The next morning, a black sedan slowly drove through the early morning mist of Yanjing and stopped on a quiet street far from the city’s core.
The street was lined with small, well-ordered courtyard homes.
They mostly featured blue bricks and gray tiles, shaded by green trees. The area was neither as imposing as Shenteng Mansion nor as shabby as the commoners’ district.
The residents were all modestly wealthy families who kept a low profile and generally lived very peaceful lives.
After getting out of the driver’s seat, Lu Jingjun quickly trotted to the rear and opened the passenger door.
Lu Yun, leaning on his Wisteria Spirit Staff, stepped out of the car unhurriedly. He then looked up at the courtyard home before him, its main gate tightly shut.
Lu Jingjun couldn’t help but ask, "Dad, why did we come here?"
’He’d been woken up at the crack of dawn and had driven halfway across Yanjing City to a place he’d never even seen before. He was naturally very curious.’
Lu Yun retracted his gaze and said lightly, "To see an old friend. Your Uncle Chu Baoshen."
"Chu Baoshen?" Lu Jingjun was completely stunned.
’Who was Chu Baoshen?’
He was hearing the name for the very first time, and he couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at the tightly shut gate.
Lu Yun offered no explanation. He simply stood there, gazing at the closed gate.
’Chu Baoshen had mentioned in a letter that he lived here.’
’It was just that those people from the Cultural Relics Bureau were watching Brother Chu, trying to track down the Imperial Palace Treasure through him.’
’On top of that, Lu Yun had only just broken through to become a Grandmaster of Huajin at the time, so he hadn’t wanted to expose his relationship with Chu Baoshen and had avoided all contact.’
’But things were different now. As a Grandmaster of Divine Intent, he could go anywhere he pleased in this vast world.’
’He was going to find out just what had happened to Brother Chu and why the Cultural Relics Bureau had suddenly targeted him.’
A minute passed. Lu Jingjun was still knocking and shouting, his voice growing louder. "Hey! Is anyone home?"
The sound of the knocking, BANG BANG BANG, was especially jarring on the quiet morning street.
People in several neighboring houses opened their windows to peek out, and a few women who were up early to buy groceries stood a short distance away, whispering and pointing.
Meanwhile, in the shadows at a street corner, a young man with a buzz cut secretly poked his head out, his eyes fixed on the shut gate.
"Huh?"
He narrowed his eyes, looking from the man in the suit who was still knocking to the older man beside him leaning on the Purple Vine Staff.
’Someone actually came looking for Chu Baoshen?’
’A thought struck him, and he quietly retreated a few steps, vanishing deep into the alley.’
’I have to report this to the boss immediately.’
Not long after the young man left, the tightly shut gate finally stirred.
With a CREAK, the gate opened a crack.
The slightly weathered face of a thirty-nine-year-old man peeked out from the gap.
He frowned, looking Lu Jingjun up and down. "Kid, who are you? I don’t know you! You’ve got the wrong person!"
With that, the man moved to shut the gate.
But Lu Jingjun was quick. He shot out both hands to hold the gate open. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Mister, it’s not me! It’s my dad!"
Remembering what Lu Yun had said, he quickly asked, "Does Uncle Chu Baoshen live here?"
The instant the name "Chu Baoshen" was spoken, the man’s expression changed completely!
A flicker of panic flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly pushed with all his might, trying desperately to force the gate shut!
The next moment, a hand reached out from behind Lu Jingjun, and two fingers gently pressed against the gate panel.
The gate, which had been slamming shut, stopped as if it had hit an invisible iron wall. No matter how hard the man pushed, it wouldn’t budge an inch.
Lu Yun stepped out from behind Lu Jingjun. Looking at the panicked face in the doorway, he asked calmly, "Chongyi, have you forgotten your Uncle Lu?"
Hearing this, the man named Chongyi froze. His eyes widened, and he stared intently at the face before him.
Memories came rushing back like a tide. Thirty years ago, he was only eight years old.
His father, Chu Baoshen, had been an Imperial Guard and had once invited a Martial Champion Scholar, whom he called "Uncle Lu," home for dinner.
That uncle had been tall and imposing but had a gentle smile. He had even brought him a lot of candy. And that Uncle Lu’s name was Lu Yun.
"U... Uncle Lu?"
Once he confirmed it was Uncle Lu, Chu Chongyi flung the gate open, his weathered face filled with disbelief.
Lu Yun looked at him and gave a slight nod. "Mm, is your father inside?"
Chu Chongyi nodded his head frantically. "He is! He is! Uncle Lu, please come in! Quickly, come in!"
He stepped aside to let them pass. Once Lu Yun and Lu Jingjun were inside, he turned back to glare at the onlookers who were still craning their necks to watch.
The warmth on Chu Chongyi’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a fierce, intimidating aura.
"What are you looking at? There’s nothing to see here. Scram!"
With that, he slammed the gate shut with a BANG, blocking out all the prying eyes.
Inside the gate was a small courtyard paved with blue bricks. A few old trees stood within, and junk was piled in a corner. The place was simple, almost to the point of being dilapidated.
After shutting the gate, Chu Chongyi hurried to catch up. Walking behind Lu Yun, he asked excitedly, "Uncle Lu, you... why are you here? How did you know my dad lives here?"
Lu Yun didn’t answer his question, asking instead, "Where’s your father?"
Chu Chongyi took a deep breath to suppress his excitement and quickly led the way. "He’s in the inner room. Uncle Lu, this way."
Without breaking stride, Lu Yun followed him toward the inner room.

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