Hunting the Tiger Demon [Please Follow] [Please Vote]

Early the next morning, the morning mist still hung in the air.

With a yellow-brown file folder tucked under his arm, Lu Jing'an crossed the slick, rain-darkened cobblestone street.

The air was thick with the greasy smoke from breakfast stalls and the dampness left over from the night.

He walked briskly, his leather shoes striking the stones with a rhythmic tap-tap.

His steps startled a wild cat curled up at the alley entrance.

Since he was a familiar face, no one stopped Lu Jing'an when he went in.

Lu Jing'an headed straight for the side hall.

Wen Ling usually sorted through books there.

Sure enough, after rounding a screen painted with a faded map of mountains and seas,

he saw her graceful figure bent over a broad pearwood desk.

Morning light slanted through the lattice of the high windows.

It illuminated the dust motes floating in the air and outlined her focused profile.

Today she wore a moon-white, cross-collar blouse,

paired with a dark teal pleated skirt.

Her hair was loosely pinned up at the back of her head,

with a simple silver hairpin tucked at an angle.

A few wisps beside her ears swayed gently as she moved.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Lu Jing'an.

A hint of a smile spread across those almond-shaped eyes, always holding three parts weariness and seven parts spirit.

"Master Lu, you're here early today," she said, her voice clear and cool, like ice melting beneath the eaves.

Lu Jing'an gave the file folder in his hand a little shake. "I'm here to return the file."

"I'd also like to borrow a map of Black Pine Forest."

Wen Ling took it from him. Her fingertips brushed the back of his hand by accident, cool and smooth.

"Wait here a moment. I'll go get it for you," Wen Ling said, rising to fetch the map.

The Security Station had maps too, but none as detailed as the Peacekeeping Bureau's.

With the detailed map before him, Lu Jing'an made notes and sketches as he refined the plan in his mind.

Wen Ling watched Lu Jing'an copy the map and asked, "Are you preparing to go after that tiger demon?"

Lu Jing'an nodded. "I have no choice. I'd hoped to put it off for a few more days, but the tiger demon has set its sights on my family."

"Last night, it even sent Chang Ghosts to attack my home."

"Knowing its nature, it won't give up until it gets what it wants."

"So we have to take it down ahead of schedule."

Lu Jing'an hadn't concealed this from Wen Ling

because there was no way to keep it secret.

Sooner or later, people would find out.

By telling her now, he could lay the groundwork for working together later.

Besides, the Peacekeeping Bureau usually kept its distance from the authorities.

Even if the bureau learned about it, Secretary Hu wouldn't.

Sure enough, after hearing Lu Jing'an's explanation, Wen Ling looked him over with concern.

Once she had confirmed he was unharmed, her brows drew together.

"The tiger demon attacked the Lu Family?"

"How could that be?"

"Wasn't it the Li Family that provoked it?"

Lu Jing'an shook his head slightly.

"Who knows?"

"Maybe Li Zhaolin was too tough to chew."

"Perhaps the tiger demon decided to hold the Lu Family responsible instead."

"Pfft!"

Wen Ling was amused by Lu Jing'an's joke, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

After hearing him say that,

she said, "You can still joke about it. Looks like those Chang Ghosts didn't scare you one bit."

Lu Jing'an gave a wry smile.

"If I'd been scared stiff, would they have let me go?"

Wen Ling nodded.

"True. Once that beast holds a grudge against you, trouble just keeps piling up."

Lu Jing'an nodded in agreement.

"That's what I think too."

"Having something like that keep you in its sights is like sitting on pins and needles."

"If it only came after the Lu Family, that'd be bad enough."

"What I fear is that it might target the Lu Family's workers and servants, the ones who have to go from street to street and in and out of the docks."

"They're ordinary people with families to support. They can't withstand a calamity like this."

"So we have to get rid of it as soon as possible."

Wen Ling's smile faded. "Do you have a specific plan?"

Lu Jing'an nodded, looking at Wen Ling with a clear, steady gaze. "I have a rough plan. Would you like to hear it, Sister Wen Ling?"

Wen Ling met his gaze for a moment, then slowly shook her head. "I'd better not hear the details."

Lu Jing'an understood her concern, but still invited her directly. "Would you like to come and watch when the time comes, Sister Wen Ling?"

"It might give you some pointers for dealing with monsters like this in the future."

Wen Ling considered it, then said, "That should be fine."

"When are you planning to make your move?"

Lu Jing'an's heart lifted. "Once everything's ready, I'll send someone to notify you."

Wen Ling nodded. "All right."

This was Lu Jing'an's second reason for visiting the Peacekeeping Bureau.

He wanted to sound out their opinion of his plan,

or find a way to bring them to the site.

The words in the file were dead.

The tiger demon was alive.

Only the Peacekeeping Bureau had fought it before.

Only they knew its traits.

If he could get their advice, that would be ideal.

But clearly, the first option wouldn't work.

The Peacekeeping Bureau had to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

But the second option would do.

If the bureau was there when something went wrong, could they really stand by and do nothing?

"You've certainly thought this through. You're pushing all of us to the front to shield the Lu Family from the tiger demon while you hide in the back."

Only Kui Shan would say something like that.

Lu Jing'an didn't know why Kui Shan had such a deep-seated dislike of rich young masters like him.

Fortunately, Lu Jing'an had no intention of getting too close to Kui Shan anyway.

Wasn't spending time with soft, sweet Wen Ling much better?

Lu Jing'an looked levelly at Kui Shan as he entered, his voice calm. "I won't hide in the back. I'll be at the front. The tiger demon still needs me to draw it out."

Hearing that, Kui Shan couldn't help but look surprised.

Wen Ling asked with concern, "The tiger demon needs you, the young master of the Lu Family, to draw it out?"

Lu Jing'an gave a wry smile. "I don't want to put myself in danger either."

"But the two groups of Chang Ghosts last night"

"were clearly after the children in my family."

"I can't exactly use my two little brother and sister as bait."

"Once we lure the tiger demon into the trap as planned, the rest will be much easier."

After hearing Lu Jing'an out, Wen Ling smiled brightly. "Good. You're brave and clever. I like you even more now."

"When you let us know, I'll bring two people along to observe and learn."

Lu Jing'an cupped his hands. "Thank you, Sister Wen Ling."

Before Kui Shan could say anything, Lu Jing'an added, "Sister Wen Ling, there's a lot to take care of at home, so I won't stay any longer."

Wen Ling said, "Go on, then."

Lu Jing'an picked up the map. "Sister Wen Ling, could I buy this from you?"

Wen Ling waved her hand. "Your sister here isn't that greedy."

"What you gave us the past two times has already solved the Peacekeeping Bureau's problems."

"This one's a gift."

Lu Jing'an didn't stand on ceremony. He put the map away and cupped his hands again. "Thank you, Sister Wen Ling."

With the map in hand, Lu Jing'an immediately took his leave.

He passed Kui Shan without greeting him.

Wen Ling glanced at Kui Shan, then likewise ignored him and left.

Kui Shan stared at the empty doorway for a long while before gruffly tossing out a remark.

"I'll go take a look too. I want to see how this spoiled young master plans to deal with the tiger demon."

With that, he turned and strode away.

After returning to the Lu Family with the map,

Lu Jing'an called his third uncle back from the docks.

Lu Huaishan hung up and returned in less than twenty minutes.

"Jing'an, have you got news about the tiger demon?" Lu Huaishan asked urgently.

Lu Jing'an spread out the map and pointed to the exact location he'd obtained from the martial artist surnamed He.

"This area is where the tiger demon has settled."

"The ground here is higher in the east and lower in the west."

"There's a flat hollow on the western side."

"Our goal is to lure the tiger demon over there and kill it."

"Third Uncle, have your men dig a fifty-meter-wide firebreak all around this area."

"Then pile up some damp hay at this spot upwind to the east."

Lu Jing'an explained everything carefully.

Lu Huaishan listened and took notes.

When Lu Jing'an finished,

Lu Huaishan couldn't help but praise him. "You really do have a sharp mind, Jing'an. If it were me, I'd never have thought of such a clever plan."

Lu Jing'an replied modestly, "You're too kind, Third Uncle."

Then, remembering something, Lu Jing'an warned him, "When you take people to cut down trees, don't let anyone split off from the group."

"Don't give the tiger demon any chance to ambush you."

"Also, everyone must tie conspicuous red cloth around their arms and heads."

"If anyone doesn't have red cloth and doesn't answer when questioned,"

"treat them as a Chang Ghost. Absolutely do not give the tiger demon another chance to kill."

Lu Huaishan thumped his chest. "Don't worry. I won't give that beast another chance."

Once everything on Lu Huaishan's end was arranged,

word soon came back from Lu Huaiqian's side as well.

Secretary Hu had helped find phosphorus.

There was nearly a hundred kilograms of it.

Lu Jing'an hadn't expected them to find so much phosphorus.

China's industrial base was extremely weak at the time.

Phosphorus was almost entirely imported.

It was not only expensive but also very scarce.

The fact Secretary Hu had managed to get a hundred kilograms

showed just how influential he was.

It also showed how badly he wanted that promotion.

The key materials were ready.

Now all that remained was to see how the plan would be carried out.

Over by Black Pine Forest.

Lu Huaishan and the Canal Gang were hard at work.

They were following Lu Jing'an's instructions.

While working, they really had been watched twice by the Tiger Demon.

But when it saw how many of them there were and that they were armed, it took one look and vanished.

They had also run into Chang Ghosts twice.

Relying on their superior numbers and the Hanyang Rifles in their hands,

they had blown both Chang Ghosts' heads to pieces.

White Phosphorus arrived on the third day after Lu Huaiqian finished the call.

Returning with the White Phosphorus

were the medicinal ingredients Cui Jieyi had asked someone to buy for Lu Jing'an to use in his medicinal bath.

Because of the Tiger Demon,

Lu Jing'an hadn't rushed to train in Six Harmonies Fist.

After seven busy days of preparation,

everything was ready, just as Lu Jing'an had planned.

On the morning of the eighth day,

Lu Huaishan, Lu Huaichuan, and Chen Xuan led the team.

Three black cars stood running in the front courtyard of Lu Mansion, their engines rumbling dully.

Lu Huaichuan had changed into a neat short jacket and trousers, with a dark coat over them.

The usual refinement was gone from his features, replaced by a cold, stern look.

Chen Xuan had also changed into a neat outfit.

Lu Huaishan was making one final head count, giving quiet instructions.

Lu Huaiqian was staying behind in Yinshan County.

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle, I'm going with you."

Just as everyone was about to set off, Lu Jing'an hopped into the car.

Seeing Lu Jing'an get in,

"Jing'an, don't fool around. Get down, quick. We're going to kill a demon, not play around," Lu Huaishan said, reaching to push him out of the car.

Lu Huaichuan added, "Jing'an, get down. Your second and third uncles are enough."

"Don't be fooled by how your second uncle wears a suit and tie every day now. Back then, he killed even more fiercely than your third uncle."

Lu Jing'an wasn't moved. Instead, he said calmly,

"I'm another key part of this plan.

Only if I'm there will the Tiger Demon enter the encirclement we've set up."