Chapter 1086: 1086 The Xu Family’s Plan
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Chapter 1086 The Xu Family’s Plan
Lu Yu’s question sent Ming Baixuan into a tailspin. He stared at Lu Yu, his mouth clamped shut, fearing another slip-up that Lu Yu’s keen eyes would catch. Caution became his mantra.
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“Why the hesitation?” Lu Yu pressed. “Surely you weren’t planning on keeping the Xu family entirely out of the loop before, right? Negotiations must have occurred, then fell apart. You were searching for an opportunity, and then along came I.”
Ming Baixuan sighed, the air heavy with defeat. “Fine, I confess. I did approach the Xu family initially, proposing a partnership to crack open this secret vault. But their greed knew no bounds. They insisted on a lopsided split, claiming their larger manpower warranted a bigger share. One person versus a whole family, they argued, meant I deserved less.”
“Needless to say,” Ming Baixuan continued, “negotiations went south. We never spoke again, at least not until…”
Lu Yu’s gaze narrowed, his voice laced with suspicion. “Until what, Ming
Baixuan? You spoke to them yesterday, didn’t you?”
Ming Baixuan froze, rooted to the spot like a startled deer. “What are you talking about?” he stammered, his voice laced with a hint of panic. “Yesterday? Don’t be ridiculous!”
Lu Yu’s smile remained unconvinced. “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” he countered.
“I… I don’t know what you’re on about! Can we just move on with this collaboration?” Ming Baixuan sputtered, his facade crumbling with every word.
Sensing the rising tension, Hu Zhan tugged on Lu Yu’s sleeve discreetly. “Maybe we should lay off the questions, Lu Yu. Pushing him too hard might not be wise.”
Lu Yu chuckled, his amusement evident. “Can’t answer, Ming Baixuan? Afraid
I’ll see through your charade again?”
“Cut the crap! Are you in or out? Don’t waste my time!” Ming Baixuan bellowed, his bravado a mere facade for his mounting anxiety.
The Nightmare Dragon, Lu Yu’s hidden companion, chimed in telepathically.
“Master, this individual is wracked with guilt. He’s terrified of you now.”
Taking a deep breath, Lu Yu addressed Ming Baixuan. “Alright, it seems I’ve struck a nerve. Let me put it this way—I’m fairly certain you approached the Xu family before yesterday.”
“Following that conversation, they must have contacted me,” Lu Yu elaborated. “Let me guess further. Your collaboration with them involved using me to access the vault, only to be intercepted by the Xu family on the way. They planned to swoop in after you cleared the path, leaving me with nothing.” Ming Baixuan stood speechless, the truth hanging heavy in the air.
“As for the motive,” Lu Yu continued, his voice a low rumble, “perhaps the entrance to this secret vault is treacherous, requiring a powerful sacrifice to remove obstacles. Since I’m an unknown outsider with no power or influence in Skyplume City, my death wouldn’t raise an eyebrow, right?”
Lu Yu’s words struck a chord deep within Ming Baixuan, leaving him speechless. “These are just guesses… How are you sure this is true?” He stammered, a tremor in his voice.
Lu Yu’s laughter echoed in the air. “Of course it is. Your performance gave it all away.”
Ming Baixuan took a shaky breath, his hands clammy with nervous sweat. He looked at Lu Yu, defeat etched on his face. “Alright,” he conceded, his voice barely a whisper. “I won’t deny it. The Xu family did orchestrate this plan.”
“They’ve been scouting expendable candidates to clear the dangers within the vault. Whoever managed to breach the entrance would be followed by the Xu family, who would then steal the spoils. I have no idea how you figured it out, but at this point, there’s no use hiding it.”
“The plan’s a bust now. If you’re not interested in opening the vault without their involvement, then forget it.” Ming Baixuan slumped in resignation.
Lu Yu shook his head at that. “No, we’ll continue the search. Lead the way, Ming Baixuan.”
Ming Baixuan stared at Lu Yu, dumbfounded. He hadn’t anticipated Lu Yu’s determination to press on despite the revelation. “Are you serious? Don’t you fear the Xu family’s betrayal?”
“Their betrayal is a non-issue. Just guide us,” Lu Yu instructed with steely resolve. “As for the Xu family, they can join the party. I’ll eliminate them as well. ”
Panic flickered across Ming Baixuan’s face. “No, we can’t proceed! This partnership is dissolved. We can’t work together anymore after this deception!” He waved his hands frantically, the threat of retreat hanging heavy in the air.
“Another step back,” Lu Yu warned, a cold aura radiating from him, “and you won’t live to regret it.”
Ming Baixuan gulped, the murderous intent unmistakable. “Y-you want to kill me?” he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
“Precisely,” Lu Yu confirmed. “Cooperation is the only path forward. Otherwise, you’ll face the consequences.”
“But… I was looking out for you! A conflict with the Xu family would make Skyplume City a hostile environment for you,” Ming Baixuan stammered, confusion coloring his voice.
Lu Yu remained unfazed. “Their concerns hold no weight with me. If they wish to engage, they’ll face complete annihilation.”
The calmness in Lu Yu’s voice sent shivers down Ming Baixuan’s spine. The threat felt genuine, a stark contrast to the casual demeanor.
Stunned into silence, Ming Baixuan finally understood. “Brother,” he stammered, “you… you want to destroy the Xu family? Do you think you’re invincible?”
A hint of amusement flickered across Lu Yu’s face. “Invincibility isn’t the point. Compared to me, the Xu family is utterly insignificant. They wouldn’t even qualify as a challenge.”
Far from the capital, Lu Yu yearned for a worthy opponent. The formidable foes he’d encountered in the Ember Kingdom were a distant memory here.
Ming Baixuan swallowed hard, the weight of Lu Yu’s words settling in. The murderous aura emanating from him left no room for debate. Defeated, Ming Baixuan could only nod and continue leading the way. He was no match for such power.
With a tense gait, Ming Baixuan guided Lu Yu and Hu Zhan out of the city, not daring to steal a glance back.
“This guy joined forces with the Xu family to deceive us,” Hu Zhan muttered. “What’s our next move? Those Xu fools will surely try to ambush us once we find the treasure.’
Lu Yu’s voice remained indifferent. “Ambush? Perfect. I’ll eliminate them all. If they remain unconvinced, we’ll settle things definitively.”
Hu Zhan couldn’t help but applaud Lu Yu’s unwavering confidence. “You’re certainly a true force to be reckoned with. Such unwavering conviction is rare, and anyone else making such claims would be met with laughter..”
