Chapter 106 - 99: Zhang Hong
A hundred-man squad isn’t a large force; commercial caravans of that size came and went from Yunzhou City in great numbers every day.
However, when those hundred men appeared in the city clad in the armor of the Border Army, exuding a ferocious aura, they were bound to draw attention.
The clatter of hooves on the bluestone streets echoed crisply as they galloped toward the heart of the city.
They finally came to a halt outside the Zhang Mansion.
Lu Yuan pulled back hard on the reins, and Red Scale’s front hooves reared high.
NEIGH!
With a loud cry, the steed came to a standstill.
Its powerful muscles, covered in scales, gleamed under the sun.
The hundred-man force stopped in perfect unison, dismounting as one after Lu Yuan.
In two months, Zhou Xiong had fully broken through to the Organ Refining realm. The rest of the Personal Guard had all reached the Bone Forging realm. This hundred-man squad was, without a doubt, an elite force.
Some of them had followed Lu Yuan from the start, while others had joined later.
As the men who had been with him since his rise, their loyalty was unquestionable.
The fierce, battle-hardened aura they emanated made the Zhang Family Guards at the gate frown.
A bearded man at the head of the guards stepped forward. "Are you gentlemen looking for our master?"
With Zhang Hong now serving as the Governor of Yunzhou—a position of great power and influence—the Zhang Family’s household guards were not easily frightened, even by the formidable sight of Lu Yuan and his soldiers.
After all, they saw men of a Captain’s rank often enough.
"Old Yu, can’t you even recognize me?"
Lu Yuan’s deep voice rang out.
He tossed his riding crop to Wei Yong at his side.
The lead guard scrutinized him carefully. After a moment, he stammered in disbelief, "You... you’re the Seventh Young Master?"
The Zhang Family was a major clan in the area, and Lu Yuan was ranked seventh among the young masters.
That was why everyone in the clan called him Seventh Young Master.
He was a direct descendant of the family’s third branch.
Old Yu, the gatekeeper, of course knew who he was.
He knew he could act casually before an ordinary Captain, but he wouldn’t dare be anything but respectful to a young master of the clan who *also* held the rank of Captain.
He immediately bowed his body slightly.
At the same time, a storm of shock raged in his heart. ’Wasn’t the Seventh Young Master exiled to the Northern Border? Everyone in the family said he was probably dead by now.’
’The mistress of the third branch even went to the Patriarch over it.’
’I can’t believe he’s actually back, and as a Captain no less.’
As a member of the Zhang Family’s household, he recognized the standard-issue armor of a Captain.
"At least you’ve still got a good eye."
As he spoke, Lu Yuan ordered the rest of his men to wait outside. He then led Zhou Xiong, Wei Yong, and a handful of others straight into the compound.
Life in the Zhang Family seemed even more extravagant than he remembered.
There were more servants and maids in the courtyards as well.
They kept casting puzzled glances at Lu Yuan, but none dared to approach and question him.
Meanwhile, Old Yu, the captain of the guards, was already running straight for the Patriarch’s courtyard. Lu Yuan’s return was a matter of great importance.
Most importantly, the young master had returned as a Captain.
Lu Yuan paid the stares no mind. He led his men through a garden and arrived at the courtyard where he had grown up.
It wasn’t extravagant, but it was very quiet and secluded. A few maids were sweeping inside.
CLACK! CLACK!
The sound of Lu Yuan’s footsteps rang out.
A woman turned to look. She was middle-aged, perhaps forty, with streaks of gray in her hair. She froze when she saw him, then covered her mouth and cried out in disbelief, "Young Master! The Young Master is back!"
Her voice was choked with tears.
Her name was An Niang. She was Lu Yuan’s mother’s personal attendant, having served her since childhood and watched Lu Yuan grow up.
After he left the clan, she had lost count of how many times she had cried alongside Lu Yuan’s mother.
Now that she saw Lu Yuan had returned, her excitement was impossible to contain.
CREAK!
"An Niang, what’s happening outside? Why is it so noisy?" A somewhat hoarse voice called out. The door creaked open, and a middle-aged woman in simple, plain clothes emerged. She had a kind face and had been well-preserved—hardly a wrinkle was visible—but she looked listless, and her eyes were red and swollen.
"My lady, the Young Master is back!" Hearing her voice, the woman who had just stepped out immediately looked toward the group, her gaze finally locking onto Lu Yuan.
For a moment, her arms trembled with emotion.
"Yuan’er, is it really you? You’re back." She took a few steps forward as she spoke.
Lu Yuan rushed forward to support her. "Mother, it’s me. I’m back."
The combination of his original memories, their connection by blood, and the woman’s haggard appearance deeply moved Lu Yuan.
The courtyard filled with the sound of weeping.
After a moment, An Niang wiped her eyes with her sleeve and said, "My lady, Young Master, let’s go inside to talk."
Lu Yuan nodded and helped his mother, Lady Lu, into the room.
The room’s simple and plain decor was much the same as when he had left.
Then, between sobs, Lady Lu began to recount what had happened after Lu Yuan’s departure.
It turned out that when he first went to the Northern Border, Lady Lu had been kept in the dark. Zhang Hong and the others had intentionally concealed the truth that her son had been sent to the Northern Border to take the blame for Zhang Zhe.
But the truth can’t be hidden forever, and the matter was eventually exposed.
Filled with grief and indignation, Lady Lu had gone to Zhang Hong’s courtyard to cause a scene.
But as a woman in poor health, there was ultimately nothing she could do.
All she could do was stay home and weep every day.
She had endured half a year of suffering, and now, at last, Lu Yuan was back.
"Mother, I’ve returned this time to take you away from here. I’ve managed to establish a foothold for myself in the Northern Border, and I’m more than capable of supporting you now. We’re not staying in the Zhang Family any longer."