Chapter Thirty-One Return

  Cultivation is no easy task, and before you know it, spring has turned into autumn.

  The river is beside the city, the year-end is approaching, and the snow is heavy on the branches.

  Today is the day when Wudang College comes to recruit students every year. The large square has already set up a sign early in the morning.

  The crowd was in an uproar, extremely lively.

  For the next three days, any young men and women under the age of eighteen can come forward to try out. The results will be recorded by the martial arts academy's examiners present on site. Any male or female who meets the standards will be allowed to enter the martial arts academy for a three-year cultivation period.

  Every time it reaches this point, Jiang Licheng is bustling. Almost every moment, someone will come forward to try. Although only a few people in the entire Jiang Licheng can really enter the Martial Arts Academy for cultivation, this cannot hinder everyone's enthusiasm.

  The past two days were basically left for ordinary people, and it wasn't until the third day that large families like the Lu and Mo families would send out their own children to take the test.

  However, this year, several big families are very calm. Because their family members have already entered the Martial Arts Academy, and there is already a successor.

  It's not until this time that the children who went to the Martial Arts Academy will also hurry back to prepare for their family's New Year's festival.

  Lu Ming, Zhang Yuehan and Mo Yunfei all sat beside their respective family heads.

  This is a teahouse located next to the square, with a great location and clear views. From the teahouse, you can overlook the entire square.

  At this time, the various private rooms in the tea house were already filled with people. The best few private rooms, of course, were reserved for the Jiang and Lin families.

  Mo Tian leisurely sipped his tea with Mo Yunfeng and Mo Lin chatting and laughing beside him.

  Zhang Jia's master, Zhang Yan, was also drinking hot tea, but he furrowed his brow and had a bitter expression. For some time now, due to losing 100,000 gold coins to the Lu family, the Zhang family had been unable to eat or sleep well for several months. The loss of wealth had led to discontent within the family, and it was estimated that it would take at least one or two years to recover. Every time he thought about this, Zhang Yan couldn't help but feel regretful.

  Zhang Yuexuan beside him didn't say a word, his eyes fixed on the horizon, as if waiting for someone to arrive.

  Only Lu's family, Lu Haoran, couldn't even drink tea, constantly turning his head to ask Lu Hao beside him: "How come Lu Fan hasn't returned yet? Doesn't he know that these few days are the Wudao Academy enrollment dates? Did you send someone to look for him?"

  Lu Hao didn't know how many times he had answered this question today, and with a bitter face said: "People have already been sent to look for him. Lu Fan originally only mentioned going into the mountains to cultivate, but no one knows exactly where. However, he has always wanted to enter Wudao Academy, so there's no reason for him not to come back. You can rest assured and wait, I'm sure he'll be back before tonight."

  Lu Hao Ran said: "I hope what you're saying is correct. I'm just afraid he's run into some trouble in the Western Mountains."

  Lu Hao smiled easily and said, "Don't worry about this. With Lu Fan's strength, he won't encounter any trouble in the Western Mountains."

  Lu Haoran said, "This is indeed the case. I was thinking too much. When Lu Fan returns, with his cultivation and realm, the test at Wudao Academy will just be a formality. At that time, our Lu family will be the only family in Jianglin City to have two sons enter Wudao Academy. Lu Ming, in the future, you and Lu Fan must take care of each other within Wudao Academy. No matter what happens between you in the family, you are still brothers connected by blood. One family does not speak two languages, we present a united front externally, and support each other mutually, this is the tradition and house rule of the Lu family."

  Sitting beside Lu Feng, Lu Ming nodded in response. He raised his head, and Lu Ming seemed to want to say something, but hesitated.

  Lu Haoran looked on from the side and spoke up, "Lu Ming, is there anything you want to say?"

  Lu Ming took a deep breath and said, "Grandfather, I know that Lu Fan and I have never gotten along, but what I'm about to say is absolutely not meant to harm Lu Fan."

  Lu Haoran furrowed his brow and said, "What do you want to say?"

  Lu Ming gritted his teeth and said: "When Lu Fan comes back, please advise him... Advise him not to take the test."

  Lu Ming seemed to have made a great determination to say this, and Lu Haoran immediately raised his eyebrows and said: "Lu Ming, do you know what you are saying? Has your jealousy reached this point?"

  Lu Feng hastily stepped forward, holding down his son Lu Ming, and said to Lu Haoran: "Father, don't be angry. I think Lu Ming must have a reason for saying this, Lu Ming, why don't you quickly explain the reason?"

  Lu Haoran and Lu Hao stared at Lu Ming intently.

  Taking a deep breath, Lu Ming said: "I heard the news inside the college. Mo Yunfei seems to have bribed the instructor who came to represent the college to recruit students, Nalan Ruo. The purpose is only one, that is, not to let Lu Fan enter the Martial Arts Academy. He will do something during Lu Fan's test. It is even more possible that he will directly obstruct Lu Fan's test."

  Upon hearing this, Lu Haoran and Lu Hao immediately turned their heads towards the square.

  Next to the inkstone, three college instructors were seated. The middle-aged man in the center, wearing a white dragon-patterned martial arts uniform, with a sword wound on his face and missing one finger on his left hand, was Nalan Ruo, whom Lu Ming had mentioned. Just yesterday, the Lu family and the Mo family had jointly set up a banquet and invited him to dinner.

  Lu Haoran said slowly: "Lu Ming, are you telling the truth?"

  "If there is even half a sentence of falsehood, I am willing to be struck by divine lightning."

  Lu Hao Ran's eyebrows furrowed, saying: "If Nalan is the lead instructor this time, what he says, the other two instructors probably wouldn't dare to refute. If everything you said is true, then Lu Fan is in big trouble."

  Lu Hao angrily said: "Can he still deceive Mo Shi? With his strength nailed to the board, how can he block it?"

  Lu Hao Ran's face darkened in anger: "Foolish. Mo Shi is indeed difficult to fake, but won't he find a reason to explain that Lu Fan's strength came from an illegitimate source? In this continent, there are still many unorthodox and heretical ways to quickly increase one's strength. However, such growth would be despised by the world, and the Martial Academy wouldn't accept it either. As long as the opponent insists on this point, Lu Fan will be left speechless. After all, the opponent is a mentor of the Martial Academy, their words carry more weight than ours."

  Lu Hao's face suddenly had cold sweat, and he said: "Yes, Lu Fan's strength has indeed increased too quickly. If this point is exploited by someone with ulterior motives, it will be detrimental to his entry into the academy."

  Lu Hao Ran coldly snorted and said: "I'm afraid this person with a motive is Old Man Mo. If it wasn't his idea, then something's fishy. When the enemy comes, we'll use our troops to resist; when the flood comes, we'll use the earth to bury it. The most urgent matter now is to wait for Lu Fan to come back before discussing anything further. Only after he returns can we discuss a strategy based on his abilities."

  Lu Hao immediately stood up and said: "I will go again right now and send another group of people to find Lu Fan."

  Lu Haoran nodded slightly, and Lu Hao quickly walked away.

  His eyebrows furrowed, Lu Haoran gazed at Nalan Ruo's face, his eyes gradually turning sharp.

  Lu Ming sat back in his own seat, turning his head to look towards the bustling square. In fact, Lu Ming also had such a question in his heart: wasn't Lu Fan's strength really obtained through unorthodox means?

  A person who has been a waste for over a decade can really turn their life around through their own efforts?

  。。。。。。

  On the other side, Mo Yunfei whispered a few words in Mo Tian's ear, and instantly, a smile rose from the corner of Mo Tian's mouth.

  "It's great, as long as Master Nalan is willing to help, Lu Fan can't enter the Martial Arts Academy even if he's a genius. If he misses this opportunity, he'll be over 18 years old and will never have another chance to enter the Martial Arts Academy. Not being able to enter the Martial Arts Academy means that he will take more than ten years of detours in his martial arts practice. Moreover, he won't get guidance from a famous master, nor will he obtain profound martial skills. This is called, one step wrong, a lifetime wrong. Wonderful, wonderful."

  Mo Yunfei smiled and said, "Grandfather has planned everything out, this time Lu Fan is definitely going to die. Although his strength is quite strong, in the end he will still meet a losing outcome. Grandfather, I have always had a question. Is it true that Lu Fan didn't rely on any unorthodox methods to cultivate? His increase in strength is so fast, it's unbelievable. Perhaps, what we are doing this time will make him reveal his true form."

  Mo Tian waved his hand and said, "Yun Fei, you're wrong. If he was an evil cultivator, he wouldn't have been able to defeat you on the arena that time. Evil cultivation can indeed rapidly increase one's power, but how do you explain Lu family's Lihuo Jinshen martial skills? That's real, solid kung fu. Lu Fan's strength is undoubtedly obtained through bitter practice, remember this point. When dealing with enemies, you can be ruthless, emotionless, and unscrupulous. But you cannot underestimate them or fail to see their true strength."

  Mo Yunfei put on an enlightened expression.

  Mo Tian smiled and said, "If we're talking about evil sects and heretical paths, then Zhang Jia's Zhang Yuehan is even more suspicious. With an unstable foundation and insufficient internal energy, even if it's not an evil sect or heretical path, it's still a case of premature growth. It's laughable that the Zhang family thinks they've really produced a genius. Yun Fei, you haven't been in contact with Zhang Yuehan again, have you?"

  Mo Yunfei shook his head and said, "No more. She found a bigger backer in the college and didn't take me seriously at all."

  Mo Tian sneered: "You're quite skilled at finding men. Unfortunately, it's still not the right way."

  Mo Tian asked after a pause: "Has Lu Fang from the Lu family returned?"

  "It seems like he hasn't returned yet."

  Mo Tian smiled and said, "It's better if he doesn't come back, it will save us the trouble of plotting against him. If he really dies in the deep mountains and old forests, perhaps one day Jiang Lincheng will remember that there was once a brilliant and talented Lu Fan from the Lu family. But if he comes back, this genius Lu Fan will become an evil and heretical Lu Fan."

  Mo Tian, Mo Yunfei and Mo Lin all burst out laughing.

  。。。。。。

  At this time, Jiang was outside the city, at the foot of Xishan Mountain.

  A figure slowly emerged, wearing a black upper garment, with a sword on his back and a black dog standing on his head.

  "Haha, I'm back. Jiang Licheng, I've returned. Xiao Hei, from today on, you don't have to cook every day anymore. If Master wants to stay in the mountains, let him stay in the mountains."

  The sunlight shone on this person's face, who was none other than Lu Fan, returning from his bitter cultivation.

  Looking at the city gate in front of him, Lu Fan opened his arms and laughed out loud.

  The little black creature standing on his head looked curiously at the human city, its eyes wide open, letting out a long whistle.

  Lu Fan suddenly accelerated his footsteps and rushed towards the city gate. The heavy sword on his back had no effect on Lu Fan's running, and the ground under his feet did not leave any deep footprints.