When Nie Ting went silent on the call, Lu Shu knew his plan was unreasonable. Actually he was also aware that as the leader of the Heavenly Network, Nie Ting would do his best not to confront the Puppet Master, a mid-Class A, anywhere close to the cities. This was out of consideration for the greater good.
It was not because Nie Ting was scared, nor because he had no confidence in defeating the Puppet Master. Instead, countless innocent lives might be lost during the fight of two or more Class A's.
The main difference between the Heavenly Network and many practitioners organizations was that the latter aimed mainly for their own international influence and cultivation resources whereas the former played more of a guardian's role.
Nie Ting would view himself as unworthy as the leader of the Network if he fought the Puppet Master at Luo City and put everything else at stake.
