Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Crisis Approaches
Translator: 549690339
On the street, merchants and soldiers come and go, bustling with activity.
On the second floor of a luxurious restaurant, many people dressed in fancy clothes are either drinking together or engaging in animated conversation, their faces full of confidence and exuberant smiles.
Near the window, a young man in a black robe is sitting, with a pot of tea, several plates of meat dishes, and a large saber on the table.
The young man in the black robe is enjoying the food on the table while admiring the scenery outside.
“Cloud Water County is still as bustling as ever, and the Soaring Dragon Restaurant remains luxurious. Nothing has changed. 1 wonder if Cloud Creek Village has changed.”
Lu Yun stares at the crowded scene outside the window, feeling a mixture of emotions.
Less than half a year has passed, which is just a short moment for Cloud Water County.
For him, however, it seems like several years have gone by.
From entering the realm of martial arts to the peak of the Meridian Passage Realm, his true strength now surpasses that of most martial artists in the True Qi Realm.
Even in the entire Cloud Water County, he belongs to the most powerful group of people.
Such an achievement, equal to the years of hard work of other geniuses, is an accomplishment that ordinary martial artists cannot achieve in their lifetime.
Looking at the men and women around him, who are laughing and talking, Lu Yun feels even more emotional.
If he hadn’t obtained the panel, the life these people enjoy, dressed in fine clothes and living in luxury, would have been what he pursued in his whole life.
But now…
Lu Yun shakes his head, gathering his thoughts.
Comparing himself, a Martial Academy’s Heavenly Pride, to the children of an aristocratic family in a small county is a degradation indeed.
After finishing the last piece of meat, Lu Yun calls out loudly.
“Waiter!”
“Guest, how can I help you?” The waiter comes over quickly, with a smile on his face.
“How much is the bill?”
“Alright.” The waiter smiles, checks the table number and the bill in his hand, then immediately says, “Guest, your total consumption is 891 coins. I’ll round it down for you to 890 coins.”
Just three plates of meat and a pot of tea cost almost 900 coins. Quite expensive.
However, things are different now, and this amount of money is like a drizzle to Lu Yun.
Putting one silver coin on the table, Lu Yun picks up his tiger-head broadsaber and leaves.
“Guest, please wait, you are 110 coins short.” The waiter quickly chases after him with the silver coin in hand.
“No need for change, consider it a tip for you.”
Lu Yun waves his hand, leaving without looking back.
As he watches Lu Yun’s figure disappear completely from sight, the waiter finally comes to his senses. Seeing the silver coin in his hand, a smile of delight gradually appears on his face.
“He looks younger than me and dresses ordinarily, but 1 didn’t expect him to be so generous…”
After sighing, the waiter turns to attend to other guests, hoping to encounter more generous customers again.
By this time, Lu Yun has left the building and is unaware of the waiter’s thoughts.
More than a hundred coins mean nothing to him, so giving a tip is done on a whim.
The Soaring Dragon Restaurant is not only luxuriously decorated but also provides attentive service. Lu Yun’s horse is already fed and spirited when he comes downstairs.
“Go!”
He mounts the horse and gallops away.
This purebred horse is not only fast but also has incredible endurance. It costs Lu Yun more than ninety silver coins.
With Lu Yun riding at a rapid pace, he leaves the county town and heads towards Spirit Creek Village.
“I can’t wait to see the expressions on my elder brother and sister when they see me.”
On the galloping horse’s back, Lu Yun can’t help but think of his elder brother Lu He and sister Lu Yu, unconsciously revealing a meaningful smile on his face.
“Go!”
Lu Yun speeds up again, like a gust of wind, driving towards the direction called “hometown.”
As the sun sets in the west, it is evening.
The afterglow of the sunset shines through the layers of leaves and is cast on the green-tiled houses, giving them a golden hue. Wisps of smoke rise from the chimney, gradually lengthening and dissipating under the gentle breeze.
Several swallows with clipped tails swoop through the sky, eventually disappearing into the unevenly arranged courtyards. The little river in the east babbles, and the women washing clothes and children playing by the river start to return home. The whole of Spirit Creek Village is peaceful and quiet, like a paradise isolated from the world.
At this moment, a group of riders comes galloping in, forcefully intruding into Spirit Creek Village and shattering the quiet tranquility.
This group has nearly a hundred people. Each of them holds a long saber in hand and bears a fierce expression. Judging from their assorted clothing, it is not hard to see that they are a gang of bandits.
“All residents of the Lu Family Village, roll over to me!”
The boisterous voice, magnified by True Qi, reaches every corner of Spirit Creek Village.
“Enemies are invading!”
Spirit Creek Village instantly starts boiling, as one after another, the hunters of the village grab their weapons and run towards the village entrance.
“Xiao Yu, stay at home and don’t come out no matter what happens.”
After giving his instructions, Lu He picks up the long saber hanging outside the door and walks towards the village entrance with a grave expression.
“Eldest brother, be careful!”
Seeing the determined departing figure of Lu He, Lu Yu can only remind him with concern.
Spirit Creek Village, at the entrance.
Tian Feng Stronghold’s First Leader Liu Kai, burly and strong, stands tall with his saber, looking formidable. His pair of tiger-like eyes are full of contempt as they stare at the villagers of Spirit Creek Village.
Eighty-odd men stand behind him, each vigorous and fierce, waving their long sabers in their hands, treating the villagers of Spirit Creek Village as lambs to be slaughtered.
Facing the arrogant men of the Sky Wind Stronghold, the hunting team members of Spirit Creek Village have veins bulging with anger and resentment, wishing they could fight them at that very moment.
“Lu Yang, quickly let that old fool Lu Cangsheng come out to meet me. Otherwise, I’ll slaughter the whole Spirit Creek Village.”
Liu Kai looks down at the crowd from an elevated position, his gaze finally landing on a middle-aged man.
This middle-aged man, named Lu Yang, is the captain of the Spirit Creek Village hunting team and has reached the initial stage of the Meridian Passage Realm.
But faced with the menacing aura of Sky Wind Stronghold’s First Leader, he can’t muster the will to resist, as the gap between their strengths is too great.
“Ha ha, what wind blew the grand First Leader Liu to our village?”
At this moment, Lu Cangsheng arrives from a distance, followed by Lu Cang and Lu Meng.
His eyes flash with uneasiness as he scans Liu Kai and the eighty-strong men behind him.
Obviously, Sky Wind Stronghold has sent its full force.
“Old man, I’m coming to your village this time to settle an old score with you.” Liu Kai sits on his tall horse, holding his long saber carelessly, and speaks nonchalantly.
“Settle accounts?” A hard-to-notice glint flashes through Lu Cangsheng’s eyes as he smiles and says, “Spirit Creek Village and Sky Wind Stronghold have always been like water and fire, not interfering with each other. What accounts do we have to settle?”
“Hmph, don’t play dumb with me. My saber is not so easily deceived.”
Lu Cangsheng, still smiling, replies, “This old man’s memory is failing, so I’m sometimes confused. Please enlighten me, First Leader.”
“Four months ago, you sent three kids to Cloud Water County. What happened on the road? You can’t have forgotten so soon!”
As his words fall, a strong murderous aura emanates from his body, causing the hunting team members to stagger..