Chapter 155

Chapter 155: The Reunion of the Lou Family

Lou Yun couldn’t help but show an expression of admiration. Restrictive formations were everywhere here, preventing ordinary people, including his own spiritual sense, from clearly detecting the fluctuations of energy around them. Thus, it was impossible to know if anyone was coming. Yet Leng Cangqiong could!

Sure enough, moments after he finished speaking, a large group emerged from deep within the imperial palace!

Though they were still far away, Lou Yun recognized at a glance that the man leading the group was his second uncle, the current clan head of the Lou Family—Lou Tianzhi!

Beside Lou Tianzhi walked a frail figure, supported by a girl as they emerged surprisingly swiftly. This figure was Lou Yun’s father, Lou Tianming. The girl supporting him was naturally Lou Tianzhi’s daughter, Lou Yun’s cousin, Lou Qian!

This time, to deal with the Lou Family, the Han family had gone to great lengths. Not only had they captured all the Lou Family members in Lingjiang City, they had even gone so far as to abduct Lou Qian, who was studying at the Ancient Weapon Academy!

Thus, without a doubt, following behind Lou Tianzhi must be the other members of the Lou Family!

Neither Lou Tianzhi, Lou Tianming, nor any Lou family member had seen Lou Yun yet. After all, their cultivation levels were now far inferior to his; at this distance, they naturally couldn’t see clearly.

At this moment, Lou Yun could hold back no longer. Except for Lou Qian, it had been over two years since he last saw any of the Lou Family members, including his father!

"Father! Second Uncle!"

Shouting out his cries of excitement, Lou Yun’s figure flashed several times, and he appeared before the group of Lou Family members.

Hearing his voice, the Lou family members had already halted. Lou Tianming and Lou Tianzhi furrowed their brows slightly, almost as if they couldn’t believe their ears, tilting their heads to listen intently towards the source of the sound.

By then, Lou Yun was already right in front of them. Although he desperately wanted to rush forward and embrace his long-absent father, familiar since childhood with the strict clan rules, he restrained his impulse. With a thud, he kneeled before his father and second uncle: "Clan Head, Lou Yun, your unworthy descendant, asks for your punishment!"

In truth, Lou Yun had committed no crime. But everyone—both the Lou family and outsiders—had heard the story that Lou Yun had kidnapped the princess. And regardless, the Lou family had indeed suffered hardships because of Lou Yun. Thus, the first thing Lou Yun felt he must do was to ask forgiveness.

Seeing Lou Yun’s sudden appearance and kneeling, the reactions among the Lou family varied greatly—shock, excitement, confusion. After Lou Tianming and Lou Tianzhi exchanged a glance, Lou Tianzhi quickly said, "Yun’er, get up quickly! What crime could you possibly have?"

However, no sooner had Lou Tianzhi’s words fallen than an insinuating voice piped up: "Clan Head, we’ve all been imprisoned this long solely because of Lou Yun! How can you say he is blameless? As clan head, showing such blatant favoritism is hardly acceptable!"

Hearing this voice, Lou Yun didn’t even need to look up to know the speaker was definitely Lou Fei, that cousin of his who always opposed him and seized any chance to mock him.

Sure enough, Lou Fei’s grandfather, the Third Elder, immediately added, "Exactly! Tianzhi, as our clan head, you must be upright and impartial. Handling internal clan affairs requires even less indulgence in favoritism. Your actions now, well, the clan members’ eyes are sharp!"

Ever since Lou Yun’s birth and ascension to the title of "Genius", the Third Elder’s branch had despised him. Lou Yun’s arrival had dashed their own future hopes of producing a clan head. Moreover, Lou Tianzhi’s and Lou Tianming’s third brother, Lou Tianlei, had once secretly colluded with the Wang and Lin families, hoping to use them to frame Lou Tianzhi and usurp the position of clan head for himself. Fortunately, Lou Yun had foiled that plot. Naturally, this deepened their hatred towards Lou Yun.

After Lou Yun subsequently attended the Ancient Weapon Academy, they couldn’t find him even if they wanted revenge. Finally, here was an incident that placed the entire Lou Family in peril, and the culprit was Lou Yun himself. They certainly weren’t going to let such a prime opportunity pass!

Listening to the grandfather and grandson pair—one sang the lead and the other joined in—Lou Yun felt displeased but suppressed his rising anger. "Third Grandpa, Lou Fei, this matter is not what you imagine it to be. I have committed no act whatsoever that betrays the Lou Family!"

Lou Fei suddenly burst into a mocking laugh. "You dare to deny it? Ha! Lou Yun, I thought you were a real man! If you dared to do it, you should dare to take responsibility! Explain! If it weren’t for you, why would our entire Lou family, hundreds of us, suffer such unwarranted disaster?"

Although Lou Tianming wanted to speak in his son’s defense, he felt awkward doing so. After all, the cause of this trouble was undeniably linked to Lou Yun.

However, while Lou Tianming hesitated, someone else had seen enough.

A streak of white light flashed. Everyone merely felt their vision blur, then heard a cry of pain erupt from Lou Fei.

Hearing that cry, Lou Yun’s heart sank. He knew immediately that the only person who could have struck at Lou Fei at this moment was his sworn brother, Leng Cangqiong.

Lou Yun inwardly prayed: Brother, please, for the sake of all that’s holy, don’t cut off his ears too! That would lead to immense trouble!

Lou Yun hurriedly looked over at Lou Fei. Lou Fei’s face was filled with terror, but his facial features were all intact—no missing nose or ears.

Lou Yun was puzzled. Then what on earth had that scream been about?

But upon closer inspection, Lou Yun’s expression instantly cleared into one of understanding, and he struggled mightily to choke back his laughter. Lou Fei, who had previously sported long hair, now had a completely bald head—every strand of hair shaved off in that instant.

While suppressing his laughter, Lou Yun had to once again deeply admire his big brother’s formidable strength and his precise control. To shave off all a person’s hair in an instant, without harming a single bit of skin? That was far from easy! Lou Yun was certain he himself couldn’t possibly do it.

Lou Fei’s yelp hadn’t been due to pain, but rather the sudden, sharp, biting chill that swept over his scalp—he had thought he was going to be killed!

Lou Yun managed to stifle his laugh, but other Lou family members, especially the younger ones lacking restraint, pointed at Lou Fei’s head and laughed uproariously.

Lou Fei still didn’t grasp what had happened. Frantically, he reached up and felt his own head, finally realizing his hair had vanished in an instant!

If Lou Fei possessed any intelligence or rationality, he would have considered: If someone could shave his head so swiftly, their strength must be immense. Killing him would be effortless. Yet they had merely pulled a harmless prank, essentially sparing his life. He should have quickly retreated to a corner and quietly thanked his lucky stars.

But Lou Fei was clearly not such a person. The laughter of the crowd instantly made him feel humiliated. Furthermore, emboldened by the presence of so many of his clan members, he refused to let the matter rest!

"Who?! Who did it?! Are you courting death?! Have the guts to step forward and face this Young Master!" Lou Fei raged at everyone around him, completely oblivious to the Han family members in the distance who were watching him with pitying eyes.

Though Leng Cangqiong’s movements had been too fast for anyone to see clearly, the Han family had already witnessed his strength. They didn’t need clear vision to deduce that only Leng Cangqiong could have done it. Now that Lou Fei was brazenly challenging Leng Cangqiong, he was the one truly seeking death!

Lou Yun sighed inwardly. Lou Fei, oh Lou Fei, this time, even if I wanted to save you, it would be impossible. You’ll have to seek your own fortune!

It wasn’t that Lou Yun truly wished for Leng Cangqiong to kill Lou Fei. From Leng Cangqiong’s evident show of mercy moments ago, Lou Yun understood that, despite his cold ruthlessness, Leng Cangqiong truly cared for him. He was clearly mindful that these people were Lou Yun’s kin and thus exercised restraint to spare Lou Yun the embarrassment. Even though Lou Fei was being excessive now, Leng Cangqiong still wouldn’t simply kill him.

The moment Lou Fei’s provocations faded, Leng Cangqiong’s utterly emotionless, ice-cold voice rang out immediately: "Dare say it again, and I’ll cut out your tongue and slice off your ears."

As he spoke, Leng Cangqiong had already appeared by Lou Yun’s side.

No one ever dared doubt Leng Cangqiong’s words. Even without knowing his true identity, Lou Fei, looking at him now, felt an inexplicable chill shoot straight from his heart right down his spine, causing him to shudder violently. Whatever defiant words he had been about to utter next died, swallowed back forcibly.

Now, all the Lou family members saw Leng Cangqiong clearly—this mysterious man radiating an overwhelming aura that made one afraid to meet his gaze.

Who is he?

The same question echoed in the mind of every Lou Family member present.

In truth, everyone there had heard of the infamous White-haired God of Death, Leng Cangqiong. But just like Lou Yun when he first encountered him, no one could connect the legendary name to the man standing before them now.

Leng Cangqiong ignored the stunned crowd and said to Lou Yun beside him, "Brother, your clan head just said you are blameless. Why are you still kneeling? Get up!"

This statement provoked an instant shift in expression on every Lou family member’s face. Leng Cangqiong’s words were plainly interfering in the internal affairs of the Lou family. For an outsider to do such a thing was absolutely taboo!