Chapter 156: Killing Trap
“What’s the use of just defeating him?!” Seeing Xie Bo refuse, Xie Tian became furious and pointed to his mouth, saying, “With all these teeth in my mouth, and the injuries on my face, it can’t end this simply!”
“My cousin, calm your anger,” Xie Bo said impassively, “My challenging Lu Yun is already bullying the young and weak. If I were to use underhanded tactics, it would likely harm the reputation of my Cui Clan.”
“Not avenging a grievance would harm the Xie Clan’s reputation more!” Xie Tian shook his head violently and said hatefully, “We should be like the Xiahou Clan, repaying every grievance ten times over. That is how we maintain the Xie Clan’s reputation!”
Xie Bo still shook his head. Xie Ju had been kind to him and was his superior, so he couldn’t easily refuse this favor. However, he also didn’t want to be an accomplice to someone else.
“Xie Bo,” Madam Xie suddenly spoke, “I heard you’ve been unable to break through for a long time because you haven’t learned the complete Five Virtues Five Elements Technique?”
“Yes,” Xie Bo’s expression dimmed, “Only direct lineage disciples can learn the complete cultivation method. I only learned the Four Virtues Four Elements, so naturally, I cannot achieve perfect mastery.”
“If you agree to Xie Tian’s request, I will have my master teach you the complete cultivation method,” Madam Xie said calmly. “As a Martial Guard Steward, he can make an exception for this, but only if you achieve a great merit.”
“This…” Xie Bo’s expression hesitated for a moment. He had always willingly obeyed the clan’s arrangements and diligently served the Xie Clan, all in the hope of obtaining the complete cultivation method to open the Ren and Du Meridians, become a Grandmaster, and completely change his family’s destiny.
“Exactly, what’s there to hesitate about?” Xie Tian’s eyes widened, completely losing his outward respect for Xie Bo. “You’re almost thirty. After thirty, even if you’re given the complete cultivation method, you won’t be able to achieve Five Elements mastery!” With that, he let out a cold laugh. “Cousin, after this village, there will never be another shop!”
“…” The struggle on Xie Bo’s face grew more intense. He knew very well that once he offended this mother and son, it would be tantamount to offending Xie Ju, and he would never have the opportunity to obtain the complete cultivation method in this lifetime.
“Xie Bo, the distinction between direct and collateral lineage is as vast as the difference between heaven and earth. Only by becoming a Grandmaster can you ascend to the heavens in one step. Do you want your descendants to be like you, always treading carefully and compromising, possessing great skill but unable to display it?” Madam Xie’s every word struck Xie Bo heavily in the heart, causing the scales in his heart to tip rapidly.
Finally, Xie Bo lowered his head in pain.
.
In Luojing City, many significant events happen every day. Lu Yun’s acceptance of Xie Bo’s challenge was a trivial matter and should not have caused any ripples among the various clans. However, Xie Tian and his cronies spread the word everywhere, making it widely known, and even the high-ranking officials of various clans heard about it.
Upon learning that Lu Yun was the candidate for the Lu Clan in next year’s Grand Competition, the leaders of various clans became a little interested. They initially intended to have their subordinates observe the competition to gauge the level of the Lu Clan’s chosen candidate. However, when they heard that the challenger was Xie Bo, they lost all interest, stating outright that after this competition, the Lu Clan would likely have to find another person to participate in the Grand Competition.
“Why is this Lu Yun so unaware of the depths of the situation,” in Cui Yingzhi’s manor in the Cui Clan, Cui Ninger was trimming a pot of chrysanthemums. Upon hearing that Lu Yun had accepted the challenge, she became so angry that she began to haphazardly cut the flower branches, causing golden petals to scatter. “Did he take all my reminders as mere wind!”
Madam Cui stood beside Cui Ninger with her hands clasped, chuckling softly. “Saintess, please calm your anger. I don’t think that boy is reckless. Perhaps he has the confidence to win.”
“How is that possible…” Cui Ninger snorted indignantly. “He beats people to a pulp often enough, isn’t that impulsive?”
“Why does the Saintess care so much about that boy?” Madam Cui probed, “Could it be that you…”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Cui Ninger’s expression froze, and she immediately retorted with a stern face, “If this matter hadn’t started because of me, I wouldn’t care whether he lived or died!”
“I see…” Madam Cui breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, “Then I can rest easy. Otherwise, if it’s later discovered that the Imperial Seal is indeed in the Lu Clan, the Saintess would be in a difficult position.”
“You don’t need to remind me, I know what I’m doing,” Cui Ninger’s expression turned cold, and she sneered, “No matter who it is, I will take back whatever they snatch from me!”
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West Market, Sihai Pawnshop.
In the dimly lit inner hall, several dark figures sat in the shadows, also discussing Lu Yun.
“We have already obtained the pledge written in Lu Jian’s own hand,” the shopkeeper said while kneeling at the lower seat, respectfully addressing the owner. “We will only carry out the killing; all consequences will be borne by him.”
“Heh, it seems Lu Jian is determined to kill Lu Xin Quan’s entire family, no matter what,” the dark figures said, all somewhat relieved.
“And he has paid in full. Three hundred thousand strings of cash, not a single coin short, all deposited in our pawnshop,” the shopkeeper added.
“That’s quite a sum…” The voices of the dark figures held a hint of joy. If it weren’t for the fact that killing one person could earn them money that an ordinary person couldn’t spend in a lifetime, why would they risk their lives for such a business?
“Then let’s do it,” the short figure of the owner said in a deep voice. “How are the preparations coming along?”
“Reporting to the owner, as per the employer’s wishes, Lu Xin’s only son must die first,” a shadowy figure replied. “Therefore, we’ve been tracking that young man, Lu Yun, these past few days, but he cultivates in Lu Ward every morning and evening, making it difficult to find an opportunity to strike.”
“Doesn’t he live south of the Luo River? Could we strike him during his early morning or late evening journeys?” another shadowy figure asked.
“He travels with Lu Xin every morning and evening, and his home is right by Luo River Bridge. The guards on the bridge are also trouble,” the previous shadowy figure shook his head, disliking the suggestion.
“We could strike him when he leaves the city…” the shopkeeper suddenly interjected.
“Striking him outside the city would be ideal,” that shadowy figure said in a low voice. “But he’s been cultivating lately, so he likely won’t leave the city for trivial reasons.”
“On the first of next month, he will definitely leave the city,” the shopkeeper stated with certainty.
“Why?” several shadowy figures stared at him in unison.
“Because he accepted a challenge from Xie Bo. They’ve arranged to compete that day on Ten Mile Slope, east of the city,” the shopkeeper, besides taking on jobs, was also responsible for intelligence gathering.
“Will there be anyone from the Lu Clan accompanying him?” that shadowy figure asked. If there were many people going with Lu Yun, they certainly wouldn’t be able to make a move.
“It’s not a public competition. Apart from the supervision of the Investigative Bureau, no one is allowed to spectate,” the shopkeeper chuckled. “Besides, the first is the day of the Grand Court, so Lu Xin, Lu Wei, and others will be attending court. They agreed to compete at the hour of Chen, so no Lu Clan Grandmaster will accompany him.”
“That’s the perfect opportunity for us to strike!” that shadowy figure exclaimed with delight upon hearing this.
“However, we must guard against the Lu Clan sending people for his protection,” the owner said cautiously. Since Lu Yun was becoming increasingly important to the Lu Clan, it was hard to say if they might send a Grandmaster elder to accompany him, just in case.
“What the owner is worried about,” the shadowy figure directly responsible for the assassination said in a deep voice, “is precisely that. Therefore, I will personally handle this matter.”
“I’ll accompany you as well,” the owner said in a deep voice.
“Then I’ll go along for the trip too,” another shadowy figure volunteered upon seeing this.
“With two Earth Rank Grandmasters, we should be able to handle any situation,” the owner shook his head, refusing. “You stay behind and guard the premises.”
“Alright,” the person no longer insisted.
After everyone had finished their discussion, the owner issued an order: “Then we’ll set the action for the first of next month. The second commander will be the vanguard, I will be in the shadows, and shopkeeper, you will lead people to provide support from the side.”
“Yes!” everyone responded in unison with deep voices. The selection of the strike location and the retreat route, and such, would no longer require the owner’s concern. The White Ape Society had been in this business for hundreds of years and already had a complete set of procedures.
