Chapter 149 - 112: Muscle Refining Realm, Perfection

Chapter 149: Chapter 112: Muscle Refining Realm, Perfection

The air seemed to freeze, thick with the pungent stench of gunpowder and blood.

Zhao Laosuan’s hand, clutching the dagger, trembled slightly.

Sticky, warm blood dripped down the fuller of the blade.

It congealed into dark red crusts between his calloused fingers.

He stood there in a daze, like a wooden statue struck by lightning, his mind buzzing.

The moment he killed Li Ergou, all he felt was a rush of hot blood to his head. ’The traitor deserved to die!’

But then Lu Jing’an loaded a round with a sharp CLICK.

When the dark muzzle of the gun pointed at Bai Lang, Zhao Laosuan was violently jolted back to reality.

’This is bad.’

’I’ve really screwed up.’

In his limited experience, the young master of the Lu Family had always been composed and calm, a master strategist. When had he ever needed to draw a gun himself?

Yet now, Lu Jing’an had not only drawn his pistol, but his grip on it was as steady as a mountain.

Zhao Laosuan’s throat went dry. He wanted to say something.

His lips moved, but not a sound came out.

He was like a child who had done wrong, not knowing what to do with his hands and feet.

He could only stand rooted to the spot, staring at the still-dripping dagger, which now felt like it was burning his hand.

Bai Lang grinned, revealing a set of stark white teeth.

His narrow eyes glinted with a wolf’s bloodlust as his gaze swept back and forth between Lu Jing’an and Zhao Laosuan before finally locking onto Lu Jing’an’s face.

"Young Master Lu." Bai Lang’s voice was hoarse, like sandpaper on sheet metal. "Are you sure you want to protect this subordinate who just committed murder in public?"

Bai Lang paused, then said, word by word, "Do you know what this means?"

Lu Jing’an didn’t answer immediately. He just slowly raised his gun hand, adjusting the aim slightly, keeping it trained steadily on the spot between Bai Lang’s eyebrows.

"Captain Bai." Lu Jing’an spoke, his voice so calm it betrayed no emotion.

"And do you know that if you don’t let me take my man and leave, all of you will die here tonight?"

Bai Lang scoffed as if he’d heard a joke. "You think the men of my Wolf Camp are afraid to die?"

"No." Lu Jing’an shook his head slightly, the gun not wavering in the slightest. "But if you die, what happens to Commander Bai’s plans?"

The words were like a needle, jabbing unexpectedly into Bai Lang’s nerves.

A muscle in his face twitched.

Lu Jing’an continued, his pace unhurried but every word crystal clear:

"Do you think Commander Bai would rather waste his energy in a war of attrition with my Lu Family, or would he prefer to focus his strength on dealing with the Hu Family?

"Does he care more about one insignificant traitor, or about his plans going awry?"

Lu Jing’an tilted his head slightly, the firelight dancing on the side of his face.

"My Lu Family certainly can’t win against the Bai Family, but we can hold you up for a while.

"Long enough to give the Hu Family a chance to breathe. That much, we can do."

Bai Lang fell silent.

The only sounds on the docks were the whistling wind, the crackling of torches, and the heavy breathing of the Wolf Camp soldiers.

Time ticked by, every second stretched taut like a drawn bowstring.

Finally, Bai Lang squeezed a few words through his clenched teeth: "Take your dog and go."

"Thank you."

The words had barely left Lu Jing’an’s mouth—

"BANG!"

A gunshot suddenly exploded, tearing through the night sky.

Everyone flinched.

Bai Lang whipped his head around to see the other traitor, Sun Long, with a blossom of blood blooming between his eyebrows as he collapsed backward.

He hit the ground with a THUD, his eyes still wide open.

As if he hadn’t understood what had just happened.

With a flick of his wrist, Lu Jing’an spun the still-smoking Mauser pistol deftly and slid it back into the holster at his waist.

The movement was as fluid as flowing water, so fast it was little more than a blur.

"My apologies." Lu Jing’an brushed a speck of nonexistent dust from the corner of his clothes, his tone casual. "The gun went off by accident."

Lu Jing’an looked up at Bai Lang, the corners of his mouth even curling into the faintest of smiles.

"It’s just a shame about the two men you just promoted. It seems Captain Bai will have to find some replacements."

With that, Lu Jing’an turned his back on Bai Lang’s ashen face and walked toward the car parked in the distance.

After taking two steps, he tossed a sentence over his shoulder without looking back:

"Old Shuan, bring anyone who’s willing to follow you, and keep up."

Chen Xuan backed away at Lu Jing’an’s side, his falcon-like gaze locked on Bai Lang and the Wolf Camp soldiers.

His aura was contained, yet ready to erupt at any moment.

As if waking from a dream, Zhao Laosuan hastily wiped the dagger on his sleeve, shoved it back into his belt, and yelled to the men behind him in a hoarse voice, "Anyone who wants to follow Young Master Lu, come on!"

A commotion stirred in the crowd.

One, two, three... Men from the Water Patrol Bureau emerged from the crowd, their heads bowed, and hurried to follow Lu Jing’an’s retreating figure.

Some hesitated, glancing at Bai Lang and then at their departing colleagues, before finally gritting their teeth and following as well.

In the end, more than two-thirds of them left.

Bai Lang stood rooted to the spot, watching their backs disappear into the morning light.

His fists were clenched so tight his knuckles cracked, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

His nails dug so deep into his palms that they drew blood.

A terrifying, vicious light erupted from his wolf-like eyes.

He stared fixedly in the direction of Lu Jing’an’s car until the red glow of its taillights vanished completely at the end of the street.

If he could, he would have taken his men and pursued them right now.

He would have torn that man named Lu, along with all those traitors under him, to shreds.

But he couldn’t.

Lu Jing’an was right. It was a gamble he couldn’t afford to take.

...

On the way back to the Lu Family estate, the car was silent save for the roar of the engine.

Zhao Laosuan sat in the front passenger seat, his back ramrod straight but as stiff as a board.

He stole several glances at Lu Jing’an in the back seat via the rearview mirror. His lips moved, but in the end, he didn’t dare say a word.

Lu Jing’an’s eyes were closed in rest, his face unreadable.

The car drove into the Lu Family compound and came to a steady stop before the main hall.

Lu Jing’an pushed the door open and got out, with Chen Xuan following close behind.

He gave a few quiet instructions, and someone went off to prepare tea and gather their men.