Battle Through The Heavens : I Am The Thunder Emperor

Chapter 343: The Xiao Clan Gathers, News from Gu He

In the following days, after handing over the task of uniting the Jia Ma Empire's factions to Xiao Yan, Mo Yu found himself with some free time. He wandered around the bustling Imperial City, but found little of interest. Shaking his head in boredom, he eventually made his way to the city's busiest district.

At this point, a grand estate had a brand-new plaque hung at its entrance, with bold and flowing characters that caught the attention of passersby, who paused to take a closer look.

"Xiao Residence!"

When Mo Yu arrived, he saw the large crowd gathered around the estate and helplessly shook his head. Without bothering to squeeze through, he flashed over the wall and entered the courtyard.

The moment he stepped inside, he was immediately greeted by the sound of wind whistling past him. Four shadows attacked from the darkness, but Mo Yu didn't dodge. With a flick of his fingers, a gust of energy easily deflected the attacks.

"No need to worry, it's just me." Mo Yu chuckled as he casually repelled the four figures.

Hearing this familiar voice, the four shadows quickly knelt on one knee and said respectfully, "Apologies, Master! We did not recognize you!"

"It's fine." Mo Yu waved them off with a smile, then continued walking along the small path inside the estate.

This estate had been carefully chosen by Xiao Li as the new residence of the Xiao Clan in the Imperial Capital. Now that Mo Yu and Xiao Yan had returned to the Jia Ma Empire, the Xiao Clan no longer needed to hide like before. The estate, larger and grander than the one the Xiao Clan had in Wu Tan City, had been prepared for them to rebuild their strength.

However, due to the sharp decrease in the clan's members, the large estate seemed somewhat empty and quiet.

After walking along the path for a while, Mo Yu arrived at a spacious hall. Laughter could be faintly heard from inside. He walked up to the door, gently pushed it open, and entered. Inside, Xiao Li and Xiao Ding, who were overseeing some servants organizing the hall, turned to see him. Both greeted him with smiles.

After exchanging greetings with Xiao Ding and his brother, Mo Yu began to observe the scene around him.

In the wide courtyard, children were playing, their laughter echoing through the estate. About a dozen men, dressed in simple clothes, were also present. These men had weapons strapped to their backs and a wary gleam in their eyes, a result of years spent living on the run. The carefree lifestyle they had once enjoyed as part of one of Wu Tan City's great clans had been replaced with a hardened edge.

The sudden opening of the courtyard gate immediately caught everyone's attention, and their eyes shifted to the silver-eyed youth who had entered.

For a moment, the crowd was stunned. Then, in the blink of an eye, a wave of excitement swept through the courtyard.

"It's Young Master Mo Yu!"

"One of the Xiao Clan's Twin Dragons, Mo Yu, has arrived!"

"If it weren't for Young Master Mo Yu, we'd still be hiding in the shadows. We owe everything to both him and Young Master Xiao Yan."

Hearing the excited voices of the Xiao Clan members, Xiao Li and Xiao Ding exchanged glances, their faces softening with smiles. After years of hardship, the Xiao Clan finally had a stable home again.

As everyone rejoiced, the doors to one of the rooms in the courtyard swung open. An elderly man and a middle-aged man hurried out and immediately locked eyes with the silver-eyed youth standing in the middle of the courtyard. Their gazes were filled with emotion.

"Third Elder, Uncle Xiao, you've worked hard these past few years." Mo Yu sighed softly as he approached the two, speaking gently.

"No, no, it's you, Young Master Mo Yu, who has suffered. You've been wandering outside for years, enduring far more than us," the Third Elder replied, wiping away a few tears.

Seeing the elder's emotional response, the other members of the Xiao Clan couldn't help but tear up as well.

In just a few short years, the Xiao Clan had fallen from being one of the three great clans in Wu Tan City to living in hiding, constantly on the run. Their once peaceful lives had been replaced with hardship and exile.

The middle-aged man beside the Third Elder nodded in agreement, but then, as if remembering something, he looked at Mo Yu with a hopeful expression and asked carefully, "Young Master Mo Yu, how is Xiao Yu doing at Jia Nan Academy?"

"Uncle Xiao, please just call me by my name," Mo Yu said with a smile. The middle-aged man before him was none other than Xiao Yu's father, which made him Mo Yu's future father-in-law. Naturally, Mo Yu wouldn't be disrespectful to him.

"Xiao Yu is doing well at the academy. She's already reached the peak of the Da Dou Shi level and is just one step away from breaking through to the Dou Ling level. There's no need to worry," Mo Yu reassured him.

"That's good to hear. Thank you, Mo Yu, for taking care of her," Uncle Xiao replied, his face showing a mix of gratitude and awkwardness. He wasn't quite sure how to interact with such a remarkable young man, especially given that this "son-in-law" of his was now one of the most powerful figures in the Jia Ma Empire. The fact that his daughter had reached such heights in cultivation was certainly due, in no small part, to Mo Yu's help. Marrying Mo Yu was truly a stroke of fortune for their family.

Mo Yu, unaware of the thoughts running through his future father-in-law's head, looked at the somber faces of the clan members around him and spoke in a serious tone, "Don't worry. Whatever Yun Lan Sect owes us, I'll make sure they pay it back tenfold."

"We believe in you, Young Master Mo Yu!" the Xiao Clan members responded, their fighting spirit reignited as they nodded firmly.

Mo Yu smiled at their response. Just as he was about to continue talking with the clan members, the door to a secluded room at the back of the estate slowly opened, and a figure in black robes emerged.

"Young Master Xiao Yan!"

"Clan Leader!"

The excitement in the courtyard surged again as the clan members cheered loudly for Xiao Yan, their voices no less enthusiastic than when Mo Yu had arrived. This figure, none other than Xiao Yan, was the second of the Xiao Clan's Twin Dragons.

With Xiao Zhan's fate unknown and the passing of the First and Second Elders, Xiao Yan had officially taken on the role of clan leader, assuming responsibility for the future of the Xiao Clan.

"Oh, Cousin Mo Yu, you're here."

Xiao Yan's eyes swept over Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and the Third Elder before finally landing on Mo Yu. He smiled warmly.

"Yes, I came to check on everyone. But you've been in seclusion for quite some time. How did the refining of the 'Hun Yuan Bone-Molding Pill' go?" Mo Yu asked with a smile.

Mo Yu was well aware of Xiao Yan's recent activities. After taking on the task of forming alliances with the various factions of the Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Yan had been busy negotiating with the Royal Family, the Nalan Clan, and others. As a highly skilled alchemist, Xiao Yan had a significant advantage—especially given that the Royal Family's guardian beast, the sixth-tier Youhai Flood Dragon, a beast on par with a seven- or eight-star Dou Huang, was suffering from internal injuries. It required a specific sixth-tier pill to heal, and Xiao Yan had readily taken on the task of refining it.

Hearing Mo Yu's question, Xiao Yan nodded confidently and smiled. "I didn't disappoint. It's finished."

Mo Yu nodded in approval, unsurprised by the result. After all, Xiao Yan was the disciple of Yao Lao, the Medicine Venerable. For him, refining a sixth-tier pill was no great challenge.

Both Xiao Li and Xiao Ding smiled as well. Securing the support of the Youhai Flood Dragon, a creature on par with a seven- or eight-star Dou Huang, had significantly increased their chances of victory.

"Hehe, well done, Cousin Xiao Yan. A great teacher produces great students," Mo Yu praised, indirectly complimenting Yao Lao, who he knew was watching through Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan rubbed the back of his head, chuckling. "You give me too much credit, Cousin Mo Yu. Compared to you, I'm nothing."

If anyone else had praised him, Xiao Yan would have humbly accepted it, knowing his own worth. But in front of Mo Yu, who was even more monstrously talented, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a bit humbled.

"Since the pill is ready, I'll head to the Royal Family to deliver it to Yaoye and discuss the terms of our cooperation," Xiao Yan said, his tone turning serious after a moment of laughter.

"Alright." Mo Yu nodded, watching as Xiao Yan left. He then continued playing with the Xiao Clan children for a while before deciding to rest. However, just as he was about to do so, a servant approached to inform him that a mysterious and powerful visitor had come to see him.

In the study of the Xiao Residence, Mo Yu frowned slightly as he looked at the man in the black robe standing before him.

"Who are you? Based on the powerful aura you're giving off, you're clearly not an ordinary person. If you wanted to meet me, why hide your identity?"

The man in the black robe was the mysterious visitor the servants had mentioned. Mo Yu could sense the strong soul force emanating from the man, which stirred his curiosity. He had a vague guess about the man's identity.

"As expected of one of the Xiao Clan's Twin Dragons, the one who lingers in Yun Yun's thoughts. Mo Yu, you're truly extraordinary," the man finally said after a moment of silence. His voice carried a strange tone as he slowly removed his hood, revealing a handsome middle-aged face.

The man had a dignified air about him, with tall stature and good looks that would likely appeal to those who preferred the 'older man' type.

"It's you, Gu He!"

Recognizing the familiar face, Mo Yu, who had once seen Gu He from afar at the Alchemist Grand Meeting, confirmed his suspicions. He was surprised and asked, "Why are you here?"

Gu He, also known as the Pill King, was a famous figure in the Jia Ma Empire, renowned as a sixth-tier alchemist. Years ago, during the Alchemist Grand Meeting, Mo Yu had taken note of him. A sixth-tier alchemist would be considered top-tier even in the Black-Corner Region, let alone the relatively remote Jia Ma Empire.

What surprised Mo Yu the most was why Gu He, who had always been aligned with the Yun Lan Sect, would come to meet him in private. Could he be here to assassinate him?

For a moment, the thought crossed Mo Yu's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. If the Yun Lan Sect wanted him dead, they wouldn't send a sixth-tier alchemist. An alchemist, after all, wasn't much of a fighter, and even a Dou Wang could easily overpower one. Such a move would be far too risky and pointless.

Discarding the unrealistic thought, Mo Yu looked at Gu He and waited for him to explain his intentions.

With his current strength, Mo Yu had no reason to fear any tricks from Gu He.

As the silence stretched on, Gu He took the opportunity to carefully observe Mo Yu, just as Mo Yu was observing him. After a few minutes, Gu He's expression grew more solemn. Finally, in a slightly bitter tone, he spoke.

"I didn't expect her to choose you."

"Her?" Mo Yu was momentarily confused. Then, recalling what Gu He had mentioned earlier, his face grew more serious as he asked, "Are you talking about Yun Yun?"

"Yes," Gu He nodded, his expression somewhat pained. The always-proud Pill King now seemed despondent as he said, "It seems the one Yun Yun has been thinking of all this time is you. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so overjoyed when she learned of your return to the Jia Ma Empire."

"I should have realized it earlier. If her heart hadn't already been given to someone else, she wouldn't have rejected me time and time again."

Seeing the famous Pill King Gu He acting like a lovesick, heartbroken man, Mo Yu was caught off guard. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"Well, love is something that depends on mutual feelings and destiny. If anything about Yun Yun and me has unintentionally hurt you, I can't really be blamed for that, right?" After a long pause, Mo Yu finally spoke, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture.

Gu He remained silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice, his tone heavy with emotion. "What did I lack? I'm just as worthy of her!"

Hearing the bitterness in Gu He's voice, Mo Yu frowned slightly, starting to feel annoyed. He could understand why Yun Yun might attract admirers, but to suggest that Mo Yu wasn't worthy of her? That was crossing the line.

"Pill King Gu He, if you keep speaking like this, I won't guarantee your safety," Mo Yu said coldly, his silver eyes narrowing as he tapped his fingers on the table.

As soon as he spoke, powerful auras quietly emerged from around the study, surrounding Gu He. One word from Mo Yu, and even someone as renowned as the Pill King wouldn't leave the room unscathed.

Sensing the hostile energy around him, Gu He froze for a moment. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he sighed, muttering, "Perhaps Yun Yun really didn't choose the wrong person."

After this cryptic comment, Gu He met Mo Yu's gaze and said gravely, "Yun Shan is planning a wedding."

"A wedding? Whose?" Mo Yu asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Yun Yun and the Beast Prince."

(End of Chapter)

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