Bamboo Casket Chapter 65: Pursuit

The four members of the Lei family actually left the Anluo Palace the next day.

However, Lu Yun and Anluo had no intention of letting them off just like that.

Some people only become sensible when they are instilled with fear.

In the Barrens, there were many such people.

Yet in the Barrens, very, very few dared to openly hunt down people from Heavenly Drum City.

Almost none.

Why almost?

Because today, Lu Yun stood atop the city wall, holding a great bow.

This bow was not the immortal artifact from Stone City; it was the one Old Guo had crafted upon Dong Sangeng's commission.

Lu Yun guessed that the reason the shattered immortal artifact in Stone City within his four dreams bore such a striking resemblance to this bow was simply that Old Guo had modeled it directly after the immortal artifact when forging it.

One could only attribute it to the timing and the decrees of fate.

Years ago, an ancestor of Stone City had used that bow to shoot down a great demon. Today, even as a replica, this bow had wounded the Ascendance-realm Tao Ting, and now it was aimed directly at the contemporary younger generation of Heavenly Drum City.

The bowstring was pulled taut. Lu Yun’s eyes reflected the retreating figures of the four from Heavenly Drum City, his fingers twitching slightly.

...

"Eldest Brother, I still can't swallow this anger!"

Lei Zhong crossed his arms and let out a muffled snort.

Lei Bo's expression was complex. "Let's return to Heavenly Drum City first. The ancestors will demand an explanation for us."

Lei Xi, who was piggybacking on Lei Bo's back, felt a sudden sense of foreboding.

She actually sensed fear in her eldest brother!

It had never happened before. As long as she could remember, her eldest brother Lei Bo had always appeared utterly reliable, as if everything was within the palm of his hand.

Yet this time, things had slipped beyond Lei Bo's control.

The Luze family had gone mad, and Anluo had gone mad.

Wise men often found themselves helpless when facing madmen.

Lei Bo could not guarantee whether they would push this matter to the bitter end.

"They wouldn't. They wouldn't dare, absolutely not. That would be equivalent to declaring war on Heavenly Drum City..."

Listening to Lei Bo's muttered words, Lei Xi felt her own heart grow somewhat tense.

Would they make a move?

Just like that, the members of the Lei family walked for a while, each harboring different thoughts.

Lei Bo gradually began to relax his vigilance.

Sure enough, no matter how unhinged Anluo was, he would not dare to openly attack them.

At that very moment, an arrow tore through the slightly chilled wind, spanning miles to strike from behind them.

...

"Let's go."

Lu Yun lowered the great bow and said to Anluo beside him, "We can chase them at most a hundred miles past the borders of the White Plains Kingdom. Any further would be somewhat dangerous."

Anluo’s mouth twitched. "Brother Lu, I feel like you're even better suited to be a prince than I am."

Lu Yun smiled and shook his head.

"I wouldn't do. I'm only good at fighting."

Lu Yun had never been someone who enjoyed scheming. As he put it, he believed that fighting was far simpler than engaging in backstabbing and intrigue.

He wanted to be a simple person.

Once Shengge awoke and resurrected his elder sister, he planned to retire from the world, spending his leisure time drinking with Anluo.

Lu Yun yearned for such a life beyond measure, but he knew those things would be very difficult to achieve.

He had already stepped onto a chessboard. In this game, even those in the Ascendance realm were not masters of their own fate, let alone him?

The choices dictating the future trajectory of the Barrens were all contained within this game.

...

"Third Brother, hold on!"

Lei Bo carried Lei Xi on his back while Lei Zhong carried Lei Qian. Two of the four were crippled as they fled in disarray—where was there any trace of the imposing demeanor belonging to the Lei family of Heavenly Drum City?

"Brother, do you think they'll kill us?"

Lei Qian slowly opened his eyes and asked weakly.

Lei Bo gritted his teeth, not knowing what to say.

He dared not guarantee it either. Reason told him that Anluo would never dare to kill them, that it was at most intimidation, but the reality was that arrow after arrow kept piercing the air toward them.

Every single time, it was aimed at taking their lives.

This caused Lei Bo to doubt his own deductions.

Could it be that Anluo had truly turned into a madman who cared for nothing else?

Once fear took root in the depths of one's heart, it would continuously shake one's inner resolve.

Lei Bo could only forcibly suppress the turbulent fluctuations in his mind to prevent them from fleeing in panicked disorder.

"As long as we cross out of the White Plains Kingdom, they won't dare to strike again!"

In the end, Lei Bo said this to reassure Lei Qian.

By then, however, Lei Qian had already lapsed into unconsciousness.

...

That night, beside a campfire, Lu Yun sat with his bow resting next to him. He used an arrow to skewer a piece of roasted meat, biting into it with gusto.

Anluo appeared much more refined. Though he also used an arrow to skewer his meat, he chewed in small, delicate bites.

"Brother Lu, your roasting skills are quite good. Much better than the chefs in the Anluo Palace!"

Having eaten his fill, Anluo clapped his hands together and praised.

Lu Yun laughed. "Of course. My sister always loved the meat I roasted."

Anluo rarely heard Lu Yun speak of his elder sister, and on the few occasions he did, there was always a faint trace of sorrow in Lu Yun's eyes.

Thus, Anluo did not press further, only sighing suddenly, "Brother Lu, do you remember a year ago? We were also by a campfire like this, when we first met."

Of course Lu Yun remembered. Back then, he, Anluo, and a small demon had sworn an oath under the night sky to join forces, acting as the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Though the terms of their agreement had all been fulfilled, accidents always arrived with such swiftness.

Lu Yun had lost his elder sister and Shengge, while Anluo's grandfather was nearing the end of his lifespan.

All of this had transpired in the span of merely a single year.

Both of them had grown, yet heavier burdens now rested upon their shoulders.

"Then let's make another pact this time, wishing upon the future."

Lu Yun picked up the wine gourd from beside him and held it toward Anluo.

"No solemn oaths this time, let's just consider it boasting over drinks."

Anluo was momentarily startled, then he too raised his wine gourd, clinked it against Lu Yun's, and burst into hearty laughter.

"Then I'll really boast without restraint! Hehe, Yuan Mo has treated me pretty well, so I won't snatch his position. As for me, Anluo, I will become the most formidable prince in the entire Barrens in the future!"

Lu Yun smiled. "I hope that in the future, I can have everything turn out just as I wish, smoothly and according to my heart's desires."

Anluo curled his lip. "That doesn't count, it's too small an ambition, Brother Lu. Say it again!"

Lu Yun shook his head. "That's the biggest boast I can manage."

Anluo did not force the matter, simply drinking heartily.

When the drinking reached its end, Lu Yun stood up and, emboldened by the alcohol, drew his bow once more.

They had pursued the four Lei brothers for a long time and had now reached the outermost edges of the White Plains Kingdom. To play it safe, Lu Yun decided to call off the chase.

This would be his final arrow.

"If we ever cross paths again in the future, I hope you won't be foolish enough to make people feel so hopelessly exasperated."

Lu Yun released his grip, and the arrow shot forth instantly, resembling a shooting star beneath the moonlight as it streaked straight into the distance.