Tomb Raider: The man is in the Nine Gates, but the system insists it's the Primordial Era.

"quick!"

"Send someone to invite that military officer, Lu Jianxun, over here! Quickly!"

"Yes, sir."

"..."

The water locusts realized that this was the only way they could survive.

"I don't know if we'll make it in time! Call all the guys from the betting operation over! Quick! Bring your gear!"

He then gave the order in a hurry.

After a while.

The four men rushed from all corners of the city to the gates of Master Shuihuang's mansion.

The atmosphere was one of silence, solemnity, and coldness.

Everyone knew that this battle would be the toughest they had ever fought.

Because they have to fight eight opponents at once.

One subject can be used to teach a total of eight subjects.

However, they usually received many favors from Fourth Master regarding water locusts.

When you've used someone's money, it's time to risk your life.

A while later...

Lu Jianxun, a military officer in the city who held the same rank as Zhang Qishan but had little real power, also arrived at the Water Locust Gate with the troops he could muster.

Unlike the people in the Water Locust Mansion, whose atmosphere was filled with desolation and fear.

With a smile on his lips, Lu Jianxun dismounted and strode happily toward the mansion.

If the Nine Gates dared to launch a massacre in broad daylight, then there would be no need for the Nine Gates to exist.

Combating organized crime requires evidence, but counter-terrorism only requires a list.

No warlord with real power would allow any other scattered civilian forces within his sphere of influence to overstep their authority and decide the life and death of the wealthy and powerful.

Large-scale riots will absolutely not be tolerated.

Lu Jianxun was fully aware of this.

"Don't worry, Grandpa Huang, they wouldn't dare come like this. If they did, I'd kill Zhang Qishan on the spot!"

Lu Jianxun's smile had a slightly sinister edge.

Seeing that the person who came was wearing a military uniform, Shuihuang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Once he regained his senses, he realized that even if the Nine Gates were powerful, they wouldn't dare to rush into his house in broad daylight and commit murder.

Ultimately, grassroots gangs are just that—grassroots gangs.

Above them, there were other weapons and cannons.

The water locusts were only afraid of Zhang Qishan, who was also wearing a military uniform.

"If he has evidence of your crime, tell me, and I'll try to find a way to help you."

Lu Jianxun sat down, his eyes and brows beaming with a bright smile.

If the four gates defect, then the other nine gates will all be doomed.

At that time, wouldn't it be easy for him to take over the Nine Gates and make them his own, a tool for making money?

Shui Huang ordered someone to serve Lu Jianxun the finest tea, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

The guy on the other side is also up to no good; those who are friendly don't come.

Once someone has a weakness against him, what difference is there between him and someone who is dead?

The reason why the Nine Gates had always been united against external forces was that they did not want to be lackeys of the imperial court and be exploited and ripped off by those high and mighty people.

The person in front of you is just this kind of thing.

"My ancestors were favored by the imperial court, which is why they were given the imperial surname, Huang. When the Empress Dowager was alive, my Huang family never did anything against the law. How could I, in my generation, break the rules of our ancestors?"

Shuihuang raised his hands to his shoulders, cupped his hands to the right, and gave Lu Jianxun a forced smile in response.

With a snap, Lu Jianxun threw the teacup back onto the stone table: "Since Master Huang is unwilling to speak, then it is inconvenient for me to get involved in what follows. The affairs in the city are busy, and my bringing people here to protect me on my own is already a violation of the rules. Sigh, it's like a dog biting Lü Dongbin. I'm leaving."

Lu Jianxun walked slowly.

He was certain that within three breaths, the water locust, fearing retaliation from the Nine Gates, would call out to him.

Then they either have to offer up evidence of the Nine Gates' misdeeds, or hand over their own incriminating evidence.

Regardless of the outcome, it will be a wonderful and great thing for him.

After all, he did nothing, yet he reaped the benefits of this internal power struggle within the Nine Gates.

"So much for being the Nine Gates Admirals, huh? In my opinion, they're nothing more than a bunch of low-level thugs. They can't cause any trouble."

As Lu Jianxun's back was turned to the water locusts, a slight smile once again appeared on his lips.

"Master, the people from the Nine Gates have all dispersed."

"What?"

"What did you say?!"

Shui Huang and Lu Jianxun both exclaimed in surprise.

"Not only that."

The messenger, his face flushed with excitement, reported again: "The people from the Zhenxian Temple shop have even sent you a gift seeking peace, saying it's a rare item, one in a thousand, selected from their various collections."

The servants, carrying soil to seal the earthenware jars, couldn't stop smiling.

"To get the Nine Gates to protect you, you must have spent a lot of money and connections. That kid doesn't know how powerful you are, sir. He even dared to have people spread rumors in the martial arts world. Now that he's suffered a bit, he's backed down. Hahahaha."

"The shop assistant who delivered this item said that their boss was just talking after drinking that day, but he didn't expect it to be spread around. It's true that he has some skills now, but they are also afraid of being on guard day and night. After all, their business has just started and they have just tasted the sweetness of the rich."

"We've asked the Nine Gates for protection, but it's said that the boss has already emptied his coffers and can't afford to ask the Nine Gates again, so he wants to sue for peace. What do you think, sir?"

"Hahahaha, hahahahaha, hahahahaha!"

The water locust's loud, piercing laughter reached Lu Jianxun's ears.

Lu Jianxun strode forward: "Since that's the case, then this military lord will take his leave first, hmph!"

Shui Huang laughed until tears streamed down his face: "A novice is not afraid of a tiger, that saying is indeed true. Now you know fear? Are you so easy to invite or offend the Nine Gates? I am the Fourth Master of the Nine Gates! I knew it was impossible for the Nine Gates to turn against me! Why should they?"

"Come, come, open the gift. Let me see what precious gift that Zhenxian Temple, which claims to have made some money, has sent to me to beg for peace. If it's cheap stuff, then go and tell the people at Zhenxian Temple that I'm still angry and that they should tell their manager to prepare more money. Hahahaha."

"Hmm, this actually looks interesting. Is it a clay Buddha doll covered in gold leaf, or is it entirely made of gold?"

"Not bad, not bad. That lad is thoughtful. Knowing that I haven't had many children over the years, he brought me a golden Buddha statue for praying for a child. I am very satisfied."

"..."

In front of the Zhenxian Temple shop.

After the men who delivered the gifts to the Fourth Prince's mansion returned, the people in front of the shop had already prepared a brazier, willow branches soaked in water, and other items for them.

There were also some talismans made of sappanwood that were about to be lit.

"Senior Partridge Whistle, that evil creature won't follow me, will it?"

The subordinate carrying the brazier looked pale and unwell, still somewhat uneasy, and sought an answer.

Partridge Whistle's eyebrows twitched wildly: "Probably not. The master said to just do as he says."

Stepping over the brazier, the subordinate, who was washing his hands with water soaked with willow branches after touching the clay pot, was shivering from the cold.

Partridge Whistle added, "Next time someone tries to exchange something for pills or talismans, they must let me see it!"

Partridge Whistle looked at the crowd around him, his gaze sharp: "Who among you brought that evil clay doll, which was sealed away and buried in a feng shui location after being sacrificed by a hundred or so Taoist priests, into the shop?"

Upon hearing this, everyone kept quiet, keeping their eyes down and their minds focused.

Who would have thought that the golden clay doll was actually made from a clay sculpture of a fetus that died in the womb in August and was filled with resentment?

……

On the train bound for Beiping.

Su Mu was still studying the "Immortal-Stabilizing Gu Worm" that might have been attracted by the witch clan aura on his body.

I could hear a commotion coming from the carriage in front of me.

"No, no! I really can't hold it in anymore! Why is this toilet built in the north? Are there any other toilets that don't face north?"

"Excuse me, dear passenger, but all the toilets on this train face north. What's wrong with that?"

"It's nothing, excuse me, can I pee here?"

"You're asking for it!"

"Hey, hey, hey, if you hit me again I'll fight back, old man, I'm the only Northern Emperor Black Law in this era..."