Chapter 138: Great Crisis
Lu Bai and the other two waited anxiously outside the small bamboo forest. Lu Song kept scratching his ears and cheeks nonstop, while Lu Lin paced back and forth endlessly. Even the steadiest Lu Bai had lost his usual composure, standing on tiptoe and craning his neck, peering intently into the bamboo forest.
At this moment, Lu Wei and Lu Xin along with several stewards also hurried over upon hearing the news. As soon as he saw the three, Lu Wei anxiously asked, “What happened?” Although he had spent the shortest time with Lu Yun, among the four candidates, he favored Lu Yun the most. He knew that for the Lu Clan to achieve good results next year, it would likely depend eighty percent on this youth astonishing everyone.
He absolutely could not have an accident!
“Sixth Uncle,” Lu Bai hurriedly went up to greet him and concisely recounted to the elders what had happened in the bamboo forest. “At first, he was steadily studying the bamboo, but then while looking, he suddenly held his head and started shouting loudly. The Vice Sect Master checked briefly and told us all to come out, saying he had a problem and needed to help him regulate his breathing.”
“How could looking at bamboo cause a problem?” The stewards looked incredulous.
Lu Wei also found it hard to believe, but seeing Lu Xin’s face turn extremely ugly, he didn’t ask further. Instead, he patted Lu Xin’s shoulder and comforted him in a deep voice: “With the Vice Sect Master there, Yun’er will be fine!”
Lu Xin nodded dazedly, but his heart twisted into a knot, completely overwhelmed by fear and worry. He knew Lu Yun’s condition better than anyone—it was definitely that damned《 Imperial Extreme Profound Cave Skill》 causing it!
Lu Xin understood very well that although he had tried his utmost to stop it, Lu Yun had never given up that sinister cultivation method. Because it had previously only flared up after excessive qi circulation, the harm was still controllable, so Lu Xin had only advised Lu Yun not to practice anymore. When he couldn’t persuade him, he could only repeatedly instruct him to keep qi circulation within acceptable limits during practice.
But now it seemed that the harm of the《 Imperial Extreme Profound Cave Skill》 had clearly worsened further—even when Lu Yun wasn’t circulating qi, the true qi in his body would suddenly lose control! He had no idea if Lu Yun could pull through this time…
Moreover, even if he could pull through, Lu Xian would definitely learn the secret of Lu Yun’s cultivation method. If he harbored ill intentions, Lu Yun would still be on a dead end…
The more Lu Xin thought, the more afraid he became. He simply couldn’t bear the blow of losing Lu Yun, and he actually began trembling all over from tension.
Seeing this younger cousin, who was usually unflappable in the face of honor or disgrace, so distraught, the stewards were all somber. They could only comfort him one after another, telling him not to worry too much…
Everyone waited patiently outside the bamboo forest until midnight, yet there was still no movement at all. Lu Wei finally lost his patience and said to Great Steward Lu Xiu, “Older Brother, you and Old Ten go in and check. We need to know the situation to feel at ease.”
Lu Xiu had the same intention. He nodded to Lu Xin and said, “Come with me.”
“Alright…” Lu Xin responded blankly, then followed Lu Xiu into the bamboo forest, stumbling deep and shallow.
It was pitch black in the small courtyard of the bamboo forest, with only a pair of sly bright eyes watching the two who entered from outside.
The young attendant guarding the door was completely awake at this moment. He stood with hands hanging at the bamboo door, bowed to Lu Xiu in greeting, and before he could speak, lightly said, “Great Steward and this one, please return. My master is in meditation.”
“Oh,” Lu Xiu said very politely to the young attendant, “Then may I ask, young brother, how is Lu Yun now?”
“He’s lying in my room, not awake yet.” The young attendant smiled slightly. “But since my master has taken action, he should already be fine.”
“Can I take him away?” Lu Xin asked nervously.
“This is Lu Yun’s father, Lu Clan Grandmaster Lu Xin,” Lu Xiu introduced softly.
“Oh.” The young attendant glanced at Lu Xin, his gaze quite complex.
Lu Xin’s heart leaped to his throat again as he tensely awaited the young attendant’s response.
“My master gave no instructions, so I dare not decide on my own.” The young attendant said amiably yet firmly, “You two should wait a bit.”
“Then…” Lu Xin had to settle for the next best thing. “I can at least go in and see him, right?”
“No.” The young attendant refused outright. “Without master’s permission, no one can step foot in the bamboo hut.” With that, he gave Lu Xin an apologetic smile. “Don’t worry, master. I will take good care of Young Master Yun.”
The young attendant’s evasive attitude made Lu Xin increasingly uneasy. He was convinced that Lu Xian was going to make a big fuss over this and thus keep his son locked up!
“I must go in!” Lu Xin glared angrily at the young attendant and strode forward to barge in. His mind was in chaos at the moment, completely disregarding the causes and consequences. He had only one thought: to quickly rescue Lu Yun!
“You can’t go in!” The young attendant panicked and hurriedly blocked the bamboo door with both hands. Lu Xin brushed him aside casually, and he fell sitting on the ground.
“Old Ten! Have you gone mad?!” Lu Xiu hurriedly grabbed Lu Xin and reminded him in a low voice, “What is this place? You can’t act recklessly!”
“Let me go!” Lu Xin’s face was ashen as he struggled fiercely against Lu Xiu, completely losing his usual calm.
“I already said Lu Yun is safe and sound—what difference does it make to see him now or later!” Lu Xiu had been an Earth Rank Grandmaster for over a decade and, though unable to break through to Heavenly Rank, his inner strength was already profoundly thick. Gripped tightly by him, Lu Xin truly couldn’t break free. “Moreover, we don’t even know Lu Yun’s condition yet. He might still need the Vice Sect Master’s continued help—you absolutely can’t offend him!”
Lu Xin suddenly stopped moving. Lu Xiu’s words reminded him that with Lu Xian inside, he definitely couldn’t take Lu Yun away. And Lu Xian’s attitude was still unclear. Making a big scene now would only completely cut off Lu Yun’s chance of survival.
Having thought this through, he finally stopped struggling and allowed Lu Xiu to drag him out.
Outside the bamboo forest, the anxiously waiting crowd saw Lu Xiu pulling Lu Xin out and hurriedly asked, “How is it? Is Lu Yun alright?”
Glancing at Lu Xin, who was hanging his head in silence, Lu Xiu said to everyone, “He’s already fine and resting inside.” Pausing, Lu Xiu added, “Everyone disperse. I’ll come back tomorrow to get a clear answer.”
“That’s good, that’s good…” The stewards felt relieved and dispersed as instructed. But Lu Song and the other two still wanted to stand guard outside, only to be driven back by Lu Wei. “You still have cultivation practice tomorrow morning—go to sleep now!”
The three had no choice but to leave, looking back every three steps.
“Don’t worry, little Yun is blessed with great fortune, great destiny, and great opportunity—he’ll definitely be fine!” Lu Wei was closest to Lu Xin. Seeing him so distraught, he thought Lu Yun’s martial arts had gone wrong, so he comforted, “Besides, what the Lu Clan values most is scholarly talent. Little Yun can still rise to prominence with his articles alone.”
Lu Xin nodded without speaking.
Lu Wei patted Lu Xin’s shoulder, then left together with Lu Xiu.
At the doorway of Sanwei Hall, Lu Xiu finally said softly to Lu Wei, “Today’s events are somewhat unbelievable. I need to go in and tell Father.”
“Indeed, Old Ten’s behavior is hard to explain…” Lu Wei frowned. “Is there some grudge between him and the Vice Sect Master?”
“I don’t know.” Lu Xiu shook his head. He also couldn’t figure out why Lu Xin was so agitated. “But Lu Yun is a rare prodigy of our Lu Clan—no matter what, we can’t let anything happen to him.”
“Mm.” Lu Wei nodded in deep agreement, then watched his older brother enter Sanwei Hall.
.
The evening breeze lightly brushed the bamboo forest, bamboo leaves rustling. Bright moonlight filtered through the bamboo hut, casting fragmented clear glows that made Lu Yun’s face indistinct and dim…
Outside was dead silent. He lay motionless on the bamboo bed. After an unknown time, Lu Yun’s eyelids twitched, and he finally slowly opened his eyes, seeing the unfamiliar ceiling.
After a moment of daze, Lu Yun recalled what had happened before, and his face immediately turned extremely ugly.
He knew he had encountered the greatest crisis of his life…
