Chapter 129

Chapter 129: Witnessing Injustice

Granny Bai Cao’s words about her family’s situation made Lou Yun feel increasingly reassured. On second thought, with the three major forces personally intervening, there would likely be no one daring to refuse such deference.

Lou Yun nodded and said, "Then I must thank you, Granny. I shall set off for home immediately!"

"En! Knowing how eager you are to return home, I shall not keep you. But this time, Huier cannot accompany you. I plan to take her out for some travel and experience."

When Wan Huier heard her master’s words, clear disappointment appeared in her eyes. After all, she also wished to see her father again and had hoped even more to be with Lou Yun. Yet she naturally did not dare to voice this disappointment.

Lou Yun, however, discerned Wan Huier’s thoughts. He gave a slight smile and said, "Huier, now that your injuries have healed, you should calm your heart and practice diligently under Granny’s guidance. Once your strength has increased, I will accompany you to visit home again. Consider it me making amends to your father, what do you say?"

The mention of making amends was purely Lou Yun teasing Wan Huier to cheer her up. Wan Huier understood this flawlessly, grasping his well-meaning intention. With effort, she forced a smile and said, "Why make amends? Big Brother is Huier’s brother now, practically half a foster son to Father. Father will not blame you!"

Upon hearing the words "foster son," Lou Yun’s heart stirred again. He recalled that last time, Beichen Ming had proposed taking him as a foster son; he had declined then, and Beichen Ming immediately shifted the topic, leaving the matter unresolved. He wondered if it would come up again after the forging conference.

After chatting briefly longer with Granny Bai Cao and Wan Huier, Lou Yun rose to bid farewell. Though Wan Huier felt profound reluctance, she could not ask him to stay and only watched as Lou Yun departed.

Lou Yun resumed sprinting toward Gu Feng Nation. Calculating the time, he had only half a month left. He must not permit any more delays, or he would miss his meeting with Leng Cangqiong. Lou Yun resolved to ignore even the weightiest matters that might arise.

Yet fate seemed to deliberately oppose him. When he was roughly three to four days from Gu Feng Nation, that very night as he still raced onward, Lou Yun suddenly heard the sounds of combat nearby, faintly mingled with rough panting.

Lou Yun, having gained some worldly experience now, recognized this as cultivators engaged in battle, and he deduced someone likely had injuries.

Had he not lived through the incident with Left Ear Demon Wuchou, Lou Yun might have endured and avoided meddling. But the present setting—late night, desolate wilderness, strife—was too eerily reminiscent of that day. This forced Lou Yun to speculate: could this involve some evil mastermind repeating his wicked deeds?

Lou Yun was innately chivalrous; witnessing injustice, he naturally had to come to the aid. Though interfering might risk missing his appointment with Leng Cangqiong, he reconsidered: this lay near Gu Feng Nation, and the fight sounded close. A slight detour to investigate should not take long. And should his inaction cost innocent lives, his conscience would never be easy.

Thus, gritting his teeth, Lou Yun altered his course and hurried quietly toward the clamor of battle.

Chang Xiang had long concealed Lou Yun’s magical weapon; even an imperial-level magical weapons master would find it hard to detect. Lou Yun only needed caution to prevent anyone spotting his movements.

Rounding a dense thicket, the brawl fell within earshot. Lou Yun leaped gently, vaulted onto a massive tree, and peered through the branches.

Under the moonlight, a sturdy young man with a fierce visage wielded a gleaming silver whip against three yellow-clad, burly opponents.

The young man’s magical weapon realm reached mystery rank two star. His left arm hung listlessly, stained with blood on the shoulder, plainly injured. His three adversaries’ magical weapon realms stood at only mystery rank one star each, but they held numerical superiority. Clearly accustomed to teamwork, their coordinated offense and defense overwhelmed him.

Lou Yun narrowed his gaze, scrutinizing the three yellow-clad men intently.

A touch of icy amusement curled slowly at the corner of his mouth.

For Lou Yun spotted, upon each yellow-clad man’s chest, a vivid embroidery of a small black snake—exclusive attire for members known as the Spirit Snake Sect.

Though the Spirit Snake Sect lacked might, they perpetrated every form of evil. Their base remained deeply concealed; even junior members were ignorant of its location. They operated chiefly in border crossovers—lawless territories nations neglected to police due to inconvenience. This let them survive and slowly expand.

Since Gu Feng Nation’s borders fell within the Spirit Snake Sect’s regular haunts, Lou Yun recognized the faction. Naturally, he resolved to aid the young man.

Then, among the three yellow-clad men, a dark-faced central one wielding a three-section staff guffawed, "Ge! Even if you sprouted wings now, you cannot escape our Spirit Snake Sect’s tight net today!"

Ge Jianfeng returned an angry huff. His silver whip suddenly accelerated, surging like storm waves—a frenzied barrage that rapidly dissolved into whip flashes enveloping all three.

This tactic would have delivered immense power, yet the young man now harbored scant spiritual energy, nullifying its potential. Another of the three men, gaunt with rat-whiskered lips, sneered. His sword lunged in viper-like twists—deft, venomous feints—deflecting the attack.

He now gave a sinister laugh. "Ge whelp! With your whole Ge household dead, you clinging to this world serves no meaning. Let us finish this and dispatch you to your kin!"

Hearing this, Ge Jianfeng’s body shuddered; his face instantly reddened, emotions erupting fiercely. Still, he gritted his teeth wordlessly, brandishing his magical weapon solely to assault them—his attacks shifting to reckless offense with zero defense, evidently embracing suicidal intent to take his foes down together.

But wounded and depleted, he proved vastly diminished in strength. Even this desperate flurry scarcely yielded threat.

The swordsman with the narrow frame bore not merely poisonous blade tactics but sharp, sneering words: "Ge Jianfeng! Enough futile thrashing! Your worthless dead father failed against us in the Spirit Snake Sect—do you truly fancy outdoing us?"

Ge Jianfeng now heaved like an ox; his movements scattered. Two new wounds bled, pace faltering; he could not endure much longer.

Lou Yun now clearly understood that this young man named Ge Jianfeng’s entire family had been slaughtered by the Spirit Snake Sect, leaving only him alive. Yet the Spirit Snake Sect clearly intended to wipe out the last survivor without mercy.

Naturally, Lou Yun felt compelled to step in. With a cold snort, his figure flashed and he appeared behind the four fighters locked in furious combat.

"Halt!"

None of the four had expected an outsider to appear at this moment. Startled by the voice, they immediately broke apart, all turning to look at Lou Yun.

Ge Jianfeng only glanced at Lou Yun before lowering his head, gasping for breath. His physical strength and spiritual energy were both drained to the extreme; he desperately needed this chance to rest.

The other three sized Lou Yun up, exchanged looks, and then the thin man spoke first, "Who are you? Can’t you see the Spirit Snake Sect is handling business here?"

Lou Yun let out another cold laugh. His figure flickered, and he utterly disregarded them.

The three men only saw a blur before their eyes, and Lou Yun abruptly materialized beside Ge Jianfeng, asking with concern, "Friend, are you alright?"

The movement technique Lou Yun displayed instantly shocked the three men, leaving them dumbstruck where they stood.

From Lou Yun’s attire, Ge Jianfeng could tell he wasn’t with the Spirit Snake Sect. His appearance at such a moment naturally meant he wasn’t an enemy. Forcefully smiling, Ge Jianfeng said, "Thank you for your concern. I’m fine. But you should leave quickly. They’re from the Spirit Snake Sect. If you provoke them, you’ll have endless trouble in the future."

Someone who could still think of others’ safety even in this situation naturally earned Lou Yun’s respect. He smiled faintly, "It’s fine. If you don’t mind, let me tend to your wounds first!"

Ge Jianfeng had three wounds on his body, each about a finger-length long and deep enough to expose the bone. Because of his constant, fierce movement, the bleeding hadn’t stopped at all; blood was still trickling out.

Although Lou Yun phrased it as a question, he didn’t wait for Ge Jianfeng’s reply. A small flame suddenly flickered to life on his fingertip. With a gentle flick, it flew towards the wound on Ge Jianfeng’s shoulder.

Ge Jianfeng suddenly felt a cold sensation on his wound, rapidly followed by intense itchiness. Looking down, his heart leaped in fright. A tiny flame was attached to his wound, and several green filaments, fine as threads of hair, seemed to extend from the heart of the flame, mending his injury.

Lou Yun was also watching closely. This was the first time he was using the Fusang Fire Spirit he had consumed to heal someone else. He wasn’t even sure of its effectiveness.

But moments later, the Fusang flame grew smaller and smaller until it completely extinguished. Ge Jianfeng’s shoulder was perfectly smooth. Not only had the wound completely vanished, it hadn’t even left a scar.

The healing power of the Fusang Fire was truly extraordinary!

Ge Jianfeng stared at his wound, dumbfounded, clearly unable to believe that a wisp of flame could have healed it so perfectly.

By this time, the three burly men finally snapped back to reality. Exchanging looks, they gave each other a slight nod. Simultaneously, they struck. Three magical weapons smashed violently toward Lou Yun’s back.