Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Avenging the Dead Brothers (1)

Though Lou Yun didn’t know who Wu Shaopin really was, he at least knew Wu Shaopin definitely lived within the horse-selling town. So he raced all the way and arrived at this town.

Lou Yun directly entered a tavern and tossed a gold coin to a waiter. He first asked for the exact current date. Hearing this question, the waiter looked at Lou Yun like he was insane—Lou Yun’s ragged appearance did resemble a street beggar—who wouldn’t even know the exact year, month, and day? But seeing the gold, he obediently answered.

The answer shocked Lou Yun. It turned out five and a half months had passed since he went to Chiyan Mountain. Adding the days since leaving Yuyang City, he’d been away from Tianrang City for a full six months!

Lou Yun calculated in his mind. Excluding the three and a half months spent training, he’d spent nearly two months recovering at the foot of Chiyan Mountain and inside his master’s stone chamber.

He naturally proceeded to ask about Wu Shaopin. Upon hearing the name, the waiter’s expression flickered slightly. He hastily lowered his voice, "Honored guest, are you… looking for Young Master Wu for something?"

Lou Yun’s eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp glint flashing within. "Is that your business? Just answer my questions honestly! Stop asking nonsense!"

The waiter had initially thought Lou Yun, being young, would be easy to bully. But that single glance sent his heart pounding wildly. Even as an ordinary person, he distinctly felt a surge of killing intent in that instant. Too frightened to ask further, he quickly stammered, "Yes, yes! My mistake! Young Master Wu… the Wu family is the biggest family in our city. They have over a hundred members, and every one of them has extraordinary skills."

Lou Yun understood immediately: the Wu family was similar to his own Lou family back home—the biggest power in their respective town. The difference was his family co-ruled Lingjiang City with the Lin and Wang families, while here the Wu family was the sole dominant power.

"Where do they live?"

"Head straight out through the eastern city gate, walk east another twenty or thirty li, and you’ll see it!"

The waiter had barely finished speaking when everything blurred before his eyes. Lou Yun, who had been sitting right in front of him, had vanished without a trace. Petrified, the waiter stood frozen for a long moment. Only the cold gold coin clasped in his hand reassured him this wasn’t a dream.

Lou Yun left the tavern and headed straight for the eastern city gate. Twenty or thirty li disappeared beneath his feet in an instant. Within moments, he stood before a vast estate.

The estate was imposing and grand, clearly indicating the substantial power and influence of the Wu family. Such an adversary wouldn’t be easy. But Lou Yun burned with fury. If the Wu family admitted to setting fire to Zuo Mingyang’s residence, he wouldn’t hesitate for a second—he would strike and avenge his dead brothers!

Lou Yun’s presence before the Wu family estate caught the gatekeepers’ attention. One strode toward Lou Yun, shouting from a distance, "Hey kid! Who are you? What are you doing he—?"

The man’s words choked off abruptly. Lou Yun, who had been five or six meters away, was suddenly right in front of him, hand clamped firmly around his throat.

Expressionlessly squeezing the man’s neck, Lou Yun demanded, "Summon Wu Shaopin!”

Strangled tightly, the gatekeeper couldn’t utter a word. He could only nod frantically. Lou Yun flung him aside. He crashed down a zhang away.

Sitting on the ground, the gatekeeper coughed violently, gasping for breath. Finally recovering, he was about to hurl threats. But lifting his head, he met Lou Yun’s ice-cold gaze—and the words died in his throat. Not a sound emerged. He scrambled to his feet, spun around, and bolted back towards the estate, screaming hysterically, "Help! Trouble! Someone’s causing trouble! Come quick! Trouble’s at the gate!"

Lou Yun stood motionless far away, making no move to stop him. Rage consumed him; he desperately needed an outlet. The more people swarmed out, the more satisfying his release would be.

The gatekeeper’s shout echoed. Shouts of acknowledgement erupted throughout the estate in chaotic response, followed by the sound of numerous frantic footsteps rushing closer.

Hearing the commotion within the Wu estate, Lou Yun’s lips curled into a sneer. Their panicked reaction to an intruder revealed them as nothing more than an undisciplined mob. Accustomed to dominance and laxity from ruling the town unchallenged, they fell into disarray the moment an enemy struck their gate. Their reaction wasn’t just inferior to a major family clan; it couldn’t even compare to his own family’s discipline.

Chaos notwithstanding, the Wu family reacted quickly. Within moments, twenty to thirty figures rushed out from the estate. Lou Yun’s spiritual sense swept over them. Another contemptuous smile touched his lips. None had cultivation exceeding a mid-level Four-Star Magical Weapons Master. He could easily annihilate them all.

"Kid, be careful. Their strongest cultivator has reached the Mystery Rank One Star level. Stay sharp!"

Chang Xiang didn’t attempt to stop Lou Yun at a time like this. For one, he knew Lou Yun valued brotherhood above all. The deaths of those mountain bandits, especially Wan Huier’s and Zuo Mingyang’s uncertain fate, fuelled his rage. He needed this release; bottling it up was harmful. Secondly, Chang Xiang saw an opportunity to gauge Lou Yun’s true strength. Future enemies would likely come as entire families. This was valuable real-world practice in facing overwhelming odds alone. Instead of stopping him, Chang Xiang offered timely warning.

Lou Yun paused. "Brother Chang," he stated grimly, "help me."

"Understood."

Two brief sentences conveyed their shared resolve. Lou Yun knew he was stronger now, but confronting a Mystery Rank One Star Magical Weapons Master was impossible alone. Yet, if the Wu family, especially Wu Shaopin, was truly responsible for his brothers’ deaths, he had to seek justice. So he asked Chang Xiang for help.

Chang Xiang understood perfectly. While he’d never personally intervened in Lou Yun’s battles before, this time he knew he must.

A Mystery Rank One Star Magical Weapons Master, though intimidating on paper, held no threat to Lou Yun with Chang Xiang beside him.

The gathered Wu family members relaxed visibly upon seeing the "troublemaker" was just one young man. Some even laughed mockingly.

"Ha! Ate leopard guts, did he? Dares cause trouble here at our Wu family single-handedly!"

"Looks like he just came looking for a swift death! No matter! We kill dozens like him yearly for Wu family! One more makes no difference!"

Strange, he seems ordinary. How come there’s not even the slightest energy fluctuation inside him?

Right? I noticed that too, haha! An ordinary person causing trouble at the Wu family? Killing him is less interesting than crushing an ant!

Lou Yun ignored everyone’s taunts entirely. With a sweeping glance, he saw that Wu Shaopin was not among the crowd. He gave a cold smile and once again looked toward the gatekeeper, whose courage had clearly grown now that he had backup. "I told you to call Wu Shaopin out. Did you not hear me?"

The gatekeeper had initially wanted to run back into the estate, but with so many people present now, his previous fear had completely vanished. Upon hearing Lou Yun’s question, he placed his hands on his hips and sneered, "Our young master is a valuable person! How could someone like you expect to see him whenever you wish?"

Lou Yun nodded with a smile. "Good!"

As soon as the word fell, over twenty Wu family members simultaneously felt their vision blur. Lou Yun’s figure seemed to waver, as if he had moved slightly during that fleeting moment.

A sudden scream pierced the air. Everyone hurriedly looked in its direction. What they saw made their eyes widen in shock as they froze in place. The gatekeeper, who had been bold and defiant against Lou Yun moments before, now lay sprawled on the ground. His mouth was slightly open, eyes wide and staring. A small red dot marked his throat, with blood slowly beginning to seep out.

No one understood just what had happened. How could the gatekeeper have died so suddenly? Had Lou Yun rushed over during that moment of blurred vision, killed him, and returned to his original position?

That couldn’t be possible! What kind of speed would that require?

The reality was that Lou Yun had executed the Wind Play Decision movement technique. Moving incredibly fast, he reached the gatekeeper’s side, pierced through his throat with his hand, and retreated back to his original spot. All these actions were completed in an instant — so fast that the gatekeeper didn’t even have time to scream before his death. He died without understanding how it happened. To the eyes of these people, whose highest cultivation was only at the mid-level magical weapons master stage, not only were they unable to see Lou Yun’s speed clearly, they hadn’t even glimpsed his magical weapon.

Lou Yun stated coldly, "The fate of disobedience is only death. Now I’ll say it once more. Go call your young master, Wu Shaopin, out. If you refuse, he"—he gestured at the corpse—"will be your example!"

The crowd finally regained their wits, though some still found it hard to believe that Lou Yun had truly killed the gatekeeper. The bravest among them suddenly roared, "Damn it! I don’t believe you dare kill us!"

As he shouted, he rushed forward from the crowd, raising his magical weapon high. The others felt their vision blur once more. Lou Yun’s figure gave a slight flicker. The brave cultivator, too, fell to the ground. His manner of death was identical to the gatekeeper’s — one thrust through the throat!

Lou Yun stood rooted in his original position as if he had never moved at all, his hands empty. His cold, murderous gaze swept over each person in the crowd before him. "Who else doesn’t believe it?"

This time, everyone was convinced. The more timid among them couldn’t hold back a shriek of terror. They turned and fled back towards the estate.

Once one person ran, the rest, regardless of their prior intentions, instinctively followed suit amidst the chaos. In the blink of an eye, shrieks and the pounding of footsteps erupted as everyone raced back inside the estate as fast as possible.

Their reaction confirmed Lou Yun’s earlier assessment. Sure enough, they were nothing but a disorderly mob. Faced with a powerful enemy, they showed no unity. Saving their own skins and fleeing were their only thoughts. Fleeing was the best plan.

Fortunately, at this moment, Wu Shaopin’s voice rang out from inside the estate grounds. "I could hear your yelling even inside! Utterly deafening! What’s going on? Why is everything in such disarray?"

"Young master! There’s a terrifyingly powerful man outside! He demanded to see you! He’s already killed two of us!" Someone answered, their voice trembling.

"What?!" Wu Shaopin clearly wasn’t used to setbacks and was accustomed to bullying others based on his family’s power. Had he possessed even a shred of intelligence, he would have turned around and fled immediately, seeking a place to hide or a master to protect him. But convinced that no one would dare harm him right on his own doorstep, not only did he not flee, he started shouting indignantly. "Who on earth is so bold? Lead me out to see this bastard! Damn it!"

Thus, amidst the flustered crowd, Wu Shaopin strode out, cursing loudly.

His eyes landed on Lou Yun, and a distinct flicker of confusion crossed Wu Shaopin’s face. He didn’t seem to recognize this person!

Nearly half a year had passed since the incident where Lou Yun bought the horse. In that time, Lou Yun hadn’t bathed, cut his hair, or changed his clothes. He looked as ragged as a beggar, his appearance utterly altered from that day, rendering him unrecognizable to Wu Shaopin.

Lou Yun, however, recognized Wu Shaopin instantly!

Frowning with distaste, Wu Shaopin barked, "Beggarman! Who the hell are you?! I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before!"

Lou Yun offered a faint smile. "Answer one question truthfully, and I will tell you who I am. I can guarantee you’ve definitely met me before."

"What question?" Wu Shaopin was intrigued despite himself.

"Did you set fire to Zuo Mingyang’s residence?"

Wu Shaopin was momentarily stunned. Then, he suddenly burst into loud laughter. "Hahaha! I thought who it might be! It turns out you’re one of Zuo Mingyang’s lackeys! That night, two white horses escaped, carrying riders on their backs! You must be the fish that slipped through the net! Brat! Since you escaped with your worthless life, why come back? Got a death wish? Looks like you’re here today to avenge your dead brothers, huh?"