Harvest 2 [Please Continue Reading] [Please Vote]

After finishing with the matter of Cui Jieyi,

Lu Jing'an retreated to a rosewood horseshoe-back chair on the east side of the hall,

and didn't speak again for the rest of the evening.

He knew very well that, for now, his main task was to learn.

Deep down, he didn't truly yearn to take charge of the vast family estate.

As things stood, this was the best arrangement for Lu Jing'an.

He didn't have to worry about money, and every day he could devote all his time to practicing martial arts or doing anything else he enjoyed.

This lesson on family, connections, and competing interests continued until dinner, when it finally paused.

Lu Jing'an ate quickly, his movements crisp and efficient, like those of a martial artist.

He put down his chopsticks, wiped the corner of his mouth with a warm towel, then rose to take his leave.

"Father, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Jing'an will head back first."

Lu Huaiqian merely gave a soft "Mm" through his nose.

His gaze never left the teacup in his hands. The Biluochun Tea leaves inside were slowly sinking to the bottom.

Lu Huaichuan, on the other hand, smiled warmly and nodded.

As Lu Jing'an walked out of the warm, bustling dining hall,

the late-autumn night wind immediately swept over him, carrying the last lingering fragrance of the osmanthus in the courtyard.

It slipped into the raised collar of his padded robe, bringing a refreshing chill that cleared his head.

He didn't look back. With steady, quick steps, he passed through two moon gates,

then followed the covered walkway toward the secluded courtyard where he lived alone.

Inside the hall, Lu Huaichuan watched his nephew disappear beyond the hanging-flower gate.

He wiped his glasses and spoke slowly:

"Big Brother, there's no need to rush some things.

The three of us old bones can still hold on for a few more years.

Jing'an... is already doing very well."

Lu Huaiqian finally lifted his gaze from his teacup and looked out at the heavy darkness beyond the door.

After a long moment, he let out a deep breath.

"There's one thing I didn't tell Jing'an just now."

"Secretary Hu's side has let something slip.

They want to support the Lu Family in competing for the post of director of the new city's Public Security Bureau."

"That's wonderful news!" Lu Huaishan's eyes lit up, and his voice rose before he hurriedly lowered it again. "Big Brother, Jing'an should know about this too. He'll be happy!"

But there wasn't the slightest trace of joy on Lu Huaichuan's face. Instead, his brows gradually knitted together.

"More empty promises of 'support'?"

Lu Huaiqian silently nodded.

The candlelight flickered in his eyes, revealing a darkness as deep as a still pool.

Lu Huaishan looked at his elder brother's grave expression, then at his second brother's gloomy face.

Only then did he belatedly catch on.

It was support in words alone.

Its meaning couldn't have been clearer.

Secretary Hu wanted to use the Lu Family as a weapon, to churn up waters that were already hopelessly murky.

Even if they succeeded, the director's position might not actually fall into the Lu Family's hands.

If they failed, the Lu Family would be a ready-made scapegoat, chewed down to the bone.

But if they refused this generous offer,

all it would take was a slight twist of that secretary's lips,

and the Lu Family's many businesses would likely struggle to take a single step.

The Lu Family had never intended to pursue a position at the center of such a storm.

Lu Huaiqian knew full well that his family's foundation was still weak.

Like duckweed without roots, even if they were lucky enough to win, they might not be able to hold on to the position.

And if they lost, the factions lying in wait would surely descend like sharks scenting blood, devouring the Lu Family whole.

"Could we humor him and just put on a show?" Lu Huaichuan mused, offering one possibility.

Lu Huaiqian slowly shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Since Secretary Hu has brought it up, he expects us to get into the thick of it for real."

Lu Huaichuan fell silent. If they couldn't just go through the motions,

it meant they would have to commit real resources and connections, and collide with those entrenched old families.

Before those true leviathans decided the victor,

they might well join forces first and eliminate the Lu Family, a seemingly plump

but toothless "upstart."

The outcome seemed all but inevitable.

After a long while, Lu Huaichuan abruptly slapped his glasses down on the table, making them crack against the wood.

"If sticking our necks out means a blade, and pulling back means one too... then we'll fight!

We'll throw caution to the wind and fight for even the slightest chance!

Who knows? Maybe fortune will smile on the Lu Family!"

"Right! Second Brother's right. We'll fight!"

Lu Huaishan squared his shoulders.

"The Lu Family isn't made of clay, either!"

Lu Jing'an had left the table early, not because he'd been impatient.

It was because the Striving Furnace was nearly done refining.

Back in his quiet courtyard, he stood alone at its center.

The moonlight was cold as frost, spilling across the flagstones in a hazy glow.

He drew a deep breath, and the cool autumn air flowed into his lungs,

carrying the scents of earth and fading chrysanthemums, and settling his mind.

Then he assumed his stance and began the Tongbei Fist routine he knew best.

Only in his fists and feet, with his blood surging and his mind clear,

could he truly forget the tangled schemes and heavy responsibilities.

Only then could he feel a pure sense of being.

Time flowed by in silence.

When the countdown reached zero, a clear prompt appeared:

[Refining complete]

Lu Jing'an focused his mind and cleared away every stray thought.

At last, the spoils from slaying that terrifying Tiger Demon were about to be revealed.

[Obtained orange Affix: Mind Control]

[Obtained green Affix: Mountain Lord Bearing Mountain]

[Obtained green Affix: Tiger Roar in Mountain Forest]

[Obtained green Affix: Tiger Back Steel Body]

[Obtained Energy Points: 8]

[Obtained one Tiger Demon Memory Bead]

Four affixes!

And one of them was orange!

Even Lu Jing'an, whose temperament was usually steady, felt a faint warmth stir in his chest.

The harvest had far exceeded his expectations.

He immediately opened each one in turn and examined it closely:

[Mind Control] (Orange)

[Description]: While equipped, you can forcibly control any living being whose mental strength is less than one-third of yours.

If the target's mental strength is higher, you can first try to attack it,

destroying part of its mind before taking control.

Permanently increases mental strength by 4 points.

[Mountain Lord Bearing Mountain] (Green)

[Description]: While equipped, when you are in a mountainous or forested environment,

you will receive the blessing of the "Mountain Lord."

Defense increases by 50%, speed increases by 50%, and mental strength increases by 50%.

Within the mountains and forests, you are the unseen king.

[Tiger Roar in Mountain Forest] (Green)

[Description]: While equipped, you can mimic a tiger's roar with your vocal cords,

letting out a howl that strikes fear into the soul.

All targets within a twenty-meter radius will suffer a mental attack,

and, depending on their mental strength, will be briefly stunned.

[Tiger Back Steel Body] (Green)

[Description]: While equipped, you will gain a tough, resilient physique like that of a Tiger Demon.

Your blood will surge with vitality, and your muscles and bones will grow strong.

Permanently increases attack by 2 points and defense by 2 points.

"Excellent!"

These four affixes would improve his combat strength in every way.

Especially on the mental front.

He had experienced firsthand how terrifying the Tiger Demon's mental attack was.

If he hadn't used a special method to withstand it, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Now that power was about to be his.

And it was even more subtle, even harder to guard against.

Without hesitation, Lu Jing'an equipped all four new affixes.

The instant they took effect,

Lu Jing'an noticed

that the plus signs beside his original green Affix [Extraordinary Physique] and his newly acquired [Tiger Back Steel Body] had lit up.

Lu Jing'an wasn't surprised.

Both affixes focused on tempering the foundation of the body. They shared the same source and complemented each other, so it was only natural.

He focused his thoughts and tapped the upgrade option.

[Upgrading Affix requires 5 Energy Points. Upgrade now?]

"Upgrade."

[Upgrade started. Estimated time: 4 hours.]

The two green physique affixes had to merge into at least an orange one, right?

Lu Jing'an felt a flicker of anticipation.

A powerful orange physique affix would be like laying the foundation for a martial artist to reach the heavens.

With that foundation, he might truly surpass his master, Chen Xuan, whose talent was so extraordinary it had seemed to shine from the heavens.

Chen Xuan's strengths lay in his divine mastery of boxing and his peerless insight.

But when it came to physique, he was merely one of the best among those with green affixes.

After dealing with the affixes, Lu Jing'an turned his attention to the last item: the faintly glowing "Tiger Demon Memory Bead."

This was the key to solving the biggest mystery weighing on his mind.

Why had that Tiger Demon been so fixated on the Lu Family?