Volume 2 Chapter 9
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Volume 2 Chapter 9: Departure
After leaving Zhang Mansion with Immortal Master Li, Xu Qingfan flew towards the outskirts of town on the "Three Meters Green Silk." He remembered seeing an abandoned Taoist temple on a hillside outside the town, a perfect place to settle Immortal Master Li.
"In this world, there are always rules to follow, no matter the time or place. Don’t ignore these rules just because you have power. Remember, there are always beings more powerful than you," Xu Qingfan said softly as he placed the exhausted Immortal Master Li at the temple’s front.
After speaking, Xu Qingfan didn’t bother to look at Immortal Master Li’s expression. He immediately controlled the "Three Meters Green Silk" to transform into a green cloud and quickly flew towards the small grove where he and Zhang Long had been earlier.
The night breeze was cool, yet it couldn’t extinguish the anxiety in Zhang Long’s heart.
Zhang Long was not someone who would go to any lengths for revenge. Ever since Xu Qingfan left, he had been very worried. Although in his heart, Xu Qingfan was a mysterious man with great martial arts skills, no matter how great his skills were, he was still just a mortal, and the gap between him and those mysterious, powerful cultivators was immense. Seeing that Xu Qingfan hadn’t returned for a long time, Zhang Long was already regretting that he hadn’t stopped Xu Qingfan earlier when he decided to probe Immortal Master Li.
"Why are you so anxious here? Afraid I won’t help you take revenge?" Just as Zhang Long was pacing back and forth anxiously, Xu Qingfan’s calm voice suddenly sounded behind him.
Seeing Xu Qingfan suddenly appear behind him, Zhang Long was first taken aback, then said joyfully, "You’re back? It’s good you’re okay, I thought you’d been discovered by that Immortal Master."
"Oh? I thought you were worried I couldn’t get your revenge." Seeing the genuine joy on Zhang Long’s face, Xu Qingfan felt a little warmth in his heart and said with a smile.
"Revenge must be sought, but after all, it’s just my family vendetta. It wouldn’t be right to involve innocent people." Hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Zhang Long replied earnestly.
Hearing Zhang Long’s words, Xu Qingfan looked intently at him. He didn’t expect that the usually free-spirited Zhang Long also had such a sincere side. He smiled and asked, "Aren’t you going to ask if I avenged you?"
"Did you really avenge me?" Seeing Xu Qingfan standing there with a smile, Zhang Long asked in disbelief.
"Immortal Master Li had a past connection with my ancestors, so I persuaded him to return to the mountain. As for Zhang Hai and Zhang Hu, and those guards led by them, I have subdued all of them for you because you said you wanted to seek revenge personally. Now you can openly return to the Zhang family." Xu Qingfan said calmly, not wanting to reveal his identity as a cultivator in front of Zhang Long.
"Really?" Zhang Long couldn’t believe it after hearing Xu Qingfan’s words.
"Why would I deceive you?" Xu Qingfan said with a faint smile.
Upon seeing Xu Qingfan’s sincere expression, Zhang Long was stunned. His desire for revenge had been hidden deep in his heart for an entire year. But knowing he lacked the ability to avenge himself, he never dared to show it, not even in his dreams for fear he might say it aloud.
Now, could he finally seek revenge?
After a long pause, Zhang Long suddenly turned and ran toward Gushan Town; he had waited long enough for this moment.
"Wait." Xu Qingfan suddenly appeared in front of Zhang Long, blocking his path, and said.
"What’s the matter? Is there something else?" Zhang Long asked, looking up.
Seeing Zhang Long’s eyes filled with bloodlust from knowing he could seek revenge, Xu Qingfan sighed internally, acknowledging how hatred can indeed drive a person mad. But Xu Qingfan felt that even though Zhang Long mingled with street ruffians and perhaps had done many wrong things before, his conscience still existed. Hence, he didn’t want someone like him to be destroyed by hatred. He then asked calmly, "What do you intend to do?"
"Do I even need to ask? I want to go back and flay those beasts, Zhang Hai and Zhang Hu, to avenge my father’s murder," Zhang Long said through gritted teeth.
"And then?" Xu Qingfan continued to ask.
"And then…" Upon hearing Xu Qingfan’s question, Zhang Long started to say something but suddenly paused.
"And then you’ll be hunted by the authorities for murder and spend the rest of your life in prison," Xu Qingfan continued his thought.
"But they killed my father and many uncles who were always good to me!" Zhang Long growled, his face filled with emotion.
Seeing Zhang Long’s state, Xu Qingfan sighed inwardly and secretly used a calming spell called "Cool Breeze." Once Zhang Long’s expression began to calm down, he said, "As a son, avenging your father is right and necessary. But one can live for revenge without living only for revenge. Committing crimes for revenge would only trouble your father’s spirit."
Hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Zhang Long’s expression showed inner conflict, clearly struggling with his thoughts. Finally, he looked defeated and asked weakly, "So what should I do?"
"Report it to the authorities. Over the past year, Zhang Hai and his family have been running rampant, backed by Immortal Master Li. They must have left evidence behind, so that’s the best choice," Xu Qingfan replied.
"Report it to the authorities?" Zhang Long stood quietly among the trees, murmuring to himself.
The night wind was bone-chillingly cold, but a dazed Zhang Long didn’t feel it at all, while Xu Qingfan had vanished without a trace.
…
"Young master, what should we do with these two?" A servant, with a fawning smile, asked Zhang Long while pointing at Zhang Hai and Zhang Hu.
Zhang Hai’s rise to becoming the Zhang family’s master was never acknowledged or supported. Over the past year, his reckless actions exhausted the Zhang family’s centuries-old savings, and he lost the people’s support. After Zhang Hai, his son, and their loyal servants were overpowered by Xu Qingfan, Zhang Long quickly took control of the situation upon returning to the Zhang Mansion.
Zhang Long frowned in disgust at the servant’s obsequious smile. He could vividly remember the harsh words these servants hurled at him when he was expelled from the Zhang family. But now that he had regained control, they were calling him "young master" again. Previously, the master and young master they served with utmost respect had become "these two fellows."
Yet, Zhang Long was not in the mood to trouble these people at the moment. He looked at Zhang Hai and his son, who were unable to move, with a complex expression. After a long hesitation, he sighed despondently and said, "Send them to the authorities."
In the clear night sky, clouds adorned it, and Xu Qingfan stood quietly on a cloud beside them watching everything unfold below. Seeing Zhang Long ultimately choose sensibly to send Zhang Hai and Zhang Hu to the authorities, Xu Qingfan couldn’t help but smile slightly before swiftly flying towards the Southern Wasteland, riding on "Three Meters Green Silk."
"Southern Wasteland, is it still like I remember after all these years away? My people, are they doing well now?" Flying through the sky, Xu Qingfan felt the Southern Wasteland getting closer, and his heart was filled with complex emotions, a mix of anticipation and fear.
