Ambush the Tiger Demon 2 [Seeking Follow-up Reads] [Seeking Monthly Votes]

Lu Huaichuan and Lu Huaishan, having heard Lu Jing'an's words, rebuked him in unison: "Nonsense."

Lu Jing'an patiently repeated to Lu Huaichuan and Lu Huaishan what he had previously said to Wen Ling.

The truth that Lu Jing'an left unsaid, the two of them had not yet realized.

Only after hearing Lu Jing'an finish did they realize that when the Chang Ghost arrived that day, its target had indeed been clear.

It was the three children of the Lu Family.

Even so, the two still did not agree.

Lu Jing'an explained patiently, saying that he had guards by his side and had also invited experts from the Peacekeeping Bureau to accompany him.

The two still shook their heads.

They simply would not agree.

With no other choice, Lu Jing'an had to use his final trump card: "I have already spoken to my father, and Father has agreed to let me go."

"I am going to find Eldest Brother."

However, even after bringing out his trump card, Lu Huaishan remained insistent.

Lu Huaichuan, on the other hand, held Lu Huaishan back: "Since Eldest Brother has agreed, there shouldn't be any problems. Let us set off."

Lu Huaishan tried to break free, but was forcibly pulled into the carriage by Lu Huaichuan.

Lu Jing'an shared a carriage with Chen Xuan, with Lu Huaishan accompanying them.

Lu Huaichuan rode in a separate carriage.

According to the plan, Lu Huaishan would be responsible for the frontal assault later, while Lu Huaichuan would be responsible for stirring up trouble.

The two carriages were headed in different directions.

As for the third carriage, it was headed to the Peacekeeping Bureau to pick up personnel.

After picking them up, they would rendezvous with Lu Jing'an.

The carriage drove for a distance before Lu Huaishan finally couldn't hold back: "Jing'an, thank you."

Lu Jing'an knew what Lu Huaishan was thanking him for.

Lu Jing'an said casually: "Third Uncle, we are all family; being this polite is truly meaningless. Besides, I have martial arts to rely on, and as the elder brother, this is my duty."

Lu Huaishan opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but was interrupted by Lu Jing'an: "Third Uncle, instead of spending time on this, you should focus on resting and gathering your strength, and think about how to kill that beast later."

In the end, Lu Huaishan pursed his lips and said nothing more.

The carriage cabin fell silent, leaving only the low hum of the engine and the rhythmic sound of wheels rolling over stone slabs.

The car rolled over the stone road, causing slight, fine tremors.

Outside the window, the morning mist of the county town had yet to dissipate.

The steam from breakfast stalls, mixed with the fragrance of oil, drifted inside.

The crisp ringing of rickshaw bells swept past.

Both sides of the street remained full of vitality.

People living in the city find it hard to imagine the demonic beasts of the wilderness.

Even Lu Jing'an was facing a demonic beast for the first time.

Lu Jing'an had no way of imagining what kind of existence a demonic beast truly was.

Watching the trees fly past the window, Lu Jing'an suddenly spoke: "Master, have you encountered demonic beasts before?"

Chen Xuan nodded: "I have encountered a few."

Hearing that Chen Xuan had also encountered them, Lu Jing'an immediately became interested.

"How did the demonic beasts you encountered compare to this Tiger Demon? I saw in the records of the Peacekeeping Bureau that this Tiger Demon is considered Human-Grade Superior."

"What about these grades?"

Lu Jing'an had intended to ask this the other day.

Later, Kui Shan arrived, and the matter was dropped.

Now was the perfect time to ask Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan did not hide anything regarding Lu Jing'an's questions.

Chen Xuan first answered Lu Jing'an's initial query: "The demonic beasts I have encountered vary; some are stronger than the Tiger Demon, and some are weaker."

This answer undoubtedly put Lu Jing'an at ease.

Chen Xuan had dealt with those stronger than the Tiger Demon.

The Tiger Demon, presumably, would be no match for him either.

Just as Lu Jing'an felt relieved.

Chen Xuan began to explain the grading system for demonic beasts.

Lu Jing'an hurriedly focused his attention to listen carefully.

"According to the grades set by the Peacekeeping Bureau, demonic beasts are divided into five major grades and fifteen minor grades."

"The five major grades are Human, Ghost, Deity, Earth, and Heaven."

"Each major grade is further divided into three tiers: inferior, medium, and superior."

"Human-grade demonic beasts actually correspond to Martial Cultivators who have yet to break through the Blood Barrier."

"However, because demonic beasts possess naturally powerful bodies, they are effectively one level higher."

"Human-Grade Superior corresponds to a martial artist who has already broken through the Blood Barrier."

"If the demonic beast also possesses supernatural abilities, its corresponding grade is raised by another tier."

Pausing for a moment, Chen Xuan said: "However, all of this is merely theoretical; the actual situation is far more complex than the theory."

"So, if you truly encounter a demonic beast, do not rely solely on theoretical data—just give it your all."

"Cultivators who have capsized in the gutter because of demonic beasts are everywhere."

Lu Jing'an nodded quickly to show he had taken note.

After introducing the grades, Chen Xuan stopped speaking.

Lu Jing'an, however, curiously pressed on: "Master, how strong was the strongest demonic beast you have ever encountered?"

Chen Xuan was silent for a moment before slowly opening his mouth: "Deity-grade."

Lu Jing'an gasped slightly, then continued to ask: "Master, did you kill it?"

"I ran."

Chen Xuan answered crisply, without the slightest hesitation.

"I saw it from afar and turned to leave immediately, without a shred of hesitation."

Chen Xuan said this very calmly.

He did not feel in the slightest that running away was a shameful thing.

This made Lu Jing'an even more curious.

Just how powerful must a Deity-grade demonic beast be to make his master, a great Martial Cultivator, flee the moment he saw it from afar?

Chen Xuan's voice remained flat, yet it carried a chilling sense of reality:

"Every Deity-grade demonic beast has another name: City-Destroying Grade demonic beasts."

After a pause, Chen Xuan added: "The cities I am referring to are not county seats like Yinshan County, but major provincial capitals."

Upon hearing this.

Lu Jing'an drew a sharp breath.

He felt fortunate that his master had run, and that he had run fast enough.

Otherwise, facing a demonic beast of that level.

If he had been any slower, he might not have made it out.

"Master, do the top two grades of demonic beasts actually exist?"

Chen Xuan shook his head: "I do not know, but since there are grades for them, they likely exist."

Deity-grade could destroy a city.

Earth-grade must be able to destroy a nation.

And Heaven-grade?

World-destroying grade?!

Lu Jing'an found it hard to imagine.

He took a deep breath.

Lu Jing'an forced himself to quickly collect his emotions.

There was still a hard battle to be fought.

Now was not the time to dwell on such things.

Once Lu Jing'an had calmed his mind.

The car left Yinshan County.

This was Lu Jing'an's first time seeing the wilderness.

The greenery in the wild was truly magnificent.

Towering trees lined both sides of the road.

However, this wilderness was not as Lu Jing'an had imagined.

It was not completely desolate or uninhabited.

There were scattered villages here and there.

The closer one was to the Yinshan County seat, the more frequent they were; the further away, the more sparse and scattered they became.

Once the car left the county seat, its speed finally picked up.

Twenty minutes later.

Lu Jing'an and his two companions arrived at the ambush site to the west.

Lu Jing'an pushed the door open and stepped out.

The cold, damp air of the forest, mixed with the scent of soil and rotting leaves, rushed to meet him.

Faint human voices and the soft clinking of metal could already be heard.

The men had all moved into their ambush positions the day before.

In addition to the sixty men from the Public Security Bureau, there were over a hundred elites from the Canal Gang under Lu Huaishan.

Everyone was armed.

Long and short firearms glinted with a cold, hard, dark blue sheen in the morning light.

Two ZB vz. 26 Light Machine Guns were mounted behind stacked sandbags.

Their muzzles pointed deep into the forest.

Director Liu was in charge of the team from the Public Security Bureau.

After the last incident, Section Chief Liu had successfully been promoted to Director Liu.

Seeing Lu Jing'an arrive in person.

Director Liu hurried over to greet him.

After all, Lu Jing'an deserved half the credit for his promotion.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Director Liu," Lu Jing'an said, cupping his hands.

Director Liu bowed quickly: "You are too kind, Young Master Lu. I owe everything I have today to your cultivation."

Lu Jing'an did not continue the pleasantries, but instead surveyed all the equipment on site, nodding silently.

"Not bad, the preparations are very thorough."

Director Liu said: "Young Master Lu, we even have two Mountain Gun pieces hidden in the back. Would you like to go take a look?"

"There's artillery?!"

This truly gave Lu Jing's a pleasant surprise.

These were definitely heavy weapons.

Director Liu said: "Years ago, the Bureau Chief managed to acquire two Mountain Gun pieces and thirty shells through some special connections.

They never had a chance to be used, but now they can finally be brought out to see the light of day."

"Once that beast shows its head, we'll give it a shell to taste first."

Lu Jing'an nodded: "Very well, I look forward to Director Liu's performance."

Not long after Director Liu left.

The car sent to pick up Wen Ling and the others returned.

The car door opened, and a foot in a high heel stepped out first.

Following it was that well-tailored lotus-root colored qipao.

It wrapped around her slender, well-proportioned figure.

Wen Ling bent down to exit the car, the morning light flickering against her temples, her earrings swaying gently.

She stood still, smoothed out her already neat hem, and looked up.

Her eyes were clear and bright, as if holding a pool of mountain spring water.

Beside her, another woman also stepped out of the car.

The woman wore a cheongsam with a moon-white base embroidered with pale purple intertwined lotus vines.

Her figure was slightly slimmer than Wen Ling's, and she kept her head lowered, clutching a plain handkerchief in her hand.

As she stepped out of the vehicle, she seemed to stumble, and Wen Ling reached out to steady her.

She immediately shrank half a step behind Wen Ling.

Only half of her fair profile and a slender, white neck were visible.

The third person to step out was Kui Shan. His tall, sturdy frame nearly blocked the doorway.

Lu Jing'an took the initiative to greet them: "Sister Wen Ling, you've arrived."

Wen Ling replied: "Aren't we here for a study exchange?"

"And who is this sister?" Lu Jing'an asked Wen Ling, gesturing toward the woman beside her who kept her head down and refused to look at him.

Wen Ling said: "Her name is Lin Qingya, an Opera Cultivator."

An Opera Cultivator?

With such a shy demeanor... could she even take the stage?

Noticing Lu Jing'an's thoughts, Wen Ling chuckled:

"Sister Lin becomes a completely different person once she steps onto the stage. You'll understand if you are ever fortunate enough to see it."

Lu Jing'an extended his hand: "Welcome, Sister Lin. I look forward to your guidance."

Lin Qingya looked at Lu Jing'an's outstretched hand but did not take it.

Instead, she hid further behind Wen Ling.

Lu Jing'an did not mind.

Kui Shan glanced at the people and equipment present and said:

"Are you planning to head into the mountains to hunt the Tiger Demon like this?"

Lu Jing'an shook his head: "No, we're going to set the mountain on fire later to lure the Tiger Demon out."