Chapter 150: Chapter 109: Do I Know You?
"It’s all thanks to Captain Yang and the others from the Patrol Department. Otherwise, we never would have been able to kill Qiu Shan and his crew."
Lu Chao waved his hand dismissively, deciding to stick to his original plan.
’Since I can’t avoid taking the credit, there’s no need to reveal too many of my trump cards and arouse suspicion.’
’Otherwise, there would be no explaining how a veteran Professional Level like him could have accomplished such a feat.’
"You can’t look at it that way."
Shaking his head, Zheng Wu consoled him, "Just by daring to face such a powerful enemy head-on, you’ve already surpassed many at the Professional Level."
Lu Chao smiled and scratched his head at his words.
After a few more moments of small talk, he took the opportunity to ask why there were so many fewer disciples in the hall.
"Sigh..."
With a sigh, Zheng Wu glanced around before saying in a complex tone, "Lately, the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall has joined with other halls to form a crusade, and their influence is growing."
"Some of our fellow disciples... they had no other choice."
he said tactfully, his eyes dimming with sadness.
Lu Chao fell silent for a moment, understanding the real reason.
Even he, a Professional Level, had been provoked into spars recently, and many of his fellow disciples at the Fighting Level had experienced the same.
Clearly, some of the disciples, intimidated by the power of the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall, had chosen to leave quietly rather than get dragged into the conflict.
"And the crusade...?" Lu Chao asked.
"Master told us not to get involved."
Zheng Wu shook his head, his voice low. Though he was puzzled by their master’s decision, he didn’t question it.
Lu Chao grew pensive.
The war between the two Wilderness Warlords was still ongoing, and the crusade had begun moving into the wilderness, declaring their intention to march against Lu Shan.
’Logically speaking, both Senior Brother Xu’s death and Shen Tianchen being crippled were inseparable from Lu Shan’s people, yet Master Luo had chosen to bide his time...’
Thinking of this, Lu Chao had a vague feeling there was more to the situation.
He then headed for the second floor.
He planned to continue his Iron Bone training.
"Hm?"
However, his gaze sharpened as he looked toward the window of the private training room.
Luo Qianshan was already waiting there, dressed in a brown robe with his hands clasped behind his back.
He was standing by the window, looking down at the concrete training ground and the neighborhood scenery outside, lost in thought.
"You’re here."
As if sensing him, he slowly retracted his gaze and turned his head.
His aged voice was the same as ever, but Lu Chao vaguely sensed a complex undertone.
"Master Luo."
He nodded slightly and bowed respectfully.
A gentle breeze blew in from the window. Luo Qianshan was silent for a moment before speaking softly, "You must be very confused."
"About why I haven’t intervened, despite the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall’s actions."
Lu Chao was taken aback.
’He must have overheard my conversation with Zheng Wu downstairs. That probably explains the complex tone in his voice earlier.’
After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Chao chose his words carefully. "I believe you must have your reasons, Master Luo."
"Is that right."
Luo Qianshan stared at him for several seconds, a flurry of emotions flickering in his eyes.
Finally.
"Very good."
He nodded, saying nothing more.
Instead, he walked slowly to the weapon rack on the side of the room and took down a new Ironwood Long Staff.
"Let’s continue."
Their eyes met. Luo Qianshan turned to Lu Chao, his voice laced with a hint of weariness. "Let me see how long it takes for you to master this technique."
...
「That night.」
Lu Chao dragged his exhausted body out of the hall, a complex look in his eyes.
Although Luo Qianshan had been cryptic, his words had confirmed Lu Chao’s suspicions.
’My training these past few days wasn’t simply for the 3rd Floor Fighting Skill: Iron Bone.’
’Instead, it was more like a special Martial Skill that required tempering through hardship.’
’What is it, exactly?’
The evening sky was growing dim, and Lu Chao’s curiosity piqued. He could vaguely sense that he was close to fully mastering this Martial Skill.
Besides that.
He thought about the grudge between Luo Qianshan and the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that this business was far more complicated than he imagined.
’Is it really just because of the martial arts tournament?’
Lost in thought, he walked onto the platform and waited quietly for the tram to arrive.
No answer came to him.
With a CLATTER, the tram pulled in, its metal doors sliding open automatically.
Lu Chao pushed aside his distracting thoughts and boarded.
The car wasn’t too crowded at night. People were gathered in twos and threes; some grabbed the circular handholds to steady themselves, while others were still walking down the aisle.
"Those Rebels are terrifying. I heard at least dozens of people died that night."
"No kidding. One moment they were sitting peacefully at home, and the next they were engulfed in an explosion... I was nearby at the time, scared me half to death. I watched that family of three get wiped out with my own eyes."
"Sigh... The world we live in..."
Lu Chao found a window seat and sat down, snippets of the other passengers’ conversations drifting to his ears.
Their tones were mostly gloomy. The explosion in the city district had clearly terrified many people, leaving a sense of panic in the air.
Moreover.
He checked his wrist device and pulled up the news on the screen.
[CLASS-A WANTED NOTICE]
The Esper known as Faceless Legos had still not been found.
To that end, the Superpower Bureau and the Patrol Department had joined forces, deploying a significant number of personnel to strictly control all key routes in and out of the city district.
’A Superpower Level Esper...’
Looking at the face—that of someone from the old-world Mira Country—Lu Chao shook his head and pushed the distracting thoughts away.
’A powerhouse whose Life Energy has broken the hundred-point mark is not someone I can handle right now.’
He then swiped on his wrist device.
He began to plan for the future, scrolling through information on the Life Energy Development Theory and Alchemists.
Soon, the tram reached his stop at North Street.
He was heading to Dreamfire Bar tonight.
It was for no other reason than that Brother Hao had sent him a message that afternoon, saying he had something for him.
’It’s not time for my Nutritional Potion supply, is it?’
Filled with curiosity, Lu Chao stepped off the tram.
He looked around. North Street, which was usually quite spacious, was surprisingly crowded, and the number of roadside stalls had doubled.
Grilled meat, street-side hot pot, fresh-braised delicacies...
A mixture of aromas mingled, and clouds of hot steam rose and drifted on the cold wind.
The North Street plaza had quietly transformed into a bustling night market. Pedestrians jostled past each other, and many stopped at the roadside to order a couple of draft beers while eating skewers.
TAP, TAP!
Pulling his gaze away, Lu Chao made his way steadily through the crowd, heading straight for Dreamfire Bar.
Just then.
A black Sharp Light sedan slowly pulled up, stopping right at the entrance.
A valet quickly ran over to open the door. Seeing this, Lu Chao smiled faintly and stopped to see who it was.
"Brother Hao."
He looked over to see Chen Junhao stepping out of the right rear passenger seat. Dressed in a black trench coat and leather shoes, he cut an imposing figure.
Another young man, not Zhou Qiang, followed behind him.
"Oh? Speak of the devil. Your timing is perfect."
He smiled and nodded, holding his briarwood pipe and exhaling a puff of smoke.
He then took a couple of steps closer, looked Lu Chao up and down, and lowered his voice. "How are you? How are you recovering from your injuries?"
Lu Chao knew he was asking about the Qiu Shan affair. He was aware that many versions of the story were circulating, and that his weakened state at the time had given people the impression he’d been seriously injured.
"Thanks for your concern, Brother Hao. I’m fine."
Lu Chao shrugged and said with a smile.
Only here could he feel a bit of ease.
Seeing this, Chen Junhao shook his head with a smile, looking as if he was about to say something.
But before he could speak...
"So you’re Lu Chao?"
the young man in a suit behind him asked with a frown, interrupting their conversation.
He looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with shaggy hair and a well-built frame.
’My intuition flared—he’s a veteran Professional Level with 59 points of Life Energy, just a step away from his peak.’
Lu Chao didn’t answer right away, instead turning his head to look at Brother Hao.
"A core member of the organization the Young Master brought back from Yao Capital."
Chen Junhao was still smiling, but his tone became flat. "Li Yacheng. He’s now the deputy Hall Master of the North Street Chapter."
’Oh?’
His eyes shifted slightly. Lu Chao understood the subtle change in Chen Junhao’s expression and guessed the crux of the matter.
’Is this guy a spy Young Master Peng Zhao Hui planted by Brother Hao’s side?’
Just as he was about to speak.
"Hey, I’m talking to you."
The young man, Li Yacheng, frowned impatiently. "I heard you were the one who forced Liu Hong to back down?"
"Everyone in the organization says you’ve got some skills, so why are you a lapdog for the Patrol Department?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Chen Junhao’s smile vanished, and his eyes turned cold.
Lu Chao detected the provocation in his tone and narrowed his eyes, meeting Li Yacheng’s gaze.
"What, did I say something wrong?"
As if oblivious to the chilling atmosphere, Li Yacheng wore a self-righteous expression, his gaze condescending. "You worked for the Patrol Department for so long and couldn’t even make squad leader."
"If you were smarter and willing to work for our organization, the Young Master would at least be willing to grant you a..."
BAM!!
The headbutt slammed into the man’s head, making him see stars.
Lu Chao’s sturdy right hand, now covered in white ash, shot out and grabbed the man by the hair, cutting him off.
"Do I know you?"
VWOOM!!
With a swing of his right arm, he smashed the man’s head into the car door!
