NOVPUB
Chapter 69: Return to Their Home
In an area far from the slums, where wealthier families and nobles reside, Aldrian, along with the mother and son, passed through. Yu Ruomei and Yu Fenglian covered their heads with black robes that Aldrian had given them, ensuring they remained unrecognizable.
They walked until they arrived at the gate of a manor. The eastern style gate and the wall beside it looked dirty and dilapidated, signs of long neglect. The gate was also sealed with some kind of formation, and a sign warned passersby that this manor was under the city’s authority.
"There are no guards here, did they just leave your manor like this?" Aldrian asked.
"I’m not sure of the exact reason, but after a while, they simply abandoned it. Maybe they’re confident that no one would dare to enter," Yu Ruomei replied.
"Excuse me, but who are you?" a passerby suddenly asked Aldrian and Yu Ruomei. Yu Ruomei and Yu Fenglian tried to hide their faces by pulling their hoods lower.
"We’re just business partners of the family that used to live here. What happened to them? Why does it look so neglected and sealed off by the city guards?"
"What? You don’t know what happened to the Yu family? Listen, you’d best forget about them. They were accused of being involved with devils. They were massacred overnight, and nothing remains of the Yu family," the passerby lamented. "What was once a great family with great influence has been reduced to nothing."
Upon hearing this, Aldrian feigned shock, but Yu Ruomei’s body trembled as she tightened her grip on her son’s hand. Yu Fenglian, also feeling terrible, wanted to scream that it was all lies, but he held back with all his strength. Aldrian then said to the man.
"How can that be? The Yu family is an honorable family, there’s no way they were in cahoots with devils!" Aldrian exclaimed.
"Right? I didn’t believe it either! The Yu family was one of the few noble families that upheld chivalrous and honest principles. There’s no way they would be involved in something like that! But the city lord’s manor made an official announcement, claiming that the Yu family was massacred by a group of devils because of a dispute."
"That sounds like a made-up excuse. Ridiculous, don’t you think?" Aldrian asked, eyeing the man carefully.
The man glanced to his left and right before leaning in closer and whispering, "Most of us think the same. Some even believe that the city lord’s manor was behind the massacre that night."
Straightening up, the man added, "Now that you know, you’d best leave this place. If the city lord’s manor sees you here, they might accuse you of being in cahoots with the Yu family too." After delivering his warning, the man walked away.
Yu Ruomei and Yu Fenglian watched him for a moment. Aldrian, meanwhile, moved closer to gate. It didn’t take him long to decipher the formation and unlock the gate, he then opened the gate which created creaking sound.
As they entered, a large yard greeted them, surrounded by buildings. Each building had numerous rooms, but all of them had the look of typical abandoned structures—decayed, neglected, and empty.
Aldrian followed the mother and son as they walked through the manor, passing neglected yards, overgrown gardens, a dirty pond, and rooms in disarray. Yu Ruomei’s face displayed a range of emotions as they moved, recalling memories of her past with her family.
They continued until they reached a pavilion in the middle of the pond. Though the scenery was still somewhat beautiful and refreshing, the pavilion itself was covered in dirt and dust. In the center of the pavilion stood a table, thick with dust. With a wave of his hand, Aldrian summoned a gust of wind, cleaning the entire pavilion.
He sat comfortably on one side of the table, while Yu Ruomei and Yu Fenglian took their seats on the opposite side. Their faces showed peace, though tinged with sadness.
"Sometimes my husband and I would sit here, drinking tea while enjoying the view of the pond," Yu Ruomei said softly.
"This child loved to come here and play. Those were some of the most beautiful moments of my life," she added, gently stroking Yu Fenglian’s head.
She then turned to her son. "Do you want to play? You can explore, but stay inside the manor. I need to speak with the young master alone," Yu Ruomei said tenderly.
Yu Fenglian looked at his mother, then glanced at Aldrian, who smiled and nodded in reassurance.
"I’ve already checked the manor and made sure there are no dangers," Aldrian added.
Yu Fenglian stood up, bowed to Aldrian, and then walked away. Silence filled the air until Yu Ruomei finally spoke.
"Do you not believe what they said about the Yu family?" she asked.
"About the devils? No, not at the moment."
"At the moment?" she echoed.
"What I’m certain of is that you and Yu Fenglian aren’t involved with the devils. As for the rest of your family, I can’t say for sure. But from my observations and some educated guesses, it seems your family was just a victim. Would you like to hear my theory?" Aldrian asked.
Yu Ruomei nodded in response.
"Alright. You mentioned earlier that your family got involved with the Golden Swan Commerce, correct?"
"Yes," she answered.
"The Golden Swan Commerce has betrayed both the orthodox and unorthodox by allying themselves with the devils."
Yu Ruomei’s eyes widened in shock.
"I don’t know their exact reasons," Aldrian continued, "but the Golden Swan Commerce is working with the devils, helping them infiltrate the territories of both orthodox and unorthodox factions. I’m afraid we’re already behind. The devils have likely integrated into our society, waiting for the right time to execute their plans."
"I know you have many questions—not only about this but also about me. However, I’m just a wandering cultivator who has been recognized as a high guest by the Elven nobles, especially Emperor Ladwin of the Ivory Empire. So, you can set aside any doubts you might have."
Yu Ruomei trembled. How many surprises did this young man hold? He kept revealing extraordinary information as if it were nothing. Recognized by the nobles and the emperor of the Ivory Empire? The elves, famous for their conservatism, had accepted a human as a high guest. He must be remarkable!
"Let’s return to the matter of your family. You said the Golden Swan Commerce was the last client for your escort agency, correct? That was actually one of the ways they aided the devils."
Aldrian then explained how the Golden Swan Commerce smuggled teleportation artifacts for the devils and the chaos they caused in the Ivory Empire. He also shared his findings about the city’s involvement in the devil infiltration.
Yu Ruomei, who had spent most of her recent years bedridden, was shocked by these revelations.
"Isn’t this terrible? My family also heard about the prophecy from the Heavenly Direction Church. Are they connected?"
"I’m afraid so," Aldrian replied. "Now, regarding your family’s involvement, when they escorted the Golden Swan caravan, whatever the reason, they were killed, and you never heard any news about the caravan afterward. There was only one purpose for that: to eliminate witnesses."
"Witnesses?" Yu Ruomei echoed, her voice trembling. "Are you saying that the escort group somehow learned what was in the caravan? And they were killed because of it?"
Aldrian nodded. "Yes. The moment their operation was compromised, they alerted their connections here in the city. Do you know who their conspirators are?"
He smiled as he looked at her.
Yu Ruomei thought for a moment, then her eyes widened in realization. "The City Lord’s Manor!"
"Bingo," Aldrian confirmed. "The City Lord’s Manor is already deeply involved with the devils, and I’m afraid the connection runs deep. The destruction of your family was a coordinated effort between the devils and the City Lord’s Manor," he said, his expression turning solemn.
Yu Ruomei’s face tensed as they reached this conclusion.
"But I think the City Lord’s Manor is merely trying to take advantage of the devils. Why? Because of the treasure they want from your family."
"My family’s treasure? So, they’re just using each other?" Yu Ruomei asked, her voice filled with disbelief. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
"Yes," Aldrian replied. "You and Yu Fenglian still alive is the proof and I suspect the City Lord’s Manor accepted whatever the devils offered them, but in return, they wanted the treasure. And what better way to seize it than by destroying your family?"
Yu Ruomei fell silent, clenching her fists. Anger and a deep sense of betrayal washed over her.
"Why would they do this to us?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Our relationship with them has been good for so long. Ever since our ancestors discovered that treasure, the City Lord’s Manor, always supported us. But why now? Even they slander us by accusing us of colluding with devils and tarnishing the Yu family’s name?"
"I’m afraid only the city lord himself can answer that," Aldrian said.
Yu Ruomei took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. From the situation, it looks like she would have to face the city lord and confront him herself, to ask for the reason.
"Why don’t we just pay a visit to the City Lord’s Manor?" Aldrian suggested casually. "It would be easier to speak with him directly."
Yu Ruomei was stunned. The way he spoke made it sound as though they were simply visiting an old acquaintance. She looked at Aldrian, trying to gauge if he was serious. Seeing his calm expression, with no hint of concern, she realized he was entirely serious.
Suddenly, Aldrian pulled out a device she recognized, a long communication artifact.
"Hey, I think we’ve got visitors on our side," Xin Haotian’s voice resounded from the artifact, a sound only Aldrian could hear.
