Lu Jun saw his so-called uncle in such a pitiful state and immediately sensed trouble. With an expressionless face, he asked, "Go on, who is it, and what do they want you to do?"
Just as Lu Dong was trembling and about to spill everything
Suddenly, a cocky voice echoed from afar. "I was the one who sent him. Got a problem with that?"
An old man and a young man walked over. The young man had a sharp, handsome face and wore luxurious clothes he looked every bit the arrogant and domineering princeling. A middle-aged man followed behind him.
The young man walked up to the trembling Lu Dong and kicked him flying with disgust on his face. "Useless old dog. Came to talk terms and ended up disgracing me. Crawl back where you came from."
Lu Dong cried out in pain, dared not speak back, and scurried away on all fours, wetting himself.
"And who are you?"
Lu Jun remained indifferent upon witnessing the scene. He was puzzled he could've sworn all the enemies he had ever made had been reduced to ashes by now.
No way, no way... someone's actually got the nerve to show up in person?
"Lu Yilin." The young man reported his name with a fake smile, then ordered, "As for what this is about, come with me. We'll talk somewhere else."
Upon hearing the name, Lu Jun's memory stirred, and he suddenly recalled who this was. His brow furrowed slightly. A core member of the Lu Family?
In the original timeline, Lu Yilin had brought about his own demise by provoking Mo Fan.
This guy had joined the national team. During his first mission with Mo Fan exploring the Peruvian Gobi Desert, he was one of the rear guards. He deliberately destroyed a critical piece of magical equipment, causing Mo Fan to fall behind enemy lines in a demon zone and nearly die.
It was like a construction worker operating at a high altitude, only for someone to intentionally cut the safety rope and give him a little push.
Anyone would explode with rage at such an act. Mo Fan was no exception he killed Lu Yilin on the spot in front of everyone.
But it didn't end there. Lu Yilin's elder brother, Lu Zhantian, held a grudge. As the head of the North Rain Judgment Court, he abused his power and kidnapped Mo Fan's father.
Their father, Councilman Lu Xin, simply looked the other way. If not for Mo Fan's fame after winning the championship, Lu Xin would've taken matters into his own hands.
As far as Lu Jun remembered, the whole family was scum. Killing them all wouldn't be unjust.
He could feel the malicious intent from these two and snapped coldly, "Get lost!"
"You!" Lu Yilin was angered by the disregard, but quickly calmed and sneered, "Don't want to talk privately? Fine, I'll be blunt. Name your price for the national team spot."
"If you step down voluntarily, the family will compensate you with two Stard river Veins. You'll walk away with a profit."
Lu Yilin looked confident. He knew the national team positions couldn't be transferred in private. But he was next in line if someone stepped down, he would definitely be the immediate substitute.
As soon as he spoke, several national team members looked at Lu Jun with curious expressions, their thoughts unreadable.
Lu Jun found it laughable. Two hundred million? That's what you'd give to a beggar. Sure, the national team prize pool was large, and even the core members only got two hundred million each. But the true value of participating in the Venice Tournament was far beyond that.
It determined the distribution of major domestic and international interests, deeply impacting the growth of various nations and major factions.
Take the Lu Family for example. Once they learned of Lu Yilin's plan, they thought it was brilliant and decided to fully support it. The earlier he got into the national team, the sooner he could boost the family's development.
Lu Jun was fuming inside, but on the surface, he replied calmly, "And what if I say no?"
Lu Yilin's smile faded. With a cold face, he said, "As a member of the family, it's your duty to follow the family's arrangements."
"Heh." Lu Jun laughed in fury. "I don't recall ever having contact with the Lu Family or receiving anything from you. So why should I follow some so-called family arrangement?"
Lu Yilin suddenly softened, speaking in a persuasive tone. "I know... maybe the family neglected you in the past and failed to support you. But that's okay. From now on, we'll make it up to you."
He spoke righteously, "A family is a powerful collective. Individual strength is insignificant. Only by joining it can you compete. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Trying to get something for nothing."
Lu Jun didn't bother listening anymore. Word by word, he said, "From the beginning, I've had nothing to do with the Lu Family. I never took a single thing from you, and today, don't think you'll take anything from me either."
"You really are as stubborn as the rumors say."
Lu Yilin chuckled and shook his head. Then his face turned vicious as he tore away the last pretense. "You think this is a negotiation? The family has already made its decision. I represent the will of the entire family."
"The power of the aristocratic clans is far beyond your imagination. You're throwing an egg at a rock!"
He added slowly, "I recall you have a sister, right? And a girlfriend at Pearl Institute named Ding Yumian?"
"My father is a Super-level Councilman. My big brother is a Super-level Judgment Leader. What do you think can I detain them under the pretense of investigating the Black Vatican?"
As his words fell, Lu Jun's expression remained indifferent, which made him seem rather terrifying, sending chills down one's spine. He concluded calmly, "With actions like this, didn't you bother to investigate my background before making your decision?"
"Hahaha, want to compare influence and background?" Lu Yilin burst into laughter, then quickly restrained it with a sneer, "Of course we did. Your three national votes yes, we've looked into all of them."
"Two of them came from Councilor Zhu Meng. Now that he's fallen, the other is from Pearl Academy. Hmm, Dean Xiao is your mentor, but he's had many students in his life. How important could you possibly be? The internal strife within the Lu Clan how can he interfere?"
"Even if both of them hold you in high regard and are willing to stand up for you against the Lu Clan, it's only two Super-level Mages. Our Lu Clan has over ten such individuals, holding decisive influence in many fields."
Lu Yilin's eyes flickered with a shrewd light, as if he had victory firmly in his grasp utterly confident.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jun was at a loss for words, finding it downright laughable. All their investigations had uncovered was what lay on the surface.
Naturally, Dean Xiao, Old Man Bao, each had hidden themselves remarkably well. Lu Jun himself had kept a low profile. His honorary councilorship in the Ancient Capital hadn't been publicized, and the trump card of the ancient King's Armor Robes was even more deeply buried.
Besides, the Lu Clan had long displayed this sort of arrogance it wasn't a recent development. In the original story, they even used the excuse of tracking clues to extradite Mo Fan's father to the Beiyu Tribunal for imprisonment.
Mo Fan eventually compromised, merely crippling Lu Zhantian. Lu Jun had no intention of settling for something so lenient.
In Lu Jun's heart, his biggest concern had always been those closest to him. To touch them was akin to striking the head of the King of the Underworld seeking one's own doom.
Fine then. He had originally been debating whether to break Lu Yilin's limbs and toss him at the gates of the Lu Clan's compound, or perhaps secretly curse him to death.
The latter seemed excessive. A verbal confrontation didn't warrant that. He'd only considered it because of the guy's narrow-minded personality.
After all, the conflict between Mo Fan and Lu Yilin in the original stemmed from a petty love rivalry. Mo Fan had merely hugged Jiang Shaoxu once, and that had made Lu Yilin attempt murder.
Lu Yilin, relying on the Lu Clan's power, completely disregarded the greater picture of the national team. Even Mo Fan hadn't seen that coming. Some people, quite literally, had brains the size of peanuts.
Now Lu Jun no longer hesitated. He flipped the table completely. Since the other side had already resorted to underhanded tricks to target his loved ones, then fine bring the whole family into it.
At this moment, Lu Jun felt there was one last thing he needed to confirm. He asked calmly, "You didn't know the Black Serpent of Hangzhou is closely tied to me?"
"So what?" Lu Yilin sneered. "A demon dares meddle in the affairs of the Nine Provinces? The moment it makes a move, it'll be blasted into dust. There are plenty of people up there who don't trust magical beasts."
Alright then, no wonder even with Mo Fan's Black Serpent as his backing, the Lu Clan still dared to act.
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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