Chapter 614
So What If the Chi Family Is Like This?
"Once Manager Li sends word back to the Forbidden City that I've been 'poisoned,' my father will be furious! Then, all the family's experts will be mobilized, let's see how arrogant you'll be then! Once you're captured, I'll personally repay you tenfold, a hundredfold, for the pain you inflicted on me! And that Mu Wansu, pretending to be so high and mighty, I'll settle accounts with you slowly after I've dealt with Jiang Xuan..."
He was immersed in his own dream of revenge, completely unaware that he had already been thoroughly hated by the Chi family, the true noble family of the Forbidden City, and even less aware that Chi Cangmei had issued a near-ultimatum to the Lu clan.
His contact with the Shidingzhai branch in Huanglong City has been seen by the Chi family as an attempt to help Jiang Xuan. This misunderstanding is deepening and pushing him and his family into an extremely dangerous situation.
Slightly tipsy, Lu Shaoyun suddenly realized that Jiang Xuan might still be observing him in secret. In order to put on a convincing act and gain trust, he abruptly put down his wine glass, his face instantly contorting into an expression of grief, indignation, and fear.
He stumbled out of the room and arrived at Jiang Xuan's room next door. With a sobbing, indignant voice, he growled at the closed door.
"Jiang Xuan! You...you demon! How long are you going to keep me locked up? When are you going to give me the antidote for that poison? I'm warning you, if I die, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"
He kept his voice very low, as if afraid of disturbing too many people, but also making sure that Jiang Xuan in the "room" could hear him.
In his view, this performance was flawless, perfectly portraying the image of a spoiled brat who was coerced, filled with fear and resentment.
However, his "exquisite" performance did not elicit any response from Jiang Xuan, but was clearly heard and quickly recorded by the Chi family cultivators who were secretly watching him.
The news quickly reached the man in the straw hat.
"Boss, Lu Shaoyun went to the target's door again and started crying and pleading. It's the same old routine: begging for mercy, threatening, and demanding the antidote."
The cultivator in charge of surveillance reported this.
Upon hearing this, the man in the straw hat let out a cold sneer.
"Still putting on an act? They're really treating us like fools! If he were truly being coerced and his life was in someone else's hands, would he have the audacity to go to the door and shout every day? This is clearly him exchanging information with the target, or deliberately trying to lull us into a false sense of security! It seems that Lu Shaoyun's collusion with the target is deeper than we imagined!"
He waved his hand and gave the order.
"Keep monitoring them, but don't alert them. I want to see how long they can keep up this charade!"
So, in the following days, in order to "cooperate" with Jiang Xuan, Lu Shaoyun would go to Jiang Xuan's door at the same time every day to stage this "tragic scene".
His persistent "performance," in the eyes of the Chi family cultivators, undoubtedly further confirmed the "facts" that he had a "close relationship" with Jiang Xuan and was "secretly colluding." The Chi family's surveillance and hostility towards Lu Shaoyun reached its peak.
Lu Shaoyun was completely unaware of this. After each performance, he would return to his room triumphantly, feeling that his acting skills were superb and that he had fooled everyone. He was just waiting for the arrival of his family's reinforcements so that he could completely turn his life around.
However, this "peaceful" period did not last long.
On this day, the man in the straw hat who was in charge of the surveillance work frowned deeply after listening to his subordinates' reports about Lu Shaoyun's daily crying and the fact that the target room remained silent. The unease that had been ignored before resurfaced in his heart and grew stronger and stronger.
He suddenly stood up, paced around the room a few steps, then stopped abruptly, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of surprise.
"Something's not right! Something's really wrong! It's been almost five days since the target entered the inn's room, and they haven't shown up even once? Not even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuations indicating cultivation, or any need for food or water has been detected? How is this possible?!"
Previously, their attention had been drawn to Lu Shaoyun, who was jumping around, and they subconsciously assumed that the target must be plotting something in the room, or that he was in seclusion healing his injuries and seeking a breakthrough.
But now that I think about it carefully, how could a living person stay in a closed room for so many days without making a sound?
Unless... there's no one in the room at all?!
The thought flashed through the man in the straw hat like lightning, instantly sending a chill down his spine! If the target had already escaped, wouldn't all their surveillance and preparations over the past few days have been a joke? Had they all been for nothing?
"Quick! Find a way immediately, at all costs, to confirm if the target is still in the room!"
The man in the straw hat practically roared the order, his voice filled with exasperation and an unprecedented solemnity.
The situation in Huanglong City seems to be about to be thrown into turmoil again because of this overlooked detail.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xuan, who was in seclusion in the quiet room of the Spirit Pattern Master Commune, was completely unaware of everything happening outside. The spiritual energy within his body was surging to a critical point, breaking through the barrier of the Earthly Realm, and had reached the most crucial moment...
The man in the straw hat realized that his target had not shown up since entering the inn. An ominous premonition gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake, making him restless.
Unable to endure the torment of uncertainty any longer, he slammed his hand on the table and shouted at his subordinates beside him.
"Something's wrong! Something's really wrong! Find a way immediately, at all costs, to confirm whether the target is still in that room! Hurry!"
Almost at the same time, inside the Juxiang Inn, Lu Shaoyun was looking in the mirror, carefully tidying his magnificent silver robe. Although there were still some lingering bruises on his face, it did not affect his "good" mood at the moment.
He cleared his throat, preparing to perform his "expressive" act outside Jiang Xuan's room next door, just like he had done a few days before, striving to portray the image of the "coerced wretch" even more convincingly.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.
Lu Shaoyun frowned and asked somewhat impatiently.
"Who?"
He thought it was an inn waiter.
A respectful voice came from outside the door.
"Young Master Lu, there is a confidential letter for you, which someone specifically requested to be delivered to you immediately."
A secret letter? Lu Shaoyun was overjoyed. Could it be a reply from his father or the Shidingzhai headquarters? Such high efficiency? He quickly went forward and opened the door, where a servant with his head bowed presented him with an unsigned letter.
Lu Shaoyun eagerly took the letter, dismissed the servant, closed the door, and tore open the envelope in a few quick movements.
However, when he saw the familiar handwriting on the letter that he hated to the core, and the self-address at the beginning, the smile on his face froze instantly, and his pupils suddenly contracted!
The letter clearly stated this.
"Young Master Lu, it is as if I am seeing you in person upon reading this letter."
By the time you read this letter, I, this 'damn bastard,' will probably no longer be at the inn.
That's right. From the very beginning, keeping you around was just a pretext to attract certain people's attention. Saying you were poisoned was a lie; it was just to teach you a lesson, to make you remember it, and to stop being so arrogant in the future.
Also, just a friendly reminder: because of your 'brilliant performance' these past few days, our enemies may have mistakenly thought you were on my side. You'd better find a way to contact your 'powerful' father as soon as possible and ask him to send someone to protect you, or simply take you back to the Forbidden City to hide.
Otherwise, when trouble really comes knocking, your delicate skin might not be able to withstand it, and you'll be truly finished. —Jiang Xuan
The letter was filled with mockery and blatant exploitation, like an invisible slap in the face to Lu Shaoyun!
"Jiang Xuan! You bastard! You beast!!"
Lu Shaoyun trembled with rage, his face turning from red to green, then from green to white. He frantically tore the letter to shreds, growling like a wounded beast.
"Using me?! Deceiving me?! And you dare to threaten me?! Who do you think you are! My father is Lu Tianzhao! He is the elder deacon of the Shidingzhai headquarters in the Forbidden City! Who dares to touch me?! Who dares to touch our Lu family?!" His chest heaved violently as he forcibly suppressed the shock and anger in his heart, constantly reassuring himself.
"Yes! That's right! He's definitely trying to scare me! He's trying to distract me! The Lu family isn't to be trifled with. The Chi family? So what if they are? Do they really dare to completely break ties with the Lu family for the sake of Jiang Xuan? As long as my father steps in, everything can be settled!"
However, his self-confidence was ruthlessly shattered in the next moment!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A knocking sound, much more urgent and forceful than before, rang out, as if the door was about to be smashed down.
Lu Shaoyun was startled by the loud knocking and felt a sudden panic. He tried to remain calm and shouted.
"Who?! Are you looking to die?!"
A cold yet familiar voice came from outside the door; it belonged to Li Tianbao, the manager of the Shidingzhai branch in Huanglong City.
"Nephew Lu, it's me, Li Tianbao! Open the door quickly!"
Upon hearing that it was Li Tianbao, Lu Shaoyun felt a little relieved, thinking that reinforcements had arrived, and hurriedly went forward to open the door.
However, Li Tianbao, who was standing outside the door, no longer had the enthusiasm and respect he used to have. Instead, his face was ashen and filled with suppressed anger.
Behind him followed several men in brocade robes with deep auras and sharp eyes. They were clearly experts and not guards of Shi Dingzhai.
"Manager Li, what do you mean by this? Why did you bring so many people..."
A sense of unease rose in Lu Shaoyun's heart, and his tone softened involuntarily.
Li Tianbao gave him no friendly look, interrupting him with a cold laugh, his tone full of accusation and lingering fear.
"What do I mean? Lu Shaoyun! You've caused a huge disaster, and you still dare to ask me what I mean?! Do you know that you almost killed me and are going to drag the entire Lu family down with you!"
Lu Shaoyun was stunned by the scolding and asked blankly.
"What...what trouble have I gotten myself into? Manager Li, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
"A mistake?"
Li Tianbao was so angry that his beard was trembling.
"The Chi family of the Forbidden City! One of the seven great aristocratic families! They have officially issued an inquiry to our Lu clan! They are asking if you are colluding with Jiang Xuan, the villain they are currently hunting! Miss Chi Cangmei is personally involved! And now you're telling me you've made a mistake?!"
He grew angrier as he spoke, and with a sudden wave of his hand, he gave an order to the men in brocade robes behind him.
"What are you all standing there for? Seize him! Take him back to the Forbidden City and await the judgment of your clan!"
The men in brocade robes immediately stepped forward, their movements swift and brutal, and they firmly gripped Lu Shaoyun's arms from both sides.
Lu Shaoyun then completely panicked and struggled to shout.
"What are you doing?! Let me go! My father is Lu Tianzhao! How dare you touch me?!"
"Humph!"
Li Tianbao snorted coldly.
"It was Elder Lu who personally gave the order! He ordered us to immediately escort you back to apologize to the Chi family! If you weren't Elder Lu's only son, the clan would probably have dealt with you directly to appease the Chi family's anger!"
Did Lu Tianzhao personally issue the order? To apologize to the Chi family?
Lu Shaoyun was struck dumb, his whole body froze instantly, his face turned ashen white, devoid of any color.
He suddenly remembered the contents of the secret letter he had just received—Jiang Xuan had warned him that the enemy might misunderstand and that he should ask his father for help…
So... Jiang Xuan was telling the truth! He wasn't just trying to scare me! He really did use me to draw the Chi family's hatred so he could slip away unnoticed! And I, this fool, foolishly cooperated with his act, completely confirming my suspicion as an "accomplice"!
An indescribable chill instantly shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and boundless fear and regret overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.
He's finished! Not only is he finished, but he's also brought enormous trouble to his family!
As he was being led out of the room, he glanced at Jiang Xuan's room next door without thinking.
The door was ajar, and the room was empty. There was no sign of Jiang Xuan. Only an inconspicuous hole in the floorboards seemed to mock his foolishness.
"Jiang Xuan! I curse your ancestors! You betrayed me! You'll die a horrible death—!!!"
Lu Shaoyun let out a desperate and shrill roar, the sound echoing in the inn's corridor, filled with endless regret and resentment.
However, it was all too late.
……
Outside Juxiang Inn, on a street corner not far away, a thin young man watched as Lu Shaoyun was led away in a carriage like a dead dog. A gloating smile appeared on his face as he spoke to the man wearing a bamboo hat beside him.
"Boss, see that? That's karma! This idiot thought he was so smart, but he got completely played by his target and ended up ruining himself and his family. He deserved it!"
However, the man in the straw hat had no interest in watching the spectacle.
His face was so dark it was almost dripping with gloom, his gaze fixed intently on the direction of the inn. Soon, a subordinate rushed over and reported in a low voice.
"Boss, we've figured it out! There's a newly dug tunnel under the floor of the target's room, leading directly to a small alley behind it, with the exit right on the main street. Judging from the marks, it was dug on the day he checked in! We...we've been tricked!"
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"
The man in the straw hat let out a low growl, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
"So many people, watching for so many days, and they don't even know when the target slipped away!"
He suppressed his murderous urge, took a deep breath, and pressed for an answer. (End of Chapter)