Chapter Thirty-Seven: Take Notice

"Son, as long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters." Surprisingly, when Liu Tian rejoined the group climbing up the mountain, it wasn’t the local landlord, his Second Uncle Liu Zhengde, who was at the front, but his own father, Liu Yun.

In fact, Liu Yun had left the others far behind, a testament to his years of physical training and the urgency in his heart. Even though the others were more familiar with the terrain, Liu Yun pressed ahead, leading the way. The price was his own battered state—his clothes were in tatters, with scratches all over his body. "As long as you’re fine. What happened?"

Liu Yun reached out to hug his son, but midway, he crouched down and settled for a pat on the shoulder instead. He looked his son up and down—Liu Tian seemed utterly unscathed, though his clothes were also shredded. "What happened? Are you really alright?"

Seeing the anxiety his father could barely hide, Liu Tian was silent for a moment before smiling. "It’s nothing, just a few minor setbacks."

"Are you sure you’re alright?" Liu Yun sniffed, clearly catching the scent of blood that clung to Liu Tian, and pressed further. "We’re family. If anything’s wrong, you should tell us. Don’t carry it all by yourself."

"I’m really fine. Look—no injuries at all," Liu Tian replied. "Don’t worry, Dad. Just a few obstacles I’ve already overcome."

"By the way, how did you know it was me?" Liu Tian changed the subject.

"Your mother suddenly felt uneasy—she couldn’t find you anywhere," Liu Yun said, gazing at his familiar yet newly distant son, noting the calm smile on his face and the lingering scent of blood. "Just then, the city lord’s son went missing. He sent word to all the legitimate families in Pei County, asking us to help search. Your second uncle and I decided to mobilize our household guards and head up the mountain. On the way, we heard the commotion coming from here."

"Although the people of Pei County are tough, there are few these days who truly devote themselves to the martial arts. At this time of day, only you could cause such a disturbance nearby. If it wasn’t you, it must have something to do with Zhang Huan’s disappearance. So we brought the team this way."

"I see," Liu Tian nodded, as if he fully understood. Then he greeted his Second Uncle, who had just caught up. "Good afternoon, Uncle Zhengde. I’m fine for now. Earlier, I ran into some maniac practicing the Kabul Giant Serpent Combat Technique here. We exchanged a few moves—neither of us came out on top."

"By the way, is the Zhang Huan you’re looking for a tall, fat, pale-skinned man who looks thoroughly pampered?"

"Yes, do you know where he is? Does he have a mole on his face?" At Liu Tian’s words, Liu Zhengde, who had been ready to unleash a barrage of questions, suddenly forgot what he’d been about to say and asked anxiously, "Quick, take us to him."

"I didn’t notice if he had a mole—you wouldn’t be able to tell now anyway," Liu Tian said without reservation. "I saw someone like that in the hands of that maniac—but he’s dead now. He was killed in the fight between me and that man who called himself Snake. If you head a bit to the left, you might still find some remains not yet carried off by wild animals."

"But I’d advise against going. The scene is gruesome—best not to spoil your appetite."

"I see," Liu Zhengde declared, as if a great revelation had dawned on him. He raised his voice for the benefit of the others, "So it was during your walk that you stumbled upon the fiend who killed Young Master Zhang Huan. The fiend, seeing he’d been discovered, tried to silence you, but you proved more than his match. After a fierce struggle, and hearing us approach, he fled. Is that right?"

"Who would have thought Young Master Liu Wentian was so formidable, that even the kind of villain capable of kidnapping Young Master Zhang Huan would be helpless against him?" Several sharp-witted followers caught on quickly and chimed in, "Truly, Young Master Liu Wentian is worthy of being the family head’s nephew—so talented at such a young age! He’ll surely be a general someday!"

"He’s not only powerful but also has a righteous heart. To preserve what remained of Young Master Zhang Huan’s body, he bravely held off those vicious criminals until we arrived. Lord Zhang Ning will surely want to thank Young Master Liu Wentian personally!"

"Indeed! If it weren’t for the bond between mother and son warning us that Young Master Liu Wentian was in danger, we wouldn’t have arrived in time. Given the state of the scene, had we been any later, he might have been in grave peril!"

"So he risked his life in battle with this fiend? Such selflessness! Such righteousness!"

As the others praised him, Liu Tian, understanding the game Liu Zhengde was playing, muttered softly, "Actually, I killed that man myself—Snake used him as a human shield, so I finished him off."

"Who cares about that scum who should’ve died a hundred times already?" Liu Zhengde shrugged indifferently. "If not for his father, with his character, he’d have died in some alley long ago. Good riddance."

"But he can’t have died by your hand. Otherwise, we’d have a hard time demanding compensation from the city lord. So officially, he was killed by that ‘Snake’ you mentioned." Liu Zhengde waved off his subordinates and put on a solemn face. "I know exactly who you mean—a criminal skilled in countless martial arts, notorious for his cruelty. I’ve seen him on the battlefield myself. With his temperament, he’s capable of anything. I’ve even heard that, in pursuit of martial perfection, he underwent genetic modifications and became even more deranged. Who knows what horrors he inflicted on Young Master Zhang Huan."

He paused and sighed, "I imagine Zhang Huan’s body must bear many strange injuries. Will we even be able to identify him?"

"I killed Zhang Huan using the Heaven Martial Slaughter Path, Severing Heart Technique. The wounds are very distinctive—if someone knows what to look for, they’ll recognize them at once," Liu Tian added, understanding his uncle’s implication.

"Oh? What kind of wounds? Who could recognize them?" Liu Zhengde feigned confusion. "Wasn’t part of the body destroyed by Snake and the rest devoured by wild beasts? In these mountains, who could find the beast that gnawed on his corpse? Just bring back a token, that’s enough. Don’t worry, your uncle is no pushover—he’ll have to accept it, like it or not."

"In a direct fight, Snake could defeat ten of you, even if you were armed," Liu Tian replied since Liu Zhengde was prepared to handle things. "Besides, his martial arts aren’t of the Red Cloud Empire’s tradition. If you saw him on the battlefield, it’s very likely he’s involved in the current situation. Otherwise, with his abilities, it makes no sense for him to be here."

"Is that so? I see," Liu Zhengde replied, not disputing Liu Tian’s reasoning. "I think I know who’s pulling the strings. By the way, Nephew, do you know something?"

"In this world, firearms are the true rulers, and armies far surpass martial artists. I happen to have some influence with the local military, so you don’t need to worry."

"Is that so? Then I’m relieved," Liu Tian replied as if he completely believed his uncle. As if remembering something, he added, "By the way, uncle, do you know which families in or near the Ancient Relic City of the Lost Empire collect relics?"

"You really like that sort of thing, don’t you?" Liu Zhengde shook his head with a laugh. "If you mean in Pei County, the city lord has the largest collection. He was originally an antique dealer—always stingy—but his business prospered, and then he secured favor in the capital, which is how he became city lord. He’s never gotten along with our family, and even after such a great service, he probably wouldn’t let you into his treasury. But I’ll see what I can do."

"As for nearby families, you can ask the steward to investigate for you. I do have some influence around here. After the birthday banquet, I’ll take you to visit each household if you’d like."

"No need for that, uncle—it’s too much trouble. When I’m ready, I’ll go myself. I just wanted to ask in advance so I can keep an eye out..."