“The Ten Thousand Great Mountains are in the southern part of the country,” Lin Xiaojia said solemnly. “Within them lie barren mountains and treacherous waters, inhabited by countless tribes and filled with strife!”
“Then why were you pursued by your tribe?” Lu Fan asked, surprised. “Could it be due to tribal enmity?”
“It’s not just tribal enmity. More importantly, our tribe is the Holy Blood Tribe, possessing powerful innate talents,” Lin Xiaojia said angrily. “The Arctic Tribe attacked my tribe to seize our talent.”
Lu Fan was a little surprised. Although he didn’t understand these matters, he could sense Lin Xiaojia’s anger from his words.
“My grandmother died tragically while protecting me,” Lin Xiaojia said coldly. “My feud with the Arctic Tribe is irreconcilable.”
“Don’t worry, with your talents, you’ll be able to get revenge soon,” Lu Fan comforted him. “And I won’t stand by and do nothing then.”
“It is already a great kindness for you, Brother Lu, to save me. This matter is my own, and I would not trouble you, Brother Lu,” Lin Xiaojia said earnestly.
Lu Fan’s willingness to take him in was a great kindness, and he would never cause Lu Fan trouble.
Lu Fan didn’t say much more. These were past events that brought sadness.
The next day, Lu Fan followed the address given by Han Yunhai and headed towards a certain place in Chuzhou.
It wasn’t until he arrived at a herbal processing plant that Lu Fan slowly stopped and looked inside.
Inside the herbal factory, there were a few scattered people. The enterprise was not large, more like a small workshop.
“Who are you looking for?”
A middle-aged man came out, wearing glasses. He was somewhat surprised, and for some reason, he felt that Lu Fan looked familiar, yet he had never seen him before.
“I’m looking for Yang Shiwen!”
Lu Fan spoke indifferently, but he felt a pang in his heart. This was his maternal uncle’s name, his mother’s elder brother.
If it weren’t for the great calamity back then, the Yang family wouldn’t have fallen to this state.
Through the information obtained from Han Yunhai, Yang Shiwen had opened a herbal processing plant in Chuzhou, which was barely enough to support his family.
“I am he!” the man before him said. “Who are you, and why are you looking for me?”
“You are…?” Lu Fan’s body trembled slightly. “Second Uncle, I am Lu Fan!”
Lu Fan didn’t remember much from when he was eight years old, but he still had some impression of his uncles. He never expected that Yang Shiwen would look so weathered after so many years.
“Lu Fan?”
Yang Shiwen’s face was filled with emotion, then he calmed himself. “Sir, have you come to the wrong person? I don’t know anyone named Lu Fan!”
“I really am Lu Fan!”
Lu Fan said excitedly, “After so many years, how have you and the others been?”
Yang Shiwen did not respond and walked directly into the herbal plant.
For many years, people from the five great families had been searching for them. Moreover, more than ten years ago, Lu Fan’s entire family was wiped out when he was only eight years old. How could he have survived?
Thinking of this, Yang Shiwen became vigilant and closed the iron gate of the herbal plant, not letting Lu Fan in.
“Dad, who is that person outside?” a woman asked, wearing a mask. “Why are you so flustered?”
“He says he’s Xiao Fan!” Yang Shiwen said guardedly. “He might be from one of the five great families. If he persists, just say you don’t know Lu Fan, and that your ancestral home is in Chuzhou!”
“Remember this!”
Yang Zixin nodded solemnly. She was Lu Fan’s cousin and was now helping her family manage the herbal plant business.
Over the years, they had suffered greatly trying to evade the five great families of Jiangnan. They lived in constant fear and trepidation. Now, when someone mentioned an old acquaintance, they dared not be careless.
Lu Fan was helpless and waited outside the herbal plant. He even suspected that Han Yunhai might have made a mistake.
How could his own maternal uncle not recognize him?
When it was time to get off work, Yang Shiwen and the others opened the gate. Lu Fan stepped forward and said, “Second Uncle, I am truly Lu Fan. Do you still remember that you gave me a water gun when I was little?”
Yang Shiwen was moved. Lu Fan’s words were true; he had indeed given him one. However, based on this alone, Yang Shiwen would not easily believe him.
“We don’t know anyone named Lu Fan!”
Yang Zixin stepped forward and said, “Our ancestral home is in Chuzhou, but I’ve never heard of him, nor of you as a relative!”
“You are…?”
Lu Fan was slightly stunned. Looking at Yang Zixin, who was fair and beautiful before him, he was even more touched.
“Sister Zixin, is that you?” Lu Fan said excitedly. “After so many years without seeing you, you’ve grown so radiant!”
Yang Zixin trembled slightly. This address of “Sister Zixin” felt like a lifetime ago.
“Are you really Xiao Fan?” Yang Zixin asked uncertainly.
“When we were playing together as children, I accidentally left a birthmark on Sister Zixin’s butt. I imagine that birthmark is still there!”
Lu Fan said solemnly. He could now be certain that he had not come to the wrong place and that these people were the ones he wanted to find.
“Xiao Fan, Dad, he’s really Xiao Fan!”
Yang Zixin said with great joy, “There’s no mistake!”
Yang Shiwen was also excited. He hugged Lu Fan tightly and said, “Child, how did you find this place? And how are you still alive!”
“Second Uncle!”
Lu Fan and the others held each other tightly, their clothes damp with tears. So many years had passed, it felt like another lifetime. To be reunited now was a great stroke of fortune.
“Let’s go home, let’s go home!”
Yang Shiwen said excitedly, pulling Lu Fan towards home. This was perhaps the happiest moment in more than ten years.
“Oh, right, how are Grandma and the others?”
Lu Fan suddenly asked, “After so many years without seeing them, I wonder how she is doing?”
Yang Shiwen paused, then shook his head. “Eighteen years ago, your eldest uncle and I were separated, and we’ve never been in contact. Your grandmother has always been with your eldest uncle, so…”
“Separated?”
Lu Fan frowned slightly, then smiled. “It’s alright. Since I found Second Uncle, I will definitely find Grandma and the others in the future!”
Yang Shiwen nodded solemnly. He bought a few bottles of wine at a small shop and hummed a tune as he pulled Lu Fan home.
“Are these people doing well? You look so thin, have you been living rough outside?” Yang Shiwen asked with concern. “If you have nowhere to go, you can stay with us from now on and help your sister Zixin manage the factory. We happen to need someone!”
“I…”
Lu Fan was slightly embarrassed, not knowing how to answer.
“Oh, right, from now on, you must never reveal your identity!” Yang Shiwen warned. “For years, people from the five great families have been looking for us. Don’t let them catch you!”
“Uncle, don’t worry, I’ve already annihilated the people from the five great families!” Lu Fan said with a smile. “You don’t need to be so cautious anymore.”
“Annihilated?” Yang Zixin said with a smile. “Xiao Fan, after so many years, I didn’t expect you to learn to brag?”
“It’s true!” Lu Fan said with an awkward smile.
“The five great families of Jiangnan, even in the prime of the Lu family back then, could not match them!” Yang Shiwen said with a smile. “How could you say you annihilated them so easily? It’s a pity that I am incapable, otherwise, I would have avenged your mother long ago and wouldn’t have endured such humiliation!”
Lu Fan smiled but didn’t say anything more, perhaps not wanting them to know too much.