Chapter 116: A Parting of Ten Thousand Li (This Chapter Is Intense)

At 8 p. m., exhausted Lu Lu Dongliang returned to the mansion; after waiting over half an hour in his study, Qiu Qiu Zhiheng came back with word: "Master, our men brought back over twenty people altogether, locked in the dungeon."

Six were transporting phonographs en route; the rest were drivers, all claiming they carried phonographs for others last night and today."

Lu Lu Dongliang nodded: "Go question them first. If you find anything, tell me immediately."

Li Li Banfeng was close. Xiao Xuan Sheng Hong Did Did Honglian was close. Lu Lu Dongliang felt he could reach out and touch it any moment.

Qiu Qiu Zhiheng went to the dungeon.

After spending the whole day negotiating business with the major families, Lu Lu Dongliang was utterly drained and planned to rest briefly when a steward arrived to report: "Master, He He Jiaqing's eldest daughter has arrived."

"Which eldest daughter?" Lu Lu Dongliang snapped.

The steward replied: "He He Haiqin's older sister, He He Yuxiu."

Lu Lu Dongliang snatched up his yellow wool coat, shook it off, and threw it on irritably: "That shrew—what does she want at this hour?"

Though displeased, he dared not show it; after decades of struggle, the more critical the moment, the more composed he became.

He He Yuxiu had a foul temper and high cultivation base; no matter what she intended, he had to suppress his temper tonight.

In the grand hall, he saw He He Yuxiu standing by the stairs with two attendants; Lu Lu Dongliang smiled broadly: "Sister Xiu, what brings you here? You should've let me know—I'd have come to fetch you."

"Oh? You fetch me? Do I have that much influence?" He He Yuxiu sneered. "Master Lu, you're one of the top men in Pulu Province—your spit must be a nail, your word must count. My nephew's been lying in the hospital for months, and you keep promising to give an explanation—when will that explanation come?"

Lu Lu Dongliang hurried forward to soothe her: "Sister Xiu, I'm just as anxious about this. The key is Lu Xiaolan just returned—"

"Just returned?" He He Yuxiu scoffed. "I heard she's been back for months."

Lu Lu Dongliang said nothing.

So what if she'd been back for months?

I won't hand her over—what can you do about it?

Seeing Lu Lu Dongliang silent, He He Yuxiu lit a cigarette: "Master Lu, let's speak plainly. I'm here today to take Lu Lu Xiaolan away. If you agree, this matter is closed. If you refuse, I'm not leaving."

He He Yuxiu sat down on the sofa, waiting for Lu Lu Dongliang's reply.

Lu Lu Dongliang quickly ordered the servant Wu Ma to prepare tea.

He sat across from He He Yuxiu and explained: "Lu Xiaolan still has many things to clarify. She certainly erred in injuring He Jiaqing—she must be punished, and I won't hesitate. But this is a matter of life and death; we must let the child speak her truth."

He He Yuxiu flicked ash: "Fine. Tell me what exactly remains unclear. Let me see if I understand."

Lu Lu Dongliang smiled: "There's so much. Where do I even begin?"

He He Yuxiu smiled too: "You don't know where to start? Let me help. First—where did Lu Lu Xiaolan return from?"

"From Waizhou. The train derailed; Lu Xiaolan was badly injured. You should know this."

"Don't lie to me again! I've confirmed it—Lu Lu Xiaolan ran away from my He family mansion!"

Lu Lu Dongliang said nothing, pulled out a cigarette, and bit it between his lips.

He didn't smoke often, but his mood was foul.

In recent years, when negotiating with the major families, he always held the upper hand.

Today's situation was slightly off-balance.

But being passive didn't scare him—he just needed to see what He He Yuxiu could do to him.

He He Yuxiu smiled: "Let me ask you another thing—are you searching for Li Li Banfeng?"

Lu Lu Dongliang didn't deny it: "I am. Lu Xiaolan told me Li Li Banfeng took something extremely important."

He He Yuxiu pressed: "You mean the Xiao Xuan Sheng Hong Did Did Honglian that He Jiaqing found?"

Lu Lu Dongliang's eyelid twitched.

For months, the He and Lu families had clashed repeatedly, but their disputes always centered on He He Jiaqing's injury.

The Xiao Xuan Sheng Hong Did Did Honglian had been deliberately avoided by both sides—neither wanted to draw attention to such a priceless treasure and invite greed from other families.

But today, He He Yuxiu had laid it bare.

Was this her own idea—or He He Haiqin's?

Why hadn't He He Haiqin come himself?

Was it because He He Yuxiu could fight better?

Was this shrew trying to run wild in my home?

Lu Lu Dongliang had to consider this carefully.

He He Yuxiu was the strongest fighter in the He family; if she truly fought to the death, even if Lu Lu Dongliang won, he might be gravely wounded.

"Speak up—are you searching for the Xiao Xuan Sheng Hong Did Did Honglian?" He He Yuxiu pressed.

Lu Lu Dongliang stalled: "I never planned to find the Hong Did Did Honglian. I know it's He Jiaqing's treasure. I only want to locate Li Li Banfeng and clear up the misunderstanding between our families."

"Stop lying to me!" He He Yuxiu crushed her cigarette. "Li Li Banfeng is dead—he died in Lu Lu Xiaolan's hands, taking the Hong Did Did Honglian with him. The Hong Did Did Honglian is already in your hands, and you're still playing games with me?"

Lu Lu Dongliang frowned: "Sister Xiu, where did you hear this? We've struggled half our lives—don't believe street rumors."

He He Yuxiu sneered: "Street rumors? If I believed street rumors, I'd have torn your house down long ago! Your daughter Lu Lu Xiaolan was trapped in my He family mansion, nearly starved to death. She tricked Li Li Banfeng into stealing the Hong Did Did Honglian and lured him to the mansion to rescue her. They quarreled over the spoils—Li Li Banfeng was killed by Lu Lu Xiaolan inside that mansion! Now you pretend to search for Li Li Banfeng? The Hong Did Did Honglian's already in your hands—why are you still looking for him?"

Lu Lu Dongliang frowned: "Sister Xiu, you must have proof. Who said this? Dare they come face me and testify?"

He He Yuxiu stood: "I can arrange a confrontation—but not here. The one who said this is the spirit of my He family mansion."

"After my father moved out of Yao Wang Gou, he gave the mansion to my second uncle. He was a Zhai Xiu. He died, but the mansion spirit remained. That mansion hasn't been maintained for years—had I not received word and gone to check, I'd never have known such a thing happened."

"Lu Lu Dongliang, dare you challenge me? Dare you say your daughter never went to my mansion? Don't you think I know? Monkey Qiu rescued Lu Lu Xiaolan from that mansion—do you think I'm blind? I just returned from Yao Wang Gou—I saw the spirit with my own eyes. That's my family's spirit—do you think it would lie to me?"

Lu Lu Dongliang's veins bulged.

He wasn't angered by He He Yuxiu—her temper was well known to him.

After my father moved out of Yaowang Gou, the house went to my second uncle; he was a Yu Zhaixiu, and after he died, the house spirit remained in the old residence, which had gone unattended for years and years.

Lu Lu Xiaolan had never told him the truth.

From the beginning, she had lied to him—and kept lying until now?

Not only Lu Lu Dongliang was furious; Zhuo Zhuo Yuling, crouched on the second-floor roof, listening to the conversation, nearly fell off.

Li Li Banfeng was already dead?

Killed by Lu Xiaolan in the He family mansion?

She lied to me too?

Was He He Yuxiu telling the truth?

She dared to demand a confrontation—she must be telling the truth.

After all, mansion spirits don't lie.

……

Do mansion spirits really never lie?

In Yuezhou's Three Institutes, He He Haisheng had stepped out; only He He Jiaqing remained on the bed.

He He Jiaqing suddenly laughed—out loud.

Who said mansion spirits can't lie?

That's my friend.

We can negotiate!

……

In the Lu family mansion, He He Yuxiu lit another cigarette, inhaled deeply, calmed herself, and said to Lu Lu Dongliang: "Master Lu, we've shared a bed before—we know each other inside out. I won't make things hard for you. Call out Lu Lu Xiaolan. I'll ask her a few questions face to face."

He He Yuxiu and Lu Lu Dongliang had indeed shared a bed.

In her youth, He He Yuxiu was famed for her beauty and free-spirited nature; she and Lu Lu Dongliang were well acquainted, each knowing the other's strengths and weaknesses.

Now that He He Yuxiu had said this much, if Lu Lu Dongliang still refused to bring Lu Lu Xiaolan out, he'd be forcing her to turn hostile.

But seeing her was one thing—Lu Lu Dongliang would never let He He Yuxiu take Lu Lu Xiaolan away.

Even if he tortured Lu Lu Xiaolan, even if he beat her to death, he had to find out where the Xiao Xuan Sheng Hong Did Did Honglian was.

He summoned a steward and whispered: "Take Lu Lu Xiaolan down. Keep a tight watch on her."

This instruction made sense—Lu Lu Xiaolan was about to confront He He Yuxiu. If she lied, and the lie was exposed, she might act violently.

Of course, Lu Lu Dongliang had called extra guards to guard against He He Yuxiu too.

He could have said this openly—He He Yuxiu hearing it wouldn't matter.

This was his home; precautions were natural.

But Lu Lu Dongliang, ever cautious, instinctively lowered his voice to a whisper. He He Yuxiu caught only four words: "Extra guards."

He summoned a steward and whispered orders to bring Lu Lu Xiaolan down, instructing the steward: "Assign extra personnel to watch Lu Xiaolan."

"Master Lu, what are you planning? Say it plainly!" He He Yuxiu's expression turned fierce.

Lu Lu Dongliang feigned surprise: "I'm just bringing Lu Xiaolan down—you asked to see her. Isn't that clear enough?"

He He Yuxiu glanced sideways at Lu Lu Dongliang.

Lu Lu Dongliang calmly ordered: "Wu Ma, bring another pot of tea for Sister Xiu."

But the ever-cautious Lu Lu Dongliang instinctively lowered his voice to a whisper; He He Yuxiu caught only four words: "Assign extra personnel."

The steward went upstairs to escort Lu Lu Xiaolan down.

Lu Lu Dongliang placed a record on the phonograph and played "Dream Person" to ease the tension.

Lu Lu Dongliang said in surprise, "I had someone bring Lu Xiaolan down—you said you wanted to see her; how much clearer could I make it?"

He He Yuxiu glanced sideways at Lu Lu Dongliang.

Lu Lu Dongliang calmly instructed, "Wu Ma, bring another pot of tea for Sister Xiu."

Wu Ma went to brew tea.

The steward went upstairs to escort Lu Lu Xiaolan down.

Lu Lu Dongliang placed a record on the phonograph and played "Dream Person" to ease the atmosphere.

Zhuo Zhuo Yuling, crouched on the roof, could wait no longer.

Goo-goo-goo-goo-goo~

A gecko calling?

A gecko calling isn't strange—what household doesn't have one?

But Lu Lu Dongliang felt something was wrong.

Lu Lu Dongliang froze, looking up at the ceiling.

He He Yuxiu followed his gaze upward.

Zhuo Zhuo Yuling!

Zhuo Zhuo Yuling lay flat on the ceiling, her head jerking rapidly as she emitted the sound.

Goo-goo-goo-goo-goo~

He He Yuxiu gasped in horror: "Lu Lu Dongliang, you bastard, you tricked me!"

He He Yuxiu, an eighth-layer Wu Xiu, lifted the table and instantly appeared before Lu Lu Dongliang.

Xiao Yeci stepped out of the third-floor restroom, just behind the stairwell railing, witnessing the scene.

She was stunned.

She had no idea what was happening.

Why was that woman lifting a table?

A gang fight?

Seems like that woman isn't a true expert.

Xiao Yeci had once heard the town's storyteller say that true experts, in combat, wielded the finest weapons and most supreme arts—when they struck, it was for three days and three nights, shaking mountains and splitting earth, yet still failing to determine a victor.

Xiao Yeci didn't understand.

Expert combat was never that complicated—the higher the level, the simpler the strike.

He He Yuxiu, an eighth-layer Wu Xiu, could turn anything she lifted into a weapon.

The intact table was a shield; once shattered, its fragments became sharp blades.

The teapot, teacups, fruit platter, and vase atop the table became hidden projectiles, striking Lu Lu Dongliang with perfect accuracy.

Don't underestimate these hidden weapons—a single teapot could pierce Lu Lu Dongliang's body. That was the power of an eighth-layer Wu Xiu.

Lu Lu Dongliang appeared to stand still, effortlessly dodging the dozen objects on the table; his ninth-layer Lv Xiu steps exceeded He He Yuxiu's visual range.

He He Yuxiu never expected those scattered objects to hit Lu Lu Dongliang—she used them merely to distract, already planning her next move.

Her next strike must be lethal; an eighth-layer versus a ninth-layer, a top-tier clash, had no such thing as three-day battles—victory or defeat was decided in an instant.

If He He Yuxiu's next strike failed to kill Lu Lu Dongliang, she must prepare to die.

But Lu Lu Dongliang didn't even dodge the table.

His feet had been entangled by spider silk.

Only for an instant.

He'd been caught off guard—Lu Lu Dongliang never imagined an ambush in his own home.

The corner of the table slammed into Lu Lu Dongliang's chest; he absorbed the blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The force of an eighth-layer Wu Xiu was too great.

He He Yuxiu realized something was wrong and quickly pulled back.

But someone else delivered the final blow.

Lu Lu Dongjun, an eighth-layer Wu Xiu and Lu Lu Dongliang's own younger brother, suddenly appeared and punched Lu Lu Dongliang in the back.

The fist entered through his spine and emerged through his chest.

Almost simultaneously, Zhuo Zhuo Yuling whipped her hips, and a long, slender gecko tail shot from beneath her skirt, transforming into a spike that pierced a hole through Lu Lu Dongliang's forehead.

Almost simultaneously, Zhuo Zhuo Yuling whipped her plump hips, and her long gecko tail shot out from beneath her skirt, hardening into a spike that pierced a hole through Lu Lu Dongliang's forehead.

The events unfolded too suddenly—Lu Lu Dongliang had almost no reaction.

But in the next blink, Lu Lu Dongliang understood everything.

Zhuo Zhuo Yuling attacked me over Lu Lu Xiaolan.

Lu Lu Dongjun moved against me for the family headship.

He He Yuxiu fought me to take Lu Lu Xiaolan away.

This spider silk came from that private detective who could clear land.

When He He Yuxiu moved, Lu Lu Dongliang sensed danger—but when the others struck, he felt nothing.

They used artifacts that concealed ill intent.

Were they colluding?

Possibly not.

Lu Lu Dongjun and Zhuo Zhuo Yuling might truly have conspired.

They hired the private detective.

As for He He Yuxiu, she wanted to take Lu Lu Xiaolan—she couldn't have conspired with Zhuo Zhuo Yuling.

This foolish woman got dragged in blindly.

This clumsy woman got dragged in without knowing why.

I can't stay here.

The situation is dire—Lu Lu Dongliang is severely wounded; every moment longer risks death.

He glanced at He He Yuxiu again.

This woman is truly a bastard!

She must live.

Even if I die,

Someone must witness what happened tonight!

If Monkey Qiu were here, I should've made him stay to guard the house.

If Monkey Qiu had been home, Lu Lu Dongjun and that private detective could never have ambushed me!

Lu Lu Dongliang gently pushed He He Yuxiu—she, bewildered, flew out of the mansion, crashing into the wall and passing straight through it.

Lu Lu Dongliang himself flew out, striking the mansion's wall and passing through it as well, encountering almost no resistance.

Ninth-layer Lv Xiu technique: Ten Thousand Li Departure.

Lu Lu Dongliang had always suspected Lu Lu Xiaolan was lying—but he knew some of what she said was true.

Zhuo Zhuo Yuling stared, dumbfounded.

She remembered Lu Lu Xiaolan's description of He He Jiaqing.

He He Jiaqing pushed—and Lu Lu Xiaolan flew away…

Lu Lu Dongliang had used that description to deduce He He Jiaqing's Dao path.

And from that same description, Lu Lu Dongliang knew He He Jiaqing's cultivation base surpassed Qiu Qiu Zhiheng's.

Both vanished, leaving Lu Lu Dongjun stunned, standing motionless.

Xiao Yeci stood frozen in the corridor.

Lu Lu Chunying pulled her, signaling her to flee immediately.

Lu Lu Chunying pulled her aside, signaling her to flee at once.

Yuezhou Three Hospitals, Ward Room.

He He Jiaqing could no longer hold back.

While He He Haisheng and the nurse were away, he laughed uncontrollably, sitting up, doubling over with mirth.

PS: Yumian Shala couldn't hold back either—laughing loudly at the monthly vote chart!

Such a great novel—how could it not surpass them? Readers, rally behind Yumian Shala and charge forward!

Such a great book—how could we lose to them? Reader, charge forward with Salad!

(End of chapter)