Chapter 258: Shek O Dragon Vein! A Private Garden of 140,000 Square Feet!

Rolls‑Royce glides smoothly along the winding Shek O mountain road, the view outside the window gradually shifting from the bustling metropolis to verdant natural scenery. On one side rises a sheer cliff, on the other the deep blue South Sea, and the air is scented with a fresh mix of sea salt and foliage. Traffic on this road is scarce; when a vehicle does pass, it is always a top‑tier luxury car, reflecting the extraordinary status of the residents here.

Lu Qingjun is thrilled like a child, his face almost glued to the car window, constantly shouting "Wow, wow." "Brother, look at that building— that villa must be worth at least fifty million! And over there, the one with a private tennis court!"

Li Fuying smiles and explains, "This is Hong Kong Island's genuine rich district; anyone who can live here is either rich or noble. But Qing Shan, their houses compared to yours are like a small witch before a great witch."

At a fork, the Rolls‑Royce turns onto an even quieter private road. Tall, neatly trimmed trees line both sides like sentries, completely shielding the view from the outside. After roughly two hundred meters, the car finally comes to a slow stop before a massive black iron gate standing at least five meters tall.

The gate's design is steeped in classical elegance, its intricate scrollwork and Majestic Lion relief shimmering with a subdued, dignified sheen in the sunlight. On each side, stone pillars support a lifelike stone Lion, its eyes keenly fixed forward.

"Brother…" Lu Qingjun is already staring in a daze; he can even feel the invisible aura emanating from the gate, a weight and nobility forged by centuries of history.

As Li Fuying presses a remote, the heavy iron gate, amid a low, rumbling mechanical clank, opens silently and smoothly to either side.

Beyond the gate, instead of a road straight to a villa, lies a vast expanse that takes the breath away.

A wide driveway paved with white gravel stretches like a jade ribbon, winding forward until it disappears into the distant greenery. Flanking the road are landscapes rivaling royal gardens. To the left extends an endless emerald lawn, trimmed as if it were a velvet carpet, speckled with a few towering hundred‑year‑old banyan trees whose massive canopies cast dappled shade.

To the right, another scene unfolds. A clear stream tumbles down the slope— the "natural spring water" Chen Zhihao mentioned— merging into a huge artificial lake. At the lake's heart stands an elegant Chinese pavilion; the water shimmers, and a few graceful Black Swans glide lazily. Farther away, a modest bamboo grove and a rose garden in full bloom can be seen.

"My God…" Lu Qingjun's mouth opens wide enough to fit an egg; he feels he isn't looking at a residence but touring a national‑level forest park. The figure— one hundred forty thousand square feet— finally takes on a tangible, staggering impact.

The Rolls‑Royce proceeds steadily along the driveway for just over a minute, winding past a miniature mountain scene of odd rocks and pine‑cypress, when the legendary castle finally, without warning, comes into full view before the three of them.

Boom!

In Lu Qingshan's mind, thunder seems to crack; even after two lifetimes of witnessing countless luxuries, he is utterly stunned by the scene before him.

This truly is a real castle.

It stands quietly on the highest plain, backed by verdant mountain ranges and facing the endless sea. The main structure is built of dark‑red bricks that bear the patina of age, reflecting warm, ancient light in the afternoon sun. Several towers of varying heights pierce the clouds, as if conversing with the heavens. Ivy climbs the walls, and massive floor‑to‑ceiling windows and stained glass glimmer with an ethereal glow under the sunlight.

Every architectural detail exudes artistry, from stone window frames carved with intricate patterns to the bronze weather‑vanes atop the roofs, all testifying to the builders' limitless expenditure and supreme aesthetic pursuit.

This is no longer merely a house; it is a work of art perched between heaven and earth, a monument inscribed with power and glory.

The car halts at a circular fountain plaza before the castle. Lu Qingshan pushes open the door, stands on the ground, the sea breeze ruffling his coat's edge, and he draws a deep breath, the air heavy with the scent of victory and authority.

The red‑brick walls, spired towers, and intricate stone carvings, under Hong Kong Island's blue sky and white clouds, emit a classical, weighty aura. This is no longer a house but a piece of art, a symbol of an era.

"Brother… is this… is this our home?" Lu Qingjun's mouth opens wide enough to fit an egg; his whole body is pressed against the car window, his eyes filled with awe. He never dreamed in his life that he could live in a place like this.

"To be precise, it's your home," Li Fuying says with a smile, her eyes full of satisfaction.

The car stops in front of the main building, where real‑estate agent Chen Zhihao has already been waiting with a group.

"Mr. Lu, welcome home," Chen Zhihao says respectfully as he opens the door. "These are the gardeners, cleaners, and security staff who originally handled the daily upkeep of this mansion; they know everything here intimately. Do you wish to retain them?"

Lu Qingshan scans them; they all appear highly professional, their eyes tinged with a hint of nervousness and reverence.

"Uncle Li, you know this better than I do," Lu Qingshan says, looking at Li Fuying.

"Retain them, of course we'll retain them!" Li Fuying waves a hand, exuding confidence. "A manor this size can't do without them. However, the kitchen must be replaced! Our Chinese heroes can't keep eating cold Western fare every day! I'll arrange it— Hong Kong Island's finest Chinese chef team will be in place this afternoon!"

Lu Qingshan nods, then turns to his younger brother: "Qingjun, this matter is yours to handle. Follow Mr. Chen and renegotiate every staff contract, raising salaries by twenty percent. Also, strengthen the security team— have A Qiang and his men cooperate with you; I don't want any idle people getting near this place."

"Me?" Lu Qingjun pauses, then straightens his chest, his face alight with excitement and responsibility. "Brother, rest assured! I'll see to it that everything is handled perfectly!"

Watching his brother, surrounded by bodyguards, follow Chen Zhihao to attend to matters, Lu Qingshan's eyes flash with a hint of a smile. He needs to nurture Lu Qingjun quickly; the massive commercial empire they will build requires dependable family to guard it.

Li Fuying watches all this, nods approvingly, then as if recalling something, slaps her thigh: "Ah, Qing Shan! Such a fine place—we can't just move in quietly like this!"

He becomes increasingly animated, his face flushing brighter: "Choosing an auspicious day is pointless—let's just seize the day! Tomorrow! Tomorrow night we'll hold a grand house‑warming banquet right here! Invite all the ten‑something old members of the Business Association, let them see with their own eyes our Chinese new landmark! And let everyone on Hong Kong Island know that the peak is no longer the exclusive domain of the British!"

The proposal perfectly matches Lu Qingshan's intentions. He needs a catalyst to fully rally the power of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and this house‑warming banquet is undoubtedly the best stage.

"Then let's do as Uncle Li suggested."