Chapter 12: Father And Son, Brother And Sister
Lu Yun returned home; it was already the hour of the rooster.
As soon as he entered the alley, he saw Lu Ying, dressed in the grand attire from earlier in the day, propping her cheek and sitting on the stone steps under the lantern at the doorway, clearly waiting for him. Perhaps having waited too long, her head nodded slightly; she had actually dozed off.
“Elder Sister.” Lu Yun called softly.
“Ah! You’re finally back!” Lu Ying jolted awake, her hand slipping, her chin nearly knocking against the ground.
“Sorry, Elder Sister…” Lu Yun wanted to offer the excuse he had prepared, but he saw Lu Ying struggling to stand up.
“Quick, help me up; my legs are numb…” Lu Ying made a bitter face and reached out her hand to Lu Yun.
Lu Yun hurriedly helped his sister up. Lu Ying brushed off her dress, then naturally took his hand and entered the home, only asking if he had eaten dinner. She did not ask at all where he had gone for most of the day.
Lu Yun secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet felt even more guilty. Seeing no one in the front hall, he asked softly, “Did Mother get angry?”
“How could she not?” Lu Ying waved her fair little fist at Lu Yun in feigned anger. “Sly little Yun’er, leaving me alone to get scolded bloody.” Then, magnanimously waving her hand, she said, “Never mind, never mind. After all, you went out with me, so taking the blame for you is only right!”
Aunt Zhong heard the noise and hurriedly brought a basin of water for the young master to wash his hands, then laid out the meal that had been kept hot in the pot. Only then did Lu Yun feel his stomach rumbling like thunder, and he began to devour the food ravenously.
Lu Ying had already eaten, yet she still stayed by his side, pouring tea for Lu Yun and passing it over, laughing, “Eat slower; don’t choke…”
Lu Yun’s exaggerated eating motions actually had an element of covering up his guilty conscience. Hearing this, he smiled embarrassedly, took the tea cup, and said, “Elder Sister, this afternoon I…”
But Lu Ying shook her head, using a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth, smiling faintly, “Little Brother has grown up and has his own secrets now. You don’t need to let Elder Sister know everything.”
Under the candlelight, Lu Ying’s face was even more delicately alluring, her smiling eyes full of warmth, yet clearly hiding traces of gloom.
Lu Yun felt even more stifled inside. For the third time, he tried to speak: “Elder Sister…” but Lu Ying covered his mouth.
Lu Yun was stunned. He saw Lu Ying shaking her head firmly, her face unable to hide her sorrow as she said, “Elder Sister would rather Little Yun’er say nothing than have you lie to me.”
Lu Yun was immediately at a loss for words and just froze there.
Lu Ying released her hand and extended her slender pinky finger, holding it before Lu Yun as she said, “Promise Elder Sister: never lie to me, okay?”
“…” Lu Yun was silent for a moment, then finally extended his finger and hooked it with Lu Ying’s.
“Good boy…” Lu Ying beamed with joy and pressed her thumb against Lu Yun’s.
.
That night, Lu Yun sat cross-legged in meditation in his room. Sandalwood incense wafted, he forgot self and object, with only the scenes from today’s battle remaining.
He did not know how much time had passed when he opened his eyes, stood, and opened the door. Outside the door, stars filled the sky, and someone stood in the night wind.
Lu Yun respectfully said to the person outside the door, “Father.”
The visitor was none other than Lu Xin. He nodded and took off his shoes to enter the room.
Once Lu Xin was seated, Lu Yun knelt sat at the lower seat and poured him a cup of hot tea.
Lu Xin took the tea cup, looking at the swirling white steam. After a good while, he finally spoke, asking, “The one who sent the message was someone you found, right?”
“As expected, I can’t hide it from Father.” Lu Yun smiled faintly, with no intention of quibbling.
Lu Xin gazed deeply at Lu Yun. After a long time, he sighed deeply and said, “So, the one who tried to assassinate Xiahou Lei was you…”
The reasoning was simple: Lu Yun could not have known about the White Ape Society’s actions in advance. So, the only explanation was that the White Ape Society had been hired by him. And the White Ape Society would absolutely not act against him after knowing the target was Xiahou Lei himself. Therefore, Lu Yun could only have used his own power against Xiahou Lei.
And Uncle Bao could not have left Xiahou Lei in such a sorry state. So, it could only have been Lu Yun acting personally.
“Yes.” Lu Yun was not surprised that Lu Xin had figured this out. He raised his head, looking at Lu Xin with clear eyes. If after so much time had passed since the incident, Lu Xin still did not understand, that would disappoint him…
“Sigh…” Lu Xin let out a wistful sigh. Just as Lu Yun thought he would question his motives, he heard Lu Xin’s tired voice say, “You’re still practicing that cultivation method…”
“Sorry, Father…” Lu Yun felt a warmth in his heart. Lu Xin’s first concern was his body, which moved him deeply. He lowered his head and said softly, “Besides that, your son has no other way…”
The air in the room stagnated for a long time before Lu Xin said gravely in a deep voice, “You have no idea how powerful the enemy is! Even if you become a Heavenly Rank Grandmaster, you still won’t be able to shake them in the slightest!”
“I know how powerful they are,” Lu Yun said stubbornly, head held high unwaveringly, “but I firmly believe that one day, I will personally destroy them and avenge my Mother Empress!”
Lu Xin stared fixedly at Lu Yun. This exceptionally handsome face, though different in appearance from the Empress, bore the same resolute determination!
Lu Xin was silent for a long time again. Finally, his thoughts uncontrollably returned to Luofeng Mountain ten years ago. That was a memory he desperately wanted to seal away, and he had also tried hard to make Lu Yun do the same.
However, that was just his own wishful thinking. Although he knew Lu Yun had always been obsessed with revenge, he had always naively believed that as long as they stayed away from the capital city, Lu Yun could do nothing. In time, he had no choice but to give up…
But today’s events made Lu Xin fully realize that he was already powerless to stop it…
.
The room was deathly silent, save for the crackling of the lamp wick.
Just as Lu Yun could no longer hold back and prepared to speak to persuade him, Lu Xin finally spoke.
“Your Highness.” Lu Xin no longer addressed him as father and son, but for the first time called him by this unfamiliar title.
Lu Yun looked up pale-faced and saw a very unfamiliar expression on Lu Xin’s face. For a moment, the precociously mature youth was at a loss like a child…
“Please tell this subject what needs to be done, Your Highness.” Lu Xin even changed his sitting posture, leaning slightly forward, like a subordinate listening to instructions from a superior.
At Lu Xin’s change, Lu Yun’s heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. He so wanted to say, “Father, don’t do this.” But he knew that if he did, he should uphold his duty as a son and follow the path Lu Xin had arranged for him…
Lu Yun’s lips trembled slightly; he simply could not bring himself to speak! Because his very marrow was filled with towering hatred. If he could not take revenge, he would be burned to ashes by this towering hatred!
After another long silence, Lu Xin’s expression gradually softened, though he still maintained the forward-leaning posture, waiting for Lu Yun’s response.
“Please… Father find a way to return to the capital city as soon as possible.” Lu Yun said with difficulty.
“Understood.” Lu Xin nodded and said softly, “Xiahou Lei might come looking for me these next few days; I’ll act according to the situation then.” After that, the two fell silent once more.
Tears gradually welled up in Lu Yun’s eyes as he lowered his head and said, “Sorry, Father; I’ve been too willful…”
“It’s me who’s been too wishful.” Lu Xin sighed with both sorrow and relief, “All these years, I’ve done everything to try to get you completely out of it, to live on with a new identity… yet I forgot there are some people who can never be changed.”
Lu Yun’s tears finally fell, hot droplets landing on the back of his hand.
“The fledgling eagle has tried its first cry; no one can stop it from soaring according to its own will!” Lu Xin reached out, hesitated a moment, then finally slowly patted Lu Yun’s shoulder and said gravely, “Since I can’t change you, let me change myself and protect you as you go forward!”
Lu Yun’s tears flowed like rain; with blurred vision, he looked at this man who had given him a second life. A thousand words surged in his heart, yet he knew not where to begin, and could only call out, “Father…”
Lu Xin nodded, took out a handkerchief and handed it to Lu Yun, smiling warmly, “If Xiahou Lei knew the mysterious expert who defeated him is now crying like a baby, he’d probably want to smash his head against a block of tofu.”
Lu Yun embarrassedly took the handkerchief and wiped away his tears.
“Alright, rest early. Your father still has to go back and guard the door for Xiahou Lei.” Lu Xin stood and went out the door, signaling Lu Yun not to see him off lest he disturb his wife and daughter, then disappeared into the pitch-black night…
