“The duke has returned! The duke has returned!” Gong Pan exclaimed as he escorted Zu An and Yu Yanluo back to the Duke Manor.
All of the maids and servants were stunned at first, but they soon expressed their incredible shock. Afterward, they all excitedly spread the news through the manor. News of Jian Yanyou’s return quickly traveled everywhere.
When Jian Taiding, who had been resting in his room, first heard the disturbance, he was furious. He quickly called in his trusted aide from outside, exclaiming, “Who is making that racket outside without any regard for the rules?”
The guard replied, “Second master, the servants seem to be worked up over some matter. This subordinate will look into it right now.”
Just then, another subordinate quickly rushed over while shouting, “Second master, second master, bad news!”
Jian Taiding’s expression immediately darkened when he heard those words. He said, “Punish yourself with twenty strikes. Do not speak if you are only going to say unlucky things.”
The subordinate realized his mistake and immediately broke out into a cold sweat. He immediately knelt down apologetically while slapping his own cheeks.
Jian Taiding’s mood finally eased a bit when he heard the slaps. He said, “Enough. What happened that made you so flustered?”
“The first master… has returned!” the subordinate said while trembling.
Jian Taiding’s expression turned cold. “Are you tired of living? You dare play this kind of trick on me?”
“This subordinate doesn’t dare!” The guard quickly explained, “Gong Pan has escorted the master back! Madam Yu came with him as well; many people in the manor have witnessed this! That’s why all of the servants in the manor were in such a commotion.”
“What?!” Jian Taiding felt his blood boil. His injuries flared out, dyeing his bandages in blood again. He felt as if the world were turning upside down around him. He staggered and fell backward. Fortunately, his personal guard moved quickly, catching him before he hit the ground. The rest called for a physician in alarm while treating his injuries.
Even so, Jian Taiding was still a master rank cultivator. After a momentary breather, he opened his eyes slightly. However, his complexion was much paler than normal. He exclaimed, “Why didn’t you tell me something so important sooner?!”
After giving the guard who had reported a kick, he headed out. Even though his injuries were heavy, it wasn’t enough to stop his confusion and curiosity.
How could that person have returned?!
The guard who had been kicked vomited blood several times. No matter how injured Jian Taiding was, he was still a master rank cultivator. His enraged kick was definitely no joking matter.
The guard felt incredibly wronged. I was trying to tell you! It was you who stopped me from saying anything… A bit of resentment appeared in his eyes as he watched Jian Taiding leave.
…
Meanwhile, Jian Taiding rushed over under the escort of his guards. Soon afterward, he saw a group of servants surrounding a few individuals excitedly. When he remembered his subordinates’ report, he roared furiously, “Which scoundrel dares to impersonate my older… older brother?”
Jian Taiding’s prestige in the manor still remained. When they heard his furious shout, the guards immediately scattered in fear, revealing the people behind them.
When he saw who those people were, Jian Taiding came to a screeching halt. He was completely frozen in place. In that instant, it was as if a huge explosion had gone off in his head. He began to question life itself.
Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
It really is my older brother!
In that instant, regret, fear, shock, and all manner of other emotions appeared in his mind. His entire being was about to break down.
“My good younger brother, you did not expect to see me again, did you?” Zu An looked at him and spoke with heavy insinuations. He and Yu Yanluo had already simulated the present scenario several times. That was why there really was no flaw in his act at all.
As expected, Jian Taiding’s expression changed. He knew what had happened to Jian Yanyou, so those words almost sounded like a threat of revenge.
I did that to my older brother; there’s no way he would forgive me. When he thought about how the other party’s cultivation was far above his own, his entire body began to shake uncontrollably.
Just then, a steady voice spoke up. “Nonsense; there is no way you are the duke!” A well-dressed elder was standing nearby with some servants. He stared coldly at Zu An.
A commotion suddenly broke out. That person was the Duke Manor’s butler, Uncle Ming!
He was the duke’s right arm, someone who had helped him deal with various matters inside and outside of the manor. He really was a person of virtue and prestige, and he was perhaps the one most familiar with the duke. Now that someone like him had called the duke a fake, those present subconsciously believed him. They kept their distance from Zu An and looked at him vigilantly.
Zu An frowned and replied, “Uncle Ming, have you already forgotten who I am in the time since we last saw each other?”
Uncle Ming examined him and replied, “You indeed resemble the duke, but the greatest flaw is your cultivation. The duke has strength comparable to a grandmaster. Even though you are not weak, you are still far weaker than the duke.”
Only then did Jian Taiding snap out of his daze. Exactly! I know what happened to Jian Yanyou; how could he possibly appear here again?
What a hateful fake!
As such, he also said in agreement, “Indeed. Men, arrest this sorcerer of unknown origins!”
“Yes, sir!”
His trusted aide and guards immediately rushed at the other party.
Gong Pan drew his blade when he saw that, guarding Zu An. The guards recognized Gong Pan and felt a bit hesitant.
Zu An gave Jian Taiding a meaningful look, retorting, “Second brother, are you trying to silence me?”
Jian Taiding knew the other person was fake, so when he heard that, he almost vomited blood. “Hmph, who the hell is your second brother? You could have pretended to be anyone, and yet you just had to impersonate my older brother. The first thing you should have thought of was your cultivation!”
Gong Pan spoke up just then, saying, “Because the duke was seriously injured, his cultivation has temporarily fallen.”
The people present understood what had happened when they heard that. They had been curious what had happened to Cloudcenter Duke when he disappeared. Many of them had suspected that he might have been seriously injured and was resting elsewhere.
But even as time went on, he had never appeared. They thus began to believe that he had already died. When he said that, those present remembered what had happened before.
“My older brother’s cultivation is profound and exceptional; how could he have been injured? Gong Pan, where did you get this fraud from? This truly is deplorable and punishable by execution!” Jian Taiding berated him angrily.
Zu An harrumphed and said, “I believe second brother knows exactly why I was injured.”
Jian Taiding’s breath stopped. He was also surprised, because the temperament and bearing of the one in front of him were exactly the same as those of his older brother. Furthermore, he knew what he had done. Could it really be his older brother then?
But how can that be? I personally…
There’s no way this is a ghost, right?
The surrounding guards and maids looked at each other in dismay. Judging from what Zu An was saying, didn’t that mean the second master had done something to the first master?
Uncle Ming spoke up again. “This matter is too fishy. I cannot just let you all say whatever you want. How about this? This old servant has followed at the duke’s side all these years, so I believe I understand him quite well. I will ask some questions to verify his identity.”