novelraw Chapter 74 Card Game
Chapter 74 Card Game
Chapter 74 Card Game
North China is all underground.
The once spacious basement has now been completely transformed into a quiet and secluded meditation room.
Soft, natural light streamed down from the ceiling, illuminating the meditation platform adorned with intricate patterns. A faint, calming sandalwood scent permeated the air, intertwining with the subtle flow of magical energy.
As summer vacation was coming to an end, Lu Linglong received a phone call from her mother.
"Back to the Lu family?"
The mother on the other end of the phone spoke with a long-lost, almost joyful tone, saying that her father wanted her to come back.
"But—Mom, weren't you the one who was most opposed to going back before? Why this time—" Lu Linglong held her phone, her fingertips unconsciously brushing against the cold stone wall.
"How can it be the same this time!" The mother's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, then lowered again, revealing a triumphant excitement. "Back then, it was because your great-grandfather was biased, taking that brat Lu Lin into the Three Truths Sect while leaving you out, that I was heartbroken and broke up with your father, unwilling to go back. But now you've already—" Her words trailed off, leaving a meaningful silence.
Lu Linglong remained silent. Of course, she understood what her mother had left unsaid. Now, she had not only received the inheritance of the Three Truths Method, but also the most core part. Her mother felt that she could finally breathe a sigh of relief and couldn't wait to return home in glory.
"Mom," Lu Linglong paused, her voice soft yet exceptionally clear, "about my receiving the inheritance—"
"Don't worry! Your mother isn't stupid!" the mother immediately replied, swearing confidently, "I will absolutely keep this a secret and won't tell anyone! Just relax and prepare to come back."
Hearing her mother say this, Lu Linglong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
To be honest, although she had just achieved a basic level of cultivation, she was still somewhat uncertain about facing the "Three True Methods," a colossal entity in the world of supernatural beings.
Over the past month, in addition to burying herself in her studies, she also used company materials and the accounts of Xu Xiang and Li Muxuan to catch up on common knowledge about the world of supernatural beings.
My impression of the Three Truths Dharma Gate gradually became clear and concrete, from the initial vague legends—the foremost exoteric school of Buddhism in this era.
This first place is not only because its founder was the only immortal in modern times who was clearly ascended to heaven, but also because the time period of its existence was so recent.
Based on the time of his master's ascension, the younger generation in the world of supernatural beings who were in their twenties at that time would now be only in their seventies.
For extraordinary individuals who generally live longer than ordinary people, especially those with profound cultivation, this age is not even considered old.
This means that many of the top leaders of the current supernatural world, as well as the senior masters and experts, are among those who have actually witnessed their master "Zhou Yi" using extraordinary methods!
The influence and status of the Three Truths Dharma Gate can be imagined from this.
It was not merely the strength of a sect, but a living myth, a deeply ingrained symbol of the belief that "the path to immortality is attainable."
After ending the call, Lu Linglong gently exhaled a long breath.
She walked to a sandalwood table on one side of the quiet room, where several items were quietly placed.
She first put the antique pendant, which she had taken from the bronze box, around her neck. The warm, smooth texture against her skin felt like it was shimmering with a faint light.
Next, he carefully placed the more than ten talismans that he had painstakingly drawn over this period into a specially made leather card pocket at his waist.
Finally, he took the small gourd, which was no bigger than the palm of his hand, dark red in color, and had natural cloud patterns on its surface, and hung it steadily on his waist.
This month-long period of seclusion and intensive training has been nothing short of transformative.
With the vast legacy left by her master Zhou Yi, and the support of her two predecessors Li Muxuan and Xu Xiang, she has steadily entered the "Entry-level" realm of supernatural powers, following the descriptions of the supernatural power realms in the legacy: entry-level, minor supernatural power, intermediate supernatural power, and major supernatural power.
Looking back a month ago, I was still an ignorant mortal. Such progress is truly astonishing.
The "Three Truths Endless Wine Pot" bestowed by the Master played an indispensable role in this.
Although this pot is called a wine pot, it does not contain wine, but rather a medicinal liquid refined from countless elixirs. It can not only help her open up 103 key acupoints throughout her body, but also continuously temper and nourish the foundation of her spiritual body.
At the beginning of each day's practice, she would always take a sip, then circulate her energy to dissolve the powerful yet gentle medicinal power, circulating it throughout her body day after day. Her muscles, bones, flesh, and even deeper levels of "existence" were quietly undergoing a qualitative leap.
The path to seeking the Dharma emphasizes three major systems: talismans, treasures, and the physical body.
Currently, she is progressing the fastest on the path of "Dharmakaya". Her body is radiant and has a faint inner light. Although she has not yet reached perfection, she has already begun to take the shape of "Minor Supernatural Dharmakaya". Her strength is refined in every move and is accompanied by Qi.
The progress in the "Spell Talisman" path is steady; currently, I have only mastered the drawing and activation of two basic minor spell talismans: the "Golden Sword Talisman" and the "Golden Coin Talisman."
As for the refinement of the "magical artifacts," it has not yet officially begun.
The inheritance records the methods for crafting various magical treasures. Among them, the one with the lowest requirements and most suitable for beginners is the "Three True Myriad Laws Sword," which imitates the form and some of the power of the sect's treasure, the "Three True Myriad Laws Sword."
However, the materials required for refining are quite rare, and it requires a long period of nurturing and refining with one's own magical power, which is not something that can be accomplished overnight.
After tidying up, Lu Linglong pushed open the door of the quiet room and stepped into the slightly darker corridor outside.
She needs to find Xu Xiang and tell him about returning to the Lu family, since she is still nominally a "special care recipient" of All-Knowing.
The underground corridor was quiet and long, with only the soft echo of her own footsteps.
As we rode the dedicated elevator upwards, the indicator lights flashed from floor to floor, eventually stopping on a floor of the company's main building.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a busy yet orderly office area.
As Lu Linglong was about to walk towards Xu Xiang's office, she bumped into a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure as she turned a corner in the corridor.
The man leaned against the window, a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth, but he barely inhaled, letting the smoke rise and blur his somewhat cynical expression.
It was Xu Si, whom we hadn't seen in a long time.
Xu Si seemed to have just finished something, looking a bit lazy, with faint dark circles under his eyes. He looked up and saw Lu Linglong walking over, paused slightly, then his eyes lit up, and his lips habitually curled into that signature, slightly teasing smile as he looked her up and down.
"Yo," he slowly exhaled a smoke ring, his voice hoarse as if he had just woken up, yet clear enough to penetrate the slight noise and reach Lu Linglong's ears, "Look who's here? Our precious little darling. Miss, you've finally decided to leave your paradise and see the sun?"
"Judging by your posture—are you going out?"
"Fourth Brother," Lu Linglong nodded in greeting, already used to his teasing tone, "Yes, I'm getting ready to go out for a bit. I'm going back to the Lu family with my mother."
"Back to the Lu family?" Xu Si, a cigarette dangling from his lips, narrowed his eyes, a knowing look on his face. "Because of your great-grandfather, isn't it?"
"My great-grandfather?" Lu Linglong was taken aback. Her mother hadn't mentioned this on the phone; she had only said that her father wanted her to go back.
"Hmm, you didn't know?" Xu Si flicked his cigarette ash, his tone carrying a hint of knowing certainty. "That Master of the Three Truths Sect, Old Master Lu Jin, suddenly arrived in the capital the day before yesterday. It caused quite a stir. Judging from what the clerk said, it seems the two even met and had a bit of a commotion—well, not exactly unpleasant, but they just didn't see eye to eye."
"Great-grandfather and Senior Li?" Lu Linglong was even more surprised. The slight sense of relief she felt about returning home in glory vanished instantly, replaced by a surge of pressure.
"Some old grudges and ideological differences among the older generation—what exactly they are—maybe even they themselves can't figure out now." Xu Si shrugged, with an expression that said, "The entertainment industry is really messy." "All I know is that the two of them—well, they've always disliked each other a bit."
"That's true. One of them is unconventional, and the other is conventional. It's perfectly normal for them to dislike each other."
He paused, looking at Lu Linglong's slightly furrowed brows, and his tone became more serious: "Don't worry too much. Since you're going there, in case—I mean in case—you encounter any unreasonable people or things that make things difficult for you, you can go directly to the clerk. Although he has a bad temper, he's protective of his own, especially of you."
"I understand, thank you for reminding me, Fourth Brother." Lu Linglong nodded, keeping these words in mind.
"Alright, go ahead." Xu Si waved his hand. "The old man and Xu San aren't at the company. I'll let them know when they get back."
"Are Uncle Xu and the others off on another mission?" Lu Linglong asked casually. She knew the nature of Na Du Tong's work; Xu Xiang and Xu Si were often away from home.
Upon hearing this, Xu Si's lazy and joking expression faded somewhat. He nodded, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of seriousness: "I suppose so. Recently—I don't know what's going on, but those crazy Quanxing guys, who had been quiet for a while, have started acting up again, constantly making small moves."
He took a drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled: "It's not just North China; the feedback from other regions is similar. Some troubles are popping up everywhere. Although they're not earth-shattering events, they're still quite a headache. The old man and his team have been incredibly busy lately."
Quanxing? Lu Linglong's heart skipped a beat.
She had heard of this organization when she was cramming on common knowledge about the supernatural world. It was officially defined as an "evil faction," whose members acted radically and ruthlessly, and whose organization was loose and extremely difficult to eradicate. Its activity often signified undercurrents in the supernatural world.
"So that's how it is—" Lu Linglong said thoughtfully.
"Alright, don't overthink it. I know you want to help, but you've only just started cultivating, and you might cause trouble." Xu Si saw her expression and resumed his carefree demeanor, stubbing out his cigarette. "Go on your way, don't keep your mother waiting. Be careful on the road."
"Okay, goodbye Fourth Brother." Lu Linglong said no more and turned to walk towards the elevator.
Xu Si watched her straight back disappear into the halo of light at the end of the corridor. After a long while, he looked away and took out another cigarette to light.
Lu's mother was incredibly efficient; that very afternoon, she took Lu Linglong and set off for the capital.
The Lu family's ancestral home was not originally in the capital. Due to some unspoken historical reasons, the entire clan moved north in their early years and settled here.
For decades, most of the clansmen have made a living in the capital and its surrounding areas, staying in their hometown and rarely traveling far.
Lu Jin, as the head of the family, was quite the opposite.
He rarely set foot in the capital. The last time he officially entered the capital was decades ago when he took over as the head of the Sanzhen Famen (Three Truths School of Buddhism).
Therefore, his unexpected arrival was like a pebble thrown into a seemingly calm lake, causing ripples that stirred the sensitive nerves of many.
The company's chairman, Zhao Fangxu, personally received them, and the two had a private conversation. The specific content of the conversation remains unknown, leaving much room for speculation.
The atmosphere at the Lu family ancestral home today is quite different from usual.
From the elderly to young children, all clansmen in the capital, regardless of their current affairs, were summoned back. Inside and outside the mansion, figures moved about, their hushed conversations creating a buzzing background noise.
Inside the main hall, Lu Jin, dressed in a spotless white Taoist robe, sat upright in the main armchair, his face calm and composed, exuding an air of profound composure.
Standing beside him was Lu Lin, also dressed in a Taoist robe, her posture upright and her gaze unwavering. In front of them, a large group of younger members of the Lu family gathered, each holding their breath, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe, curiosity, and longing.
As soon as Lu's mother entered the door, she was pulled aside by several familiar sisters-in-law to chat. Lu Linglong, on the other hand, found a corner and sat down on a mahogany sofa.
She had left with her mother when she was young and was mostly unfamiliar with the house and the people in the clan. Seeing that almost all of her younger peers were gathered around her great-grandfather, no one came to chat with her.
Time flowed slowly in the slightly stagnant air.
It was unclear how much time had passed before the conversation occasionally drifted towards her, until someone suddenly remembered that she was a "returning guest."
"Linglong!" Her father, Lu Yun's voice came through the crowd. He waved in her direction, his tone slightly urgent. "Come here and meet your great-grandfather."
Upon hearing the sound, Lu Linglong rose from the shadows in the corner.
This movement allowed many people in the hall who hadn't noticed her before to see her attire clearly—a rather unique belt around her waist, with a dark red gourd hanging from it, and a leather case resembling a card holder. This unconventional outfit seemed completely out of place with modern clothing.
Seeing this, Lu Yun frowned slightly. As her daughter approached, she lowered her voice and said, "Child, didn't I tell you to put these toys in your room first?"
"But these are very important things." Lu Linglong's voice was soft, but she didn't stop walking.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she walked to the center of the hall, stood in front of Lu Jin, and bowed slightly: "Great-Grandfather."
"Hmm," Lu Jin's gaze fell gently on her, as if the little incident earlier hadn't bothered him at all. "Linglong, I heard from your father that you got into Tsinghua University on your own merit. Was it in the sciences or the humanities?"
"Yes, it's science, Grandpa," Lu Linglong replied.
"Good at science," Lu Jin nodded, his eyes showing approval. "Not bad, you've got potential."
He wasn't just being polite.
Because of someone's statement back then, "My path lies within it," the Three Truths Method made mathematics, physics, and chemistry the unwavering foundational lessons for its disciples.
It has long been a common sight in the school for its students and disciples to each have a copy of "Advanced Mathematics" and "Annotations on the Theory of Relativity".
For decades, his disciples have started their studies at top science and technology universities after reaching adulthood, with many pursuing master's and doctoral degrees.
Within China's top academic circles, nearly half of the mathematicians, physicists, and chemists, when traced back to their origins, all have some connection with the Three Truths Method.
However, whenever Lu Jin thought of this, an indescribable sense of depression would quietly creep into his heart.
The reason is that the top figure who now stands firmly at the forefront of physics in China and enjoys a world-class reputation is not one of their disciples, but rather that bastard Li Muxuan, who makes their teeth itch just thinking about him.
This bastard not only always manages to outdo him in cultivation, but he's also surpassed everyone else in academics, which is truly infuriating.
Lu Jin suppressed these churning thoughts, his gaze naturally sliding to her waist, and asked casually, "Linglong, what's that you're carrying?"
His gaze was calm, as if it were just the usual curiosity of an elder seeing a new and interesting item on a younger person.
The murmurs in the hall had subsided at some point, and many eyes seemed to drift unnoticed towards the two incongruous items around Lu Linglong's waist, while cautiously observing the expression of the head of the family.
"A rather unique water bottle," Lu Linglong said calmly, then paused and added, "and some cards."
"Card?" Lu Jin's tone was indifferent.
Lu Linglong did as instructed and took out a "card" from the leather card case.
The card was neither gold nor jade, with subtle, flowing patterns along its edges, and it gleamed with a warm and strange luster under the hall lights.
"It's a card game!" A teenager being led by his mother exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. His clear voice sounded particularly abrupt in the suddenly quiet hall.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
There have been a lot of trivial matters at home these past few days.
Not in a state of mind.
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