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Chapter 230 Temptation, Secret Realm

Da da da.

In the silent and wide corridor, footsteps were heard, with a brisk and powerful rhythm.

The guards standing on both sides were tall and straight, all wearing black uniforms, wearing headsets and with guns on their waists.

The gun body faintly exposed under the clothes flashed with metallic luster, exuding a terrifying deterrent power.

The captain of the guard walked past with his head held high and chest puffed out, taking vigorous steps.

They looked alert, their eyes not looking away, and their bodies displayed the calmness and competence of veterans.

At the end of the corridor is an office that occupies a corner of the entire floor.

When the captain of the guard came within a few meters of the door, he immediately slowed down his pace.

He straightened his uniform first, then reached out gently and pushed open the door.

What comes into view is a huge surveillance screen that takes up the entire wall.

The screen emitted a cold blue light, casting a faint cool hue on everything in the room.

It clearly shows the real-time scene of the heavily guarded manor.

At this moment, a young man in a dark suit was sitting quietly in front of the monitoring desk.

His face looked particularly grim under the blue light of the screen.

A wisp of green smoke rose from the cigarette in his hand and slowly dissipated in the air.

He stared deeply at the surveillance video, sometimes frowning slightly, and sometimes a barely perceptible curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Young Master."

The captain of the guard cleared his throat, took a step forward and called out in a low voice.

The young man ignored him and his eyes did not shift at all from the surveillance images.

Seeing this, the captain of the guard didn't dare to say anything.

He just stood there straight, not making a sound, for fear of disturbing the other person's thoughts.

About half an hour later, a slight cough broke the slightly dull silence.

The captain of the guard understood what he meant and quickly moved his stiff legs. He handed over a cup of warm water that had been prepared long ago from the table next to him with both hands.

The young man nodded slightly to express his gratitude.

He placed his fingers lightly on the handle of the cup, brought the cup close to his mouth, and took a sip.

His eyes still hadn't completely moved away from the screen, but his brows had relaxed a little.

It seemed that the warm water relaxed his tense nerves for a moment.

The chief guard observed the man's expression, then bowed and said with some concern:

"Master, you don't have to worry too much. With you in charge of this mission, it will be like having a magic needle that stabilizes the sea. It will definitely be safe."

"hehe."

The young man's lips curled slightly when he heard this, but not much emotion could be heard in his laughter.

However, the flattering captain of the guards was startled and his back could not help but bend further down.

After laughing, the young man finally moved his eyes away from the surveillance screen.

He turned to look at this trusted subordinate, with a scrutinizing look in his eyes, and asked:
"What have you gained in the past two days?"

The guard leader's expression suddenly became stern, and he quickly reported:

"Master, the brothers have been patrolling day and night these past two days, and have indeed made some discoveries."

"In the woods southeast of the manor, there are often unidentified figures moving around. Judging from their figures and movements, they don't seem to be villagers nearby."

"They act stealthily, and every time they appear, they take advantage of the cover of night. They don't seem to be afraid of the fog blocking their eyes. They also know the patrol patterns of the manor and always manage to cleverly avoid the guards' regular routes."

As he spoke, the guard captain took a few steps forward, approached the monitoring station, pointed his finger at an area on the screen, and continued:

"Also, last night, our sentries discovered that a group of people tried to sneak in through the drainage pipe on the west side of the manor. Fortunately, we discovered it in time and scared them away before they could go too deep."

"According to the brothers, this group of people are very skilled and well-equipped. Each of them carries special tools, and it seems that they came prepared."

At this point, the guard paused and said with a worried look on his face:
"Master, in my opinion, these signs show that after we released the news of the treasure acquisition, we have successfully attracted the attention of various forces. Now they are all ready to move, trying to find an opportunity to break through the defense line."

The young man listened to the report carefully, tapping the table lightly with his fingers, but his brows were slightly furrowed:

"Too few, not enough. These people are just small fish and shrimp at best. They can't cause any waves."

"It's my fault that I didn't do my job well."

Hearing this, the guard leader couldn't help but feel ashamed, and quickly lowered his head and said:
"Perhaps... there are still some experts who have the ability to conceal themselves lurking in the dark. With the current manpower and informants of the guard team, we have not found any clues yet. I hope that the young master will forgive me."

"It doesn't matter."

The young man leaned back in his chair and said calmly:
"As long as they have greed in their hearts, they will not be like turtles, hiding in their caves and not coming out. They will eventually show up."

As he spoke, he slightly turned sideways and glanced at the chief guard, with a gleam of brilliance in his eyes:
"Next, we need to adjust our defensive strategy."

"You should pay more attention and pick out those treasure-hunting teams that seem to be fairly strong. Deliberately leave a flaw to let one or two groups in, and then find an opportunity to let a few escape without leaving any trace."

"what do you mean……"

The captain of the guard looked puzzled and quickly raised his head to look at the young man.

There was confusion in her eyes as she tried to make sense of his few words.

"Those guys won't release the eagle until they see the rabbit."

The young man sighed softly, but his words seemed very calm:

"In that case, we might as well take the initiative and show them openly, so that they know that we really have the real thing in our hands, and we are not afraid that they will resist the temptation and not take the bait."

The captain of the guard thought for a moment, then nodded in understanding:

"Master, this move is really great! You guessed it."

Then he hesitated a little and asked in a low voice:

"It's just... when do we start the real plan so that my subordinates can adjust the defensive measures in time to avoid any mistakes."

"Just before the auction."

The young man stood up and walked to the window with steady steps, his hands behind his back.

What appeared outside was not the dark mountains and forests, but a city night scene with bright lights.

This office is spacious and decorated with the utmost luxury.

A huge floor-to-ceiling window takes up an entire wall, looking out from here.

The colorful billboards, the bright glass curtain walls, and the taillights of the cars converge into strips of light, as if a gorgeous painting is unfolding under your feet.

"I have had someone spread the word that I am going to participate in the annual International Shadow Auction, and the item on auction is this Golden Bamba Ruyi Treasure Vase."

Standing in the office building, the young man looked out the window at the bustling city center and spoke calmly:
"The auction is scheduled to be held on March 3. According to convention, the items need to be taken over by them one month in advance. Once the news spreads, those who are eyeing the auction will definitely step up their actions."

The captain of the guards' eyes lit up when he heard this and he nodded involuntarily.

Of course he had heard of the International Shadow Auction.

He is a very famous figure in the world.

Its organizer is said to be a mysterious organization that has been passed down for hundreds of years, with complex forces behind it.

Their members are spread all over the world, from the financial centers of bustling cities to the ancient ruins in remote areas, and they have hidden spies.

The security team is the elite among the elite, each of them has unique skills and can appear and disappear at will.

Those treasure hunters hiding in the shadows certainly don't want to cause trouble at the auction.

After all, it is more difficult to take action there, and if you are not careful, you will lose both the wife and the army.

"so……"

The captain of the guard thought for a moment, then continued the young man's words with a somewhat inquiring tone:
"They will choose to make a move before the auction, at the latest the night before the items are shipped. We must take action." "That is to say, in the next week, we need to remain vigilant and increase our defense level. Let the fish gather as much as possible, until..."

"Yes."

The young man turned around, looked at the guard chief with a sharp gaze, and nodded slightly:

"The next week is crucial. Once there are enough fish in the net, it's time to pull the net in."

"Lu Tao, immediately arrange for personnel to strengthen the protection of the Ruyi Treasure Bottle, and closely monitor any suspicious movements in the surrounding area."

"Also, mobilize all our secret sentries. If you find any disturbance, report to me immediately."

"Yes, young master!"

The captain of the guard straightened up and responded firmly.

The look in his eyes as he looked at the young man was full of admiration.

He knew in his heart that if this action was successful, the eldest young master's prestige in the family would be at its peak, and he would have the confidence to compete for the position of head of the family in the future.

As a follower, you can also rise to prominence with them and enjoy wealth and glory.

With such a vision in mind, he immediately turned around and said goodbye, strode out of the office, and went to the scene to personally supervise the execution of the task.

The young man coughed lightly and still stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling city.

Neon lights are flashing, traffic is bustling, and everything seems vibrant under the night sky.

His deep gaze penetrated the glass and passed through the skyline of tall buildings.

It seemed as if the hustle and bustle, the ever-changing situation of this city were all within his sight.

Ding-dong-

Just as he was thinking about various situations in his mind, suddenly a clear ring tone rang out.

It was like a mysterious instruction reaching the young man's ears.

At the same time, a faint energy fluctuation was faintly heard in the quiet air of the office.

The young man's expression did not change, as if he had expected it.

Then he walked with steady steps towards the beautifully decorated antique display cabinet on the left side of the office.

This shelf is antique and finely carved, and many rare antiques are displayed on it.

To outsiders, it is just an ornament used by the owner to show off his taste, but little do they know that it contains a lot of hidden secrets.

The young man raised his hand and pressed lightly in a carved gap on the shelf with familiarity.

There was a slight "click" sound, and a secret door opened quietly.

Inside was an elevator reserved exclusively for the president.

The young man walked in and pressed the floor button.

With the humming sound of the motor, the elevator descended rapidly.

The numbers on the display also started from the "70" floor and jumped down one by one.

Ding.

Until it stops between the "18th" and "19th" floors.

The elevator door opened automatically, revealing a passage behind it that was flickering with a dim light.

An unusually cold atmosphere spread into the elevator.

It seems that there is an unknown alien world ahead.

The young man didn't hesitate at all, he flashed and stepped into it.

The elevator door slowly closed behind him, as if it had never been opened, leaving no trace.

It was gray all around.

It’s like leaving the modern city and coming to another completely different world.

Everywhere you look, there is hazy fog, floating in wisps, obstructing your vision and making you feel cold.

Countless candles were densely lit on the ground.

The bean-sized candle flame swayed in the wind, flickering unpredictably, just like a ghost fire jumping in the dark night.

The dim light penetrated the layers of fog and barely illuminated this secret space.

Looking up, I suddenly saw a towering tree rising from the ground, standing in the depths of the fog.

The trunk of the tree is so thick that it takes dozens of people to hug it with their arms outstretched.

The dark brown bark is like bronze that has been eroded by wind and rain for hundreds of years, with crisscrossing grooves, and each texture is engraved with the vicissitudes of time and the secrets buried deep there.

The branches are like winding giant pythons, stretching out in all directions.

In the candlelight, the lush dark green branches and leaves cast strangely shaped shadows on the ground.

It was as if there were monsters lurking in the darkness, with fangs and claws bared, staring at the intruders with eager eyes.

The young man slowed down his pace and slowly scanned the scene in front of him.

There are other living people here besides him.

Around this towering tree, several old men were sitting cross-legged.

They looked haggard, with their eyes closed, immersed in meditation.

It seems to be integrated with the mysterious space, exuding a tranquil and profound atmosphere that has been accumulated over the years.

Just like the ancient sandalwood, it drifts slowly and calms the hearts of those who approach it unconsciously.

Behind them, there are rows of tablets neatly arranged.

The tablets are all made of ebony, with a thick and simple texture.

The tablet in the middle is the tallest, with the inscription "Lu's great-grandfather, whose taboo name is Lord Qiwen" on it.

The strong brushstrokes and gold lacquer outlines still gleam in the dim light, highlighting the ancestor's respected status.

On both sides below it, there are many tablets arranged in sequence.

Some are engraved with "The spirit tablet of Mr. Lu, whose taboo name is so-and-so", and some are inscribed with "The spirit tablet of Mrs. Lu, whose taboo name is so-and-so", all of which are the names of ancestors of the Lu family.

In different eras, they had dressed in armor, mounted on horses, and charged into battle in troubled times, expanding territory for their family, accumulating reputation, and making the Lu family's name famous in all directions.

Or they may be in the depths of the courtyard, picking up needles with their bare hands, managing the household in a gentle manner, giving birth to children and expanding their branches with tenderness and tenacity, so that the family bloodline can continue and grow.

Even though the years pass and time erodes us, trying to blur the memories of the past, it cannot conceal the profound heritage passed down from generation to generation.

The young man's eyes slowly swept across the tablets, revealing complex emotions.

There is awe, remembrance, and a hint of expectation for oneself.

Every time he came here, he was shocked by the profound family power.

It is as if you have traveled through time and space, looking into the eyes of the heroic spirits of our ancestors, and listening to their teachings passed down from the depths of history.

Who would have thought that in the heart of the city, inside a skyscraper, there was such a secret and solemn family sanctuary.

This piece of heaven and earth is completely isolated from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, guarding the purest roots of the family.

"Yongquan."

A black-robed man who was sitting cross-legged in meditation suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the young man who entered.

"Second uncle."

The young man bowed slightly and saluted in response.

His identity is Lu Yongquan, the chairman of Dongdu Jinlu Group and the eldest son of the current head of the Lu family.

(End of this chapter)