Chapter 106: Gu Clan Steward

Chapter 106: The Gu Clan's Chief Steward

"Minister, we have arrived."

A black carriage slowly came to a halt. Qi Zhu, seated in the front passenger seat, turned half her body to look at the young martial artist resting with his eyes closed in the back row.

"Here lies the true master of the Consortium, the Gu Clan."

Li Jun slowly lifted his eyelids. A sprawling, deep mansion compound filled his vision.

Two dark red lanterns flanked a plaque of golden-thread nanmu wood in the center, inscribed in seal script—Gu Residence.

From Jiulong Street in the Chicken and Goose District, to the Shu Road Logistics Headquarters in the Qiyang District, and now to the Gu Clan's aristocratic manor.

Treading a path of corpses and seas of blood, stepping upward rung by rung, Li Jun had finally arrived before this vermilion gate perched atop the peak of Chengdu Prefecture. A sigh rose unbidden in his heart.

"Raiding a manor like this would surely be satisfying, wouldn't it?"

Li Jun let out a dry laugh. Though the Embroidered Uniform Guard had not yet come knocking to confiscate the estate.

The Gu Clan's flowers were blooming amidst brocade, yet they had already reached the stage of oil burning on a fierce fire.

This bombing of the Shu Road Logistics Group, with the helmsman Gu Yong's fate unknown, the Gu Clan—soundly slapped across the face—had become a laughingstock among the various powers in Chengdu Prefecture.

Everyone waited to see how the Gu Clan would retaliate, or rather, anticipated whether these two aristocratic clans, the Gu and the Wu, would truly tear off the veneer of civility.

The winds and clouds churned with violent momentum. Li Jun stood in the eye of the storm, yet his mind was exceptionally clear.

That the Gu Clan would retaliate was beyond doubt; even if only for show, the Gu Clan had to maintain its surface dignity.

As for whether they would fight the Wu Clan to the death, Li Jun felt the possibility was low.

At least not before the Recommendation.

After all, following this sneak attack, the Gu Clan's reaction wasn't an immediate counterstrike, but summoning a mere Security Minister like himself. That was the best evidence.

The implication revealed therein likely pointed toward resolving the matter at the Consortium level to regain face.

Or perhaps: "How goes the preparation for that thing I asked you to find?"

Li Jun severed the thoughts endlessly branching in his mind and turned to look at Qi Zhu.

"Already handled."

Qi Zhu handed over a palm-sized electronic case file. She glanced discreetly at the Security Department employee in the driver's seat and spoke cryptically: "Every detail, large or small, is complete."

"Well done. The Consortium suffered heavy losses in this attack; many places will need rebuilding, especially security. You must take the initiative to lead this; I don't trust anyone else."

"Thank you for the Minister's trust."

Qi Zhu naturally heard the subtext in Li Jun's words. A radiant smile bloomed on her slightly pale face, as if she saw a mountain of gold sitting right before her.

Li Jun tucked the electronic case file close to his body, only then pushing the door open and stepping out.

At that very moment, an inconspicuous side door beside the Gu Residence's main gate slid open soundlessly.

An old man in a white silk robe stepped out. A verdant jade thumb ring on his right hand was strikingly conspicuous. He looked at Li Jun with a smile.

This face was no stranger to Li Jun. It was precisely the Gu Clan's Chief Steward, Qian Hai.

The backer of Qian Jin, that supervisor Li Jun had deliberately found an excuse to execute.

Though only the lowest-ranked side door was opened, the one coming out to receive him was the Steward of the Gu Residence.

The courtesy the Gu Clan extended to Li Jun this time absolutely counted as grand.

"Greetings, Steward Qian."

Li Jun stepped forward briskly, cupping his fists in salute, his expression utterly respectful.

Qian Hai likewise nodded with a smile. "The Young Master has been waiting for you. Come with me."

One after the other, they entered the Gu Residence through the side door.

Walking amidst these layered mountains and waters, these tiered pavilions and terraces, Li Jun silently observed the surroundings, calculating how he would strike straight for the heart if he were to infiltrate alone.

Just then, Qian Hai walking ahead suddenly spoke. "You have had a hard time these past days."

Li Jun started at the words, asking in puzzlement, "What does the Steward mean?"

Qian Hai sighed. "I have served in this deep compound for most of my life. Outsiders only see the majesty of the Gu Clan's Chief Steward; they do not know how I have trodden on thin ice these years, trembling with caution."

Li Jun kept his mouth shut, making no sound, quietly awaiting the rest.

"That beast Qian Jindong has run rampant under my banner these years, neglecting his duties and embezzling funds. If not for you, Minister Li, I would never have known he dared collude with the Tianfu Heavy Industries! That slash of yours—well struck!"

Li Jun lowered his head, concealing the disdain in his eyes, and cupped his fists. "Thank you for the Steward's understanding."

The old man waved his hand. His smile held a touch of desolation. "But Minister Li, you should also know, the Qian ancestors never produced any outstanding figures. The genes passed down are mediocre; producing one or two Sequence Walkers is already ancestral graves smoking green."

"I am a man with one foot in the grave. I have long since had no attachments to this world. My final wish is merely that my descendants might bring glory to the family name."

Qian Hai sighed, his steps slowing until he walked shoulder to shoulder with Li Jun.

Li Jun raised an eyebrow. "Steward Qian, if you have something to say, speak directly."

"Although during this attack on Shu Road Logistics, Zhongxiao performed poorly. His aptitude, however, is already the best among the Qian Clan's next generation. If possible, I hope Minister Li can be magnanimous and show leniency."

Li Jun's heart stirred with understanding. This old man had beaten around the bush for half a day just to plead for Qian Zhongxiao.

Regarding Qian Zhongxiao, Li Jun had already heard from Qi Zhu.

During the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Conference attack on the Consortium, although the internal defense mechanisms and firepower matrix had been hacked in advance, this fool and the security staff he had selected were all useless drunkards.

Not only did they fail to stop the enemy's intrusion, but he also got his face sliced open and fled before the battle.

With Gu Yong abducted so easily, Qian Zhongxiao bore no small responsibility.

Li Jun did not hesitate in the slightest. "I understand the Steward's meaning. You may rest easy on my account. Those bandits' capabilities are clear to me; this incident cannot be blamed on Supervisor Qian. However—"

Qian Hai seemed quite satisfied with Li Jun's compliance. He smiled. "Minister Li need not worry about the Master's side. As long as you show leniency in the report, I will naturally handle the rest."

"Steward Qian, rest assured. I know what to do."

Qian Hai laughed heartily. His weathered, bark-like face revealed a look of lament. "If those Martial Dao Sequencers back in the day had possessed Minister Li's humble character, you wouldn't be having such a hard time now."

Li Jun echoed, "This is a path determined by genes; not a single bit is left to human choice."

"Not necessarily."

Qian Hai shook his head slowly. "With the Buddhist and Daoist schools blocking the way ahead, the Martial Dao Sequence has no future to speak of. Minister Li has ascended to Martial Eight; your genes are naturally tyrannical. Have you never considered switching paths?"

Li Jun's heart sank abruptly at these words. His eyes instinctively narrowed.

One must know, the backyard struggles of an aristocratic clan like the Gu family are far more vicious than gang wars.

For Qian Hai to sit securely as the Gu Clan's Steward for so many years, and stuff so many useless men into Shu Road Logistics to skim money, his methods were visibly ruthless.

Such deep words spoken despite shallow acquaintance—such words should not come from a figure like him.

"Oh? Then I must ask the Steward not to withhold his guidance."