Chapter 331: Lifeline

Lu Chunying walked out of the house, descended the stairs step by step, and calmly approached Duan Shaoxia. She lowered her head, avoiding Duan Shaoxia's eyes, and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your rescue, Madam."

The house was filled with people from the Hundred Flowers Sect. Lu Chunying stood alone in the main hall, like a leaf in the wind, her life seemingly in peril. Zuo Wugang, stepping on Lu Dongtang, secretly clenched his fists. Lu Yuanxin, without a change in expression, quietly scattered insect bait. Xiao Yeci gritted her teeth, ready to fight with all her might. Zhang Xiuling looked at Duan Shaoxia. Duan Shaoxia looked at the exploded corpse beside her.

After a long silence, Duan Shaoxia spoke, "Chunying, well done. You remind me of Dongliang from back then. It's not safe for you here. Be good, come back to the main residence with me. We are family."

Lu Chunying remained silent.

Duan Shaoxia looked up at the second floor, saying, "Yeci, come back with me. We'll live good lives together as sisters from now on." Her voice was filled with sorrow and sincerity, genuinely moving Xiao Yeci.

Before Xiao Yeci could respond, Lu Chunying spoke, "Madam, I think I'll stay here."

With tears in her eyes, Duan Shaoxia said, "Chunying, do you still not trust me?"

Lu Chunying shook her head, "Madam, I trust you. You've been like a mother to me. But I cannot go to the main residence. As you've seen, Uncle Mao will not tolerate me, and I don't wish to implicate you."

Duan Shaoxia's voice trembled, "I'm not afraid of being implicated. I just want our family to live together."

Tears also welled in Lu Chunying's eyes, "Madam, I wish for that too, but not now. I don't yet have the qualifications to enter the main residence."

Madam Duan cried, "Chunying, you do! I say you do!"

Lu Chunying shook her head, "I cannot, and should not, go. Brother Huaiyi is there to look after you. If I were to go, everyone in the family would start gossiping again."

This statement carried significant implications. Zhang Huaiyi and Lu Chunying were of the same generation. However, nominally, they were not blood relatives. Would it be a problem for them to live in the same residence? It depended on how one viewed it. For ordinary people, it might not be an issue, given the size of the Lu family's main residence. However, for a prominent family, it would be problematic. Zhang Huaiyi already coveted the Lu family's assets; if he were to also 'handle' Lu Chunying, the situation would become much more complicated!

As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Duan's tears vanished, replaced by a rare gloom on her face. What was to be done? Could she possibly expel Zhang Huaiyi? He was her own son!

After a moment of grim contemplation, Duan Shaoxia shed genuine tears again, "Chunying, I truly want you to come home."

Lu Chunying's tears flowed no less than Duan Shaoxia's, "Madam, I also want to go home, but I truly cannot right now."

Li Banfeng, in the bedroom, brewed a cup of green tea, listening intently to their heartfelt lamentations. Persuasion was proving ineffective. Zhang Xiuling continued to watch Duan Shaoxia, wondering if she would resort to force. Duan Shaoxia looked at the upstairs bedroom, seeing Zuo Wugang ready for battle at any moment, Lu Yuanxin covertly poised for action, and Li Qi, who was currently unseen. As she hesitated, someone whispered to Zhang Xiuling, "Madam, Ma Wu has arrived."

Ma Wu arrived at the residence with Huo Ling and a retinue of supporters. Things were about to escalate. Duan Shaoxia looked at Ma Wu, "Junyang, you've come too."

At the Poplar Teahouse, Li Banfeng had gathered Lu Maoxian's subordinates. Upon learning of Lu Chunying's danger, he immediately sent Ma Wu with reinforcements. They had only arrived now because Ma Wu's journey was somewhat slow. Seeing the situation in the house, Ma Wu immediately understood the circumstances. He calmly bowed and said, "Madam, I'm late." With that single sentence, Ma Wu first stated his position. He was there to rescue someone, not to cause trouble. Not only did he state his own position, but he also implicitly stated Duan Shaoxia's: "Madam, you are also here to rescue someone, aren't you?"

Zhang Xiuling frowned slightly, comparing the number of people on both sides. Their cultivation levels were not visible, but if they were to clash based solely on numbers, it would be difficult to say who would win or lose. Duan Shaoxia nodded slightly at Ma Wu, "Junyang, Chunying is a good child of our Lu family. You must take good care of her." Ma Wu nodded slightly. Unconsciously, their eyes met for a moment. With that brief glance, a bloodshot vein appeared in Duan Shaoxia's eye. A bloodshot vein also appeared in Ma Wu's eye.

Duan Shaoxia turned back to Lu Chunying, saying, "Yingying, come home more often, even if it's just to talk with me. It would bring me peace of mind." Lu Chunying nodded repeatedly but kept her head down.

Duan Shaoxia looked at Lu Dongtang, "You brought people to assassinate the head of the family. What do you have to say now?"

Lu Dongtang shouted, "My father sent me! You should ask my father about this!"

Duan Shaoxia said to Zhang Xiuling, "Sister, did you hear that?"

Zhang Xiuling nodded, "The Hundred Flowers Sect testifies that Lu Maoxian conspired to harm the head of the family. I heard it." When Zhang Xiuling became the sect leader of the Hundred Flowers Sect, she had faced considerable difficulties from the Qing Guard Association. She remembered that grudge, and today, she would be a witness.

Duan Shaoxia then said to Lu Dongtang, "Your entire family conspired to harm the head of the family. What more do you have to say?"

Lu Dongtang shouted, "This was my father's order! The reasons behind it must wait for my father to speak! What are you trying to do? How dare you touch me!"

Duan Shaoxia said, "Yingying, the family rules cannot tolerate this beast." Duan Shaoxia was implicitly telling Lu Chunying to deal with Lu Dongtang. Lu Chunying glanced at Lu Dongtang. Lu Dongtang had come to kill her; personally, she needed to exact revenge. More than half of the Lu family recognized her as the legitimate heir to the main line, and family law indeed called for action. But in terms of seniority, Lu Dongtang was Lu Chunying's paternal uncle. If she killed him now, would it create an opportunity for criticism? After all, she wasn't yet the head of the family. However, if she didn't act in this situation, she would lose face, authority, and leave a root of future trouble.

Caught in a dilemma, Lu Yuanxin suddenly said to Lu Chunying, "Miss Chunying, I have a private matter to discuss with Uncle Dongtang." Lu Yuanxin approached Lu Dongtang. Lu Dongtang quickly cried out, "Yuanxin, your uncle used to dote on you the most. When you were little, your uncle even held you..."

The words Lu Dongtang had used to humiliate Lu Yuanxin earlier at Lu Maoxian's residence still echoed in his ears. Lu Yuanxin said nothing. He squatted beside Lu Dongtang and placed a pair of spotted earwigs near Lu Dongtang's ear.

Earwigs, also known as "ear-clipping insects," are named for the pincer-like appendages at their rear. A common folk belief states that earwigs can crawl into human ears, puncture eardrums, enter the brain, and devour brain matter. In reality, most earwigs only consume dead leaves and decaying matter, some also eat other insects, and generally do not harm humans. However, these specific red and white spotted earwigs were a vicious breed specially cultivated by insect cultivators. Under the influence of insect cultivation techniques, these bugs would become extremely fierce, truly capable of burrowing into the skull and damaging the brain.

At first, Lu Dongtang only felt an intense itch in his ear. After the itch, a searing pain followed, and then one ear lost its hearing. In less than a minute, the earwig had already burrowed into his skull. Lu Dongtang screamed repeatedly, his body convulsing. A few more minutes passed, and Lu Dongtang ceased to move. Lu Yuanxin took a short knife, severed Lu Dongtang's head, and stood before Lu Chunying, declaring, "Lu Dongtang, for conspiring against the head of the family, has now been executed according to family law!"

Witnessing this scene, Duan Shaoxia vaguely saw reflections of Lu Dongliang and Lu Dongjun from years past. Yet, it also seemed somewhat different. In Lu Yuanxin, Duan Shaoxia saw a loyalty that was rare even in Lu Dongjun. Lu Yuanxin had only recently met Lu Chunying. Why would he do this? After a moment's thought, Duan Shaoxia understood. In the Lu family, Lu Chunying was the only one who truly respected Lu Yuanxin. This was also Lu Yuanxin's only chance to turn his fortunes around. Realizing this, Duan Shaoxia nodded and said, "Chunying, I think we should seek an explanation from your Uncle Mao regarding this matter."

Lu Chunying nodded, "I was thinking the same thing."

The group escorted the assassins to Lu Maoxian's residence. Before leaving, Ma Wu specifically went upstairs to ask Li Banfeng, "Seventh Brother, are you coming?"

"Of course," Li Banfeng replied, "I'm curious to see what kind of explanation Lu Maoxian can offer." Li Banfeng knew very well that no explanation would be forthcoming. But today's events required a conclusion. With Lu Maoxian gone, who would truly govern the Lu family from now on?

A large group arrived grandly at the residence's gates. They weren't afraid of others knowing; today was about purging the household. On this point, Lu Chunying and Duan Shaoxia were largely in agreement: they would use this opportunity to completely strip Lu Maoxian of his influence within the family. Only when they saw the residence in utter chaos did they realize that Lu Maoxian indeed had no say anymore; he could no longer speak, ever again. Lu Maoxian was dead, though no one knew by whose hand.

Before Lu Chunying could fully grasp the situation, she suddenly heard Duan Shaoxia weeping. It was unclear for whom or what she cried, but her lament was so profound and heartbreaking that it moved others to tears as well. Was she trying to play the good person?

Lu Yuanxin had no intention of playing the good person. He shouted to the crowd, "Regardless of Uncle Mao's condition today, an explanation must be given for the conspiracy against the head of the family!"

Lu Maoxian's other children dared not speak, and his dozen or so concubines cried in terror. Lu Yuanxin advised Lu Chunying, "We should directly eliminate Lu Maoxian's branch to prevent future troubles." Duan Shaoxia, while crying, secretly observed Lu Yuanxin. This ruthlessness was no less than that of Lu Dongjun in his prime.

Ma Wu stood at the back of the crowd, quietly asking Li Qi, "Seventh Brother, what do you think?"

Li Banfeng replied, "Don't ask me. You're a young master from a prominent family; you must have seen more of these kinds of things than I have."

Ma Wu pondered for a moment and said, "Although Lu Yuanxin acted ruthlessly, he wasn't wrong in this matter."

Lu Chunying was contemplating her next move when she suddenly heard a distant roar. Whoosh! Whoosh! A steam automobile drove up. Such vehicles were rare in Greenwater City and uncommon throughout Puro Province. From a distance, Ma Wu recognized the person in the car: "Seventh Brother, that's Liao Zihui, the Border Defense Envoy." The Border Defense Envoy had arrived.

Li Banfeng glanced at the car. There were six people inside. Ma Wu whispered, "The one wearing the hat is Liao Zihui; the rest are his bodyguards." Liao Zihui wore a long gown, a hat, and a pair of round-rimmed sunglasses. He was about 1.7 meters tall, and his waistline appeared to be roughly equivalent to his height.

Stepping out of the car, Liao Zihui briefly inquired about the situation, then addressed the crowd, "Today's affairs end here." Could a simple sentence truly bring everything to an end? Lu Yuanxin was not convinced, but he remained silent.

Liao Zihui approached Lu Chunying, his face expressionless, and said, "Tomorrow, the Border Defense Office will host a banquet. The invitation will be sent to you shortly. Miss Chunying, please honor us with your presence."

Lu Chunying didn't respond. Xiao Yeci, standing nearby, urged, "My dear child, quickly agree." Lu Chunying nodded slightly.

Liao Zihui got back into his car and left immediately, having stayed for less than half an hour. In just that short half hour, a bloody conflict came to an end.

Zhang Xiuling escorted Duan Shaoxia back to the Lu family's main residence, while Ma Wu and his men escorted Lu Chunying back to her own dwelling. En route, Zuo Wugang, his expression grave, said to Ma Wu, "Fifth Master, I didn't see Lu Dongchun just now." Lu Yuanxin's expression was also very serious: "Never mind the others, this menace must not be left alive."

Lu Chunying asked, "What kind of Daoist sect does Lu Dongchun belong to? Her fighting style seemed very strange."

Lu Yuanxin replied, "She is a Cloth Cultivator. This Daoist sect is very sinister. In the early stages of cultivation, they can make their clothes incredibly strong. In the later stages of cultivation, I estimate only clothes are left on their bodies."

Lu Chunying was puzzled, "What do you mean, 'only clothes are left'?"

Lu Yuanxin said, "No flesh and blood, just clothes all over their body."

Lu Dongchun was indeed in Lu Maoxian's residence, having prepared for a desperate last stand. Upon learning that Lu Chunying had already left with her people, Lu Dongchun picked up an iron and repeatedly ironed her own body. From the layered holes in her clothes, wisps of smoke rose one by one as the clothes moths were scalded to death. Lu Dongchun took out a sewing needle, slowly picked out the insect corpses, then threaded the needle and slowly sewed up her wounds. She started sewing from her face.

At Carefree Dock, Li Banfeng asked Ma Wu, "Internal affairs are judged by insignia, external affairs by the Border Defense Office. Why did the Border Defense Envoy interfere in the Lu family's internal matters?"

Ma Wu rubbed his eyes and said, "The Border Defense Envoy doesn't easily interfere in the internal affairs of prominent families, but once they do, no family will openly defy them."

"So, the prominent families of Puro Province are controlled by the Border Defense Envoy?"

"There's no other way. The Border Defense Envoy controls transportation in various regions. If you oppose them, your business cannot continue. Actually, today's situation is a good thing. The Border Defense Envoy inviting Lu Chunying to a banquet is tantamount to acknowledging her status as the head of the family. I just didn't expect Duan Shaoxia to still have dealings with the Hundred Flowers Sect. It's hard to say whether Lu Chunying can firmly establish herself as the family head."

As he spoke, Ma Wu kept rubbing his eyes until his left eye began to bleed. Li Banfeng was startled, "What got into your eye that you're rubbing it so hard?"

Ma Wu chuckled, "A root of emotion entered it; I just rubbed it out. Seventh Brother, Duan Shaoxia is an emotion cultivator, and her cultivation level is not low."