stonecrandall Chapter 30: The Lu Family Compound!
Chapter 30: The Lu Family Compound!
Somewhere in the main urban area of Beijing.
The taxi came to a smooth stop, and Lu Xiaobai slowly opened his eyes in the back seat.
Unlike the Minister of Intelligence's eccentricity and the Minister of Magic's social anxiety, he seemed to be surrounded by an almost tangible tranquility, like a piece of cool, unpolished jade.
He is still in a state of cultivation at this moment.
For ordinary extraordinary individuals, cultivation requires deliberate circulation of Qi through the body and meditation.
For Lu Xiaobai, it seems to have become an instinct ingrained in his breathing and survival.
The perfect transformation from primordial magic to the physical body creates an ever-flowing "internal cycle".
Every heartbeat, every breath, is a subtle refinement and accumulation of one's life cultivation.
As for his appearance, which doesn't match his biological age...
This is not the legendary immortality, but rather a level of life or cultivation of one's life force, achieved through rapid advancement and research into numerous life-related topics.
The phenomenon presents a certain "stagnation" – growing too fast makes it seem "unchanging".
In terms of the depth of his spiritual cultivation alone, he is still inferior to "old monsters" like Lu Jin and Feng Baobao who have accumulated experience over a long period of time.
However, the purity and refinement of their life essence, along with their unique primordial magic, is enough for them to join the upper echelons of the supernatural world.
Of course, cultivation of life force is only one part of the foundation that constitutes the strength of his body.
Lu Xiaobai's true terrifying aspect is...
It lies in the insight into the nature of energy, and in the infinite creativity and rapid iteration of the spell system.
And the pinnacle of alchemy, potions, and magical technology.
If he had more time to prepare the alchemical puppet, combined with these many trump cards, he could even single-handedly wipe out a powerful Inhuman organization like Black Watson!
"Passengers, we have arrived at our destination!" The driver's voice interrupted Lu Xiaobai's inner meditation.
"Mm," he replied, his voice steady.
He got out of the car and looked into the distance.
A grand yet simple courtyard house stands quietly, its vermilion gate exuding the weight of time.
People were already waiting at the door.
Through the shared memories of the intelligence minister via a soul link, he instantly recognized two of them.
Lu Jin, one of the Ten Elders,
Lu Linglong, whom I've met a few times, has striking pink hair.
And a tall young man with a slightly pale face but a gentle demeanor.
When Lu Linglong saw Lu Xiaobai get out of the car, a bright smile instantly bloomed on her face.
She had long forgotten about the "pink-haired, big-breasted" incident from two days ago, and excitedly stood on tiptoe to wave at him: "Xiao Bai! Over here! Over here~!!"
Lu Xiaobai looked towards the source of the sound.
His gaze lingered for a moment on Lu Linglong's vibrant face, and he nodded slightly in response.
He didn't smile, but that aloofness had faded considerably, replaced by a calm focus.
He strode forward, his steps steady and measured, toward them.
"Hmm?" Lu Jin keenly noticed the difference.
The young man walking towards us had a completely different demeanor from the carefree, even somewhat immature "Lu Xiaobai" from the day before yesterday!
That calmness and restraint that comes from the very core of one's being.
It's as if all the noise has been shut out, allowing one to focus solely on their inner world.
Recalling the vague hints he had heard during Xu San and Xu Si's conversation the day before yesterday, Lu Jin's curiosity grew even stronger.
However, he has other important matters to attend to today.
Forcibly suppressing his desire to explore, the heavy emotions that had been suppressed in his heart for nearly a century surged up again.
He took a deep breath to calm the turmoil in his heart.
His face instantly switched back to that signature cheerful smile.
With a raised eyebrow, a habitual smirk at the corner of his mouth, and a sharp, piercing gaze, he deliberately softened his sharpness, displaying a degree of "kindness" towards the younger generation.
"Little one, thank you so much for your help this time!"
Lu Jin spoke with a strong voice, loud and clear, carrying the straightforwardness characteristic of the older generation of martial arts practitioners.
"Stop standing there, let's go, let's talk as we walk!"
Lu Xiaobai walked closer and quietly looked at Lu Jin, Lu Linglong, and the tall young man at the back.
He nodded slightly, which was considered a greeting.
Without wasting words, Lu Jin waved his hand and led everyone into the courtyard.
The courtyard is deep and secluded, paved with blue bricks, and the vermilion lacquer on the pillars, though somewhat mottled, only adds to its ancient charm.
Several old trees with lush foliage cast large patches of shade.
The air was filled with a faint fragrance of grass and trees, and a tranquil atmosphere that belonged to the old house.
Everything was handled in an orderly manner, revealing the profound heritage of the Lu family.
Lu Xiaobai walked among them,
He calmly observed his surroundings, like a scholar focused on his research.
"This young man next to me is my grandson, Lu Lin," Lu Jin introduced as they walked. "You young people should get to know each other better; you might be able to lend a hand in the future."
Lu Lin smiled gently and nodded slightly to Lu Xiaobai: "Hello, Xiaobai."
His smile was genuine, reflecting the good upbringing of a scion of a prominent family.
Lu Xiaobai nodded quietly: "Yes, hello."
The stark contrast between Lu Xiaobai's behavior before and after completely baffled Lu Linglong.
She stared wide-eyed at Lu Xiaobai's somewhat unapproachable demeanor, and then recalled the immature teenager from the day before who had said something like "Mortals, kneel down with reverence" to strangers.
Lu Linglong's brain completely shut down; even her CPU started smoking.
"What on earth is going on?! Could it be...?"
A terrifying thought struck her instantly: 'Could it be that what happened the day before yesterday... really referred to me?!'
Immediately following, a disdainful and sarcastic remark was made on a park bench: "I hate women with pink hair... and big breasts..."
Like a demonic chant, it repeated endlessly in her mind!
Om-!
Lu Linglong felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to her head.
He froze instantly, his eyes glazed over, and his steps followed mechanically behind him, looking like a pink quail that had been struck dumb by lightning.
"Linglong?" Lu Lin noticed her unusual behavior immediately.
Seeing her dazed and lifeless state, combined with Lu Xiaobai's cold attitude just now, he immediately understood and felt speechless and heartbroken.
"Good grief... so my silly little sister has been trying to win me over all this time?"
No wonder he looked like he'd lost his soul when he came back the day before yesterday...
He knows Lu Linglong too well.
This girl is stubborn; once she gets determined, nothing can change her mind.
Judging from her current attitude, she's probably determined to keep hitting a brick wall and getting hurt.
The thought of her little darling's potentially arduous "journey to win over her husband" in the future...
Lu Lin's lips twitched involuntarily. She quickly covered her lips with her hand to hide the smile that almost spilled out, a smile tinged with schadenfreude and sympathy.
Oh, how tragic...
"arrive!"
Lu Jin's voice interrupted Lu Linglong's internal turmoil and Lu Lin's inner monologue.
The group stopped in front of a room in an inconspicuous corner at the deepest part of the courtyard.
This room was completely out of place with the neat and grand atmosphere of the entire courtyard.
The door panels were old, the paint was peeling badly, and there were even cobwebs on the lintel.
It's less like a room and more like a long-forgotten storage room, or... a small ancestral hall that has been deliberately forgotten.
A faint, musty smell, tinged with camphor wood and dust, wafted out.
Lu Linglong and Lu Lin exchanged a glance, both seeing the understanding in each other's eyes.
From as far back as they could remember, their great-grandfather had strictly forbidden anyone from approaching this place.
Mysterious and taboo.
Lu Xiaobai's arrival today was indeed related to the "obsession" that the old master kept buried deep in his heart and never told outsiders.
Lu Jin stood quietly in front of the door.
That nonchalant expression had long since vanished, replaced by a complex look that mixed with heaviness, expectation, and even a hint of barely perceptible... hatred.
He didn't push the door open immediately, but took a deep breath, as if gathering courage, or as if paying homage to the years behind the door.
He turned his head to the side.
Looking at Lu Xiaobai, who possessed a serene demeanor beside him, his eyes were filled with a solemn, entrusted look:
"The thing... is inside."