Chapter 216: Severed Finger, Clear Resolve, Hidden Edge

Lin Yu's gaze fell on the check, especially on the gilded "Lando Trading House" lettering, and his eyes visibly flickered. His slender fingers lifted the check and, under the light, examined it carefully, his brows subtly furrowing.

The signature on the check swirled like dragons and phoenixes, and the seal was a small private stamp, appearing not to be an official seal but some personal code.

But it was precisely this special mark that made Lin Yu's expression grow even more solemn.

Lando Trading House......

That name sparked a chain of associations in his mind. The mysterious socialite Landuor was no ordinary figure in Shen City. Her enterprises were the hottest spots in the political, commercial, and military circles, and information from all sides flowed incessantly through her.

Rumor had it that she was backed by English and French forces, while others said she secretly controlled a massive underground financial network.

And now, Lu Xuan could mobilize eight million in capital through her?

Lin Yu's thoughts turned sharply. This Lu Family adopted son, outwardly a marginalized "discard", could nonetheless connect with someone like Landuor, indicating that his hidden strength and network were far deeper than they appeared.

Feng An, standing nearby, evidently thought the same. As Lin Yu's confidant, he knew all too well the weight of Lando Trading House in Shen City. The look in his eyes toward Lu Xuan unconsciously added a few degrees of surprise and wariness. This young man's background was probably far more complicated than they had previously estimated.

Under the crystal chandelier's glow, the check seemed to carry a certain magic. It not only represented an eight‑million‑dollar sincerity, but also hinted at a massive underground network Lu Xuan might command. If he truly could mobilize a figure like Landuor, then his promised "Nanjiang Opportunity" might indeed not be empty talk.

Lin Yu's fingers lightly brushed the edge of the check, his gaze deep. The stakes of this "game" seemed far beyond what met the eye. The power Lu Xuan displayed through Lando Trading House began to subtly tip the balance of the negotiation.

The atmosphere in the reception room grew increasingly uncanny. Lu Xuan sat calmly there, allowing Lin Yu and Feng An to size him up.

The weight of the Lando Trading House card. It was not just an eight‑million check, but a puzzle that sparked endless imagination.

Lin Yu placed the check on the rosewood coffee table, his slender fingers rhythmically tapping it lightly. The reception room fell silent, only the sound of his fingers striking the tabletop, like a silent countdown.

The crystal chandelier's light spilled onto the check, and those gilded "Lando Trading House" characters stood out especially.

Lu Xuan sat opposite, calmly waiting, his deep eyes revealing no anxiety or haste.

Feng An stood aside, holding his breath. He knew that Commander Lin was now weighing a decision that could alter the situation.

Dong, dong, dong......

The knocking continued. Lin Yu's gaze alternated between the check and Lu Xuan's face, as if performing a final calculation and assessment.

Suddenly, the knocking stopped.

Lin Yu slowly lifted his head, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. It was a gaze that had already made a decision, bearing the authority and resolve characteristic of a heroic leader.

"Good!" his voice was not loud, yet each word rang clear, "Lu Xuan, for your daring, your boldness..." He lifted the check, gave it a light flick under the lamp, producing a crisp sound, "and this eight‑million 'sincerity'... I'll give you this chance, gamble a hand!"

Lu Xuan's eyes brightened slightly, but soon returned to calm.

"But," Lin Yu's tone suddenly shifted, becoming icy, "I remind you, my patience is limited." He stared directly at Lu Xuan, each word as if forged of ice, "If I find you cheating, or your 'Nanjiang Opportunity' is merely a blank check..."

He did not finish, but the cold glint in his eyes already sufficed to spell the consequences.

Lu Xuan seemed to have anticipated all this; he gave a slight nod: "Commander Lin, rest assured, since I dared to come, I will certainly give you a satisfactory answer."

The atmosphere in the reception room shifted subtly. A risky agreement had been reached; Lin Yu accepted Lu Xuan's "bet", willing to give him a chance to prove himself. Yet behind that chance lay the flash of swords, the edge of life and death.

A perilous plot capable of reshaping the Nanjiang Situation was thus set in motion.

A hint of relief smiled on Lu Xuan's face.

He slowly rose, gave Lin Yu a slight nod: "Thank you, Commander Lin, for your trust."

Before his words finished, his gaze swept the reception room, finally landing on the silver knife used for cutting fruit on the coffee table.

The blade glimmered with a cold sheen under the crystal chandelier.

Without any warning, Lu Xuan picked up the knife, his movement crisp and decisive.

Before Lin Yu and Feng An could react, he had already aimed the blade at the base of his own left little finger.

"Wait—" Feng An instinctively tried to stop him.

But it was already too late.

Lu Xuan's eyes hardened, his wrist snapped forward!

"Puchi" a light sound.

Fresh blood spurted instantly, leaving a glaring red stain on the expensive Persian carpet.

A severed fingertip fell silently to the floor, its presence in the blood pool especially shocking.

The intense pain turned Lu Xuan's complexion pale in an instant, cold beads of sweat the size of peas forming on his forehead.

Yet he clenched his teeth, uttering not a sound. In his eyes, aside from pupils slightly constricted by pain, there was no sign of wavering.

He swiftly reached for a strip of cloth torn from the hem of his own shirt. The motion was startlingly practiced, as if rehearsed countless times.

Using his teeth and right hand, he tightly wrapped the cloth around the severed finger, stopping the bleeding quickly.

The whole process was fast, precise, ruthless, displaying astonishing willpower and a merciless ferocity toward himself.

After bandaging the wound, Lu Xuan lifted his head. His face twisted from the severe pain, yet he forced a smile toward the shocked Lin Yu: "Commander Lin, forgive my rudeness." His voice was hoarse but still clear, "If I returned my brother unharmed, people would suspect I was colluding with you secretly."

He drew a deep breath, trying to steady his rapid, pain‑driven breathing: "Please..." He paused, "let your men add a bit more injury for me. Not lethal, but looking more gruesome." His gaze shifted to Feng An, then back to Lin Yu, "Then, take me to see my incompetent brother. This play must be performed in full."

The atmosphere in the reception room grew unusually oppressive. In Lu Xuan's eyes flickered a heart‑pounding light, a perfect blend of cold calculation and frantic resolve. Blood dripped from his hand onto the carpet, the vivid red gradually spreading.