Under One Person: The Seeker of the Dao in the Lü Family

Chapter 289 Feng Baobao: You Want to Be a Scumbag

(Friendly reminder: The previous chapter has been updated with 3 words. Please read the previous chapter first.)

"It's simple, you want to be a jerk!"

"Cough cough cough..."

Feng Baobao's simple and straightforward words were like a bombshell, catching the other two off guard and leaving them in a sorry state, only able to clutch their chests and cough incessantly.

"What's wrong? Does this young Taoist priest mean he wants to be a scumbag?"

Feng Baobao stared blankly at Zhang Chulan and Zhang Lingyu, "Unwilling to take responsibility and pursuing self-interest—isn't this the typical scumbag described in the books?"

"Ahem... Bao'er, what strange books have you been reading lately?"

Zhang Chulan covered her mouth, struggling to suppress the sharp gasps in her throat, her eyes red and tears streaming down her face as she looked at Feng Baobao. "Could it be that shameless Xu Si recommended some filthy stuff to you again?"

"Bang!"

Just as Feng Baobao was about to answer, the villa's door was pushed open from the outside, and a white-haired young man with a cigarette in his mouth walked in casually.

"Zhang Chulan, I want to hear your explanation. When did I become a shameless person?"

Xu Si looked at Zhang Chulan sitting at the low table with a roguish expression. As he spoke, smoke wafted from between his teeth, partially obscuring his prematurely aged face.

"Cough cough cough... Fourth Brother, what brings you here?"

"What are you saying? You are employees of the company's North China branch, so naturally I, as your leader, am here to assign you work."

Xu Si waved the documents in his hand, then sat down at the low table with an air of authority, facing Zhang Chulan.

"Alright, stop teasing them. This mission is a rare opportunity, we can't miss it."

Xu San, dressed formally and acting with integrity, followed closely behind. He first closed the open door and then came to the front of the group.

"Weren't you just worried that you couldn't find anyone and that your investigation couldn't proceed? Well, we have some good news now."

"Third Brother, what good news is there? Could it be that there's some senior figure we can interrogate at will?"

Zhang Chulan caught his breath and looked curiously at the two mysterious figures, clearly sensing their hidden joy.

"What are you thinking, kid? You think you can just let us interrogate you like this?"

Listening to Zhang Chulan's fantasy, Xu Si sneezed and said with some helplessness, "Those who have lived from that era to the present are all renowned masters and powerful figures. How could we, as juniors, just meet them whenever we want?"

"If they reach a consensus, the company cannot pressure them too much. Besides, our investigation is a private matter and we cannot use the company's influence."

"What good news? Those senior figures won't budge. Where are we supposed to find out what's going on?"

"No rush, the opportunity is now right in front of us."

Xu San pointed to the documents that Xu Si had placed in front of everyone, indicating that they should open and read them. He then slowly explained, "This Lu family birthday banquet has caused quite a stir."

"First, Xu Xin, one of the Thirty-Six Thieves, emerged; then the leader of the Truth-Seeking Society was killed; their once-powerful force is about to crumble..."

"What?! Are any of the Thirty-Six Thieves still alive?"

Xu Si impatiently waved his hand at the startled Zhang Chulan, "Don't interrupt, the more important thing is yet to come. It's not just Xu Xin from the Tang Clan who's about to be reborn."

Xu San nodded and continued, "News has also come from the Huode Sect, and after the company's investigation, Feng Ping, one of the Thirty-Six Thieves, has finished his travels and returned to the Huode Sect's mountain gate."

"Ending their travels and returning to the mountain gate? That's a really lame excuse!"

"They're the Thirty-Six Thieves, after all. If not handled properly, they could cause a huge mess. Is the company just going to stand by and watch this time?"

"So what if the excuse is crude? Whether it works or not depends on who uses it."

Xu Si stubbed out the cigarette in his mouth, exhaling smoke as he slowly said, "People of the same kind have different fates, and people of the same fate are different people."

"The thirty-six thieves who have survived to this day are either as skilled as your grandfather Zhang Huaiyi, or they all have powerful sects or forces backing them up."

"Isn't this just like those demons in 'Journey to the West' who disturb the mortal world? When they have powerful backgrounds and abilities, there's always someone behind them who jumps out and says, 'Great Sage, stop! That's my lost person's mount.'"

"As for those without background or ability, they naturally became victims of the beating."

"If it were only one or two companies, the company could stand up to them head-on, but the key is that almost all the top-tier wealthy families are involved."

"This time it's not a question of whether others want to cause trouble, but whether the company dares to cause trouble with the world of supernatural beings. If the company really causes trouble, it will be themselves who suffer."

"Third Brother, aren't we government officials?"

Zhang Chulan cautiously glanced at the somewhat sullen Xu San and asked疑惑地问道, "The company is, after all, state-owned property. Surely we shouldn't be so wary of things?"

"It is true that it is a public property, but public property is not just the company. There is an idiom that goes, 'It is difficult to defy the wrath of the masses,' you understand."

Zhang Chulan, having understood the Xu brothers' veiled meaning, widened his eyes. This identity was not what he had initially imagined, or rather, it did not meet his expectations at all.

"So, instead of entering my own home in Longhu Mountain, I've chosen to enter your precarious business?"

"Hmph, who told you to be so cunning and have a guilty conscience, not even trusting your own family?"

Upon hearing Zhang Chulan's question, Xu Si instantly understood what he was thinking. He chuckled, took out a cigarette, lit it again, and patted Zhang Chulan's shoulder amidst the swirling smoke.

"Now that you're on the same boat, just focus on getting the job done."

He gestured with his chin toward the documents in the three men's hands and said in a good mood, "The company can't stop the resurgence of the Thirty-Six Thieves, but we still need to do something about it."

"It just so happens that Chairman Zhao, no, Uncle Zhao, has some connections with us, so he entrusted this opportunity to us."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao looked at the documents in their hands. They quickly flipped through the task list written in black and white and learned about the company's plans.

"The company wants us to contact those resurrected Thirty-Six Thieves and conduct an investigation?"

"That's right, because they are unregistered, not only in terms of their identity and household registration, but also in terms of their identity information in the world of supernatural beings."

Xu San nodded, took back the documents from their hands, and resealed them.

"The company can't stop their revival, but to start anew, some necessary procedures are naturally required, and we can take this opportunity to inquire about the old stories of the Jia Shen Rebellion from them."

"Since they want to be aboveboard, we might as well go to them openly and honestly as well."

The Xu brothers' words rekindled Zhang Chulan's somewhat dejected spirit. However, just when the Xu brothers thought the investigation could continue, a cold voice poured cold water on him.

"It's not that simple. Before we even get there, those senior figures will announce that they're going into seclusion."

Zhang Lingyu took a sip of tea to wash away the lingering taste of the food, and looked at the three of them, saying, "Unless we can catch a senior resurrected on the spot, we have no chance at all."

"Sects and factions mean portals; with portals, one can naturally isolate oneself from the outside world and avoid contact with outsiders."

"Back when we were at the Celestial Master's Mansion, my master would announce that he was in seclusion when he didn't want to see guests. In reality, he would take his Uncle Jinzhong for a walk in the mountains."

"That's one of the advantages of having a portal; once the portal is closed, no one knows what's going on inside."

"Are we really so desperate that we can't find anything?"

"No, we still have clues we haven't noticed."

Zhang Chulan ate a couple of bites of food, chewing as he pondered with his head down. The light in his eyes grew brighter, breaking through the long-standing confusion.

"My junior uncle just reminded me, since it's difficult to meet those with powerful connections, why don't we just go find those without connections?"

"Since the thirty-six thieves come from all walks of life, there must be some who are capable but have no background, and they may be able to escape the pursuit."

"Moreover, we don't necessarily have to limit our perspective to the Thirty-Six Thieves. We can also look for the elderly who are still alive today, such as Xia Liuqing and Mei Jinfeng."

"There may not be many elderly people left, but if we can find just one, that would be a great breakthrough for us."

He watched the Xu brothers, playing his role as the team's strategist.

In the team centered around Feng Baobao, although the Xu brothers spent the most time with her, Zhang Chulan was the one with the closest relationship to her.

This was not only Xu Xiang's dying wish, but also the mysterious connection to the Jia Shen year, which made Zhang Chulan the leader and planner closest to Feng Baobao.

Xu San and Xu Si exchanged a glance and expressed their approval of Zhang Chulan's suggestion.

"Okay, then let's go check again to see if any of them have escaped and survived to this day. There's also another important matter."

"We have a mission in a few days to entertain foreign guests, so please make preparations in advance."

"Foreign guests?"

Zhang Chulan looked at the two of them. "We did see Western magicians on Mount Longhu. Could it be them again this time?"

"No, it's another group of beggars who came to freeload, as well as other foreign supernatural organizations that were invited to attend the meeting."

At this point, Xu San's expression turned serious. He looked at the carefree Feng Baobao and said worriedly, "More importantly, Lu Qian from Wudang, also known as Little Lu Zu, will be making an appearance this time."

"Zhang Chulan, what exactly happened in Tongtian Valley? Why did that Little Lu Zu target you and Bao Bao, and even attack you so directly?"

Zhang Chulan touched Huan Tong's cheek and chuckled bitterly. "I don't know. I'm wondering too. He's so famous and has such profound cultivation. How could I dare to get close to him? I'd be lucky if I didn't avoid him."

"That's not necessarily true. Although Lü Qian is decisive and ruthless, he has always had a good reputation and would never act rashly. Anyone who would make him take action must either be guilty of heinous crimes or have offended him."

Ironically, Lu Qian, who is clearly a butcher in black and white records, is actually a virtuous and upright person who eliminates evil and thieves and adheres to the bottom line.

"It's because we hadn't been in contact before that I'm so confused... Wait a minute."

He frowned in thought, then suddenly stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Now that you mention it, something comes to mind."

"He said he wanted to settle accounts with us? But we've never met before, what accounts are there, and I'm not the only one."

Thinking of this, he suddenly widened his eyes, turned to look at the stunned Feng Baobao, and exclaimed in shock, "Oh no!"

"So, he knows about Bao'er's situation!"

"What?!"

"Zhang Chulan, explain yourself clearly!"

"Only when you owe a debt will you have an account to pay back, but Bao'er and I have hardly ever seen Lü Qian, so where are we supposed to owe him a debt?"

Zhang Chulan interrupted the two before they could finish speaking, glanced at Zhang Lingyu who was calmly drinking tea, and changed the subject, saying, "The only point of intersection between us and Lü Qian, besides the Luotian Grand Ceremony a few months ago, is the Jia Shen Rebellion decades ago."

"In other words, Lü Qian, who came from the Lü family and Wudang, and had good relations with various sects, was definitely a key figure in understanding the Jia Shen Rebellion!"

After careful analysis, the previously stalled clues suddenly became clear, but the next moment, his excitement vanished, and he sighed in frustration with a sullen face.

"Heh, did I dig myself into a huge time bomb?"

Just now, he was excited because he had found the key target, thinking that the days of hard work and walking on thin ice were finally over.

After all, once they get the answers from Lü Qian, all the thrilling events will return to normal, and the chaotic and dangerous investigation will come to an end.

Everything was so wonderful that Zhang Chulan momentarily forgot the crucial point—to get Lü Qian to speak.

Yes, they forced a highly skilled and capable master named Qingjing to speak, allowing them to ask him any questions.

As his thoughts raced, Zhang Chulan could already foresee his fate; their actions were tantamount to him courting death.

What happens when you provoke a Qingjing Zhenren? The Quanxing Sect on Longhu Mountain, where their bones and flesh were removed and piled up like a mound of corpses, has already demonstrated this perfectly.

"Well, we've hit a dead end again. We can only hope that Little Lu Zu is in a good mood and might do us the honor of giving us some information."

Zhang Chulan looked at Xu San and Xu Si, who also had somber expressions, and said to Feng Baobao beside him, "After all, we can't use any tricks, or rather, we are the ones who are afraid of them using tricks."

"How did we end up running into a Taoist priest like this who has goals, direction, courage, and the guts to take action?"

As he spoke, a hint of envy flashed across his face, but he quickly concealed it.

"Actually, you're overcomplicating things."

Zhang Lingyu, who had been silently drinking his tea, took the initiative to speak. He put down his teacup, dipped it in the tea, and wrote a character on the table.

"Sincerity?"

"That's right, it's sincerity."

Zhang Lingyu responded to everyone's questions and said softly, "I didn't understand it before, but now that I've learned to let go, I've discovered that for cultivators, everything is very simple."

"Fellow Daoist Lü Qian is a pure cultivator and seeker of the Dao. Others may find him profound and difficult to understand, but on the contrary, he is very simple and easy to understand."

At this point, the image of the old Celestial Master suddenly appeared in his mind, and he continued, "People like them are true to themselves and to their true selves, and they are not disturbed by external things. They are truly carefree and serene."

Instead of trying to annoy him by beating around the bush, it's better to just ask directly.

"If he wants to answer and is able to answer, he will definitely answer our questions."

These simple and straightforward words silenced the three people in the room who were preoccupied with complicated thoughts. Then, they sighed and said with some relief.

"Then all we can do is try our best and leave the rest to fate."

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The exam is over, and I'm currently taking it.