Chapter 498: Super‑Powerful Network of Connections

Lu Cheng came for good food and fine wine, but everyone set their eyes on his Dragon Pendant; had he known, he wouldn't have come.

The meal hasn't even started, and they already took his stuff; there's no way to argue, so Lu Cheng can only look to the Senior Sister as if seeking help.

Su Feixue faintly smiled: "Lu Cheng, do you know why so many senior brothers want that Dragon Pendant?"

Regarding the Dragon Pendant, Lu Cheng doesn't know much, only that Master values it highly, its style is especially simple and exquisite, clearly a fine item.

"I think it's because everyone wants a keepsake, after all people die; a hundred years later Master will eventually leave us, so an object left by Master serves as a place to lodge our longing."

Lu Cheng can only think that way; as the saying goes, one day as teacher, lifelong as father, one can see that these senior brothers all respect Master greatly.

But Su Feixue shakes her head slightly at this explanation: "You only got the first part right; there's a second."

Before Lu Cheng can ask, Su Feixue begins to explain on her own.

"The second is that every Disciple who entered Xu Erye's sect has promised Master that seeing the Dragon Pendant is like seeing Master; when the holder of the Dragon Pendant faces difficulty, they must extend a helping hand."

Lu Cheng recalls: "Senior Sister Su, regarding what you said, Master did mention it to me before."

Master had said that whenever he encounters difficulty, he only needs to carry this Dragon Pendant to these senior brothers to obtain help.

Su Feixue continues: "Since Master told you, you should know what this Dragon Pendant signifies; for example, the senior brothers you met today are only four, while our Master has over thirty disciples, some of whom have never even met the senior brother."

Hearing Su Feixue say that, Lu Cheng understood.

First, obtaining this Dragon Pendant means gaining the network of all senior brothers.

And Xu Erye's disciples are spread across military and political circles, almost all holding important positions.

Gaining these senior brothers' connections is only one side; one must also know that each senior brother has his own network.

Together, they form a massive nationwide network of connections.

Lu Cheng can no longer imagine how large this network truly is.

He only knows that even a colossal difficulty would seem nothing.

On the contrary, when these networks converge, they can generate great influence, even altering certain social situations.

Because Master Xu Erye's recruitment spanned a long period, the oldest Disciple Wu Jingxuan is already fifty or sixty, while the youngest, Lu Cheng, is only in his twenties—a gap of nearly forty years.

Thus many senior brothers have never met each other and are unfamiliar.

Yet they can recognize each other through the Dragon Pendant and receive help.

Including these four senior brothers already in high positions, they all desire to hold these connections in their hands, which proves the Dragon Pendant's importance.

Given that, Lu Cheng must not let it go.

Compared with those big shots, his deputy‑division‑level junior police chief is far too weak and needs this network for protection.

Thinking this, Lu Cheng bows his hands and says: "Alright, senior brothers, I take my leave; today just pretend I never came!"

Saying that, he darts off.

That left Gu Yun completely baffled; he didn't expect this junior disciple to be unafraid of them at all.

He immediately complained a bit: "Feixue, you shouldn't have said that to him earlier; now he is even more reluctant to give it."

Su Feixue smiled, and at that moment Liang Lihua came out of the kitchen: "Alright, alright, you are all senior brothers after all, picking on a junior disciple like that."

Gu Yun, having not received the Dragon Pendant, couldn't be more disappointed.

"Master is too favoritist; no matter how many times I ask, he never gives me, and then he turns around and gives it to this kid."

Liang Lihua continued: "I don't think Xu Erye is being preferential; you all are so busy you haven't seen Xu Erye for years, whereas Lu Cheng is with him every day."

Liang Lihua's words made several senior brothers feel a bit guilty.

Indeed, daily duties are too hectic, causing neglect of Master.

And Lu Cheng, almost every half month, would bring the rice and meat his mother prepared to Master.

In fact, Xu Erye is old and doesn't care about fancy gifts; as long as someone can spend more time talking with him, the old man is content.

At that moment, Wu Jingxuan said in a deep voice: "Alright, stop scheming for the Dragon Pendant; if Master is willing to give it to Lu Cheng, there must be a reason."

"Yes, senior brother."

Wu Jingxuan walked up to Lu Cheng: "These past years, thanks to you caring for Master and showing filial piety; from now on, any difficulty need not be relayed through Senior Sister Su, you can come to us directly."

Those words carried weight, indicating that Lu Cheng had earned the senior brothers' recognition.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Wu."

"Hmm, let's eat." Wu Jingxuan glanced, and Liang Lihua called toward the kitchen.

"Chen Ma, you may start the meal."

At that moment Wu Jingxuan looked again toward the main hall and asked: "Where is Xiao Kun? Why haven't I seen him come down?"

"Xiao Kun is resting on the second floor; he just left the hospital and needs convalescence…"

Before Liang Lihua finished, Wu Jingxuan said in a deep voice: "Bring him down; this wound doesn't need healing, guests are here, we should greet them."

Everyone knows this Senior Brother Wu's temperament; he's always stern with his son, so the others hesitated to speak up and ultimately said nothing.

Today truly was a family banquet, all senior brothers of Lu Cheng, with no outsiders.

Everyone sat around the round table, and Wu Jingxuan directly opened four bottles of Maotai.

Just as they were placed on the table, Wu Zhekun, leaning on his double crutches, slowly descended the stairs.

"Su Gugu, Uncle Fan, Uncle Gao…"

Wu Zhekun's injury was severe; he had just been discharged a few days ago, still looking very weak, yet he struggled to hold his crutches and greeted everyone one by one.

Everyone present greeted, except Lu Cheng.

Wu Jingxuan, a bit displeased, said: "You know these uncles, there's also one more."

He was obviously referring to Lu Cheng, so Wu Zhekun had to greet him.

"Old Lu has arrived."

"Hey, Lao Wu has arrived."

Their way of greeting was somewhat unusual, and the key titles felt awkward.

Wu Jingxuan frowned: "What's with calling me Old Lu, Lao Wu? You have to call me uncle."

Wu Zhekun sounded a bit reluctant: "It's not Dad, I'm older than him."

"Then call me little uncle."

Hearing his father's command, Wu Zhekun looked at Lu Cheng, opened his mouth, but after a long pause he still didn't manage to call out.

Lu Cheng couldn't help but grin.

"Wu Shixiong, shall we just drop it? Wu Zhekun and I are about the same age, we're used to this way of addressing…"

Wu Jingxuan's dominance quickly became evident.

Just standing there without saying a word, his aura radiated outward.

Under this pressure, even Lu Cheng, who was sitting nearby with a playful grin, had to sit up straight.

Wu Zhekun, as if fearing his father's authority, immediately called out without hesitation: "Little uncle, hello."

Lu Cheng was pleased to hear it; he had long wanted Wu Zhekun to call him that, but the guy never did.

And today his wish was finally fulfilled.

Lu Cheng felt he should show something, so he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change—two‑mao, five‑mao, one‑yuan, two‑yuan coins, and even a Great Unity.

In front of everyone, Lu Cheng counted them with his finger, saliva‑moistened, and after roughly tallying, there were about eighteen yuan and two‑mao.

Finally, he handed a two‑mao banknote to Wu Zhekun.

"Fee for changing the address—here, Haodazi, don't say it's too little; I'm mainly worried you'll waste it, so buy a candy."

Seeing Lu Cheng's smug face, Wu Zhekun felt extremely aggrieved.

He had originally been too lazy to take it, but under Wu Jingxuan's stare, he had no choice but to accept this "humiliation."

The wine was already prepared and the meal about to start; a circle of people were politely yielding seats, when Qin Shou suddenly entered carrying two bottles of wine.