Ten days later, Zhuo Fan returned in secret to the small courtyard in Veiled Dragon Pavilion.
This trip took them half a month, but Zhuo Fan made sure to tell Lei Yuting to place the Blackwind Mountain bandits in the city on stand by.
Since the bandits were still, so was Hell Valley.
On the way to his home, Zhuo Fan found that Long Jie and Long Kui weren't around and set for a guard to put the old man in a room while he went to look for Luo Yunchang.
Fifteen minutes later, Xiao Cui cried when she saw the door open. She ran in tears to Lei Yuting, "Young miss."
Lei Yuting wiped the girl's tears and bopped her nose, "Silly girl, they weren't hard on you, were they?"
Xiao Cui shook her head, "All Luo clan, besides that evil steward, treated me with kindness."
"Ahem, girly, don't talk bad about people when they're present or they will put you in your place."
Zhuo Fan then walked next to the rest of the Luo clan's members who smiled at Xiao Cui's antics.
Luo Yunhai approved, "You dumb girl, bro Zhuo likes to spank people the most. You messed with him, now see how he messes up your rear."
Xiao Cui hid behind Lei Yuting.
Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes. Was he a fiend in these kids' eyes? Luo Yunchang and Captain Pang exchanged a glance but felt warm inside.
Zhuo Fan always did what he wanted and never left a good first impression, to the point some might even call him vile. They experienced this first hand. But once they got to know Zhuo Fan, they would discover that he was a trustworthy person.
"You're… Yunchang?"
They all turned to the old man behind Lei Yuting who watched Luo Yunchang with emotion. Then he turned to the child, "And you are… Luo Yunhai?"
"Gods be praised, brother Zhennan's children are alive!"
"Senior, are you perhaps…" Luo Yunchang hesitated.
The first thing Zhuo Fan did when he returned was to bring her to Blackwind Mountain's lord to understand the relationship between Blackwind Mountain and Luo clan, and why Hell Valley set its sights on them.
Zhuo Fan made the introductions, "This is Blackwind Mountain's lord, the leader of the bandits who destroyed Cloud Manor."
"What?"
Luo Yunchang's face turned gloomy and dignified as killing intent surged and her Yuan Qi leaked.
Lei Yuting jumped in front of the old man.
His frail hand moved Lei Yuting aside and dropped to his knees, tears flowing freely, "Yunchang, Luo clan's disaster is all my fault. If you want to kill anyone, kill me."
"Godfather!"
"Mountain Lord!"
Lei Yuting and Xiao Cui shouted but the old man dismissed them, "I owe it to the Luo clan. You are not to stop her."
Luo Yunchang watched the weak old man with anger, yet she didn't strike.
Zhuo Fan patted her shoulder, "Yang Ming had him fooled for so long, immobilized him in his bed, and he had only recently recovered somewhat. The attack on the Luo clan had nothing to do with him."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Luo Yunchang grumbled, blaming him for almost having killed an innocent.
Zhuo Fan rubbed his chin, "Although, this old man is so blind that taking him in might sink the Luo clan. Killing him for revenge is only natural."
She rolled her eyes at Zhuo Fan's dubious logic.
Despite making some sense, blaming the old man was going too far. Luo Yunchang wasn't a person who took her anger on others. Even more so when the old man seemed to have known her father well.
"Senior, you're also a victim."
"No, I and Zhennan are sworn brothers but the Luo clan fell because of me. It is because of me his soul can't rest." He wiped the tears from his pain-stricken face.
Luo Yunchang was shocked and then saw Luo Yunhai shaking his head, "Senior, why is it that father never mentioned you?"
Releasing the breath that he was holding, the old man calmed his restless heart, "Luo clan is a distinguished clan, leagues above an old bandit such as I. But your father and I became sworn brothers right as we met and kept it hidden, afraid of affecting the Luo clan's reputation. Furthermore, my Lei clan has an ancient rule, never to make enemies of Cai and Luo clans."
"Eh?"
Luo Yunhai cried out then muttered, "Dad once told me that regardless of the situation, to always survive or perish alongside Lei and Cai clans. I know of the Cai clan, but is the Lei clan he was referring to, yours?"
Luo Yunchang turned to her brother, "How come father never told me anything about this?"
Luo Yunhai stuck out his chin and snickered, "Dad said it's a secret between men. It is not for women or outsiders to know of."
Zhuo Fan frowned, "Is it possible that this ancestral rule in the Lei and Luo clans is passed down to the Clan Head only?"
"Correct, but as I do not have a son to pass it on, I speak of it now. Moreover, I and Zhennan became brothers, so the Luo clan would never harm us."
But then he recalled how Luo clan fell because of him and shook his head in shame.
"Old man, do you have a martial art passed down in your clan?" Zhuo Fan asked.
The old man nodded, "I passed down my clan's spirit ranked martial art, Lightning Finger, to Ting'er as I have no son. But that bastard Yang Ming took the jade slip instead."
Bam!
Zhuo Fan clapped, "That's it. That's what they are after."
Then he rushed out the door, "Wait here."
Everyone was stunned, clueless as to what he wanted to do…
Zhuo Fan passed like a storm through Veiled Dragon Pavilion's gates guarded by the same pair of guards, they didn't even try to stop him.
"Bro Jiu!" Zhuo Fan shouted as he searched for Long Jiu.
He soon saw a closed door with Long Kui and Long Jie acting as guards and knew Long Jiu was inside. He rushed over as he shouted.
Long Kui blocked him, enraged, "Shut up! Uncle Jiu won't receive guests today. Get lost!"
"Humph, I'm not a guest. I have important matters to discuss with Long Jiu. Stand aside." Zhuo Fan wanted to charge in but Long Jie and Long Kui's power barred him entry.
"Important is it? Don't mistake Uncle Jiu's appreciation of you for weakness! This is Veiled Dragon Pavilion, not your backyard." Long Kui glared at him as she stood her ground before the door.
"Brother Zhuo, Uncle Jiu can't see you today. Please go back." Long Jie was firm.
Zhuo Fan knew charging in was pointless and smiled, "Girly, do you know where I've been these past few days?"
"Humph, where could a filthy man possibly go? Last time you had two in your arms and this time you must have spent a tender night out in their village." Long Kui rolled her eyes.
Zhuo Fan shook his head with a sneer, "Ha-ha-ha, I wish, but I'm not as free as Young miss Long. Back to the matter at hand, I followed a lead on Hell Valley. Any time now they will come to Veiled Dragon Pavilion, so don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Humph, nonsense. If you know Hell Valley's actions, then bulls can fly." Long Kui disdained.
Zhuo Fan shook his head and left, shouting his final warning, "Tell Uncle Jiu I am taking the Luo clan into hiding, so we won't get dragged in Veiled Dragon Pavilion's fall."
Long Kui wanted to curse, [We've always treated you so well yet you even curse us after breaking all ties?]
She didn't get the chance however, as the door opened with a creak and Long Jiu's voice came, "Please bring brother Zhuo in!"
Long Jie and Long Kui were shocked, then bowed, "Yes!"
Zhuo Fan flitted past them like smoke, "No need, I can do it myself, he-he-he…"
Long Kui panted with rage when she saw his smug look, "What's so great about him? Isn't he just a 5th-grade array master? Why does Uncle Jiu care so much about him?"
With a bitter smile, Long Jie returned to guarding the door.
[This is a prime example of hating grapes from being sour without trying them. If Young miss was a 5th-grade array master instead, not only Uncle Jiu would've cared for you, he'd even praise you to high heaven…]
On the other hand, Zhuo Fan, who couldn't care less about Long Kui's increasing discontent of him, walked inside a huge house after spending five minutes crossing a corridor.
He soon saw Long Jiu sitting on a high chair beaming at him. On either side of him were another two identical seats, with the exception that they were facing in the opposite direction.
"Ha-ha-ha, brother Zhuo, what brought you here today?"
Zhuo Fan stopped before Long Jiu who was smiling at him, but that smile was soon replaced by a grim look, "But I must remind you, if you came here with nonsense, there will be consequences."
Scratching his nose, Zhuo Fan smiled, "Hell Valley's experts are here and will soon attack this place. I wonder if this is considered nonsense."
"Of course not, if it's true!"
Before Long Jiu responded, an aged voice came from one high chair, followed by the slow turning of both the chairs. Two ferocious auras, stronger than Long Jiu, swept Zhuo Fan.
His breath caught in his throat and staggered backwards as a drop of cold sweat trailed down his shocked face…
The two chairs creaked as they turned slowly, revealing two old men.
One had sandy hair, with big eyes and thin hands that each time his finger tapped the armrest, it echoed out. His eyes flashed golden like a piercing sword, enough to cut one's heart.
The second elder had red hair and took long breaths. Each exhale warped the air as if he breathed fire.
One look was enough for Zhuo Fan to know they were stronger than Long Jiu. One of them even trained the Golden Body to completion while the other cultivated a fire cultivation method to great success.
In the short time Zhuo Fan was exposed to their power, he knew the old men weren't far from the Radiant Stage. In the mortal domain, any who reached this stage was among the few strongest on the continent.
[So this is the power of the Veiled Dragon Pavilion.] Zhuo Fan sighed inside.
The blond elder glanced at Zhuo Fan, "Are you that Zhuo Fan old Jiu couldn't stop praising?"
"Yes!"
"I heard you're a 5th-grade array master."
Zhuo Fan nodded. Before grasping the two's character, he refrained from acting casually, "Junior has a trivial understanding of 5th-grade arrays, but nothing seniors could consider as worth."
"Ha-ha-ha, a 5th-grade array master is a Venerable in the Veiled Dragon Pavilion. And we two are just Elders. Even we have to show you respect." The blond elder let out a friendly laugh, unfitting of his stiff expression.
The red-haired elder's rough voice boomed, "Hey kid, old Jiu said you're quite arrogant, that you can raise an unknown clan above the seven houses in ten years. Listening to you shout bro Jiu sure is arrogant enough. How come you're so shy when facing us two?"
Zhuo Fan smiled, "I have met with bro Jiu many times and got to know his limits. But this is my first time meeting the two of you."
The elders were surprised.
Long Jiu's face twitched and snapped, "Kid, you say you saw through me, is that it? And here I thought you were bossy to anyone you met when in fact you acted like this only around me. You think this old man is all washed up?"
"He-he-he, of course not. I consider bro Jiu my friend, and with how a broad-minded senior you are, you would never lower yourself to my level. If I were to act the same with a one-track minded person, I'd be dead."
Zhuo Fan shook his head and continued, "That is no longer arrogance, but idiocy."
The three smiled inside. The blond and the red-haired elders even showed approval.
[Just as old Jiu said, this kid can see through others while also handling each of them with flawless flattery. His words might irritate old Jiu but as a senior, he won't bicker with a junior.]
"I like this kid, ha-ha-ha…" The red-haired elder laughed, while the blond elder nodded, "If I didn't know you have no intention to join Veiled Dragon Pavilion, I would've insisted on having you join us, ha-ha-ha… "
Zhuo Fan might be cupping his hands with a smile, but a sneer laid in his heart.
In the off chance this glorious and fallen Demonic Emperor couldn't rise again, he would still not join a party that didn't even have a Radiant Stage cultivator. [Quite the opposite, in fact. If you old fogies are stuck in cultivation, this old man will give you pointers.]
"Oh, you were saying just now that Hell Valley's men are here. Are you certain?"
The blond old man's face turned solemn as they went down to important matters. Long Jiu turned his eye over to him, eager to know.
Zhuo Fan nodded, "Half a month ago, I discovered the Sun clan had two more incredibly strong auras besides Elder Jian. As I was out with work these past days, I hadn't kept an eye on Sun clan and am unclear if more had come."
"Humph, the more the better! I will kill them regardless!" Long Jiu slapped the table as his eye turned bloodthirsty.
"Old Jiu, don't let anger cloud your judgment!" The blond old man frowned and said to Zhuo Fan, "Little brother, how do you know?"
"A cat has its way, and so does a mouse. The less you know, the better." Zhuo Fan shook his head.
The blond old man was doubtful, while Long Jiu was convinced, "Third brother, brother Zhuo's news is reliable. When that bastard Jian Fan came to Windgaze City, our spy network didn't pick it up and we only knew it thanks to brother Zhuo's warning. I can attest to that, as I checked its validity myself."
"Eh?"
The blond elder frowned and said surprised, "Little brother, you're quite amazing. I wonder who your Master is…"
"Overlord Nine Serenities!" Zhuo Fan blurted.
They were stunned.
This name was domineering to the extreme, but when did this continent have such a persona?
Zhuo Fan smiled to himself. In the Sacred Domain, it would hint to the Nine Serenities Emperor's location, but in the mortal domain, no one was the wiser.
After all, the folk here were too far away, enough to keep such ancient rumors from reaching their ears.
"Uh, your Master must be a hidden expert to train brother Zhuo to 5th-grade array master." The blond elder didn't press for more.
"Brother Jiu, do you have a Recovery Pill?" Zhuo Fan popped a question.
Long Jiu nodded as he took out a bottle, "Is someone from Luo clan hurt?"
A Recovery Pill was a 3rd-grade pill, not too expensive and neither too common, valued a hundred thousand spirit stones at the minimum. But since Zhuo Fan wanted it, Long Jiu was bound to acquiesce.
What could this pill be worth when the two were close as bros and there was even a 10 million debt binding them?
Zhuo Fan took the pill then cupped his hands, "Thank you, bro Jiu and elders. I will be going now."
"Damn punk, this was your aim all along." Long Jiu cursed, "You disturbed us for some meager pill, so now you must suffer my punishment."
Zhuo Fan laughed as he dismissed him, "I'll tell you something else then. Hell Valley will attack in two days. Better bump up security."
Then he walked out laughing.
Long Jie and Long Kui saw the immensely pleased Zhuo Fan come out and knew he had a delightful conversation, which only worked to sour the two's hearts.
The fact that a kid like him had more right than them to join a meeting of elders left them annoyed, Long Kui in particular.
The blond elder stroked his beard, keeping Zhuo Fan's figure in his eyes, "Brothers, this kid puts on a smart appearance, while each word he spoke was carefully considered. So young yet so skilled. I can't help but wonder whose disciple he is. Veiled Dragon Pavilion will have to get in touch with his master."
The two nodded.
On the other hand, Zhuo Fan went straight home. Along the way, he even spotted quite a few suspicious individuals prowling around.
A great fight was about to erupt.
He soon returned to Luo Yunchang.
Thanks to the old man's briefings, Luo Yunchang was now privy to the ups and downs of past events and was beginning to sympathize and relate with them.
Since both of them have suffered at the hands of a common enemy, their alliance became more solid.
Zhuo Fan relaxed seeing this and threw a bottle at the Mountain Lord, "Take this. I hope you'll be up to your peak in no time."
"What's this?" Lei Yuting asked.
"Recovery Pill!"
"What?" Lei Yuting was stunned.
She knew of its value. Even if Blackwind Mountain robbed for a whole year, they'd still be unable to gather the spirit stones to pay for it. Yet he threw such a precious pill just like that.
Was Luo clan that rich?
Seeing through her, Luo Yunchang patted Lei Yuting's hand, "Sister Yuting, be at ease. Veiled Dragon Pavilion owes us 10 million. A 3rd-grade pill is nothing!"
Lei Yuting's shock left her slack-jawed.
No wonder Veiled Dragon Pavilion was protecting them free of charge.
[Wait, was Cloud Manor that wealthy?]
But Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes at Luo Yunchang's radiant smile.
[Women are all the same. They all love to compare…]
Meanwhile, in a dark room of the Sun clan sat four people. Three of them had their faces hidden, though unable to hide the vile energy they gave off, while the fourth was Hell Valley's 8th elder, Condor Jian Fan.
The handsome youth standing before them with a creepy smile was Yang Ming. Also known as You Ming in Hell Valley.
"You Ming," Elder Jian began, "You hid for more than a decade in Blackwind Mountain. You've done well! But this isn't a job for a girl."
"There was an incident, but it was taken care of!" You Ming smiled.
Whoosh!
A black light trailed his face, drawing blood.
You Ming was appalled Elder Jian would strike him.
Staring at him, Elder Jian said unfeelingly, "This secret plan had been going for a decade. If your overconfidence ruins the house's plan, I will make you beg for death."
"Yes!" You Ming bowed as cold sweat formed.
"Leave." Elder Jian waved, "We'll begin three days from now."
You Ming was at the door when he caught Elder Jian's sneer, "No Luo clan member is allowed to live, especially…"
"Zhuo Fan!" You Ming paused after each word.
Nodding, Elder Jian's killing intent surged, "Even if Veiled Dragon Pavilion used him to kill You Quan, his hands are stained with your junior brother's blood. No such person shall live in this world!"
"Yes!"
You Ming gnashed his teeth, his smile bloodthirsty…
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