Chapter 384 The military advisor has made every possible plan!
Lu Chengwen widened his eyes. "Tietuo! Sit down! I made it clear before—stay or leave as you wish. Do you want to make me a villain?"
Tietuo Wang was furious but slowly sat back down.
Lu Chengwen reached under the table and pulled out a box. Opening it, he revealed five neatly arranged gold cards.
Lu Chengwen took one and walked up to Axiao, smiling. "Axiao, I know you have your reasons. Take this card. It's valid worldwide, with three billion Huaxia currency in it. Just living off the interest will keep you wealthy for life. I hope that when we meet again, it won't be as enemies. Take care."
Axiao looked at the card, then raised his head to look at Lu Chengwen. "You're really letting me go?"
"It's not about letting you go," Lu Chengwen said. "You weren't captured by me—you were invited. I already said, stay or leave as you wish. Follow your heart and make your own decision."
Ahu walked over. "Axiao, where will you go? All the brothers are here. Where can you even go?"
Axiao sighed. "Perhaps wandering is my true home. Drifting… is better for everyone."
Lu Chengwen nodded. "If you ever find yourself in trouble, you can always reach out to the brothers."
"Lu Zong is broad-minded and righteous. He will accomplish great things in the future. I, Axiao, am not fortunate enough to follow him. Please take care in the days to come."
"Mm."
"One more thing…" Axiao's eyes grew moist. "I know Shiyin likes you, and I know you truly like her too. I give you my blessing. Please treat her well."
Lu Chengwen nodded. "Brother, when it comes to feelings, many things are beyond our control. The key is to move on quickly and live for yourself."
Axiao smiled bitterly. "Brothers! Until we meet again!"
Lu Chengwen held him back. "Hey, I was just making a point. It doesn't mean you have to leave immediately. At the very least, have a good meal and drink with the brothers. Later, I'll have Zhao Gang drive you."
"This…"
"Sit down and eat."
…
The crisis seemed to be resolved. Both camps began to relax, drinking and chatting freely.
It was mainly Lu Chengwen's attitude that put everyone at ease.
When Lu Chengwen was relaxed, the strategist and Jin Yin Tong Tie were relaxed as well. They knew that Lu Chengwen had no intention of making things difficult for Axiao—in fact, he wasn't interested in troubling Axiao at all.
Since Axiao wasn't being targeted, the others had no reason to turn against Lu Chengwen either.
The back-and-forth struggle had already made Fubo Tianwang and his men uneasy around Lu Chengwen.
Rebelling now? Where would they even go?
Yesterday, Cheqi Tianwang had clearly intended to get rid of them after they'd outlived their usefulness. The big organization wasn't an option anymore.
Besides, yesterday, they had beaten up Long Aotian. Everyone knew what that meant.
Among them, the ones most familiar with Long Aotian's martial arts and powerful inner energy were themselves.
They knew he was Long Aotian, yet they had still beaten him senseless. That showed they no longer cared about him.
That left Lu Zong as their only choice.
Lu Chengwen's relaxed demeanor, combined with the lowered guard of Jin Yin Tong Tie and the others, made Fubo Tianwang's group relax as well.
With no immediate conflicts, their minds naturally drifted toward the future.
Fubo Tianwang moved next to Ahu. "Brother."
"Big Brother."
"I think Lu Zong really likes you."
"Huh? No way? Come on, don't overthink it. We're all brothers. Lu Zong treats everyone equally."
"No, listen." Fubo Tianwang looked a little awkward. "After all, we switched sides multiple times, even came to collect a debt. Even though we've submitted now, in our hearts…"
Ahu said, "Big Brother, haven't you seen Lu Zong's character? If he still cared about past conflicts, would he let us sit here peacefully, eating and drinking? If he wanted to, just a little maneuvering on his part would have Long Aotian and our former organization hunting us to the ends of the earth."
"Ah, you're so slow!" Fubo Tianwang said. "I'm not talking about now."
Ahu immediately understood. "Big Brother, I get it."
"Right!" Fubo Tianwang said. "We can't just take Lu Zong's money, eat his food, and drink his wine… without contributing anything!"
Ahu nodded. "We did get over forty billion for him before. Doesn't that count as a contribution?"
"What do you think?" Fubo Tianwang asked. "That forty billion—Lu Zong got it with his brains. Did we willingly give it to him?"
Ahu nodded in agreement.
"Sigh, what a pity. If we had done something grand for Lu Zong, we could enjoy this drink without guilt."
Fubo Tianwang continued, "And yesterday, even though we did help, from Lu Zong's perspective, it was all a coincidence—we weren't actively fighting for him. Besides, our previous stance is a stain on our record."
Along came Along. "I heard everything! Big Brother, you're just worried that we haven't made enough contributions and that we can't compare to Jin Yin Tong Tie, right? Let's go right now, volunteer for a mission—hunt down Dangkou Tianwang and Cheqi Tianwang, kill them, and present them to Lu Zong. Wouldn't that make him happy?"
"Yes!" Fubo Tianwang clapped his hands. "That's an instant achievement!"
At the head of the table, Lu Chengwen's face was slightly flushed from drinking. "Hey, hey, hey, what are you guys whispering about? Drink up!"
Fubo Tianwang stood up. "Lu Zong! We are ashamed to accept this drink!"
"Huh!?"
Fubo Tianwang said, "The strategist and Jin Yin Tong Tie have been serving under Lu Zong for a while and have made countless contributions. We brothers feel deeply ashamed! To repay Lu Zong's great kindness, we have decided to set out immediately to find that bastard Cheqi, beat him half to death, and bring him back as a tribute to show our loyalty!"
Lu Chengwen laughed, and Junshi also laughed.
Lu Chengwen and Junshi exchanged a glance, and Junshi stood up.
He understood that since Lu Chengwen wasn't speaking himself, it was giving him a chance—a chance to display his magnanimity in accepting new people.
At the same time, it was an opportunity to establish his position in the minds of these men.
Junshi held his wine cup and walked over to Fubo Tianwang. "Fubo Tianwang!"
Fubo Tianwang quickly stood up. "Junshi."
Junshi smiled and said, "Brothers, I know you've just joined and are eager to make contributions. Because of the little misunderstanding before, you must have been feeling uneasy, right?"
Everyone responded, "Yes, yes."
Junshi said, "Don't worry! First, everyone knows what kind of person Lu Zong is—he is broad-minded. If he trusts someone, he uses them fully; if he doubts someone, he doesn't use them at all. Second, there will be plenty of opportunities to make achievements. A mere Cheqi Tianwang is no match for our Lu Zong."
Fubo Tianwang sighed, "Even so, we brothers have yet to achieve anything, so it's natural to feel unsettled."
Junshi said, "Relax. As long as you serve Lu Zong loyally, I did some calculations—sooner or later, Cheqi Tianwang will fall into your hands."
"Really?"
"Mm." Junshi said, "Today is a celebration, our brothers' first gathering, so let's not kill the mood. How about this—if, and I mean if, that Cheqi Tianwang is foolish enough to come looking for trouble again, we will all go at him together and take him down! But the credit will go entirely to you and your brothers. How about that?"
Hearing this, Fubo Tianwang had no choice but to go along.
Cheqi Tianwang? Yesterday, he was beaten up so badly by the five of them that he nearly couldn't even get back to his carriage. Would he really come again today? What kind of idiot would do that?
But Junshi's words were clear.
First, there would be opportunities in the future. Second, leaving the banquet now to look for something else to do would ruin the mood. And finally, as a little bonus, if Cheqi Tianwang did come, the credit would be all theirs.
If Fubo Tianwang kept insisting, he would be offending people.
It would mean disrespecting Junshi, and at the moment, Junshi's status with Lu Chengwen seemed very high. Even Jin, Yin, Tong, and Tie were deeply convinced by him.
Fubo Tianwang sighed. "Then we'll listen to Junshi."
Junshi was very satisfied. This response—Hu Xiao and Long Yin had heard it loud and clear.
Back then, they were from the main stronghold, while we were just a branch.
When they came down for inspections, we had to bow and scrape to accommodate them. Who would have thought that with a change of master, status and position would also change?
Hahaha!
Junshi was elated.
…
Cheqi Tianwang was confused. Where were the people!?
Where did they all go!?
Just a moment ago, Lu Chengwen was clearly inside—so why, when he rushed in, was there not even a shadow of him to be seen!?
That Dangkou Tianwang had said he wouldn't last long and was waiting for him to capture Lu Chengwen and regroup.
He looked around and suddenly spotted a staircase.
It wasn't long, just a few steps, leading downward. He walked over and fiddled with it—turns out, the door had a fingerprint-password lock.
After messing with it for a bit, the lock kept beeping annoyingly, irritating Cheqi Tianwang to no end.
Inside, the people drinking heard the beeping of the lock and were all surprised. They paused and looked toward the door.
Lu Chengwen was startled: Could it be Xiao Houzi?
Just as he was about to go open the door, the anxious Cheqi Tianwang outside suddenly kicked it open with a loud bang and shouted: "Lu Chengwen! Get the hell out here!"
The door crashed down, and Cheqi Tianwang strode inside, pointing at Lu Chengwen:
"Lu Chengwen! I finally found you! I was wondering where the hell you were hiding—turns out, you were here!"
Lu Chengwen glanced at his ruined door. "My high-grade soundproof password door…"
"Cut the crap! Seeing me is like seeing the King of Hell!"
Lu Chengwen looked at him. "Do you want to… maybe turn around and take a look?"
"Huh? What nonsense are you spouting? Listen up, either I beat you into a cripple, tie you up, and drag you away, or you obediently come with me!"
Lu Chengwen thought for a moment. "I'm fine with either. The question is, are my brothers fine with it?"
"What?"
Lu Chengwen pointed behind him.
Cheqi Tianwang turned his head for a glance—and his mind spun.
Fubo Tianwang, Hu Xiao, Long Yin, Junshi, Jin, Yin, Tong, Tie…
Ten people.
Lu Chengwen held his wine cup, patted his shoulder, and said, "Mr. Ye, it's all yours."
Cheqi Tianwang's face turned as white as a sheet.
Ahu leaned in toward Fubo Tianwang. "Junshi's divination is incredible! Even more impressive than our own Junshi!"
Fubo Tianwang also leaned toward Ahu. "Heaven-sent opportunity. Tell the brothers—beat him to death! This is our first battle after joining Lu Zong's camp. We must do it beautifully."
Along came Along. "I understand perfectly. Big brother, don't worry. Ten against one—even if his surname really is Ye, today he's not leaving in one piece."
Even Junshi was stunned. "Damn? That… that worked so well?"
Jin Tuowang was shocked. "Junshi, how did you do it? Back when we went on missions, you were never this precise!"
Cheqi Tianwang's face cycled through several shades before suddenly forcing a smile and speaking gently: "The family is having dumplings, so I came to borrow some vinegar. Everyone… no need to get agitated, alright…?"
Tong Tuowang and Tie Tuowang silently moved to block the doorway.
Cheqi Tianwang started crying. "If I say this is a misunderstanding, will you believe me?"
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