Lu Shui Is My Cousin

"I, Hidden Heaven Sect Young Sect Master Liu Huo, am handling business here. Who gave you permission to approach?

"Stand down, now."

How come that voice sounded so grating to Lu Shui?

Had Hidden Heaven Sect Young Sect Master Liu Huo just threatened him?

Was there really such a person?

Zhen Wu and Zhen Ling looked just as surprised. Wasn't Hidden Heaven Sect Liu Huo their young master?

Or had their young master used someone else's name?

But why did this person speak just like their young master?

Or rather, he didn't sound nearly as confident.

This one merely told people to stand down, while their young master would tell them to kneel.

The difference between them was like heaven and earth.

The conclusion was obvious: this person was imitating their young master.

Lu Shui had also figured it out. The other party actually meant to scare him off by using his name. It was rather amusing.

Besides, the other party was only a Third Tier Peak.

At that moment, the young woman whispered to Lu Shui:

"You'd better leave. This man is especially vicious. He abuses his position as Hidden Heaven Sect Young Sect Master to do whatever he wants. I've heard he's even going to become a Flower Thief.

"I have a background that can protect me, so I'll be fine. But you're in trouble."

Lu Shui: "..."

He didn't care about anyone's background. What worried him was the Flower Thief part. If the accusation stuck, he wouldn't be the one going to the Mu Family to Break Off Engagement—Mu Xue would come to the Lu Family to break it off with him.

She might even break his legs and keep him from ever leaving home again.

Lu Shui didn't hesitate any longer. He simply said:

"Zhen Wu."

Zhen Wu understood. He took a step forward, and the man in the sky furrowed his brow. He had never expected the other party to skip talking and go straight to attacking.

Yes, he saw the man make his move.

His sword left its sheath.

Then it returned to its sheath.

What did that mean? Had he changed his mind?

The thought flashed through his head. But soon, he realized his view was spinning, splitting apart more and more.

Only then did he understand: the other man hadn't changed his mind. He had already finished attacking, and the man had been cleaved in two by a single sword stroke.

That was right. The "Liu Huo" in the sky had been killed by Zhen Wu's sword.

But as that "Liu Huo" was split apart, he turned into countless Spirit Insects, which tried to flee.

Zhen Ling drew her sword. It blazed with fire, and in just a few breaths, she had burned nearly all the Spirit Insects around them.

Once they were done, they returned to Lu Shui's side. Unfortunately, Fake Liu Huo was still alive.

Lu Shui had known that from the start. The other party was merely a Third Tier Peak Insect Cultivator; he couldn't possibly fly by Sword Flight. That had been his insect body. The real person was hiding God knew how far away.

At Third Tier, there were only two kinds of people who could fly by sword: accomplished Sword Cultivators, and people like him.

As for anyone who could fly while still below Third Tier Comprehension, there was only one person for now: Mu Xue.

Lu Shui could do it too, but it would take time. By the time he had enough time, he'd already be Fourth or Fifth Tier.

Unless he did what Mu Xue had and gave up cultivating his own power.

The young woman stared, jaw hanging open, as Lu Shui's people killed Liu Huo and burned all his Spirit Insects.

So strong. It was like a grown man beating up a child.

Xiang Yu knitted her brows. There were two Fourth Tier experts. If they meant to harm her young lady, there was no way to escape.

A thought flashed through her mind. Xiang Yu moved in front of her young lady to protect her, then addressed Lu Shui and the others respectfully:

"Thank you, fellow Daoists, for coming to our aid. We will repay you generously another day.

"May I ask who you are?"

Another day? That was an empty promise. But Lu Shui didn't mind. He replied:

"Dongfang Haoyue."

Zhen Wu: "..."

Zhen Ling: "..."

Their young master could rattle off a fake name without batting an eye. Last time he'd tricked the Hidden Heaven Sect; was he planning to trick the Dongfang Family this time?

Did Madam Clan Leader know?

Actually, Lu Shui had come up with the name on the spot. He chose Dongfang because his mother's surname was Dongfang—the easiest surname for him to think of. He'd picked Haoyue simply because it sounded impressive.

He couldn't risk using Liu Huo for now. That person had just used it.

Who knew if he'd end up taking the blame?

And he couldn't use his real name, either. His reputation was too bad; even saying it would cause trouble.

After Lu Shui gave his name, the young woman blurted out:

"Your surname is Dongfang too?"

Xiang Yu glanced at the young woman, looking utterly helpless.

Young lady, you should be careful.

Lu Shui looked at the young woman.

"Too?"

He wouldn't have bothered asking an ordinary person, but he had always felt that he knew this person. He wouldn't have felt that way if he hadn't often seen her in his previous life.

When Lu Shui asked, the young woman said:

"My name is Dongfang Chacha. My surname is Dongfang too. Are you from the Dongfang Family?"

"Dongfang Zhazha?" Lu Shui repeated.

"It's Dongfang Chacha!" Dongfang Chacha corrected him.

But Lu Shui hadn't been listening. He was already thinking: Dongfang Zhazha. That name sounded familiar too. So they'd known each other in his previous life. Which one was she? She had to be someone important to have survived long enough to meet him while Mu Xue hadn't made a move.

At that moment, Xiang Yu's voice interrupted Lu Shui's thoughts:

"Fellow Daoist Dongfang, we've already contacted some people from the Lu Family. I hope you'll wait a while. Our valuables were just stolen, but once the Lu Family people arrive, we'll repay you generously."

That was gratitude, but also a little self-protection.

"People from the Lu Family? You can call them here?" Lu Shui asked curiously.

"We're very close with the Lu Family," Dongfang Chacha said.

"For example?" Lu Shui asked.

"My Paternal Aunt is part of the Lu Family. She's also the Lu Family's Madam Clan Leader," Dongfang Chacha said with a hint of pride.

Lu Shui frowned. If her Paternal Aunt was Madam Clan Leader, didn't that mean his mother?

At that moment, Dongfang Chacha continued:

"My Paternal Aunt even gave the Lu Family a son. What was his name again? Let me think. I saw him when I was little.

"Oh, right. His name was Lu Shui."

"..." Lu Shui thought it over again. It did seem to be true.

This Dongfang Zhazha was his cousin. No wonder he remembered her. She and Mu Xue had seemed very close.

He remembered that in his previous life, when Dongfang Zhazha was about to undergo her tribulation, she'd asked Mu Xue to simulate it for her. Then he, who had been watching from far away, seemed to have meddled with things.

After that, Dongfang Zhazha seemed to have been left with a psychological shadow.

Come to think of it, why had he done that?

Was he going to think about it again?

Forget it. Too much trouble.

But Dongfang Zhazha's father was Mother's older brother, right? Then shouldn't Mother be her Paternal Aunt?

Forget it. Never mind.

"I didn't realize you were related to Young Master Lu," Lu Shui said, looking at Dongfang Zhazha with a faint smile.

Dongfang Chacha nodded.

"That's right. Lu Shui is my cousin."

""

Lu Shui was a little confused. Was there something wrong with his memory?

"May I ask how old you are, miss?"

"I turned eighteen a little while ago."

"Then may I ask how old Young Master Lu is?"

"Wait a moment. Let me work it out."

As she spoke, Dongfang Chacha counted on her fingers, seemingly calculating from something.

It was hard for ordinary people to remember how old someone else was, but they could use certain details to work it out. For example, how old the person had been a few years ago, or how many years older they were than you.

Dongfang Chacha soon found her answer:

"Lu Shui should be twenty, my cousin who's two years older than me."

Lu Shui: "Is that so?"

Dongfang Chacha: "Yes."

Lu Shui: "..."

Zhen Wu: "..."

Zhen Ling: "..."

Lu Shui could understand why he had meddled back then. Dongfang Zhazha deserved that psychological shadow.

At last, Lu Shui turned and left.

"Goodbye."

He still had to find that impostor. Until this "Liu Huo" was dead, he couldn't rest easy.