Chapter 52. Hunters at their trap.
Chapter 52: 52. Hunters at their trap.
For the past six months, ever since the Li family began targeting the Lin caravans, the Patriarch had remained in closed-door cultivation.
Every report had been handled by the elders instead.
Lin Shuhao had never once met the man personally.
He could only pray that the Patriarch was still in seclusion.
At the very least, if the matter reached the elders first, they would understand the situation and make appropriate changes.
That thought offered him a small measure of comfort as he silently looked toward the road leading back to Azure Willow City.
He knew this was never just about a Spirit Pond.
The Li family possessed a Spirit Pond of their own. A single rumor about the Lin family discovering one was nowhere near enough to provoke such relentless harassment.
Before the current Patriarch took charge, the Lin family had been little more than a small refugee clan that had settled in Azure Willow City. They kept a low profile, avoided conflicts whenever possible, and were too insignificant for the Li family to even notice.
Everything changed after Lin Xuan inherited the position of Patriarch following the mysterious deaths of his parents.
Within just a few short years, he transformed the no name Lin family beyond recognition.
The clan’s businesses expanded one after another, its strength steadily increased, and its influence spread throughout Azure Willow City.
Then, three years ago, Lin Xuan dealt the Li family its greatest humiliation.
The Li family had established a branch in Azure Willow City, intending to extend the monopoly they already enjoyed in Blue River City.
Instead, Lin Xuan ruthlessly forced them out and replaced their businesses with those of the Lin family.
From that day onward, the Li family never concealed their hostility.
Even so, their actions had always remained within certain limits.
They would delay caravans, make inspections difficult, or create trouble for the Lin family’s merchants. Although infuriating, they had never dared to seize an entire shipment in broad daylight.
Today’s incident was completely different.
It was no longer simple harassment and instead it was open plunder.
Lin Shuhao slowly looked toward the direction where Li Hanson had disappeared as a heavy feeling settled in his chest.
Have the Li family finally decided to tear away all pretense and is prepared for a war?
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Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
A gentle breeze swept across the hill overlooking Blue River City.
Standing at the edge of the hill, Lin Xuan quietly observed the bustling roads below. From this vantage point, every caravan entering or leaving the city could be seen clearly.
Behind him stood dozens of cultivators.
Most of them belonged to the Blue Sea Restaurant.
Standing nearby were Ouyang Jun and Zhao Moying.
The two had also brought reinforcements from the Mystic Sky Sect.
Among them stood a tall young man dressed in dark blue robes. His bearing was calm and steady, while the sword hanging from his waist radiated a faint but intimidating aura.
He was Li Hanyuan, the senior brother of Ouyang Jun and Zhao Moying.
Ever since they had arrived, Lin Xuan could feel Li Hanyuan’s gaze resting on him from time to time.
The man never stared for long.
His eyes would linger for only a brief moment before quietly shifting elsewhere.
Even so, Lin Xuan noticed every glance.
Lin Zhaoyue and Lin Zhaoxi had already been send back to Azure Willow City before setting out for this mission.
Although both girls had wanted to accompany him, he had refused without hesitation.
Hunting down a blood cultivator was far too dangerous.
There was no reason to expose them to unnecessary risk.
At that moment, Su Qingci finished arranging the Blue Sea Restaurant’s men around the surrounding hills.
After confirming every position, he walked back toward the group and cupped his fists.
"Everyone is in position."
He looked toward the road leading into Blue River City.
"All we need to do now is wait for the next wave of caravans."
Ouyang Jun nodded.
"Very well, we can afford to wait."
Zhao Moying and Li Hanyuan also nodded in agreement.
No one present showed the slightest impatience.
Capturing Huang Guangzhou required patience above all else.
Not long afterward, a caravan slowly appeared on the distant road.
Everyone’s attention immediately shifted toward it.
However, as the wagons drew closer, Su Qingci’s brows gradually furrowed.
He narrowed his eyes and carefully observed the convoy.
A strange look soon appeared on his face.
"...That caravan is empty."
The others immediately looked at him.
Su Qingci continued in a puzzled tone.
"There are no goods loaded onto any of the wagons. Only the drivers and a handful of escorts."
He frowned even more deeply.
"What does an empty caravan mean? Why would merchants travel all the way to Blue River City without carrying any cargo?"
Before anyone could answer Su Qingci’s question, Lin Xuan’s eyes suddenly narrowed.
His gaze remained fixed on the approaching caravan.
As the distance gradually closed, a familiar banner fluttered gently in the wind, causing his calm expression to harden ever so slightly.
The emblem embroidered upon it belonged to the Lin family.
A faint frown appeared on his face.
"They’re my people, I’m going to meet them."
The moment those words left his mouth, Su Qingci’s expression changed.
"Patriarch Lin, please wait."
He immediately stepped in front of Lin Xuan and cupped his fists.
"We have finally found a suspicious caravan after waiting three days. If Huang Guangzhou is watching from the shadows, your actions may alert him. Please think of the bigger picture."
Lin Xuan slowed his steps, but he did not stop.
He understood exactly what Su Qingci meant.
If the approaching caravan had belonged to any other family, he knew he would have made the very same argument.
A hypocrite?
He could not deny it but when his own people were involved, remaining completely rational became far more difficult than he had imagined.
An empty caravan bearing the Lin family’s banner could only meant that something had gone terribly wrong.
Whatever had happened, he had to see it with his own eyes.
Su Qingci noticed that Lin Xuan had no intention of changing his mind.
His voice became noticeably more urgent.
"Patriarch Lin! Please don’t act on impulse! We have spent days preparing this operation. We cannot allow everything to fall apart now."
Lin Xuan never once looked back.
Behind him, Ouyang Jun exchanged a glance with Zhao Moying.
Even Li Hanyuan, who had remained silent the entire time, slowly took a step forward.
The three clearly intended to stop him before he could leave.
Sensing their movements, Lin Xuan made his decision without the slightest hesitation.
A surge of spiritual qi poured into the flying sword beneath his feet and in the next instant, the sword shot into the sky like a streak of flowing light.
A powerful gust swept across the hill, causing everyone’s robes to flutter wildly.
Before Ouyang Jun or the others could react, Lin Xuan had already crossed half the distance to the approaching caravan.
Only then did Su Qingci slowly lower the hand he had unconsciously reached out to stop him.
He could only watch helplessly as Lin Xuan disappeared into the horizon.