Combat Supremacy [Seeking Follow-up Reads]

To Lu Huaiqian, the current Lu Jing'an...

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...was no longer that wastrel youth who only recited poetry to the wind and moon, lingering in taverns.

He was now an adult member of the family, capable of taking part in major household decisions.

Therefore, Lu Huaiqian did not hide what he intended to do next from him.

"The Lin Family cannot be left alive, and neither can the people sent by the Li Family."

That was Lu Huaiqian's unequivocal stance.

He had clawed his way up from mud and misery, starving and freezing.

Dragging along his two young brothers as they begged to survive...

He had carved a bloody path through the blade-edges of a chaotic age...

Until he finally took command of a county's armed forces and held Yinshan County.

A man like him had never been softhearted.

But this time, he had not merely stated his objective.

He had also explained the difficulties involved.

Naturally, it also contained a test for Lu Jing'an.

"Since we are making a move, it must be a thunderous strike. Not a single person can be allowed to escape."

"Before acting, we must thoroughly uncover their circumstances."

"The Lin Family is easy enough. They are all under our noses."

"The people sent by the Li Family are the key."

"Their numbers, their strength, and where they are hiding."

"Not the slightest detail can be overlooked."

"Only then can we kill them all in one blow and leave no future troubles."

By then, whatever the Lu Family said would be the truth.

No matter how dissatisfied the Li Family might be, they would not be able to find the slightest fault.

After hearing this, Lu Jing'an's heart stirred.

He suddenly thought of the Phonograph he had just acquired.

If it could be arranged cleverly, perhaps he could use it to probe out their true situation.

With that thought, Lu Jing'an took the task upon himself.

"Father, leave the investigation to me. I'll give it a try."

Lu Huaiqian raised his eyes toward his son.

He looked at Lu Jing'an's clear yet resolute gaze.

In the end, he nodded. "Good. If you need any help or manpower, mobilize them directly."

Lu Jing'an bowed in acknowledgment and turned to leave.

Only after his figure disappeared around the corridor corner did Lu Huaichuan frown and speak.

"Brother, isn't it too hasty to give Jing'an such a heavy responsibility right from the start?

"If something goes wrong, our Lu Family may suffer a great calamity.

"If disaster befalls the Lu Family, that is one thing. But if Jing'an is struck down by it and never recovers...

"Then our Lu Family will truly have no hope left."

Lu Huaiqian was not swayed in the slightest by Lu Huaichuan's words.

His expression remained unchanged as he said calmly,

"Since he dared to take it on, he must know what he is doing.

"If we are going to train him, we may as well begin with a matter of this scale.

"With the situation as it stands, I fear there is no time to raise him step by step."

Hearing this, Lu Huaichuan let out a long sigh and, unusually, spat out a curse.

"This goddamned world!"

He rose to his feet and straightened his clothes.

"Brother, I'll head back first as well.

"The wedding date with the Lin Family has been set. They will surely be eager to sell off their properties.

"I need to act early.

"Oh, right.

"I'll have someone deliver the Big Yellow Fish Jing'an wanted later."

Lu Huaiqian nodded faintly in assent.

Lu Jing'an had just returned to his small courtyard and had not even steadied his teacup.

When a servant hurriedly came to report that he was to proceed to the training grounds at once.

He knew Chen Xuan had found sparring partners for him.

When he stepped into the training grounds, he saw Chen Xuan standing in the center, with two middle-aged men beside him.

Though he had never met them before.

Their temples bulged slightly, and their steps were steady.

Their auras were restrained yet sharp, clearly showing that their cultivation was far from ordinary.

At the very least, they were stronger than him.

"Young Master, these two are the sparring instructors specially invited for you."

Chen Xuan introduced them.

"This is Chen Heqing, master of Dragon-Tiger Martial Hall.

"And this is Situ Yiyun, master of Zhengxin Martial Hall."

Lu Jing'an's heart trembled slightly.

Dragon-Tiger Martial Hall and Zhengxin Martial Hall.

They were Yinshan County's two most renowned martial halls.

They also charged the highest fees.

What was even more famous was that the two halls were like fire and water.

One taught Ancient Martial Arts, while the other taught New Martial Arts.

Ancient Martial Arts emphasized standing meditation and Foundation Establishment, cultivating from within outward.

It proceeded step by step, valuing blood and qi while nurturing spirit and intent.

New Martial Arts, meanwhile, absorbed Western fighting methods.

It emphasized explosiveness, technique, and practical combat.

It looked down on traditional forms and revered efficiency above all else.

Their philosophies clashed, and they recruited disciples in the same city.

Naturally, their grudges had accumulated over a long time.

Their disciples often fought privately over verbal disputes.

Whenever the hall masters met, they glared coldly at one another, nearly as bitter as mortal enemies.

Yet Chen Xuan had somehow invited these two bitter rivals here at the same time.

And they had willingly lowered themselves to serve as sparring partners.

All he could say was that his background was truly a little too good.

Lu Jing'an hesitated slightly. "The two hall masters are famed far and wide. Is it not a waste of great talent for you to personally serve as my sparring partners?"

Situ Yiyun immediately cupped his hands, smiling warmly. "To be of service to Young Master Lu is the good fortune of Situ."

Chen Heqing merely snorted coldly and cast him a sidelong glance.

"Young Master Lu is a genius of the Ancient Martial Arts lineage, one not seen in a century.

"Do you think a few flattering words of yours can win him over?"

Even Lu Jing'an found their exchange somewhat awkward.

Yet the two masters of the great martial halls understood their own situation perfectly well.

In others' eyes, the two of them were hall masters.

But in their own eyes...

They were merely people making a living under the Lu Family's hand.

They had martial skill, and they had disciples.

Yet before guns and cannons, they still had no answer at all.

Not to mention Chen Xuan, a great Martial Cultivator, pressing down on them.

Thus, when Chen Xuan approached them and explained his purpose.

Even if they were unwilling ten thousand times over, they still had to follow Chen Xuan here.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan explained,

"Young Master, I invited these two precisely because each represents a different school of martial arts.

"Master Chen values the foundation of blood and qi, while Master Situ excels in practical combat techniques.

"Neither of them is weak.

"They can put pressure on you without harming you in the slightest.

"Moreover, both have family businesses in the city tying them down, so they would not dare act rashly."

The arrangement was watertight, every consideration carefully thought through.

Lu Jing'an nodded. "Then we will proceed as Master says."

Since Chen Xuan had already planned everything out, Lu Jing'an did not waste words. "Which of you will go first?"

"I will!" Situ Yiyun rushed forward first.

Chen Heqing's face darkened, and he snorted as he stepped back to the side.

Situ Yiyun stood facing Lu Jing'an, his tone gentle.

"Young Master Lu, do you know much about New Martial Arts?"

Lu Jing'an honestly shook his head. "I have heard a little about it, but never studied it in depth."

In those past years, he had spent his days drunk in pleasure houses.

Lu Jing'an had only heard people speak of New Martial Arts and Ancient Martial Arts over drinking tables.

Seeing this, Situ Yiyun said, "Then let me first introduce New Martial Arts to Young Master Lu.

"That way, when we fight shortly, Young Master Lu will be able to understand it better."

Lu Jing'an readily agreed.

Such treatment was something not even outer disciples received.

Even direct disciples might not receive personal instruction from a hall master, with every word broken down for them.

For an ordinary person to hear even a single sentence of true teaching, it would cost at least fifty silver dollars—and they would still have to endure the teacher's moods.

Yet Situ Yiyun now fed him like a mother bird feeding her chicks, breaking down every word, afraid Lu Jing'an might not understand.

At that moment, a prompt visible only to Lu Jing'an quietly appeared.

[Special relationship sparring partner detected. Establish relationship?]

[Note]: Once the requirements are met, completing the sparring task allows you to collect the other party's Affix.

Joy rose in Lu Jing'an's heart.

He could temper his martial skill and collect an Affix as well.

It was simply an opportunity bestowed by heaven.

Thinking this, Lu Jing'an chose to establish the relationship.

He then looked toward the top of Situ Yiyun's head.

There, he saw Situ Yiyun's unique Affix appear as well.

[Combat Supremacy] (White)—Defeat your sparring partner, Situ Yiyun, to obtain it.

[Note]: This Affix only functions in actual combat. It increases force efficiency by 50%, attack speed by 50%, and move-breaking efficiency by 50%; it strengthens on-the-spot adaptability and eliminates useless feints.

Situ Yiyun's Affix was precisely what Lu Jing'an desperately needed right now.

But defeating Situ Yiyun was clearly no easy task.

Even if Situ Yiyun used only the strength of the First Blood Transformation, it would still be difficult for Lu Jing'an to defeat him.