Chapter 320 - 34: Different Choices on the Path of Life, Part 2

He then walked around the landscape screen blocking his view and entered the quiet room.

Chen Xuanxing and Old Feng, both Superpower Level Martial Artists, were there. One paced with his hands behind his back, while the other wore a grave expression.

Several of the club’s physicians bustled back and forth.

Lying on a bed against the wall was a middle-aged man whose face was a deathly shade of purple, as if he had been poisoned.

His eyes were shut tight, his breathing was faint, and he was on the verge of death.

His silver Martial Arts uniform was in tatters, revealing several deep gashes across his chest and abdomen.

But the most critical injury was a vivid, blood-red Palm Seal in the center of his sunken chest. The surrounding blood vessels were a dark, purplish-black, a clear sign of severe poisoning.

"Master Ge..."

Lu Chao’s expression turned grim. He hadn’t expected his condition to be this severe.

He then looked toward Chen Xuanxing and Old Feng.

Chen Xuanxing sighed silently and shook his head.

Beside him, Old Feng stepped forward with a complicated look on his face and explained in a low voice, "Old Ge went to handle some business with the City Guard Army last night. He was ambushed on his way back."

"That Old Ghost Li struck viciously, and he had a Superpower Level accomplice from who-knows-where. The two of them teamed up and gravely wounded Old Ge... Thankfully, the City Guard Army got word and arrived in time to save him."

As he listened, Lu Chao’s eyes grew cold.

He could sense that Master Ge’s aura was incredibly faint. He was only hanging on thanks to the powerful Life Energy of a Limit-Breaking Level Martial Artist.

Although his life wasn’t in immediate danger, the torment of the poison and his subsequent recovery would certainly take a great deal of time.

"Where’s Li Gusha?"

Lu Chao asked, killing intent already brewing in his heart.

Master Ge had always treated him well, never wavering even after learning that Lu Chao had offended the Tan family.

Now that he was in trouble, Lu Chao couldn’t possibly stand by and do nothing—not for his own master’s sake, and not after all the support Ge had shown him.

"He escaped."

Old Feng’s voice was grim.

Lu Chao turned to Chen Xuanxing, who shook his head slightly. "The City Guard Army commander is also only at the Limit-Breaking Level. It was a struggle for him to fight two against one, and he suffered serious injuries as well."

"According to him, Old Ghost Li’s accomplice was just as vicious. He wields a black combat blade and can shatter alloys with ease. His strength is at the Peak of Limit-Breaking Level at the very least... The commander couldn’t stop them."

As they explained, Lu Chao could sense that neither of them was lying.

Silence fell over the room.

His eyes flickered as countless theories raced through his mind.

He wasn’t surprised that Li Gusha would retaliate. After all, Master Ge and the others had a long-standing grudge with him, not to mention the recent incident where Lu Chao had defeated his dojo.

’But he had an accomplice, someone suspected to be at the Peak of Limit-Breaking Level?’

"Do you two seniors have any leads?"

"I had someone ask around. We’ve checked the black market and Deep Sea."

Old Feng shook his head, his expression stern. "But there’s nothing. It’s like the man appeared out of thin air."

"Besides, looking across the entire Red Maple City Circle, while there are a few Superpower Level individuals who are skilled with blades, none of them fit the description. Most of them also have a grudge against Old Ghost Li, so they’d never help him."

Chen Xuanxing nodded, giving a similar answer.

Lu Chao fell silent upon hearing this.

’The Tan family?’

He suspected them instinctively but quickly dismissed the thought.

If the Tan family had really wanted to make a move, the City Guard Army wouldn’t have come to the rescue; they would have had plenty of excuses to avoid the matter.

And, most importantly, according to what Master Ge had said in the past, Li Gusha also had a considerable grudge against the Tan family. The two sides would never cooperate.

Then...

With a grave expression, Lu Chao considered the other possibilities.

’The Rebels, warlord factions, even the Giant Bear club...’

There was no definite answer, so Lu Chao didn’t say any more.

Finally, after confirming that Ge Hongfeng’s injuries were under control and that he was on the road to recovery, he let out a soft sigh and left the quiet room.

"Seniors, if you get any news, please contact me immediately."

Lu Chao promised in a low voice, making his stance clear.

Chen Xuanxing and Old Feng exchanged a look, their faces filled with emotion, and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

He then walked down the corridor.

Lu Chao gave a few last instructions to Zheng Wu, telling him to be on his guard, before leaving the club.

Hm?

Suddenly, his senses picked up a probing gaze.

There was no malice in it, but it was tinged with a complex, hesitant emotion.

Lu Chao stopped and glanced over.

It was a black Sharp Light sedan parked on the street outside the club. He recognized the license plate; it belonged to the Xu family.

At that very moment, a figure in the back seat was looking at him through the window, their eyes meeting.

...

"Young Master, I think that’s Mr. Lu."

「Inside the black Sharp Light sedan.」

The Xu family security guard in the passenger seat spotted Lu Chao leaving the club and whispered urgently.

Sitting in the back, Xu Fengling, dressed in a tasteful, dark wool coat, turned to look.

The young man with the buzz cut, dressed in a black windbreaker, was on the opposite side of the street, just five or six meters away, and seemed about to leave.

"Younger Brother Lu..."

His eyes brightening, Xu Fengling sat up straight, about to open the door and get out to greet him, wanting to maintain their friendly relationship.

But he paused, a hesitant look crossing his face as something occurred to him.

"Young Master?"

The burly security guard in the passenger seat was a little confused.

He remembered his young master had proactively invited Lu Chao to dinner and even gifted him the formulas for several advanced Superpower Potions to build goodwill.

’Now that the man is at the Superpower Level, his potential is extraordinary. If we can maintain this connection...’

"Forget it."

After a few moments of hesitation, Xu Fengling sighed to himself and settled back into his seat.

With a helpless look in his eyes, he silently watched Lu Chao walk away down the opposite side of the street until he disappeared from view.

After all, the Xu family had to live at the mercy of the Tan family. It was the only way they could keep their shares in the Jinggang Chamber of Commerce and maintain their stable footing in the Red Maple City Circle.

And now, the Tan family was already at odds with him.

According to his understanding, and the repeated instructions from within the clan, this conflict was not something that could be resolved with a simple apology or Mr. Ji’s intervention.

More disputes and incidents were likely to follow.

"But, last time, didn’t you oppose the Patriarch’s view?"

The security guard in the passenger seat, a straightforward man, was confused.

He remembered that his young master had even argued with the Patriarch over this, planning to risk offending the Tan family to privately congratulate this Mr. Lu on breaking through to the Superpower Level and maintaining a good relationship.

But now...

"Perhaps, Father was right."

His expression shifted as he watched Lu Chao’s back disappear from sight.

The Tan family was the unshakeable giant within the Red Maple City Circle. Whether it was the Jinggang Chamber of Commerce or the patrol teams, they influenced every aspect of Satellite City No. 4 and the surrounding wilderness.

The Superpower Bureau seemed powerful, but its forces were spread thin across the entire Alliance Country. Ultimately, it was an unwelcome outsider that had arrived too late on the scene.

’I’m sorry, Younger Brother Lu.’

He thought to himself, sighing softly again.

’The Tan family’s current restraint is likely just the calm before the storm.’

’He and the Xu family can’t afford to offend them, and my own nascent ambitions can’t withstand such a gamble.’

Thinking of this, Xu Fengling tightened the buttons on his wool coat.

He completely suppressed any further thoughts of befriending him.

Only then did he open the car door, get out with his security guard, and, carrying the prepared gifts and precious potions, walk slowly toward the club.

Gusts of cold wind swept through the street, kicking up dust that settled by the roadside.

The dark clouds over the Red Maple City Circle grew thicker, and a heavy feeling began to settle in the air.