Chapter 347 Lu Chan's Surrender Continued

Lu Chan must pledge allegiance to me?

Is it like what Old Master Zhu wanted to do before, leading the Zhu family to come and rely on me?

"Why is that?" I asked.

“There are several reasons. First, I did some very wrong things to you and Mazao in the past. Although you think I am a different person from the Lu Chan of the past, so you let me off lightly, from my own perspective, I cannot simply sever myself from the mistakes I made in the past.” Lu Chan said, “Joining your service, working for you, making contributions… Although it is too presumptuous to use such things to make up for all my mistakes, it can at least make up for some of them.”

"Secondly, you're a newly promoted high-ranking official, soon to become a rising star in Luoshan; while I'm currently in the process of firing my old boss and looking for a new job... It just so happens that we have a past connection, although not all of it was pleasant memories, but you should have seen my abilities and value from our past collaborations. This should replace the need for a resume and interview, making it easier for you to make a direct judgment..."

“That’s not what I meant,” I said. “You’re no longer the extraordinary Lu Youxun of the past, but Lu Chan who wants to become a hero to save the masses and stands on the side of governance. And since you see through me to this extent, you should also understand that I’m not interested in either governance or extraordinaryism. How will joining my ranks help you realize your dreams?”

“I don’t think you’re the kind of person who would rush over to climb the social ladder just because an acquaintance has passed away… You must have something much deeper in mind.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Chan revealed a strange smile, while Zhu Shi said from the side, "I've figured it out... He doesn't have any deep thoughts at all. In the past, he betrayed the rule of the world, and now he has betrayed the transcendentalism. No matter where he goes, he won't be able to get a decent position. Even Dong Che's position was many times better than his current one!"

"—Hmm? Wait a minute, Lu Chan first betrayed his worldly superior, then betrayed the extraordinary Mingzhuo, and now he's siding with Senior Brother Zhuang, who's standing on the neutral side. Doesn't that make him a triple threat...?"

Seeing Zhu Shi looking thoughtful, as if about to utter a very unseemly word, the old gentleman quickly interrupted him with a loud cough, and Lu Chan also showed a very embarrassed expression. Ma Zao, who was the only one present who had been quietly listening to the conversation, looked at the others with a blank expression, probably completely unable to understand why they were reacting so strongly.

"Anyway... I didn't intentionally betray my two superiors before. No, it could be considered intentional, but there were uncontrollable factors... Zhuang Cheng, you understand, right?" Lu Chan explained awkwardly.

“I understand. You’re having trouble finding a job right now, so you’re going to work for a company you know,” I said.

"Uh, that's about it. And since you turned me back into my current personality, don't you think you should take responsibility for me?" Lu Chan tried to ease the awkward atmosphere with a joke.

Zhu Shi quipped, "It would be more believable if you were a girl saying this, but here you are, forget it."

"After that incident, I should be able to summon a 'possible clone' in her girl form if I try hard enough." Lu Chan actually chimed in, "If Zhuang Cheng, you're interested in that form of me, I'm not entirely against it..."

“If you make that kind of joke again, I’ll curse you to only ever drink heated Coke from now on,” I said.

Lu Chan's expression froze instantly, while Zhu Shi quietly moved a step away from Lu Chan and said with emotion, "As expected of Senior Brother Zhuang, he actually thought of such a vicious curse so quickly... Is this the end for those who offend the gods...?"

That's right, the consequences of angering me are very serious.

"Getting back to the point, it's not that I can't practice my ideals here with you," Lu Chan said seriously. "Although you are neutral, most of the people around you are peacemakers, so you will maintain a friendly stance towards the general public. Moreover, I hope that the members who join you in the future will be mainly demon hunters who are friendly to the public."

Old Master Zhu looked at Lu Chan with a scrutinizing gaze: "I see. As long as you join Zhuang Cheng's side, you can find a way to screen those who approach him in the future. And as long as the people around him are all proponents of social order, then he is essentially a 'Great Impermanence' who supports social order. This is the greatest contribution you can make to social order right now... Is this your scheme?"

Although Mr. Zhu himself belonged to the political-minded camp, he subtly showed an attitude that was closer to mine than to the political-minded camp.

“To call it ‘plotting’ is an overstatement. I just hope that Zhuang Cheng will be surrounded by more good people. Even if you don’t say it, you wouldn’t let shady characters influence him, would you? Actually, you’re all doing pretty much the same thing,” Lu Chan said frankly. “Besides… I don’t really want to contribute to social order right now. Part of the reason I chose to stand on Zhuang Cheng’s side is that I want to look at the issues about the future from outside the framework of social order and transcendence.”

While transcendence is undoubtedly the worst path for ordinary people, governance also has the potential to veer into transcendence. The young Lu Chan told me that this was a problem he had recognized long ago, but he couldn't escape his own stance in the past.

"Zhuang Cheng, what do you think?" Old Master Zhu looked at me. "After you become famous as the Great Impermanence, there will definitely be more people coming to you. Although their power is useless to you, as the Great Impermanence, you need to form connections and anchor yourself in the strange world."

"If you feel that management matters will take up your time and energy, you don't need to worry about that. Our Zhu family will help you solve it. Although Lu Chan is rejected by both camps, he probably still has a lot of connections in private and is very capable. Bringing him in might fill the gap in our intelligence gathering capabilities."

For example, in investigating clues about the two aspects of the mountain, we might need people with expertise in this area... Mr. Zhu seems to be hinting at this.

In the end, it seemed that I still had to make the decision, so I nodded and said, "Then, Lu Chan, you are mine from now on."

Lu Chan breathed a sigh of relief, then his expression turned serious, and he knelt on one knee in front of me to pay his respects.

This was the first time someone had ever bowed to me like this. I was a little unsure how to respond, but I knew I should take it seriously, so I stood there like a wooden statue.

"From this day forward, I, Lu Chan, will go through fire and water for you without hesitation," he said solemnly.

Why do you sound so familiar with what you're saying... Even though I know this is supposed to be a very serious occasion, this thought just popped into my head.

Lu Chan's surrender concluded there. He went to the hotel lobby to check in, while we found our rooms. Mr. Zhu had booked single rooms for us, and he and Zhu Shi went to their rooms to put their luggage away. Although I didn't have any luggage, I still went to check on my room.

Asaha seems to have gotten used to following me around, just like an auto-following player character in a game. She followed me blankly into my room, then looked at the room with only one bed and gave me a puzzled look.

Perhaps she wasn't paying much attention to what we were saying when other people were around, much like a child sitting idly by during an adult gathering. It wasn't until I reminded her that her room was next door that she snapped out of her reverie and turned to go to the next room.

She had only turned halfway around when she stopped, then turned back and silently looked at me.

I wasn't going to rest in this room; I just came in for a quick look before heading off with Lu Chan to fight Ming Zhuo to the death. So, this might be the last time we see each other. Like Ma Zao, I silently watched her, our gazes meeting in a quiet exchange.

This is the first time I've truly gone to the battlefield with the resolve of no return. Although I've had plans and intentions for the future, if I die there, it will all be for naught. So perhaps it's better for me to say some things sooner rather than later. No, it's only right to say them now. I must seize this opportunity to say them. If I miss this chance, I might never be able to say them again.

"Mazao, do you remember what I said to you in a hotel in a nearby city after the battle at the Humanitarian Division's base?" I mustered my courage to say, "Back then, you asked me why I went to such lengths, why I fought against the Life Turbidity for you... You initially thought I had those kinds of feelings for you, right?"

Asa seemed caught off guard, not expecting me to suddenly bring this up, and then said, "Yeah, that's right... but didn't you tell me the answer later? You wanted to protect me because of my jinx constitution..."

"That is indeed a very important reason. Without that reason, perhaps our relationship would never have been established in the first place. However, wanting your jinxed nature and liking you are not actually contradictory, are they?" I said, forcing myself to speak.

"Yes, they are not contradictory..."

She nodded as if understanding, then waited for me to continue. I didn't speak, just looked at her. After three or four seconds, she belatedly realized what I was saying, and her eyes slowly widened.

(End of this chapter)