Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Huangfu Family

Zuo Mingyang had arranged this as a precaution, fearing that strangers arriving so late might be seeking trouble with Lou Yun and his sister. Thus, he intentionally tried to make them both hide in his room.

However, Lou Yun would never let Zuo Mingyang step in for him. With a laugh, he said, "Brother Zuo, they specifically asked to see me by name. If I don’t go, they’ll think I’m afraid!"

After just one afternoon, Zuo Mingyang had gained insight into Lou Yun’s temperament. Knowing that persuasion would only annoy him, he dropped the matter and nodded. "Fine. Let’s see together what kind of master this visitor really is."

Naturally, Wan Huier refused to return to her room alone. Remembering his promise never to leave her behind again, Lou Yun patted her head and said, "You can come with us, but if there’s danger, run to safety. Don’t distract me, understand?"

"Mm, I promise I won’t cause trouble!"

The three of them walked abreast toward the gate. Before they reached the entrance, Lou Yun spotted a man standing outside—middle-aged, ordinary in both dress and appearance, emitting no trace of energy fluctuation. There was nothing remarkable about him, just an utterly average person!

He stood there with a lightly smiling expression. As Lou Yun’s group emerged, his eyes naturally fixed onto Lou Yun.

Lou Yun studied him too, searching his memory for any encounter with this man. He concluded he’d certainly never met him.

Zuo Mingyang swept the stranger with a glance and boomed, "Hey! Who are you? Where’d you come from? Who’re you looking for?"

The man replied gently, "I am Huangfu En. I came from the sea and seek a young sir with the surname Lou."

He not only answered fully but wore that mild smile, his soothing voice unwittingly kindling goodwill. Zuo Mingyang embodied this shift—his aggressive stance moments ago softened visibly. Turning to Lou Yun, he figured such a polite man couldn’t be a threat or Lou’s foe.

Though disarmed by the aura Huangfu En projected, Lou Yun stayed vigilant. He knew his friends were few, but enemies weren’t scarce. The Qins still wanted him dead, after all.

"I am Lou Yun," he announced. "Likely the one you’re after. But I don’t know you."

Huangfu En stared deep into Lou Yun’s eyes before replying softly, "True, we aren’t acquainted. However, my Huangfu Family once shared a bond with your Lou Family."

"Huangfu Family?" Lou Yun’s brow knotted. In his recollection, his clan had never interacted with any Huangfus.

Huangfu En nodded, his smile brightening. "Yes. Though connections were severed long ago, lost across ages. Hearing your name now spurred my immediate urgency to find you. Fortune smiled—I succeeded."

At seventeen, Lou Yun knew his family’s history only through lineages and elders’ tales. More ancient affairs remained beyond him. Skeptical, he pressed, "You ‘heard my name’? From where?"

"Did you start a common weapon shop in Tianrang City, Gu Feng Nation?"

"Ah!" Lou Yun stiffened. He had founded it, yet left Tianrang the eve before its opening. Beyond crafting twenty common weapons then, he’d forged nothing more!

Could mere twenty common weapons have won him fame?

Unaware, he’d been gone nearly half a moon. During this time, under Lei Nu’s management, the shop thrived, building Lou Yun’s renown without pause.

Brushing deeper thoughts aside, Lou Yun probed, "Then how did you locate me? Why seek me?" He couldn’t fathom this. Only constant tracking could lead someone straight to Zuo Mingyang’s gate.

Huangfu En’s chuckle was genial. "Clan secrets prevent my full disclosure. My journey’s purpose is clear: by the Clan Head’s command, I invite you as our guest to the Huangfu Family home."

"As a guest?"

"Indeed. Our families shared rich bonds. Though severed through eras, reuniting with a Lou warrants celebration. The Clan Head longed to invite you personally, yet age hinders his travel. Thus, with all due respect, he delegated me to deliver our message."

Lou Yun cared little for the host’s rank. But inter-familial visits demanded protocol—chiefs should meet as equals. Attending himself wasn’t fitting.

As he prepared to redirect Huangfu En to find his Second Uncle—the Lou Clan Head in Lingjiang City—doubts struck. What if Huangfu’s claim hid deceit? What if their families were enemies? Accepting an invite might mean marching into death’s trap. Forcing his Second Uncle into danger was unimaginable!

Snapping his mouth shut on those words, Lou Yun nodded curtly. "Your noble clan’s warmth humbles me. Though I ought to present myself promptly, affairs require my attention now, so—"

Huangfu En smiled gently. "No haste. I can disclose our location first. Come whenever suits you."

Lou Yun nodded at this compromise. "That settles it perfectly."

Huangfu En continued, “It’s just that our Huangfu Family lives quite far away and resides in a rather secluded area. So I can only give you the approximate name of the place. But don’t worry, Young Master Lou. Once you arrive and show your identity, there will naturally be someone to guide you.”

“Understood!”

“When you have time, Young Master Lou, just head straight to the Chuyun Cliff at the Eastern Sea!”

Before Lou Yun could speak, Zuo Mingyang, who stood nearby, abruptly changed expression. “Chuyun Cliff at the Eastern Sea? Could you be from the Ghost Sea?”

Huangfu En smiled and nodded. “I didn’t expect you to possess such extensive knowledge, brother. Indeed, our Huangfu Family dwells within the Ghost Sea!”

Zuo Mingyang’s face became extremely grim, but he closed his mouth and said nothing more.

Lou Yun had never heard of any Ghost Sea and thus didn’t ponder it deeply. “Alright, I understand. Once I settle some pressing matters at hand, I will definitely go to Chuyun Cliff at the Eastern Sea!”

“Splendid! The Huangfu Family will await your esteemed presence at Chuyun Cliff then. Farewell!”

Huangfu En gave a slight bow to the three of them, turned, and walked away. Strangely, though each step he took seemed slow and deliberate, his speed was astonishingly fast—as if each stride covered more than ten meters. After just a few steps, he had vanished from the sight of everyone present.

Lou Yun and Wan Huier were quite astonished, while Zuo Mingyang’s expression remained as grim as before, showing no sign of surprise. He patted Lou Yun’s shoulder. “Brother, let’s head back in.”

The three re-entered the main hall and sat down, but the previous lively atmosphere was gone. Zuo Mingyang, usually such a hearty man, now wore a deeply furrowed brow and a somber expression. Lou Yun knew this change came after hearing Huangfu En was from the Ghost Sea, though he didn’t understand why. “Brother Zuo, what’s the matter? What exactly is this Ghost Sea?”

Zuo Mingyang picked up a bowl of wine, drained it in one gulp, then slammed the bowl heavily onto the table. Wiping his mouth, he said, “The Ghost Sea is a region over the ocean, known by some as the Sea of Death. I’ve never been there myself, but I’ve heard tell that within the Ghost Sea, nothing floats. Not even a feather placed upon its surface would stay; it would sink swiftly into the depths.”

He paused, poured himself another bowl of wine and drank it down before continuing. “Logically, such a place should be entirely devoid of life. Yet, nearby fishermen sometimes see people entering and leaving the Ghost Sea. At the time, they believed them to be ghosts—surely only spirits could survive in such a place. Only now do I realize those residing within the Ghost Sea are actually this Huangfu Family!”

Zuo Mingyang looked directly at Lou Yun. “No normal person could possibly live within the Ghost Sea, little brother. So that invitation from the Huangfu Family? I strongly advise you to decline it.”

Though Lou Yun also found it somewhat eerie, his perspective differed from Zuo Mingyang’s. He reasoned that if the Ghost Sea was an oceanic region, a place where nothing floated, there surely must be islands present. As long as a magical weapons master could control their magical weapon, they could traverse its expanse by air, not by sea. Therefore, it was perfectly plausible for the Huangfu Family to inhabit the Ghost Sea. Their choice to reside there likely stemmed from their own familial circumstances they couldn’t easily escape.

Seeing Zuo Mingyang’s evident fear, however, Lou Yun decided not to voice his thoughts directly. After all, Zuo’s concern was well-intentioned. Expressing disagreement might risk offending him. So Lou Yun simply nodded with a smile. “Alright, thank you for the warning, Elder Brother. I’ve taken it to heart.”

Zuo Mingyang believed Lou Yun accepted his advice. Heaving a long sigh of relief, he said, “Good that you remember! Well, it’s quite late now, and we’ve all had a long day. I won’t keep you any longer. Go on and get some rest. We can discuss anything else tomorrow!”

Lou Yun also offered his concern. “Alright! Brother, your injuries are serious. Take care and rest well.”

“Haha, don’t worry about this old brother! I’m tough as nails—too stubborn to die!”

Zuo Mingyang arranged for attendants to guide Lou Yun and Wan Huier to guest rooms, then returned to his own quarters. Truthfully, he was barely holding himself together.

Just before Wan Huier entered her room, Lou Yun leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Don’t fall asleep. We’ll sneak away later!”

Lou Yun wasn’t unwilling to stay longer; he simply had many pressing matters requiring urgent attention and couldn’t afford delays. Knowing Zuo Mingyang’s stubborn protectiveness, he was certain a direct request to leave would be refused. Slipping away quietly was the only way. He fully intended to return later and apologize properly to Zuo Mingyang.

“Ah!” Wan Huier, unprepared for this plan, couldn’t suppress a startled gasp but quickly clapped a hand over her mouth.

Lou Yun winked at her. Understanding, she nodded. They then retreated to their respective rooms.

Shutting his door, Lou Yun sat at the table and poured himself a cup of tea. Before he could take a sip, a figure blurred before him—Chang Xiang had materialized.

Lou Yun grumbled, “Brother Chang! Could you at least give a hint before appearing next time? Popping in and out like some phantom—is my fright that amusing to you?”

Chang Xiang seemed not to hear Lou Yun’s complaint. His expression remained unusually grave, absorbed in deep thought. He remained silent for a long while.

Lou Yun shrugged. He was used to these moments and knew Chang Xiang would speak eventually.

Sure enough, after Lou Yun finished three cups of tea, Chang Xiang finally spoke. “Lou Yun, you cannot go to the Huangfu Family now. Not yet.”

“I know. I didn’t plan to go immediately. I need to settle all my current affairs first.”

Chang Xiang shook his head sharply. “No, I mean, if you go there now… you wouldn’t return alive.”

These words caused a sharp glint to flash in Lou Yun’s eyes. “Brother Chang… do you actually know something about the relationship between the Huangfu Family and our Lou Family?”

“A little. And it’s not just the Huangfus. Even that Helian kid you saved—his family also has ties to yours.”

“What?! His family too?”

“Yes. Huangfu En spoke partial truth. His family and yours did have ties of friendship long ago. But… certain events turned that bond into enmity. Neither the Huangfu Family nor the Helian Family are benevolent entities. If you must go, you must wait. Wait until you’ve reached the Earth level in strength.”

“Earth level?” Lou Yun blinked. He was currently only an Intermediate Three-Star magical weapons master. Earth level seemed incredibly distant.

Chang Xiang’s voice dropped lower, laced with cold intent. “Helian Sword, Huangfu Qin… The sword’s courage and the lute’s melody snuff out lives.”