Chapter 78: Brother, Time to Repay the Debt!

“Young Master Qiu... it’s been so long... you’ve grown so much...”
Uncle Ling grasped Ling Qiu’s hand, his eyes glistening with tears of excitement.

“...Uncle Ling, what is going on here?”

“Sit down, let me tell you slowly.”

...

Ten minutes later, Ling Qiu finally understood everything.

So it was just as Xu Wanxi had suspected—Uncle Ling had been feigning madness all along.

The reason was simple: someone wanted to harm him.

He pretended to be crazy and foolish simply to save his own life.

And his wife was not, in fact, the shrewish woman she appeared to be; she only pretended to be so.

Of course, that slap mark on his face was indeed given by the middle-aged woman.

But it was all a performance for outsiders.

As Uncle Ling put it, only by making it believable—by making those lurking enemies think he was truly deranged and living miserably—could he convince them to abandon their plans to kill him.

“...Auntie, I’m sorry, I misunderstood you earlier.”

The middle-aged woman replied, “It’s alright. Young Master Qiu, if you don’t mind, just call me Aunt Fen.”

Ling Qiu nodded, then turned to Ling Jianguo once more, “Uncle Ling, why are they after you?”

Ling Jianguo gave a bitter, wry smile. “Isn’t it obvious... They’re worried I know too much. I spent so many years by the old master’s side, he confided everything in me. In fact... before he passed, he left me a message.”

“What did he say?” Ling Qiu pressed.

Ling Jianguo looked at him intently. “Young Master Qiu, I can tell you... but not now.”

“Why not?”

“Because... the people and powers involved are too many and too dangerous. In your current situation, you can’t even protect yourself. Some things, knowing them would only bring you harm.”

Ling Jianguo took a deep breath. “The old master said that only when you truly become head of the Ling family... only then can I reveal these things to you.”

Ling Qiu fell silent.

Once again—it came down to becoming the head of the Ling family.

Was it as the King of the Underworld had said... that he could never escape this fate, this tie to the Ling family?

Ling Qiu shook his head helplessly.

He knew how loyal Uncle Ling was to his grandfather, so no matter how much he pressed, unless he met the condition, Uncle Ling would take the secret to his grave.

In that case...

Fine.

So he had to become the family head? Very well—if that’s what it took, he would do it!

In truth, Ling Qiu had always disliked trouble. Becoming head of the family was certainly going to be nothing but trouble.

But if it concerned the secrets surrounding his grandfather’s death, no matter how troublesome, he would take on the task!

Afterward, Ling Qiu and Uncle Ling reminisced, while Aunt Fen listened quietly and kindly from the side.

After a while, Aunt Fen spoke, “Young Master Qiu...”

“Aunt Fen, just call me Ling Qiu. I’m nothing but the cast-off of the Ling family now, no master here.”

Aunt Fen smiled kindly. “Alright, child. It’s about time to eat. I’ll fix us something simple—don’t mind the humble fare.”

“Aunt Fen, you don’t have to—”

“It’s fine. Let her keep busy,” Ling Jianguo waved her off to the kitchen, then grabbed Ling Qiu’s arm and said sincerely, “Child, let me give you some heartfelt advice... You’re better off this way. I want revenge for the old master too, but those people are ruthless... And you, you’re too kind, too innocent. I watched you grow up. You’re no match for them...”

Ling Qiu only smiled, saying nothing.

Once he’d made up his mind, no one could change it.

And there was no need to argue. He just needed to bide his time, become the Ling family’s head, and then return to Uncle Ling for the secrets he sought.

“By the way, I never asked—what was with those debt collectors earlier?”

Ling Jianguo sighed bitterly. “That’s your Aunt Fen’s son—now my son too. He’s about your age, never finished high school, took to the streets, always causing trouble. Lately, he’s picked up gambling and racked up a mountain of debt. Young Master Qiu, even though you promised those debt collectors, I can’t let you be troubled by this. Not now—”

Ling Qiu cut him off. “No discussion. I’ll settle the debt. Or else I’ll tell the Ling family about your act.”

Ling Jianguo: ????

What?

He couldn’t help but feel that Young Master Qiu was different from the gentle, soft-spoken boy he remembered... He’d become stronger, someone you could inexplicably rely on!

“Back to the topic,” Ling Qiu said, “When is Aunt Fen’s son coming home?”

Such a wayward scoundrel—Ling Qiu intended to teach him a lesson.

“Oh, you mean that rascal, Lu Zhengkun. Who knows where he’s off to now—don’t worry about him.”

Just then, Aunt Fen entered with a plate of cold dishes.

But—

Ling Qiu’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

His expression changed subtly.

“Aunt Fen, what did you say your son’s name was?”

“Lu Zhengkun. He takes my surname. Though Jianguo and I are close, the child is grown and changing his surname would be awkward...”

No, that wasn’t the point!

The point was...

That name...

Ling Qiu knew that name all too well—painfully well.

He also knew a Lu Zhengkun.

But...

He knew him “down there.”

Back in the underworld, Ling Qiu had started as a minor soul reaper, clawing his way up step by step.

And as a soul reaper, he’d met a brother.

A brother named Lu Zhengkun!

A brother who fought side by side with him, hacking a bloody path through countless evil spirits.

A brother of immense strength!

A brother who could crush demons with one hand, sharing the spoils with him!

A brother who, in a great battle, sacrificed himself to save Ling Qiu, taking a fatal blow so that Ling Qiu could live—even if it meant his own soul would be scattered to the winds!

Ling Qiu’s mind filled with the image of Lu Zhengkun’s face in his final moments.

Deathly pale, ashen, yet wearing a proud, manly smile.

The words he uttered before his soul dispersed still rang clear in Ling Qiu’s mind:

“Brother, I was late to report for duty, and I never got to say this... But now, I want to call you ‘Master’... Thank you for teaching me so much. When I was alive, I was reckless. I died like a fool and only regretted it in the underworld. If only... If only I’d met you when I was alive... If only you’d knocked sense into me then... Maybe I wouldn't have died so pathetically...”

...

Ling Qiu was lost in endless thought and remembrance.

His expression grew gravely somber.

At that moment, someone pounded on the door from outside!

“Open up! Open up!—I’m back!!”