The Ancient Tomb of Longshan Temple - 26 - Catastrophe Approaches

"Young Master Li, please rest well." Hu Qiuyan's cheeks were flushed as she spoke softly, her head lowered in shyness. As soon as the words left her lips, she dashed out of the room in a hurry.

"You've really made a mess of things for me this time," Li Xintian said, watching Hu Qiuyan leave. He looked utterly dejected, as though he'd lost all hope for life, and returned to his own room to rest.

"This heavenly tribulation is no joke. I must explain everything clearly to Miss Hu's father, then leave." Li Xintian slapped his hands together and continued, "Yes, that's the only way I won't be swept into this calamity."

But after hearing what came next, Li Xintian decided to intervene.

With the gloom in his heart swept away, he was in high spirits again and headed to the main hall to find Hu Changyun.

"Young Master Li, why aren't you spending more time with my daughter Qiuyan? What brings you here to see an old man like me?" Hu Changyun remarked upon seeing Li Xintian.

"Elder Hu, it really wasn't what you think. I was about to take my leave, but Miss Hu stopped me and wouldn't let me go. That's how you ended up witnessing that scene," Li Xintian replied, realizing at once that Hu Changyun had jumped to conclusions. Earlier, when Yang Zhenye came to visit, it was all about repaying a debt of gratitude and offering himself in service. Now it was his turn, so Hu Changyun must have thought Li Xintian was saying those words just to comfort the old man.

"No, I'm afraid you still don't understand, Young Master Li. Though this heavenly tribulation was drawn by my daughter Naa, the heavens have already marked my entire family. When the tribulation strikes, it won't be just my daughter Naa who meets a tragic end—my whole family will perish beneath the heavenly wrath," Hu Changyun said, clearly not believing Li Xintian's words. He continued, "Young Master Li, do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I don't. If the tribulation was drawn by Miss Hu alone, why would the heavens target your whole family?" Li Xintian shook his head, puzzled. In all the dramas and novels he’d seen, it was always one person crossing the tribulation, with only those who got too close suffering collateral damage. But this time, the whole family was being targeted? That seemed excessive.

"Alas, the true reason is a mystery even to me," Hu Changyun sighed.

"If you truly can save my family, Young Master Li, I will promise my daughter Qiuyan to you," Hu Changyun added.

Had he not said this, things might have been better. Now, what did he take Li Xintian for? Was he the sort of person who would take advantage of a family in crisis, coveting another's beauty at such a time?

"Elder Hu, there’s nothing between Miss Hu and me. It was all a misunderstanding. And as for this heavenly tribulation, I am truly powerless to help. I must take my leave." Li Xintian had originally intended to help, but not under such circumstances.

Otherwise, it would seem as if he were seizing the opportunity while they were down. With the misunderstanding already in place, Li Xintian knew that no matter how he explained, Hu Changyun would never believe that nothing was going on between him and Hu Qiuyan. He’d just think his daughter had poor judgment in liking someone like Li Xintian.

So, Li Xintian returned to his room, packed his things, and left the Hu residence. No one tried to stop him. Even when Hu Qiuyan wanted to come out and ask him to stay, Hu Changyun sternly forbade her, his anger clear. Li Xintian understood then: his cold departure had truly enraged Hu Changyun, who now saw him as a heartless, ungrateful man.

Li Xintian didn’t go far from the Hu residence—he settled on a tree about a kilometer away, fully armed and ready. He wanted to see just what this heavenly tribulation was about. Yet more than twenty days passed with no sign of it. Last time, when Li Xintian had fought the serpent demon Yao Shuang, the tribulation sensed his righteous energy and did not descend.

Finally, Li Xintian climbed down, ready to move on. Perhaps the Hu family had been lying to him after all.

Walking along the road, he ran into that scoundrel Yang Zhenye, who had just returned from the provincial exams.

"My good friend Zixian, what a joy to meet you here—it truly is one of life's great pleasures," Yang Zhenye exclaimed, then began rambling as usual.

It turned out that on his way to take the exam, Yang Zhenye had met a benefactor—though Li Xintian had no idea who this benefactor was or what he had done. All Li Xintian knew was that the man had switched Yang Zhenye's brilliant essay with a nonsensical one, yet somehow Yang Zhenye still emerged as the top scholar. Li Xintian couldn't help but reflect on how he'd given Yang Zhenye some pointers back in the study room. There had even been a vengeful ghost in the exam hall, but Yang Zhenye had been completely unaware.

"Congratulations, Zixin," Li Xintian said, marveling at the scoundrel's luck.

"By the way, where are you headed? Why not come with me to the Hu residence? I was planning to pay them a visit and share my good news," Yang Zhenye invited.

"Alright," Li Xintian agreed, though he had been about to refuse. Something about the recent events—the destruction of the ghost minion, perhaps—made him feel as if fate were guiding him, so he went along.

Together with Yang Zhenye and the page boy, the three arrived at the Hu residence.

The page boy stepped forward and knocked on the door.

It was Hu Naa who answered, her eyes red from crying. Clearly, she too had misunderstood Li Xintian, for she gave him no greeting or kind look, speaking only to Yang Zhenye. She must have thought Yang Zhenye was there to speak on behalf of that heartless man, so she let Li Xintian in.

Li Xintian could only offer an awkward smile, surprised that the whole Hu family seemed to have misunderstood him.

Entering the main hall, he was greeted by sobbing. When Hu Qiuyan saw Li Xintian, she gave him an apologetic look. These past days, she’d felt terribly guilty for causing Li Xintian to earn a reputation as heartless and ungrateful in her family’s eyes. She even found herself missing the sense of safety and warmth in his arms.

When Liu Zhenye sat down, he had been in high spirits, but seeing the Hu family in tears, he quickly sobered.

Li Xintian did not take a seat. He could feel several stares boring into his back, full of hostility, and hear whispered comments about how he dared show his face here—though they acted as if he couldn’t hear. With a blank expression, he pretended not to notice. The whispers were really meant for him alone, intended to embarrass him, but it was all a misunderstanding.

"Forgive my boldness, but is something troubling you?" Yang Zhenye asked, seeing Hu Naa collapse in tears into Hu Qiuyan's arms.

"Young Master Yang, to be frank, our family is facing a great disaster, and we can’t think of any way to escape it," Hu Naa replied, raising her tear-streaked face.

"What disaster? Please, tell me and Zixian. If there’s anything we can do, we would not hesitate to risk our lives," Yang Zhenye offered, though in truth he was hoping to drag Li Xintian into this—after all, Li Xintian had single-handedly defeated the ghost minion.

Li Xintian, hearing this scoundrel's words, could only roll his eyes.

The whole Hu family knelt before Yang Zhenye, but not a single one knelt before Li Xintian. Only Hu Qiuyan gave him an apologetic glance before lowering her head.

Li Xintian almost felt like a supporting character here, with Yang Zhenye the real protagonist. Clearly, his reputation as heartless had taken firm root in the Hu family’s minds, and all he could do was roll his eyes in embarrassment.

Yang Zhenye stepped forward to help them up. "Please, there's no need for this. If you have any requests, just say the word. Zixian here has destroyed a ghost minion single-handedly—he was the one who saved Qi Hui from being abducted as a concubine," Yang Zhenye said, seeing the grand display, and pushed Li Xintian forward.

The Hu family stared at Li Xintian in disbelief after hearing Yang Zhenye's words—some with astonishment, some with suspicion. After all, even together, they hadn’t been able to deal with that ghost minion.

Nevertheless, they did not kneel to Li Xintian. It was as if the entire family shared the same thought, and soon their attention returned to Yang Zhenye, with only Hu Qiuyan gazing at Li Xintian in surprise.