After the fall of the Yin Dynasty, his family’s fortunes had declined. He’d gone from being the son of an Imperial Guard, accustomed to a life of luxury, to an ordinary commoner.
Chu Chongxiao couldn’t stomach the change in status, so he repeatedly tried to convince his father to sell the treasures he’d brought out of the Imperial Palace.
Every one of his proposals was rejected by Chu Baoshen. And so, Chu Chongxiao became a "model son"—the kind whose filial piety was a running joke.
Filled with shame, Chu Baoshen raised his cup and gave a bitter smile. "Brother Lu, I am so sorry that my worthless son has dragged you into this."
"When the time comes, if it’s too much trouble, just hand all of it over."
"In any case, we’ve already done our best to protect these precious artifacts."
"It’s a shame. That worthless son of mine snitched on his own father and became the deputy captain of the local guards. He has dozens of men under his command, all armed with foreign guns."
He looked up at Lu Yun and shook his head with a bitter smile. "That worthless son of mine also has the power of Dark Force. With those guns on top of that, even I’m powerless against him."
"Otherwise, I’d make him pay with his life for what he’s done to you, Brother Lu!"
"I don’t blame him for snitching. It’s my fault, my failure as a father. I couldn’t provide him with the life he wanted..."
"But betraying you, Brother Lu... that’s a crime punishable by death!"
Lu Yun raised his cup and took a slow, deliberate sip. Now he finally understood. It was that bastard Chu Chongxiao who had snitched.
’No wonder those goons from the Cultural Relics Bureau targeted the Lu Family all the way in Yun Port City.’
’It wasn’t that they were so resourceful; it was that a ’devoted son’ had served it all up to them on a silver platter.’
BAM!!!
A loud crash suddenly echoed from outside the courtyard! It was the sound of the main gate being kicked open.
It was followed by the sound of chaotic footsteps and a burst of outrageously arrogant laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
A portly man of about forty-five, dressed in a black and white guard’s uniform, swaggered into the courtyard.
His large belly protruded prominently, his face was fleshy and coarse, and his beady, triangular eyes glinted with smugness.
Behind the portly man were a dozen or so heavily armed guards, each wielding a Mauser pistol.
He planted a foot on the fallen gate and scanned the people in the courtyard. His gaze finally settled on Chu Chongyi as he spoke in a sneering, passive-aggressive tone.
"My dear brother, you have guests over? Why didn’t you let your big brother know?"
"Do you even have any respect for me as your older brother?"
The moment Chu Chongyi saw that face, his eyes went red. He clenched his fists. "You animal! You still have the nerve to come back?!"
"I’ll get revenge for Father!"
With that, he launched himself at Chu Chongxiao like a crazed beast!
Chu Chongyi thrust both palms forward, his attack whistling through the air as it aimed straight for Chu Chongxiao’s face!
Chu Chongxiao saw the attack coming but remained perfectly still, a disdainful smirk even gracing his lips.
Just as Chu Chongyi’s palms were about to connect, Chu Chongxiao moved. His hands shot out, fast as lightning, striking first despite moving second!
After firmly seizing Chu Chongyi’s attacking palms, Chu Chongxiao raised his leg and kicked him square in the chest!
Chu Chongyi was sent flying backward. He crashed hard onto the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop.
He struggled to get back up, only to cough up a mouthful of blood and collapse again.
Chu Chongxiao glanced down at his hands, then at his brother on the ground, and sneered. "Useless."
’He’d always had the best aptitude since they were children. Now, as a Late-stage Anjin Martial Artist, his future was practically limitless.’
’A brother with such mediocre talent dared to raise a hand against him?’
Next, Chu Chongxiao gave a cold wave of his hand. In perfect unison, the dozen or so guards behind him raised their Mauser pistols, aiming their dark muzzles at everyone in the courtyard.
The muzzles were pointed at Chu Chongyi; his family, young and old, cowering and trembling in a corner; and Lu Jingjun, who had stood motionless by the door to the main house the entire time.
Chu Chongxiao spoke slowly, his voice dripping with menace. "Bunch of trash. Don’t move. Anyone moves a muscle, I’ll shoot them dead. Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you’re my brother."
Then, he cracked a grin, revealing a mouth full of yellow teeth. "Even if our dear old dad were here, it wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference!"
The words had barely left his mouth when the door to the main house was slowly pushed open from within.
Lu Yun walked out, leaning on the Wisteria Spirit Staff with his right hand. Beside him was Chu Baoshen, so frail and trembling he had to clutch the doorframe just to stay upright.
Chu Baoshen stared at the corpulent figure in the courtyard, at the face that had tormented him day and night. His eyes were bloodshot. "You animal... Get out!!"
Chu Chongxiao glanced at Chu Baoshen. His eyes held no guilt, no fear, not even a flicker of emotion. It was as if he were looking at a complete stranger.
Then, his gaze drifted past Chu Baoshen and landed on Lu Yun.
In that instant, Chu Chongxiao’s eyes lit up.
"Well, well. If it isn’t Uncle Lu."
"I knew it! That old coot must have given you the treasures from the Imperial Palace. Hand them over right now, and I’ll spare your life!"
’After all, just revealing Lu Yun’s existence last time had earned him the position of deputy guard captain.’
’If he could seize the Imperial Palace’s treasures from Lu Yun this time and hand them over to those people at the Cultural Relics Bureau...’
’Captain? No, maybe he could aim even higher!’
’Then, he would be the uncrowned king of this district, with all the wealth and glory he could ever want!’
When Lu Yun didn’t respond, the fleshy jowls on Chu Chongxiao’s face began to twitch. He glared at Lu Yun, the smug look on his face slowly twisting into one of furious embarrassment.

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