the slightest hesitation, pressed it onto the back of his right hand, which was resting on the head of his staff.

At that very moment, black water churned in the depths of Gong Ning’s eyes, and her lips slowly curled into a triumphant smirk.

’I can’t believe the plan went so smoothly. My Black Water Divine Techniques have actually made contact with this human Grandmaster of Divine Intent.’

’As long as I’ve made contact, the rest will be easy. The truly terrifying part of the Black Water Divine Techniques has never been their external destructive force, but their ability to erode and control the spiritual world.’

’Faced with my will, which is comparable to that of a Peak of Divine Intent Grandmaster, there’s no way Lu Yun can possibly resist.’

’In Gong Ning’s memories, this Lu Yun was just a human who had only recently entered the Grandmaster of Divine Intent realm. What could he possibly use to stop me?’

But in the next second, Lu Yun’s right hand let go of the head of his staff and, in a swift reversal, seized Gong Ning’s hand in a death grip.

Gong Ning’s smile froze on her face as she found herself looking into a pair of eyes shimmering with a dazzling purple radiance.

"You’re not Gong Ning! An Outer Celestial Demon?"