Chapter Sixty-Two: The Old Patriarch of the Lu Family

Lu Tianlin was the eldest among the three brothers, so by rights, the position of family head should have passed to him. At that time, both Lu Tianlin and Lu Tianhong possessed remarkable talent, so the Lu family, being an old and established lineage, had not yet appointed a young master.

Sixteen years ago, however, the old family head suddenly summoned the clan members. Without giving any reason, he directly handed the Xuanjin Blade to Lu Tianhong, after which he withdrew into seclusion for years on end.

Though the Lu family found this decision odd, no one dared to question it. Even Lu Tianlin remained silent, making no move to contest the verdict.

Lu Tianhong, too, was puzzled by his father's abrupt choice, but since the old man's tone had brooked no argument, he trusted there must be reasons behind it.

Lu Tianhong sighed. “Brother, this was Father’s decision. It’s not something I can change.”

“Haha... It doesn't matter anymore. After today, the Lu family will be mine.”

“Oh? Is that so?” An aged and imperious voice suddenly resonated across the training ground.

“That’s... uh...” Lu Tianlin seemed to choke, as if something was caught in his throat.

A gust of wind swept the arena as an old man in a gray robe appeared before the crowd, lightning-quick, coming to stand directly before Lu Tianlin.

With a crisp slap, the old man struck Lu Tianlin’s cheek. “Unfilial son! You still show no remorse!”

“Father!” Lu Tianbei cried out in alarm.

Lu Tianhong and Lu Han’s faces remained utterly impassive, as calm as ancient wells, as if they had anticipated the old patriarch’s arrival all along.

“Father, you... you have come out of seclusion?” For the first time, panic flickered across Lu Tianlin’s face.

The City Lord had never dared to take direct action against the Lu family, precisely out of fear of the old master. That was why he had chosen to control Lu Tianlin instead.

“Hmph. If I hadn’t emerged, would this family have changed its surname by now? I know everything that’s happened.” The old master snorted coldly, unleashing his aura, which pressed inexorably toward the City Lord, Wen Hao.

The force of their confrontation whipped up dust all around the martial grounds.

“Master Lu, what is the meaning of this?” Wen Hao’s expression did not change; he remained inscrutable.

“The meaning? I believe the City Lord understands perfectly well.”

“Tianlin, I didn’t reveal the truth back then for your sake, to preserve your dignity. I never imagined you’d... Forget it. In truth, everyone wondered why I passed the Xuanjin Blade to Hong’er that year. Back then—”

It turned out that the old master himself had been conflicted about which son should inherit the family headship; both Lu Tianlin and Lu Tianhong were outstanding in their own right.

So, he had devised a secret task for the two of them. Whoever completed it first would become the next head of the family. Only the three of them knew of this arrangement.

But on the way to complete the task, Lu Tianlin had hired mercenaries to ambush and kill Lu Tianhong. It was during this attack that Meng Wan’er, Lu Han’s mother, was gravely injured.

Lu Tianlin believed he had covered his tracks flawlessly, but the old master had seen through it all.

He had been ready to strip Lu Tianlin of his status then and there, but as the saying goes, “Even a tiger does not eat its cubs.” Unable to harden his heart, and worn down by Lu Tianlin’s desperate pleas, he chose not to expose the matter.

“Brother, was it really you back then?” Lu Tianhong asked in disbelief.

“And if it was? I am the eldest son. The old fool refused time and time again to name me as young master. My talent was no less than yours, so why? He was simply biased! Since he wouldn’t give it to me, I decided to take it by my own means.”

With the truth laid bare, Lu Tianlin no longer bothered to hide anything.

“Unfilial son! You swore you’d repented, yet now you conspire with the Li family and the City Lord’s household to seize the headship. I should have disowned you years ago!” The old master’s fury made his beard tremble as he pointed at Lu Tianlin.

“If Han’er hadn’t written to warn us of the gravity of the situation, Hong’er would not have forced me out of seclusion. If not for that, you might well have succeeded today.”

“Haha! Old fool, do you think your return can change anything? Now that the City Lord’s household and the Li family support me, the tides have turned. You’ve grown more foolish with age.”

“Have you forgotten the Lie family?” Lu Han interjected.

Lu Tianlin burst out laughing, as though hearing the funniest joke in the world. “The Lie family? Old Master Lie and Brother Lie Xiong likely don’t have long to live. Of course, Han, if you pick the winning side, I might ask the City Lord to spare Brother Lie Xiong’s life.”

At this, Wen Hao decided it was time to lay his cards on the table. “Old Master Lie, your family’s head is gravely poisoned and unconscious. The toxin is no ordinary affliction, but it happens that I possess the antidote. I imagine you wouldn’t wish to see your son pass before you? As long as the Lie family agrees not to interfere today, I will present the antidote with both hands. What say you?”

“No wonder the Lie family’s head hasn’t been seen lately—it turns out he’s been poisoned and comatose.”

“How did the City Lord know about the poisoning?”

“Why so many questions? Isn’t it obvious?”

...

“Black Jiao Poison Grass—just as the legends say. But I’m afraid, City Lord, you’ll be disappointed.” All eyes turned as the voice came from the entrance.

Lie Xiong stood there, a healthy flush to his cheeks, showing no trace of poisoning.

“You... How is it possible you’ve awakened?”

For the first time, Wen Hao felt events slipping beyond his control.

When the old master of the Lu family had appeared, Wen Hao had still believed he could handle the situation, confident in the power of the Black Jiao Poison Grass.

So long as the Lie family stayed out of it, the City Lord’s household and the Li family together could destroy the Lu family—it was only a matter of time.

“If the Lu family refuses to yield, there’s no choice but to annihilate them,” Wen Hao had thought.

But Lie Xiong’s sudden appearance changed everything.

“Impossible. Without the Wen family’s special antidote, you could not have recovered. Even a fourth-grade antidote pill would be useless.”

“There are no absolutes. If your Wen family can cure it, why not others?” Lu Han replied.

“It was you, wasn’t it? I should have known. You cured Lie Xiong’s poisoning!” Wen Hao, worthy of a city lord, quickly deduced the truth.

“No wonder the Wen family is counted among the five great clans of the imperial capital—even a King-level Black Jiao is within your grasp. Too bad you won’t be going back.” Lu Han’s tone was icy.

In truth, Lu Han had no idea whether Wen Hao would be able to return, but he deliberately set a trap, hoping to provoke a reaction.

“Hmph. And if I can’t return? Once I wipe out the Lu family, I’ll be the absolute ruler here, no different than I was in the capital.”

When Wen Hao first arrived in Maple Leaf City, he believed it would quickly fall under his control, allowing him to act as he pleased.

Yet the three great families were in no way weaker than the City Lord’s household—especially the Lu family. The old master’s presence was enough that Wen Hao dared not claim certain victory.

Still, he was unwilling to yield. As city lord, he wanted to reign supreme.

After all his careful scheming, it seemed everything was about to come to nothing.

Casting a glance at Lu Tianlin, Wen Hao’s fists clenched. “All because of this useless wretch—he couldn’t even handle such a simple task. If he’d killed that brat in the first place, none of this would be happening now.”

If Lu Han hadn’t returned alive and cured Lie Xiong’s poisoning, the Lu family would already be under the City Lord’s control, and things would never have come to this.

A flash of murderous intent flickered in Wen Hao’s eyes as he looked at Lu Han.

Lu Han felt a chill run through him, as though plunged into an icy cellar the moment Wen Hao’s blade turned toward him.

Without a word, the old master pulled Lu Han behind him.

“City Lord, as a Xuan Lord-level expert, surely you wouldn’t bully a child who hasn’t even come of age yet?”