On the train, Lu Yun sat looking at the newspaper on the table with great interest, especially at the photograph.
He stared at the black-and-white photograph for a good while, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
This was all within Lu Yun’s expectations.
Why was he acting in such a high-profile manner? It was precisely to let the entire Daxia New Country know of his, Lu Yun’s, existence.
It was to find those two traitors, his foster son Chen Baitong and his foster daughter Chen Yuyu.
If those two beasts had only stolen a ship and its cargo from him, Lu Yun wouldn’t have hated them to the bone.
He had plenty of money; that wasn’t important. The most important thing was that some of the young people on that ship were from the Lu Family Mansion.
Two others were from the younger generation of the Ren Family, who could also be considered his relatives.
All these people had vanished along with the ship. No sign of them, dead or alive.
Lu Yun’s gaze shifted from the newspaper to the fields flashing by outside the window.
’Run? Whether it’s within the borders of the Daxia Country or in the world beyond... I’ll turn this world upside down if I have to, just to drag you two out and make you pay with your lives!’
Lu Yun planned to use the influence he’d brought back from Yanjing to have all the newspapers publish a bounty notice as soon as he returned to Yun Port City.
He could picture the faces of those two traitors with his eyes closed, clearer even than a photograph.
As long as someone could bring those two back alive, Lu Yun would grant them a wish.
Of course, whether he would accept that wish was another matter.
As a promise from the future Military Governor of Yun Port City, he believed no one could refuse it, and no one would.
Two days passed in a flash. The platform of the Yun Port City train station gradually appeared ahead. After a long blast from the steam whistle, the wheels slowed, and the train finally came to a steady stop.
Lu Yun rose from his seat and glanced at the familiar sky outside the window.
The doors opened. A group of men busied themselves moving crates of potent medicinal herbs brought back from Yanjing, loading them onto horse-drawn carriages and cars.
At the same time, another group of people was disembarking from a car in the middle of the train—seven men in total.
Each one wore a plain, gray Sun Yat-sen suit. They were the kind of strangers who would be completely unnoticeable in a crowd.
The one in the lead was a middle-aged man of about fifty. He scanned the situation on the platform, then lowered his voice and ordered the men behind him, "Let’s go."
"First, find the Commander of the Yun Port City Guard. He’ll definitely know where that He Zhongpeng is."
"Yes, Commander Dai!"
The six men behind him acknowledged the order in low voices, then dispersed and vanished into the crowd.
The Lu Family’s motorcade slowly pulled away from the train station, heading toward the Lu Family Mansion.
Lu Yun leaned back in his seat, watching the street scenes flash by outside the window as he calculated silently in his mind.
’This round trip took the better part of half a month. The month ends in five days, and the day after tomorrow is that girl Nianshu’s wedding.’
’I made it back just in time. Thank goodness I didn’t delay such a major event in my god-granddaughter Lu Nianshu’s life. Otherwise, I would have truly let down both Brother Sheng and her.’
The South City He Family was one of Yun Port City’s renowned flour merchants. Their mansion was vast, a typical southern grand residence with green bricks, gray tiles, and flying, upturned eaves.
Recently, however, a brand-new Western-style building had been erected on the eastern side of this old mansion.
With its red brick walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and pointed-roof attic, its architectural style was particularly conspicuous in this old part of the city.
It was the new home that Old Master He had specially prepared for his eldest son, He Zhongpeng, and his soon-to-be-wedded wife, Lu Nianshu. This was no small gesture.
For the past two days, the He Family’s estate had been festooned with lights and decorations. Large red lanterns hung from every eave, red silk ribbons were tied to every pillar, and even the old pagoda tree in the courtyard was wrapped in red cloth.
The servants bustled in and out, rushed off their feet, every one of them with a joyous expression on their face.
After all, their own young master’s wedding was the day after tomorrow.
He Zhongchen, the second young master of the He Family, stood in the courtyard watching the bustling servants, his expression so dark it looked like it could drip water.
Before his elder brother returned, he had been the old master’s most favored son.
He had even been allowed to marry his three beautiful wives and concubines before his elder brother, He Zhongpeng, returned.
Not only that, but Old Master He had also gradually allowed He Zhongchen to get involved in the flour mill business.
He had thought all of it would be his, but the moment his elder brother returned, their father’s affection shifted instantly.
He had begged for that Western villa for ages to no avail, yet his brother was given it without even having to ask.
And then there was that soon-to-be sister-in-law... He Zhongchen curled his lip in disdain.
’Isn’t she just some ordinary woman from the Lu Family Mansion? What’s so great about her?’ The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he turned and stormed out of the He Family’s main gate.
Jinhua Building was He Zhongchen’s favorite "paradise on earth." The place was bustling day and night, with well-dressed men constantly coming and going through its doors.
A thick fragrance of cosmetics would drift out from the building from time to time, mixed with the peculiar smell of opium—an aroma so intoxicating that passersby wouldn’t want to leave.
The moment He Zhongchen stepped inside, a fat man who had been lying on a chaise lounge on the first floor smoking opium scrambled to his feet, his face wreathed in smiles. "Well now! If it isn’t Young Master Chen? What brings you here today?"
He Zhongchen couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries and said directly, "Boss Huang, give me the usual. Put it on my tab for now."
He paused, then added, "Also, have Miss Ruyan come keep me company, right away."
This was precisely why He Zhongchen loved coming here: to enjoy opium and beautiful women at the same time.

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