30: Chapter 30 Undercurrents

On a three-story terrace of the City Lord's Manor, City Lord Guan Lin was gazing into the distance at the departing figures of Su Jiuchuan and the others. Only after they were completely out of sight did he wave his hand behind him.

"City Lord, what are your orders?" Vice City Lord Cao Xinghe emerged from out of nowhere.

"Spread the word. Say that the Auspicious Dragon Jade Pendant in Su Jiuchuan's hands was a token, and he has already redeemed ten thousand taels of silver from the City Lord's Manor. The matter is settled and we are even."

"Yes!" Not daring to hesitate, he quickly bowed and turned to leave.

City Lord Guan Lin did not look at him, a cold sneer merely playing on his lips. "Xuande Temple? Heheh!"

...

At the same time, in a secluded alley near the City Lord's Manor, an exquisite carriage was parked. Inside, two people were whispering to each other.

"How did this Su Jiuchuan get involved with the Imperial Family?"

"Will City Lord Guan take action against our Lu Family?"

Indeed, these two were none other than Lu Cheng and Lu Yuanzhen of the Lu Family.

"Big Brother, I just saw Su Jiuchuan and his people swaggering out of the City Lord's Manor. This time, we've really been screwed over by the Lan Family."

Lu Yuanzhen did not reply, only furrowing his brows. As the next family head of the Lu Family, he had been groomed to be a leader since childhood. At this moment, he was not exasperated like Lu Cheng.

"No, there's something fishy about this."

His slender fingers tapped gently against the carriage wall. After thinking for a moment, he said, "City Lord Guan Lin's attitude is very strange. The Imperial Court issued a decree to suppress the rebels long ago, yet even with King Yu's men active just outside Xuzhou, he remains holed up and refuses to engage."

"So, he isn't completely loyal to the Imperial Court?" Lu Cheng finally came to his senses and said, "That makes sense. Could he have the same idea as the Lan Family?"

"No. I heard that King Yu actually sent people to contact City Lord Guan Lin long ago, but he drove them away directly. If he were just sitting on the fence, he wouldn't have driven them off so bluntly."

"Furthermore, if he chose to be loyal to the Imperial Family, he would probably have raided our Lu Family and arrested everyone by now. But he hasn't. If he had rebellious intentions, then Su Jiuchuan and his people shouldn't have been able to walk out. City Lord Guan Lin is no saint."

"Should we return the Su siblings?"

"It's useless. We've already offended them. For now, let's find a way to figure out the City Lord's Manor's attitude. If... if the City Lord's Manor intends to protect him, then our Lu Family must be careful."

For a moment, both of them fell silent.

"Young Master..." An errand boy suddenly ran into the alleyway.

"How noisy!" Lu Cheng was already feeling annoyed. Seeing the errand boy's frantic state, he raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

The errand boy had rushed over to deliver some news, but this sudden, senseless slap left him dazed and utterly bewildered.

A flash of displeasure crossed Lu Yuanzhen's face. Lu Cheng was such a useless, hot-headed fool. He asked, "What is it?"

"News came from the City Lord's Manor. They say Su Jiuchuan used his jade pendant to redeem ten thousand taels of silver, and the matter is now settled."

"Big Brother, does this mean the City Lord's Manor won't protect that Su kid?" Lu Cheng laughed heartily.

Lu Yuanzhen also breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and said, "You may leave. Go to the accounts office and collect five taels of silver."

"Yes, sir!" Holding his cheek, the errand boy left joyfully.

"Since that's the case, let's go home to Father and discuss what to do." Lu Yuanzhen did not make a decision immediately, intending to return and consult with his father, Head of Lu Family, Lu Xianshan.

A commoner of the Fourth Grade, a Fourth Grade Martial Artist under twenty, and one they had already offended—it would definitely be best to kill him to put their minds at ease!

...

By this time, Su Jiuchuan had already returned to the escort agency. Once everyone else had dismissed themselves, he finally opened the simulator.

[Do you wish to use the Life Simulator? Each use consumes 2,000 money points.]

Yes.

[At eighteen, you are already a Fourth Grade Martial Artist. You learn that the Lu Family has captured Su Yunxia and Su Yuanjiang. You resolve to rescue them.]

[One day, the Lu Family invites you to a banquet at the Lu Manor to apologize for mistakenly capturing the Su siblings. You attend the banquet.]

[During the banquet, the Lu Family tries to recruit you into their ranks and offers a woman from a branch family to be your wife. You refuse. The Lu Family does not seem to mind and toasts you. When you are full of food and wine, Lu Yuanzhen suddenly attacks you. Just as you are about to strike back, you realize the wine was poisoned. Powerless to resist, you are killed on the spot at the age of eighteen.]

It seemed the Lu Family was absolutely bent on putting him to death.

[Simulation ended. You may retain one of the following options.]

[1. Your martial arts Realm at age eighteen.]

[2. Your martial arts experience at age eighteen.]

[3. Your life wisdom at age eighteen.]

This time, there was no real difference among the three options, so he randomly chose option three.

Instantly, a wave of memories surfaced: the complete powerlessness of his body, Lu Cheng's sinister grin, Lu Yuanzhen's sword strike, and finally, endless darkness.

Su Jiuchuan broke out in a cold sweat. That feeling was truly terrifying.

Again.

[At eighteen, you are a Fourth Grade Martial Artist. The Lu Family invites you to a banquet.]

[That night, you go to the Lu Manor, but you kill everyone on sight. Lu Yuanzhen confronts you, and the two of you fight to a draw for about thirty moves. Just then, Head of Lu Family, Lu Xianshan appears.]

[This Third Grade Martial Artist taps your forehead with a single finger, and you die, ending your life at age eighteen.]

This time, Su Jiuchuan chose option two.

Another wave of combat experience flooded his mind, especially that final finger strike before his death. He had tried everything he could think of, yet he was utterly unable to escape it.

No wonder people said that First to Third Grade were High Grade Martial Artists, Fourth to Sixth Grade were Medium Grade, and those below Sixth Grade were Low Grade.

The gap between grades was simply too vast. He was only one grade lower than Lu Xianshan, yet he couldn't even withstand a single move.

Again.

[At eighteen, you have become a Fourth Grade Martial Artist. The Lu Family invites you to a banquet at the Lu Manor.]

[That night, you find Xuande Temple and present your token, hoping they can help you eliminate the Lu Family. Abbot Dao Qi of Xuande Temple tells you that it is not yet time for Xuande Temple to enter the mortal world, and rejects your request.]

[Despondent, you can only cultivate in seclusion within the temple.]

[Ten years later, Xue Mingcai passes by this place. After conversing with you briefly, she drifts away. The next day, a Senior Brother from the Xuanxian Sect finds you, claiming you disturbed Xue Mingcai's cultivation, and stabs you to death with his sword, ending your life at age twenty-eight.]

What the absolute hell?

Su Jiuchuan felt rather frustrated. He had already laid low in the temple, yet he was still killed just because he said a few words to Xue Mingcai.

Where was the justice in that?

[Simulation ended. You may retain one of the following options.]

[1. Your martial arts Realm at age twenty-eight.]

[2. Your martial arts experience at age twenty-eight.]

[3. Your life wisdom at age twenty-eight.]

Su Jiuchuan chose option one.

Instantly, a surge of dense True Qi poured into his body. Su Jiuchuan knew this was the result of his ten years of hard cultivation.