Chapter 64 - 63: The Li Family Makes Another Move

Chapter 64: Chapter 63: The Li Family Makes Another Move

「The next morning.」

Lu Jing’an took Black Bear and Chen Xuan back to Jinshan Village.

It wasn’t that Lu Jing’an had made a special trip just to take Black Bear back.

It was because a couple of days ago, Smiling Tiger had called.

He told Lu Jing’an that three hard cases had shown up in Jinshan Village.

Since Black Bear had just come out of his seclusion, Lu Jing’an decided to go and check out these three hard cases for himself.

The three of them rode on horseback and arrived at Jinshan Village before long.

When Smiling Tiger saw Black Bear again, he was stunned for a long moment, almost unable to recognize him.

The man before him, Black Bear, was dressed in a tailored, dark-blue long gown.

The fabric wasn’t expensive, but it was well-fitted and neat.

He was clean and sharp from head to toe.

His once-disheveled hair, as messy as a weed patch, was now tied neatly behind his head.

The ferocious scar on his face was still there,

but the dazed malevolence in his eyes

had mostly dissipated,

replaced by a calm, mountain-like stability.

What shocked Smiling Tiger the most was the faintly surging power of vitality and blood that emanated from Black Bear.

Even though he hadn’t made a move, an oppressive pressure could already be felt.

"Black Bear... how did you get so strong?" Smiling Tiger finally couldn’t hold back and blurted out the question.

Black Bear answered honestly, "The Young Master completed the second half of the secret formula for me."

"Secret formula? What secret formula?"

Smiling Tiger froze for a second. Then, as if remembering something, his expression stiffened slightly.

’He’d never taken that matter seriously at all.’

When Black Bear had presented the incomplete formula, he had only made a casual promise.

He’d promised to prepare the medicine if Black Bear won a hundred arena matches, but in his heart, he never intended to follow through.

Lu Jing’an, standing to the side, smiled faintly and reminded him, as if unintentionally, "It’s the medicine you said you’d prepare for him if he won a hundred arena matches."

Smiling Tiger feigned a look of sudden realization, his lips twitching into a stiff smile.

"Just using the second half of the medicine can make someone this strong?"

Black Bear scratched his head and said in a deep, rumbling voice, "I’m not entirely sure. It might also have something to do with Cui Medical Cultivator’s conditioning."

After hearing this, the smile on Smiling Tiger’s face became even more forced. He ended up just giving two dry laughs.

"The Young Master is truly generous to you. You must be sure to serve him well from now on."

’He felt as if a hand had viciously squeezed his heart, an indescribable mix of bitterness and regret filling him.’

’A Black Bear this powerful should have been his cash cow!’

’But the opportunity had been right in front of him, and he was the one who hadn’t taken it seriously.’

In truth, even if he could do it all over again, given his mindset back then, he would probably still make the same choice.

Lu Jing’an said no more on the matter and changed the subject. "Are those three still here?"

Smiling Tiger collected himself and quickly nodded.

"They are. They’re three men who fled from the north after getting into some trouble.

They’ve already won ten matches in a row, taking nearly two thousand silver coins.

It looks like they’ll probably leave after a few more wins."

"What kind of trouble?"

"I can’t tell, but their speech and bearing are far from that of ordinary Jianghu folk.

They have a certain...

indescribable air about them. In the ring, their moves are clean.

They don’t use dirty tricks or take lives; they win honorably and openly."

"How’s their strength?"

"They are all experts at the Skin Refining Realm, with very solid foundations."

Lu Jing’an pondered for a moment, then pointed at Black Bear. "Arrange for them to fight him."

"Yes."

Smiling Tiger agreed. He then heard Lu Jing’an instruct Black Bear:

"Hold back. Just defeat them, don’t kill them."

Black Bear gave a heavy nod. "Understood."

Before long, two men were standing on the arena stage.

Across from Black Bear was a man of about thirty.

His posture was as straight as a pine tree, and even his coarse cloth garments couldn’t hide his honorable and forthright aura.

His gaze was calm, his hands hanging naturally at his sides.

His stance seemed casual, yet it concealed a readiness to strike at any moment.

Lu Jing’an studied him carefully and asked Chen Xuan in a low voice, "Master, can you tell what style he uses?"

Chen Xuan’s eyes were sharp as a torch. "It’s a Baji Fist foundation," he said softly. "The power is fierce and rigid, the footwork steady.

Some of his variations incorporate techniques from New Martial Arts. This fighting style is common in the northern armies."

Lu Jing’an understood. He already had a vague idea of the men’s background.

At this point, the two men on the stage had begun to fight.

The man’s fists shot out like spears, his steps as firm as driven nails.

His techniques were wide and sweeping, creating whistling gusts of wind.

Black Bear, however, was like a moving mountain range, meeting force with force without dodging or evading.

The clashes of their fists and palms produced dull thuds.

Tempered by the Secret Medicine, Black Bear’s physical strength had more than doubled.

Although his techniques were less refined than his opponent’s, his brute strength and powerful Tendons and Bones gave him the absolute upper hand.

After they exchanged several dozen blows, the man launched a "Top Heart Elbow" attack, striking swiftly at Black Bear’s center.

But Black Bear blocked it with both arms, seizing the opportunity to grip his shoulder and arm.

With a low shout, he lifted the man completely off his feet and hurled him from the stage!

The crowd below fell silent for a moment, then erupted in an uproar.

The other two men’s expressions changed slightly, and they went up on stage one after the other.

The result, however, was the same. One was knocked off the stage by Black Bear’s "Bear Hug Mountain."

The other had his wrist caught and twisted, causing him to stumble and fall off.

After three matches, Black Bear’s breathing was still steady, with only a few beads of sweat on his brow.

Watching from below, Smiling Tiger’s heart was bleeding. A Black Bear this powerful...

’If he were still my man...’ He didn’t dare to think about it any further.

Lu Jing’an had already led Chen Xuan and Black Bear down from the viewing stand and was walking toward where the three men were staying.

The three men were gathered under the old locust tree at the village entrance, talking in low voices. When they saw Lu Jing’an’s group approach,

they immediately rose to their feet, alert, and formed a defensive triangular stance.

"Please, don’t misunderstand."

Lu Jing’an stopped five or six paces away and clasped his hands in a salute.

"I have come with no ill intent, only hoping to forge a favorable connection with you all."

As he spoke, he took a check from his coat and held it out.

"Here are two thousand silver coins. Please, accept them."

Seeing the hesitation in their eyes, Lu Jing’an added in a gentle voice:

"I won’t ask about your origins, nor do I require you to do anything for me.

Consider it a simple memento of our meeting today, a thread of fate between us.

If you make a comeback someday, it won’t be too late to repay me then."

The man in the lead took the check, glanced at the amount, and gave a wry smile.

"Young friend, believe it or not, back in the day, this amount of money wouldn’t have even covered half a day’s expenses for me."

Lu Jing’an nodded, his expression open and honest. "I believe you."

Seeing that his eyes were clear and held no trace of deceit, the man immediately clasped his fist in return.

"You’re a straightforward man, young friend! We are indeed in dire need of this money right now, so we’ll shamelessly accept it."

He unholstered the pistol at his waist and offered it with both hands.

"This gun has been with me for seven years; it has never left my side.

Today, I gift it to you, young friend, as a token of my word.

If the day comes when we truly rise again, bring this gun to find me, and I will not refuse any request."

Lu Jing’an took the Mauser pistol. It was heavy in his hand.

The gun was extremely well-maintained, with a deep patina on the wooden grip.

It was clearly an item that had been carried for a long time.

He weighed it in his hand, then handed it back.

"A gentleman does not take what another man treasures. This is your personal weapon.

You should keep it, Sir. You might have more need of it right now."

The man was taken aback. A flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. He didn’t refuse again and took the gun back.

"I have yet to ask for your name, young friend."

Lu Jing’an smiled faintly.

"Let’s not mention names.

If you three are unable to make a comeback, knowing my name would not only be of no benefit to me but might even bring me trouble.

And if you truly manage to rise again one day, I imagine it wouldn’t be difficult for you to find out who I am then."

Upon hearing this, the man was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

"You are a truly insightful and straightforward man, young friend! Excellent! In that case, we will meet again!"

"We will meet again."

Lu Jing’an returned the salute, watching as the three figures hurried away and disappeared down the path outside the village before he turned around. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Two thousand silver coins, all to buy a slim chance at a favorable connection.

’Lu Jing’an’s heart was calm.’

’In this world, it’s never a bad thing to leave an extra path open for yourself.’

When he returned to the gates of the Lu Mansion, the sun was already starting to set in the west.

Just as Lu Jing’an stepped through the main gate, he saw an old servant of Lu Huaiqian’s waiting by the spirit screen, hands clasped.

Seeing him return, the servant hurried forward and said in a low voice:

"Young Master, the Old Master has given instructions for you to go to the study immediately upon your return."

Lu Jing’an’s steps faltered slightly, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

’It seems the Li Family has made its move.’

’I just wonder what kind of ’piece’ the Li Family has played this time.’