Chapter 318

Chapter 318: Strange Hospitality

Naturally, Huangfu Xuanlan was asking the two guards at the door. After exchanging a glance, they both shook their heads. "Report, Clan Head, we don’t know either!"

At that moment, Huangfu Le, who had been waiting nearby, hurriedly dropped to one knee and declared loudly, "Clan Head, I probably know what happened!"

Huangfu Xuanlan’s gaze immediately shifted to Huangfu Le. "Speak!"

Huangfu Le announced loudly, "Report, Clan Head! It seems Lou Yun and the companion he brought, having waited a long time for you without seeing you appear, became angry. So, they are causing havoc in our village!"

"Lou Yun and his companion?" Huangfu Xuanlan was visibly taken aback but quickly recovered. "You mean Lou Yun has come to our Huangfu Family?"

"Yes! There are two of them in total. I brought them ashore onto the island, following your earlier instructions."

"Lou Yun is on the island? Such important news, why didn’t you report it earlier!" Huangfu Xuanlan’s eyes widened as he glared furiously at Huangfu Le.

Huangfu Le hurriedly knelt on both knees. "Clan Head, I came long ago intending to report to you! But these two uncles said you were busy and absolutely refused to let me speak!"

Though this was a blatant accusation by Huangfu Le, the two guards dared show anger but not speak out. They could only glower fiercely at Huangfu Le. A clear displeasure appeared on Huangfu Xuanlan’s face. He swept his gaze over the pair lightly but coldly said, "Excellent. You presume to make decisions for me now!"

"Clan Head, we wouldn’t dare!" The terrified guards hastily dropped to their knees.

"Hmph! I’ll settle this account with you later. Now, go quickly and see what’s happening!"

"Yes!"

The two guards scrambled to their feet, tossed out two instruments that looked nearly identical – magical weapons resembling guqins – simultaneously leapt onto them, and flew away instantly towards the village.

Huangfu Xuanlan straightened his clothes and addressed Huangfu Le. "You’ve lodged your complaint and stated your matter. Stop kneeling and take me to see Lou Yun!"

As Clan Head, Huangfu Xuanlan could easily see through Huangfu Le’s little scheme.

Huangfu Le hurriedly stood up, not daring to say another word. He knew the Clan Head’s temper very well!

Huangfu Xuanlan’s residence had some distance from where the other clan members lived. Eager to avoid the Clan Head’s further scolding, the two guards reached the village in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Naturally, they immediately saw the dozens of collapsed houses and also spotted Lou Yun and Gui You Quan standing on the cobblestone path.

"What manner of men are you? How dare you cause trouble at our Huangfu Family!"

The guards were asking intentionally. With a flash, they appeared directly in front of Lou Yun, each clutching a guqin magical weapon in hand.

Seeing them standing not on their own instruments but on common weapon guqins, while holding their magical weapon guqins, Lou Yun nodded inwardly. This was also an advantage of practicing both magical and ordinary skills. This way, if encountering enemies in the air, they could still launch attacks, unlike those who only possess a magical weapon and cannot fight effectively while flying.

Though both guards had drawn their magical weapons, poised to attack, not a trace of fear appeared on Lou Yun’s face. He regarded them with complete impassiveness. "My name is Lou Yun. I am here as a guest at the invitation of your Clan Head. However, it seems your esteemed Clan Head disdains meeting me. I was left with no choice but to force my way in!"

"Force your way in? Humph! Quite the boastful claim!" Sharp lights flashed in the guards’ eyes. "If you wish to see the Clan Head, you must first get past us brothers!"

Their words had barely fallen when Huangfu Xuanlan’s voice echoed from afar. "Bold! Put those weapons away immediately! Clan Head Lou is our honored guest, invited by the Huangfu Family!"

As he spoke, Huangfu Xuanlan’s figure had already appeared on the path, led by Huangfu Le in the front.

Huangfu Xuanlan had not flown using his weapon. Instead, he walked at a measured pace towards Lou Yun on foot.

Before he could get close, Gui You Quan whispered softly to Lou Yun, "Young Master, the strength of the people here is distinctly superior to others within the same realm back on the Spirit Weapon Star!"

Gui You Quan, given his status, could naturally perceive the difference in level between members of the Huangfu Family and other magical weapons masters on the Spirit Weapon Star at the same cultivation stage. Unaware of the affairs related to the Nine Clans, he felt compelled to warn Lou Yun.

Lou Yun nodded imperceptibly. Given the current setting, he didn’t intend to explain the situation to Gu You Quan just then.

By now, Huangfu Xuanlan had arrived before Lou Yun, his face radiating a warm smile. He stretched out both hands, clapping them firmly onto Lou Yun’s shoulders. To an uninformed onlooker, the manner would surely suggest they were old, intimate friends reunited after many years apart, not at all like the heads of two families carrying a vendetta that spanned generations.

"Clan Head Lou truly lives up to his reputation as a young hero! I’ve long admired your name. Today, I finally have the pleasure of meeting you! Ha! I was held up by some trivial matters just now, late to welcome you. I have been negligent, I beg for your understanding!"

Huangfu Xuanlan’s expression and tone were thick with genuine sincerity. Had Lou Yun not already experienced so many trials, he might very well have been deceived by this attitude at that moment.

Compared to Huangfu Xuanlan’s feigned enthusiasm, Lou Yun appeared very natural. He smiled lightly and, at the same time, deliberately took a small step back. This tiny movement disengaged his shoulders from Huangfu Xuanlan’s grasp. "Clan Head Huangfu flatters me greatly. I am but an ordinary man. How could I be called a young hero! The offense lies with me, I should say. My ‘uncle’ here has a rather fiery temper. After waiting so long for you, Clan Head, without your appearance, he momentarily lost control and destroyed a few houses of your esteemed clan. My most sincere apologies!"

Lou Yun’s casual move left Huangfu Xualan’s hands suspended in the air, creating a moment of awkwardness. However, being deep and cunning, he smoothly lowered his hands, turning the gesture into one of invitation. He let out a booming laugh. "Ha! Then let’s consider the score even! Clan Head Lou, you must be very weary from your long journey. Please walk straight along this path until it ends. That’s where I reside. Go rest there for a while. I still need to deal with the aftermath here. I’ll join you shortly. Gentlemen, please go ahead!"

"Very well. Then we shall trouble you."

Lou Yun and Gui You Quan walked forward without a sideways glance. Behind them, Huangfu Xuanlan shot a meaningful look at the two guards. Understanding instantly, they hastily mounted their magical weapons and flew away swiftly, destination unknown. Huangfu Xuanlan himself remained standing in place, unmoving, watching Lou Yun and Gu You Quan’s retreating backs, his eyebrows unconsciously drawing together.

Honestly, Huangfu Xuanlan’s words left Lou Yun deeply perplexed. What sort of hospitality was this? The guests arrive, and you tell them to go rest in the master’s residence by themselves, with the host not accompanying them? True, Huangfu Xuanlan might indeed need to handle the village situation, but the very least he could do was have someone, like Huangfu Le, escort them there!

Perplexed as he was, Lou Yun couldn’t fathom Huangfu Xuanlan’s intention for acting this way. He could only proceed cautiously, taking one step at a time.

When they reached the two-story building where Huangfu Xuanlan resided, Lou Yun recognized it as the place he had sensed earlier with his spirit perception. It was the location on the entire Huangfu Family island with the most complex protective enchantments.

Simultaneously, Gui You Quan transmitted a voice message, "Young Master, that person I fought earlier? He’s below ground in this very building. Also, there are quite a few people hidden in the surrounding area."

Lou Yun’s spirit perception was virtually useless here now. Hearing Gui You Quan’s words, he didn’t respond aloud. He merely gave a slight nod, acknowledging that he understood. Yet inwardly, he was thinking, ‘What use is knowing? Someone whose strength is only slightly weaker than Gui You Quan’s – how could I possibly resist such a person? If he truly meant to deal with me, I’d have to let Gui You Quan confront him.’

However, at this point, Lou Yun finally realized how immensely risky his decision really was – coming to the Huangfu Family’s ghost sea island accompanied only by Gui You Quan.

He’d initially believed Gu You Quan’s presence meant he need fear no enemy. But, if any opponent could occupy Gu You Quan… he himself would be like meat on a chopping block, entirely defenseless!

The entire Huangfu Family cultivated genuine techniques. Even if most members were weaker than him, inevitably some were far superior. Forget several; even one such individual would be utterly beyond his capability to defeat. Just one.

Thinking this, Lou Yun felt somewhat annoyed. But he was here now. Dwellings on the past were futile. All he could do was redouble his vigilance and caution.

Right at this moment, at the small building’s open front entrance, stood four large men, blocking the doorway. Lou Yun didn’t know these were not the guards normally stationed here.

What puzzled him was the way these four men behaved. They clearly saw him approaching. Yet, they stood as rigid as wooden idols or clay sculptures, tall and unmoving, emanating an air of disdain. The building’s door stood wide open, but to enter, the four would need to step aside.

"Why won’t these four give way?"

After a brief moment of thought, and not wanting to overcomplicate it, Lou Yun spoke clearly and firmly. "Your esteemed Clan Head instructed us to come here and rest. Kindly make way, you four."

The gazes of the four large men shifted slightly. They snorted in unison, completely disregarding Lou Yun’s words.

Though Lou Yun prided himself on his tolerance, their action caused flickers of anger to rise within him. As for Gui You Quan, he had already been provoked earlier after waiting endlessly for Huangfu Xuanlan upon landing. Now, being directly ignored by these four guards… his patience reached its limit. A sinister smile abruptly surfaced on his face.

With a flicker of movement, Gu You Quan appeared beside the four men. Simultaneously, his hand swiftly shot out. A faint pulse of pale-green, ghostly white energy shimmered visible on his palm.

In front of Lou Yun, Gui You Quan was reluctant to kill. Instead, he intended to inject his dark Yin Ming energy into the bodies of these four men. It would cripple all their cultivation and plunge them into excruciating torment, leaving them begging for death yet unable to find relief.

The cultivation level of these four large men wasn’t even a match for Lou Yun’s, let alone Gui You Quan’s. Once his Yin Ming energy left his hand, they wouldn’t even have a chance to dodge, much less resist.

Just then… A figure burst out from the open building doorway like a phantom! A mad laugh accompanied its emergence as it charged at Gui You Quan, bringing a gust of fierce wind.