Chapter 139: Mutual Scheming

He executed every movement with utmost stealth, the increments of his shifts so infinitesimal as to be nearly imperceptible. After continuing this for seven or eight cycles, Lu Yunshu finally reached an optimal position. He was now merely a few strides away from Luo Kui, close enough to close the distance instantly.

In a split second, he unleashed an aura far more formidable than before, pouring his utmost strength into a pair of heavy palms that he thrust forward toward the guards who had been relentlessly entangling him.

The guards were startled for a fraction of a second, but a crushing wave of pressure followed immediately. Then, a sharp pain struck their chests, and their bodies crashed heavily to the ground with loud thuds.

This sequence of events transpired with breathtaking speed, catching them entirely off guard. By the time they realized what was happening, it was already too late.

aided by the dim light, Lu Yunshu’s figure glided like a phantom, reaching Luo Kui’s side in a single breath.

The guards turned pale with horror at the sight. Lu Yunshu’s intent was crystal clear—he was employing the tactic of capturing the ringleader first to subdue the rest. Yet it was too late to intervene; they could only watch helplessly as he took Luo Kui hostage.

"You've been playing the pig to eat the tiger all along, and your previous words were entirely meant to provoke me," Luo Kui said, his pupils contracting sharply as a profound sense of foreboding rose within him. A barefoot man has nothing to fear from one wearing shoes; since his captor stood alone, Lu Yunshu had no reason to fear him.

Even if they perished together, it would be a profitable trade for Lu Yunshu.

Moreover, whether his subordinates would instantly scatter like beasts and turn on him after his death remained uncertain, though the probability was exceedingly high.

Luo Kui had always believed in the supremacy of interests. His guards, without exception, appeared to serve him, but it was more accurate to say they served his wealth. If Lu Yunshu were truly to assassinate him, devoid of financial incentives, his guards would unquestionably refuse to lay down their lives for him any longer.

By then, Lu Yunshu would emerge victorious, while he would be reduced to an absolute failure.

No!

He could never allow such an outcome. He would turn the situation to his advantage and reverse this passive predicament.

Countless thoughts raced through Luo Kui’s mind in an instant, weighing the feasibility of every potential countermeasure.

Lu Yunshu sneered, tightening his grip on Luo Kui to deny him any chance of escape. "Hah, I return your own words to you: cease your futile struggles. I am neither as foolish nor as arrogant as you, to the point of committing such a fatal error."

"Order your men to stand down, and quickly. Otherwise, we shall both perish together."

"There is no deep enmity between us, and I have nothing to do with your ninth concubine. Once I am safe, I will naturally let you leave unharmed. This is for the best of us both; otherwise, I wouldn't mind dragging you down with me to the grave."

"I am merely an insignificant nobody, but you are different, Lord Luo. You possess vast wealth and towering influence. To take you down as my burial companion is well worth the price."

The guards exchanged uncertain glances, realizing the situation had spiraled far beyond their control.

A faint smile slowly surfaced on Luo Kui’s face. "Calm yourselves. I wager he doesn't dare kill me."

Though he was currently a fish on another man’s cutting board, panicking at such a moment was strictly forbidden. His own composure—or lack thereof—was the very source of Lu Yunshu’s surging confidence.

Furthermore, panic solved nothing. Having weathered storms for decades, he was not easily frightened. The closer he came to mortal peril, the more imperative it was to remain calm. Only by breaking his opponent psychologically could he smoothly execute his next phase.

As for Lu Yunshu’s claim that Mu Lan meant nothing to him, that detail had already lost its relevance. Even if it were true, the matter was settled; innocent or not, connection was mandatory, for he could not easily account to Gu Hangguang otherwise.

Yet, at this juncture, Lu Yunshu had little reason to lie. Could he genuinely have misunderstood their relationship, or was the man setting up a smokescreen for some ulterior conspiracy?

Compared to the first possibility, he actually leaned toward the second. Not that he possessed masochistic tendencies, but all prior signs pointed to an unusual dynamic between Mu Lan and Lu Yunshu.

Lu Yunshu scoffed with disdain. "Hahahaha... What a ludicrous joke. You are in my hands right now. With just a little exertion—*snap*—your mortal coil will vanish into smoke, ceasing to exist entirely."

"Killing you is as effortless as slaughtering a dog."

Luo Kui said casually, "That is hardly certain. Perhaps your memory is failing you. Allow me to refresh it."

"Have you forgotten your family hidden above the secret tunnel?"

"Even if you care nothing for yourself, surely you must consider them?"

Lu Yunshu’s expression shifted, and a dark premonition gripped his heart. "What have you done to them?"

"Heh, no need to rush."

Luo Kui smiled. "Rest assured, they are in a very secure location. So long as I issue no orders, they will come to no harm."

"However, the safety of my subordinates upon hearing of my misfortune... that is rather difficult to guarantee."

Lu Yunshu instantly grasped the unspoken threat. His original plan had been to order Luo Kui’s guards to withdraw, reach the open expanse outside where the world was wide, and escape to safety with both Luo Kui as a hostage and his own family. As for the future, he could simply take his kin far away from this ghostly city to seek a livelihood elsewhere.

Though the outside world was equally fraught with peril, it vastly surpassed lingering in this ghost city with a powerful enemy harboring a grudge against him.

Regrettably, his sweet dream was on the verge of shattering. His bargaining chip had been severely devalued, and with the adversary holding his family hostage, compromise seemed inevitable.

Two paths now lay before him. First, to capitulate to Luo Kui—a choice tantamount to binding oneself in silk cocoons.

Not only would it fail to rescue his family, but it would also drag him down into the abyss. The second path was far simpler and more brutal: abandon his family, adhere to his original blueprint of holding Luo Kui hostage, flee the ghost city, and forge a new path alone.

So be it!

After weighing the pros and cons, Lu Yunshu made his decision swiftly. He refused to be led by the nose; thus, the second path was his only recourse.

This was not cold-bloodedness on his part, but a compulsion born of necessity.

If he were to ruin himself through sheer indecision, the loss would far outweigh any gain. A gentleman takes revenge ten years later; the day would inevitably come when he returned to this ghost city to settle accounts and utterly annihilate Luo Kui body and soul.