Chapter 139 - 108: The Bai Family Makes a Move, Complete Blockade

Chapter 139: Chapter 108: The Bai Family Makes a Move, Complete Blockade

Lu Jing’an indeed had no proof. Nor could he produce any. Leopard One was already dead; his corpse was stone cold. He couldn’t exactly tell Kui Shan that he had read Leopard One’s dying memories.

Hearing Lu Jing’an’s words, the heavy, solemn expression on Kui Shan’s face—like leather brushed with tung oil—did not soften; instead, it grew even more taut. His thick fingers unconsciously stroked the rim of his coarse porcelain teacup, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. Seeing the deep furrows between Kui Shan’s brows and the worry hidden in the depths of his eyes, Lu Jing’an’s suspicions were confirmed. Not only did the Anping Bureau know about the Spirit Vein, but they likely knew a great deal.

For a moment, only the curling steam from the tea lingered in the hall, accompanied by the distant, clamorous sounds of the city drifting in through the window. After a brief pause, Lu Jing’an broke the silence. His voice was steady but carried an unavoidable weight. "Senior Kui Shan, I believe that under the current circumstances, no matter how much the Anping Bureau needs to avoid suspicion, temporarily setting aside the boundaries with the Lu family is the best course of action."

Lu Jing’an looked up, his gaze clear as he met Kui Shan’s eyes. "Whether I was actively involved or passively dragged in, the fact remains that I am already in this vortex. The Spirit Vein concerns not just a single family or surname, but the very foundation of Great Xia’s fate. This is the basis upon which we can sit here and talk right now."

Wen Ling nodded vigorously from the side and chimed in, her tone urgent, "Mr. Kui, Young Master Lu makes a valid point! If the Bai family is truly colluding with the Voiders to plot for the Spirit Vein, the handful of men our Anping Bureau has at Yin Mountain will be nothing but a drop in the bucket! We need allies."

Wen Ling’s words undoubtedly confirmed Lu Jing’an’s judgment. The Anping Bureau had known for a long time and was already playing the role of guardian.

After listening, Kui Shan still didn’t express his stance immediately. His Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze fell on the tea leaves floating in his cup, as if they held some complex calculation. Joining forces with the Lu family was a matter of grave importance. If Lu Jing’an’s words were true, it would be for the greater good and thus excusable. But if they were false, or if the Lu family’s selfish motives were mixed in, the Anping Bureau would never be able to wash away the crime of being the Imperial Court’s "running dogs" colluding with local tyrants to eliminate dissidents. When the time came, losing their jobs would be getting off lightly. The few of them would likely be subjected to the most severe internal purge within the Anping Bureau. This was exactly why Kui Shan had asked if there was any evidence.

Lu Jing’an did not rush him. He had already said what needed to be said and pointed out the path. Whether or not to walk it was Kui Shan’s own choice. Lu Jing’an picked up his now-lukewarm tea, brought it to his lips, and took an unhurried sip. His posture was leisurely, showing not the slightest hint of anxiety.

He wasn’t forcing this composure. Joining hands with the Anping Bureau would certainly be a great help, but if it didn’t work out, it wasn’t as if Lu Jing’an had no other options. What Lu Jing’an valued wasn’t so much the combat prowess of the few Cultivators under Kui Shan’s command, but rather the secrets and information this special Government Office could access—things hidden beneath ordinary official documents and dossiers. The current situation was like navigating a boat through thick fog; the information he held was far too scarce. Being passive at every turn was the most fatal flaw.

When the tea in Lu Jing’an’s cup bottomed out, he gently placed the teacup back onto the rosewood coffee table. With a light CLACK, Kui Shan finally looked up, resolution in his eyes.

"The Anping Bureau can cooperate with you," Kui Shan said. His voice was deep, but he enunciated every word clearly. Immediately after, he tensed up again, adding sternly, "But this is strictly limited to the matter of protecting the Spirit Vein. If you intend to use the Anping Bureau’s power to deal with the Bai family, we will absolutely not cooperate."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wen Ling couldn’t help but raise a hand to her forehead, sighing. "Mr. Kui, not to disrespect you, but you’re really... overthinking this. The Bai family commands tens of thousands of soldiers and is fully equipped with guns and artillery. In their eyes, the few of us probably pack less firepower than a single guard platoon. Deal with the Bai family? Where would we get the ability to do that?"

Wen Ling had blurted out everything Lu Jing’an had wanted to critique. Lu Jing’an had no choice but to swallow the words that had reached the tip of his tongue, a faint smile curling the corners of his mouth. Kui Shan’s old face flushed slightly at his subordinate’s blunt remark, but he forced a stern expression. His voice lowered as if trying to explain himself, "Rules are rules. Stating them clearly beforehand is never a mistake."

Lu Jing’an did not dwell on the matter. Now that the foundation for cooperation had been finalized, he urgently needed to fill in his information gaps. "How much do you know about the Spirit Vein? Especially the merger of the three counties—what impact will that actually have on the Spirit Vein?"

Kui Shan did not answer directly. Instead, he looked at Lu Jing’an with profound eyes. "How much do you know about the Spirit Vein?"

Lu Jing’an replied frankly, "Everything I know about the Spirit Vein was told to me by my master. My master said that the Spirit Vein coexists and grows with Cultivators; it is the root of a Cultivator. The Spirit Vein has tidal fluctuations of strength and weakness, which dictates the rise and fall of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. The Emperor of the Previous Dynasty, attempting the act of Defying the Heavens and Changing One’s Destiny, forcefully elevated the Spirit Vein. Instead, he suffered a backlash, causing the Spirit Vein to decline even further and disrupting its tidal cycle..."

Lu Jing’an selected the most important points of what he had learned about the Spirit Vein from Chen Xuan and repeated them clearly and concisely.

After listening, Kui Shan remained silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh. "Chen Xuan is indeed no ordinary figure. Even within the Anping Bureau, not everyone knows such secrets."

Though Kui Shan’s words sounded like a lament, he had no intention of delving deeper into Chen Xuan’s background. He smoothly changed the subject. "I won’t reiterate the correct points your master mentioned. What I need to tell you is that the Spirit Vein concerns far more than just Cultivators."

Kui Shan leaned forward slightly, his tone emphasizing his point. "The Spirit Vein is the pivot of the local feng shui and Earth Qi. Aside from its ability to suppress evil entities and harmonize Yin and Yang..."