Chapter 00035: Intimidating the Lou Family
# Intimidating the Lou Family
Chapter 35
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 35: Intimidating the Lou Family
Lou Xuemao snorted coldly, ignoring Lou Ruyu, and turned to enter the room. Lou Zhengxiu quickly followed, while Lou Ruyu was left puzzled. His uncle had always been kind to him, so why was he giving him such a harsh look today? Regardless, he dared not offend his uncle and quickly went in as well.
“Ruyu, from today onwards, you are not allowed to mess around outside. Either study or work at the mines,” Lou Xuemao said in a calm tone after sitting down, yet his words left no room for doubt.
“But, Uncle, you know I’m not the studying type,” Lou Ruyu couldn’t understand the sudden change in his uncle’s words.
Lou Xuemao didn't bother with Lou Ruyu’s response and continued, “Also, later, I will annul your engagement with Su Cen from the Su Family in Haiyang. You are not allowed to find her for any reason in the future.”
“Why? Uncle, she is the woman I love,” Lou Ruyu protested immediately upon hearing about the annulment with Su Cen.
Lou Xuemao looked at Lou Ruyu coldly, “If you want me to demolish our Lou Family, just go on and seek out the Su Family. But, before that, I will demolish you, Lou Ruyu, first.”
Hearing his uncle’s fearful tone, Lou Ruyu shivered, not daring to speak another word.
Lou Zhengxiu added from the side, “Chairman, as fearsome as Lan Xiaobu might be, he shouldn’t yet be a threat to our Lou Family, right? As far as I know, Ju Jie and Ju Jun were both killed by Lan Xiaobu in the operating room. After killing them, Lan Xiaobu fled.”
Though Lou Zhengxiu did not finish his sentence, Lou Xuemao understood his meaning—many powerful figures lay within the Lou Family. Furthermore, the Lou Family made its fortune through mining; despite minimal negative reports, each mining dispute inevitably resulted in bloodshed. A few deaths were par for the course.
No matter how formidable Lan Xiaobu was, he was merely a doctor. The reason Lou Zhengxiu treated him with respect was because of Lan Xiaobu’s ruthless nature; they did not wish to provoke such a person. But to pressure the Lou Family, a mere Lan Xiaobu seemed insufficient.
“Uncle, what about Lan Xiaobu?” Lou Ruyu cautiously asked, knowing of Lan Xiaobu’s notoriety for killing Ju Jie and Ju Jun. Ju Jun was one thing, but Ju Jie was even more formidable than his uncle.
Lou Zhengxiu replied, “Su Cen is Lan Xiaobu’s woman, so it’s best you not think of Su Cen anymore.”
Hearing Su Cen was Lan Xiaobu's woman made Lou Ruyu’s neck tingle with fear. Though he was a playboy, he knew Lan Xiaobu feared no rich young master. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared kill Ju Jie and Ju Jun. His concern was not that Lan Xiaobu would confront the Lou Family but rather that Lan Xiaobu would deal with him personally.
He spent his days indulging in pleasures; if Lan Xiaobu wanted to deal with him, it would be all too easy. With this thought, his initial resistance found no further words.
Lou Xuemao looked at Lou Zhengxiu and sighed, “Do you think I fear him because Lan Xiaobu killed Ju Jie and Ju Jun? The Ju Family is indeed stronger than our Lou Family, but this isn't why I fear him.”
Seeing that Lou Zhengxiu still didn’t understand, Lou Xuemao continued, “I recently learned that the Savage Crocodile Gang was wiped out by Lan Xiaobu single-handedly. Including the Gang Leader, Feng Bo, and all Five Ministers, Twenty Prodigies... none survived. Do you think our Lou Family can rival the Savage Crocodile Gang?”
Upon hearing Lou Xuemao’s words, Lou Zhengxiu felt his scalp tingle, his whole body cold with fear. At that moment, he was only thankful that he had treated Lan Xiaobu with the utmost courtesy all along without doing anything to antagonize him.
Ordinary people might not know about the Savage Crocodile Gang, but how could Lou Zhengxiu not know? The Five Ministers of the Savage Crocodile Gang were all Inner Strength martial artists. After the Spiritual Qi of the Earth exploded, it was possible more members of the Twenty Prodigies achieved Inner Strength. This gang could walk with their eyes to the sky in Southeast Asia, and now they were wiped out by Lan Xiaobu. How could he not feel cold all over?
In contrast, Lou Ruyu, not knowing of the Savage Crocodile Gang, felt relatively indifferent, unlike the dread Lan Xiaobu imposed through the murder of Ju Jun.
Lou Xuemao spoke gravely, “Though you and I don’t practice martial arts, I believe you’re not unfamiliar with Inner Strength martial artists. Our Lou Family even hosts one such martial artist. But have you ever seen an Inner Strength martial artist disappear from our gate in just two steps?”
Earlier, when Lan Xiaobu left, his first step placed him several feet away, and they saw only a shadow. By the second step, they didn’t know where he had gone.
Lou Zhengxiu sighed deeply and asked cautiously, “Chairman, is it confirmed that Lan Xiaobu took out the Savage Crocodile Gang?”
Lou Xuemao shook his head, “I just learned this from an old friend. Otherwise, do you think I would rush back because of a mere Lan Xiaobu? This discussion is over and is not to be spread. And Ruyu, you must restrain yourself and not violate any family rules while outside. I’ll handle the cancellation of your engagement with the Su Family soon, and this matter will be put to rest.”
“Yes, Uncle,” Lou Ruyu bowed his head.
...
Kunlun Mountain, Huaxia’s foremost Divine Mountain, bears countless Huaxia legends.
Since Kunlun Mountain is incredibly treacherous and mysterious, travelers who attempt to enter often go missing, thus military guards watch over it.
However, this protection is more symbolic and doesn’t reach the extent of sealing the mountain.
Lan Xiaobu considered himself lucky; his journey thus far had been without incident, and within just a few days, he reached the periphery of Kunlun Mountain. Even better, though the Earth’s Spiritual Qi was growing denser, Kunlun Mountain had yet to draw anyone's attention. That is, rumors of foreign objects falling into Kunlun Mountain had not yet spread.
Lan Xiaobu adjusted his backpack and glanced back, then took out his phone and sent a message before destroying the SIM card. He even threw away the phone.
From this moment on, Lan Xiaobu knew he might meet his end deep within Kunlun Mountain. Though he had reincarnated for less than a year, the past must be left behind.
Though Lan Xiaobu longed to reach the Innate Realm before entering Kunlun Mountain, he knew it was unrealistic. It wasn’t just about whether he could achieve the Innate Realm; by the time he could, entry to Kunlun Mountain would be prohibited.
...
Back at Haiyang Medical University, Su Cen appeared restless, as her classmates noted her troubled state of mind.
“Ding.” Her phone alerted her to a message. Su Cen checked it: “Forgive my broken promise; I cannot accompany you this lifetime. Take care.”
The strange phone number and enigmatic message confused her, and as she considered deleting it as spam, Zhang Meixun’s voice rang out, “Su Cen, your mom is here.”
“Ah.” Su Cen looked up in disbelief at the door.
Since shortly after she started university, her parents left Haiyang, allegedly going abroad, but had never contacted her, let alone visited. If not for her grandfather’s presence, she wouldn’t even want to return. Yet today, her mother was visiting her on campus. What was happening?
At the classroom door stood a haggard-looking woman, her eyes filled with tears, “Cen Cen...”
“Mom, how come you’re here?” Su Cen stood up quickly. Although she didn’t understand why her parents ignored her since she started university, they were, after all, her family.
“Cen Cen, your father and I are sorry to you.” Outside the classroom, Wei Nan held her daughter Su Cen tightly. She had wanted to return countless times but felt helpless.
“Mom, where’s dad?” Su Cen knew her mom’s apology likely referenced their disappearance when she started university. Still, that her mom had returned sufficed, as her grandfather had taken good care of her during her stint at university.
“Cen Cen, your dad and I opposed your immediate graduation marriage into the Lou Family, especially to that wastrel, Lou Ruyu, and so were forcibly sent abroad. We had no power...”
“What?” Su Cen was shocked by her mother’s words. She was to marry Lou Ruyu? He was infamous as a scoundrel. The thought that even her parents couldn’t resist left her face pale.
But then she realized, “Mom, are you planning to take me abroad secretly?”
Wei Nan gently stroked her daughter’s hair, filled with guilt yet relieved by the changes, “Cen Cen, that was all in the past. The Lou Family has voluntarily annulled your engagement with Lou Ruyu, so I was able to come back. Your father will also return soon after wrapping up matters abroad.”
Hearing this, Su Cen finally sighed in relief.
“Cen Cen, your face looks off, and you’re somewhat distracted. Has something happened?” Despite years apart, Wei Nan immediately sensed something amiss upon seeing her daughter.
Su Cen hesitated; she used to tell her mother everything, but after years apart, she felt awkward, and due to her age, found it difficult to express herself.
“Cen Cen, I know you may hold some resentment against us, but I am still your mother. Is there anything you can’t share with me?” Wei Nan sighed inwardly, knowing only time and care would heal the rifts with her daughter.
After hesitating, Su Cen finally asked, “Mom, I've been having strange dreams lately, sometimes about future happenings, and they’re quite bizarre...”
Wei Nan grew anxious hearing this. Occasional dreams foreshadowing the future might not mean much, but frequent ones would be concerning.
“Cen Cen, don’t worry, I’ll take you to Xingjian Temple; Master Pingshan can interpret dreams. Let’s check if you've encountered something supernatural.” Wei Nan tried to comfort her daughter, though she was even more worried inside.
(Today's updates end here, goodnight, friends!)
(End of chapter)