Lian Youming had spent half the day hiding, but in the end, he could hide no longer.
Before dinner, he gave the puzzled, bald-browed burly man before him a sheepish smile, then drew him aside to a secluded spot, away from Xu Tian and the others.
"What can I do for you, brother?"
"Uncle Tian."
Tian Dayong had been wondering who the man before him was. Caught off guard by that address, he first gave a surprised "Huh?" and looked around. Only after confirming that the strapping young man was addressing him did he ask uncertainly, "Do we know each other?"
It was not that his eyes were poor. Lian Youming had simply changed too much. Even his own mother had failed to recognize him when he first returned to the city, let alone Tian Dayong, who had met him only once.
Xu Tian had told him that, out of regard for their ties within the Martial Gate and the deeds of the Eagle Claw Sect's elders in years past, Li Da had decided to nominate Tian Dayong to take over the Eagle Claw Sect. Not only did the man have a military background, but his lineage was also orthodox: he belonged to the direct line of the "Eagle Claw King," Chen Zizheng, making him a rightful successor.
Considering that they would probably have plenty of dealings in the future, along with his own messy business with the Eagle Claw Sect, Lian Youming decided not to keep hiding it and to bring everything into the open.
Tian Dayong was still wondering why someone had suddenly popped up and called him uncle when Lian Youming said quietly, "Have you forgotten? A few years back, you went to Xijing to visit an old comrade. There were four or five of you, and