Chapter 135: Emotional Attachment

In the hall, Lu Dongjun pressed forward relentlessly, attacking without holding back. He didn't need to hold back; it was an eighth-level martial cultivator against a seventh-level joy cultivator, fighting in a confined space, with Wan Jinxian and Si Wennian backing him up. In terms of strength, Lu Dongjun had no chance of losing. Fortunately, Monkey Qiu carried an iron whip, allowing him to barely hold off Lu Dongjun for a couple of rounds.

This iron whip was a magic weapon with seven segments, each containing hidden projectiles. It could attack and defend autonomously, and was refined from the remains of an eighth-level martial cultivator.

After a few exchanges, Lu Dongjun grabbed the iron whip with his bare hands and gave Monkey Qiu a sinister smile. "This is my elder brother's magic weapon. How did it end up in your hands?" he asked. "Were you among those who harmed my elder brother that night?"

Lu Dongliang had given this magic weapon to Monkey Qiu. Since joy cultivators are not skilled in close combat, the iron whip allowed Monkey Qiu to at least hold out for a while against close-combat masters. He didn't try to explain; it would have been useless anyway. Lu Dongjun's attitude clearly showed he wanted Monkey Qiu's life.

With the iron whip now in Lu Dongjun's hands, Monkey Qiu couldn't possibly snatch it back; the difference in their raw strength was too vast. He swept his gaze over Lu Dongjun, intending to use the "Blood Surge" technique to force him to lose strength.

The "Blood Surge" technique originated from the flow of vital energy and blood during intimate moments. At critical moments of climax, vital energy and blood would surge towards the heart and brain. The "Blood Surge" technique precisely amplified this flow. Lower-level cultivators hit by this technique might die from ruptured blood vessels, while higher-level cultivators would experience numbness in their limbs due to excessive vital energy and blood.

Although Lu Dongjun was an eighth-level martial cultivator, the correct way to counter this technique was to avoid Monkey Qiu's gaze. But during a life-or-death confrontation, dodging his gaze would mean giving up the initiative and switching from offense to defense, which Lu Dongjun had no intention of doing. He kept his gaze fixed on Monkey Qiu, without the slightest dodge.

Since Lu Dongjun was going to stand firm, Monkey Qiu naturally met him head-on. Their gazes met, but to his surprise, Monkey Qiu's technique had no effect on Lu Dongjun. Although Lu Dongjun was an eighth-level martial cultivator and his physical strength was expected, it was impossible for him to be completely unaffected. Monkey Qiu realized that only half of his technique was effective; the other half was suppressed.

Si Wennian, who had accompanied Lu Dongjun, had acted secretly, employing his "Ascetic Sage" technique. The "Ascetic Sage" technique, also known as "Enduring Pain for Constancy," instilled the belief that all worldly pleasures were decadent, and that only through enduring suffering could one truly become a sage.

Si Wennian was a fifth-level ascetic cultivator, not as strong as Monkey Qiu, but by fully deploying his technique in secret without direct confrontation, he gained a significant advantage, effectively halving Monkey Qiu's technique. Fifty percent of the technique was basically ineffective against Lu Dongjun. With an effortless tug, Lu Dongjun disarmed Monkey Qiu, sending the iron whip flying from his grasp.

Monkey Qiu's situation became extremely difficult. Suddenly, he heard Duan Shaoxia shout, "Dongjun, stop!" Lu Dongjun hesitated slightly, but still raised the iron whip. In his hands, this weapon's power would be astonishing; Monkey Qiu would definitely not last a single round. Qiu Zhiheng had no way to respond; he could only watch helplessly and wait for death.

Blood vessels burst in Duan Shaoxia's eyes as she shouted again, "Stop!" Lu Dongjun was momentarily stunned, and a blood vessel also appeared in his eye. Under the influence of this effect, Lu Dongjun found Duan Shaoxia beautiful and gentle, feeling that even if he sacrificed his life today, he couldn't let her be sad. He withdrew the iron whip and stood motionless.

Wan Jinxian turned pale with fright. What kind of situation was this? This woman was not simple; she couldn't be allowed to interfere here. Wan Jinxian's nose twitched, as if he was about to sneeze at Duan Shaoxia. Lu Dongjun shouted loudly, "Don't mess around!" Wan Jinxian looked at Lu Dongjun in shock, his sneeze aborted.

Duan Shaoxia, her eyes bloodshot and tearful, looked at Lu Dongjun. "Dongjun," she asked, "what exactly do you want to do?" Lu Dongjun mumbled for a long time, then lowered his head and said, "Sister-in-law, I didn't intend to do anything..."

"Are you trying to bully me while Dongliang is away?" This single sentence expressed all the grievance and sorrow in Duan Shaoxia's heart.

"Sister-in-law, I never thought that," he stammered. "I wasn't targeting you; I was targeting Monkey..."

"Dongjun!" Duan Shaoxia sobbed. "This is my home. What are you trying to do in my home?"

Lu Dongjun was silent for a while, then pulled the false tooth from the stone lion's mouth and put it into his own mouth. The attendants from inside and outside the house rushed in, looked at Lu Dongjun, but didn't act rashly. Duan Shaoxia glanced at Monkey Qiu, who gestured to the attendants not to act rashly.

Lu Dongjun picked up the stone lion, put down the iron whip, and turned to leave the hall. Wan Jinxian was utterly bewildered, but the current situation didn't allow him to linger, so he could only follow Lu Dongjun out. Si Wennian followed closely behind; he hadn't wanted to get involved in this matter in the first place.

After leaving the Lu family mansion, Wan Jinxian looked at Lu Dongjun with a puzzled expression, but Lu Dongjun said nothing. Once they returned to Lu Dongjun's residence, Wan Jinxian sent others away and asked, "Second Master, have you fallen for Madam Duan?"

Lu Dongjun rubbed his forehead and said, "I don't know."

Hearing this, Wan Jinxian was filled with deep regret. If he had known Lu Dongjun had such little resolve, why would he have followed him to the Lu family mansion?

"Second Master, if you'll permit me to speak frankly," Wan Jinxian continued, "with your status, what kind of woman can't you have? Why would you be interested in an aging woman like her?"

Lu Dongjun slapped his own cheeks, then looked up at Wan Jinxian and said, "I couldn't possibly be interested in her. Why the hell would I be interested in her?"

Wan Jinxian stamped his foot. "Then I don't understand. What was your intention today? What did we go to the mansion for? Monkey Qiu was about to die by your hand, and we were on the verge of succeeding! What was this whole act today?"

Lu Dongjun was silent for a while, then gritted his teeth and said, "It was Monkey Qiu! I was hit by his 'Joyful Bliss' technique. I didn't realize it at the time, but looking at that old woman, my heart kept pounding!"

"'Joyful Bliss' technique..." This was indeed one of the most ruthless techniques of joy cultivators, capable of making strangers feel aroused towards each other. Was it really the 'Joyful Bliss' technique? Wan Jinxian felt something was wrong. The 'Joyful Bliss' technique required more time to cast than other joy cultivation techniques. For today's matter, Wan Jinxian and Lu Dongjun had made thorough plans beforehand, ensuring they wouldn't easily give Monkey Qiu a chance to use the 'Joyful Bliss' technique.

Furthermore, Si Wennian was present today and had been continuously using the "Ascetic Sage" technique. Even if Monkey Qiu used "Joyful Bliss," a large part of it would have been nullified by Si Wennian's technique, making it impossible for Lu Dongjun to be unable to resist.

"Second Master, did you respond at the time?"

Lu Dongjun was startled. "Respond to what?"

Wan Jinxian glanced at Lu Dongjun's lower body. "I'm asking if you felt any physical reaction to Madam Duan at that moment?"

"A physical reaction..."

"I mean, did you want to be with her at that moment..." Wan Jinxian rubbed his palms together.

Lu Dongjun recalled the situation at the time, then shook his head and said, "I didn't react." He was very sure of this. He was merely infatuated with Duan Shaoxia at the time, but had no other improper thoughts.

"This isn't right..." Wan Jinxian shook his head repeatedly. "Since you didn't feel that way, this shouldn't be a joy cultivator's technique. What on earth is this..." Wan Jinxian's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Does Madam Duan have any cultivation?"

Lu Dongjun thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I recall my elder brother saying she was a 'white lamb' (a civilian without cultivation)."

Wan Jinxian's thoughts raced, and he pondered for a long time. Then he looked at Lu Dongjun and said, "Second Master, review the businesses under your control and have the managers prepare defenses."

Lu Dongjun waved his hand and said, "You don't need to worry about this. I'll just say I had a minor argument with Monkey Qiu and explain to Duan Shaoxia later. It's not time to fall out with her yet."

Wan Jinxian shook his head and said, "Second Master, you've already fallen out. The one who struck at you was probably not Monkey, but Madam Duan. She might be an emotion cultivator!"

In the Lu family mansion, Monkey Qiu had his wounds bandaged and went to see Duan Shaoxia.

"Madam, I apologize for frightening you," Monkey Qiu said. "I have something to tell you. You might not believe it, but I saw it with my own eyes: the Second Master has a scar on his wrist. The master we saw that day at Qian Yue Tower was not the real one..."

Duan Shaoxia gestured to Monkey Qiu to stop. "The master we saw that day was Lu Dongjun in disguise," she said. "I already know this."

Monkey Qiu was stunned for a long time, not understanding how Duan Shaoxia could possibly know this. Lu Dongliang had always trusted Monkey Qiu the most, but there were some things he hadn't told him.

Duan Shaoxia was an emotion cultivator with a very high cultivation level. At Qian Yue Tower, Duan Shaoxia had noticed that "Lu Dongliang" was missing a tooth. And today, Lu Dongjun took off the false tooth and put it into the stone lion's mouth, which aroused Duan Shaoxia's suspicion. At Qian Yue Tower, "Lu Dongliang"'s cold attitude had deeply disappointed Duan Shaoxia. In her resentment, Duan Shaoxia couldn't help but plant an "emotion root" in "Lu Dongliang." Today, when Lu Dongjun was trying to kill Monkey Qiu, Duan Shaoxia detonated this "emotion root." The one affected by the technique was indeed Lu Dongjun. This confirmed it: Lu Dongjun had indeed impersonated Lu Dongliang at Qian Yue Tower.

Duan Shaoxia looked at Monkey Qiu and said, "Xiao Qiu, tell me honestly, how has our family treated you?"

"Madam..."

"Don't call me Madam. Dongliang has always treated you as a brother; call me sister-in-law!"

Monkey Qiu quickly stood up and said, "Madam, you and the Master have shown me immeasurable kindness. My life was given by the Master; I would go through fire and water without hesitation."

Duan Shaoxia called a servant. "Go call Yuanshan and Yuanhai here," she instructed. Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai, the two children Duan Shaoxia had given birth to for Lu Dongliang, were twenty-eight and twenty-five respectively.

The two came downstairs. Duan Shaoxia ordered, "Come here, call him Uncle Qiu!"

Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai were stunned. Monkey Qiu quickly took two steps back, waving his hand, "Madam, you mustn't!"

"Xiao Qiu," she said, "if you think Dongliang treated you well, then acknowledge me as your sister-in-law and acknowledge these two children. Our lives, my sons' and mine, are now entrusted to you!"

As she spoke, Duan Shaoxia's attitude was very firm. "Yuanshan, Yuanhai," she instructed, "from now on, you will listen to Uncle Qiu in all matters. Xiao Qiu, go inform the elders of the family and reveal Lu Dongjun's true colors to them!"

As she spoke, Madam Duan's eyes filled with tears, and a blood vessel burst on the whites of her eyes.