Chapter Three: News of Death

An ominous feeling welled up within Lei Yan. Han Yu was the commander of the Lei family, and his primary duty was to protect the family head. He had been away from the Lei residence for several months. There were only two possible explanations. The first was that Lei Tiejun, Lei Yan’s father, had also come to Qingzhou. But why would Lei Tiejun leave the Lei residence for several months? The possibility was far too unlikely. The second was that something had happened to the Lei family. That was the only explanation that could account for Han Yu’s absence.

A faint sound came from outside the secret chamber.

Lei Yan frowned and shifted his gaze toward Xiao Lin before him. The sound was extremely weak. Anyone else—even an innate martial artist—would have been unable to detect it. But Lei Yan was a cultivator, and his senses could no longer be measured by ordinary standards.

“One, two, three... fourteen, fifteen. Fifteen people altogether?”

The moment Lei Yan released his supernatural perception, he detected the fifteen people outside the secret chamber. Each wore night clothes and had his face concealed. Although their identities could not be distinguished, the murderous intent shining from their eyes made it clear that they had come with hostile intentions.

Lei Yan took a step back and sat down once more in the bamboo chair. He rested his bent right arm on the table beside him, fixed his eyes on Xiao Lin, and asked, “Xiao Lin, how long have you been with the Lei family? I don’t remember seeing you before.”

Hearing Lei Yan’s question, Xiao Lin hurriedly withdrew his gaze from Han Li and Han Yi and turned to face Lei Yan. He answered slowly, “Young Master, I only joined the Lei family the year before last. At that time, everyone outside was saying that you had already...”

A trace of killing intent flashed through Lei Yan’s eyes, and Xiao Lin’s voice faltered. He hastily changed the subject.

“Young Master, you must have had a long and exhausting journey. I’ll go see how the servants are getting along with the food and wine.”

With that, he turned and left the secret chamber.

“What a fool. He really thinks he’s somebody.”

The instant he stepped out of the secret chamber, Xiao Lin let out a cold snort. As he raised his head and began walking, his eyes inadvertently swept across the artificial mountain opposite him. A faint cross-shaped mark appeared in his line of sight.

He slowly walked to the side of the artificial mountain, then suddenly stopped.

“Have they arrived? We’ll make our move tonight. I must ensure there is no room for failure.”

No one answered Xiao Lin, making it seem as though he were merely muttering to himself. Yet Xiao Lin knew that fifteen people were lying in ambush there, all of them summoned after receiving his message. To ensure Lei Yan’s death, every one of the fifteen was an innate expert.

“Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin... With fifteen innate experts outside, you actually think you can eliminate me? It seems your end has come as well.”

Lei Yan withdrew his hand from the table and crossed one leg over the other. Since the people outside wanted his life, he would not leave any survivors either. He summoned the Five Elements Pagoda, then moved his lips and quietly spoke a few words.

“What is Young Master saying?”

While Han Li and Han Yi were still puzzled, the flame of the oil lamp in the secret chamber suddenly flickered. Neither of them noticed anything, but Golden Ghost had already received Lei Yan’s command and departed from the chamber.

“This fellow is far too good at ordering people around. He actually sent an expert approaching the Mahayana stage to deal with fifteen innate martial artists. What extravagance.”

Inside the Five Elements Pagoda, Qinghe’s lips twitched faintly.

After issuing his command, Lei Yan turned to Han Li and Han Yi. “Have you two been staying at the Hundred Medicine Hall all these years?”

“More or less,” Han Yi replied. “The family head ordered us not to search for you, so we remained here and waited for you to return.”

“Is that so?”

Lei Yan’s gaze shifted to the oil lamp, and his eyes gradually grew misty.

“Father, you have not changed at all. I have not disappointed you. I have already broken through the limits of the body.”

With that thought, Lei Yan slowly rose to his feet.

“Do you have any news from the family residence? How is my father? Did Uncle Han really leave the Lei residence several months ago?”

Han Li and Han Yi exchanged a glance. Han Li spoke first.

“Young Master, we have no way to obtain news from the residence. Without Madam’s order, we cannot receive intelligence or important messages. However, my elder brother did indeed come to the Hundred Medicine Hall several months ago. At the time, he told us to wait here patiently for news of your return.”

“It seems the Lei family has already fallen completely under Bai Yu’s control. Father, what could have made you abandon the Lei family?”

Lei Yan’s expression turned solemn. At that moment, a ghostly figure suddenly returned to the Five Elements Pagoda.

“Protect the Young Master!”

A faint scent of blood immediately tightened Han Li’s nerves. He shouted and moved in front of Lei Yan.

“Young Master, be careful. The enemy is an expert.”

Han Yi also watched his surroundings warily.

“What happened?”

Lei Yan’s supernatural perception detected only Xiao Lin approaching them. He sensed no one else.

“There is a smell of blood, Young Master. Blood. It is faint, but it just drifted past us.”

Han Li spoke, then suddenly called out in a clear voice toward the surrounding darkness, “Which rat dares trespass into the Lei family’s secret chamber?”

“Blood? Don’t be nervous. They are my people.”

Lei Yan laughed. Earlier, he had ordered Golden Ghost to dispose of the corpses properly. Clearly, they had detected the scent of blood still clinging to him.

Han Li and Han Yi stared at Lei Yan in astonishment. The scent was exceedingly faint, and they had sensed it passing directly beside them. In other words, someone had just walked past them, yet neither had seen even a shadow. That such an expert belonged to Lei Yan was naturally shocking.

“Young Master, the food and wine are ready.”

Xiao Lin’s voice suddenly came from outside.

“Come. The two of you, have a drink with me.”

Lei Yan walked between the two men and stepped out of the secret chamber. Han Li and Han Yi exchanged a glance before following him.

In the courtyard behind the Hundred Medicine Hall, lanterns hung everywhere, illuminating the grounds brightly. A stone table was laden with food and wine. Lei Yan sat down beside it and beckoned.

“Come, come. Sit down.”

Han Li and Han Yi took their seats on either side of Lei Yan. Xiao Lin, however, wore a smile and said, “Young Master, I’m afraid that would be inappropriate. There is a distinction between master and servant. I should go check today’s accounts. If you need anything, simply order the servants to handle it.”

“Fine. Go.”

Lei Yan did not stop him. He merely smiled.

The moment he entered the courtyard, he had detected a faint fragrance. It carried a subtle scent of jasmine, and when he inhaled deeply, it even created the sweet illusion of taste. With Lei Yan’s knowledge of medicine, he immediately recognized it as the fragrance produced by burning a special drug known as Jasmine Return.

“‘Jasmine Return.’ It smells like jasmine, and whoever inhales it returns to the earth. Add wine as a catalyst, and three cups will claim a life.”

Lei Yan watched Xiao Lin’s departing back and muttered, “What a pity. Such fine medicine is being wasted.”

“Wait here.”

Lei Yan walked toward the neighboring courtyard, where the Hundred Medicine Hall dried its medicinal herbs. Before entering the secret chamber, he had already scanned the entire hall with his supernatural perception. He easily located several herbs, then returned to the courtyard where the food and wine had been set out.

Lei Yan dropped the herbs into the wine.

“Come, eat.”

He then began to feast.

Half an hour later, Xiao Lin returned to the courtyard. By then, Lei Yan was alone. When Xiao Lin saw him still eating and drinking heartily, his expression changed.

“He isn’t dead, and there hasn’t been the slightest disturbance. Why haven’t the fifteen innate experts made their move?”

After making a slight effort to compose himself, Xiao Lin walked over.

“Young Master, are you satisfied with the food and wine?”

Lei Yan did not answer. Instead, he asked, “Xiao Lin, who is in charge of the Hundred Medicine Hall now?”

“Of course you are, Young Master.”

The smile on Xiao Lin’s face remained fixed, as though it were a mask.

“I need to see Han Yu as soon as possible. Send someone to bring him here immediately. If I still haven’t seen him by tomorrow, I will truly take charge of the Hundred Medicine Hall. Do you think I will keep my word?”

A flash of killing intent suddenly crossed Lei Yan’s eyes. He had not killed Xiao Lin because he wanted to see Han Yu and learn what had truly happened at the Lei residence.

“I understand. I’ll arrange it at once.”

Xiao Lin turned and slowly left the courtyard. The instant he stepped outside, his breathing grew labored. He leaned against the courtyard wall, his body trembling uncontrollably.

“How terrifying. In an instant, it felt as though a mountain had come crashing down upon me. When did this good-for-nothing acquire such horrifying strength?”

“No. I must report this to the family head.”

After taking several deep breaths, Xiao Lin walked toward a secret chamber.

Early the next morning, several men entered the Hundred Medicine Hall.

“Young Master, Commander Han has arrived. He is waiting for you in the main hall.”

Xiao Lin’s voice came from outside Lei Yan’s guest room.

“Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”

Lei Yan slowly opened his eyes and answered.

After an entire night of cultivation, Lei Yan discovered that his true essence had become even more refined. He was on the verge of forming a golden core, yet he could not break through that final barrier.

A short while later, Lei Yan arrived at the main hall. A man in a blue-and-white robe stood inside with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Uncle Han.”

Lei Yan recognized him at a glance. It was Han Yu, the man who had devoted himself to the family and sincerely cared for him.

Hearing the voice, Han Yu abruptly turned around and looked Lei Yan up and down. His heart surged with excitement. How many years had it been since they last met? The boy had finally grown up.

Han Yu took several steps forward and pulled Lei Yan into a bear hug. Then he gently pushed him away and laughed.

“You have finally broken free from the shackles of fate. The family head made the right decision.”

Memory after memory flashed through Lei Yan’s mind. He gave a bitter smile.

“How is my father?”

Han Yu’s expression suddenly darkened.

“I came to Qingzhou to tell you that the family head has passed away.”

“Passed away? Was it the work of the Bai family?”

Lei Yan’s heart inexplicably lurched.

“He fell ill from depression. A year after you left, the family head collapsed. He could never let go of his longing for Madam, nor of his guilt toward you.”

Han Yu’s face was filled with sorrow.

“Impossible.”

Lei Yan’s expression finally changed.

“How could an innate martial artist collapse so easily? Uncle Han, is this what my father asked you to tell me?”

“Young Master, it is true. Even I could not believe it, but the family head’s feelings for Madam were simply too deep.”

“Is that so? Is it really true?”

Pain pierced Lei Yan’s heart like a needle. His legs gave way, and he collapsed into the chair behind him. Scenes from his childhood flashed through his mind—his mother and father accompanying him, one moment after another. He wanted to cry, but no tears came.

“Family head, this is too cruel to the Young Master. You may already be dead, but asking me to tell him this is unfair to him.”

Seeing Lei Yan’s expression, Han Yu felt miserable as well.

“Heh... so be it. He has been freed, then.”

A strange smile appeared on Lei Yan’s face.

Inside the Five Elements Pagoda, Qinghe watched Lei Yan coldly, muttering, “What a pity. Truly, what a pity. I was only a hair’s breadth away. If he had sunk just a little deeper into despair, I could have taken advantage of the moment to seize his body. Why? Why was it only a hair’s breadth away?”

“Young Master, if you want to cry, then cry. There is no shame in it,” Han Yu said.

“No. Why should I cry? I have already seen through it. Uncle Han, what you said is impossible.”

Lei Yan’s face darkened as he looked at Han Yu.

“This must all have been told to you by my father. He has not changed at all. Even before his death, he did not forget to make me suffer like this. You probably do not even know whether he is truly alive or dead.”

“This...”

Han Yu did not know how to respond. Lei Yan was right. When Lei Tiejun had left the Lei residence, he had instructed Han Yu to tell Lei Yan exactly that. But as Lei Tiejun’s personal guard, Han Yu naturally knew that he had gone to seek revenge.

“Do not worry. I know where my father has gone. This journey truly is one from which there will be no return. But I will live well. And his enemies, together with those who wronged my mother, will all be engraved in my heart.”

When Lei Yan had fallen into despair earlier, an image of himself with Qingling had suddenly appeared in his mind. It was those memories that brought him back to his senses.