Chapter Fifty-Five: The Situation of the Lie Family

“Brother Lu, where are we heading next?” Chen Jun couldn’t help but ask.

Lu Han had said from the start that they wouldn’t return to the Lu family for now, and at this point, no one knew exactly what Lu Han planned.

“Brother Chen, ask around in the city for a place called ‘Home Inn.’ It’s a property owned by our Lu family. You can stay there, and I’ll come find you later,” Lu Han replied, then hurried off toward the southern part of the city.

“‘Home Inn’? That’s a curious name,” Niu Gao said, scratching his head with a grin.

“Let’s go. Brother Lu must have his own plans,” the three of them gradually disappeared into the crowd.

“Master, are you sure you can cure Uncle Lie?” Lu Han walked swiftly down the main street, picking up his pace as the Lie residence drew near.

This question made Old Man Ling bristle with irritation, but he quickly replied, “Kid Han, are you doubting me? I may not be an alchemist, but I have no shortage of third- and fourth-grade antidote pills in this ring of mine.”

“I know you have all sorts of treasures, Master. Do you have anything else good?” Lu Han asked tentatively.

“I have… You rascal, trying to trick me into revealing what I have? Don’t even think about it! There’s nothing left in my ring at all,” Old Man Ling almost slipped up, but caught on that Lu Han was scheming after his possessions.

“Tch, stingy,” Lu Han muttered, pouting.

As they spoke, Lu Han arrived at the gate of the Lie family estate.

He was immediately stopped by the guards.

“Who goes there?”

“I heard your family head has been poisoned and fallen unconscious. I’ve come to offer a cure,” Lu Han replied, his black cloak obscuring his features. The guards didn’t recognize him, and he even altered his voice deliberately.

“Draw your blade! Who are you?” The guards’ faces changed at his words, swords drawn.

The family had kept the poisoning of their head a secret. Even when they sought antidotes, the brothers of the family did so in secret. How did this stranger know?

“Don’t misunderstand, brothers. I come in good faith. I’m well acquainted with your Sixth Master, Lie Ying. Call him out and all will be clear.”

“Wait here, I’ll report,” the guard said, letting down his guard. If the stranger truly knew the Sixth Master, it would be easy enough to verify.

Inside the estate, the family head, Lie Xiong, still lay unconscious in bed. Surrounding him were Lie Zhong, Lie Ruge, and the six brothers of the Lie family.

“Father, our eldest brother still shows no sign of waking. There’s less than a month left before…” The six brothers had spent a fortune to acquire a fourth-grade antidote pill from a nearby auction, hoping it would revive Lie Zhong, but three days had passed without any sign of improvement.

A fourth-grade pill, even if it was a common antidote, had cost them two million gold coins—a significant sum for the family.

“Father,” Lie Ruge’s face was drawn and weary; she had been at her brother’s side day and night.

“I have a way to save Xiong’er. Don’t worry,” the old master forced a smile.

“Father, what is it? Unless…” Lie Xin’s expression changed.

The Lie family’s “True Classic of Blazing Fire” was legendary. It was said that one could perform the Fire Sacrifice, and so long as a single breath remained, life could be restored. But the requirements were stringent: only a direct relative at the peak of the Ninth Heaven could perform it, and the cost was certain death for the one who did.

“Father, let me do it. The family can’t lose our eldest brother,” Lie Xin said with resolve.

“You? You’re only at the Sixth Heaven—it’s impossible. Even if it were, I wouldn’t let you try. You’re in your prime; I’m already old,” the old master replied.

“Father, there must be another way…”

“Master, someone outside claims to be an old friend of the Sixth Master,” a guard interrupted.

“Send them away. I’m not seeing anyone,” Lie Ying snapped, his mind consumed by worry.

“But, sir, he says he can cure the family head’s poison,” the guard insisted.

“An antidote? Take me to him, now! Where is he?” Lie Ying’s composure broke into excitement.

“At the gate.”

Lu Han waited at the entrance. Soon, two people hurried over—the Sixth Master and a guard.

Lie Xin frowned as they approached.

“My friend, I don’t believe we’ve met,” Lie Ying said. Lu Han kept his hat low, and by his build, Lie Ying couldn’t recall anyone like him among his acquaintances.

“Sixth Master, we’ve met before. Have you forgotten that you never won a single chess game in the west of the city?” Lu Han emphasized the words “west of the city.”

“Chess in the west? You… it’s you! Come, follow me inside!” Lie Ying exclaimed, grabbing Lu Han and leading him in.

“You two—no one is allowed in, not even the city lord,” Lie Ying commanded the guards.

“You’re Han! I knew you’d be all right.” Lie Ying looked at Lu Han with relief. He had heard of Lu Han’s disappearance as soon as he returned, and if not for his elder brother’s situation, he would have gone to the Cold Abyss Forest to search for him.

Lie Ying and Lu Tianbei, the third master of the Lu family, were of similar age and had become fast friends over chess games at the Lu family estate. One day, Lu Han had seen them playing, and from then on, he often played against Lie Ying himself—never losing a single game. From then on, Lu Tianbei would tease him, “Even though the two of us are evenly matched, my nephew beat you for me, so you still lost, ha ha…”

Only the three of them knew this story. Since Lu Tianbei had not yet returned to the Lu family, it could only be Lu Han.

“Uncle Xin, we’ll talk later. I’m dressed like this so no one will recognize me,” Lu Han gestured. The fewer who knew of his return, the better.

Creak—

The door opened. After Lu Han and Lie Ying entered, they swiftly closed it behind them.

Hearing someone had come to cure Lie Xiong, the old master cupped his hands, “Sir…”

“Father, he’s no stranger—he’s Lu Han,” Lie Ying said.

“Lu Han?” The brothers stared in astonishment. The old master was puzzled.

At the bedside, Lie Ruge’s face changed as she looked at Lu Han.

Lu Han looked at Lie Ruge. She wore her usual crimson gown, but her playful innocence was gone, replaced by a fragile thinness that made Lu Han’s heart ache.

He pulled his hat off and held it behind him.

In an instant, tears streamed down Lie Ruge’s face.

When she first heard of Lu Han’s disappearance, she had gone mad searching the Cold Abyss Forest for him. If not for the old master stopping her, she would have climbed down the cliffs herself. Lu Han had gone to the forest to find the nonexistent Violet Spirit Flower for Lie Xiong; she felt responsible for his disappearance. Three months had passed since, and she had all but lost hope.

“Brother Lu Han!” Lie Ruge threw herself into his arms, holding tightly to his waist.

Lu Han embraced her, a gentle smile on his lips as he softly patted her shoulder. “It’s all right. I’m back safe and sound, aren’t I? Besides, everyone’s watching.”

“Let them watch!” Lie Ruge finally let go after a long moment.

She glanced at her uncles’ teasing expressions, her delicate face flushing as she lowered her gaze to her toes.

“Han, I heard you have a way to cure Xiong’er. Is that true?” the old master asked anxiously. Though he wanted to ask about Lu Han’s own situation, saving Lie Xiong came first.

Lie Ruge’s uncles also looked at Lu Han with hopeful urgency.

“I’m eighty percent certain,” Lu Han replied.

“Eighty percent? That’s already very high,” the Lie family members exclaimed with joy.