Chapter 263

Chapter 263: The Little Beggar Who Sold Himself to Save His Father

Upon hearing this from the Eastern Master, Lou Yun raised his eyebrows and said, "I didn’t agree with them. Have the four leaders also come to Binhai City?"

"A few days ago, I just received a notice from the four leaders that they will arrive in Binhai City in the near future. So when I saw you, the Alliance Leader, appear, I thought you had agreed on it with the four leaders!"

"You’ve arrived just in time. Eastern Master…" Lou Yun frowned and said, "What is your name? This title is really cumbersome."

"Haha, I am surnamed Dong, named Jingwu! Alliance Leader, you can just call me by my name directly!"

"Hmm, Master Dong, uh, your surname suits your status quite well!" Lou Yun said with a laugh, then looked up at Ma Ziwei, who was still standing there with his head bowed, and said, "City Lord Ma, welcome to joining our Divine Weapon Alliance!"

Ma Ziwei had been standing there trembling with fear, because last time he had brought people to try and kill Lou Yun. If Dong Jingwu hadn’t insisted on dragging him along, he wouldn’t have dared to see Lou Yun at all.

Now hearing Lou Yun’s question, he shuddered all over and urgently said, "Alliance Leader, last time I was blind and ignorant…"

"Alright, there’s no need to mention past matters. I sincerely welcome you to join our Divine Weapon Alliance!" Lou Yun cut him off with a laugh.

"Alliance Leader, rest assured, from now on I will serve the alliance wholeheartedly and fully!"

"Haha, good to hear!" After the brief pleasantries were over, Lou Yun put away his smile and said, "Alright, let’s get down to business now. Ma Ziwei, I think you should know that Shuotai Island, where your father-in-law lived, has been occupied by me. It is now renamed Divine Weapon Island, and I plan to make Divine Weapon Island the headquarters of the entire Divine Weapon Alliance."

"Yes, I already know this!"

Ma Ziwei’s expression was very calm, because honestly, he had long been dissatisfied with what his father-in-law had done.

"Hmm, Divine Weapon Island was attacked, and everyone taken captive. So I came this time to ask how many people can be mobilized currently under your Eastern command."

Dong Jingwu immediately answered, "Reporting to Alliance Leader, currently the Eastern forces count two hundred people. As soon as you give the order, all of them can gather within three days."

"What about their strength? This time I need experts, at least above the human level!"

"Only about fifty are above the human level!"

Lou Yun thought for a moment and said, "Good, do this: first, mobilize those fifty magical weapons masters above the human level to Binhai City. I also need to find other helpers. Besides, if the four leaders arrive, tell them to stay and wait for me in Binhai City until I return!"

"Yes!"

"Hmm, time is tight, so I won’t linger here. You all get busy; I’m leaving now!"

After saying this, Lou Yun stood up to go. Dong Jingwu hurriedly said, "May I ask what business Alliance Leader has? If feasible, why not let me take care of it for you?"

"No need. This matter can truly only be handled by me; others simply cannot do it!"

"Oh, well, Alliance Leader, be careful yourself. Call on us anytime if needed."

Lou Yun nodded, then suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, how can I recognize which people are disciples of our alliance? Is there a mark on their bodies?"

"There is!" Dong Jingwu said with a laugh, "Any disciple of this alliance will have a tattoo of a weapon pattern somewhere on the exposed surface of their body. Once Alliance Leader sees someone like that, just step forward and identify yourself. They will automatically obey your orders!"

As he spoke, Dong Jingwu turned his body to the side, and indeed, on his neck, a vivid tattoo of a brush was visible—it was his magical weapon.

Lou Yun hadn’t noticed it before and smiled as he nodded, saying, "Hmm, this is good, very easy to spot. I understand now!"

After leaving the City Lord’s Mansion, Lou Yun had originally wanted to go to Xinghai Village to see if Cai San Gong had returned. But thinking of all the things he still had to do right now, he decided not to go for the time being. He could visit after finishing up, and perhaps even bring Cai San Gong to Divine Weapon Island later.

So Lou Yun mounted his magical weapon and headed straight for the hidden residence of the Shui family.

The Shui family’s hidden place was actually not too far from the home of Shui Lingluo’s aunt. It was still within the territory of Gu Feng Nation, so this trip meant Lou Yun was effectively heading back to Gu Feng Nation.

As he flew through the air, Lou Yun couldn’t help but recall how he had helped Shui Lingtong and the other two break their water contracts. Shui Lingtong had taken off his longevity lock and given it to Lou Yun, telling him that if he ever needed their help in the future, he just needed to take the longevity lock to find them. At the time, Lou Yun had refused politely, never imagining he’d use it so soon.

Thinking of the Shui family inevitably led to thoughts of Shui Lingluo, which made Lou Yun sigh deeply in emotion!

Lost in his random thoughts, Lou Yun had already entered the borders of Gu Feng Nation. To avoid startling ordinary people, he deliberately flew much higher while airborne, preventing anyone else from seeing him. Yet, from his lofty position, he could clearly observe the scenery below.

At that moment, Lou Yun was passing over a city. Though he didn’t know which city it was, it appeared hugely bustling and lively inside its walls. The main streets teemed with people.

However, none of this could capture Lou Yun’s interest. He merely glanced down, casually recalling his own childhood life. Suddenly, Chang Xiang’s voice rang out: "Kid, go down!"

"Go down? Why?" Lou Yun asked, puzzled, simultaneously slowing his flight speed.

"I sense an energy fluctuation below, within this city. It should belong to someone from one of the Five Elements Contract families."

Chang Xiang had previously told Lou Yun that besides the Shui family, there were four other families. Each had formed a contract with one of the five elements – metal, wood, fire, and earth – granting them the ability to manipulate that element’s power.

Though the members of the Five Elements Contract families held little personal significance for Lou Yun himself, finding all five representatives of the five-element contracts was essential if Chang Xiang was to regain his physical body.

Therefore, upon hearing that an energy signature belonging to someone from a Five Elements Contract family was present in the city below, Lou Yun naturally halted his movement. He descended straight downward.

Lou Yun selected a secluded spot where no one could see him and touched down on the ground. He retracted the Dream Emperor Sword, then strode purposefully toward the source of the energy fluctuation as guided by Chang Xiang.

Not far ahead, he saw a crowd gathered. Squeezing his way through, Lou Yun saw a small boy, roughly ten years old, kneeling at the center. Clad in tattered rags, his face covered in grime, the boy was unmistakably a little beggar. Lying beside him was a middle-aged man, eyes tightly shut, face ashen white. Were it not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, he would look entirely like a corpse.

From the murmurs of the surrounding crowd, Lou Yun gathered that the little beggar and the man on the ground were father and son. The father had contracted a strange illness, and without money for treatment, the boy knelt there, attempting to pledge himself for money to save his father.

The little beggar knelt on the ground. Because his clothing was so ragged, Lou Yun could easily see that on his chest indeed lay a mark similar to the water contract.

This naturally confirmed Chang Xiang’s deduction was correct. This little beggar was indeed someone bearing a Five Elements Contract.

Lou Yun then examined the middle-aged man lying on the ground. He sensed a faint trace of energy within him, though it was extremely weak. Suddenly, he recalled what the Aunt of Shui Lingluo had said when they met: bearers of a water contract who failed to unlock its secrets before reaching twenty years of age would suffer backlash, and the intensity of this backlash would gradually worsen. In the end, the contract bearer could succumb to its effects!

Looking at the man’s age, Lou Yun guessed he was likely several years older than Shui Lingluo’s aunt. If a contracting mark existed on his chest as well, then he wasn’t truly sick; he had deteriorated into this state due to the contract’s backlash.

There were many onlookers. Though many expressed sympathy for the little beggar’s plight, none were willing to actually take out their money to help him treat his father. The little beggar himself seemed at a loss for words, kneeling motionless. Only his wide, anxious eyes repeatedly shifted toward his gravely ill father.

Even if the man hadn’t borne a Five Elements Contract, Lou Yun, seeing this scene, wouldn’t have stood idly by. Therefore, he spoke softly: "Young brother, what illness does your father suffer from?"

The little beggar had knelt there for an unknown length of time, yet Lou Yun was the first to address him directly. Hearing Lou Yun’s question, the eyes of the other bystanders immediately focused on him.

The little beggar raised his head. Beneath the grime covering his face, delicate features were discernible. Especially prominent were large, expressive eyes – bright and clear pools of black and white.

"I… I don’t know what illness my father has," the little beggar stammered. "Father hasn’t been well for a long time. Before, the illness would strike every few years. But for the past few months, it strikes every day. Now… it’s become like this. Uncle, I beg you… please be merciful, save my father! From now on, I’ll obey you absolutely. I’m willing to perform any labor!"

The little beggar’s account made Lou Yun even more certain of his suspicion. He smiled faintly. "Don’t worry. I might be able to cure your father’s illness. But you must trust me."

The little beggar stared at Lou Yun intently for a long moment, then gave a firm nod. "I trust you!"

"Good. First, let us find a quieter place for you and your father."

Lou Yun casually raised a hand, and the body of the man on the ground floated up into his grasp. Supporting him with both arms, he addressed the little beggar: "Come, follow me!"

Seeing Lou Yun effortlessly lift his father without even bending over, the little beggar realized he had met someone truly exceptional today. After a moment of stunned silence, he scrambled to his feet, his face filled with desperate hope as he followed closely behind Lou Yun, pushing their way through the crowd.

The surrounding onlookers immediately resumed their muttering and pointing. Some proclaimed Lou Yun a good man; others denounced him as a swindler. Hearing these words, the little beggar turned back and glared fiercely at them all. Whether Lou Yun was good or bad didn’t matter to him. The fact that this man chose to step forward and offer help made him infinitely better than all these bystanders spouting useless commiseration!

As they walked, Lou Yun conversed with the little beggar. "Young brother, what is your name?"

The little beggar replied with a hint of embarrassment: "I have no name. I only know my surname is Tu. My dad usually calls me Tu Wa!"