After Qing Han’s departure, there seemed to be an emptiness in Lu Yun’s heart, like he’d lost something. He should be back for a visit in five months. We’ll eat and drink together then!

Five months from now was an extremely important date for Lu Yun. If Qing Han truly viewed him as a friend, the young man would come.

But why do I feel kind of hollow…. The idea suddenly sent shudders down his spine and he promptly rebuffed himself with a reasonable justification. No, it’s not because of Qing Han, I only feel this way because Wanfeng left.

Qing Han is a man, what would I miss him for? Aiya, truth be told, I really do miss little Wanfeng. For some inexplicable reason, he felt a sense of loss at the maid’s departure.

……

Lu Yun spent another three days in Duskwater City. During that time, he personally filled the six vacant city lord positions with Mo Yi’s suggestions.

House Ba was now thoroughly in Mo Yi’s camp, the first cultivator faction under her command. The fortunate Ba Chuyi had also become a city lord.

She’d wrestled back real power in the city. In fact, the entire prefecture was under her control. She’d grown from a mere figurehead for Li Youcai to being the one dictating orders to the prefect.

It’d been her detached and indifferent nature that originally allowed Li Youcai to progressively nibble away at all of her authority. Having learned her lesson since then, thanks to Lu Yun’s reminder, she’d realized that one needed to be a true city lord in order to spend her days in peace.

……

Lu Yun traveled back to Dusk City with Ge Long and ninety-nine soldiers of the Dusk Phalanx. The local situation there had also gone through tremendous changes.

He’d extinguished House Ge’s primary forces in Duskwater City and labelled them as traitors of the major. Once word had traveled back of these developments, Houses Feng and Youxiong immediately joined hands to uproot what was left of House Ge from Dusk City, expelling them from the city once and for all.

After its destruction, House Ge’s properties were divided between Houses Feng and Youxiong.

Lu Yun was fully indifferent to this development. Now wasn’t the time to deal with these people. In five months, he would finally wield the province’s true power.

……

“Hmm?” When he returned to the governor’s manor with Ge Long, he discovered that some people had moved into what should’ve been an empty house.

“Something’s off.” Before he could consider the issue in detail, someone barred his way at the door.

“Who goes there? Who dares trespass in the governor’s manor?” It was a group of cultivators dressed as servants. There were even nascent spirit cultivators among them, a level that would make them a powerhouse in Dusk Province.

“Are you from the Lu Clan?” Lu Yun asked frostily while his expression darkened.

“Get lost,” the man snapped, his cold voice dripping with obvious scorn.

“Heh heh heh, the Lu Clan truly doesn’t know good from bad.” Lu Yun burst into uproarious laughter.

“Die!” Equally indifferent as his peer, one of the cultivators lifted his hand to send a ray of sword light flashing at Lu Yun. It was a heartless strike meant to kill Lu Yun, making plain the attacker’s disregard for life.

Hummm.

The entire manor abruptly lit up as nine dragons surged out, barely blocking the sword light. Pale, Lu Yun fell back several steps, while the spirit realm cultivator stood in place, coolly unruffled.

“You tampered with the manor’s protective formation!” A belabored grin appeared on Lu Yun’s lips.

“So you’re the governor. Take him!” Their eyes gleaming, the Lu cultivators outside the gates immediately sprang into action.

“Protect milord!” With Ge Long’s shout, You Tu led the other soldiers in a charge to protect Lu Yun.

“Stand down!” the governor shouted at them as a white-robed woman appeared by his side. Seven swords streaked into light and instantly executed the Lu cultivators. Her expression as frosty as snow, Yuying landed in front of her master and shielded him with her body.

“Charge inside!” the governor shouted. Without a word, Yuying set a course with her seven swords as they opened up a path of slaughter on their way in.

A cold smile playing on his lips, Lu Yun went in right behind her with Ge Long and the Dusk Phalanx bringing up the rear. He’d issued a warning on the banks of the Dusk River a few days ago, and even killed immortals from the Lu Clan. However, the clan plainly saw fit to disregard the lesson, even going so far as to occupy his manor.

Since killing Lu Yuanhou wasn’t enough, then he ought to kill a few with real status next.

They stationed some cultivators outside the gates to stop and distract me so that I wouldn’t examine the current layout of the land!

Lu Yun immediately noticed something was amiss when he set foot inside the manor. The place was encircled by a brand new grand formation that immobilized Yuying the moment she entered.

Returning home was when he’d be most relaxed, and seeing his residence occupied by others would naturally infuriate him. As a result, he’d entirely disregarded the situation outside. His opponents had perfectly grasped his habits, leading him to unwittingly fall right into their trap.

What a powerful formation. I can see through to its origin, but to break it will require some effort. He could unravel the formation, but that would give time for its controller to kill Yuying, Ge Long, and the Dusk Phalanx.

On the banks of Dusk River, the bloodcorpses had slain the clan’s august immortals in broad daylight, as well as Lu Yuanhou. The formation in the manor would certainly not be an ordinary one.

But Lu Yun wasn’t particularly worried. His opponents might’ve lured him into a trap, but he too was luring the snake out of its hole.

“Sage grandnephew, you’ve finally returned,” an aged voice travelled out from the manor’s interior, followed by the appearance of an old man, his features so withered he seemed to have one foot in the grave. He tottered in, supported by two female immortals. “This fifth great-uncle’s already waited for you for more than half a month.”

“Whose fifth great-uncle are you?” Lu Yun frowned as he examined the old man.

“Oh, I’m Yuanhou’s fifth great-uncle. He’s my poor older brother’s most cherished grandson.” He panted in exhaustion after that introduction. “I’d first planned to keep your mind somewhat intact. But you bastard forgot your roots and killed Yuanhou! I admit, that kid didn’t live up to expectations, but he was still your cousin, and my brother’s only official grandson!

“You killed your kin!” the old man shrilled with outrage. “I would’ve spared your consciousness and let you be a puppet with your own thoughts, so you could still experience the joys of life. But now, you will die! No one takes Lu Qingxun’s pill without thought of the consequences!”