Chapter 253: The Battle for the Son
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“Not this, not that. Then tell me, what do you suggest?”
“Xing Hui, in his pursuit of collecting shattered souls, has lost himself and become a malevolent spirit. Ha! The esteemed God of War has now turned into an evil entity!” Xuan Yu struck the ground with his fist but forcefully restrained his power, fearing he might disturb the sleeping girl.
Drip. Drip. Blood trickled down from his clenched fist.
Chong Yue pursed his lips tightly and took a deep breath.
“I have a way.”
“Summon Xian Ting and Gan Tang first.”
Chong Yue gazed up at the sky, a trace of madness flickering in his eyes.
“What are you planning? You are not allowed to act recklessly! You are already celestial deities, revered by countless worshippers and blessed with endless lifespans. You must not act impulsively!” Lu Chao Chao, filled with rage, clenched his tiny fists and attempted to jump up and strike Chong Yue.
“Chong Yue, you conniving bastard! Always scheming!”
“No bad ideas!”
As the sound of a rooster crowing pierced through the thick clouds, Lu Chao Chao felt his body rapidly fading away.
“No!” Lu Chao Chao woke up in a cold sweat, sitting up abruptly.
“What is the matter, my lady?” Yu Shu lit a lamp and hurriedly entered, lifting the curtain.
“Could it be that the brazier was too hot, causing you to sweat so much?” Yu Shu touched her forehead, feeling her drenched in sweat. She quickly instructed Yu Qin to bring a fresh set of clothes.
After wiping her down and changing her garments, she only relaxed when she saw her complexion return to normal.
“Chao Chao had a nightmare.” Lu Chao Chao sat cross-legged on the bed.
Ever since her rebirth, she had felt a lingering unease.
She had sacrificed herself to the heavens. By all logic, she should not have reentered the cycle of reincarnation.
What exactly had her disciples done to bring her back to the mortal world?
Just as Yu Shu was about to comfort her, a commotion erupted outside.
Yu Shu frowned. “What is going on? Why such noise in the middle of the night? Be careful not to disturb the masters.”
“Hurry! Someone, get to the guest house!”
“The guest house suddenly collapsed! Young Master Li is still inside!”
The servants quickly gathered manpower and rushed towards the outer courtyard.
Lu Chao Chao immediately leaped from her bed, with Yu Shu trailing behind her, holding out a coat. “Be careful of the cold! Put on your jacket!”
By the time she arrived, the Lu Manor was already ablaze with lantern light.
Madam Xu, draped in a thick cloak, looked pale. “Dig! Dig quickly! What are we going to do?!”
The collapse had happened in Li Zi Xi’s room, making Madam Xu tremble in fear.
“Has an imperial physician been summoned?” Madam Xu’s voice trembled.
“Madam, a physician has already been sent for. Do not worry, Young Master Li is surely blessed by fortune,” Deng Zhi reassured her, supporting Madam Xu, who had been drinking fruit wine earlier that night. The shock had completely sobered her up.
“Mother, he really is a walking disaster!” Lu Yuan Xiao was dumbfounded by the scene before him.
Even Lu Yan Shu found his eyelid twitching involuntarily.
After nearly an hour of digging, the unconscious Li Zi Xi was finally dragged out from the rubble.
“Young Master Li? Young Master Li, are you alright?” Madam Xu’s voice was laced with uncertainty.
Li Zi Xi groggily opened his eyes. “Why is it morning already? I just closed my eyes for a bit. Why are you all in my room?”
A cold wind blew past, making Li Zi Xi shiver.
“Where’s my bed?”
“Wait… Where’s my room?!” Li Zi Xi stood upright.
Before him lay a field of ruins, leaving him utterly shocked.
Before Madam Xu could say anything, he automatically apologized in a practiced manner, “My apologies, Madam Xu, for bringing you trouble. I shall leave at once…” He had long become accustomed to it—misfortune followed him wherever he went.
He had been chased out of his home more times than he could count.
Even distant relatives shunned him, unwilling to let him step inside their doors.
Behind his back, people whispered, calling him the Heaven’s Fiend Lone Star.
Li Zi Xi feared bringing misfortune upon others. On his journey to the capital, he had never stayed at an inn for fear of harming innocent people.
The only reason he had stayed at the Lu Manor tonight was due to his unexpected camaraderie with Lu Yan Shu.
“Leave? What nonsense. Our house doesn’t fear such things. No need to worry about taboos.”
“Qing Feng, find Young Master Li another guest room.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll renovate the house. Our manor was already old and in need of repairs.” Madam Xu was unbothered.
“It’s nothing. Stay here in peace. Tomorrow, you must join us for the celebratory feast.”
“Stay, Mother does not mind,” Lu Yan Shu added.
Li Zi Xi glanced at the members of the Lu family, his eyelids lowering slightly to conceal his reddening eyes before replying in a muffled voice, “Alright.”
Not even his own family had treated him this kindly.
Everyone else avoided him as if he carried a plague.
Lu Chao Chao tilted her head, watching him in confusion. That expression of sorrow looked oddly familiar.
Yet his face bore no familiarity at all.
The next morning, as soon as Lu Chao Chao got up, she was informed that Lu Yuan Ze had arrived at the door.
The little one, fearing his mother might suffer a loss, quickly finished his breakfast and hurried over.
“Shi Yun, you truly have birthed a talented child. Madam Pei cannot compare to you. Lu Jing Huai is merely a plagiarist, and I was deceived by their mother-son duo!” Lu Yuan Ze let out a deep sigh.
He wore clothes that Madam Xu had once personally sewn.
In the past, he had scorned them.
Now, he wore them neatly and properly, making Madam Xu feel utterly ridiculous.
“We were married for eighteen years, yet because of that wretched woman, our hearts drifted apart.”
“Shi Yun, raising a child alone must have been difficult, right? These years, I was wrong. I have wronged you. I was blinded by that wretch and abandoned you…” Lu Yuan Ze gazed at Madam Xu with pity.
“Chao Chao is only two years old. She cannot be without a father… Let us reunite. If you mind Madam Pei, I can divorce her!”
“Madam Pei cannot compare to you.”
“You are my true wife, the one who shielded me and took a blade for me!” Lu Yuan Ze’s voice trembled with emotion.
Madam Xu stared at him deeply.
“Urgh—”
Shi Yun suddenly gagged violently.
“Shi Yun, what’s wrong?” Lu Yuan Ze tried to step closer, but Madam Xu immediately stepped back.
“Please… step away. You’re making me nauseous.”
“Urgh—”
Madam Xu’s expression of sheer disgust froze Lu Yuan Ze in place.
She—she was looking at him with such revulsion that she was physically ill!
Lu Yuan Ze felt as though he had been struck by lightning.
“You utterly sicken me!” Madam Xu took three steps back, her brows furrowing.
“Back then, you orchestrated my carriage’s attack so I would take that blade for you. I was nothing but your pawn for eighteen years, and now you want to trick me again?” Her eyes burned with deep hatred.
It had all been a scheme.
From the moment she first met Lu Yuan Ze, she had been ensnared in the web he wove.
Lu Yuan Ze’s heart pounded violently, his pupils shrinking. How?
How did she know?
He had made sure to silence all witnesses. There should have been no loose ends.
Lu Yuan Ze forced himself to remain composed. “Shi Yun, where did you hear such nonsense? Someone must be slandering me!”
Madam Xu sneered. “You murdered and discarded bodies in the moat. How could it be false?”
Lu Yuan Ze’s expression darkened instantly.
“Get lost! Yan Shu’s success has nothing to do with you!” Madam Xu saw through his motives.
It was obvious.
Lu Yan Shu had achieved the highest honor in the imperial exams, and now Lu Yuan Ze regretted everything.
He wanted to reclaim his son.
“You can refuse to return, but Yan Shu is my eldest grandson. He must acknowledge his ancestry!” Lu Yuan Ze roared, his temper flaring after being exposed.
“A woman taking her son and divorcing—such a thing is unheard of!”