Shadakang’s professional smile froze when he saw Lu Yun’s blunt refusal.
An urgent look quickly replaced it. He shot up from his chair and took half a step forward. "Hey! Elder Lu! Please don’t be so quick to refuse. Hear me out!"
"Rest assured, Elder Lu! The Martial Arts Demonstration will absolutely, positively not burden you with the hassle of handling tedious, trivial matters!"
"You just need to lend us your name, sir. Showing up when necessary and saying a few words would be the greatest support you could offer us!"
"Elder Lu, we’re not just asking you to come out of retirement for the Martial Arts Demonstration. This is for the stability and greater good of our entire Yun Port City!"
At this point, Shadakang’s face took on a look of grave concern for the nation. "You’ve seen the state of things, sir. The times are growing more and more turbulent!"
"The great powers of the Western World are circling us, and there are undercurrents swirling within the Daxia New Country as well."
"Our Yun Port City is a major commercial hub where all sorts of people congregate. The Martial Artists carry deadly weapons, and without rules to restrain them, murderous intent can easily arise. That could lead to major chaos!"
"Now is precisely the time we need a respected and prestigious Grandmaster like you to step up, take charge, and stabilize the situation!"
"Having you, Elder Lu, presiding over the Martial Arts Demonstration would be like adding the strongest possible insurance policy for the entire Martial Arts World of Yun Port City!"
"Elder Lu, are you really willing to see Yun Port City descend into chaos due to a lack of powerful restraint?"
"When that happens, the first to be affected will be our local citizens and businesses!"
Next, Shadakang presented an even more enticing offer. "Moreover, Elder Lu, if you become an official consultant for the Martial Arts Demonstration, your status will be completely different!"
"Think about those fellows from the cultural relics department in Yanjing City, who came to investigate your docks and cause trouble for you without any clear reason."
"If they knew you were the consultant for the Yun Port City Martial Arts Demonstration, a leading figure in our city’s Martial Arts World..."
"...then if they wanted to touch you or the Lu Family’s assets, they would first have to get approval from our City Affairs Bureau!"
"How could they just shut you down and investigate you on a whim, without so much as a word of notice, like before?"
The next moment, Shadakang slapped his chest and declared, "I, Shadakang, can guarantee you right here that as long as you agree, nothing like this arbitrary harassment of the Lu Family will ever happen again!"
"The City Affairs Bureau will be the Lu Family’s strongest supporter!"
"More importantly, Elder Lu, once you become the consultant for the Martial Arts Demonstration, you will be the Stabilizing Needle and the ultimate authority in the eyes of every martial arts hall and every practitioner in Yun Port City!"
"With a single command from you, the entire Martial Arts World of Yun Port City would not dare to disobey!"
Having said his piece in one breath, Shadakang looked at Lu Yun, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Lu Yun remained seated, his expression impassive. The hall fell silent for a moment.
After a while, he slowly raised his head to look at the expectant Shadakang. "What City Manager Sha says... does make some sense. The stability of Yun Port City truly affects thousands of households and cannot be compromised."
"Since you all hold me in such high regard, and the City Affairs Bureau places so much importance on this... then I suppose this old man has no choice but to reluctantly offer what little help I can."
Upon hearing this, the tension in Shadakang’s eyes was instantly replaced by ecstasy. He looked like he was about to jump for joy!
He cried out, "Elder Lu! You... you truly are a venerable senior who cares for the people and sees the bigger picture! This is a blessing for the Martial Arts World of Yun Port City, and an even greater fortune for all the city’s citizens!"
"You are a true role model for our generation, an example for us juniors to learn from!"
Then, Shadakang composed himself and cupped his hands. "Since you’ve agreed, Elder Lu, I will return to the City Affairs Bureau at once to report this wonderful news to the City Manager and inform our colleagues at the Martial Arts Demonstration!"
’Mission accomplished!’
A great weight was finally lifted from Shadakang’s heart. His smile was as radiant as a blooming chrysanthemum.
He knew he had handled today’s task beautifully. This would be of great benefit to his standing in Yun Port City and his future career.
With this in mind, Shadakang didn’t linger. He quickly turned and shot a look at "Secretary Gao," who had been sitting quietly the whole time.
"Elder Lu, please get some rest! We will take our leave now and pay another visit on a different day!"
But as "Secretary Gao" turned to follow Shadakang, she subtly fell a few steps behind.
She turned her head back toward Lu Yun on the main seat, her smile even sweeter and gentler than before. Then, she bowed lightly in another salute, her voice even softer and more enchanting.
"Elder Lu, we’ll be taking our leave now. You must take good care of yourself~"
The bow was so deep that the already low-cut collar of her dark green, high-slit cheongsam gaped open even wider.
In that instant!
A breathtaking, dazzlingly white expanse of plump, proud flesh was laid bare, almost completely exposed to Lu Yun’s gaze!
Lu Yun’s eyes naturally fell upon the scenery. He watched coolly, making no deliberate effort to look away.
’Only a fool would turn away from such a beautiful view.’
Lu Yun was a physiologically and psychologically normal man, not some eunuch.
’This woman... her ambition is not small.’
’Having a deputy city manager like Shadakang as her backer isn’t enough for her. She actually dares to make such a bold pass at another man.’
The two of them quickly disappeared beyond the main hall’s entrance.
The impassive look on Lu Yun’s face gradually faded, replaced by a calm, knowing smile.
In truth, from the moment he broke through to become a Grandmaster of Huajin and stabilized his power, he had been waiting for the "Martial Arts Demonstration" to contact him.
Having lived two lives and experienced the vicissitudes of the world, how could Lu Yun not understand a simple truth?
’To make it in this world, you need power and a backing!’
’Going it alone, even with sky-high personal martial prowess, has its limits against the torrent of a real army’s modern firearms.’
’Because a Grandmaster of Huajin isn’t Homelander. If surrounded by an organized army with modern heavy firepower, he would die just the same.’
’When such a ready-made and influential local power is right there for the taking, you’d be a real fool not to leverage it and seize control!’
The Martial Arts Demonstration brought together the elite of the Yun Port City Martial Arts World. It held the authority to approve the opening of martial arts halls and had a powerful voice in both public and official circles.
If Lu Yun could effectively utilize, or even control, this power, it would undoubtedly be like adding wings to a tiger for the Lu Family and for his own future plans!
The Lu Family had so many people, with business interests spread far and wide. The people working under him needed a powerful deterrent when conducting business, navigating the world, and dealing with all sorts of trouble.
Now that Lu Yun had the officially recognized status of consultant for the Martial Arts Demonstration, many things would become much more convenient.
If someone was foolish enough to provoke Lu Yun, a single order from him in his capacity as the Martial Arts Demonstration’s consultant would mobilize the entire Martial Arts World of Yun Port City!
At that point, even if the person hid in a crack in the earth, he would be unearthed by martial arts disciples and underworld figures—experts in tracking—and mercilessly hacked to death!
His earlier "refusal" to Shadakang was nothing more than a deliberate ploy, a classic game of feigned reluctance.

Comments

Loading...