53 Chapter 53 – Father

The low level members of the clan may not know who Silver Shadow is but the elders and clan leaders remember the dreadful day fifteen years ago.

Silver Shadow, a man with silver hair and blood red eyes who covered rest of his face with a mask, rushed to Qinglu city followed by hundreds of powerful cultivators at Qi condensation and above stage. He fought all of them few miles away from the city he singlehandedly killed every single one of them brutally.

They also found later that silver shadow rushed here from the central continent in just three months left behind tens of thousands of bodies.

But after the fight on that day in Qinglu city, he disappeared completely and it has been fifteen years since that day.

Looking at Zhu Xuan, who looked very similar to silver shadow with same silver hair and complete blood red eyes everyone was terrified and wondered what the connection between Zhu Xuan and Silver shadow is.

Zhu Xuan, who was also able to perceive all the changes he went through, even though his consciousness is not clear, was flabbergasted. He didn't expect such a power was hidden inside his body and suddenly remembered the tiger he met when he first woke up in this world. He also remembered about his golden blood and it mentioning about royal family and wondered if the changes he went through related to that golden blood and the royal family.

At the time, Zhu Jia Li silently left the venue without anyone noticing.

But he realized that is not important and saw the crowd looking at him like some circus animal. He ignored them and turned towards Zhu Lang, who is supported by Zhu Donglai and said with a smile "Second Brother, Since I won the fight now can you announce that I'm the winner in the selections"

Zhu Lang was angry and ashamed that he lost to someone like Zhu Xuan. But since he promised in front of everyone he had to keep up with his word. When he was about to respond, Zhu Donglai next to him announced loudly "Zhu Xuan, you are expelled from Zhu clan and you are no longer a member of the clan and if you used the name of the clan anywhere, you will be hunted down by the law enforcement elders of the clan."

Zhu Xuan was utterly shocked by the words of Zhu Donglai.

He shouted angrily "Why? Is it because I defeated Zhu Lang? You never considered me your son all my life. Even now, just because I defeated him you want to expel me or is there any other reason. Do you really hate me that much?"

Zhu Donglai retorted angrily "I don't have anything to say to someone like you. Get out of my sight right now."

Even though he didn't care much about anyone in Zhu clan except his aunt, he felt sad and angry about his father expelling him from the clan. Maybe the predecessor's soul affected him a bit when he occupied his body and that influenced his emotion.

He felt lost. He was planning to go to Lei Shu academy to accomplish many things and was looking forward to it, but now because of this he couldn't go because he is no longer a clan member of Zhu clan.

Zhu Lang felt elated at the turn of events and even though he didn't understand why his father expelled Zhu Xuan, he felt happy things turned out this way.

The crowd also shocked by the turn of events. They simply couldn't understand why Zhu Donglai expelled Zhu Xuan from the Zhu clan and also wondered if it is related to the changes of Zhu Xuan a while ago.

Only the clan leaders and elders of various clans were slightly able to relate Zhu Xuan to silver shadow and come up with shocking conclusion. Even though they still can't be sure, they felt their thoughts were not far from the truth.

Zhu Xuan turned around and left the arena full of anger leaving a bewildered crowd. Bai Ling and Zhu Meiying tried to approach him but both of them were stopped by the clan elders.

Zhu Xuan didn't know what to do next and he tried to find his aunt in the crowd to talk to her, but didn't see her anywhere near the arena. So he left through the Zhu clan gate towards the alchemy pavilion to see if his aunt is there waiting for him.

At the time he left, an old guard captain also left his post and rushed towards the central palace where General Hong Dong Shen is living.

Zhu Xuan rushed to the alchemy pavilion and entered his aunt's room at the top floor but didn't find his aunt. He found a letter on the table addressed to him and opened it "Little Xuan, I know you will come to find me and you have many questions. We don't have much time and you are in danger. Leave Qinglu city immediately and meet me at the lake between Clearwater village and Snowcape Demon Mountain tomorrow. Don't delay and leave immediately and burn this letter."

Zhu Xuan was even more confused now but he didn't delay and left immediately after burning the letter. Even though he didn't know what the danger is, he trusted his aunt and left the clan immediately. He walked through the slums to make sure no one followed him and after half an hour of moving around, he finally moved towards the house he rented.

As soon as he entered, he changed his clothes and used body changing technique to the face of Shikong Shen and left the place through another entrance. He walked through the slums for a while and then walked towards the outer gate. He found the gates were blocked and the soldiers were checking every person passing through the gates.

He passed through the gate using his identity provided my Bai Wuji as a merchant and left safely.

He traveled through the night and finally neared the Clearwater village. He didn't enter the Clearwater village and directly moved towards the lake. He hid himself near the lake and waited for his aunt.

Zhu Jia Li reached the place in the afternoon few hours before sunset. Zhu Xuan didn't go out immediately to make sure no one followed his aunt. After half hour he finally changed back to Zhu Xuan and walked out of his hiding place. As soon as she saw Zhu Xuan, she rushed to him and hugged him tightly. She looked at him and said worriedly "I'm glad you are safe"

Zhu Xuan smiled at her and then asked with anger in his tone "Aunt, what is happening? Why did father expel me form the clan? And you said I'm in danger."

She understood Zhu Xuan is angry at her brother Zhu Donglai. She said "Little Xuan, don't hate my brother. Even though he had resentment towards you and didn't take care of you in the past. He expelled you to protect him. He may not have wanted to protect you but still he did and kept his promise to your father."

Zhu Xuan was shocked "What do you mean? He is not my father. Who is my father and what is his relationship with you and Zhu Donglai? And I'm not form the Zhu clan from the beginning?"

He couldn't think clearly anymore. His past life was already a mess but this predecessor's life is also covered with mystery.

Zhu Jia Li smiled and said "No you are form our Zhu clan. Your father is our second brother, Zhu Ling Han. He is a very kind and strong person. Truthfully, I don't understand much about him anymore."

She paused and continued "He was supposed to be the clan leader next to our father. But he disappeared suddenly when he was only sixteen, and we searched for him everywhere but we still couldn't find him. After our father passed away due to an illness, my elder brother became the clan leader. But ten years later, he came back with his hair turned completely silver and he was followed by lots of cultivators aiming to kill him; everyone called him Silver shadow. He killed every cultivator who followed him and approached us with a baby in his hand."

Zhu Xuan interrupted "And that was me."

Zhu Jia Li smiled and said "Yes, that was you. He didn't tell us in detail what transpired in those ten years. But he said there are very powerful enemies were looking for him and you and your mother was already captured by them. He needed to go back to save your mother, but he can't take you so he left you with us. He said your elemental roots are sealed by a powerful enemy and he would be happy if you just led a normal life in peace and left you with us. Even though the relationship between elder brother and second brother was never good, he still promised to take care of you as long as there was no problem for the clan. This happened fifteen years ago.

After he left you with us, lots of powerful cultivators at the peak of this world's power approached the clan to ask about his whereabouts, but we hid you and denied any knowledge of meeting him. Only few elders knew about you and your father's true identity as members of the Zhu clan."

Now he understood a lot of things, as to why Zhu Donglai acted that way and why his elemental roots were sealed, and why Zhu Donglai expelled him from the clan when everyone saw his changes. Even though he hated him, he still felt grateful towards Zhu Donglai for not capturing him or killing him and just expelling him.

Zhu Jia Li said with worry "Little Xuan, There are lot of enemies your father made when he came to meet us. You better leave soon and it will be better if you leave this kingdom since there are some people who came looking for your father from the imperial family of Lei Shu kingdom. You move to another kingdom and you can join any sect there and improve yourself. But please be safe."

Zhu Xuan realized his father created lot of enemies in many places, but he is not too worried about it since he can change himself to any other person using his technique. But he didn't say that to his aunt and comforted her by saying "Alright Aunt. I will leave immediately move to another kingdom. But, do you have any idea where my father and mother might be at and how are their enemies?"

He didn't ask them because he wanted to find them. He didn't even know them and the predecessor of this body is already dead. But he was still moved by his actions of Zhu Ling Han to save his wife and child, and if he had a chance in the future he might help them because he was reminded of his own father.

Moreover, since he is in this body now, it's safe to know about your enemies so that he can be careful in the future when he moves about in this world.

Zhu Jia Li replied "I am not sure Little Xuan, but from what I have learned in these years he came from Central continent. So if you want to find anything about them, you will find it at central continent. But please be careful and don't rush to find out about them."

As she finished, she stuffed a bag filled with gold coins, pills and various herbs to Zhu Xuan. Zhu Xuan tried to deny it, but she insisted and he finally accepted and said his goodbye to his aunt. He turned around and walked towards the Snowcape Demon Mountain.

Zhu Jia Li watched Zhu Xuan leaving with tears in her eyes. After he disappeared, she also turned around and left.

In the other side of the lake, two people with the hood over their face came out of the forest and rushed towards the direction Zhu Xuan left and the one with the bigger frame said "It was good we followed her, we are finally able to find Silver shadow's son."

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End of Volume 1