Chapter 275: Losing Is Not an Option

The longsword in Lu Yuanshan's hand was his most potent artifact. If this strike landed, Lu Maoxian would surely die. The sword's tip was aimed at a gap in the carriage canopy, but Lu Yuanshan hesitated.

He Haiqin said impatiently, "That junior still hasn't learned. If you're soft on him now, don't blame him for being ruthless later."

Lu Yuanshan's delay wasn't out of leniency towards Lu Maoxian; he was afraid of incurring a bad reputation.

The coachman Tan Fucheng noticed something amiss and said to Lu Yuanshan, "I'll go check on the second young master."

Seeing this, He Haiqin said, "Should I perhaps stay out of sight too?"

Lu Yuanshan nodded. "Uncle He, please help me with some extra vigilance. I suspect that old man has brought help."

"Xiaoshan," He Haiqin replied, "didn't you call me here precisely to deal with his reinforcements? Whether they come covertly or openly, let them come. Today, I'll show you what I'm made of. Even if he brings an army of thousands, I'll clear them all out for you. Are you satisfied now?"

"Thank you, Uncle He."

Tan Fucheng went to the alley entrance, and He Haiqin also moved away, facing a wall and lighting a cigarette with his back to Lu Yuanshan.

Lu Yuanshan thrust the sword forward.

Blood splattered across Lu Yuanshan's face.

It was salty and viscous. Lu Yuanshan looked down.

This was not Lu Maoxian's blood; it was Lu Yuanshan's own.

He had stabbed himself in the stomach.

Lu Yuanshan's face turned ashen, and his body trembled.

It was over!

In that single instant, his life was gone!

Why had he stabbed himself?

He looked at the gap in the carriage canopy and saw Lu Maoxian still struggling beneath the carriage.

Had he used a technique?

Impossible.

The carriage was of a very high caliber.

Given Lu Maoxian's cultivation level, it was impossible for him to extend a technique outside the carriage.

Lu Yuanshan struggled with all his might to pull out the longsword, but it was already too late.

He tried to cry out, but though his mouth was open, no sound emerged.

He looked at Tan Fucheng and Lu Yuanhai at the alley entrance; both stood with their backs to him.

He Haiqin stood at the other end of the alley, seemingly closer.

But he too had his back to Lu Yuanshan, smoking by the wall.

None of them saw Lu Yuanshan.

Lu Yuanshan was dying; he could not survive a stab from this longsword.

He wanted to stab Lu Maoxian one more time, but he couldn't even lift the sword now.

He remembered what Monkey Qiu had said: "Some things aren't worth gambling on, because you can't afford to lose."

Now he knew some things truly couldn't be lost.

In the blink of an eye, he had lost everything.

He dragged his heavy body towards Lu Yuanhai.

He wanted to warn his younger brother.

Was it still in time?

After only two steps, Lu Yuanshan's torso disintegrated into a heap of flesh, leaving only his head and limbs, which dropped to the ground.

Clang!

The longsword clattered to the ground. The coachman and Lu Yuanhai suddenly turned around, seeing Lu Yuanshan's scattered remains on the ground.

Lu Yuanhai exclaimed in shock, "Brother..."

He rushed towards Lu Yuanshan recklessly. The moment he approached, Lu Yuanshan's head and limbs also exploded in succession.

Lu Yuanhai, his face covered in blood and fragmented flesh and bone, stood stunned for two or three seconds before picking up the longsword.

With the blade pointing down, Lu Yuanhai raised the longsword into the air.

With just a slight adjustment of the angle, he could stab the longsword into his own stomach.

He was being controlled too!

Noticing something was wrong, the coachman Tan Fucheng suddenly grabbed a handful of white sugar from his pocket and scattered it into the air. "Please, have some sugar!"

The aim was precise. Two coughs echoed in the air, as if the sugar had hit someone's mouth.

The coachman shouted again, "You've eaten my sugar, please loosen your grip!"

The opponent's strength relaxed, and Lu Yuanhai's hands regained their mobility. He quickly threw the longsword to the ground.

The coachman grabbed Lu Yuanhai and ran.

Someone seemed to pursue them for a distance but eventually let them go.

Tan Fucheng breathed a slight sigh of relief, then glanced at Lu Yuanhai beside him.

Lu Yuanhai's mouth was twisted, and his eyes rolled back, indicating he was in some unknown state.

Everything happened very quickly, in less time than it takes to smoke a cigarette.

He Haiqin was still smoking in the corner by the wall. When he finished, he stomped out the cigarette butt and walked over to the rickshaw.

Lu Maoxian was still struggling inside the carriage. A voice came from the darkness: "This carriage is too heavy; I can't lift it."

He Haiqin took a paper packet from his pocket. It contained braised beef.

He ate a few pieces of beef, then lifted the rickshaw.

Lu Maoxian quickly scrambled out from under the canopy, looking at He Haiqin with a surprised expression.

It was actually He Haiqin who had released him?

How was that possible?

Lu Maoxian knew someone was secretly protecting him, as this was the Saint's promise.

But he never imagined it would be He Haiqin.

The person he most needed to guard against was He Haiqin.

He Haiqin lowered the rickshaw. While eating beef, he asked, "Why are you looking at me? Are you craving beef? Want a couple of pieces too?"

Lu Maoxian asked, "Master He, do you intend to save me or kill me?"

"Saving you or killing you, it's all the same to me; it's up to you," He Haiqin chuckled. "It's just that I find it troublesome talking to those young brats. Talking to an old fellow like you is much easier."

Lu Maoxian understood He Haiqin's implication and respectfully said, "Master He, please feel free to command me."

He Haiqin chuckled. "First, what is the identity of the Saint on Sage Peak?"

Such a question proved that He Haiqin had indeed been in contact with the Saint, but his understanding of the Saint was limited; their relationship was still in the cooperative stage.

Lu Maoxian pondered for a moment, then took out a handkerchief from his pocket.

The handkerchief was golden-yellow, embroidered with coiled dragons and cloud patterns.

"This was bestowed by the Saint," Lu Maoxian said, handing the handkerchief to He Haiqin.

He Haiqin examined the handkerchief and nodded slightly.

He was not surprised by this revelation.

"Second," He Haiqin continued, "you said you encountered my son, Jiaqing, at the cinema back then. Is that true or false?"

"That is absolutely true."

Was Lu Maoxian truly certain it was He Jiaqing he saw in the cinema?

He was not certain.

But the Saint had said it.

The Saint had said He Jiaqing impersonated Zhou Changhong, and what the Saint said must be correct. If there was a mistake, it wasn't Lu Maoxian's fault.

If He Haiqin questioned why the information was leaked, Lu Maoxian would simply say it was the Saint's command, especially since He Haiqin already knew the Saint's identity.

He Haiqin didn't press further about He Jiaqing. "By seniority, I should call you Uncle Lu. Uncle Lu, if you become the Lu family head in the future, don't forget what happened tonight."

Lu Maoxian nodded. "I will never forget your kindness."

"Words alone are not enough; shouldn't we have a written agreement?" He Haiqin had prepared a contract beforehand.

The contract detailed many things, some of which Lu Maoxian could decide, and some he could not.

"For matters I cannot decide, there's nothing I can do..."

"The contract is clear," He Haiqin interjected. "We can wait until you are in a position to decide."

Lu Maoxian hesitated for a moment, then signed the contract.

He dared not refuse to sign.

He Haiqin took the contract, smiling. "Uncle Lu, if you want to be the family head, you must act quickly. Lu Dongliang's two sons: one is dead, and the other has become an idiot. However, Monkey Qiu is no easy opponent, and I am not a heartless person. If that idiot is cured one day, the position of family head might not be yours anymore."

This was a warning to Lu Maoxian.

Lu Yuanhai's condition was not irreversible.

Monkey Qiu might find a way.

If Lu Maoxian refused to comply, He Haiqin could also cure Lu Yuanhai.

With that, He Haiqin turned and left.

Lu Maoxian stood rooted to the spot, his clothes completely drenched.

It truly was a matter of life and death!

My master's intentions are unfathomable. He told me not to worry about He Haiqin; so this was the reason.

Could he still go to Black Rock Slope now?

No, he couldn't.

Lu Yuanshan was dead, and Lu Yuanhai had become an idiot. The Lu family was bound for chaos, and now was a good opportunity to contend for the family head position.

Lu Maoxian ran back to his mansion, quickly summoned his subordinates, and prepared to face Monkey Qiu.

He would definitely come. If he didn't, I'd go find him. If I could seize this opportunity to kill him, the Lu family would be mine from now on, and no one could stop me!

Between anxiety and excitement, a youth in white quietly entered the courtyard.

In the entire mansion, no one noticed the youth's appearance except for Lu Maoxian.

"Junior Brother, why are you here?"

The youth in white chuckled, "If I hadn't come, would you still be alive? Why did you go to Black Rock Slope?"

It turned out this junior brother was the one pulling the strings.

Lu Maoxian quickly explained, "I went to Black Rock Slope to eliminate those filmmakers on behalf of Master..."

The youth in white frowned. "So, the incident at Black Rock Slope was related to you?"

"Incident..." Lu Maoxian realized something was wrong and changed his tone. "I went to Black Rock Slope to see if the incident there was caused by the films."

The youth in white sighed deeply. "Senior Brother, even now, you're still resorting to these useless evasions. Even if you can fool me, can you fool Master?"

Lu Maoxian's heart pounded in his throat. He didn't know what he had done wrong. "Master told me to suppress the trend of films..."

"Master told you to suppress the rebellious trends *within* films. Why were you fixated on that crude film?"

The "crude film" referred to *Blood Gun Detective*.

"That film was morally damaging..."

The youth in white shook his head. "Senior Brother, I don't know what to say to you."

Lu Maoxian didn't know how to explain himself. "Junior Brother, please guide me. Which film exactly did Master refer to?"

The youth in white said, "It's somewhat similar in name to the film you were focusing on."

Similar name?

*Blood Blade Detective*?

The film made by the Ling family?

That film contained rebellious remarks?

To be honest, Lu Maoxian hadn't watched it very carefully.

He used to tell everyone that *Blood Blade Detective* was a good film, profound, and understood by too few people.

But in reality, it was a conversational tactic, a way for him to open discussions with others; he had no real interest in the film itself.

He had, however, watched *Blood Gun Detective* carefully; that film was truly unique.

But he never expected the Saint to despise *Blood Blade Detective*.

Lu Maoxian suddenly understood. "Junior Brother, I misinterpreted Master's decree. Is there any room for redemption in this matter?"

"Yes," the youth in white nodded. "Since the names are similar, Master might not distinguish them clearly either. If I am vague in my report, the matter might be glossed over. However, if Master investigates thoroughly, I won't be able to account for it easily, and I might even be implicated."

At his age, Lu Maoxian naturally understood the unspoken meaning.

He retrieved a check and slipped it into the youth in white's hand. "Thank you for your trouble, Junior Brother."

The youth in white calmly put the check away. "Senior Brother, Master has resolved the He family matter for you, and has paved the way for you concerning the Lu family. As for the Black Rock Slope incident, don't get involved anymore. Blame all the mistakes on Tang Peigong and Wu Decheng. I've said all I need to say."

Lu Maoxian bowed again and escorted the youth in white out of the mansion.

At the Lu family mansion, Qiu Zhiheng was in his small building, reading a magazine that had just arrived from Black Rock Slope.

The coachman Tan Fucheng rushed in frantically. "Head Qiu, something bad has happened! Both young masters are in trouble!"

Qiu Zhiheng hurried to the main residence, only to hear the First Madam, Duan Shaoxia, wailing, "My son, what happened to you!"

Lu Yuanhai lay on the ground, his mouth twisted, eyes askew, and face slack.

"Fucheng, what happened?"

Tan Fucheng said, "Head Qiu, the two young masters went to see the Old Master, but they were ambushed."

Duan Shaoxia cried, "Why did they go to see the Old Master?"

Tan Fucheng didn't know how to answer. Qiu Zhiheng gestured for him not to say more for now.

Soon, after the doctor arrived, Qiu Zhiheng had Lu Yuanhai taken upstairs for treatment, and ordered others to be confined to guest rooms. He then took Duan Shaoxia and Tan Fucheng to the study to speak privately.

Tan Fucheng recounted the events: "The two young masters arranged to meet He Haiqin, intending to settle things with the Old Master. Unexpectedly, they were ambushed, and the second young master ended up like this..."

Duan Shaoxia asked, "Where is Yuanshan?"

Tan Fucheng looked at Duan Shaoxia and shook his head slightly.

Duan Shaoxia's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

After Duan Shaoxia was revived, she grabbed Qiu Zhiheng's collar and demanded, "Xiao Qiu, why didn't you stop them? Why?"

Qiu Zhiheng remained silent.

Tan Fucheng said, "Madam, you can't blame Head Qiu for this; he knew nothing about it."

Duan Shaoxia tugged at Qiu Zhiheng, crying, "Give me back my son! Give me back my son!"

Just as there were some things He Haiqin dared not gamble on, he chose a limited cooperation.