Chapter 142

Chapter 142: The Water Pattern Birthmark

Chang Xiang rarely spoke to Lou Yun unprompted anymore. Lou Yun didn’t know what he was busy with and hadn’t had time to ask. Yet now, Chang Xiang suddenly spoke up, and the person he was referring to was actually this servant girl Lou Yun had just rescued.

However, after a moment’s thought, a light sparked in Lou Yun’s mind. "Could it be that the Shui family is also one of the Nine Clans?"

Based on Lou Yun’s guess, Chang Xiang probably knew the exact surnames of all the Nine Clans. But he never volunteered the information; he only mentioned it when encountering descendants. Therefore, Lou Yun believed that this Shui Lingluo’s Shui family must also be one of the Nine Clans.

Yet Chang Xiang rejected Lou Yun’s guess. "No, there is no ‘Shui’ surname among the Nine Clans!"

"Then why are you so surprised?"

Chang Xiang didn’t answer Lou Yun’s question immediately. "Ask her if within their family, males dominate and females are inferior?"

Lou Yun found this question extremely awkward to ask. It probed into another family’s private matters, something inappropriate for an outsider like him to inquire about. But he was genuinely curious about what was special about the Shui family. After some hesitation, he asked, "Miss Shui, my name is Lou Yun. Please don’t call me savior or anything like that; it sounds awkward. If you don’t mind, you can call me Brother Lou. Also, may I boldly ask you a question? Are males dominant and females inferior within your Shui family?"

Upon hearing the first part of Lou Yun’s words, Shui Lingluo’s face filled with delight. But when she heard the second part, her expression immediately turned to shock. "How do you know that?"

Chang Xiang swiftly followed up. "Next, ask her if she has a birthmark resembling a water pattern on her chest!"

Lou Yun’s expression instantly turned awkward. The previous question was one thing, but this one was really going too far. A grown man asking a young woman if she had a birthmark on her chest—how on earth could he phrase that!

Chang Xiang, however, ignored his discomfort. Seeing Lou Yun hesitate, he urged impatiently, "Ask, now!"

Feeling helpless, Lou Yun gritted his teeth and said, "Miss Shui, I apologize, but I have another question. Uh, may I ask… may I ask if you have a birthmark resembling a water pattern… on your chest?"

The moment Lou Yun finished speaking, Shui Lingluo instinctively crossed her arms over her chest almost immediately. This gesture naturally made Lou Yun even more embarrassed. Fortunately, it was the middle of the night, and no one was around. If someone had seen, they might have thought he was trying to do something inappropriate to Shui Lingluo!

Lou Yun flusteredly waved his hands. "Miss Shui, don’t misunderstand! I meant no other intentions at all! I was just a bit curious about your family and wanted to ask."

Of course, Shui Lingluo knew Lou Yun had no ill intent. However, the question he asked was too sensitive, and the most crucial point was: Lou Yun was right.

Her face flushed red. "Young Master Lou… I… I do indeed have a water-pattern-like birthmark on my chest. But… how… how did you know?"

Before Lou Yun could reply, he heard Chang Xiang suddenly draw in a sharp, audible breath. "It is the Water Tribe! The Water Tribe! Lou Yun! Aren’t you going to the Ghost Sea, to the Huangfu Family? Take her! You must take her with you!"

"Why take her? What’s the Water Tribe about?" Lou Yun was utterly baffled.

"Don’t worry about that right now! Just do as I say! You still have important business to attend to. Tell her to leave first. Have her wait for you at her aunt’s house. After you finish your matters here, go find her immediately!"

Lou Yun was already used to Chang Xiang often speaking in half-truths. Moreover, the things Chang Xiang insisted upon invariably turned out beneficial to him. Therefore, Lou Yun raised no objections. He said to Shui Lingluo, "Miss Shui, could you please tell me the specific address of your aunt’s house? Once I’ve finished my business here, I’d like to visit her. There’s something I might need your help with."

"Look for me? Trouble me for help?" Shui Lingluo was clearly taken aback. But almost immediately, a happy smile spread across her face, and she nodded repeatedly. "Alright! Of course!"

Though Shui Lingluo had no idea what help she could possibly offer Lou Yun, she was simply overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him again.

After noting down the address of Shui Lingluo’s aunt’s house, Lou Yun gave her a few more words of caution. He watched her enter the inn before turning around and heading back to the previous inn. Qin Wufeng still lay on the floor, unconscious.

Lou Yun lifted his leg and delivered a sharp kick squarely to Qin Wufeng’s face. Feeling the pain, Qin Wufeng groaned and woke up.

Qin Wufeng’s eyes were dazed. But when he saw Lou Yun standing in front of him, he immediately recalled what had happened earlier. His mind snapped alert, a look of fear appearing on his face as he stared at Lou Yun. "Brother… Brother Lou! Please… please let me go! Whatever demand you have, I’ll get my father to agree to it! Honestly! Anything!"

Lou Yun looked at him disdainfully. "Spare me the nonsense! I have questions for you. Answer them truthfully, and I might spare you this once. But if you dare lie… Hmph!"

Qin Wufeng waved his hands frantically. "I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare! Brother Lou, ask whatever you need to! If I know anything, I absolutely won’t lie!"

"Why did your father suddenly return to Yuyang City this time?"

"He received a secret decree from the king ordering him back! He didn’t say the specific reason, and I didn’t dare ask. After all, it concerns matters of state. Even if I asked, he likely wouldn’t tell me!"

Lou Yun believed Qin Wufeng wasn’t lying. He pressed on. "That old man with the proud and aloof demeanor who came back with your father? Who is he?"

"An old man?" Qin Wufeng thought for a moment before realization dawned. "Oh! You mean Elder Jia? My father hired him. He’s solely responsible for my father’s safety."

Lou Yun nodded. A sly smirk suddenly played on his lips. "Alright, one last question. Does your father… dote on you?"

Qin Wufeng was momentarily stunned. Then, understanding dawned. He nodded vigorously. "Yes! Yes, he does! I am the youngest of us three brothers, and I am my father’s favorite!"

"Good. That will do. Go back to sleep!"

No sooner had the words left Lou Yun’s mouth than, before Qin Wufeng could utter a plea, Lou Yun kicked him unconscious once more.

Staring at Qin Wufeng’s immobile form, Lou Yun pondered where he could stash him—somewhere secure where he wouldn’t be discovered and couldn’t escape.

Lou Yun was unfortunately unfamiliar with Yuyang City. He racked his brain but couldn’t think of a suitable place. Fortunately, Chang Xiang offered a suggestion just then. "You could put him in the Chaos Golden Cauldron for now!"

"The Chaos Golden Cauldron can fit a person?" Lou Yun asked, genuinely surprised.

"Hmm. The Chaos Golden Cauldron is different from storage rings worn on the hand. Rings can only store inanimate objects. But the Chaos Golden Cauldron can hold living things. Because… when forging certain common weapons or concocting pills, one sometimes needs to incorporate… living matter."

Lou Yun couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath at this revelation. Forging weapons or refining pills requiring the addition of living things? If it were just demon beasts, it might be one thing, but if it involved humans… wasn’t that excessively cruel?

By now, it was the third watch of the night, far past midnight. Lou Yun truly had no time to waste on these tangential inquiries. He had to find Qin Luoyuan before daybreak. Lou Yun decisively retrieved the Chaos Golden Cauldron and tossed Qin Wufeng inside. To prevent him from waking prematurely, Lou Yun placed another Seal Technique upon his magical weapon.

Sure enough, Qin Wufeng lay inside the Chaos Golden Cauldron, his breathing completely unaffected. Only then did Lou Yun feel relieved enough to stow away the cauldron. He left the inn and headed back towards the general’s residence.

Qin Wufeng’s absence clearly hadn’t been detected yet. The residence was deathly silent, most occupants deep asleep. Relying on his earlier observations, Lou Yun made his way flawlessly to Qin Luoyuan’s bedroom. He paused outside the door, listening carefully. While no sounds emanated from within, Qin Luoyuan wasn’t sleeping. Instead, he sat meditating, cultivating his inner power!

This proved that despite his high rank and authority, Qin Luoyuan still took his own cultivation very seriously indeed.

Lou Yun hesitated for a moment, then gently pushed the door open.

The instant the door gave way, Lou Yun felt a surge of fierce energy blast towards him. Though prepared mentally, the attack came blindingly fast, leaving him absolutely no time to react.

Yet, at that precise moment, a sliver of silver light flashed across Lou Yun’s body. A suit of armor materialized, enveloping him. Immediately afterward, there was a heavy thump as a powerful force struck Lou Yun squarely.

Lou Yun’s body swayed slightly; a muffled grunt escaped his lips as blood and energy churned turbulently within him. Fortunately, the impact caused no serious injury.

If Chang Xiang hadn’t instantly transformed the Xiang Tian Sword into armor to shield Lou Yun, that single strike alone—even if it didn’t kill him—would have inflicted grievous wounds at the very least.

Lou Yun withstood the blow and immediately pushed the door fully open, stepping inside. In one smooth motion, he closed it behind him. A sound of surprised bewilderment came from within the room—clearly astonished that Lou Yun had managed to endure the attack.

The very next question, however, startled Lou Yun profoundly.

"Could the visitor be… Lou Yun?"