Chapter 354: Maintaining a Wait-and-See Attitude

Yongan City is currently permeated by a heart-palpitating silence.

On the streets, not a single shadow is to be seen, as if even the ghosts would not deign to set foot in this place.

The shops on both sides of the road have their doors tightly shut, like rows of silent ramparts.

Occasionally, faint whispers drift out from behind the tightly closed doors and windows.

"There doesn't seem to be any movement outside anymore; should we go out and take a look?"

"Don't be a fool! What if you run into danger if you go out? With our scrawny frames, what could we possibly handle?"

"That's true. By the way, what exactly happened? Why was there such a huge commotion over at the City Lord's Mansion?"

"How would I know? You're asking me, but who am I supposed to ask? Don't worry about things that aren't our business; even if the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up."

"What if even the tall people can't hold it up?"

"Then we'll all be finished together."

Lu Yu arrived at the front door of the Awakened Association and knocked gently. After a while, a figure cautiously came over to open the door.

"Brother Lu, did you just return from outside the city?" the person who opened the door asked curiously.

"Yes, why do you ask?" Lu Yu replied with a smile.

"Did you run into any danger? The commotion over at the mountaintop just now was terrifying." The woman patted her chest, still shaken, with a look of lingering fear on her face.

Lu Yu was just about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. He took it out and saw it was a call from Song Tian. Presumably, Song Tian had seen him through the security cameras in the lobby.

"Hello, President."

"Brother Lu, you're back? Nothing happened, right?" Song Tian asked with concern.

"I'm fine, President. Did you need me for something?"

"Yes, come to the third-floor conference room. We have important matters to discuss, and everyone is here."

"Understood."

Lu Yu hung up the phone, feeling no surprise at this. In fact, he knew in his heart that this was merely the beginning.

Once the news of Yan Luo and the others' deaths spread, that would be when Yongan City truly erupted into an uproar.

Walking into the conference room, Kang Yuan, Jiang Yao, and the others had already been waiting for a long time.

"Brother Lu, you just got back?"

"Did you run into any danger? Let me tell you, the commotion at the mountaintop earlier was just like an earthquake; it scared the hell out of people."

"Exactly, that movement made one's heart flutter with panic!"

Several people spoke up one after another.

"Yes, I felt it too when I was outside. I was worried there might be trouble, so I didn't come in immediately." Lu Yu found an empty seat and sat down, looking at Song Tian as he asked, "President, what exactly happened?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the gazes of Kang Yuan and the others turned toward Song Tian.

Song Tian shook his head with a grave expression and said, "I don't know exactly what happened either. However, that earthquake-like commotion earlier was likely caused by Shangguan Xu. The other Awakened shouldn't be able to stir up such a massive scene."

"That's right, that guy's ability is Gravity Manipulation, and he loves to use gravity to flatten his opponents. I've seen him on the city walls before, smashing several Advanced Fierce Beasts into pulp."

"So he was fighting someone? But even if he was fighting, there's no need to cause such a huge commotion, right?"

"Yeah, people who don't know better would think the Fierce Beasts were invading again."

Listening to the discussion, Lu Yu wore a look of confusion at the appropriate moment.

In truth, no one paid much attention to his reaction; after all, he hadn't been here long, so it was only natural that he didn't know the situation regarding those C-Class Awakened.

Some even patiently introduced him to the characteristics of those people's abilities and their past exploits.

"President, there hasn't been any movement at the mountaintop for nearly ten minutes now. Should we go up and take a look?"

Kang Yuan licked his lips, his eyes revealing a hint of eagerness, as if a little bug were constantly scratching at his heart.

"I think we'd better not go," Jiang Yao said, frowning with a worried look. "We've never been on good terms with the City Lord's Mansion, and we usually can't even get close to the mountainside, so it's likely the same now. If they were just messing around because they were bored, wouldn't we be asking for trouble by going there rashly?"

"I think Jiang Yao makes sense. President, for the sake of caution, we should observe for a while first," Chang Lei chimed in.

"Yes, I also think it's better to maintain a wait-and-see attitude for now," Song Tian nodded. "Perhaps we're overthinking it, and nothing major actually happened."

One must know that the mountaintop is the most heavily defended place in all of Yongan City, and several C-Class Awakened reside there.

If someone really wanted to cause trouble for Yan Luo, they wouldn't choose that place to act under normal circumstances.

"Although it's unclear what exactly happened, we must be extra careful over the next few days. It's better to be safe than sorry. If something really happened to Yan Luo and his group, we are certainly no match for those people."

Song Tian's expression was serious as his gaze swept over everyone present, and he solemnly exhorted them.

"Yes!"

"Understood!"

"Don't worry, President, we will be careful."

Lu Yu echoed them, though he secretly chuckled to himself.

I'm afraid no one would ever guess that the "mastermind" behind all of this is currently sitting right in front of them.

"Yes, as long as you understand. Better safe than sorry. Alright, this emergency meeting ends here. Everyone else may leave; Brother Lu, stay behind," Song Tian said.

Kang Yuan and the others glanced at Lu Yu one after another, then walked out of the conference room one by one.

Lu Yu's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that he was happy too soon?

Had the President noticed something? But that shouldn't be possible; he shouldn't have left any flaws behind.

In the conference room, only Lu Yu and Song Tian remained.

Song Tian looked around to confirm no one else was there before lowering his voice to ask:

"Brother Lu, that matter at the Merchant Guild, it has nothing to do with you, right?"

Lu Yu was slightly startled and also lowered his voice to ask in return: "President, do you think I was the one who did it?"

"Cough, cough, I didn't say that; I was just asking," Song Tian hurriedly coughed a few times to cover his embarrassment. "It's good as long as it wasn't you."

Judging by the traces left at the scene, it was clearly the work of a Pulse Refining Realm Martial Artist. And in the Association, Lu Yu was the only one with that kind of strength.

"I truly wish to do that," Lu Yu snorted coldly, "Those guys have always been working against us, and last time they even brought people to our doorstep. If you hadn't arrived in time, President, they probably would have already made their move."

"It's all in the past, it's all in the past," Song Tian laughed awkwardly.

If he hadn't guessed wrong, Lu Yu was already a Vein Refining Realm Martial Artist at that time.

Otherwise, how could his speed in killing an Advanced Fierce Beast have been so fast? Therefore, whether he himself had arrived in time back then actually didn't matter much.

"Brother Lu, it is of course best if it wasn't you who did it. It's just that from here on, the City Lord's Mansion certainly won't let this rest easily."

Song Tian sighed heavily, "For those people to act this way is simply slapping Yama hard in the face. I believe it won't be long before the City Lord's Mansion sends people to inquire about the situation with us."

"However, don't worry too much; this matter has nothing to do with us. Here, even if Yama himself comes, he can't do anything to us."

"Mm, I understand, President," Lu Yu smiled slightly.

He knew clearly in his heart that the City Lord's Mansion would certainly not send anyone else.

However, the Hunter mentioned by Ji Wanqing might possibly come to investigate. In any case, he would just firmly deny it when the time came.