Only Got My Martial Arts Modifier in My Old Age

At this thought, the fat on Li Biao’s face twitched a few times. He instantly put on a business-like expression.

He coughed heavily, threw the cigarette butt, still more than half-unsmoked, onto the ground and crushed it out with the sole of his boot.

"Alright! Stop crowding around! You... Zhang Hong, right? Take your men and clean this place up, now! Obstructing traffic, what a disgrace!"

After dressing down Zhang Hong, Li Biao waved a hand and ordered the officers behind him, "A few of you, take the body back to the bureau for registration... hmm, just say... suspected gang violence, death by mutual combat!"

"Let the family... uh, have Yishun Hall come and claim him! Everyone else, fall out!"

With that, he didn’t spare another glance for Zhang Hong’s fawning expression and turned to walk toward the truck’s cab.

Frequenting restaurants and gambling dens, embracing courtesans and pretty girls, extorting money and benefits—Li Biao was an expert in all these leisurely pursuits.

As for the muddy waters of inter-gang warfare, he didn’t want to waste a single bit of his time or precious energy on it.

「Lu Family Mansion, within a quiet courtyard.」

Lu Fu stood in attendance with his hands at his sides, his lips twitching as if he wanted to say something. But Lu Jingwu, standing beside him, could no longer contain the tempest raging in his heart and took a step forward to speak first.

"First Uncle! Could it be... could you really have..."

Lu Yun was seated at a stone table. He picked up a cup of hot tea and took a gentle sip.

"Yes, I’ve had some recent insights and made a little progress."

"But..." Lu Jingwu tried to press further, but Lu Yun cut him off with a raised hand.

"That’s enough. No need to say more."

Lu Yun set down his teacup, his gaze sweeping over the two of them. "You may go."

"Ah Fu, I’ll trouble you to look after Jingteng. Jingwu, you keep an eye on the trading company’s business for now."

"If you encounter anything you can’t decide on, you may come and ask me."

In the past, if such a disturbance had occurred with the family’s businesses, Lu Yun would have certainly come out of retirement to take command and oversee the entire situation.

But now, all of the Lu Family’s assets were unimportant in his eyes. The most important thing was the "Extreme Blue Martial Arts Modifier" in his mind.

He had to seize this opportunity, which had come sixty years late, and exhaust every possibility to obtain more modified value.

Lu Yun’s goal transcended worldly power and wealth, pointing toward a more ethereal, ultimate dream.

Eternal life and everlasting sight!

Having personally experienced the torment of his qi and blood decaying and his physical body breaking down, watching helplessly as time flowed by mercilessly, Lu Yun feared aging more than anyone.

’Death means everything returns to zero. It means my sixty years of trials and tribulations, of struggle, of honor and disgrace, of love and hate... all of it will turn to dust, utterly meaningless.’

’I absolutely cannot accept it!’

Outside the courtyard, Lu Jingwu practically dragged Lu Fu by the arm and sleeve, pulling him to a corner of the corridor.

"Uncle Fu! Did you hear that? Did you hear him clearly? First Uncle... he admitted it! He’s a Grandmaster of Huajin!! Huajin! Oh my god!"

Faced with Lu Jingwu’s ecstasy, Lu Fu merely nodded calmly. "I heard, Young Master Wu."

"I knew it! First Uncle is a heaven-sent genius! Back then, to be able to suppress all rivals from a humble background and win the title of Martial Scholar—I knew he was no ordinary man!"

Lu Jingwu paced back and forth in his excitement. "A Grandmaster of Huajin... HAHAHA! Let’s see who in Yun Port City will be blind enough to dare and pluck the tiger’s whiskers of our Lu Family now!"

Watching his young master’s uncomposed state, a rare, faint smile appeared on Lu Fu’s lips.

"Young Master Wu is right. The Old Master is a peerless talent of his generation. Back then, he was able to seize the title of Martial Scholar from amidst a million-strong army. How could the mere Huajin Realm possibly halt his steps?"

"I have never doubted this for a moment."

After Lu Jingwu and Lu Fu left, Lu Yun slowly rose to his feet and walked out of the small courtyard, leaning on his Rosewood Walking Stick.

He was heading to the storeroom in the deepest part of the mansion to personally take inventory of the stock of centennial ginseng, Lingzhi, snow lotuses, and other rare tonics.

That was what Lu Yun was most concerned with at the moment, as these were precious resources for obtaining "modified value."

As for the matter of killing a man in the street outside Tonghe Pavilion and crippling the Third Hall Master of Yishun Hall.

Lu Yun wasn’t worried about it in the slightest.

Although the Daxia New Country had been established for thirty years, replacing the decadent Yin Dynasty, this did not mean it was a truly peaceful and prosperous era.

Moreover, the orders from the higher-ups were greatly diminished once they left Yanjing City.

Warlords across the land commanded their own armies, carving out territories and ruling as kings. The consulates and concessions of the Western Countries were like nations within a nation, enjoying special privileges and meddling in local affairs.

On the surface, the entire country had the appearance of a new dynasty, but in reality, it remained a chaotic mix of old and new, Chinese and foreign, and fragmented power.

Yun Port City, located on the coast, was naturally a place coveted by all the major powers in the world.

Here, gang influences were deeply entrenched, and official corruption was rampant. They not only had deep ties with Western powers but also colluded with various warlords and even local magnates for profit.

The concession areas were self-governed and beyond the law, while in the Chinese districts, the police and bandits were one and the same. This was a tacit understanding among everyone.

In such a chaotic world, the death of a few gangsters, especially in cases involving gang feuds and conflicts over interests, meant the Yun Port City Security Bureau would most likely turn a blind eye. Causing more trouble was worse than letting things be.

If they were to investigate seriously, the trouble it would stir up would likely be greater than the case itself.

What’s more, the Lu Family had been rooted in Yun Port for decades. They were a great tree with deep roots. How could they be a pushover the Yun Port City Security Bureau could bully at will?

In his decades of weathering storms, Lu Yun had accumulated more than just wealth and martial strength.

Among the officials of Yun Port City, the military, and even the high-level foreigners in the concessions, he had cultivated a network of connections.

"Great Old Master!"

"Greetings, Great Old Master!"

Passing through the courtyard corridors, he encountered Lu Family servants along the way—some sweeping, some carrying goods, and others hurrying past.

Upon seeing Lu Yun, they all stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully.

In their gazes toward Lu Yun, besides the awe a servant should have for their master, there was an even greater, heartfelt respect.

In Yun Port City, it was common for large, wealthy families to beat and curse their servants at will, treating them as worthless as weeds.

But this old master of the Lu Family was different.

Though he was deeply imposing, he had never mistreated a single servant without reason.

He acted according to rules and principles, and his rewards and punishments were clear.

What was even rarer was the absence of that lofty contempt in his eyes. Rich or poor, noble or humble, all were the same before Lu Yun.

This respect made all the servants of the Lu Family, from top to bottom, feel grateful in their hearts.

Lu Yun gave a slight nod in response. He waved his hand, signaling to some servants that they did not need to support him.

Ever since breaking through to become a Grandmaster of Huajin, Lu Yun felt as though his body was as light and healthy as it had been when he was 40.

The storeroom was located in the deepest part of the estate. It was a small, standalone building with heavy doors and windows, built from gray bricks.

Standing before the door were four guards with ramrod-straight backs and sharp eyes, all of them martial arts experts hired by the Lu Family at a high price.

Upon seeing Lu Yun, they immediately puffed out their chests and saluted.

A man around his mid-thirties, dressed in a simple long gown, heard the commotion and walked out quickly from the storeroom.

"Adoptive Father, why have you come to the storeroom personally? If you need anything, you could have just sent someone with an order, and I would have delivered it to you."

This person was none other than Lu Jingsheng, the adopted son Lu Yun had taken in years ago.

He was a meticulous and cautious person who disliked being in the limelight. His martial arts foundation was extremely solid, and his Realm had also reached Mid-stage Anjin.

More importantly, he was utterly loyal, honest, and good-natured, which was why Lu Yun had entrusted him with the crucial task of guarding the storeroom.