Chapter 188 - 104: The Speed of the World’s Development, Lived from the Republic Era to the New Era?

Chapter 188: Chapter 104: The Speed of the World’s Development, Lived from the Republic Era to the New Era?

At the head of the group stood two men. One was Lu Jingwu, the general manager of the Lu Family Trading Company, and the other was Yan Lintong, the chief of security for the Lu Family.

The security squad leaders behind them had light machine guns slung over their shoulders.

Several howitzers were set up on the ground, their pitch-black muzzles aimed at the river’s surface.

In the wooden crates nearby, hand grenades, explosive packs, and several boxes of new ammunition were neatly arranged.

This time, it was safe to say they were armed to the teeth, all to deal with the elephant-sized Water Monkey.

Crouching near the edge of the dock, by the river, was a man. Brother Zhen squatted there in a daze, staring motionlessly at a patch of dried, blackened blood before him.

Scattered beside the bloodstain were a few scraps of cloth—remnants of the clothes worn by the young man who had been eaten not long ago.

There were no tears in his hollow eyes. He just stared—at the scraps of cloth, at the patch of blood, completely lost in a stupor.

Who could have imagined that in less than a few hours, a living, breathing person would be eaten by the Water Monkey.

Brother Zhen suddenly smacked himself hard across the face. "Damn you for running your mouth... Damn you for slacking off."

"If you hadn’t stopped to smoke, Xiaoshen wouldn’t have been eaten by that damn monster."

The sound of an engine grew louder as a black sedan drove in from beyond the main gate. It passed through the torch-wielding crowd, driving deep onto the dock before finally stopping.

The driver quickly hopped out, jogged to the rear passenger side, and respectfully pulled the door open.

A foot in a black cloth shoe stepped out, followed by a brand-new black tunic suit and the iconic Wisteria Spirit Staff.

After Lu Yun stepped out of the car, Lu Jingwu and Yan Lintong quickly came forward to greet him.

"Great-Uncle!"

"Master!"

Lu Yun gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, his gaze sweeping past them to the more than two hundred Lu Family security guards standing in formation.

They all stared back at him, their eyes filled with nothing but awe, excitement, and fanaticism.

After all, this was their first time seeing the legendary Grandmaster of Divine Intent up close—the man to whom the President himself had proposed a toast, the man who had shaken the entire New Capital of the Daxia to its core.

Someone in the crowd couldn’t help but whisper, "It’s Advisor Lu!"

The words were barely out of his mouth when someone nearby slapped him on the back of the head. "Hey, watch your mouth! That’s Lord Lu! Our old chairman!"

The man rubbed his head and nodded vigorously. "Right, right, Lord Lu, Lord Lu!"

Even more of the men stood ramrod straight, desperate to make a good impression on Lu Yun.

Lu Yun’s gaze swept over them. Over two hundred men, all armed with live ammunition.

Rifles, Mauser pistols, light machine guns, howitzers, hand grenades, explosive packs...

After a slight nod, Lu Yun turned and gazed out at the pitch-black surface of the river.

Under the moonlight, the river flowed slowly in the distance, deceptively calm.

Leaning on his staff, he walked toward the edge of the dock. Lu Jingwu and Yan Lintong exchanged a look and quickly followed, flanking him protectively on either side.

The trio walked to the part of the dock closest to the river, a concrete embankment less than four meters above the water’s surface.

During the day, this was where workers loaded and unloaded cargo, hauling large sacks up and down.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, the man crouching nearby, Brother Zhen, slowly raised his head.

Then he saw the face—the one that had appeared in the newspapers countless times.

Brother Zhen shuddered and snapped back to his senses. He scrambled to his feet instinctively.

"L-Lord Lu!"

He was a grown man, but right now he was like a child who had done wrong, not knowing what to do with his hands.

Lu Yun looked at him, his expression impassive. "Yes. Thank you for your hard work tonight."

Brother Zhen froze, still processing, when Lu Yun continued, "This young man died in service to our Lu Family. I will absolutely not mistreat his family."

"By the way, what family does he have?"

Yan Lintong, standing behind him, understood immediately and recited the details as if he knew them by heart. "Master, the boy’s name is Wei Yaoshen. He’s twenty-two and joined the company last month."

"He has an ailing mother at home, fifty-six years old. His older brother pulls a rickshaw in East City, and his unmarried younger sister stays home to look after their mother."

"The whole family lives in the shantytown near the docks, not even three miles from here."

After listening, Lu Yun considered for a moment before speaking. "Then give his family a pension, based on a monthly salary of ten Ocean dollars. Continue paying it for a full thirty years."

Brother Zhen’s eyes instantly reddened. Ten Ocean dollars. Ten Ocean dollars a month, for thirty years—how much was that?

Three thousand six hundred Ocean dollars! That was enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for a lifetime!

His knees gave out, and he dropped to the ground with a THUD, pressing his forehead heavily against the concrete. "Thank you... Thank you, Lord Lu! Now Xiaoshen can finally rest in peace."

After all, Xiaoshen’s family was dirt poor. Now, with ten Ocean dollars a month, his entire family, young and old, would be able to survive.

Just then, Yan Lintong turned to face the two hundred-plus security guards. He took a deep breath and boomed, "Did you all hear that? Wei Yaoshen’s family will receive a monthly pension of ten Ocean dollars from the company! They’ll receive it every month, for thirty full years!"

"That is the rule of our company!"

Hearing about such generous compensation, the crowd of over two hundred men instantly erupted.

"Ten Ocean dollars? Ten a month? For thirty years?"

"My heavens... I only make five Ocean dollars a month!"

"Lord Lu truly is the most charitable man in Yun Port City!"

Everyone was flushed with excitement. Just moments before, they had been worried—if something were to happen to them, what would become of their families?

Now they knew. With the Lu Family behind them, their own families would be provided for. As long as Lord Lu was there, no one who risked their life for the Lu Family would be mistreated.

Now they could work for the company without any reservations. They would even dare to commit treason, an offense punishable by death!

Someone in the crowd couldn’t help but yell, "Lord Lu is wise! Long live Lord Lu! We’ll follow the Lu Family forever!"

The cheers rose in wave after wave, but Lu Yun didn’t look back. He simply continued to watch the river’s surface below.

He remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "Jingwu, has that thing surfaced again?"

Lu Jingwu quickly answered, "No. There’s been no sign of it since it leaped back into the river. Our men have been watching for almost two hours and haven’t seen a thing."

Lu Yun felt a pang of disappointment. He closed his eyes, and his Divine Sense spread out like a vast, invisible net, instantly enveloping the entire river.

One second, two seconds, three seconds. It was a shame, but there was nothing. Nothing registered as a dangerous presence to Lu Yun.

At this, Yan Lintong leaned in and spoke in a hushed voice, "Master, that damn thing underwater must have gotten scared."

He paused before continuing his analysis. "I heard from the men that the damn thing took at least a hundred bullets. With that many rounds in it, even if it’s not dead, it’s got to be hurting bad."

"So, it’s entirely possible it’s already dead."

Yan Lintong had a point. The Water Monkey was massive, with a tough hide and thick flesh, but it wasn’t immortal.

Even an elephant couldn’t withstand being hit by a hundred bullets.

After leaping back into the river, it might have succumbed to its wounds and died on the riverbed.

Lu Yun was silent for a moment. He couldn’t just stand here waiting indefinitely.

After glancing at the placid river, Lu Yun suddenly had a change of heart.

’The Water Monkey is a demonic spirit,’ he thought. ’Could it be afraid to show itself because there are too many people here, making the yang energy too potent?’

’Places teeming with people have dense yang energy, which creatures of darkness and evil dare not approach. Though the Water Monkey is large, it is fundamentally a spirit, so it might fear this as well.’

Lu Yun turned to Lu Jingwu and Yan Lintong. "All of you, leave. Come back after daybreak."

Lu Jingwu was taken aback. "Great-Uncle, you’re going to stay here alone...?"

Lu Yun waved his hand dismissively. "Go."

Yan Lintong immediately began shouting to the men. "Everyone, with me! We’ll withdraw and stand guard outside. We re-enter the dock at dawn!"

With that, he gave a great wave of his arm and led the two hundred-plus men away, back toward the main gate.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded, leaving only Lu Yun on the dock, facing the pitch-black river.

Time ticked by, second by second. Lu Yun remained completely motionless, standing like a stone statue.

Half an hour flew by, but the river remained calm. There was no movement whatsoever.

Growing a little impatient, Lu Yun narrowed his eyes.

’Was that Water Monkey really killed by that hail of bullets?’