Chapter 287 - The Li Family Never Celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival
Chapter 287 The Li Family Never Celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival
Li Tianlan still did not know where Qin Weibai was.
He even could not determine whether the image reflected through the mirage was real or not and how far it was away from him.
The seemingly real mirage began to disappear.
The figure that could have been clouds or mist gradually faded out.
Li Tianlan returned to the deck. He helplessly watched all disappear before him, but he could do nothing.
The sun shined again after the rain.
The rainbow in the sky was increasingly clear.
Whether the sailors or the captain of the cargo ship, all were respectful to Li Tianlan.
It was not a secret that there were Four Realms of Martial Arts and absolute experts in the world.
He whipped up thousands of meters of huge waves on his own. Few had seen such a mighty force that was close to the prestige of heaven.
With the great efforts of all, the cargo ship drove out of the Pacific Ocean and entered the Yellow Sea.
In the following days, Li Tianlan never left the deck. He always looked at the direction in which the mirage disappeared.
However, it was neither dull nor stormy on the sea, so naturally, there was no mirage that he had craved for so long.
In mid-June, the cargo ship entered the Dongshan Province of Zhongzhou State.
It approached land in Qingdao during the night.
The sound of water was getting farther.
Li Tianlan walked out of the dock with Golden Retriever.
In a flash, the hustle and bustle of Zhongzhou State came to him.
The snow in Polar Ground was dissipating.
The mirage was dissolving.
The sword intent began to die down.
With a faraway look, Li Tianlan stared at the Zhongzhou State. He had been away for three years as if a generation had passed.
“I’m relieved to see you back.”
A voice suddenly sounded in front of him.
Li Tianlan came to his sense.
Silently, a man in black appeared in front of him.
He wore black casual clothes, casual pants, and casual shoes. With short hair, he looked pale and a little pretty.
Li Tianlan twitched his mouth and said, “Martial uncle, you’re more and more modern.”
Tribulation looked far younger than his age. He looked like a young man under 30. In that dress, he looked younger.
Li Tianlan remembered the black robe and silver mask that the first time he met Tribulation.
The unparalleled Shadow Formula, the domineering Stop Formula, and the sharp Kill Formula.
At that time, Tribulation was completely hidden in a black robe and a silver mask. He looked mysterious and powerful.
But now…
Although it was not the first time that he saw Tribulation like this, Li Tianlan still could not accept it.
“Sigh City doesn’t need to be hidden behind snow mountains and masks.”
Tribulation said indifferently, “It doesn’t make sense.”
Li Tianlan kept speechless.
Sigh City was always in harmony with the rest of the world. Each top assassin wore a mask and never competed with other forces in the country for any resource. Under the mask, they just lived in peace at the mountain top covered with snow.
As he became the Young Governor of Sigh City, everything would change forever.
Tribulation coughed slightly and wiped his mouth calmly.
Li Tianlan vaguely saw a hint of dark red.
His heart sank inside his chest. He looked at Tribulation’s pale look and asked, “Doesn’t the imperial jade seal work?”
“Yes.”
Tribulation looked at him and waved his hand, “Get in the car first.”
From Sigh City to Qingdao, Tribulation picked up Li Tianlan alone, without a driver.
Li Tianlan put Golden Retriever in the back seat of the car and sat in the passenger seat. He looked at Tribulation’s pale face and said in a deep voice, “Martial uncle, what is going on?”
Tribulation went straight to the Invincible Realm in Heaven Capital.
It had been three years now.
He could not imagine how severe the injury was so that Tribulation could not completely recover in the past three years, even with the great luck of the Imperial Jade Seal.
“I’m much better off than I was before you left.”
Tribulation drove away from the dock and calmly said, “I was hurt seriously, so the luck of the Imperial Jade Seal can only slowly cure my injury. Unless I can make a disruptive breakthrough like you and start anew, otherwise I can only endure.”
He paused and said with self-mockery, “I’m unqualified to start over at this age.”
Li Tianlan looked at Tribulation seriously.
Tribulation was the most powerful assassin in the Dark World. Now he was recovering a little bit, so his vital force was restrained. Thus, Li Tianlan could not figure it out.
“But now…” He asked softly.
“The Invincible Realm.”
Tribulation was expressionless, “It’s almost the same before the breakthrough. I’m injured, so I can only exert about half the strength. However, I should not be worse than Gu Qianchuan.”
Gu Qianchuan was the First Elder of Kunlun City. He was not worse than Gu Qianchuan, so it sounded that he was the most amazing assassin in the Dark World. Now, it was not bad that he recovered to this level, but it was not good news.
“What about you?”
Tribulation offered a cigarette to Li Tianlan and suddenly asked, “In three years, you walked thousands of kilometers from Huating to Polar Ground. How is your recovery?”
Li Tianlan took the cigarette and ignited it. He drew on his cigarette and felt the long-lost smell of tobacco and spinning sensation in the brain. After thinking about it for a moment, he whispered, “I’m still below the Invincible Realm.”
He had no Four Realms of Martial Arts but sword intent.
The sword intent had not reached the Invincible Realm, so he was still below the Invincible Realm.
Li Tianlan had not fought to the death, so he did not know his current combat strength.
Tribulation took a deep look at him and whispered, “Let’s go back first.”
Li Tianlan hesitated for two or three seconds, and finally shook his head, whispering, “Martial uncle, I’m not going to Mount Taibai.”
Tribulation subconsciously slowed down the car.
He went to see Li Tianlan.
As a result, Golden Retriever in the back seat jumped on him. A huge dog head blocked Li Tianlan’s expression.
“Why?” Tribulation asked.
Li Tianlan didn’t say anything.
He did not dislike Mount Taibai, but he felt Situ Cangyue complicated.
The Hidden God of Zhongzhou State really had no ill intentions, but Li Tianlan felt that his kindness was not because of him or Li family.
Three years ago, he met Situ Cangyue on the Mount Taibai.
Situ Cangyue looked at him as if she was watching another person.
Li Tianlan knew who she was looking at.
However, he did not like the feeling nor knew how to face that look.
“My sister has been collecting news about Snow Country and Polar Ground in recent years.”
“Although she didn’t say it, she secretly went to Snow Country and didn’t find you.”
“There are not many people in Sigh City, but you haven’t seen them yet. Everyone wants to see how the Young Governor is after disruptive breakthrough.”
“Secretary Bai went to Mount Taibai to ask about your information almost every month in recent years.”
“She cried so hard every time.”
“I never know that the superwoman in politics could be so vulnerable.”
Li Tianlan knew that Tribulation was talking about Bai Qingqian.
She was Dongcheng Wudi’s wife.
Li Tianlan never thought of her for three years. They only met once and had few conversations. He thought that he should have forgotten this person, but now Li Tianlan could not breathe when he heard Tribulation mention her.
He did not feel stressed but strange.
“Go to Luojing, Zhongyuan.” Li Tianlan interrupted Tribulation and said in a low voice.
Tribulation said no more, drove in a different direction silently and changed the topic, “Dongcheng Wudi has been promoted. In the past few years that you’ve been away, the relationship between Academics and Giant Group has not been affected. Last year, he went to Youzhou.”
“Army Headquarters?”
Li Tianlan raised his eyebrows.
The Border Control Corps had an Army Headquarters in Zhongzhou State. The Commander went to the capital city. Except for the position in Army Headquarters, he was apparently ascended but actually descended in any place. Indeed, he was apparently demoted.
Tribulation merely said, “Qi Beicang retired last year, and he took his position.”
“Oh,” Li Tianlan replied. He knew Qi Beicang, who was an icon in the Special Warfare Group. In the past few years, he was the core force against President Li Huacheng’s military power. He retired so smoothly, so that Dongcheng Wudi became the Number Two in the military of Zhongzhou State in name, but actually the Number One in the military. It was unexpected.
As Dongcheng Wudi suddenly changed from a councilor to a governor, a real giant in the Decision Making Committee, his power of discourse would be significantly enhanced in the Giant Group in Zhongzhou State.
“In this matter, the Wang family of Beihai exerted its efforts. The Dongcheng Clan never makes a bad bargain. Three years ago, in the border war, the Border Control Corps went deep into Annan State for 400 kilometers. To get support, the Dongcheng Clan gave this land and the elites of the Border Control Corps to the Wang family of Beihai. Now, the situation is a bit messy in Zhongzhou State. It’s high time for you to come back.”
Li Tianlan silently thought about the impact of the changes in the top leadership and suddenly said, “Who will take over the Border Control Corps?”
“For the time being, Dongcheng Wudi concurrently takes the Commander of the Corps. The position isn’t easy, so the right person will depend on the next deal among the major groups.” Tribulation said simply.
With his few words, Li Tianlan realized the changes that had taken place and are about to take place in Zhongzhou State.
He narrowed his eyes and said no more.
It was already night when he disembarked from Qingdao.
When he arrived in Luojing, it was almost late at night.
Although Tribulation had informed the Dongcheng Clan in advance, Tribulation and Li Tianlan could not help but be a little surprised when they drove to the high mountain occupied by the Dongcheng Clan.
Before they reached, Dongcheng Hanguang, the old patriarch of the Dongcheng Clan, stood still and moved slightly with his butler. No one knew how long he had waited.
Tribulation was surprised.
Li Tianlan felt ridiculous and even a little terrified.
He did not think that he was qualified to let the spiritual leader of the Giant Group stand at the foot of the mountain and wait for him overnight.
“Old Master.”
Li Tianlan quickly got off and clasped Dongcheng Hanguang’s hand in both of his.
Dongcheng Clan took every care of him. Li Tianlan was touched and could say nothing more for a moment.
“Boy, I’m relieved to see you back. Wudi was supposed to come back, but he temporarily has a meeting. It’s supposed to be daylight when he comes over.”
Dongcheng Hanguang laughed and patted Li Tianlan’s palm. His eyes were a little tired but full of loving-kindness. “Rushi is already on the way. You come a little faster than I thought.”
“Thank you.”
Li Tianlan looked at Dongcheng Hanguang and said hoarsely.
“Don’t speak too soon.”
Dongcheng Hanguang said with a smile, “There are bigger surprises yet.”
He looked at Tribulation, who stood by Li Tianlan, and said with a smile, “Your Highness, thank you for your hard work.”
Tribulation shook his head. He reached the Invincible Realm, but in front of Li Tianlan, he was willing to be only a deputy city governor standing next to the Young Governor.
“Old Master, from your words, is the Dongcheng Clan’s research in recent years successful?” Tribulation asked.
Dongcheng Hanguang roared with laughter, “Two months ago, and we’ve done. Tianlan, you’re back just in time. Three years ago, Senior Li sent the murderous weapon the Legend of Qin. Meanwhile, you asked Wudi to send the pieces of the murderous weapon of the Li family. Today, I’ll give a real murderous weapon to you! Perhaps it is not the strongest, but it is the best for you.”
Li Tianlan’s eyes lit up.
A new weapon.
It was mainly for this purpose that he came to Zhongyuan.
“Where?” He subconsciously asked.
“It’s not here.”
Dongcheng Hanguang laughed, “It’s in the secret lab of Spirit Treasure City. I’ll take you there now. But, Tianlan, it’s my nephew who created the new weapon with the Legend of Qin. His lifelong ambition is to create a real murderous weapon. He made Mad Shot and Skyattack, but they were not nearly as powerful as the murderous weapon. Until this time he saw the Legend of Qin, he put all his mind on it for three years. He’s shy to say that he created a new murderous weapon, but now the weapon in Spirit Treasure City has almost replaced the Legend of Qin, so…”
He hesitated, “He wants to name your weapon.”
To name a murderous weapon that would be handed down for hundreds of thousands of years, it was definitely the glory in the Dark World.
“No problem. This is a minor matter.”
Li Tianlan answered without hesitation. He did not care about the name of the weapon. Divine Punishment and Human Emperor sounded domineering, but actually, he did not mind that it named Grass and Wild Flower.
“If it’s a minor matter, Tianlan, can you promise one big thing?” Dongcheng Hanguang looked at Li Tianlan and chuckled.
Li Tianlan’s heart sank. At the thought of the marriage contract, he made a dry cough, “Old Master, what do you want me to promise?”
“It’s not what you are worried about.”
Dongcheng Hanguang derided. He wanted to mention this matter, but he shifted the topic when he heard Li Tianlan’s words. “I couldn’t find you in the past few years. Now that you’re here, can you come back in this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival?”
The Mid-Autumn Day was the Reunion Day. The old man had longed for the real reunion for many years.
Li Tianlan slightly hesitated and then shook his head.
Dongcheng Hanguang’s eyes were dim and doubtful.
If Li Tianlan did not come back, Bai Qingqian, who had not come back for many years, would not return.
How to reunite?
“Why?” Dongcheng Hanguang asked softly.
“Old Master.”
Li Tianlan gave a forced smile and shook his head. “Since I was born, I never celebrated a festival, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and New Year’s Eve. In the places where I lived, the Li family never celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
Since Li Tianlan could remember, these traditional festivals, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, New Year’s Eve, and Lantern Festival, had nothing to do with the Li family.
For ordinary people, this might be festive.
But for the Li family, there was the only pain in such a festival.
So, the Li family never celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival.
And, they also never celebrated New Year’s Eve.
They only had the drizzling Tomb-Sweeping Day.