Chapter 160: Retribution for the Unkind

It was currently immobile—the time when it most needed to replenish its vital energy and blood!

Although each piece of Blood Food contained only a sliver of this energy, their sheer, terrifying number was enough to solve its urgent crisis!

“HISSS—”

The Snake Demon opened its cavernous maw, a terrifying suction forming a vortex.

Fish, shrimp, clams, and snails flooded into its seemingly bottomless mouth like a tidal wave.

The sounds of chewing, cracking bones, and scraping scales were exceptionally clear in the silent depths.

Devouring, a frantic Devouring!

As the massive amount of Blood Food entered its stomach, the regrowth of flesh at the Snake Demon’s point of severance visibly accelerated!

Blood vessels extended and connected rapidly, like earthworms.

New muscle fibers constantly generated and intertwined.

The outer layer of new skin also spread over it at an astonishing speed.

Its color gradually darkened and hardened.

The first batch of Blood Food was soon devoured completely.

On the Snake Demon’s body, the shocking mark of its bisection had all but vanished, leaving only a ring of slightly lighter-colored scar tissue.

Without pausing, Lu Jing’an turned and once again vanished into the darkness.

A second batch, a third batch… A steady stream of Blood Food was herded over.

In the quiet of the deep night, at the bottom of the Canglan River.

A silent and efficient “feeding” was taking place.

「Seven hours later.」

The eastern sky was already showing the pale white of dawn.

At the bottom of the ravine, the Snake Demon slowly stretched its body.

Its nearly twenty-zhang-long, dark-green body was as whole as if it had never been injured.

The ring of newly healed scales gleamed with a faint metallic luster in the dim water.

Though not as hard or thick as the original scales, they were now seamlessly joined.

The broken bones and internal organs within its body had also mostly healed.

All that remained was time for recovery and more replenishment of its vital energy, and it would be fully restored.

The Snake Demon at this moment was not yet at its peak.

But it had already recovered its basic ability to move and hunt.

As long as it didn’t encounter a Martial Arts master of Bai Lang’s caliber.

Ordinary Cultivators or the cannon fire of the Water Patrol Bureau could no longer harm it.

As for Bai Lang, Lu Jing’an had his own ways of knowing his movements.

The moment Bai Lang made a move, he could order the Snake Demon to hide.

Lu Jing’an floated before the Snake Demon, clearly transmitting a command through their Spirit link.

It wasn’t a complex plan, just a single, concise word:

Destruction.

Following the list provided by Lu Jing’an, it was to attack the cargo ships belonging to certain businesses.

Especially those businesses that had kicked the Lu Family while they were down and stabbed them in the back—they were to be given priority.

Lu Jing’an would turn the Canglan River into a nightmarish shipping lane for those treacherous oath-breakers.

‘Since they chose to cut off the Lu Family’s path, then no one gets to pass.’

The command given, a flicker of understanding flashed in the Snake Demon’s cold, vertical pupils, and it bobbed its enormous head again.

Lu Jing’an lingered no longer. With a single movement, he shot upwards against the current like an arrow from a bow, heading back toward Yin Mountain County.

The Snake Demon watched Lu Jing’an disappear, then coiled its massive body.

It slid silently from the ravine, vanishing into the deeper, darker waters of the river’s heart.

It began to search for its first prey of the day.

When Lu Jing’an returned to Yin Mountain County, the sky was caught between darkness and dawn.

Lu Jing’an was soaked to the bone. He circulated his vital energy slightly.

A cloud of white mist evaporated from his body, quickly drying his clothes and restoring their neatness.

Moments later, he was back in his own courtyard, having disturbed no one.

…

The next morning, the news that Lu Huaisan had been arrested by the Water Patrol Bureau and swiftly sentenced spread through the streets and alleys of Yin Mountain County as if it had grown wings.

“Extra! Extra! Third Master of Lu’s Shipyard, Lu Huaisan, found guilty of colluding with Water Bandits, smuggling opium, and murder for profit! With conclusive evidence, he has been sentenced to death, to be carried out soon!”

The newsboy’s sharp voice pierced the morning mist as he delivered newspapers, still smelling of fresh ink, to every household, shop, and tavern.

In the teahouses, people clutched their newspapers, whispering to one another with varied expressions.

Some reveled in the Lu Family’s misfortune, some sighed with emotion, but most were silent, feeling a shared sense of doom.

The Lu Family, it seemed, was truly headed for a great fall this time.

Commander Bai’s blade was sharp indeed.

Inside the Lu Mansion, the atmosphere was even more oppressive.

Orchid returned from gathering news outside, her pretty face deathly pale.

Her eyes were red-rimmed. Carrying breakfast, she entered Lu Jing’an’s room, her voice trembling:

“Young Master, outside… they’re all saying that Third Master… he’s really going to be…”

Lu Jing’an sat at the table, slowly stirring a bowl of plain congee with a spoon.

Steam rose in wisps, blurring his features.

Lu Jing’an cut Orchid off, his tone calm but resolute. “He won’t.”

Those two short words strangely managed to calm Orchid’s frantic heart.

She looked at her young master’s tranquil profile, recalling his recent extraordinary deeds.

An inexplicable confidence blossomed within her.

‘That’s right. If the Young Master says he won’t, then Third Master will definitely be fine.’

“But, those people outside are just awful!”

Orchid put down the tray, unable to stop herself from adding indignantly.

“I heard that after Third Master’s arrest, many of the businesses that had received favors from the Lu Family… …rushed to the Water Patrol Bureau to file petitions and make false accusations! Not only did they rush to sever ties, but they’re desperately flinging mud at Third Master! It’s like their consciences were eaten by dogs!”

Lu Jing’an spooned up some congee, brought it to his mouth, and swallowed slowly before saying faintly:

“Yes. People whose consciences have been eaten by dogs will get their retribution.”

Lu Jing’an’s tone was placid, as if he were stating the most ordinary of facts.

“Go see how my Third Aunt is doing,” Lu Jing’an instructed.

“Yes, Young Master.” Orchid composed herself and quickly departed.

She returned not long after, her expression even heavier:

“Young Master, the Third Mistress has been crying so hard she’s nearly fainted. The concubines and young misses are all gathered around trying to console her, but they can’t stop her. The young master and young miss are just children, and they’re terrified. They’re crying too, their eyes are swollen like peaches.”