Chapter Forty-Five: The Uninvited Are Thieves

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Lu Han and Chen Jun had not left the gates of the Meng residence. After three days of rest, everyone’s wounds had mostly healed, except for Chen Jun, whose back had sustained a blade injury that nearly reached the bone.

Creak.

Lu Han pushed open the door.

“The weather is nice today. By the way, today is Cousin Meng’s birthday, and Uncle said he has something important to announce.”

Lu Han headed toward the Meng family’s main hall.

“So many people in the Meng residence today.”

Before he reached the hall, Lu Han saw people everywhere, dressed in the Meng family’s attire—many collateral relatives had clearly gathered.

As soon as Lu Han entered, he saw his grandfather and uncle.

“Han, you’re here,” the old master Meng smiled gently at him, then his pupils contracted.

“Han, you—”

Lu Han smiled, unable to escape his grandfather’s keen gaze.

“I accidentally broke through to the eighth stage of the postnatal realm last night.”

“You rascal, are you trying to drive everyone mad?” The old master laughed. While others fought tooth and nail to progress in cultivation, his grandson managed a breakthrough by accident.

Indeed, as Lu Han said, last night he had been practicing and inadvertently broke through. He had already reached the peak of the seventh postnatal stage, and after the fierce battle in Wind Sound Valley, he felt he was only a step away from the eighth. During practice last night, everything fell into place naturally.

“Father, you wanted to see me?” Meng Liangchen was outside greeting the family disciples with Qi Lingxuan. These disciples usually lived elsewhere; the Meng family’s silk business was vast, with many collateral members working in shops or even on the frontier.

Taking advantage of the occasion, they were summoned back. Meng Liangchen suspected the reason, though he was not certain.

“Liangchen, you’re twenty now, and next year you’ll marry Lingxuan.” He glanced at Qi Lingxuan.

He continued, “Your performance these past two years has been witnessed by your grandfather and the family elders. They have unanimously decided to name you as the young master. Once you are married, you will become the head of the Meng family. Gathering everyone today is to make this official before them.”

Meng Liangchen felt both joy and anxiety—happy to serve the family, worried he might not do well.

After speaking, Meng Lei took Liangchen by the hand and led him to the doorway.

“Everyone, please gather here. I have an announcement,” Meng Lei said with a light cough.

The crowd knew the family head had not called them together merely for Liangchen’s birthday.

“After discussion among the old master and the elders, it has been decided to nominate my son Liangchen as the next family head. Today, Liangchen turns twenty, and as per family tradition, the day of marriage is the day of succession. I’ve gathered you all to hear your opinions. If anyone has objections, speak freely. If any grievance is proven true, even if he is my son, I will not tolerate it,” Meng Lei declared.

“Young master Liangchen is the greatest talent in Tianlan City. No one else deserves to be young master. I, Meng Shan, support him.”

“Last year, when our silk was robbed and I was taken hostage, it was young master Liangchen who risked his life to save me. If anyone dares slander him, they’ll have to answer to me, Meng Huzi!”

…

Voices of support rang out.

Meng Liangchen had indeed contributed greatly to the family in recent years and treated collateral relatives kindly. Everyone supported him.

“If there are no objections, let us proceed to the ancestral hall to conduct the succession ceremony.”

“So today is not only nephew Meng’s twentieth birthday, but also his succession as young master—a truly auspicious day. It seems I’ve arrived at just the right moment.” Suddenly, laughter echoed from outside.

The city lord, Zhang Ren, entered with his retinue.

“Family head, I—” The guards at the door stepped forward.

Meng Lei waved a hand. “You’re not to blame.”

Judging by Zhang Ren’s manner, he had forced his way in—how could a guard at the seventh postnatal stage stop him?

“Why are you all staring at me? I’m only here to celebrate nephew Meng’s day. Does the Meng family lack such courtesy?” Zhang Ren sneered as he saw the unfriendly faces around him.

“This is an internal family matter. City lord, your uninvited arrival might be against protocol,” the old master Meng said, striking the ground with his dragon-headed cane, emphasizing the title of city lord, as if to remind him: even with your status, forcing your way in is improper.

“Old master Meng, by seniority, I am your junior. It was rude of me to intrude today, so I apologize.” Zhang Ren glanced at the old master, a trace of apprehension in his eyes.

A profound master’s strength—those who have never witnessed it do not know its terror. Zhang Ren could not withstand three moves from his own father.

“But I have important business today. You all know the rules of Tianlan City: your Meng family has the right to participate in the city lord challenge. Why not bring the contest forward? Let us set up a platform in the center of Tianlan City today and determine once and for all who the city lord should be. What does the family head think?”

Meng Lei hesitated, looking to the old master.

The old master pondered for a moment.

“It’s possible, but our Meng family has a small request: let us use a round-robin format. Each side sends three family disciples. They duel in pairs; the winner remains to face the next challenger. Whoever is left standing at the end is the victor. What does the city lord think?”

“Agreed!” Zhang Ren accepted without hesitation.

With Zhang Mang having broken through to the ninth postnatal stage with his father’s help, whatever tricks the Meng family tried would be useless.

“Prepare your three people quickly. The platform is already built,” he said, turning to leave.

“City lord, please wait!” a voice called.

Zhang Ren looked back to see a youth, barely eighteen, stepping forward with a long sword on his back, sharp brows and bright eyes, noble in bearing, clothed in white, with dark, piercing eyes fixed on him.

Who else could it be but Lu Han?

“And what business do you have, young man?” Zhang Ren asked.

“City lord, I’ve heard it said that uninvited guests are bandits. Do you agree?” Lu Han said solemnly.

“You… Kid, you’re quite something!” Zhang Ren pointed at Lu Han, gritting his teeth.

“Hmph!” He flicked his sleeve and departed with his followers.

“Meng family, I’ll wait for you. I’ve already notified all of Tianlan City. Now it’s just up to you.”

Zhang Ren’s voice echoed from afar.

“Father, must we really go? Zhang Ren is clearly prepared,” Meng Lei worried.

“If we know they are prepared, we cannot refuse,” the old master said with a snort.

“As I said, we still have a chance.” The old master looked at Lu Han.

Meng Lei glanced at Lu Han, understanding the old master’s intent.

“Just pick another outstanding family disciple. Whether we win or lose depends on Han and Liangchen.”

Suddenly, Meng Liangchen asked, “Why does our family tradition require us to become the city lord of Tianlan City?” He was puzzled.

“Liangchen, the truth is only revealed to the family head. Now that you are young master, I can tell you. Our ancestors were the city lords of Tianlan City. The city lord challenge was originally proposed by our Meng family to better encourage disciples to cultivate. Unfortunately, later generations were not diligent, and we lost to the Zhang family.”

The old master showed a bitter smile. “I was eager to break through to the profound master realm because of the Zhang family in the city lord’s mansion. Do you know why no one in our Meng family has managed to reach the profound master realm these years? It’s because the city lord’s mansion forbids it. Whenever a Meng family member reaches the peak of the ninth postnatal stage, something mysterious always happens. This time, we must seize the opportunity and reclaim the city lord’s position for our Meng family.”

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