Chapter 275: Executioner
It was clear he hadn’t been mistreated. Lu Weiyi casually tossed a pack of crystal cores to Xu Yi, who was clearly drained of power and too broke to recover without them. “Consider this me owing you one. If you think of any conditions, you can name them.”
Momentarily brainwashed by Xu Sa into trying to be a decent person, Xu Yi stiffened. He shoved Qi Lin’s hand away, picked up the crystal cores and absorbed them while sneering coldly. “Your kid’s really too cheap…”
Lu Weiyi’s gaze, light yet oppressive, made Xu Yi trail off. His expression flickered, then he huffed self-righteously, “…We’ve gone hungry for a whole day.”
Qi Lin was exasperated by his suicidal antics paired with zero courage. He pulled him to his feet. “I can only cook porridge. Everyone can have a bit.”
As the two walked toward the kitchen, Lu Xiao strode in, face dark with hostility. “Where’s Zhuang Mingxu?”
“…What happened?” Lu Weiyi subtly signaled Qi Lin to take Zhuang Ai Yi away. Qi Lin quickly moved to lead the two little ones out.
“He’s the one who let them in,” Lu Xiao said, lowering his voice but still full of fury.
He threw a tablet to Lu Weiyi. “I had someone check. The camera facing the main entrance was already broken.”
Lu Weiyi tapped play. On the screen, Zhuang Mingxu could be seen opening the door and letting in people from outside—clearly acquaintances, judging by the casual conversation beforehand.
“He betrayed you!” Lu Xiao had seen his own son tortured, and also footage of Zhuang Mingxu working with Zhuang Mobai in the lab, comforting Lu Xi with a hand on hers. His eyes were red with rage, teeth clenched, eyes darting around in search of someone to blame.
“He even said he wanted to imprison you,” Lu Xi added, still hiccupping from crying but not too upset to tattle with venom.
His angry voice disturbed the nearby sleeping Dean. The curly-haired boy stirred in Antonio’s arms, murmuring in a sleepy, tearful voice, “No more shots… it hurts…”
Antonio carefully adjusted his arms to hold him closer, looking at Lu Weiyi.
His expression was calm, void of ripples—yet beneath it, a storm was brewing.
Lu Weiyi needed someone to ease the tension right now, not fuel the fire. Clearly, Lu Xi wasn’t that person.
His eyes flicked to Xu Sa. Xu Sa was curled up with Liu Rui and looked away slightly when he noticed Lu Weiyi’s gaze.
Even he avoided speaking up. Of all the people in the room, no one would say a word for Zhuang Mingxu.
Lu Weiyi glanced around the room, wondering if waking the unconscious Ning Yuan would seem too abrupt. At least Ning Yuan might have spoken in Zhuang Mingxu’s defense.
Just as he was figuring out how to speak, Cong Qing quietly entered from the door, leaned in, and whispered something to Lu Xiao.
Lu Xiao’s face darkened further. Abruptly, he said, “Xiao Yi.”
“Yes?” Lu Weiyi quickly seized the opportunity to change the subject and motioned to Qi Lin. “Take them back to their rooms to rest.”
“Yes!” Qi Lin answered and reached out to push Antonio’s bed.
“Lu!” Antonio grabbed the bed’s edge with one hand. His face was expressionless, but he only called Lu Weiyi’s name.
All this way, he still trusted Lu Weiyi and was willing to give their young team leader a chance.
“Let me think.” Lu Weiyi leaned against the sofa, propping his head with one hand. His brow was slightly furrowed, and when he looked up, his pale face was bloodless—not the look of someone in good health.
It hadn’t been long since he upgraded to S-class. To break into SS-class in such a short time clearly hadn’t been easy.
Antonio didn’t press further. He just said, “I’ll wait for your answer.”
Lu Weiyi had no interest in dealing with Xu Yi’s situation now. He tossed him another pack of crystal cores. Xu Yi, obviously running on empty, lit up and quickly absorbed them, healing his own injuries.
Qi Lin, worried Lu Weiyi might lash out and cost them a healer in a moment of instability, hurried to drag Xu Yi along and settle the rest of the team.
Once the living room was cleared, Lu Xiao finally spoke.
“My people reviewed all the surveillance. They didn’t just target the Hunter Guild teams. They also went after our comrades,” he said, gritting his teeth audibly.
“What are you planning to do, Uncle?” Lu Weiyi wasn’t surprised. The Zhuang family was all about profit. As long as someone or something brought them benefits, they could tolerate and exploit it.
At first, since they didn’t target him directly, Lu Weiyi didn’t intend to clash with them. He wasn’t a savior and didn’t waste energy pitying others.
Of course, a big reason was Zhuang Mingxu.
Many in the Zhuang family were hostile to him, but Zhuang Mingxu had never wronged him. He had even silently opposed everyone for Lu Weiyi’s sake. No matter how bad they were, they were still his blood relatives.
Just like how Zhuang Mingxu tolerated Ji Heng, a disgusting excuse for a father, for years.
Before Lu Xiao could answer, Lu Weiyi cut in cleanly. “Don’t let this go public.”
They had harmed too many teams. Just what they did to Lu Xi alone was enough to lose Lu Xiao’s support. Add in the other comrades and the Hunter Guild squads…
If everyone found out the Zhuang family was the mastermind, it would destroy all of them.
As his words fell, Lu Xiao immediately understood his intent. He frowned. “They say Zhuang Mingxu was involved.”
Lu Weiyi shook his head. His head hurt badly and he didn’t have the patience to explain things to everyone. It was already a stretch just staying upright and handling the situation. If this weren’t his uncle, he’d have snapped already.
“Round up everyone from the Zhuang family. Show them the evidence and let them pick a scapegoat,” Lu Weiyi said, meeting Lu Xiao’s furious, disbelieving gaze. He softened his tone, pulling lightly at Lu Xiao’s sleeve with the hand that had been massaging his temple. He pleaded, “Uncle.”
Ever since his mother passed, Lu Weiyi had been sick for years and stopped interacting with people—let alone showing weakness.
Lu Xiao visited him every year during his vacation; each time things changed, and he acknowledged that Zhuang Mingxu took very good care of him, but…
“Xiao Yi, if you don’t handle this, it will be hard to convince everyone,” Lu Xiao said, having clearly heard the conversation in the hall.
How could Lu Weiyi not understand this truth?
This operation was his stubborn decision, and all his teammates helped out mainly out of respect for him.
If it turned out Zhuang Mingxu stabbed them in the back…
It would be easy to handle if only he himself got hurt, but clearly, all his teammates would be implicated.
Lu Weiyi was momentarily at a loss.
If there was even a slight possibility that Zhuang Mingxu was involved, how could he face so many teammates?
“Where’s Zhuang Mingxu?” Lu Xiao asked.
Lu Weiyi looked up at him, his clear eyes full of confusion.
Lu Xiao sighed and ruffled his hair, “Let Zhuang Mingxu come out and deal with it himself. That way, he can clear his relationship with the Zhuang family.”
Let him handle it personally?
The Zhuang family was different from the Ji family.
Ji Heng had thoroughly abused and disgusted Lu Weiyi and had knowingly exploited him all along, yet acted willfully regardless.
But the Zhuang family had poured their entire family’s strength into Zhuang Mingxu.
No matter their motives, they had not wronged Zhuang Mingxu in any way. Even this time, Zhuang Mingxu was still somewhat a beneficiary.
If he were to handle it, what identity would he take to deal with the father and grandfather who had loved him dearly?
He still had some feelings for that family…
Lu Weiyi was silent for a moment, then gradually firmed his expression. He looked up and said, “I’ll handle it.”
If a butcher was really needed, then he, this villain, would do it.
“Xiao Yi,” Lu Xiao frowned.
He didn’t recommend this. Now, whether Zhuang Mingxu was involved was unknown. Lu Weiyi acting like this wouldn’t help to openly and fairly protect him.
Not to mention his teammates, if Zhuang Mingxu was deeply attached to his family, then it would be impossible to maintain peaceful relations afterward.
Who would want to peacefully coexist with someone who dealt harshly with their own family?
Especially when that someone was their lover.
Nowadays, no relationship—lover, family, or friend—could afford grudges. Once cracks appeared, who knew if one side might quietly retaliate?
“Uncle, I know what you’re thinking, but letting him handle it—whether he was involved or not—they are still his family. How is he supposed to act?”
If he really faced this, he would also understand the awkward position Lu Weiyi was in.
Family and lover?
He had chosen countless times before.
Lu Weiyi didn’t know if he had ever felt guilty facing the past, but this time, he wanted to decide for him and not put him in a dilemma. If there were regrets later, at least there would be someone to blame—not himself swallowing the bitter fruit.
After saying this, Lu Weiyi’s expression was resolute: “Then I won’t let him choose. I will decide the outcome for him.”
He rose from the sofa, his figure swaying slightly and was quickly steadied by Lu Xiao.
“Little Daddy,” Zhuang Ai Yi poked his head out of the kitchen, “The pot’s boiling. Should we cook?”
He lowered his head slightly, a bit embarrassed. “Ai Yi’s hungry. Can we have some meat?”
The child was clutching a chunk of meat, running with heavy steps to Lu Weiyi and looking up at him with hopeful eyes.
Lu Weiyi patted his fluffy hair and replied, “Okay.”
“Then can I give some to my little brother?”
Taotao bit his finger, his index finger still glistening with saliva. He licked his lips unconsciously, looking greedy, and coquettishly called, “Father.”
“Eat up,” Lu Weiyi said. Then he noticed Qi Lin, who had just returned after sending everyone back to the ward, looking at him with hesitation.
Meeting Lu Weiyi’s gaze awkwardly, Qi Lin said, “Captain, I don’t know how to cook.”
Lu Weiyi turned to look at another person who had recovered, Xu Yi. Xu Yi’s injuries were healed, and after washing up, he looked decent. Crossing his arms, he met Lu Weiyi’s gaze and asked in disbelief, “You expect me to cook for you? What are you thinking?”
Seeing Lu Weiyi’s calm eyes tinged with slight coldness, Xu Yi dodged and restrained his emotions a little, clearing his throat, “I’m still a big young master after all. How would I know how to cook?”
