Harvest 1 [Seeking Follow-up Reads] [Seeking Monthly Votes]

The matter of the Tiger Demon has finally come to a close.

For the Lu Family, this is more than just providing an explanation to those above.

It has lifted a heavy mountain from their hearts.

From now on, there is no need to be on guard against a thief every single day.

The string that had been stretched taut in the shadows can finally be loosened, if only a little.

Of course, the gains from Lu Jing'an's trip have yet to be fully realized and will require some time.

Lu Jing'an looked down at the crowd still busy below.

He did a quick calculation in his mind and felt that the expenditure this time was truly staggering.

Not counting the costs for personnel.

The expenses for the scales and ammunition alone were heading toward one hundred thousand Qian.

If the personnel costs were added, it would definitely exceed one hundred thousand Qian.

As for the Tiger Demon itself, there really wasn't much profit to be squeezed out of it.

The flesh and blood of a demon beast are highly toxic to ordinary people.

For a cultivator, the drawbacks also outweigh the benefits.

The only usable part is the tiger skin.

However, it was riddled with holes from the fighting, so it probably won't fetch much money.

War is truly the most expensive endeavor, Lu Jing'an sighed to himself.

Although it burns through money, in Lu Jing'an's view, if a problem can be solved with money, it is best to solve it with money.

Who would risk their life if they had the money?

Lu Huaishan needed to escort the Tiger Demon's corpse and did not return in the same carriage as Lu Jing'an and Chen Xuan.

Wen Ling and the other two members of the Peacekeeping Bureau took another carriage.

Inside the carriage, Chen Xuan's fingers remained pressed against Lu Jing'an's wrist, observing him with focused concentration.

Chen Xuan's fingers rested on Lu Jing'an's pulse, steady as the roots of an ancient mountain vine.

Not a single fluctuation could escape his perception.

"Master, I am truly fine now," Lu Jing'an spoke again, his voice steady.

Chen Xuan slowly withdrew his hand, though his gaze remained locked on Lu Jing'an's face.

It was as if he were trying to see through the skin and flesh to the depths of his soul.

"When we return, you must still have Doctor Cui take a careful look."

"Very well, I will listen to you, Master."

Lu Jing'an agreed, then immediately asked, "Master, do we Martial Cultivators have any specialized methods to counter spiritual attacks?"

Chen Xuan replied, "Martial Cultivators are not adept at harming others with their spirit; there are only some unorthodox sound techniques that can shake a person's mind."

Changing the subject, Chen Xuan continued, "But when it comes to guarding the soul, few among the same realm can break the spirit of a Martial Cultivator. The path of martial arts is one of constant tempering and hardship; the honing of one's mental will runs through the entire process. Therefore, the soul of a Martial Cultivator is naturally more resilient than others, like steel forged a hundred times."

Lu Jing'an was thoughtful. "So, those with exceptional talent who have a smooth path in the early stages might actually be lacking in the tempering of their will?"

"Correct. But that is only in the early stages," Chen Xuan nodded.

"Then in the later stages of martial arts, are there specialized methods to temper the spirit?" Lu Jing'an grasped the key point.

"There are, but they are still far from your reach."

Chen Xuan spoke bluntly, then added, "However, if you wish to hone your martial will now, there is a way."

"Please, Master, enlighten me."

"Life-and-death combat."

Chen Xuan spat out the four words, each one heavy and dense. "Tempering the spirit in desperate situations is the most effective method."

Lu Jing'an's gaze sharpened as he cupped his hands in a salute. "Then I ask that you make the arrangements for me, Master."

Lu Jing'an sought life-or-death combat, but his primary goal was not his spirit.

Spirit could be increased using Energy Point.

What Lu Jing'an truly craved was the battle-hardened experience and adaptability forged in real combat.

This was something the panel could not directly bestow.

"Very well." Chen Xuan took a deep look at him and agreed.

The car swayed and wobbled, passing through increasingly bustling streets before finally stopping in front of Lu Mansion.

Lu Huaiqian was not at the mansion; he was still at the Public Security Bureau handling the aftermath.

As soon as they reached the room, Chen Xuan immediately ordered Lanhua, who was standing by, "Go and invite Doctor Cui."

Lanhua replied, "Yes," and hurried away with quick steps.

Before long, Cui Jieyi arrived with Lanhua.

After Chen Xuan explained the situation, Doctor Cui sat solemnly across from Lu Jing'an.

She did not immediately take his pulse.

Instead, she first carefully observed Lu Jing'an's complexion and eyes before extending three fingers.

She gently placed them on his wrist pulse.

Her fingers were slender and fair, their tips slightly cool, the sensation clear against his skin.

After checking his pulse for a moment, she signaled for Lu Jing'an to tilt his head back.

She extended both thumbs and gently pressed them against his temples.

She massaged slowly, closing her eyes to focus, seemingly sensing something.

Her expression was concentrated, her long lashes lowered, casting faint shadows beneath her eyes.

After a while, she withdrew her hands and opened her eyes, a trace of obvious surprise flashing through them.

"How is it?" Chen Xuan pressed.

Cui Jieyi looked at Lu Jing'an's pupils carefully once more before speaking slowly:

"Young Master Lu was indeed afflicted by a spiritual attack; both his pulse and the lingering traces in his Spirit Court confirm this.

However..."

She paused, as if organizing her words.

"This intrusion did not weaken the young master's soul.

On the contrary, it has made his soul even more robust.

I have practiced medicine for many years, and this is the first time I have ever seen such a situation."

This is naturally the effect of adding points, Lu Jing'an thought to himself.

On the surface, however, he displayed a perfectly measured look of confusion: "Could Doctor Cui have misdiagnosed it?"

"I have checked three times, and the results are identical."

Cui Jieyi's tone was certain, carrying the characteristic rigor of a physician.

Chen Xuan pondered, "Could it be that the Tiger Demon left a portion of its spiritual essence in Jing'an's sea of consciousness, intending to control him, which led to this anomaly?"

Cui Jieyi shook her head: "I also considered that.

But upon careful examination, the young master's Spirit Court is clear.

There is not the slightest hint of obscure, foreign soul residue, nor any signs of erosion or parasitism."

Lu Jing'an guided the conversation at the right moment, musing:

"Then... is it possible that it did leave something behind?

But because its physical form perished, and combined with the fact that my master checked me earlier, perhaps he inadvertently wiped away the Tiger Demon's will.

The remaining ownerless spiritual essence then transformed into nourishment to strengthen my soul?"

Hearing this, the look of contemplation in Cui Jieyi's eyes deepened, and after a moment, she nodded slowly:

"Young Master Lu's theory... does indeed hold some merit.

The path of the spirit is profound and mysterious; while such a transformation is rare, it is not entirely impossible."

Lu Jing'an chuckled and said: "In that case, I suppose I have turned a misfortune into a blessing, gaining spiritual cultivation for nothing."

Cui Jieyi nodded: "Perhaps."

After a pause, Cui Jieyi added: "To be safe."

"For the next few days, I will still need to check your pulse and examine you daily, until I am certain there are no hidden dangers."

Lu Jing'an had no objections and replied candidly: "I will trouble you, Doctor Cui."

"It is my duty." Cui Jieyi smiled faintly, then, as if remembering something, she added:

"Young Master, the medicinal bath for your Six Harmonies Fist is ready, though I suggest you wait two days before beginning your training."

Lu Jing'an nodded and said, "Very well."

Lu Jing'an happened to want to check the rewards for the Tiger Demon.

Lu Jing'an suddenly thought of something:

"The corpse of the Tiger Demon will be arriving soon. If Doctor Cui requires any medicinal herbs or materials, feel free to inspect it first and take whatever you find useful."

Cui Jieyi's eyes brightened slightly: "Good, I shall go take a look later."

At this moment, a servant's voice came from outside the door: "Young Master, the Master requests your presence and that of Military Officer Chen in the study."

"Understood."

Lu Jing'an stood up and straightened his clothes slightly.

Inside the study, the atmosphere was completely different from before.

The sunlight filtering through the window lattice seemed much brighter.

Even the dust motes floating in the air carried a sense of languor.

Lu Huaiqian sat behind the large desk, with Lu Huaichuan and Lu Huaishan seated on either side.

Seeing Lu Jing'an enter, Lu Huaishan immediately leaned forward from his chair and asked with concern:

"Jing'an, I heard you were attacked by the Tiger Demon's mental secret technique? How are you feeling now? Is there any lingering discomfort?"

He had been at the machine gun position at the time and had not witnessed it personally. Upon hearing about it afterward, he had broken out in a cold sweat.

"Thank you for your concern, Third Uncle. I am no longer in any serious trouble; Doctor Cui just finished a thorough examination," Lu Jing'an replied with a smile.

Hearing this, the three men in the room visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu Huaichuan spoke up, his tone tinged with reproach, though it was mostly lingering fear:

"Jing'an, in the future, do not involve yourself in such dangerous affairs so easily. We old bones haven't all died off yet; it is not your place to be on the front lines."

Lu Jing'an knew he was speaking out of concern, so he did not argue, merely responding respectfully:

"Yes, Second Uncle, Jing'an will remember."

Chen Xuan also spoke at this time, his face showing shame: "This was my failure to protect you, causing the Young Master to be put in danger."

"Master, you speak too heavily," Lu Jing'an quickly said. "The incident was sudden and the demon was cunning; how could I blame you?"

Lu Huaiqian also said gently:

"Mr. Chen, there is no need to blame yourself. Jing'an is quite right. The demon was cunning and impossible to guard against; it is a great fortune that we resolved this successfully."

He waved his hand and shifted the topic: "I called you here because there are two pieces of good news."

Lu Huaiqian's tone relaxed, carrying a hint of relief:

"I have already spoken with Secretary Hu over the phone, and he is very satisfied with the outcome. In a few days, he will apply for a special military supply for us to compensate for our losses. Furthermore, he has granted us permission to double the size of the Public Security Bureau."

Upon hearing this, Lu Huaishan and Lu Huaichuan's faces immediately lit up with joy.

In this era, the control of firearms is extremely strict. Although the Lu Family has the financial resources, they are constrained everywhere when trying to legally expand their armed forces. Having the authorities proactively allocate firearm supplies and authorize an expansion is equivalent to giving the Lu Family a royal mandate.

Their strength can now grow legitimately; this is truly a good thing that money cannot easily buy.

"What about the Li Family?" Lu Jing'an asked casually.

Lu Huaiqian picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and said, "Secretary Hu will 'remind' them."

Lu Jing'an understood and asked no further questions.

Next, Lu Huaichuan began to explain the general expenses incurred this time.

Lu Huaiqian had asked Lu Jing'an to come specifically so he could learn all of this comprehensively.

Therefore, Lu Jing'an listened very attentively.

"The White Phosphorus cost a total of fifty-seven thousand Qian."

"Expenses for ammunition and personnel are roughly between seventy-five thousand and eighty thousand silver dollars."

Lu Huaiqian listed them out one by one.

The final total cost was closing in on one hundred and fifty thousand silver dollars.

It was even more than Lu Jing'an had estimated.

And this was just for hunting a single demonic beast.

Once his second uncle, Lu Huaichuan, finished speaking, Lu Jing'an remarked casually, "Second Uncle, I'm afraid we've taken a loss this time."

Upon hearing this, a shrewd smile, characteristic of a businessman, instantly bloomed on Lu Huaichuan's face.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his chair:

"A loss? With me here, how could I let the Lu Family engage in a losing business deal?"

"Not to mention anything else, the flesh and blood of that Tiger Demon alone is enough for us to break even and make a significant profit."

"The Tiger Demon's flesh and blood?" Lu Jing'an feigned surprise at the right moment. "That stuff is poisonous; does anyone even want it?"

Lu Huaichuan chuckled, his eyes gleaming: "We may have no use for it, but others treat it like a treasure. Those Western merchants, and certain foreign schools in the concessions conducting 'biological research,' are thirsting for the bodies of such powerful demonic beasts."

"I contacted two foreigners before we even made our move, and they are willing to buy it at one hundred silver dollars per catty. The Tiger Demon has at least several thousand catties of flesh and blood, which could fetch hundreds of thousands of silver dollars. As for the heart, liver, spleen, and lungs, they will be sold separately. Selling a single Tiger Demon for eight or nine hundred thousand silver dollars is no problem at all. If we have a few more opportunities like this, the Lu Family's wealth could double. In short, with your second uncle here, the Lu Family will never make a losing deal."

Lu Jing'an couldn't help but frown slightly upon hearing that the foreigners were buying it for biological research.

However, in the end, Lu Jing'an did not delve deeper into the matter.

Still, Lu Jing'an added, "Right, Second Uncle, I'll have Doctor Cui go take a look at the Tiger Demon tomorrow to see if there is anything she can use."

Lu Huaiqian replied, "Easy enough. Let her pick whatever she wants; it would be best if she took all the good parts."