Chapter 156 - 114: Lu Huaisan, Death Sentence!

Chapter 156: Chapter 114: Lu Huaisan, Death Sentence!

The light of the charcoal fire danced in his eyes, reflecting a profound depth. Lu Jing’an remained silent for a few breaths before speaking slowly, his tone as even as ever. "Alright, I understand. Since the medicinal herbs are cut off, we will just suspend the medicinal baths for now."

Hearing this, Cui Jieyi’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly. She hesitated for a moment, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the button of her coat, but eventually spoke up. "Young Master Lu, since the medicinal bath is suspended, I don’t think it is convenient for me to continue staying at the Lu’s home."

"Sister Jieyi!" Orchid cried out, looking at Cui Jieyi in disbelief. "You—you’re leaving too? Didn’t you tell me just a couple of days ago that the Lu family treated you well and that you wouldn’t leave at a time like this? How could you..."

The young girl’s eyes instantly reddened, filled with both anger and disappointment.

Lu Jing’an looked at Cui Jieyi, his face devoid of expression. "Did someone else offer you a higher price, Doctor Cui?"

"Someone did offer a high price, much higher than the double rate mentioned before," Cui Jieyi said, shaking her head with a complex expression. "However..."

She paused, meeting Lu Jing’an’s gaze.

"My desire to leave has nothing to do with the price," she continued softly, yet her words were crystal clear. "I am aware of the Lu family’s current situation. Business has almost come to a standstill, and the docks, warehouses, and water transport are being hindered at every turn. There are massive expenses going out every day, but very little coming in.

"Since I can no longer help regulate your body and the medicinal baths are suspended, if I leave, the Lu family can save a considerable expense each month. Given the current situation, every bit saved helps."

Lu Jing’an listened quietly and suddenly smiled. There was no blame or mockery in that smile; instead, it carried a faint, almost imperceptible warmth.

"Doctor Cui, you worry too much," Lu Jing’an said, leaning forward slightly and resting his clasped hands on his knees. "Even if the Lu family only has expenses and little income right now, we can still afford the monthly salary to support a Medical Cultivator. The Lu family hasn’t reached the end of the rope where we need to deduct the living expenses of the people around us."

His tone was peaceful, yet it carried an unquestionable confidence.

"If you feel that your talents are being wasted in the Lu family, Doctor Cui, or if you have a better place to go, I, Lu, will absolutely not stop you from leaving, and I will even offer you traveling expenses. But if it’s merely an issue of silver coins, then there’s no need. What is owed to Doctor Cui will not be short a single cent."

Cui Jieyi looked at the young man before her, who was a few years her junior. In this precarious moment, his composure was inexplicably reassuring.

She fell silent for a moment before finally relenting. "In that case, could my monthly salary be temporarily recorded on the tab? Since the medicinal baths can’t be done anyway, I would feel guilty accepting it."

But Lu Jing’an shook his head, interrupting her. "I appreciate your good intentions, Doctor Cui. But what must be given, must be given. This is the rule, and it is also the dignity of the Lu family."

Cui Jieyi did not insist any further. She gave a soft hum of agreement and walked over to sit on a nearby round mahogany stool.

Seeing her stay, Orchid smiled through her tears and hurriedly poured a cup of hot tea, handing it over. "Sister Jieyi, have some tea!"

The Warm Pavilion quieted down, save for the occasional CRACKLE of the charcoal fire. None of the three brought up those vexing matters again, choosing instead to chat casually. Cui Jieyi talked about the Void World hairstyles that had recently become popular in the Provincial City, and Orchid curiously asked all sorts of questions. Lu Jing’an chimed in occasionally, and the atmosphere felt somewhat warm and cozy for a time.

Cui Jieyi was a smart woman. While Orchid might be ignorant of the Lu family’s current predicament, she saw it clearly. She knew better than anyone what a colossal behemoth the Bai Family was. With the Lu family being targeted by such an opponent, the pressure was imaginable.

By staying behind and keeping him company in conversation, she could somewhat distract Lu Jing’an’s mind. Even if it was just a drop in the bucket, it was still a gesture of goodwill.

Lu Jing’an naturally understood Cui Jieyi’s intentions as well. The pressure was certainly there, but it was far from making him live in constant anxiety. However, the company of a beautiful woman, with her soft and gentle words, was always pleasant. Moreover, Cui Jieyi was knowledgeable, articulate, and well-traveled. Chatting with her was a form of relaxation in itself.

Time slipped away quietly amidst their idle chatter.

The sky grew increasingly gloomy, and the biting wind whipped up scattered flurries of snow. They pelted against the paper windows, making a soft RUSTLE.

Suddenly, a flurry of hurried and slightly panicked footsteps approached from a distance, shattering this brief tranquility.

The cotton curtain of the Warm Pavilion was violently thrown open, bringing in a gust of biting cold air. The Lu family’s old butler, Uncle Zhang, stood in the doorway. His face was deathly pale, and fine beads of sweat dotted his temples. His chest heaved as he panted heavily; he had clearly sprinted all the way here.

"Y-Young Master!" Uncle Zhang’s voice was tight and trembling. "Third Master... Third Master has been taken away by the people from the Water Patrol Bureau!"

"What?!"

Lu Jing’an stood up abruptly, his knee knocking into the low table beside him. The teacup on top wobbled, splashing out a few drops of tea. The calm on Lu Jing’an’s face vanished instantly, replaced by an icy chill.

"What happened? Speak clearly!"

Uncle Zhang said frantically, "Just an hour ago! Over a dozen men from the Water Patrol Bureau came in uniforms and armed with guns. They barged right into Third Master’s Cao Bang! They said... they said someone reported it. They claimed that Third Master’s Cao Bang... has been using cargo ships to smuggle opium for a long time!"

As soon as the word "opium" was spoken, the temperature inside the Warm Pavilion seemed to plummet.

Orchid covered her mouth, her eyes wide. Cui Jieyi also stood up abruptly, the color draining from her face. Lu Jing’an’s expression darkened like a gathering storm.

When doing business, the Lu family inevitably dabbled in gray areas. It was impossible to say they were completely clean and never smuggled anything. With the convenience of water transport, they would casually sneak in rare Void World items with exorbitant tariffs, or highly sought-after spices from the Southern Ocean.