Chapter 982 A guilty conscience
"The Gan family played an indispensable role in our successful capture of Liu Xunyi tonight. Haha..."

Gu Ri, Xie Xuan, Yan Bugui and others, who were in high spirits because they had achieved their wish, left Luzhou overnight with Gan Yonglin's personal farewell.

Until the time they parted ways, Gu Ri, with a cheerful face, still did not forget to praise the Gan family's "righteous act". The two strangers behaved like old friends who had known each other for many years, singing and responding to each other with great enthusiasm.

Xie Xuan smiled without saying anything on the surface, but he was already very nervous and complaining in his heart.

After all, Gu Ri and Yan Bugui believed that Liu Xunyi's whereabouts were discovered by the disciples of the Gan family. Once Gan Yonglin accidentally let the cat out of the bag, it would inevitably arouse their suspicion of Xie Xuan, and even all their painstaking plans would come to nothing.

Fortunately, Gan Yonglin was not fooled by Gu Ri's false pretenses and became carried away, nor did he mention too many details about the discovery of Liu Xunyi.

On the contrary, he seemed to be worried, and he kept forcing a smile and perfunctorily responding to Gu Ri's enthusiasm. During the journey, Gan Yonglin tried to persuade Gu Ri and Xie Xuan to stay more than once, but he got no response.

This move made Gan Yonglin even more uneasy.

"When I see the headmaster, I will report what happened in Luzhou and ask for credit on behalf of Master Gan."

"How can I dare to ask for credit from the leader of the martial arts world? The reason why I was able to successfully capture Liu Xunyi tonight is because Taoist Gu Ri, Lord Xie, and Fourth Master Yan worked together. I... am just joining in the fun."

"Hey!" Gu Ri waved his hand and smiled, "Master Gan, there is no need to be modest. If it weren't for the Gan family disciples who found clues about Liu Xunyi in Daming Mansion, our unity would be useless. I have to say that the Gan family disciples are really smart and capable. A person that all heroes in the world can't find even if they dig three feet underground was easily found by you. I admire you! I really admire you! Haha..."

"Thank you for your kindness, Taoist Priest Gu Ri. I and the entire Gan family are deeply honored." Gan Yonglin looked at the "absent-minded" Xie Xuan with embarrassment. He was speechless for a moment and could only smile innocently.

"Senior, we should get going." Xie Xuan took the opportunity to change the subject, "Take Liu Xunyi back to the Xianwang Mansion as soon as possible to avoid any more trouble."

"That's right!" Gu Ri said, and then bowed to Gan Yonglin and said goodbye, "It's cold and windy at night, Mr. Gan, please stay. We'll take our leave."

"Um...Xunzhen and the others..."

"Don't worry! It's a blessing from God that they escaped death tonight. Right now, they are most worried that we will change our mind at the last minute. They must be eager to flee this place with their tails between their legs, and they dare not stay in Luzhou." Gu Ri had already seen through Gan Yonglin's mind. He waved his hand nonchalantly and said firmly, "Master Gan, go back to take a shower, change clothes, and have a good sleep. When you wake up tomorrow, Luzhou will still be your world."

"I would like to borrow your auspicious words from the Taoist priest today."

"Brother Yonglin, please go back. We are leaving now."

Xie Xuan was worried that Gan Yonglin might say something wrong, so he urged the Gan family to return to the city while helping Gu Ri get on the carriage.

"Thank you, brother, take care on your journey!"

"Take care, Brother Yonglin!"

After a hasty farewell, several carriages sped away without taking shelter from the wind and rain, quickly disappearing from Gan Yonglin's sight.

"Master, why are they leaving in such a hurry?" Gan Lun walked forward with an umbrella, and used a slightly complaining question to wake up Gan Yonglin who was lost in thought, "They said they wanted to thank us, but in the end they just paid lip service to us, without any sincerity at all."

"What sincerity do you want?" Gan Yonglin stared into the abyss-like deep and dark distance, and asked without turning his head, "Are you asking the leader of the martial arts world to reward us with gold, silver and jewelry? Even if he dares to reward us, do you... dare to accept it?"

"Master, I'm not talking about vulgar things." Gan Lun explained meaningfully, "Everyone knows that Leader Qingfeng and Madam Luo have an agreement that whoever can capture Liu Xunyi will get a million gold coins and thousands of acres of fertile land... More importantly, as a reward, Madam Luo is willing to give away three martial arts secrets treasured in the Xianwang Mansion, and Leader Qingfeng promised to be the deputy leader of the Central Plains martial arts world..."

Before he could finish his words, Gan Yonglin suddenly turned his head. His gloomy eyes made Gan Lun's heart tremble, and the words that were about to come out of his mouth were swallowed back into his stomach.

"Others may not know who captured Liu Xunyi, but don't you know too? Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. Not only will you not get any benefits, but you will end up choking to death."

After saying this, Gan Yonglin no longer paid attention to the fearful Gan Lun and got into the carriage.

"master……"

"Go home!"

"Yes……"

Gan Lun timidly bowed his hands and accepted the order, then quickly called on his disciples to ride back to the city.

The wind and rain are blowing continuously.

Although the weather is not as violent as before, it is still chilly and biting.

"What time is it?"

"My Lord, it's three quarters past three in the morning."

"It's almost dawn."

"At least another hour."

In the middle of the question and answer, Gan Yonglin got off the carriage with the help of Gan Lun and walked into the gate of Gan Mansion with a lazy and tired body.

"I will immediately arrange for someone to bathe and change clothes for the master..."

"No hurry!" Gan Yonglin interrupted Gan Lun who was looking attentive and asked, "Have Gan Fu and the others returned?"

"I just asked the disciples on night watch, Gan Fu and the others have not returned yet."

"From the time we left Luzhou Inn to now... has it been an hour?"

"Almost." Facing Gan Yonglin's doubt, Gan Lun nodded in response, not quite understanding.

"They should have come back a long time ago." Gan Yonglin frowned and kept muttering to himself, "Could it be that... Xunzhen and the others haven't left Luzhou Inn yet?" "The master ordered Gan Fu to monitor them leaving the city. Maybe they are on their way back now." Seeing that Gan Yonglin was worried, Gan Lun patiently persuaded him, "Don't worry, Master. Taoist Gu Ri said..."

"It's none of my business, so it's easy to say sarcastic words." Gan Yonglin couldn't help but look down upon hearing Gu Ri's name, and said unhappily, "You kept asking me why I was so unhappy along the way. It's because Wudang and Xianwang Mansion were so heartless and unrighteous. They only cared about taking Liu Xunyi back to claim the reward, but ignored the mess left in Luzhou."

"What is the master worried about?" Gan Lun heard a clue from Gan Yonglin's words, and his heart sank immediately. He swallowed hard, "Could it be that the master is worried about Xunzhen's revenge..."

"They thought that everything would be fine if they captured Liu Xunyi, the fierce tiger. Little did they know that Xunzhen and his gang were also a group of vicious wolves eyeing them. They walked away in style, but if Xunzhen put the blame on the Gan family, then we..."

Having said this, Gan Yonglin's voice stopped abruptly because he didn't dare to continue.

"Why don't we strike first while they are still in shock..."

"Are you seeking death?"

"This……"

"Just now, I tried to persuade them to stay, but they pretended to be deaf and dumb, turning a blind eye to the Gan family's concerns. Thinking about it carefully, I really regret not listening to Xie Xuan's advice. I foolishly followed Gu Ri into the inn and confronted Xun Zhen and the others on the spot. Unexpectedly, Gu Ri, this old fox, only wanted to use the Gan family to shift the conflict... Alas!"

"In that case, why don't you ask Palace Master Xie to stay and help?"

"Xie Xuan is nominally the lord of the Xianwang Mansion, but in reality... he has his own difficulties and cannot help himself. Moreover, he does not want Gu Ri and Yan Bugui to take all the credit for capturing Liu Xunyi alive, so he will definitely return to Luoyang with them."

"This……"

"Forget it!" Gan Yonglin, who was upset, waved his hand impatiently and said in a deep voice, "Wake up everyone, take up your weapons, and be alert and ready before dawn. Also, close the door of the mansion tightly, and no one is allowed to enter or leave without permission before Gan Fu and his men come back."

"As ordered!"

"I hope I am just worrying too much and everything is fine..."

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Suddenly, a dull knock on the door broke the silence of the night, startling the disciples. At the same time, Gan Yonglin, who was in a state of anxiety, and Gan Lun, who was about to deliver a message, were startled. The two of them looked at each other subconsciously, and an indescribable solemnity emerged between their brows.

"who?"

At Gan Yonglin's signal, Gan Lun drew out his steel knife and walked towards the gate cautiously.

"It's me, Ganfu."

Hearing the familiar voice outside the door, Gan Lun was stunned for a moment and subconsciously looked back at Gan Yonglin who had a frown on his face.

Gan Lun licked his dry lips with his scarlet tongue and asked in a nearly hoarse voice: "Are you...really Gan Fu?"

"Nonsense! Can't you even recognize my voice?"

"It's Gan Fu, open the door!"

After confirming his identity again and again, Gan Lun was overjoyed. He put the steel knife into the sheath and helped the gatekeeper disciple lift the bolt, slowly opening the two heavy doors to a gap.

The moment the door opened, Gan Fu swooped into the mansion like a swift leopard and walked quickly towards Gan Yonglin, who seemed relieved.

"Seeing that you are safe and sound, I am finally relieved." Gan Yonglin walked forward with a smile, "How is it? Have they left Luzhou..."

"Master, please leave!"

Before Gan Yonglin finished speaking, Gan Fu, who had hurried over, suddenly changed his expression. He waved his hand to push Gan Yonglin, who was caught off guard, and shouted to the Gan family disciples standing at the door: "Close the door quickly!"

"What? Gan Fu, you..."

"boom!"

Before the shocked crowd could figure out what was going on, the half-closed door was suddenly kicked open by a strong and brutal force, knocking Gan Lun and several disciples who were standing behind the door to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, more than a dozen burly men with ferocious looks rushed into the yard with a blazing torch in one hand and a shining scimitar in the other.

Seeing this scene, Gan Yonglin's heart seemed to skip a beat, and the blood in his body instantly froze like ice. His scalp was numb, his heart was cold, his chest and abdomen were tight, and his legs were heavy... At this moment, his eyes were full of horror. Although he tried his best to suppress it, he still couldn't stop his lips and teeth from trembling violently, and there was no trace of blood on his old face.

"Stop fucking dilly-dallying and get going!"

Suddenly, there was a burst of shouting and crying behind Gan Yonglin, followed by a messy and noisy sound of footsteps.

Immediately afterwards, dozens of disheveled, crying members of the Gan family and the Gan family disciples who had been awakened from their dreams and were in a panic, slowly gathered towards the front yard like a pile of loose sand under the fierce threats of more than a dozen burly men holding sharp blades and as powerful as tigers and wolves.

"You... who are you?" In the chaos, Gan Yonglin, who was timid and fearful, staggered two steps and almost fell to the ground. "Do you know where this is? Are you tired of living..."

"Haha... Master Gan is really a forgetful person. He has completely forgotten us after just one hour of not seeing us."

Accompanied by a clear and pleasant laugh, a young lady with a beautiful smile, accompanied by four stern-looking men, walked slowly into the wide-open gate of the Gan Mansion as if strolling in a garden.

The person who came was Xunzhen, who made Gan Yonglin feel depressed and restless.

……

(End of this chapter)