Chapter Fifty-Seven: Delivering the Letter

Lu Han, what kind of poison did Eldest Brother take?” Lie Ying asked.

It suddenly occurred to Lie Ying that earlier in the hall, Lu Han hadn’t mentioned what poison Lie Xiong had been afflicted with, and even a Grade Four Detoxification Pill had been useless.

“It should be Black Jiao Poison Grass.”

“This time, Maple Leaf City is truly about to change hands!” Lie Xiong was stunned at first, then sighed deeply.

Even Old Master Lie furrowed his brows upon hearing this.

“Lu Han, do you know of the Black Jiao?” Lie Xiong asked.

Lu Han remembered what Old Man Ling had told him: it was an extremely ferocious demon beast, possessing the strength of a King of the Earth the moment it reached adulthood.

“This is something known among certain families of the Grand Summer Empire. Only the Wen Family, one of the five great families in the imperial capital, possesses the Black Jiao. The Wen Family’s ancestor tamed one, and it has remained with the Wen Family ever since,” Lie Xiong explained.

No wonder they were one of the five great families in the capital—raising a Black Jiao was akin to having a King of the Earth as a guardian.

Lu Han was taken aback. Could it be…?

“That’s right. The City Lord, Wen Hao, is from the Wen Family. It’s said that he committed a crime in the capital and nearly lost his head, but the Wen Family protected him, sparing his life. Afterwards, he came to Maple Leaf City and became its lord. Now, things seem far more complicated than we imagined. There’s no way your uncle could have gotten his hands on Black Jiao Poison Grass—unless the City Lord gave it to him,” Lie Xiong said.

Lu Tianlin could not possibly possess Black Jiao Poison Grass, nor could he have stolen it from the City Lord’s residence. Wen Hao was the strongest in Maple Leaf City; who could possibly steal from him? Who would dare?

“Then…” Lu Han was at a loss.

If his uncle had joined forces with the City Lord’s mansion, his father’s situation would be even more perilous.

At this moment, Old Master Lie, seated in his chair, suddenly changed expression. “If Lu Tianlin’s only target was Lu Tianhong, there would have been no need to poison Xiong’er. It seems the City Lord intends to move against both our families. But does he really have the appetite for such a feat?”

Old Master Lie tapped the armrest thoughtfully.

“I understand now. Our Lie and Lu families have always enjoyed a close relationship. Should anything happen to the Lu family, the Lie family would never stand idly by. By poisoning me and rendering me unconscious, they could use the antidote to threaten us into inaction,” Lie Xiong, worthy of his role as head of the Lie family, deduced most of the plot in an instant.

“Eldest Brother, in a calamity, no one is spared. If our family truly suffers, we won’t be able to escape unscathed either,” Lie Ying now realized the gravity of the situation.

“Should we inform Brother Lu?” Lie Xiong looked to his father.

Old Master Lie closed his eyes, deep in thought.

“From the signs and according to what Lu Han said, the City Lord and Lu Tianlin will make their move at the Lu family clan assembly. Now that your poison has been cured, the City Lord has lost his leverage. We should remain steady and face all changes with composure. If our two families join forces, even the City Lord will have to reconsider his actions,” Old Master Lie declared, slapping the armrest.

“But… if the Li family gets involved, things will become much more troublesome,” he mused.

“Child, you must not show yourself for now. If you appear at the clan assembly, the effect will be unimaginable. As for news of Xiong’er’s recovery, not a word must leak out. All we can do now is wait for the Lu family clan assembly three days from now.”

Within the Lie family’s grand courtyard.

Lu Han and Lie Ruge walked side by side. Suddenly, Lie Ruge slowed her steps and said, “Brother Lu Han, can’t you stay?”

Seeing the girl’s slightly aggrieved expression, Lu Han gently tapped her forehead. “Don’t think you can make me stay just by acting pitiful. Things are different now—you heard what happened earlier. If I linger too long and am discovered by those with ill intent, we’ll have trouble. Once all this is resolved, I promise I’ll spend every day with you, all right?”

Lie Ruge knew this matter was no small affair; she was not a girl who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong, but she still pouted.

Lu Han pulled his hood up and left the Lie residence.

“Hey, girl, your little sweetheart left long ago. What are you still looking at?” Suddenly, Lie Ying appeared behind her, teasingly mimicking her peering gaze.

“Sixth Uncle, you… hmph, I’m not talking to you anymore!” Lie Ruge’s delicate face flushed crimson, even to the tips of her ears. She stomped her foot and hurried away.

“Tch, silly girl, getting shy now,” Lie Ying chuckled, then glanced at the gate. “This little Lu Han has matured a lot these past months. Lu Tianbei, you really have a good nephew.” With that, he too departed.

Lu Han, draped in his black robe, quickly made his way to the Youjia Inn.

…

At dawn, warm sunlight spilled through the window, filling the room with light.

The youth sat cross-legged on the bed, forming hand seals continuously as faint white cold energy rose around him.

The white chill slowly entered his body.

“Boy, someone’s coming to see you,” an ancient voice echoed within him.

The boy’s pitch-black eyes opened, flashing with a trace of white light. He stood up at once.

This was Lu Han, who had cultivated all night.

Bang bang…

There was a knock at the door.

Creak…

Lu Han opened it to find Chen Jun and his companions waiting outside.

“Brother Lu, yesterday you mentioned you’d need our help today. What is it you want us to do?” Chen Jun asked straightforwardly.

When Lu Han had arrived at the Youjia Inn, he had first gone to find Chen Jun and his friends, telling them he’d need their help today. So, early in the morning, they’d arrived.

Lu Han invited them in and said, “Brother Chen, I need a favor. Please go to the Lu family and deliver this letter to the head of the family. Make sure it reaches him personally.”

He pulled a letter from his breast and handed it to Chen Jun.

…

From the second-floor window, Lu Han watched as Chen Jun and the others left, calculating his next steps. Suddenly, his expression turned peculiar. “Isn’t that Third Uncle…?”

He saw a man in the street—casual and unrestrained, perhaps in his thirties, a wine gourd at his waist—heading toward the Lu family estate.

The man paused, his expression shifting as he glanced behind him.

“Huh? Why do I feel like someone’s watching me? Maybe I’m just tired from traveling these last few days and imagining things. Never mind, I’d better go find Second Brother first.”

He shook his head.

“That was close. As expected of someone at the Innate Realm—he almost sensed me just now,” Lu Han exhaled softly. Fortunately, he had reacted quickly and closed the window, or his third uncle might have noticed him.

Lu Han resumed his cultivation.

Outside the Lu residence.

“Who are you three looking for? What brings you here?” the guard asked as Chen Jun and his group approached.

“May I ask if your family head is at home? I have an important letter for him. Could you please announce us?” Chen Jun replied politely.

“What letter is this?” a voice called from inside.

“And you are?” Chen Jun asked cautiously.

“I am Lu Tianlin, elder brother of the Lu family head. You can give me the letter,” the man said, extending his hand.

His posture made it clear he wanted Chen Jun to hand it over immediately.

“So you are…” Niu Gao blurted out, unable to restrain himself.

He and the others had learned a bit about the Lu family from Lu Han. Niu Gao, being rather impulsive, almost said too much, but was quickly pulled back by Hong Banmei.

“Sorry, this letter is for the Lu family head only,” Chen Jun said calmly.

“Oh? Is there something I can’t see?” As he spoke, Lu Tianlin released the aura of the seventh level of the Innate Realm, bearing down on them.

The three of them immediately felt suffocated.

But in the next instant, the pressure vanished.

“Elder Brother, what are you doing? Must you inspect every letter I receive?” came a voice as Lu Tianhong emerged, his own energy countering Lu Tianlin’s.

Judging by the time, Lu Tianbei should be home by now, so Lu Tianhong had stepped outside—only to witness this scene.

“This letter is for me. Who gave it to you?” Lu Tianhong asked, stepping up to Chen Jun.

“You’ll understand once you read it. Now that it’s delivered, we’ll take our leave,” Chen Jun said, cupping his hands and turning to go with his companions.

“Won’t you stay for a drink?” Lu Tianhong called after them.

Without looking back, Chen Jun replied, “We have other matters to attend to. I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

“Elder Brother, I hope this doesn’t happen again.”

“Third Brother,” Lu Tianhong began, just as he saw Lu Tianbei approaching.

Watching Lu Tianhong’s retreating figure, Lu Tianlin’s expression grew icy cold. “Playing the family head, are you? In two days, I’ll send you and your family to join your dead son.”

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