CHAPTER 259: CHAPTER 259 HU ZHOU’S FAMILY VISITS AS GUESTS

After returning to Tonglin County together, Lu Zheng did not disturb the family’s reunion. He simply escorted them there before returning home, where he told Liu Qingyan about it.

"Hu Zhou’s father?" Liu Qingyan asked in surprise, "That Tiger Demon? Has he appeared?"

Lu Zheng nodded, "He’s appeared."

"Where has he been all these years? Did he just come back now? Or was it by chance? How was he injured back then? And why did he leave later? What did he say to Aunt after coming back? What is his attitude towards Zhou’Er? And what does Zhou’Er think?"

Liu Qingyan rattled off a series of questions.

Lu Zheng: ⊙_⊙

Seeing that Lu Zheng didn’t answer and was simply staring off into space, Liu Qingyan asked in surprise, "You don’t know anything, do you?"

Lu Zheng, "..."

"They haven’t seen each other for over a decade, I am an outsider, how could I question them?" Lu Zheng said helplessly, "If you’re curious, you can ask Zhou’Er tomorrow."

"Zhou’Er calls you Master, how can you be considered an outsider?" Liu Qingyan said seriously, "A teacher is like a parent. His father has been missing for over a decade; you’re Zhou’Er’s master, so why can’t you ask?"

Lu Zheng curled his lip, "Because he could kill me with one slap."

"Ah?" Liu Qingyan was taken aback.

Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, "This person appeared silently, without revealing any hint of his presence. He merely glanced at those thugs and they all died from internal bleeding. When he released just a little Demon Qi, it made me feel tremendous pressure and unable to act."

"Act?"

"Yes, at the time I didn’t know he was Hu Zhou’s father, so I drew a Red Jade Sword," Lu Zheng said, "But I had a premonition that if I acted, he would instantly counterattack and kill me."

Liu Qingyan’s complexion paled, "He’s that powerful?"

Lu Zheng nodded, "Very powerful!"

"And yet he was seriously injured back then?"

Liu Qingyan had thought Hu Zhou’s father was just a regular Tiger Demon, at most a Tiger King with two or three hundred years of cultivation, but she didn’t expect he’d be so formidable that Lu Zheng couldn’t act!

With this realization, he must have at least five hundred years of Dao Practice, right?

Lu Zheng shrugged, "A powerful person naturally has powerful enemies."

"Indeed." Liu Qingyan replied, then continued, "Since he’s come back, what about his enemy? Have they been taken care of?"

"How would I know?" Lu Zheng said helplessly, "Anyway, don’t dwell on it. Tomorrow noon, I’ll host a meal and invite Zhou’Er’s family. You and Uncle Liu should join too."

"Alright!"

...

The next day, before Lu Zheng could go out, Hu Zhou’s family came to visit.

"Master!"

"Young Master Lu!"

"Mr. Hu!" Lu Zheng saluted in return.

"You are Zhou’Er’s master. If you think highly of me, just call me Brother Hu," Hu Yijun smiled slightly, his aged face still exuding a particular charm.

"No, no!! I haven’t..." Lu Zheng started to say, but seeing Hu Zhou about to object, he changed his mind decisively, "Then I won’t be polite, Brother Hu!"

"Good." Hu Yijun nodded, "That’s more straightforward. Mr. Liu and Miss Liu aren’t here?"

Lu Zheng said to Uncle Li, "Go to Renxin Hall to invite Uncle Liu and Qingyan back, tell them Zhou’Er’s family is here, and ask them to return for a gathering."

He then said to Aunt Liu, "Prepare the lunch with the things already arranged at home."

Then, he gestured to welcome them, "Please!"

...

Moments later, Elder Liu and Liu Qingyan returned, taking their seats as host and guest.

Hu Yijun’s eyes flashed with divine light when he saw the two, smiling knowingly and nodding as a greeting.

Elder Liu’s gaze shifted, realizing Hu Yijun had seen through his identity.

Of course, hiding one’s identity with Merit can fool ordinary Abnormal People, but not a Great Power in cultivation.

"Thank you all for your help with Jade Reishi!"

Hu Yijun opened with gratitude towards everyone for saving Madam Hu, Wang Yuzhi’s life.

He stood up, offering a formal salute to everyone.

"Not at all!"

"Please, stand up!"

Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan hurried forward.

Elder Liu further said, "A doctor’s benevolence, this is our duty as medical professionals. Fore... Mr. Hu, no need for formality."

While Lu Zheng called Hu Yijun brother, Elder Liu did not dare act familiar before Hu Yijun, and calling him a ’senior’ seemed inappropriate, so he simply addressed him as "Mr."

The three were blocked a foot away by an invisible wall of Qi, only bowing once Hu Yijun finished the salute and sat down again.

Lu Zheng and the other two had no choice but to salute in return and then took their seats.

Liu Qingyan looked at Madam Hu, Wang Yuzhi. Compared to before, even though she had recovered and was in a good mood, years of hard work still made her look aged. A woman in her thirties seemed to be in her forties.

However, upon seeing her today, Wang Yuzhi’s face glowed, her eyes were lively, her Qi was warm, and her skin was more delicate.

Upon closer look, she had become a radiant, graceful, and dignified beauty.

Clearly, Hu Yijun had given her some Heavenly and Earthly Treasures; otherwise, how could she transform so much overnight?

"Congratulations, Aunt." Liu Qingyan was genuinely happy for her.

"Thank you!" Wang Yuzhi was still somewhat shy and unused to it.

"I was ambushed by enemies back then and wandered here all the way. Later, I returned to the Southern Border seeking revenge, but by the time I settled matters in the mountains and returned, the village had already fallen."

Hu Yijun didn’t elaborate on who the enemies were, how he avenged himself, what the mountain affairs were, and the details were left unspoken, out of courtesy they didn’t probe further.

"My injuries hadn’t healed, and I couldn’t help Jade Reishi in cultivation, so I looked forward to taking the Spirit Pill from the Secret Valley after my revenge, to guide Jade Reishi into Dao and travel together for centuries."

"But unexpectedly..."

"I went around the surrounding villages, rural areas, the county town, asking many people, and the conclusion was almost everyone in the small village had died. I thought Jade Reishi too..."

"Since then, I visited Linshan Village every three years, staying for a few days. Yesterday, I was preparing to return there when I sensed Zhou’Er’s Qi in mid-air."

Hu Yijun looked at Hu Zhou, but Hu Zhou twisted his body, evidently not entirely comfortable with this man he’d just met calling him "Zhou’Er" so familiarly.

Hu Yijun smiled slightly, "I heard from Jade Reishi and Zhou’Er that you two taught him to read, helped him understand, Master is well-deserved."

In fact, Hu Yijun didn’t mention Lu Zheng teaching Hu Zhou to practice fist and saber.

After all, to him, whether it be the Eighteen Mountain-Carrying Techniques or Tiger Roar Saber, they weren’t rare Secret Manuals.

As long as he found Hu Zhou and his mother, Hu Zhou wouldn’t lack Cultivation Techniques.

Instead, he appreciated their guidance of Hu Zhou’s thinking and practice, thanking them for that.

What particularly pleased Hu Yijun was their approach of not imposing their ideas on Hu Zhou but rather guiding him with various teachings and real-life stories, letting him think and learn on his own.

"You’re too kind."

"Zhou’Er is good too, very obedient." Liu Qingyan praised.

"Indeed." Hu Yijun nodded.

The few of them chatted casually, then Hu Yijun brought up another matter.

"Upon meeting this time, I don’t wish to part with Jade Reishi and her child again. I plan to take them back to the Southern Border."

Hu Yijun spoke in a calm tone, as if casually letting it slip, "However, Jade Reishi won’t stop worrying about Zhou’Er and wants to stay with him. Yet Zhou’Er doesn’t really want to go, so today’s visit is partly to seek your opinions."