Chapter 356

Chapter 356: A Matter of Grave Importance

For the entire Xinghai Village, Lou Yun was their great benefactor. It was precisely with Lou Yun’s help that they had driven away that enormous six-tailed giant snake, restoring a safe living environment to Xinghai Village. Even Ha Sangong of Xinghai Village had become friends with Lou Yun despite their age difference. Thus, Lou Yun was quite familiar with Xinghai Village.

Although Lou Yun found it strange why the young man had chosen to meet him here in Xinghai Village, he happened to want to see how the village was faring after so much time had passed. That’s why he agreed and gladly made the trip.

Under the cover of night, Lou Yun arrived at the entrance to Xinghai Village in almost an instant. Apart from the sound of waves lapping against the shore, the entire village was pitch black. These villagers, who lived by the sea all year round, had long since entered their dreams.

Through his Spirit Vision, Lou Yun could see that Xinghai Village’s current state was almost identical to how it was when he had left. Nothing much seemed changed. Only, Ha Sangong’s house was empty; he couldn’t be found. However, judging by the neatly arranged furnishings inside, he had probably gone fishing or perhaps even visited Divine Weapon Island.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in Lou Yun’s Spirit Vision. Though its features were indistinct, it was clearly the young man from the daytime. He was sprinting towards the village entrance while constantly glancing around, seemingly worried someone might discover his tracks.

In moments, the young man arrived in front of Lou Yun and came to a stop. He sized Lou Yun up quickly before cupping his hands in salute. "Clan Head Lou, it was truly audacious of me to call you out so abruptly and arrange a meeting at this location. I am forced by circumstances to resort to such measures and beg your forgiveness!"

Lou Yun waved his hand expressionlessly. "Enough. I’m here already. No need for pleasantries. I ask you: who exactly are you? And why did you ask to meet me?"

The young man smiled faintly. "Clan Head Lou, the privileged are truly forgetful. We actually met over a year ago. I deeply admire your presence and had intended to converse with you further, but to my great disappointment, you left without saying farewell that very night."

As the other spoke, Lou Yun’s mind raced. By the time the words ended, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. An immense aura radiated from him once more, enveloping the young man. "Are you from the Huangfu Family?" he asked coldly.

Lou Yun’s aura was something even people of Chang Feng and Mo Bingju’s caliber couldn’t withstand, let alone this young man. His face turned deathly pale. When he tried to open his mouth, he seemed to lose control over his own body. He clenched his teeth, summoning all his strength to give only the faintest nod.

"Hmph!" Lou Yun snorted coldly, withdrawing a fraction of his aura. "Your Huangfu Family lives in seclusion within the Ghost Sea all year round. Now, you’ve traveled thousands of miles to the Eastern Sea. What are you planning?"

The young man felt the pressure on his surroundings lift. He reflexively opened his mouth to gulp in deep breaths of fresh air. Any trace of his earlier glibness had vanished when he looked at Lou Yun again; now he held only deep fear. Still, he was greatly perplexed internally: over a year ago, when Lou Yun visited the Huangfu Family, his cultivation level hadn’t been anywhere near this high.

As his complexion improved slightly, the young man hastily bowed. "Clan Head Lou, my name is Huangfu Hao. Huangfu Xuanlan is my father. I was sent here by my father’s command to await your esteemed arrival!"

Hearing him declare his identity, Lou Yun finally understood why the other had felt vaguely familiar during the day. Naturally, it was because he had seen Huangfu Hao back at the Huangfu family grounds. Huangfu Hao, despite being the clan head’s son, possessed mediocre cultivation; thus, he had little status and virtually no voice. Even if they had met, it would have been just a fleeting glance, leaving no deep impression.

However, Huangfu Hao’s words baffled Lou Yun. "Your father? Huangfu Xuanlan… sent you here to wait for me?"

"Yes! Exactly!" Huangfu Hao nodded vigorously. "Actually, Father wanted to meet you personally. But as Clan Head, his position is unique; he simply couldn’t slip away. Thus, he entrusted me to meet with you, Clan Head Lou. I’ve been waiting for you in Binhai City for almost half a year! I had begun to fear Father’s prediction was mistaken and you weren’t coming. It’s such a relief you finally showed up today!"

Lou Yun’s frown deepened with every word. Hadn’t he just met Huangfu Xuanlan very recently? Why would Huangfu Xuanlan need to see him again now? And it must be something serious, or he wouldn’t have sent his own son to wait in Binhai City for nearly six months.

"How did your father know I would come to Binhai City?" Lou Yun asked, puzzled. "And what does he want to meet me about?"

Suddenly, just like in the afternoon, Huangfu Hao began swiveling his head as he inspected his surroundings. Clearly, whatever he was about to say couldn’t reach anyone else’s ears. Lou Yun had no patience left. "It’s fine," he stated lightly. "There’s no one within a li of us except the villagers. Just speak what’s on your mind."

Huangfu Hao wore an awkward smile. "Clan Head Lou, what I must say is critically important. It concerns a matter of grave importance. I truly must exercise caution."

Lou Yun grew even more suspicious about what Huangfu Hao was going to reveal. This time, however, he didn’t press him. He forced down his curiosity and waited for Huangfu Hao to speak voluntarily.

Huangfu Hao also didn’t remain enigmatic any longer. Though he knew the area was clear, he still lowered his voice. "My father hopes… he hopes that Clan Head Lou and our Huangfu Family can bury the hatchet. At the very least, we don’t wish to continue fighting against your Lou Family over all these baseless enmities any longer."

Upon hearing this, Lou Yun couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned. "Just that?" he blurted out.

The truth was, Huangfu Xuanlan had voiced his desire to resolve the grievances between their families on the very day Lou Yun met him. Back then, Lou Yun saw it as empty lip service. Subsequent events had proven Lou Yun’s intuition correct. To hear that Huangfu Hao had waited half a year in Binhai City just to deliver this left Lou Yun feeling deeply amused.

Huangfu Hao, however, adopted an expression of utter seriousness. Instead of answering, he posed a question: "Clan Head Lou, you rushed back to Binhai City because you heard about the attack on Divine Weapon Island, didn’t you?"

"Yes," Lou Yun nodded. Simultaneously, a spark lit up his mind. Twin beams of piercing cold light shot from his eyes. "Could it be… the ones who attacked Divine Weapon Island… were your Huangfu Family?"

Huangfu Hao couldn’t bear to meet Lou Yun’s gaze. He felt that if he answered "yes," Lou Yun wouldn’t hesitate for a second before striking him down.

"No!" Huangfu Hao squeezed the single word out through gritted teeth. Only when he sensed Lou Yun’s glare lessen slightly did he continue, "Clan Head Lou, those who attacked Divine Weapon Island were actually… the Nine Clans!"

"The Nine Clans?"

Lou Yun was momentarily stunned, then anger once again surged across his face. He had analyzed various possibilities for who attacked Divine Weapon Island, even considering Shui Lingluo. But the Nine Clans hadn’t crossed his mind.

Because the target of the Nine Clans was the Lou Family, not Divine Weapon Island.

Clan Head Lou, you have no idea. Each of our Nine Families received an order from above to exterminate the Lou Family and capture you, Clan Head Lou, alive!"

As Huangfu Hao spoke, he carefully watched Lou Yun’s expression, fearful that any word might anger him, as any misfortune would then fall upon himself.

"Our Nine Families had also thoroughly investigated long ago. The Lou Family is no longer in Lingjiang City, nor in the Yulu Mountain Manor. Instead, you’ve relocated to the Divine Weapon Island. However, the Divine Weapon Island has magical formations laid down by powerful experts. None of our Nine Families have anyone skilled in formations; there’s simply no way we could get onto the island. So, we could only resort to sneak attacks, targeting individuals or isolated ships travelling to and from the Divine Weapon Island."

Although Lou Yun nearly erupted in fury upon hearing the Nine Families planned to exterminate the Lou Family and capture him alive, as Huangfu Hao continued to speak, his emotions gradually cooled.

The Lou Family and the Nine Families had always harbored an irreconcilable hatred. The Lou Family of old had remained well hidden, undiscovered by the Nine Families. But ever since Lou Yun entered the scene, that concealment had been shattered. Gradually, the Nine Families began launching various actions against the Lou Family.

Exterminating the Lou Family was an ancestral decree passed down by the Nine Families since ancient times. Therefore, hearing this news now, Lou Yun wasn’t actually surprised. What puzzled him was why the Nine Families chose this specific moment to finally act on this decree. Also, since the Nine Families had already begun their actions, why had Huangfu Hao insisted on meeting him privately, expressing a desire to "turn hostility into friendship"? Did he really take Lou Yun for a fool?

To Lou Yun’s doubts, Huangfu Hao nodded repeatedly, "Clan Head Lou, don’t be anxious. Since I arranged this meeting today, naturally I plan to tell you everything. Of course, that’s only as much as I know myself."

"Speak!" Lou Yun’s attitude and tone were equally icy.

Forced to meet the piercing, almost physical intensity of Lou Yun’s gaze, Huangfu Hao braced himself. He rapidly organized the sequence of events in his mind before beginning to narrate.

"Because no matter how powerful you were in the past, no matter how many friends you had, it was all still within the scope of Spirit Weapon Star and still under our Nine Families’ control. Forgive my bluntness, Clan Head Lou, don’t take offense. Back then, whenever we, the Nine Families, truly wanted, we could have destroyed your Lou family at any time."

"But now, someone extraordinarily powerful has appeared by your side. No one within the Nine Families is a match for him. The higher-ups in the Nine Families have realized that if you, Clan Head Lou, are allowed to continue developing unchecked like this, one day, even you will slip from their grasp. Therefore, they decided not to delay any longer. The first step is to eliminate the Lou Family and capture you alive, after all, information about the Divine Weapon Emperor might still be obtainable from you."