Chapter 138

Chapter 138: Returning to the Lou Family

As Lou Yun spoke, two figures emerged from the distant street corner. They were Lin Yongdu and his daughter Lin Yuehua. Just as Lou Yun had said, they were indeed the first to arrive at this place. The reason they lingered until now was precisely because Lin Yongdu had something to say to Lou Yun.

By now, Lou Yun’s spiritual awareness could nearly envelop the entire Lingjiang City. While he hadn’t initially noticed the Lin father and daughter, with everyone else gone, their presence became obvious. He deduced their identities by sensing Lin Yongdu’s cultivation level alone.

Within present-day Lingjiang City, the Lou Family only had Lou Yun remaining. The Wang Family had all departed. Another Spirit Weapon Master—moreover, one of high-level cultivation—could only belong to the Lin Family. Thus, Lou Yun easily determined who they were.

Having their presence directly acknowledged by Lou Yun, Lin Yongdu’s face flushed with embarrassment. He approached cautiously and said with an awkward smile, "Lou Xian… uh, Lou Yun! We, father and daughter, mean no harm!"

He’d nearly addressed Lou Yun as "Nephew" out of habit but remembered Wang Feng’s experience moments ago and hastily corrected himself.

Lou Yun didn’t mind. He glanced casually at the pair, noticing Lin Yuehua hiding behind her father, avoiding his gaze completely. A faint smile touched his lips. "It’s been a long time since the Lou Family had any visitors. Come inside. Actually, I have some questions for you."

After speaking, Lou Yun stepped through the gate first. Lin Yongdu and Lin Yuehua exchanged a look, hesitated briefly, then finally followed him inside.

The Wang Family proved remarkably efficient. Within half an hour, they had restored the Lou residence to its original state. Walking through it, Lou Yun felt no strangeness. Yet, memories surfaced—laughter and lively gatherings of the Lou clan filling these halls. How long had it stood deserted? Even occupied as "the dove has occupied the magpie’s nest". If he hadn’t returned, the Wangs would have kept it indefinitely. A pang of sorrow stirred within him.

Lin Yongdu and Lin Yuehua kept pace beside Lou Yun, maintaining nearly three meters of distance. The three soon entered the main hall.

Lou Yun turned around. "Please, sit anywhere. Unfortunately, there’s no one to bring tea."

"Don’t trouble yourself!" Lin Yongdu waved his hand and guided his daughter to chairs where they sat down.

Lou Yun took his own seat and looked at them. "What did you want to speak to me about?"

Lin Yongdu offered a conciliatory smile. "Actually, nothing too serious. It’s just… with such a calamity befalling your Lou Family, our Lin Family ought to have offered aid. But you understand… the Imperial Family is beyond our challenge, and the Wang Family held more sway than us. We simply didn’t dare… Heh. I hope you can understand our position."

Lou Yun understood instantly after his words. Witnessing him expel the Wang Family from Lingjiang City, Lin Yongdu had come to curry favor. With the Wangs gone, only the Lou and Lin Families remained in the city. If the Lou Family truly aimed to dominate Lingjiang, wiping out the Lin Family would be a simple matter.

Lou Yun harbored no such ambition for dominance; he only wished for his kin and friends to live peacefully. He smiled reassuringly. "Clan Head Lin, I certainly don’t blame you. I grasp your meaning. Rest assured, as long as your Lin Family harbors no ill intentions towards us in the future, our two families can coexist harmoniously."

This guarantee was precisely what Lin Yongdu sought. Hearing it, joy surged across his face. He stood up abruptly, overcome with emotion. "You have my word! I swear this now as Clan Head—my Lin Family absolutely won’t harbor any ill intent towards the Lou Family ever again!"

"Good. I trust you."

Lou Yun possessed such confidence. If the Lin Family ever truly threatened the Lous, they’d first have to weigh whether anyone among them could possibly stand against Lou Yun himself.

Lou Yun continued, "Clan Head Lin, was there anything else you wished to discuss?"

Lin Yongdu waved his hands dismissively. "No, nothing else! Master Lou, you must be tired after your journey. We shouldn’t overstay our welcome…"

Lou Yun cut him off. "I’m not weary. Since you’ve nothing else to say, I actually have a few matters to inquire about."

"We wouldn’t dare! Ask whatever you wish, Master Lou! If I know of it, I will surely tell you!"

Lou Yun considered, then said, "Tell me, then. Exactly how the incident unfolded when the Gu Feng Nation Imperial Family came and took away every member of my Lou Family."

Though he knew his clan was seized by the Gu Feng Imperial Family, he remained unaware of the precise scene. Had anyone resisted? Were any hurt? Even if Lin Yongdu hadn’t been present, he surely knew the particulars.

Lin Yongdu understood Lou Yun’s underlying concern and offered reassurance. "Master Lou, be at ease. When the Imperial forces arrived, some in your Lou Family did try to resist. But they were all restrained by Lou Tianzhi. No conflict erupted. Naturally, no one from your family was injured."

"Oh!" Lou Yun nodded, a measure of relief easing his mind. "How long ago was that?"

Lin Yongdu thought for a moment. "Approximately… over a year ago."

Lou Yun calculated silently. He spent half a year beneath the cliff, then traveled seeking the Qi Cai Xue Lian for Wan Huier, followed by time spent at the Yulu Mountain Manor, plus journeying… altogether, indeed more than a year had passed.

"And afterward?"

"Afterward… probably over six months ago now. Wang Feng came to see me. He said your Lou Family likely wouldn’t return. He wanted to discuss… how to divide up your businesses and this very residence. I refused him outright. He mocked my cowardice at the time. Then, he proceeded to seize all your Lou Family’s assets and took over this mansion by force."

"During this time… not a single member of my Lou Family came back?"

"None!" Lin Yongdu shook his head firmly. Then, his brow suddenly furrowed slightly as if recalling something. "Wait… that reminds me. Perhaps eight or nine months back? A group of people came here. They claimed to be travelers passing through Lingjiang City. They wanted to stay in town for a period and noticed this mansion was empty. They approached to inquire if the owner would consider renting it to them. They asked around amongst the nearby residents. Shortly after… they simply departed."

"A group?" Lou Yun pondered for a moment, then sudden understanding dawned. "Among them… were there also two children?"

"Yes! Two of them. A boy and a girl. Both seemed exceptionally clever and adorable! According to neighbors, the children kept chattering about wanting to find their master!"

This group wasn’t anyone else. Naturally, they were Lou Yun’s sworn brothers, Zuo Mingyang and Yi Jinguan, along with Yi Jinguan’s adopted children—exactly the two disciples Lou Yun had accepted.

Back then, unaware of Han Tianxiao’s framing him, Lou Yun had kindly invited them all to seek refuge with his clan in Lingjiang City. A place to call home. Later, upon learning the truth from Granny Bai Cao, he’d immediately realized the danger. The moment they arrived in Lingjiang City and inquired about him, they were likely to be captured. Granny Bai Cao had offered comfort then, saying they were worldly-wise individuals who wouldn’t be caught so readily.

Judging by this development, Granny Bai Cao had been absolutely correct. They proved exceedingly vigilant and escaped capture. Unfortunately, their current whereabouts remained unknown to him.

Lin Yongdu, naturally, grasped that Lou Yun knew these people. Without Lou Yun asking directly, he volunteered further. "At that time… nobody dared associate themselves with the Lou Family. The group’s origins were unclear. So, once they left… we didn’t attempt any tracking. We haven’t the faintest idea where they went."

Lou Yun thought to himself: Wherever they went now, having eluded capture once, they surely possessed the means to escape again. They likely hadn’t been captured. He would eventually have to devise a way to locate them.

After conversing further with Lin Yongdu yielded no truly useful new information, Lou Yun dismissed the father and daughter. He remained alone in his family residence, contemplating his next moves. Should he seek the Crazy Old Man and the others at the Ancient Weapon Academy? Or go directly to the Capital to investigate the whereabouts of his clan members?