The Ancestor's Will Manifests

"By the way, Ancestor, there's something I think I should tell you."

Just then, Murong Haikuo suddenly spoke.

Ancestor Murong looked at him. "What is it?"

"Er, it's about my daughter and the patriarch of the Lu Clan."

Murong Haikuo then told his ancestor about Murong Yu and Lu Qingshan's past, including how the Lineage had opposed their relationship and beaten the mandarin ducks apart.

After hearing him out, Ancestor Murong knitted his brows. He had not expected the Lineage to have crossed paths with the Lu Clan so long ago.

Unfortunately, things had ended badly.

And Lu Qingshan was still the patriarch of the Lu Clan.

"You can't be blamed for this. After all, who could have imagined that the little Lineage in Qingzhou would become the Lu Clan of Central Province today?"

Putting himself in their shoes, he would have made the same decision back then.

But now, his Murong Clan had to do something to make up for its past mistake.

A moment later.

Ancestor Murong went with Murong Haikuo to find Murong Yu.

"Greetings, Ancestor."

Upon seeing her ancestor, Murong Yu hurried to bow.

But Ancestor Murong lifted her up before she could. "Xiao Yu, I wasn't here all these years, and you've suffered."

Hearing this, Murong Yu looked at her ancestor, but her expression did not change.

Ancestor Murong continued, "The Lineage was indeed in the wrong back then. We shouldn't have stood in the way of your love. Now that I've emerged from seclusion, I'll stand up for you. Come with me to the Lu Clan."

Another trip to the Lu Clan.

Murong Yu remained expressionless. She was an exceptionally clever woman; how could she not know what her ancestor meant?

All that talk of family affection was a lie.

In this world, only benefits could move them.

Yet for some reason, Murong Yu felt no particular resistance. Instead, she very much wanted to visit the Lu Clan again.

Could it be that she really had not let go?

Inside the patriarch's residence in the Lu Clan.

"Patriarch, Miss Murong Yu has brought an elderly man who wishes to see you."

Lu Qingshan frowned slightly at the clansman's report.

An elderly man?

"What sort of elderly man?"

"Er, he looks like an ordinary old man."

"Mm, I understand. Let them both in."

"Yes, Patriarch."

By now, Lu Qingshan had already guessed something. As for an ordinary old man, heh, he could have figured it out with his ass: how could Murong Yu possibly bring an ordinary old man to the Lu Clan?

The visitor was most likely a truly important figure of the Murong Clan.

He might even have been the one who requested the Nine Revolutions Yang Restoration Pill.

Lu Qingshan's guess was indeed correct.

Murong Yu entered the patriarch's residence with an elderly man.

In an instant, Lu Qingshan sensed the terrifying presence about him.

Even though the man had deliberately concealed it, Lu Qingshan was a Saint Realm cultivator. How could he fail to sense the presence of a Saint King?

"You must be Ancestor Murong."

Looking at the man, Lu Qingshan spoke directly.

Ancestor Murong laughed heartily. "Patriarch of the Lu Clan, you truly have an eye for a pearl. Indeed, it is I."

"What brings you personally to the Lu Clan, Ancestor Murong?"

"Patriarch Lu, I've come this time because of Xiao Yu."

Lu Qingshan immediately looked at Murong Yu.

Feeling his gaze, Murong Yu lowered her head slightly, seeming somewhat afraid to meet his eyes.

Ancestor Murong continued, "My Murong Clan was indeed in the wrong first back then, interfering in the relationship between you two juniors. But Patriarch Lu, you must understand us. You're a patriarch too. As the patriarch's daughter, Xiao Yu grew up clad in silks and fed on delicacies. How could we bear to let her suffer?"

The implication was that the Lu Clan's circumstances had been too difficult back then.

Though it was true, Lu Qingshan still did not much like hearing it.

Had he never heard the saying, "Don't bully a young man for being poor"?

Ancestor Murong spoke again. "My Murong Clan was in the wrong, but do you two bear no responsibility at all?"

Lu Qingshan: ???

Murong Yu: ???

They both looked at Ancestor Murong, their faces showing some astonishment.

How were the two of them in the wrong too?

Ancestor Murong said solemnly, "The Lineage did intend to separate you, but was that not also a test of the love between you? If you two truly loved each other, what did such a small setback matter?"

"But the outcome did leave the Lineage somewhat disappointed."

The outcome was that, although they had briefly been together, they had ultimately parted for various reasons.

Hearing this, Lu Qingshan wore a complicated expression. He actually felt that those words made a great deal of sense.

Sensing the trace of guilt in Lu Qingshan's eyes, Ancestor Murong was overjoyed. He knew he had succeeded halfway; the other half depended on Murong Yu.

He then sighed and said, "You two young people should have a good talk. If the knot in your hearts remains untied, it won't do either of you any good."

With that, Ancestor Murong turned and left the patriarch's residence.

Only Lu Qingshan and Murong Yu remained in the residence.

Looking at Murong Yu, whose head was still lowered, her emotions unreadable, Lu Qingshan wore a complicated expression.

Back then, his Lineage had been in mortal danger, and his attention had been limited. Though he had still loved Murong Yu deeply, he had been forced to neglect her. Now, he was no longer in the same predicament.

But could they really go back to the way things were?

"A-Yu, I..."

Hearing that familiar form of address, Murong Yu could not help trembling slightly, and her eyes grew moist.

Scene after scene from when they had been in love resurfaced from the depths of her memories.

"I wronged you. Are you still willing to give me a chance to make it up to you?"

After struggling with himself for a while, Lu Qingshan finally spoke the words in his heart.

He was not only the head of a Lineage; he was also a man.

A man had to take responsibility.

Hearing Lu Qingshan's words, Murong Yu slowly raised her head. Tear tracks marked her delicate cheeks. She simply gazed at Lu Qingshan, still saying nothing, but her deeply affectionate gaze seemed to say a thousand words.

Seeing this, Lu Qingshan understood how she felt.

"A-Yu..."

Lu Qingshan stepped forward and embraced Murong Yu.

The two held each other tightly.

At that moment, they reconciled.

Elsewhere, Ancestor Murong was staring intently at a certain place in the Lu Clan.

It was the Lu Clan's ancestral shrine.

"In the entire Lu Clan, that's the only place I can't see through. It seems that's where the Lu Clan's core lies."

Ancestor Murong's expression was grave. For some reason, that place gave him a feeling of extreme danger. Looking at it was like staring into an abyss.

Hum-

Suddenly, at that moment, a presence burst forth from the Lu Clan's ancestral shrine.

In an instant, every outsider in the Lu Clan felt a terrifying pressure. Even Ancestor Murong, a Peak Saint King, felt an indescribable fear.

Lingering fear, relief, and all manner of emotions intertwined, making him gasp for breath.

"Just as I thought!"

"This Lu Clan is the legendary Imperial Clan!"

"A presence above the Saint King level. There's absolutely no mistake. I was right after all."

Meanwhile, inside the Lu Clan's ancestral shrine.

Three Lu Clan ancestors wore reverent expressions as they bowed slightly toward the incense burner on the table.

At this moment, pale smoke filled the entire ancestral shrine.

Then, under the three men's gazes, an illusory figure slowly took shape.