Chapter 102: Zhu Family's Secret Letter

Lu Han chuckled, "I've run a few businesses outside for some years, so I've seen more of the world than my uncle. It's nothing worth mentioning."

He Lingchuan interjected, "What kind of business did you do?"

"I used to run a security escort agency in Yunyang City and escorted goods for merchant caravans. But the world fell into chaos within a few years, and these jobs became impossible to do."

He Chunhua thought for a moment. "Yunyang City? Yes, six years ago, rebels besieged Yunyang City and nearly captured it."

He Lingchuan asked, surprised, "With such unrest, shouldn't your business have flourished even more?"

In times of unrest, martial skills are paramount.

Lu Han sighed, "Easier said than done."

Just then, someone called out to him from nearby, "Boss Lu!"

Lu Han said, "There's something happening in the village; I'll go over first."

As soon as he turned around, his smile vanished.

"Dinner should be ready; let's go back," Lady Ying said, feeling very hungry.

***

Lu Han, with four or five of his subordinates, confidently sat down on a long bench in the drying yard.

The open space meant anyone approaching would be immediately noticed, making it an ideal place to talk.

"That dog of an official is quite alert; he wouldn't come with me to see Twin Moon Bay." Lu Han chuckled, "What a pity."

The principle is to catch the leader first to catch the bandits. He had originally intended to lure the official and his family to an isolated spot, then swiftly dispatch them one by one... the women could be kept.

He asked his subordinate, "What happened with dinner? Did he bring his own food?"

The host family where He Chunhua and his wife were staying replied with a grimace, "The flatbread my wife made looked so unappetizing that the official's wife refused to eat it. She brought her own maidservant and cooked several dishes using their stove and firewood. The fermented rice wine was especially fragrant." He swallowed, finishing his sentence.

Lu Han's face lengthened. "Did you put the medicine in their water? They have to drink water, don't they?"

"I wanted to, but one of their old servants told me to pour it out and reheat it, and he stood there watching me without blinking." The subordinate found it difficult, "I couldn't make a move."

Lu Han hissed and turned to look at the other three. "Do any of you have good news?"

These three were the men He Lingchuan had knocked down with stones by the lake. They replied, "Yes, seven hundred of our brothers have been dispatched from the town and will arrive shortly."

"It will be between 2 and 4 AM, when the soldiers are all asleep." Lu Han pondered, "Forget it. Since we haven't been exposed so far, we might as well not touch them."

Everyone was surprised. "General, have you changed your mind?"

"It's not exactly a change. I originally thought it best to eliminate that dog of an official; then his subordinates would scatter like birds and beasts. If we couldn't eliminate him, we would let them leave first thing tomorrow morning." Lu Han smiled, "We must prioritize and absolutely not jeopardize tomorrow's operation. Have the brothers coming from town set up an ambush first, just in case we clash with the official."

***

The four members of the He family walked back. He Yue chatted and laughed with his parents, but He Lingchuan was thinking about Lu Han.

When he fought alongside the Great Wind Army in his dream last time, one of his lasting impressions was the strong aura of battle-hardened ferocity emanating from those warriors, a gift from countless battles on the field. Strangely, he detected a similar aura from Lu Han.

That fellow was trying his best to suppress his aura. He claimed to have been a courier, traveling north and south, a typical wanderer of the martial world.

Would such a profession require him to be a ruthless killer?

He Lingchuan looked up at the sky and recalled the silent mountain forest before entering the village, where not a single bird was chirping.

Something had felt wrong ever since then.

The He family had only walked halfway when they saw the village chief hurrying past them, head bowed.

Didn't they say the old man was unwell and went to bed early?

Before this thought fully formed, a woman darted out from the roadside, directly blocking the old man's path. "Village Chief, what about the Spirit Tablet of the Water Deity?"

The village chief, preoccupied, was startled. "This? Let's talk about it later!"

"Why talk about it later?" The woman persisted, "You said this morning that you'd seek justice for my husband tonight!"

Hearing phrases like "find my husband" and "seek justice," He Lingchuan became interested and stepped forward, asking, "What Spirit Tablet of the Water Deity?"

"Nothing at all." At his interruption, the village chief's expression slightly changed, and he tried to smooth things over. "It was probably broken by a wild monkey; it's a small matter, a small matter!"

He scurried away, giving the woman no chance to bother him further.

The woman sighed and was about to turn when she tripped over a tree root and fell to the ground.

*Thud*, the fall was heavy.

He Yue couldn't help but step forward and help her up, asking, "Are you alright?"

"N-no, I'm fine, thank you, young master." The woman spoke softly and curtsied to him.

He Yue suddenly paused.

He Lingchuan looked at the woman and chuckled, "Looking at how you speak, you're articulate and carry yourself well, not like an ordinary village woman. And you're quite good-looking. What's your surname, and where do you live?" This woman also seemed a bit odd.

*Sigh*, he was getting better and better at playing the role of a dissolute young master. What was going on?

His eldest son's behavior was indeed that of a playboy. He Chunhua's face darkened. "Chuan'er, don't be rude!"

The woman glanced at He Lingchuan and said softly, "My surname is Zhu." With that, she turned and left.

After this brief interlude, the four continued their walk back.

He Yue stepped back two paces to walk alongside his brother, whispering, "Something's up."

He Lingchuan instantly grew alert. "What is it?" His nerves had been on edge the whole time.

"When that woman got up, she slipped a paper ball into my hand," He Yue said, a little surprised himself. "She blocked it with her sleeve, so no one should have seen it."

He Lingchuan let out a snort of laughter. "There certainly is something up; maybe she fancies you!"

"Considering she's in her early twenties, perhaps she's taken a liking to a tender, fresh 'spring chicken' like you!" He Lingchuan patted his brother's shoulder. "Don't be scared, young man, face the challenge head-on!"

He Yue's gaze was full of disdain. "Brother, what right do you have to say that to me?"

His older brother was the one practicing celibate martial arts, not him!

Lady Ying heard them, turned her head, and glared at He Lingchuan. "Chuan'er, this isn't Blackwater City; don't be so mischievous!"

"I know, I know."

Before the four even entered the house where they were staying, they smelled the aroma of food.

But He Yue paid no mind to the meal and excused himself to the latrine under the pretext of needing to pee.

He Lingchuan smiled to himself, knowing that his younger brother wanted to take out the paper ball and read it.

However, he had barely sat down and picked up two chopsticks full of shredded bamboo shoots when He Yue rushed in, leaned over, and whispered to He Chunhua, "Father, something is seriously wrong!" He then handed over the paper ball. "The woman gave me this just now."

At this moment, the host was nowhere to be found, and only the four members of the He family were in the dining hall.

He Chunhua put down his rice bowl, picked up the paper ball, and his expression immediately changed.

He then handed it to He Lingchuan, got up, and pushed the door open, instructing his personal guard Zhao Qinghe and butler Old Mo to come in. He also told his guards to be vigilant of the surroundings and not allow anyone else to approach.

The hostess of the house was in the main building, separated from the He family by a small courtyard. With the personal guards standing watch here, the family could speak freely in the dining hall.

He Lingchuan took the note, and Lady Ying also leaned closer. Together, they saw a line of red characters on the paper: