Chapter Sixty: What If Lu Han Comes Back?

At this moment, the Lu family’s martial training grounds were utterly silent. Even Lu Hongying and Lu Tianbei, standing to the side, were at a loss for words. Lu Tianlin gazed unwaveringly at Lu Tianhong, refusing to yield, and the air between them seemed to congeal.

Then, in the midst of this awkward tension, a burst of hearty laughter from outside shattered the stillness.

“Haha… It seems I’ve arrived at just the right time.” As the laughter faded, Li Zhengcheng appeared, leading a crowd of Li family members, and slowly made his way into the Lu family’s training grounds.

“Master Li, today is our Lu family’s clan meeting. What’s the meaning of you bringing so many people here? Are you trying to provoke us?” Lu Tianbei’s tone was unfriendly.

The Lu family’s clan meetings had never allowed outsiders; now, with Li Zhengcheng bringing the entire Li clan to the training grounds, his intentions could not help but be questioned.

“Third Master Lu, you mustn’t wrong an honest man. I only heard that the Lu family was about to appoint a young master. As one of the three great families of Maple Leaf City, how could I not come to see for myself?” Li Zhengcheng put on a look of aggrieved innocence.

“Indeed, as city lord, I too am curious to see which outstanding young man of the Lu family is worthy of such a responsibility.” Wen Hao, the city lord, still wore his deep green robes, striding leisurely into view, followed closely by Wen Da and Wen Er. Whenever Wen Hao left the city, these two never left his side.

The Lu family members quickly made way for Wen Hao—his reputation preceded him.

Wen Hao, the city lord, was Maple Leaf City’s foremost powerhouse, a Xuan Sovereign whose exact rank was unknown. He cultivated the mid-tier Xuan-level technique, “Black Flood Dragon Overturns the Heavens.”

Simply being a Xuan Sovereign made him unattainable to most. The mid-tier Xuan-level technique was unique to Maple Leaf City, further cementing his position as its strongest.

Wen Hao walked to Li Zhengcheng’s side and glanced at him casually. Li Zhengcheng caught the hint, his eyes flickering.

“Brother Tianhong, I suppose the position of young master will surely fall to your son,” Li Zhengcheng said, then slapped his forehead. “Oh dear, my memory fails me. If the rumors are true, your son fell into the Cold Abyss Forest three months ago. That place is nearly certain death. Brother Tianhong, my condolences—an elder burying his child…”

Li Zhengcheng quickly realized something was amiss; Lu Tianhong was too calm, so calm it seemed almost frightening. No matter how strong his character, being reminded of Lu Han’s fate should at least bring a change of expression, if not provoke a violent reaction.

Yet Lu Tianhong stood with his hands behind his back, silently watching them, his face completely impassive.

Originally, Li Zhengcheng intended to provoke Lu Tianhong further. Their plan was simple: if Lu Tianhong lashed out in rage, with Wen Hao standing beside Li Zhengcheng, they could accuse him of attacking the city lord and, in the blink of an eye, execute Lu Tianhong on the spot. Afterwards, Lu Tianlin would step in to take charge, and everything would settle. The old master of the Lu family was in seclusion year-round; as long as Lu Tianlin held the reins, there should be no trouble.

But now, their scheme had clearly failed.

Li Zhengcheng was about to say something more when another booming voice rang out.

“Haha, I hope I’m not late.” Lie Zhong arrived with the Lie family in tow: not only the family head, Lie Xiong, but all the brothers and Lie Ruge. Lu Han and Chen Jun were among them, Lu Han still cloaked in a black robe, his face hidden beneath a hood.

“Fire Lion—Lie Zhong.”

Both Wen Hao and Li Zhengcheng’s faces changed.

Of the three people Wen Hao regarded with greatest wariness, two were the Xuan Sovereigns of the Lu and Li families, and the third was the old master of the Lie family. If ranked, the Lu family’s old master would be first—a martial fanatic, always in seclusion, emerging only for matters of life and death. These years, he had likely achieved new breakthroughs.

Still, the two were not overly concerned.

The second most formidable was Lie Zhong. For reasons unknown, Wen Hao always felt that the aura around Lie Zhong was even more dangerous than that of the Li family’s Xuan Sovereign.

While all eyes were on Lie Zhong, Lu Han was quietly whispering to Chen Jun and the others. The three nodded, slipping into the Lu family’s inner courtyard. No one knew what they were up to.

“Old master Lie, what brings you to our Lu family today? Hm, I don’t see Brother Lie Xiong among you.” Lu Tianlin’s expression tightened as he saw Lie Zhong, scanning the Lie family’s ranks as if searching for something. After a moment, a hint of a smile appeared.

“Xiong has been unwell recently, so he didn’t come,” Lie Zhong replied with a glance at Lu Tianlin, his tone indifferent, as if he didn’t wish the subject pursued.

Wen Hao and Li Zhengcheng exchanged smiles.

“Since the three great families are all gathered here, and the city lord himself is present, let us lay everything on the table. Second brother, with father in seclusion for years and you just returned from Cold Abyss, you’re not suited to manage the family. Why not hand over the Gold-Proclaiming Blade to me and let me oversee the clan for now?” Lu Tianlin declared with confidence.

With the situation firmly in his grasp, the entire Lu family present, all he needed was for Lu Tianhong to hand over the blade and relinquish his position. The Lu family would be his; even if the old master emerged from seclusion later, the outcome would already be decided.

But Lu Tianhong paid him no mind, instead searching among the Lie family members, his gaze finally settling on the figure in the black robe—Lu Han. Though he couldn’t see his face, he felt certain it was his son. Blood is thicker than water; between father and son, there is always a kind of connection.

Suddenly, Lu Tianhong smiled. “Big brother, how about this? Since all the families and the city lord’s residence are present, let’s vote: myself, old master Lie, the city lord, and the Li family head—four votes. Whoever receives the most becomes the family head. What do you say?”

“Are you serious?”

“I say this before all the Lu family. Would I lie?”

Lu Tianlin nearly burst out laughing. Lu Tianhong was pushing himself to a dead end. Li Zhengcheng and Wen Hao would surely support Lu Tianlin, and as for Lie Zhong, a little persuasion would suffice.

As expected, after some polite words, Wen Hao and Li Zhengcheng chose Lu Tianlin.

Just as Lie Zhong was about to declare his stance, Wen Hao stepped over and whispered to him, “Old master Lie, is Lie Xiong’s illness really so simple? If you pick the right side today, perhaps Brother Lie Xiong might recover. It all depends on your choice.”

“No need for your concern, city lord. I’ve already made my decision,” Lie Zhong replied, his expression unchanged.

“I don’t need to say more; I know Tianhong’s character well enough. So I believe my meaning is clear.”

“Old master Lie, are you sure about your choice? Have you forgotten something?” Lu Tianlin couldn’t help reminding him.

“I may be old, but my memory is still sharp. I’m not sure what you’re referring to,” Lie Zhong’s voice was frosty.

If not for Lu Han’s return, the Lu family would already be lost, and the Lie family might not survive either. “You... It seems the Lie family may need a new head soon!”

“Big brother, I’ve kept my vote for myself. Now it’s two to two—what do you propose?” Lu Tianhong asked Lu Tianlin.

“Second brother, I think you’d best not force the matter.”

At this moment, Lu Han suddenly stepped forward.

“You keep claiming that the Lu family head is too grief-stricken from losing his son Lu Han to manage the clan. What if Lu Han has returned?”

Lu Tianlin looked at the figure before him, face hidden beneath the black robe, and snorted. “Returned? The Cold Abyss Forest is bottomless, almost certain death. Three months have passed—how could he return?”

Lu Han slowly removed his hood. “Uncle, it’s only been three months, and you’ve already forgotten your nephew? Don’t even remember my voice?”

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