Chapter 221 -: 220: A Summons from the Ghost Realm (2)

Chapter 221: Chapter: 220: A Summons from the Ghost Realm (2)

"Alright, I’ll wait for your return," Li Jian said with a smile.

Only then did a look of satisfaction appear on Liu Xiong’s face; he immediately stepped into the spatial rift.

The black-robed messenger followed close behind.

Just as the rift was about to close completely, Liu Xiong cast one last glance back.

"Tell the children I’ve gone to take care of some business. Let them not miss me too much."

Li Jian nodded. "I will. Take care of yourself, and stay safe."

The rift slowly vanished, and the chilling, eerie aura dissipated along with it; the courtyard returned to its former quietness.

Li Jian stood motionless by the stone table for a moment.

With Liu Xiong’s ceaseless chatter and grumbling gone, his surroundings suddenly felt incredibly empty and desolate.

He wondered when Liu Xiong would return, a thought that filled him with an inexplicable sense of loneliness. Without realizing it, he had forged a deep bond with the other and had grown accustomed to his presence. Even when Liu Xiong went out hunting, he could still sense their connection through the contract; yet now, all of that was gone, and he could no longer perceive a trace of his presence.

...

That evening, the aroma of steamed spirit rice and braised jade-spotted fish filled the warm dining room of the Spiritual Tavern. Although the table was laden with delicacies prepared by Li Jian, the usual boisterous laughter and cheer were dampened by the sight of an empty seat at the end of the table.

The seven brothers sat in their assigned seats, yet the spirited banter of days past was missing. Li Yuhan sat hunched over his bowl, carefully nudging a piece of tender spirit-fowl meat with his chopsticks, his complexion still tinged with a sickly pallor. Beside him, Li Cheng leaned heavily against the table, rubbing his temples and letting out a long, low groan that seemed to well up from the depths of his soul.

"I swear... every time I close my eyes, I still see that scene of the clouds spinning upside down," Li Jingsheng muttered weakly, setting his chopsticks down: "My stomach feels like it’s been churned inside out by a whirlwind; I don’t think I could manage even a single bite."

Li Jingxuan shuddered all over, letting out an exaggerated sigh: "Don’t even get me started! When he dove the flying skiff straight down from the clouds, I felt like my soul was about to fly right out of my body! The way Uncle Liu pilots the craft is even more terrifying."

Li Yuhan clutched his stomach tightly as he spoke in agreement: "Uncle Liu isn’t human, he’s a walking natural disaster! When he drove that carriage plunging toward the alleyways like a falling meteor, I honestly thought I was about to meet my ancestors in the underworld! I’ve never been frightened when facing ferocious spirit beasts in the wild, but that flight nearly cost me my life."

Li Juanxin nodded gravely, taking a cautious sip of hot tea to soothe his throat: "My legs are still shaking. If he’d kept us in the air for just another five minutes, we probably would have collapsed right in the carriage."

Hearing his brothers’ exaggerated complaints, Li Zhang, who didn’t ride with them, slammed his cup onto the stone table. He was irritated and envious: "Are you guys serious?!" He leaned across the table: "You rode a carriage speeding at breakneck pace, dodged lightning strikes from a furious sect elder, performed heart-stopping stunts above the city, and even shook off the pursuit by three masters of above the Divine Power Realm... and yet, all you’re complaining about is feeling a bit dizzy?!"

Li Zhang beat his chest, shaking his head repeatedly: "I actually missed that grand chase! Do you have any idea how spectacular it looked from the ground? Thousands of people were gazing up at the sky! If I’d known Uncle Liu was going to pull off such a legendary feat, I would’ve rushed straight off the arena stage and jumped onto the roof of the carriage!"

Li Yujian, who was calmly serving soup into his brothers’ bowls, glanced at Li Zhang with a hint of amusement: "Xiao Zhang, if you’d been inside that carriage, you’ll be just like us right now, clinging desperately to a flowerbed and praying for the ground to stop shaking."

The others at the table nodded weakly in agreement. Li Zhang gave a soft huff, pouted, and slumped back into his chair, muttering complaints about his siblings’ lack of true adventurous spirit.

Just then, Li Jingsheng looked around and his gaze fell upon the empty chair at the end of the table: "Father, where exactly did Uncle Liu go? Usually, by this time, he’d be leaning over the table bragging about his bets or pestering you for another jar of spirit wine. Did he go out to buy a wine gourd?"

A sudden silence fell over the dining table as everyone turned their eyes toward Li Jian. Seated upright in the host’s chair, Li Jian gently set down his soup spoon. His expression remained calm and gentle: "He had an urgent matter to attend to. Something unexpected came up back in his hometown that required his personal attention. He set off earlier this afternoon." Li Jian explained softly, his voice calm and soothing, like a clear mountain spring.

Li Yuhan blinked in surprise, looked up, and asked, "He left? So suddenly? Did he leave any message?"

Li Jian offered a reassuring, gentle smile. "He asked me to tell everyone not to miss him too much while he’s away. Although he’ll be gone for a while, he promised to return as soon as the matter is resolved."

A long silence settled over the dining room.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Li Jingxuan cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and turned his gaze toward Li Zhang, deliberately trying to break the heavy mood: "Hey! Speaking of today’s exciting events; Fourth Brother, you haven’t told us the details yet! We only saw you jumprd onto the main stage to face that guy in the silver robe, but we didn’t see exactly what happened. How did it feel to thrash a disciple from a prestigious clan?"

The gloomy atmosphere instantly vanished, as a spark of excitement ignited in Li Zhang’s eyes. Puffing out his chest and slapping his thigh, he exclaimed: "Ha! That was nothing! That silver-robed kid thought he could throw his weight around just because he had a high-grade spirit sword, but his footwork was a total mess! The moment he lunged too aggressively and lost his balance, I slammed into him with a heavy shoulder-check and sent him flying right off the Spirit-Suppressing Granite platform!"

"He was forced to bow his head and apologize to Chen Liwei in front of everyone," Li Zhang said, taking a bite of spirit-infused meat with a look of satisfaction: "He had it coming, he was so arrogant before; he insulted Liwei and his mother. Liwei tried to hold back because of his family’s situation, but I couldn’t stand it. So I challenged that brat right then and there, and beat him up. He really deserved it."

Li Yuhan tilted his head; and asked curiously: "Come to think of it... Chen Liwei’s attitude toward you today was completely different from the past. He used to be calculating and aloof, treating everyone like pawns on a chessboard. For someone as proud as him to suddenly apologize, give you a precious Golden Token, and even let you stand up for him on stage, what happened?"

"I guess he had a change of heart?..." Li Zhang said, but the others didn’t believed him.

"I suspect it has to do with his family situation," Li Yujian said softly, looking thoughtful: "Like our family, the Chen clan has a rigid hierarchy and ruthless rules. Chen Liwei’s mother came from a branch of the family that had long since fallen from grace and lost its status."

Li Yujian continued, breaking down the complex situation he had observed for the others: "Because his mother lacked a powerful backer within the main clan, Chen Liwei had endured the disdain and suppression of his cousins ​​from the main branch since childhood. The boy in the silver robe he encountered today was surely one of those main-clan brats who bullied others by flaunting his status. Though sharp and talented, Chen Liwei had learned to swallow humiliation and mask his true strength behind a cold face, all to protect his mother."

Li Cheng sighed softly and shook his head: "No wonder he is always so guarded and wary in his dealings with others. Growing up in an environment where one had to tread carefully at every step, like walking on thin ice, would make anyone become deep and calculating."

Li Zhang gave a cold snort: "Hmph, he doesn’t need to play those convoluted mind games with me. Regardless of clan feuds, a friend is a friend. If those snobs from the main clan dare to trouble him again, I’ll make sure they taste the experience of being blasted off the stage by me a second time!"

Li Yuhan looked at his brother and asked with a knowing smile: "Big Brother, how do you know so much about Chen Liwei’s situation? The last time I checked, you showed little interest in him."

Li Yujian wasn’t provoked; his expression remained calm: "He is Zhang’s friend; it is only natural for me to keep an eye on things."

"Yeah, right!" Li Yuhan didn’t buy that.

Li Jian affectionately patted Li Zhang on the head. "Zhang’er, you did well to step up and stand by your friend. Kindness and loyalty are qualities to be cherished. However, remember to always look out for your own safety."

"I understand, Father! Rest assured, I won’t do anything reckless." Li Zhang grinned and puffed out his chest.