Chapter 156

Chapter 156: The Lou Family Returns

On Spirit Weapon Star, whether for a family or a sect, outsiders were absolutely forbidden from interfering in their affairs. This was an unwritten rule, known even to sensible children. If anyone dared to interfere anyway, that outsider would be declared the entire clan’s public enemy!

Leng Cangqiong, the White-haired God of Death, had traversed Spirit Weapon Star for so long. Though he’d lived in seclusion for over fifty years, he definitely knew this rule!

But if he ever truly followed the rules obediently, he wouldn’t be the Leng Cangqiong that everyone feared!

With his fiercely independent and cold-blooded nature, Leng Cangqiong scorned all rules under heaven. Right now, he believed since the clan head of the Lou family didn’t blame his sworn brother Lou Yun anymore, Lou Yun didn’t need to keep kneeling.

Hearing this, Lou Yun’s expression changed involuntarily. He opened his mouth to speak, but his Third Uncle Lou Tianlei cut in first, “Hey, who are you? Daring to interfere in my Lou family’s affairs! Seems you’re deliberately picking a fight with the Lou family!”

Lou Tianlei was naturally a reckless brute who rarely used his brain. Plus, his son Lou Fei had just been shaved bald by Leng Cangqiong with a single sword stroke. How could he swallow that anger? Now was the perfect chance to vent. This time, no one blamed him. In fact, most other Lou family members were also rolling up their sleeves, ready for a life-or-death battle against Leng Cangqiong!

Leng Cangqiong gave him a cold glance and said lightly, “I am Lou Yun’s sworn elder brother. If you weren’t my brother’s kin, just for those words, you’d already be dead.”

Learning the other was Lou Yun’s sworn elder brother, Lou Tianlei felt even bolder. By seniority, he was Lou Yun’s Third Uncle, so this man ought to call him Third Uncle too!

Immediately, Lou Tianlei put on airs: “So you’re my nephew’s sworn elder brother? Hmph! Do you know who I am? I am Lou Yun’s Third Uncle! How dare you speak to me with such attitude? Clearly you lack respect for elders and need discipline!”

Without waiting for Leng Cangqiong’s reaction, he turned sharply to Lou Yun: “Lou Yun! Look what kind of friends you associate with!”

Lou Yun could clearly feel the faint killing intent radiating from Leng Cangqiong beside him. To prevent further escalation and misunderstandings, he stopped kneeling and stood up abruptly: “Earlier I was urgently pleading my case to the clan head and didn’t get to introduce everyone. Allow me to introduce now.”

“He is my sworn elder brother, Leng Cangqiong!”

“Leng…”

Lou Tianlei only managed that one syllable before his eyes bulged wide and his jaw dropped slack. The following syllables froze in his throat, utterly stuck.

The other Lou family members wore similarly shocked expressions. The name “Leng Cangqiong,” paired with his appearance before them, instantly ignited their memories of the White-haired God of Death!

Leng Cangqiong, the White-haired God of Death!

Seeing their reactions, Leng Cangqiong remained expressionless—he was long accustomed to others looking like this upon hearing his name. Lou Yun, however, quietly sighed in relief. Now that they knew Leng Cangqiong, surely no one else would dare provoke Big Brother.

As long as no one stirred trouble, Big Brother would spare his kinsmen out of respect for Lou Yun. A crisis seemed averted.

Next, Lou Yun’s eyes flickered. He suddenly darted to the side of the Elder from the Han family and whispered something. The Elder glanced warily toward Leng Cangqiong in the distance. Though reluctant, he gave a slight nod.

The Elder then called over another member of the Han family, whispered instructions, and the man hurried away.

Only then did Lou Yun return to stand before his father. Once more, he knelt: “Father! Your unfilial son has returned!”

Lou Tianming snapped out of his daze. Shaking off Lou Qian’s support despite his frail body, he hastily extended both hands to help Lou Yun up, his eyes moistening: “Yun’er! Get up, get up!”

Lou Yun quickly stood and steadied his father. Lou Tianming gazed at his son, who had been gone two years, his heart swelling with pride and elation!

Beside them, Leng Cangqiong suddenly clasped his hands toward Lou Tianming and bowed: “Leng Cangqiong pays respects to Sworn Father!”

This act stunned both Lou Yun and Lou Tianming. Neither expected someone of Leng Cangqiong’s stature to bow to Lou Tianming!

Whether by seniority, age, or cultivation, Lou Tianming was leagues beneath Leng Cangqiong. Yet due to his sworn kinship with Lou Yun, Leng Cangqiong set aside his identity willingly to greet Lou Tianming as a junior. Undoubtedly, he truly regarded Lou Yun as a brother from the heart!

Lou Tianzhi reacted quickest, discreetly nudging Lou Tianming. Lou Tianming snapped back to reality and rushed forward two steps, forcefully lifting Leng Cangqiong’s arms: “El-Elder Leng! This is too much! Utterly improper!”

Leng Cangqiong calling Lou Tianming “Sworn Father,” while Lou Tianming addressed him as “Elder Leng,” had thrown seniority into chaos!

Suddenly, a loud cry came: “The King arrives!”

At the sound, the Lou family members instantly knelt. But Lou Yun grabbed his father’s arm, preventing him from kneeling, and declared loudly: “All of you! Stand! No need to kneel!” He had asked the Elder to summon the King. And the so-called King of Gu Feng Nation was nothing but a puppet anyway! Absolutely no need to kneel!

Lou Tianming and the others naturally knew nothing of these intricacies. Were it not for Leng Cangqiong standing guard, Lou Tianlei and Lou Fei would surely have accused Lou Yun of disrespecting the King again!

Most of the Lou family knelt haphazardly. A small minority eyed Lou Yun suspiciously as he stood proudly supporting Lou Tianming, and chose not to kneel.

Soon the King appeared before them. He acted as though he didn’t see the mixed kneeling and standing, greeting everyone with a wide smile: “Esteemed members of the Lou Family! My apologies! Lou Yun did not abduct the Princess! What happened before was a misunderstanding! Today, he risked his life coming here to clear up all the facts! Henceforth, I pardon the Lou Family! You are free to return home!”

The King’s personal explanation absolving Lou Yun carried more weight than ten thousand pleas from Lou Yun himself. Apart from Lou Tianlei and his faction, the other Lou family members showed sudden understanding—they had wronged Lou Yun! Not only that, he risked his life to save them all! Far from being a criminal to the Lou family, he was its great savior! One could even say Lou Yun had saved the entire Lou clan!

Naturally, Lou Tianming and Lou Tianzhi were overjoyed. Lou Tianming particularly so. When arrested and accused of Lou Yun kidnapping the Princess, his first thought was ‘Impossible!’ Yet crushed under the others’ complaints, he’d silently swallowed his words, believing truth would prevail eventually.

Amidst the Lou family’s cheers, Lou Yun urged them to depart immediately. Though Leng Cangqiong was present, Lou Yun believed the Han family wouldn’t simply let them leave peacefully. They needed to escape quickly before anything worsened.

Even his original plan—to heal his father’s magical weapon spirit weapon—the moment they reunited had to be postponed. Everything would wait until they returned home.

When Leng Cangqiong asked how to handle the Han family, Lou Yun fell silent. Then he decided to spare them. After all, they hadn’t killed any Lou family members, and he had killed Han Rui. That balanced things. But how they acted the next time they met would determine friend or foe.

Thus, with Leng Cangqiong’s help, Lou Yun achieved his goal: rescuing the entire Lou family. Safely, he led them all back to Lingjiang City!

During the journey back, Lou Yun briefly recounted his experiences the past two years. He focused only on the good, omitting all the perilous moments to spare his father worry.

He also noticed something: Among all the Lou family members present, the Great Grandfather who had gifted him the Heavenly Fire Fusang was missing. Lou Tianzhi told him that shortly after Lou Yun left the Lou family, that Great Grandfather had also vanished unexpectedly, likely journeying across Spirit Weapon Star.

Though Lou Yun regretted missing his Great Grandfather, knowing the elder was safe was good news.

…

The Lou family’s return surprised no one in Lingjiang City. Not long ago, Lou Yun alone had driven out the entire Wang Family. When he departed, people knew he’d surely bring the Lou family back.

But with their return came streams of eager visitors, led by Lin Yongdu of the Lin Family. Guests flowed continuously, practically wearing down the Lou family’s threshold!

Initially, the Lou family didn’t think much of it. But gradually, they noticed something: These visitors were extremely enthusiastic, treating the Lou family vastly differently than before. Everyone would subtly mention Lou Yun, their tones filled with reverence.

This piqued their curiosity. Making discreet inquiries, they finally learned of Lou Yun’s recent deeds!

Though Lou Tianming and others knew Lou Yun’s strength must have grown tremendously in two years, they hadn’t seen him fight at the palace—they couldn’t guess how powerful he now was. Hearing people say he, completely alone and without Leng Cangqiong’s help, had singlehandedly defeated the entire Wang Family… that was truly shocking!

Everyone who heard started wondering: Just how powerful was Lou Yun now?