Chapter 76

Chapter 76: The Appearance of the Jiu Clan Member

If Old Man Feng and others had been there at that moment, upon hearing this young man’s name, they would definitely have jumped excitedly!

The Helian family was exactly one of the nine clans carrying ancient ancestral teachings as mentioned by Granny Bai Cao, and the name Helian was a compound surname that was extremely rare, so this Helian Xingye had at least a ninety percent probability of being a member of the Helian family among the nine clans!

When Chang Xiang heard this name, he could be one hundred percent certain of the other’s identity.

"The people of the Jiu Clan have finally appeared. No wonder a restriction barrier was set inside his body, making it impossible to see through his true cultivation level. It seems every member of the Jiu Clan must have shielded their own cultivation levels. Hmph, to deal with the Lou Family, you’ve really put in great effort! But you also couldn’t see through Lou Yun’s cultivation level!"

Lou Yun, who knew nothing, naturally had no special feeling about the name Helian Xingye. He slightly smiled and said, "I can tell you my name, but repaying kindness isn’t necessary. I’m Lou Yun, she is—"

Just as Lou Yun hesitated over how to introduce Wan Huier, Wan Huier herself quickly answered, "I’m Wan Huier, his cousin!"

However, at that moment, Helian Xingye’s expression seemed extremely strange. His eyes widened as he stared fixedly at Lou Yun, as if flowers were carved on Lou Yun’s face, and he didn’t hear Wan Huier’s words at all.

Wan Huier and Lou Yun couldn’t help but exchange a glance, not understanding why Helian Xingye had such a strange reaction after hearing their names.

After a while, Helian Xingye blinked, came back to his senses, took a deep breath, and asked Lou Yun, "Is your surname Lou?"

"En, my surname is Lou, and my given name is Yun!"

Helian Xingye slowly nodded. Judging by his expression, he appeared to have made some decision. "Good, I understand! When we meet again in the future, I will naturally repay today’s life-saving kindness. Farewell!"

After saying that, he turned around and left without any hesitation this time. Although his steps were still somewhat unsteady, he walked away with great determination.

Lou Yun didn’t try to keep this strange young man. He simply watched his back slowly disappear from his sight.

Wan Huier now said, "The look Helian Xingye gave you earlier was so weird. There seemed to be surprise, hesitation, and a bit of helplessness!"

Lou Yun said with a laugh, "Princess, you see so closely. Why didn’t I notice anything? That man is indeed a bit strange, but he’s also a tough guy. If I have the chance, I’d really like to be friends with him!"

Wan Huier suddenly pouted and said, "I already told you I’m your cousin. Why do you still call me Princess!"

Lou Yun was startled, quickly stood up, and bowed his head. "Princess, you are royalty—"

"What royalty or not! Do you think I care about this royalty?!" Wan Huier curled her lips. "Hmph, it’s all because of Father King—"

At this point, Wan Huier suddenly fell silent, as if she had something she couldn’t say. Lou Yun naturally didn’t press further. He just looked up at the road outside the woods. "If Teacher Han and the others are setting out, the earliest will be after dawn. There’s still some time now. Princess, do you want to rest for a while?"

Wan Huier’s expression changed. Suddenly returning to her bratty nature, she put her hands on her hips. "Lou Yun, I order you not to call me Princess. You must call me Huier!"

Lou Yun laughed helplessly and nodded. "Alright! Alright! I obey! I obey! I’ll call you Huier!"

Wan Huier said contentedly, "Mn, that’s more like it!"

After the two were silent for a while, Wan Huier suddenly spoke up again. "Brother Lou, it’s still early. Could you tell me your story?"

"I’m just an ordinary person. How could I have any story?" Lou Yun said with a laugh.

"Hmph! If you’re an ordinary person, then I’m nothing. I can clearly see you’re only a primary three-star magical weapons master, but your fighting skills were so formidable earlier—you must have at least the strength of an intermediate three-star magical weapons master! And your little pet—when you were fighting that Huo Yong earlier, it tried repeatedly to rush out to help you. I’ve never seen anyone in the palace with such a spiritual pet. How can you say you have no story? Hmph, if you don’t want to tell it, forget it!" After saying this, she turned away, acting as if she didn’t want to talk to Lou Yun anymore.

Lou Yun had experienced Wan Huier’s temper and admired her insightfulness. However, his own matters weren’t convenient to share with everyone, as they went beyond the imagination of most people on Spirit Weapon Star.

With Wan Huier saying nothing, Lou Yun enjoyed the quiet. He activated his spiritual sense to stay alert for any movements around, guarding against possible pursuers.

But this silence lasted only a short time before Wan Huier, as if forgetting what had happened, turned back again. "Brother Lou, although you won’t tell your story, I think your experiences must be rough. Do you usually get chased and sleep in the wilderness like this?"

"Well, my experiences are a bit rocky, but I haven’t been chased many times. And this is actually my first time sleeping wild like this!"

"Really? Hehe, it’s my first time too!" Wan Huier said excitedly. "Brother Lou, you don’t know, since childhood, Father King has forced me to learn all kinds of royal etiquettes. I’ve never wanted to learn them. My dream is to be like this—leaving the royalty and traveling freely in the outside world. I believe this is what real life is! What do you think, Brother Lou?"

Though Lou Yun wasn’t royalty, he had heard bits about royal life. He could imagine Princess, as royalty, undergoing rigorous training. "Mn, I like that kind of life too. After I graduate from Ancient Weapon Academy and fulfill my biggest wish now, I plan to go out, wander around, and travel!"

Wan Huier asked curiously, "Lou Yun, what is your biggest wish right now?"

"Haha, it’s nothing much, just a personal matter!"

"No, you must tell me! Earlier you wouldn’t share your story, and now you won’t even talk about your wish! If you keep avoiding everything, I’ll get really angry!" Wan Huier’s lips pouted high, her face filled with displeasure.

Seeing Wan Huier’s expression, Lou Yun genuinely felt a sense of being an elder brother. Although he had younger siblings in the Lou Family, due to his reputation as a failure, they ignored him. The only one who cared was his sister Lou Qian. So, feeling Wan Huier’s affection, Lou Yun found unexpected courage. He reached out and gently tapped his finger on Wan Huier’s forehead, just like Lou Qian often did to him.

"You! I’m really helpless against you. Fine, I’ll tell you. My biggest wish right now is to repair my father’s magical weapon!"

No one had ever treated Wan Huier with such intimate gestures before. So, after Lou Yun tapped her forehead, she froze for a moment. But soon she broke into a smile — she, too, liked the feeling of being cherished like a sister.

Knowing Wan Huier had to know every little detail, Lou Yun didn’t wait for her to ask further. He briefly explained how his father’s magical weapon was damaged.

Wan Huier listened intently. When he finished, she blinked, reached out, and wrapped her arm around Lou Yun’s. "Lou Yun, I’m certain this wish of yours will come true very soon!"

Although being held by the opposite gender, Lou Yun felt no awkwardness. He nodded with a smile. "Yes, I believe it will be fulfilled soon too."

After that, the two began chatting idly to pass the tedious waiting time. As they talked, the sky began to brighten.

Lou Yun pulled Wan Huier up to stand. "Huier, wait right here. I’m going to check near the main road. Teacher Han and the others should arrive soon."

"Alright!"

After chatting all night, Wan Huier and Lou Yun now felt like true siblings. So around Lou Yun, Wan Huier had become very obedient.

Lou Yun perched atop a huge tree near the main road to wait. He believed, with Han Tianxiao’s intelligence, he’d surely guess that they were hiding nearby.

At first, Lou Yun felt calm. But as the sun rose higher, his mood grew heavier. It was nearly noon — why hadn’t Han Tianxiao and the group arrived?

The distance from the town gate to here was only a dozen li. Even at a carriage’s pace, it wouldn’t take more than a quarter of an hour. Yet half a day had passed, and not a single soul was seen.

Could they have passed by at midnight? Impossible. He’d been alert all night. Fifty people moving by carriage would make a considerable noise; he couldn’t possibly have missed it.

Something else occurred to him: after they escaped last night, no soldiers chased after them. Did Huo Yong’s subordinates truly not care about his death?

Lou Yun waited until nightfall. Still no sign of the convoy. Nor did he see a single person emerging from the town.

Forcing himself to stay calm, Lou Yun thought carefully. He concluded this: once Sanhe Nation discovered Huo Yong’s death, to hunt the murderer, they must have locked down the town temporarily, allowing no one to leave!

Lou Yun returned to the woods. Wan Huier darted out from behind her hiding tree, greeting him eagerly. "Lou Yun, you’re back! Where are they?"

Lou Yun shook his head and told her his suspicion.

Instead of showing worry, Wan Huier actually brightened, jumping joyfully. "That’s wonderful, Lou Yun!"

Lou Yun eyed her confusedly, unable to grasp her excitement. Aware of her unseemly delight, Wan Huier stuck out her tongue and whispered, "This way… I can delay going to Cang Lan Nation! I’ll have a few more days of freedom!"

Their relationship now resembled brother and sister. Truthfully, Lou Yun felt pained by Wan Huier’s situation — married off as a sacrificial bride for Gu Feng Nation. Seeing her relief now, he didn’t scold her. Instead, he nodded understandingly. "You have a point. Alright, let’s head back to town to see what’s happening. If it is truly locked down, we’ll journey ahead and wait at the next town. You must be hungry. And anyway, we’re the killers — Teacher Han and the others will be perfectly safe."

Wan Huier instantly clapped her hands in excitement. "Great! Let’s go immediately!"

So, Lou Yun led Wan Huier through the forest, moving parallel to the main road, back in the town’s direction. Since daytime was risky, they waited for nightfall to approach the outskirts.

Lou Yun concealed Wan Huier and went near the gate himself. Seeing the doors tightly closed, he relaxed. His guess was right — Teacher Han and the group were trapped inside, unable to leave for now.

To confirm his theory further, he unleashed his spiritual sense, attempting to locate Han Tianxiao and the others. With so many magical weapons masters gathered, their collective energy should blaze like a beacon, easily detectable.

But sweeping the town with his spiritual sense revealed many scattered surges of powerful and weak energy, none clustered together. None resembled the distinct signatures of Han Tianxiao’s group.

Lou Yun guessed these energy fluctuations came from Sanhe Nation soldiers. But what about Teacher Han and his companions?

Suspecting his spiritual sense might be too weak, or a ward hindered his detection, Lou Yun turned to Chang Xiang. "Brother Chang, could you scan? Please help me find Teacher Han’s approximate location."

After a moment, Chang Xiang’s voice spoke up, sounding oddly off. "They aren’t in the town."

Lou Yun doubted his hearing. "They aren’t in the town?"

"Mmm," Chang Xiang affirmed. "They are not inside that town."