Chapter 140 – Poison-Handed Crane Demon, Don’t Move, Don’t Listen, Don’t Look!

Lu Yuan stood quietly in a corner of the banquet hall.

Tonight, he wore a light gray, traditional Chinese silk jacket, with beautiful silver embroidery on the collar and cuffs.

Underneath was a white inner shirt, and on his feet, he wore black martial arts training shoes made to look like cloth.

He had a distinctly ancient style.

Combined with his tall, well-proportioned physique and handsome, masculine features, his steady gaze gave him the air of a noble young master from an ancient martial arts family.

Tonight, he was the main character.

But in reality, he wasn’t as attention-grabbing as he had expected.

Most of the guests were friends or business associates of the direct disciples of the crane style.

They merely glanced at him as they entered, then dispersed into their own circles for socializing and networking.

However, quite a few accompanying ladies frequently let their eyes linger on him, whispering to each other.

Lu Yuan noticed Lu Jing entering with a few friends and was considering whether to go over and greet them.

At that moment, two figures suddenly appeared before him.

“Uncle Zhao, Aunt Zhuang.”

Lu Yuan greeted Zhao Qiancheng, the Second Senior Brother of the crane style, and Zhuang Xiujie, who was friends with Lin Zhiqin.

The former had a blank expression, nodded slightly at him, and quickly walked past.

Zhuang Xiujie, on the other hand, came over and called him “Little Senior Brother.”

Then she stepped closer and whispered to him, “There might be some trouble during tonight’s apprenticeship banquet, but don’t worry, it won’t be your problem… Just stay on the sidelines and watch.”

Lu Yuan was slightly taken aback, then nodded to show he understood.

Zhuang Xiujie smiled with satisfaction, patted his shoulder, and walked away.

Lu Yuan watched the departing figures of Zhao Qiancheng and Zhuang Xiujie, pondering over what Zhuang Xiujie had just said.

“Will someone come to cause trouble?”

He didn’t know.

But Zhuang Xiujie had said it wasn’t his concern.

The banquet continued from shortly after seven until nine.

As the auspicious time approached, Liu Daoyuan, the sect leader of the crane style, finally made his appearance.

Tonight, Liu Daoyuan had reverted to the appearance Lu Yuan had seen the second time they met.

His once empty left arm had been reattached, and his long beard, hair, and white brows were meticulously groomed.

His expression was as calm as a still well, and his demeanor was that of a revered martial arts master and martial arts grandmaster.

With Liu Daoyuan’s appearance, the large banquet hall quickly grew quiet.

Lu Yuan keenly sensed an inexplicable aura emanating from Liu Daoyuan, seemingly enveloping the entire venue.

“Is this the True Intent Realm?”

Lu Yuan’s eyes sparkled.

“Thank you all for taking the time to attend the True Disciple initiation ceremony of the Celestial Crane of Sky Water…”

Liu Daoyuan’s voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and he spoke at an even pace. Without the aid of a microphone, his words were clearly heard by everyone in the banquet hall.

After a brief opening remark, Liu Daoyuan’s gaze fell upon Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan’s expression shifted slightly, knowing it was his turn to step forward.

He adjusted his clothes a bit and then calmly walked up to the stage.

“Just think of it as being invited to play a game at a wedding,” Lu Yuan told himself.

…

“Celestial Crane of Sky Water… Celestial Crane of Sky Water…”

At a table in the corner of the banquet hall, Sun Zhihua furrowed his brows, muttering Liu Daoyuan’s words.

Suddenly, a flash of insight crossed his eyes, and he blurted out instinctively.

“Sky Water Stream! Sky Water Stream Crane Style!”

“What’s wrong?”

Wu Xinlei, who was recording a video of the stage with her mobile phone, turned her head curiously to ask.

Sun Zhihua shook his head and said, “It’s nothing, I just finally figured out which sect Lu Jing’s younger brother joined.”

“Is it famous? How does it compare to the Moon Shadow Sect?”

Wu Xinlei asked casually.

“About the same…”

Sun Zhihua’s eyes flickered slightly. He glanced at Lu Jing, who was focused on filming her brother on stage, and said softly, “I’ll tell you more later.”

“Okay.”

…

“Serve the tea!”

With Liu Si’s soft command, Lu Yuan knew that the tedious and lengthy ceremony was finally nearing its end.

He took the white porcelain teacup handed to him by Liu Si.

As he respectfully presented it to Liu Daoyuan, he lightly sniffed.

Hmm.

This time, it wasn’t soda.

“Teacher, please have some tea.”

Lu Yuan said softly. Just as the teacup was about to reach Liu Daoyuan’s hands, suddenly…

“Bang!”

An unknown object flew in from outside the banquet hall, crashing heavily onto a table, sending dishes flying and causing a chorus of startled screams.

Lu Yuan’s hand trembled slightly, but Liu Daoyuan’s hands immediately steadied it.

Liu Daoyuan calmly took the tea Lu Yuan offered and sipped it leisurely, his demeanor serene, without a trace of emotion on his face.

“Liu Daoyuan! You old fool…”

“Whoosh!”

“Hmph!”

When Lu Yuan turned around, he saw Zhuang Xiujie dart out like a streak of white silk.

She leaped into the fray, quickly engaging the uninvited intruder in combat.

Zhuang Xiujie was formidable.

Her Crane Power had reached a level where it could cover nearly half her body, making her movements graceful and her attacks sharp.

Lu Yuan barely got a glimpse of the intruder’s face before Zhuang Xiujie had already kicked him out of the banquet hall.

But before the onlookers could breathe a sigh of relief, several more figures burst in from outside.

Even among the guests, several figures suddenly sprang up.

They all charged towards the stage in unison.

Lu Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he was about to move.

A broad hand fell on his shoulder.

“Tonight, you are the main character. It’s not your turn to act.”

Zhao Qiancheng said calmly to Lu Yuan, then swiftly moved out like the wind.

Several other direct disciples of the crane style joined him.

In the blink of an eye, the large banquet hall turned into a battlefield.

The attackers were all skilled, nearly all experts who had cultivated inner strength.

Every move they made could shatter stone and break walls, sending tables and chairs flying and causing the floor and walls to crack.

The guests all retreated to a safe distance. After a brief moment of panic, they found the scene novel and exciting.

They all pulled out their mobile phones to record the spectacle.

Lu Yuan glanced toward Lu Jing and saw that her friends were also excitedly filming, some even standing on tables to get a better view.

His gaze lingered on Sun Zhihua from the Moon Shadow Sect, and reassured, he let out a sigh of relief.

The battle inside the banquet hall reached its climax within seconds.

In less than two minutes, it was all over.

The main reason was Zhao Qiancheng’s overwhelming strength.

None of the intruders could withstand more than three moves from him before being reduced to a heap of broken bodies and thrown out.

Zhao Qiancheng was a top-tier martial artist master level, having cultivated inner strength throughout his entire body, just a step away from reaching True Intent.

Lu Yuan had tried this in his Consciousness Space.

Without using skills from his [Death Messenger (extraordinary)] professional panel, he could barely withstand a full-strength move from Zhao Qiancheng.

All seven intruders were taken care of.

Zhao Qiancheng, Zhuang Xiujie, and the others stood in various corners of the hall, amidst the wreckage, waiting quietly.

When no one else jumped out, they slowly walked back.

Then, Liu Si called the waitstaff to clear the hall, clean up, and serve new dishes, smiling and apologizing to the guests…

Everything returned to its original track and continued as usual.

This disruption seemed to be just a minor episode for the crane style people.

None of them showed much emotional fluctuation; their expressions remained calm.

Lu Yuan watched Zhao Qiancheng and the others return, wondering whether he should go up and say “thank you.”

Suddenly, he heard Liu Daoyuan’s voice faintly behind him.

“You are a True Disciple, they are direct disciples. As long as they are not all dead… you don’t need to act.”

“Uh…”

Lu Yuan was stunned, not knowing what to say for a moment.

…

“Wow, that was amazing!

I never expected to see a live martial arts battle while having dinner. This is so much more exciting than TV shows…”

The apprenticeship banquet left the guests delighted.

Wu Xinlei and the others, who had tagged along with Lu Jing, were still buzzing with excitement as they walked out the door of the “Yuehaitian” restaurant.

“Zhihua, is this what your Ancient Martial Arts circle is like? It’s so cool and awesome!”

Wu Xinlei, the glasses-wearing man, and even Lu Jing all felt like they had stumbled into a new world. Their hearts were still racing with excitement.

Sun Zhihua nodded and said, “In the martial arts world, holding banquets and having people crash them is quite common. As you see more of it, it won’t seem so strange.”

“This year, I’m going home with you for the New Year. Will you take me to see more of this?” Wu Xinlei looked at Sun Zhihua with eager eyes.

Sun Zhihua smiled, gently ruffled her hair, and was about to speak when a figure approached, causing the smile on his face to fade gradually.

“Lu Jing.”

Lu Yuan cast a brief, indifferent glance at Sun Zhihua and the others, then focused on Lu Jing. “Come with me; I have something to discuss with you.”

“Uh… oh, okay.”

Caught off guard, Lu Jing quickly said goodbye to Wu Xinlei and the others before obediently following Lu Yuan in another direction.

Wu Xinlei watched Lu Jing and Lu Yuan walk away.

Turning back, she was about to continue the conversation about the New Year with Sun Zhihua when she noticed him staring at the departing figures of Lu Jing and Lu Yuan. His eyes were glinting, and a strange expression crossed his face.

“Zhihua, what’s wrong?”

Wu Xinlei couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

Sun Zhihua retracted his gaze and slowly said, “Actually, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you, but with Lu Jing around, I didn’t feel comfortable bringing it up…”

“What is it?”

Hearing that it involved Lu Jing and needed to be said behind her back, Wu Xinlei and the glasses-wearing man became even more curious.

Sun Zhihua remained silent for a moment before speaking. “The sect Lu Yuan joined… has a very bad reputation in the martial arts world.”

…

Yuehaitian is located on the outskirts of Weishan City.

The entire place is a massive open manor.

Lu Yuan and Lu Jing slowly walked along the pedestrian path on the left side of the restaurant.

Hanging ball-shaped streetlights and dense, well-manicured greenery surrounded them.

The air was fresh, and the environment was peaceful and quiet. There were hardly any people around, only the sounds of insects and birds, and the occasional car passing by in the distance.

After walking for a while, the brightly lit Yuehaitian was left far behind them.

Lu Yuan finally spoke to Lu Jing: “Lu Jing, I plan to have you temporarily join the crane style…”

Lu Jing was apprehensive about what her younger brother might say to her.

Hearing this, she was completely taken aback.

“Me?!” she exclaimed.

“Yes.”

Lu Yuan casually plucked a few leaves from the nearby greenery, rubbing them between his fingers and inhaling the distinct grassy scent.

“It’s not really a formal joining. I’ve just arranged a position for you at the martial arts gym under the crane style banner. This way, you’ll have something to do every day, which is better than staying in your room overthinking. Also, being at the martial arts gym is relatively safer… The gym is very close to our home.”

This was a solution Lu Yuan had just thought of. Once they returned to Jiaoyan, having Lu Jing accompany him to the gym every day would make it easier to look after her and ensure her safety. If, over time, Lu Jing developed an interest in martial arts practice, that would be even better.

“Okay… okay,” Lu Jing hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. She wasn’t someone who was particularly good at refusing others, and since Lu Yuan had become more assertive, she found it even harder to say no.

“That’s good.”

Lu Yuan looked back at the path they had walked, realizing they had gone quite far. The road ahead and behind them seemed deep and secluded.

He stopped, took off his satin jacket, and gently draped it over Lu Jing’s shoulders, speaking softly, “Then let’s head back to Jiaoyan in a day or two.”

“Okay.”

…

“Poison-Handed Crane Demon?!”

Wu Xinlei’s eyes widened as she stared at Sun Zhihua in front of her.

Beside her, the glasses-wearing man pushed up his glasses with force, his face showing the same amazed expression as if he had just heard some juicy gossip.

The three of them were now quite far from the entrance of the Yuehaitian restaurant, mainly to avoid being overheard.

“Yes, Poison-Handed Crane Demon Liu Daoyuan. I heard about him from my elders, so I have an impression,” Sun Zhihua confirmed.

Sun Zhihua said with a blank expression, “The Sky Water Stream is divided into the Snake Sect and the Crane Style. The Snake Sect operates with integrity, while the Crane Style is quite insidious. If the Sky Water Stream weren’t a reputable sect, the Crane Style could easily be considered an evil sect. Especially their sect leader, Liu Daoyuan, known as the Poison-Handed Crane Demon. He acts recklessly and without any regard for laws. Eventually, his actions enraged many, leading the Snake Sect’s leader and many martial arts peers to clean house… Many thought he was dead, but it turns out he’s still alive.”

“No wonder so many martial artist master level experts showed up to crash such a small apprenticeship banquet today. They must be old enemies of the Crane Style,” Wu Xinlei and the glasses-wearing man listened to Sun Zhihua’s explanation, feeling both astonished and perplexed as many thoughts swirled through their minds.

Suddenly, Wu Xinlei exclaimed, “So, according to you, by joining this sect, Lu Yuan has essentially entered a den of thieves that everyone wants to bring down?!”

Sun Zhihua paused, then nodded, “That’s about right. Lu Yuan is young, but his martial arts skills are already quite impressive. To be noticed by the Poison-Handed Crane Demon, he must have great potential. Why join the Crane Style of the Sky Water Stream? Any other sect would have been better… Staying with the Crane Style for too long, I’m worried his personality might be negatively affected.”

“If Lu Yuan is influenced and turns bad, Lu Jing will definitely be affected too…” Wu Xinlei, thinking quickly, exclaimed, “No, I must talk to Lu Jing about this. She needs to persuade Lu Yuan!”

Sun Zhihua calmly replied, “Whether or not Lu Yuan knows the true nature of the Crane Style, he’ll be upset if you speak ill of it. After all, he just became an apprentice today… I’ll go with you. With me there, no matter how angry he gets, he won’t harm you.”

Wu Xinlei felt a warm sense of reassurance and quickly became resolute. “Alright!”

With the determination to save Lu Jing and Lu Yuan from a dire situation, the three of them quickly headed in the direction Lu Yuan and Lu Jing had taken. The further they walked along the scenic path, the deeper and more secluded it became.

Wu Xinlei and the glasses-wearing man were whispering to each other, discussing how they should persuade Lu Jing and Lu Yuan, while quickly taking small, anxious steps.

As they walked, suddenly, they heard Sun Zhihua’s urgent shout from behind.

“Wait!”

They immediately stopped in their tracks.

“What’s wrong?!”

Wu Xinlei and the glasses-wearing man turned around, only to see that Sun Zhihua, who had been following them, had stopped under a streetlamp without them noticing. He stood motionless, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, with a strange expression on his face.

“What’s wrong, Zhihua?”

Wu Xinlei frowned and glanced at the glasses-wearing man in confusion before they both walked toward Sun Zhihua.

As they approached, they noticed that Sun Zhihua’s muscles were all tensed up. It was as if he was in an extremely stressful state. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and cheeks, dripping onto the ground. Within just a few breaths, his sweat-soaked shirt clung to his body, and his face had turned pale.

“Zhihua, what’s wrong with you?!”

Wu Xinlei panicked and reached out to grab Sun Zhihua’s arm.

The glasses-wearing man seemed at a loss, wanting to ask if Sun Zhihua was suddenly ill but hesitating to speak.

At that moment, a clear sound of footsteps echoed from the darkness under a nearby streetlamp.

Clack—

Clack—clack—

The sound of hard-soled leather shoes striking the brick road rang out crisply. And it wasn’t just one person. The steps were unhurried, gradually approaching them.

Wu Xinlei and the glasses-wearing man were startled, curious to see where the footsteps were coming from.

Just then, Sun Zhihua’s low, urgent voice reached their ears.

“Don’t move! Don’t listen! Don’t look!

Act as if… nothing is happening!”