Artifact Chapter 63: Return to the He Mansion

Chapter 63: Return to the He Mansion

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai 

 

As soon as the two stepped into the He Mansion, they were immediately shocked by the scene before them. The formerly extravagant layout of the He Mansion now appeared desolate and bleak. The neatly arranged red lacquered columns in the corridor had lost their splendid color, looking very old and obviously neglected for years. The meticulously trimmed exotic flowers and plants were now overgrown with weeds, appearing messy and unkempt. Even the once clear and bottomless Ming Mirror Pool had become murky and foul-smelling, indicating years of neglect. The efforts and resources spent on the willow fluff cloud area and the thousands of koi painstakingly sought after were now nowhere to be found.

The former splendor and beauty contrasted sharply with the current decay and desolation, making the scene even more poignant.

Although Lu Ming didn’t have much emotional attachment to the He Mansion, seeing this scene couldn’t help but evoke some feelings in him. The current status of the He Mansion was probably inferior to even ordinary noble families. Without a backbone, the He Mansion was nothing but a crumbling high-rise building, capable of turning into ruins in an instant.

He Qingqiu’s eyes flashed with a hint of pain. He paused in his tracks, looking at everything before him with a sense of desolation.

The servant lying on the ground was about to raise his head and curse, but in the next moment, his eyes suddenly widened, his lips trembled, and after a long time, he burst into tears, “Young Master, Second Young Master, you’ve finally returned!”

He Qingqiu took two steps forward, helping the servant up and carefully examining his face. He Qingqiu looked at the man in front of him, who was nearly thirty years old, and his initial confusion gradually turned into excitement, “Are you Xiao Jun?”

The servant nodded with tears in his eyes, suddenly took a step back, and bowed deeply in the direction of He Qingqiu and He Qingci, crying and pleading, “Young Masters, you have traveled a long way, Xiao Jun should not disturb your peace. But now, the He Mansion is being oppressed, noble families often come to trouble the He family, resorting to all sorts of humiliation. Almost all the servants of the He Mansion have fled, several elders have passed away one after another, and now the He Mansion is like a pile of loose sand. Please, Young Masters, you must revive the prestige of the He Mansion and make those noble families taste the bitterness.”

He Qingqiu sighed and helped the servant up, saying, “Why didn’t anyone inform us of the situation of the He Mansion turning like this?”

Xiao Jun’s expression changed suddenly at the words, surprised, “More than ten years ago, after the master inexplicably disappeared, the two young masters left the He Mansion one after another. Not long after, the He family suffered consecutive defeats in the Sect artifact refining competition, and major families took the opportunity to unite and suppress the He family. The elders vaguely felt that something was wrong, so they released the unique He family’s messenger butterflies every few days, hoping that the two young masters could come back to take charge of the situation. But for several years, there was no news from the two young masters, and even the experts sent out to find them disappeared inexplicably. Could it be that the two young masters never received the messages sent by the messenger butterflies?”

Lu Ming and He Qingqiu exchanged glances, both looking bewildered, obviously unaware of this matter.

Xiao Jun gritted his teeth and said, “Yes, it must be those clans secretly intercepting all the messenger butterflies in order to completely suppress the He family. Now thinking back, those experts must have also been ambushed.”

Lu Ming frowned, “Even if someone intercepted the messages, it shouldn’t be the case every time.”

He Qingqiu’s face darkened, “There must be a traitor in the family leaking information to outsiders.”

Xiao Jun’s expression changed, his lips moved, wanting to say something but hesitated.

Seeing Xiao Jun’s expression, Lu Ming secretly thought that he might be hiding something and quietly observed. He Qingqiu asked anxiously, “And mother? How is she?”

Xiao Jun looked at He Qingqiu, his expression changing several times. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, “Madam has… remarried.”

He Qingqiu’s face turned pale, his lips trembling, wanting to say something but ultimately couldn’t, his shoulders drooping weakly.

Seeing this, Lu Ming couldn’t help but sigh. This woman had always been ruthless and heartless. As the He family was on the verge of collapse, she quickly found a new home. With her looks, charm, and the support of the Liu family, remarriage was not difficult for her.

Lu Ming stepped forward, patting He Qingqiu’s shoulder, and said lightly, “Let’s not dwell on this matter for now. The Sect artifact refining competition is about to begin. If the He family wants to regain its former glory, we must take the lead in the competition. With a traitor in the He Mansion, it’s likely that the major families have already learned that we, the two brothers, have returned to the He family to take charge. We need to be cautious and plan carefully.”

He Qingqiu nodded reluctantly, forcing a smile, “Big brother is right.”

Lu Ming nodded and turned to Xiao Jun on the side, “At the quarter of an hour, have everyone gather at the He family Sect shrine. I have something to announce.”

Xiao Jun immediately agreed and hurriedly went to deliver the message.

Lu Ming looked at the dejected He Qingqiu beside him, his face darkening as he reprimanded, “The He Mansion is in such dire straits. As the second young master of the He family, instead of actively seeking solutions, you’re behaving like this. Who are you doing this for? Love breeds hatred, and enemies rejoice. Is this the result you want?”

He Qingqiu was stunned at his words, looking at Lu Ming with a slight daze in his eyes. He looked at the face of his elder brother, which was as jade-like as before, and suddenly a myriad of emotions surged within him. It was as if time had returned to that evening twelve years ago. His elder brother, who was bullied by everyone, seemed to have changed suddenly. The once timid and reserved demeanor seemed to burst out completely at that moment. Those bright and resolute eyes made him unable to forget even for a moment over the past ten years. It was as if the burning flame in those eyes, just by looking at them for a moment, could scorch a person.

The flame in those eyes had not extinguished even at this moment. So beautiful and dazzling, it made him feel ashamed just by looking at it.

He Qingqiu quietly clenched his fists, suppressing the regret and guilt in his heart, and smiled resignedly, “Rest assured, big brother. Qingqiu will not let you down.”

A prodigal son returning home is worth more than gold. Lu Ming looked at the once arrogant and domineering young man, who had now changed his temperament and was gradually heading in the right direction, feeling a sense of relief in his heart.

At the quarter of an hour, everyone gathered at the He family Sect shrine.

Out of the hundreds of people in the He Mansion, only a dozen or so remained. Apart from the loyal servants, there should also be a spy secretly passing on information.

Lu Ming surveyed the crowd and said in a deep voice, “The He Mansion is now on the brink of collapse, and it could be destroyed at any moment. I am grateful to all of you for not abandoning us and still willing to stay here to help the He Mansion. Please, accept Qingci’s gratitude.” With that, Lu Ming clasped his hands together and bowed.

Liu Lao, who had been in the He Mansion for many years, immediately had tears in his eyes and said excitedly, “Young Master, why do you say such words? When I first entered the He Mansion, I was still a naive young man. Now, many years have passed, and I have grown old. The He Mansion has become my home. Even if the sky falls or the mountains and seas collapse, I will stand by the He Mansion to the end.”

Several other loyal servants expressed their heartfelt loyalty, and Lu Ming continued, “The He Mansion will confront the major families of the artifact refining Sect next. The difficulties ahead can be imagined. If anyone wants to leave the He family, go to Xiao Jun and receive ten top-grade spirit stones each, enough to sustain you for the rest of your life. Consider it compensation from the He Mansion.”

The entire hall fell silent. The servants who had just expressed their loyalty looked at each other, many of them showing a desire for the top-grade spirit stones. Ten top-grade spirit stones were quite a fortune. Even if they stayed in the He Mansion for a lifetime, they might not be able to earn that much money.

Seeing this, Liu Lao immediately became angry and said, “Who just said they would never leave the He Mansion, and vowed to stand by it? Now, just for the sake of a few top-grade spirit stones, are you willing to leave?”

He Qingci gave Liu Lao a calming look, then smiled faintly at everyone present and said, “Adapt to the situation. No one is at fault. Qingci won’t blame anyone. You can take the money and leave.”

As soon as He Qingci finished speaking, several servants hesitated for a moment but still stepped forward, saying, “Young Master, forgive us for our sins. We have elderly mothers and children to support at home. We dare not abandon them and risk our lives recklessly.”

He Qingci nodded lightly and said softly, “You are the pillars of your families. It’s understandable. Please, go to Xiao Jun and collect the money to leave.”

The servant, with tears in his eyes, knelt down heavily, knocked his head a few times, and then left after taking the money.

Seeing that there was indeed money to be collected, the remaining servants also knelt down to He Qingci, knocked their heads a few times, took the money, and left the hall.

After a while, except for Lu Ming and He Qingqiu, only five people remained.

Liu Lao was trembling with anger, saying, “Truly a group of money-grubbing slaves.”

He Qingqiu smiled slightly and said, “Liu Lao, don’t be angry. It’s not about having many underlings, but having loyal ones.”

Liu Lao sighed, wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes, looked around, and said emotionally, “Second Young Master’s words are reasonable, but when I think of the hundreds of servants in the He Mansion in the past, and now there are only a few people left, it’s hard not to feel desolate.”

After hearing this, He Qingqiu’s eyes also showed a hint of nostalgia. In the end, he just sighed softly and said nothing more.

Lu Ming smiled and said, “Liu Lao’s words are mistaken. I’m afraid these five people may not all stay.”

Liu Lao’s expression changed, hesitated, and said, “What do you mean, Young Master?”

The smile on Lu Ming’s face slowly faded away, and a killing intent suddenly overflowed from his body. After a moment, it covered the entire hall, and a powerful oppression swept towards everyone at an extremely fast speed.

Everyone present was shocked by this powerful pressure. Their faces turned pale, and their bodies involuntarily trembled, almost unable to stand.

Everyone was horrified, unable to think clearly, and their minds were filled with only one thought: in just over ten years, the Young Master had already reached the Splitting Divinity stage of cultivation. What had happened during this short period of time?

 

 

 

 

This Title is available for faster chapter releases through paid Patreon membership. Any proceeds go to keeping the website running. Check it out HERE.