Chapter 180 - 120: The Lu Family’s Reward

Chapter 180: Chapter 120: The Lu Family’s Reward

"Unless it consumes a massive amount of Blood Food, or is infused with an immense amount of life Essence."

"Consuming Blood Food..." Lu Jing’an shook his head.

"Let’s not even discuss whether the Lu Family could provide it.

Even if we could, gathering enough flesh and blood to restore a Giant Demon of that size in such a short time...

We would have to slaughter every last citizen of Yin Mountain County and the surrounding areas.

The Lu Family cannot, and will not, do such a thing."

Mr. Xu’s eyes flickered. This was indeed a blind spot they hadn’t considered in detail.

The Snake Demon’s swift recovery was hard to explain by the Lu Family’s means alone, unless there was some fortuitous encounter involved.

"So, Lu Xiaoyou, you believe... the Snake Demon stole a large amount of life force from the Spirit Nest to heal itself?" Mr. Xu asked, following Lu Jing’an’s line of thought.

"Precisely," Lu Jing’an affirmed.

"That is the only way to explain how its injuries healed so quickly.

Furthermore, only some peculiar Energy possibly contained within a Spirit Nest...

...could explain why the Snake Demon’s intelligence seems to have greatly increased, making its actions even harder to predict."

After hearing this, Mr. Xu did not immediately reply.

A silence fell over the study.

The sky outside seemed to darken slightly as clouds slowly drifted by, casting shifting shadows into the room.

Mr. Xu looked down, his fingers tapping very lightly on his knee.

He was clearly weighing and deducing things rapidly in his mind.

Lu Jing’an did not rush him, but waited quietly.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Mr. Xu slowly raised his head.

His gaze was sharp as a knife as he confirmed once more, "Lu Xiaoyou, that Snake Demon... is it truly unrelated to the Lu Family?"

Lu Jing’an’s expression was solemn, and he didn’t flinch. "The Snake Demon is indeed not under the Lu Family’s control."

Mr. Xu stared intently into Lu Jing’an’s eyes for a long moment before finally, slowly exhaling.

But his expression grew even graver.

"If that’s truly the case..." Mr. Xu’s voice was low and heavy, each word seeming to carry weight.

"Then we may have... unintentionally done Bai Ting a great favor.

This assassination has become all the more urgent. It must succeed!"

Lu Jing’an feigned the perfect amount of confusion. "Why do you say that, sir?"

Mr. Xu took a deep breath, as if to suppress the tremors in his heart.

"The method of ’rejuvenation via Spirit Nest’ recorded in those Ancient Texts Bai Ting possesses might actually work for him."

Mr. Xu paused, and seeing the surprise flash in Lu Jing’an’s eyes, he continued:

"Rejuvenation requires a Spirit Nest.

However, not all Spirit Nests possess the power for Defying the Heavens and Changing One’s Destiny.

Only those that have accumulated a massive amount of life force...

...and at the same time contain the special power to enhance the very source of intelligence...

...have the potential to realize the miracle recorded in the Ancient Texts."

"If that Snake Demon truly did rely on the Spirit Nest to recover and had its intelligence greatly enhanced, then that means...

...the Spirit Nest in the Canglan River is very likely the one-in-a-million ’Life Soul Spirit Nest’!"

Mr. Xu’s tone grew increasingly urgent.

"Once he successfully uses it, the consequences will be unimaginable!

If Bai Ting truly manages to extend his life or even return to his youth...

...with his ambition and methods, I fear the entire world will be turned upside down!"

Lu Jing’an’s heart trembled.

’I never thought the theory I fabricated to hide my ability to control the Snake Demon... would unexpectedly touch upon such a shocking secret.’

"Patriarch Lu, Lu Xiaoyou!"

Mr. Xu shot to his feet, his previous composure gone, replaced by a sense of urgency.

"The situation has changed. It’s far beyond our estimations.

I must return to the Provincial City immediately to report the details and devise a new plan!

Please bring out your young master and young miss at once.

They will return to the Provincial City with me!"

Lu Huaiqian looked at Lu Huaisan. Though reluctance and worry were written all over Lu Huaisan’s face...

...he still nodded heavily and rose abruptly. "I’ll go get them now."

Before long, Lu Huaisan returned to the study with the two children.

Lu Jinglin held her younger brother Lu Jinhao’s hand. Both children had tense expressions on their little faces.

Their eyes were a little red; they had clearly been crying.

Having been carefully instructed and comforted, they were now holding back their anxiety as they stood before the adults.

Lu Jing’an walked over to them, crouched down, and looked his younger brother and sister in the eyes.

Lu Jing’an reached out and gently ruffled Lu Jinhao’s hair.

He then smoothed Lu Jinglin’s hair, his tone uncharacteristically gentle:

"Jinhao, Jinglin, go with this Grandmaster Xu and have some fun in the Provincial City for a few days.

Once things are settled here, Big Brother will come personally to bring you home."

Lu Jinhao nodded forcefully, tightening his grip on his sister’s hand and puffing out his small chest.

"Don’t worry, Big Brother! I’ll protect my sister! We’ll wait for you to come get us!"

Lu Jinglin also said softly but firmly, "Big Brother, Father, Uncle... you... you all be careful."

Mr. Xu said gently from the side:

"Rest assured, Lu Xiaoyou. The young master and young miss will be honored guests of my Hu Family. No harm will come to them.

The Provincial City’s defenses are tight; it is much safer there than here."

Lu Jing’an stood up and looked at Mr. Xu, his eyes deep and calm.

Yet for some reason, they sent a chill down Mr. Xu’s spine. "It had better be."

Mr. Xu dared not delay any longer. He cupped his fists in farewell to the Lu family members and hurried away with the two children.

The carriage rumbled out of the Lu Residence and quickly disappeared at the end of the street, leaving only a faint trail of dust.

Watching the carriage depart, Lu Jing’an turned to the downcast Lu Huaisan and said:

"Third Uncle, as for Third Aunt, I’ll have to trouble you to console and explain things to her.

Once this matter is concluded, I will personally go to the Provincial City and bring Jinhao and Jinglin back safely."

Lu Huaisan waved his hand and forced a smile.

"No need to say more, Jing’an. Your third aunt understands what’s at stake."

The group returned to the study, the atmosphere even heavier than before.

Lu Jing’an looked at Chen Xuan. "Master, regarding what Mr. Xu said about the ’Spirit Nest’ and ’Longevity,’ have you ever heard of such things before?

Is there really such a heaven-defying method?"

Chen Xuan’s expression was grave as he slowly nodded.

"Such rumors do exist. In my early years, I saw similar records in some ancient, fragmented scrolls.

They spoke of a few extremely rare places in the world, blessed by creation, that gather immense life force and Spirit Charm.

These places might be able to reverse one’s lifespan and restore youth.

But... the records were vague and mostly based on legend and speculation.

Successful cases are nearly impossible to verify. At least, I have never personally seen or confirmed one."

With Chen Xuan’s words, the matter was clearly not just a baseless rumor.

Regardless of whether it was true or false, they had to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

There were now only ten days left until the Little New Year, at the most.

Time was tight, yet the Lu Family had a thousand things to prepare.

Besides hastening the procurement of firearms and ammunition and adjusting their defenses...

Lu Jing’an also needed to verify the intelligence Mr. Xu had revealed about the forces around Bai Ting.

He had Leopard One’s memory fragments as a reference for the situation with the Tiger, Leopard, and Wolf battalions.

This gave him a far more detailed understanding than what Mr. Xu had described.

But the details about those "Cultivators," especially the "Blood Cultivator" path that Mr. Xu had been vague about...

...Chen Xuan also admitted to knowing very little.

This matter could only be left to his father, Lu Huaiqian, to investigate through the Lu Family’s secret channels.

Actually, there was a more convenient route—the Anping Bureau.

Given his relationship with the Anping Bureau, he might be able to learn a thing or two.

But the thought only crossed Lu Jing’an’s mind for a moment before he dismissed it.

This affair was too involved, the waters too deep.

Lu Jing’an really didn’t want to drag the Anping Bureau into it.

Everything still depended on the Lu Family itself.

On the morning of the third day, as Lu Jing’an, his father, his uncle, and his master were meticulously working out the details of their preparations, the old butler entered the study holding an ordinary manila envelope.

"Young Master," the butler said, presenting the envelope.

"A servant found this in a crack between the stone steps this morning while cleaning the front courtyard.

Only your name was written on the envelope, Young Master. The servant didn’t dare touch it further and brought it directly to this old servant."

Lu Jing’an took the envelope.

It was cool to the touch and the paper was rough.

The name "Lu Jing’an" was scrawled crookedly on the envelope.

The strokes were stiff, as if written by a child just learning to write.

Or perhaps... someone had deliberately used their non-dominant hand to conceal their true handwriting.

He rubbed his finger along the edge of the envelope, his gaze hardening.

"What about the person who delivered it?" Lu Huaiqian asked.

The butler shook his head. "Replying to the Master, no one saw them. It was as if it appeared out of thin air."

Lu Jing’an nodded, signaling for the butler to leave.

The study door closed softly.

Lu Jing’an held the strange letter, not opening it immediately.