Eyes twitching, the man looked at himself then at the rows of men on either side, âTell me, do we look like robbers?â
The people shook their heads with a genial smile.
âClan Head, donât listen to this civilianâs nonsense. What does a Radiant Stage cultivator know?â
âYeah, Clan Head, just ignore him. Sirâs brilliant martial renown is above thievery. Heâs just scared to death and babbles on.â
âYeah, yeahâŠâ
âIndeedâŠâ
They all agreed, looking at Zhuo Fan in disdain and disregard.
âYou donât have to say that.â
The middle-aged man shook his hand, turning to Zhuo Fan, âBy barging into this manâs home, we invite suspicion of being less than we are. This is excusable. But we are righteous men, forced by circumstances to resort to such debase methods, making us look like killers and criminals. How are we any different then, from Shangguan Feiyun that betrayed our clan, our greatest shame?â
âClan Head is wise!â
They all stood and bowed to the middle-aged man.
The man nodded and smiled, âLittle brother, to be honest, weâve barged into your peaceful abode from lack of choice. I hope you could let us seek refuge for a few days. I would be most grateful.â
The middle-aged man stood up and bowed a little to Zhuo Fan.
Zhuo Fan nodded inwardly.
[Regardless of methods, he knows how to win someone over, fishing for compliments while also being very wise and worthy of respect.]
[In any case, quite remarkable for a leader. As for the restâŠ]
Glancing at the extras, Zhuo Fan scrunched his nose, waving his hands like a victim, âBig brother, you already have your blade on our necks. I have no choice but to give you shelter, even drag me through the latrine if you want to.â
Pff!
The middle-aged man burst out and the rest laughed.
âLittle brother, no need to be so tense. Weâll be gone soon. Weâre not here to hurt you, just borrowing.â
âWho would believe that? Anyone of you is stronger than me and can kill me with your thumb.â Zhuo Fan complained, âBig brother, where do you come from?â
âYou want to know who we are?â Someone shouted at Zhuo Fanâs question, scaring him back and hugging young Sanzi close.
Glaring at the speaker, the middle-aged man smiled, âThereâs no point in hiding it. Weâre from the eastern lands.â
âEastern lands!â
Zhuo Fan pondered, then sighed, âWhen I was hunted down in the western lands, I thought of going through the central area to flee to eastern lands, but Iâm glad I didnât. It seems eastern lands isnât any better than western lands for all you experts to resort to this. Eastern lands must be in dire straits.â
Pff!
The middle-aged man almost spat blood, bearing a crestfallen look, âLittle brother, after all Iâve said, you still see us as robbers?â
âH-how could I?â
Zhuo Fan panicked, âHow could I see heroes like yourselves as mere robbers? Youâre temporary guests, borrowing and taking for now. If this becomes permanent, I wonât mind it either.â
The middle-aged manâs face sunk, holding his head and sighed. This great and known Clan Head was now seen by a little guy as nothing more than a murderer and thief. If eastern lands heard it, all the sects would laugh.
Shortly after, bright laughter echoed, followed by a familiar girl, âFather, I told you not to see him. Heâs a petty guy with a nasty tongue, completely opposite of your righteous character. Look at you, a Genesis Stage expert angered to the extreme by mere words. Why is that? Ha-ha-haâŠâ
Zhuo Fan looked to see the mystery girl from before, entering with a handsome youth behind her staring at them with sharp eyes. He was young and already in the Soul Harmony Stage. Heâd be a worthy candidate for the title of the best if this was the western lands.
âUncle!â The guy bowed before the middle-aged man, ignoring Zhuo Fan as he returned behind the girl.
The middle-aged man chuckled, turning to Zhuo Fan, âDo you know my daughter, little brother?â
Zhuo Fan bobbed his head with a lost look.
âI heard sheâs your cousin.â
With a sinister smile, the middle-aged man laughed, âSince Iâm her father, that makes me your uncle. And uncle here came to visit his kin, not rob. Is this easier to accept? Ha-ha-haâŠâ
Ugh!
Zhuo Fan gave him a long look then chuckled inwardly.
[This guy is a man of principles, but not pedantic, looking to justify himself. First you take our house and now you write it off as a family visit. How amusingâŠ]
âBig brotherâŠâ
âItâs uncle!â
Sighing, Zhuo Fan put on a strained face as the middle-aged man tried to become Zhuo Fanâs senior.
Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes and returned to the main topic, âUs two come from western lands and only found the girl wounded just as we bought the house. Iâm an alchemist and I saved your daughterâs life. In the end, when the guards came to search us, your daughter threatened me to bluff my way out, even using my Gu name. Itâs dangerous enough to hold one person, but now, will all of you unknown people in my house, if youâre foundâŠâ
âI understand your concern.â
The middle-aged man waved with a stern face, âLittle brother, I know everything from Yanâer. As a father, Iâm most grateful for sheltering her and saving her life. But our operation has countless lives in eastern lands at stake. Success is a must. While some decisions are not to my liking, I still have to make them. We must take your house!
âBecause we canât find any better place to stay. You know as well how tight security has become. Because of you, Yanâer is now a member of this household. Whether you like it or not, she is above suspicion.â
Zhuo Fan choked, âAre you saying youâll silence us?â
âThatâs not it at all. I just hope you will work with us and not force us to resort to such vile acts.â
The middle-aged man sighed, âWe wonât do anything to you, just keep you here at most. Once our business is done, weâll be out of your hair. But if you wish to work with us, it will make our interactions easier. Since youâre my nephew, right? Ha-ha-haâŠâ
Zhuo Fan hesitated as he looked at Gu Santong, considering his childâs safety first, âBut, how can I believe you wonât hurt us?â
âWith the name of the famed Shangguan clan!â
The middle-aged manâs eyes shone.
Zhuo Fan cried out, âShangguan clan? The same best clan in eastern lands?â
âYes, I am Shangguan clanâs Clan Head, Shangguan Feixiong.â
The middle-aged man declared, then pointed at the girl and youth, âShe is my daughter, Shangguan Qingyan, and my nephew, Shangguan Yulin. Everyone else is a venerable or elder of the Shangguan clan.â
Shaking, Zhuo Fan could hardly believe the best clan of eastern landsâ entire experts were here en masse, âThat means that Shangguan Feiyun, one of the Nine Sword Kings is yourâŠâ
âYounger brother.â
Shangguan Feixiong gnashed his teeth. âBut ever since he betrayed eastern lands, casting his lot with Invincible Sword, I no longer have a brother. We came here to take back the eastern landsâ treasure he stole. Little brother, I hope, on account of the alliance between the four areas, that youâd help hide us.â
Zhuo Fanâs heart sank, looking into Shangguan Feixiongâs wise eyes, and nodded, âDonât worry, uncle, weâre all on the same side. I will definitely help the Shangguan clan succeed!â
âGrea-, uh, wait, what?â
His heroic valor got Shangguan Feixiong to nod in reflex. But then he cried out, startled, âW-what did you call me?â
Zhuo Fan scratched his nose with a chuckle, âUncle, didnât you see yourself as such? Did you forget already?â
Zhuo Fan patted Gu Santongâs head proudly, âYoung Sanzi, weâre hailing for a renowned clan. Once we return with uncle to eastern lands, none shall pick on us. Weâll see if they dare lay a finger on us after uttering the name Shangguan. Weâre no longer vagrants, ha-ha-haâŠâ
âYeah, letâs also go slaughter western lands later, kill all our pursuers!â Gu Santong bobbed his cute head, bearing a nasty smirk.
Everyone else looked on, speechless.
[For crying out loud! One moment they were scared like mice and now they have no shame with power behind themâŠ]
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