Chapter 994: The Sentimental Elder Shui Meets the Lu Family Envoy |
.......
The old man had no family.
His entire life had been dedicated to the Great Han.
Now in his twilight years, he had finally encountered such an agreeable and heartwarming junior as Lu Ding.
And he was so similar to him.
Both of them had received special merit awards.
From the very first moment he laid eyes on Lu Ding.
He knew this kid was something special.
A person standing alone before the Dragon Wall's gates, calling him "Chief," pushing his wheelchair, feeling the wind rush past.
Later, he changed his profile picture and took photos with him.
All of this gave Elder Shui experiences he had never felt before.
It allowed him, while other old men flaunted their grandchildren, to no longer remain silent and endure his loneliness alone.
He didn't dare imagine how much he would miss Lu Ding if he were taken away, no longer in the Great Han, never to return.
Even though Lu Ding was currently in the Great Han, they still rarely saw each other because Lu Ding was busy.
But at least the old man had something to look forward to.
But if Lu Ding had to go to Ji Continent, across countless mountains and rivers... when would there ever be an end to it?
Once he went home, he would have parents, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a great-great-grandfather...
And a whole messy collection of various grandfathers.
I'm afraid he wouldn't even remember this old wreck.
At this moment, Elder Shui's loneliness was laid bare.
No matter how powerful he was, that simple old man's heart buried deep within his bones could never be erased.
Everyone in the room fell silent.
Time ticked by, minute after minute.
More and more Great Han high-ranking officials arrived in the office.
In an instant, the room became a gathering of powerful figures.
By the time night fell.
Lu Ding arrived in Hanjing and pushed open the office door.
The sealed space immediately burst forth with hazy mist, mixed with a thick, cloying smell of nicotine.
Smoke curled everywhere.
Cigarette butts littered the floor.
The whole place smelled like smoked cured meat.
The moment they saw Lu Ding.
Everyone in the office shot up from their seats.
Lu Ding walked in, greeting each person in turn, whether he knew them or not, every single one.
"Chief... hello, Chief... Chief..."
Everyone responded with warm, kind smiles.
What a sweet-talking kid.
Finally, Lu Ding reached Elder Shui: "Elder Shui, I'm back."
Elder Shui looked up: "Glad you're back."
His hand tightly clutched the meager belongings he had.
He didn't know what choice Lu Ding would make, but he would respect it—after all, who wouldn't want to reunite with their family?
If that was the case.
Elder Shui would give him a gift to carry his longing.
Hoping that someday, when Lu Ding used it in Ji Continent and saw it, he would remember that thousands of miles away, there was an old man who still cared for him.
Come back and visit when he had time.
Another sentimental old man, indeed.
After finishing his greetings, Lu Ding turned to Secretary Qiu: "Where are they?"
Secretary Qiu answered truthfully: "In the Grand Auditorium."
Lu Ding was about to take a step.
Elder Shui's voice rang out: "Lu Ding..."
Lu Ding stopped and crouched down: "What is it, Elder Shui?"
Elder Shui: "Could you push me there too?"
What he really wanted to say was, could you push me one last time?
But the words changed as they reached his lips.
Lu Ding stood up, moved behind Elder Shui, and grabbed the wheelchair handles: "Of course, just sit tight."
With a low hum, a stirring, passionate sound filled the air.
Elder Shui felt as if he had returned to the first time he met Lu Ding.
The other officials followed.
In a large group, they trailed behind Lu Ding as he pushed Elder Shui, arriving at the Hanjing Grand Auditorium.
Without a single pause.
Lu Ding pushed Elder Shui and walked inside.
He didn't need any heavy psychological preparation.
From the moment he was abandoned, he had already been preparing himself mentally—thinking about what he would do if his parents ever came back.
He kept that up for nineteen years, even after his Golden Finger awakened, he was still thinking about it—if he became awesome, what would happen if his parents returned?
But without exception, his answer was always the same: he would be awesome on his own.
No matter if his parents were rich, powerful, or influential—that was theirs. Lu Ding would enjoy none of it.
No matter how rich, powerful, or influential he became himself—that was his. They would enjoy none of it either.
In the auditorium.
The Lu Family envoy turned at the sound.
Countless gazes fell upon that handsome face dressed in scholar-warrior sleeves, pushing the wheelchair.
One of the Lu Family envoys said, "So alike, that side profile is identical. It's exactly like the master."
Another chimed in, "And also this..."
But before he could finish.
Lu Ding tore off a chunk of flesh from his own cheek, holding it in his hand—he felt no pain.
He deliberately revealed the bloody, mangled, rapidly healing cheek: "Still look alike?"
In an instant, the man who had spoken couldn't continue.
Lu Ding's decisive action immediately changed the mindset of everyone present.
The smiles on the Lu Family members' faces froze.
They had assumed that even if Lu Ding harbored resentment, once he learned how powerful the Lu Family was and weighed the pros and cons, he wouldn't make things too ugly.
They never expected an opening like this.
Surely... surely the young master didn't yet know how strong the Lu Family was, right?
Once they told him, he might change his attitude.
It's fine, it's fine.
The Great Han officials and Elder Shui, seeing Lu Ding's actions, felt both heartache for him and secret relief.
This attitude from Lu Ding seemed to suggest... he wasn't going to leave...
No rush, no rush, let's see how things develop.
A Deification Ninth Level cultivator from the Lu Family stepped forward.
He pulled out a crystalline prism from his robes, inside of which was sealed a bright, vivid crimson drop of blood. As he approached Lu Ding, the blood began to glow.
The old man surnamed Lu did not hesitate in the slightest.
He dropped directly to his knees: "Lu Family, Lu Jiuchuan, greets the Young Master!!!"
The other Lu Family members followed suit, kneeling.
In unison, they shouted: "Greetings, Young Master!!!"
Lu Ding swept his gaze across the neatly kneeling crowd.
He smiled contemptuously: "I was hoping the main players would show up. That way, I could see what kind of mangled freaks had ancestors burning incense so brightly they could produce a kid like me, only to lose him later. I bet their ancestors in the afterlife are grinding their teeth to dust."
"But instead, all that came were servants?"
Lu Jiuchuan listened without getting angry—after all, that was his place.
Even if he was an outcast young master, a fallen young master, he was still the young master.
There was no overstepping boundaries.
If something like a wicked servant bullying their master happened in the Lu Family, they would be flayed, have their bones torn apart, and their soul burned in a lamp—unless they were deliberately looking for trouble and didn't fear death.
"Young Master, the master and madam are currently under house arrest and cannot come in person to take you home. I can now perform a secret technique to let you see each other across the distance. Young Master, what do you think?"
"Stop calling me 'Young Master.' It makes me sick. Sounds like I'm some kind of escort. What century is this, 'Young Master'? Besides, have I acknowledged anything?"
Lu Jiuchuan lowered his head: "I apologize, Young Master..."
"Enough, cut the crap. Just start already. I can't wait any longer."
There was nothing worth saying to a bunch of servants. He just wanted to see the two culprits who gave birth but didn't raise him, to make them give up this family reunion nonsense early, and get the hell out of his sight. Disgusting!
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A bonus chapter for the gift king previously sent by Senior Jun Shen Hongchen. Thanks to the foot-kicking-cripple-legged-cripple big shot for the gift king. I will add bonus chapters for all the gift kings from the big shots one by one. If they haven't been added yet, it's because I haven't finished the previous big shots' gift king chapters yet—I won't default. Dear readers, please click the "Catch Up" button and send some free "Power for Love" gifts. Love you all!