Chapter 134

Chapter 134: The Lou Family Turns into the Wang Family

The journey that should have taken three days was completed in just two and a half days because Lou Yun advanced like a madman. He had already reached the border of the Gu Feng Nation.

There was a border town here. Although not large in area, because it occupied this special location, anyone entering or leaving the Gu Feng Nation needed to pause here briefly for supplies. Thus, it remained quite lively and prosperous.

When Lou Yun had escorted Wan Huier out of the Gu Feng Nation before, he had rested overnight in this very town. Now, returning after more than half a year, he couldn’t help but feel a poignant sense that things remained but people were gone. When they had left, it was a whole group, boisterous and happy. Yet now, returning, he was alone!

After sighing with emotion for a while, Lou Yun strode into the town. He went directly to the town’s only inn and inquired of the waiter about any news concerning Leng Cangqiong.

Leng Cangqiong, with his white clothes and white hair, was remarkably distinctive. If such a person had indeed visited the town, anyone who saw him surely wouldn’t forget. However, the result of Lou Yun’s inquiries was that no one had ever seen such a person. That meant Leng Cangqiong had never come to this town.

Lou Yun wasn’t anxious anymore, as anxiety was useless anyway. So he simply found a spot to sit down, ordered a pot of tea, and began to rest. Having raced frantically for so long, even Lou Yun’s nearly iron-forged body felt strained; he needed proper rest. At the same time, he could carefully consider just where Leng Cangqiong had gone.

Although they hadn’t explicitly stated during their parting that they would meet in this specific town, it was practically understood without words. Anyone arranging to meet at a national border knew the location would inevitably be this town. Moreover, this town’s history was exceedingly long. Even though Leng Cangqiong had been secluded from the world for over fifty years, with his wealth of experience, he would certainly know of this unwritten rule.

Could it be that Leng Cangqiong simply hadn’t arrived yet, delayed by some matter? That was certainly possible. However, Lou Yun genuinely couldn’t imagine anything that could detain Leng Cangqiong. And given Leng Cangqiong’s character, he was absolutely the type to be decisive and true to his word. Since he had agreed to meet Lou Yun here in three and a half months, he would neither be late nor fail to show.

There was another possibility: Leng Cangqiong had come. But perhaps, because his striking appearance was too conspicuous, he chose not to enter this border town to avoid drawing undue attention from others.

Even though Leng Cangqiong had vanished from the Weapon Emperor Star for over fifty years, his deeds, especially his title of "White-haired God of Death", remained prominent. Anyone seeing him, coupled with the aloof, icy aura he exuded, could likely guess his true identity.

After much thought, Lou Yun felt this last possibility was the most plausible. He quickly stood up, paid for his tea, and headed out of town. He intended to search the surrounding areas outside the town, hoping to find any traces left by Leng Cangqiong’s presence. Of course, if Leng Cangqiong was still waiting for him somewhere, that would naturally be the best outcome!

However, Lou Yun circled the area around the border town three times within about a ten-li radius and found no trace of Leng Cangqiong. Either he never came at all, or he came, waited a long time for Lou Yun, and then simply left.

Lou Yun was naturally unwilling to just leave like this. Regardless, he himself had been late. Therefore, he temporarily stayed in the small town, wandering inside and outside its boundaries every day, hoping to encounter Leng Cangqiong.

Another three days passed. Leng Cangqiong still didn’t appear. Lou Yun really couldn’t wait any longer. He was worried about the safety of his clansmen. So he left the border town and hurried towards Lingjiang City.

Although Granny Bai Cao had informed Lou Yun about the Lou Family’s situation before his journey, until he personally saw that his family was safe, his heart remained suspended. That’s why he needed to return home to check first.

On the road back to Lingjiang City, Lou Yun’s mood was even more urgent than his return to the Gu Feng Nation. He once again pushed his movement technique to its limits, disregarding whether he startled any passersby.

The closer he got to Lingjiang City, the more unsettled Lou Yun’s heart became. When he finally stood before Lingjiang City’s city gates, he halted. Staring up at the familiar inscription "Lingjiang City" on the gatehouse, he almost didn’t dare step inside!

Lou Yun gave a bitter smile inwardly. As the saying goes, apprehension increases the closer one gets to home. That must exactly describe his feelings right now.

The real reason for Lou Yun’s apprehension was his deep sense of guilt! He hadn’t personally done anything to disgrace the Lou Family, yet he couldn’t escape the fact that the entire clan had been arrested by the Gu Feng Nation’s royal family because of him. He had no idea what kind of life they had endured over the last half year and more. Psychologically, he felt he had failed his entire family. That’s why he hesitated so much, almost afraid to return.

Hesitation aside, home was definitely calling. After taking a deep breath, Lou Yun finally resolutely took a step forward, crossing the threshold of Lingjiang City’s gates.

Once inside, walking along the familiar streets, seeing the bustling, lively shops lining both sides, Lou Yun’s mood gradually calmed. This was his home, the city where he’d lived for a full sixteen years. There was no reason, no person, capable of obstructing his steps home.

Calculating the time, Lou Yun had actually been away from Lingjiang City for almost two years. He was about to turn eighteen. Over those two years, Lou Yun, in terms of his appearance, his heart, and his strength, had undergone tremendous changes. Consequently, as he walked through Lingjiang City now, no one recognized this once-famous figure within the city.

After passing through the familiar streets, the sight of the Lou Family’s estate—even more familiar to Lou Yun—appeared ahead. Seeing those buildings, Lou Yun’s heart began to beat violently, uncontrollably. Simultaneously, he unconsciously quickened his pace towards the Lou Family’s direction, silently murmuring in his heart: "Father, Second Uncle, I’ve returned!"

Finally, Lou Yun arrived before the main gate of the Lou Family estate. But when he lifted his head to look above the gate, he froze right there on the spot.

The shock lasted only a moment. Immediately after, Lou Yun’s brow furrowed deeply. His hands clenched tightly into fists, and his eyes narrowed slightly, emitting two sharp, blade-like gazes that fixed dead on the plaque hanging atop the Lou Family’s main gate.

That plaque should originally have displayed the two large characters "Lou Fu," representing the Lou Family’s identity and status. Yet, at this moment, what was written on it was "Wang Fu" – clear evidence that this estate no longer belonged to the Lou Family, but to the Wang Family.

A building that should rightly belong to the Lou Family – how had it become the Wang Family’s? Could it be that during Lou Yun’s absence, the Lou Family had sold this residence to the Wang Family?

That was obviously impossible!

This estate could be considered the ancestral property of the Lou Family, handed down generation after generation by the Lou Family’s ancestor. Even during the Lou Family’s most difficult times, they would not have dared sell this estate—that would have been an act of extreme filial impiety! Besides, although the Lou Family was currently just a small family, the wealth held within the family was absolutely sufficient to support the entire clan for a century. There was no conceivable scenario where they would be reduced to selling their family home!

In other words, even if every member of the Lou Family had to beg on the streets for survival, even if they all faced the threat of death, the Lou Family members would never sell their estate!

Yet now, right before Lou Yun’s eyes, the fact was undeniable: this estate really had become the Wang Family’s residence!

Wang Family? Lou Yun knew exactly which family that was!

Lingjiang City originally housed three prominent families: the Lou Family, the Lin Family, and the Wang Family. The three families’ strengths were more or less equal, and for many years they had been secretly and openly vying with each other, yet maintaining a state of coexistence.

Before Lou Yun left Lingjiang City, he had participated in an arranged duel between the three families competing for a spiritual crystal mine. At that time, they had fallen victim to a scheme jointly hatched by the Lin and Wang Families. The Lou Family unfortunately lost. Ultimately, the Wang Family secured the spiritual crystal mine’s exploitation rights.

However, immediately after the duel concluded, the Lin Family’s clan head, Lin Yongdu, personally brought his son, Lin Yuehua, to the Lou Family to offer a symbolic apology—literally "bearing thorns"—to express regret for their previous actions. Lin Yongdu promised that from then on, they would absolutely never oppose the Lou Family again. He also hoped Lou Yun could forgive Lin Yuehua for past provocations and not deliberately make things difficult for him out of spite.

Considering Lin Yongdu’s sincerity at the time, both the Lou Family collectively and Lou Yun personally agreed to their request.

Although Lou Yun didn’t know precisely what the Lin and Wang Families had done during the two years he was absent from Lingjiang City, just the stark, jarring sight of "Wang Fu" glaringly displayed on the plaque above what was rightfully the Lou Family estate told him one thing clearly: the Wang Family was still openly and brazenly opposing his family!

Lou Yun clenched his fists tightly, a cold smirk twisting his face: "Wang Feng… Wang Feng! You have enormous gall! Did you really think the Lou Family had no capable men left? You dared to seize the Lou Family’s estate!"

At this moment, the guilt and unease that had filled Lou Yun’s heart were completely replaced by deep, seething anger. As a descendant of the Lou Family, he absolutely could not tolerate anyone laying hands on the Lou Family’s property!

Despite the fury raging within, Lou Yun’s expression grew even calmer. Yet the cold smirk on his face resembled a devil’s grimace, radiating an aura of profound cruelty.

Silently taking two steps back, Lou Yun gathered his spiritual energy into his voice. He projected his words loudly, resonating clearly:

"Wang Feng! Wang Family! Roll out here, all of you!"