Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Heavily Guarded

As Lou Yun was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a clamor from outside the residence. It gave him an illusion that his family had returned. His figure flashed, and he arrived at the doorway, only to find a crowd gathered there. But it wasn’t his family. Leading them was Lin Yongdu, who had departed not long ago.

Lou Yun looked at the group. They carried food, drinks, and various other items. Bewildered, he turned to Lin Yongdu and asked, "Clan Head Lin, what is all this?"

Lin Yongdu smiled and said, "Young Master Lou, you’ve only just returned, and your Lou Family members are all absent. You living here alone requires necessities for daily life."

It seemed Lin Yongdu was utterly determined to win Lou Yun’s favor. Even so, his gesture touched Lou Yun deeply. Whatever his motive might have been, he at least had the consideration.

"Clan Head Lin, you’re far too kind! However, I don’t plan to stay here long-term; I’ll be leaving very soon!" He paused, then continued, "But you came at the perfect time. I will be departing and don’t know when I might return. During this period, I wish to trouble Clan Head Lin to watch over and manage this residence of my family."

Lin Yongdu promptly nodded. "No trouble at all, no trouble! Young Master Lou, set your mind at ease. Entrust this residence to me. I guarantee that when you return, not a single stone or blade of grass will be missing!"

"Good. Then you have my gratitude in advance! I’m off!"

Cupping his hands toward Lin Yongdu, Lou Yun abruptly activated his movement technique. The onlookers saw only a blur before his figure vanished altogether.

Just this movement technique, executed without relying on a magical weapon, earned their silent, profound admiration.

Lou Yun left Lingjiang City like the wind, his destination fixed in his mind: Yuyang City, the capital of Gu Feng Nation!

Originally, Lou Yun had hesitated whether to go to Yuyang City or head to Ancient Weapon Academy in Tianrang City. But then he recalled what Granny Bai Cao had told him: Wan Huier had written a letter clarifying the kidnapping incident involving him. She had entrusted this letter to the Crazy Old Man to deliver to the King of Gu Feng Nation. It should have been delivered long ago.

Logically, after reading the letter, and with the Lou Family currently having guarantees from Ancient Weapon Academy, Spirit Weapon Sect, and Beichen Ming – three major powers – the royal family, unless they were foolish, should have immediately released Lou Yun’s family. Yet, none of the Lou Family had returned. This suggested something had definitely gone wrong. Therefore, Lou Yun decided to go directly to Yuyang City to find out precisely what had happened. Why was the King still refusing to release them?

Anxious thoughts for his family’s safety consumed him. Throughout his journey, Lou Yun’s mind was wholly focused. He didn’t care if his speed seemed shockingly fast. Along the main road, he raced towards Yuyang City with incredible velocity. While not quite matching the speed of Xia Guanqiu flying them with his magical weapon all those years ago, it was nearly comparable. He reached Yuyang City in just two days.

As he neared the city gates, Lou Yun slowed down. He remembered: Yuyang City wasn’t a small town like Lingjiang City, where one could casually come and go. After all, it was the capital of Gu Feng Nation, the heart of the entire kingdom. To enter the city, one had to present a special jade tablet and be inspected before being permitted entry.

Lou Yun naturally didn’t possess a jade tablet. So he started pondering how he could successfully slip into the city.

When Lou Yun reached the city gate, he found the number of guards now was noticeably higher than during his last visit. Each held a magical weapon, looking as if facing a formidable enemy, ready to strike at any moment.

Lou Yun stood beneath a large tree, advancing no further. His brows slightly furrowed. Is Yuyang City expecting a powerful enemy? Or… could these guards actually be guarding against me?

Just then, a middle-aged man passed by. Lou Yun swiftly grabbed him, asking with a smile, "Mister, hello! I’d like to inquire—has something happened in our Yuyang City? Why are there so many soldiers at the gate?"

The middle-aged man was just an ordinary citizen. He glanced at Lou Yun, then lowered his voice. "You haven’t been to Yuyang City for a long time, have you?"

Lou Yun quickly nodded. "Exactly! I came about a year ago. Last time, the guard presence wasn’t this strict!"

"No wonder!" Understanding dawned on the man’s face. "Little brother, you have no idea! Big trouble has struck Yuyang City recently!"

"What kind of trouble?"

The man didn’t answer immediately. He glanced around cautiously, seemingly afraid someone might overhear him. Only after confirming no one was paying attention did he continue, "I heard a man named Lou Yun is planning to bring many magical weapons masters to attack Yuyang City!"

Upon hearing this, Lou Yun froze completely. Since when did I plan to bring a bunch of people to attack Yuyang City?

"Who said that?"

"Everyone says it! This Lou Yun apparently committed some crime; there’s a nationwide warrant for his arrest, but he hasn’t been caught. To force him out, the King arrested his entire family. Now he’s furious! He sent out word, brazenly saying he’d overthrow our King and make himself king! And he actually seems to have some capability, knowing quite a few friends. That’s why Yuyang City is on heightened alert."

Lou Yun truly did not know whether to laugh or cry. Who on earth is spreading this nonsense? While he was wrongly accused and certainly indignant, he absolutely never uttered anything about overthrowing the King or claiming the throne for himself!

The big man paid no attention to Lou Yun’s reaction and went on, "But these matters concern us common folks little. We just need to live honestly and tend to our own lives."

With that, the man turned and walked towards Yuyang City, no longer paying Lou Yun any mind. Quickly, Lou Yun rolled his eyes, picked up his pace, and intercepted the man once more, smiling. "Mister, I must trouble you for one more thing!"

"What is it?"

"It’s like this: I’ve come to Yuyang City to visit my uncle. But during my journey, my jade tablet was stolen! Now I have no jade tablet, so I can’t enter the city. Please tell me—could you perhaps…?" As he spoke, Lou Yun discreetly placed a small sliver of gold into the man’s hand. "This is a small token of appreciation, Mister. Please don’t think it meager. Consider it helping out this fellow by doing a good deed!"

The middle-aged man wasn’t a villain, yet clearly wasn’t a saint either. He probably had never seen gold before. He stared wide-eyed at it. Clutching the gold, he gave Lou Yun a thorough looking-over, head to toe, then nodded. "Alright. Looking at you, you don’t seem like a bad sort. I’ll do you this favor!"

"Haha, Uncle, look at me—how could I possibly be a bad person!"

"Fine. Follow me. I’ll tell them you’re my son."

To successfully infiltrate Yuyang City, Lou Yun had no choice but to suffer the indignity of temporarily being someone else’s son.

Yet Lou Yun secretly thanked his lucky stars for finding this "pretend" father. The guards at the city gate were intensely rigorous in their questioning. Anyone without a jade tablet was categorically denied passage. Even though the middle-aged man had a jade tablet, the guards quizzed him meticulously on his ancestors eight generations back before finally allowing them into the city.

Once inside, Lou Yun’s spiritual senses revealed the city itself was heavily fortified on the inside. Besides regular patrols of soldiers moving through the streets, numerous magical weapons masters, whose levels in the magical weapon realm were not at all low, mingled amongst the ordinary people. Pretending to drink tea or eat, they scanned the passing crowds with alert eyes full of suspicion.

Yuyang City was now as tightly fortified as a fortress. This caused Lou Yun to mutter inwardly, Do they really believe it, from the King down to the lowest soldier? That I’m going to bring a large force to attack the capital?

With so many magical weapons masters around, Lou Yun dared not be conspicuous. While everyone perceived him as an ordinary citizen, if he used his movement technique, he was certain more than fifty magical weapons masters would instantly charge at him. So, he genuinely had to act like a regular person. After bidding farewell to the middle-aged man, he began strolling leisurely along the street.

His steps seemed aimless, but Lou Yun’s mind raced, rapidly considering possibilities. His original plan upon arriving in Yuyang City was to directly request an audience with the King. Once face-to-face, he would detail the entire sequence of events. Then, based on the King’s reaction, he would decide his next course of action.

He truly hadn’t anticipated Yuyang City would be guarded like this. If he were to attempt charging into the imperial palace now, he’d likely lose his life long before even glimpsing the King!

Moreover, the imperial palace wasn’t like the city gate, where he might find someone to sneak him in.

Suddenly, Lou Yun’s eyes lit up. Who says it’s impossible! I just need to find someone close to the King. Then, accompanying him and passing as his guard, I can naturally slip into the palace!

The choice of person was, of course, crucial. Lou Yun’s first thought was Wan Huier’s father, the Sixth Prince. But careful reflection made him abandon the idea immediately. Though the Sixth Prince disagreed with the King, his purpose in sending Wan Huier to Cang Lan Nation was to stage a coup d’état. Because of Lou Yun, that plan had failed. The Sixth Prince probably wanted him dead; there was certainly no hope of help there.

If the Sixth Prince was out, then who else was there?

Within Yuyang City, Lou Yun genuinely didn’t know another soul. He truly had no idea who he could turn to for help! Was brute force, direct confrontation the only option left?

Just at that moment, Lou Yun suddenly overheard a conversation from two people beside him.

"Hey, have you heard? Tonight, a major celebrity is coming to Yuyang City!"

"Who?"

"This man is incredibly famous! Not just within Gu Feng Nation! Even across the entire Spirit Weapon Star, he’s known by everyone! His prestige truly inspires awe!"

"Oh, stop beating around the bush! Who is it?"

"Hehe… the Breakthrough General, Qin Luoyuan!"