Lin Yun’s time with the Bai family was known only to them, and back then, he was a nobody—naturally, the Hu family had no clue.
“Patriarch, the Hu family doesn’t believe us—what do we do?” The Bai clansmen on the wall paled.
“Bai Yongzhi, what happened with you and Bai Lu visiting Lord Lin Yun in the prefecture city?” the Bai Patriarch demanded.
They’d tried several times without success, so he’d sent Bai Lu along.
“Patriarch, we couldn’t even get into the Lord’s Palace. They said the lord was in seclusion and didn’t believe a small family like ours knew him. Bai Lu and I begged, but it was no use,” Bai Yongzhi said helplessly.
In Taifeng County, the Bai family was prominent, but in all of Dongyuan Prefecture, they were unremarkable.
“I bet he’s avoiding us on purpose. He’s risen high—why would he bother with us?” Bai Tong said coldly.
“Don’t talk nonsense, Bai Tong! Brother Lin Yun isn’t like that! He risked his life to save us!” Bai Lu bit her lip, indignant.
“Bai Lu, I’m not making it up. He’s been lord for over a year. If he remembered the Bai family or you, wouldn’t he have visited by now?” Bai Tong said, frustrated.
“Brother Lin Yun is the lord now… he’s busy with official duties. It’s normal he hasn’t had time,” Bai Lu said softly.
“No matter how busy, he’d have one day, right? He bars you from the Lord’s Palace because the Bai family’s useless to him. As for you saving him? He probably forgot that debt long ago!” Bai Tong said.
“I… I…”
Bai Lu’s face flushed, and after a pause, she said, “Brother Lin Yun saved us too—he never owed me anything.”
Bai Yongzhi sighed, shaking his head. They’d hoped Lin Yun could speak a word to deter the Hu family, but their hopes were dashed.
“Enough, stop arguing!” the Bai Patriarch barked, his face stern.
Below, the white-bearded old man spoke again.
“Bai Patriarch, I’ll give your family one last chance. Surrender all your mines and hand over Bai Lu as my concubine for an alliance. That’s your only way out. Otherwise, today your Bai family ends!”
His gaze fixed on Bai Lu atop the wall, a lecherous grin spreading.
“You…” The Bai Patriarch’s face twitched.
Bai Lu paled, her face drained of color.
“Patriarch, maybe we should agree. Otherwise, we’re doomed today!” a clansman urged.
The Bai family was gripped by panic.
The Bai Patriarch hesitated, then glared down, “Old dog Hu, if you dare attack, even if you win, your family will be crippled! Other families will seize the chance to crush you—think carefully!”
“Still trying to scare me? Foolish! Once we crush you, you’ll lose more than mines, and Bai Lu won’t be a concubine—she’ll be my plaything!” the old man sneered, his face twisting.
“Hu family, prepare to attack!”
He issued the command.
Whoosh!
The Hu cultivators below unleashed their realm auras, ready to strike.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
At that moment, a massive flying vessel tore through the void, arriving above the Bai fortress at astonishing speed.
“What’s that?”
“What’s happening?”
The Hu cultivators all looked up at the sudden arrival.
The Bai clansmen on the wall did the same.
Under countless gazes, a young figure descended from the vessel, exuding an aura of dominance.
“It’s…”
“It’s Lin Yun!”
“It’s Lord Lin Yun!”
Instantly, many Bai clansmen cried out.
“It’s… it’s really Brother Lin Yun…” Bai Lu stood stunned.
“Looks like Lord Lin came for our Bai family—we’re saved!” Bai Yongzhi exclaimed in ecstasy.
“He… he actually came…” The Bai Patriarch, staring at Lin Yun, trembled with excitement.
This was the lord himself coming to their fortress, not them begging for an audience at the Lord’s Palace.
For the lord to visit their humble Bai fortress was an unparalleled honor!
In moments, Lin Yun landed on the wall.
“Pay respects to Lord Lin!”
All the Bai family, including the Patriarch, knelt instantly.
Lin Yun was the ‘king’ of Dongyuan Prefecture.
Below the wall.
“What’s going on?”
“They called him Lord Lin?”
“Could… could that young cultivator be our new lord of Dongyuan Prefecture?”
The Hu cultivators were terrified, plunging into panic.
“Grand Elder, it can’t really be the lord, can it? What do we do?”
The Hu clansmen beside the white-bearded old man turned to him.
“Does the Bai family actually have ties to the lord?”
The old man’s face flickered, his heart sinking.
He’d never seen the new lord, but if this was him, things had spiraled out of control…
On the wall.
“Rise,” Lin Yun said, then walked to Bai Lu.
“Bai Lu, it’s been years—your big brother’s here to see you,” he said, smiling as he helped her up.
“Brother Lin Yun, you really came… I… I thought you’d forgotten me,” Bai Lu said, her face blooming with a smile.
“Oh? What’s that about?” Lin Yun asked, still smiling.
Bai Yongzhi said helplessly, “Lord Lin, I tried visiting you in the prefecture city several times but was turned away. Recently, Bai Lu and I went together, but we couldn’t even get through the gate.”
“What? That happened?” Lin Yun was taken aback.
In seclusion, he’d heard nothing of this—no one had reported it.
“What’s Sun Butler doing, not telling me about this?” Lin Yun frowned.
“It’s fine, Brother Lin Yun. That you remember me and the Bai family and came is enough,” Bai Lu said, her smile widening.
“Yes, yes, your visit is a huge surprise for our Bai family!” the Bai Patriarch said, trembling with excitement.
“By the way, who are those people outside the wall?” Lin Yun asked.
The Bai Patriarch quickly said, “Lord Lin, they’re the Hu family—a powerful clan in our county. They want to swallow our Bai family. I sent Bai Yongzhi to the prefecture city to seek your help, hoping you could save us. Without this crisis, I wouldn’t have rushed to claim ties with you.”
