The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

Chapter 1529: Chapter 1627: Enemies on a Narrow Path

It’s no wonder the Dugu Family is so tense; after all, they’ve suffered a brutal war between two lands, with many deaths among the Dugu Family, from both the younger and older generations. Some have perished.

Now, the Dugu Family is facing oppression from the Zhou Royal Family, leaving them in an especially difficult situation. Everyone in the family is on edge, fearing that one false move might lead to the Dugu Family being erased from the vast Xuan Country.

So, when this unnamed Flying Boat landed directly in front of the Ancestral Mansion of the Dugu Family, a large group of the Dugu clan immediately rushed out, encircling the vessel, their eyes fixed intently on the Flying Boat.

The presence of an array on the Flying Boat meant that outsiders couldn’t see who was inside, leaving members of the Dugu Family clueless about how many people were aboard. Yet, given the imposing presence of the vessel, they feared it could hold at least thirty to fifty people.

At this moment, several individuals, all middle-aged men in their forties or fifties and in the prime of their lives, emerged from the Dugu household.

The appearance of these three middle-aged men bolstered the spirits of the younger members of the Dugu Family, easing the tension they initially felt.

“Who might our distinguished guests be, to trespass so brazenly onto the ancestral land of the Dugu Family? Isn’t that a bit impolite?” spoke one middle-aged man, who looked to be over fifty, in a solemn voice.

Even though the Dugu Family had fallen on hard times, they still had their dignity. They couldn’t afford to show weakness, especially not on their own doorstep. If they lacked the courage to stand up for themselves here, the Dugu Family would truly be finished.

However, the very same man who spoke was feeling a bit uneasy inside. He had no idea how many were aboard the Flying Boat or whether they were friends or foes. What if it was an enemy seeking vengeance?

The array vanished, revealing only two people atop the Flying Boat, a young man and a woman.

“Uncles, it’s been years. Do you not recognize your niece anymore?” Dugu Nian’s crisp voice rang out, appearing before the Dugu clanspeople in a red outfit.

The three middle-aged men were taken aback when they saw Dugu Nian, their faces showing surprise and complexity.

“It’s you!” The three men from the Dugu Family exclaimed almost in unison.

Dugu Nian wore a faint smile: “Nian’er greets the three uncles.”

The three men exchanged looks. It was beyond their expectations that Dugu Nian had returned. In the seven to eight years that passed, Dugu Nian had not contacted anyone from the Dugu Family, nor had she returned to the Ancestral Mansion once. Most people from the Dugu Family believed she might have perished in the war between the two lands.

As for Dugu Nian being taken to the Seven Seas, the Dugu Family had no knowledge of it. Even within the Upper Three Countries, the story hadn’t spread; it was relatively a secret matter.

How could the three men not be astonished to suddenly see Dugu Nian appear?

The younger generation of the Dugu Family, naturally, all recognized Dugu Nian. After all, she was the only female descendant among the Dugu Family’s direct lineage, with all the others being males, which made Dugu Nian deeply cherished by the old Family Head. Before she had met Fang Lin, her princess-like behavior was indeed indulged, leading to her prideful and imperious demeanor.

The crowd then noticed Fang Lin, their expressions showing another wave of change.

“Nian’er, you’ve finally come back!” Dugu Nian’s eldest uncle, the fifty-something-year-old Dugu Xiong, exclaimed with surprise fading to joy evident on his face.

Dugu Nian gave a slight nod, her attitude was far from warm, clearly indicating her relative indifference towards these so-called family relatives.

After all, the Dugu Nian of today was no longer the same naïve and innocent young miss from before. Her experiences over the years had inevitably changed her.

Dugu Nian might still be the same person as before, but that was only in front of Fang Lin. In front of others, Dugu Nian couldn’t let her guard down as she did with Fang Lin.

“I came back to take a look, but I don’t know why my three uncles are so nervous?” Dugu Nian glanced at the bewildered young members of the Dugu Family and asked the three Dugu Xiongs.

Fang Lin quietly disembarked from the Flying Boat and came beside Dugu Nian, slightly cupping his hands in greeting towards the three men.

After all, he was also an elder of Dugu Nian, Fang Lin naturally had to be polite, and paying respects as a junior was nothing to fuss about.

The way the three Dugu Xiongs looked at Fang Lin was rather odd, with only Dugu Xiong nodding in acknowledgement, while the other two offered no response to Fang Lin, clearly displaying wariness and exclusion towards him.

After all, the incident where Fang Lin seized Dugu Nian outside Xuan City and fought against the Xuan Emperor had a profound impact on the Dugu Family, causing many members to regard Fang Lin with fear and rejection.

Indeed, if not for Fang Lin, the Dugu Family would now have become in-laws with the Zhou Royal Family of Xuan Country, and they wouldn’t have fallen to their current state.

But even though Fang Lin had become renowned before the battle between the two parties and had been lost to life or death for seven years, gradually fading from people’s memories, the Dugu Family would never forget Fang Lin.

“It’s just a misunderstanding, we thought it was an enemy attacking, never expected it to be you, Nian’er, coming back,” Dugu Xiong gestured to the Dugu Family youngsters, who naturally returned to the Ancestral Mansion of the Dugu Family.

“Now that you are back, come with your eldest uncle to meet your grandfather. He has been thinking of you quite often these years,” said Dugu Xiong, glancing at Fang Lin.

Dugu Nian hummed softly in response.

The three Dugu Xiongs led the way, with Dugu Nian and Fang Lin entering the gates of the Ancestral Mansion of Dugu Family.

Along the way, many members of the Dugu Family came up to chat and become friendly with Dugu Nian, but not a single one paid attention to Fang Lin; in fact, many looked at Fang Lin with hostility, and if looks could kill, Fang Lin would have been riddled with holes by now.

Fang Lin, however, was unconcerned, composed, and steady in his steps, as if he didn’t notice those people from the Dugu Family at all.

The three Dugu Xiongs also kept an eye on Fang Lin in secret, seeing his calm and composed demeanor, they felt increasingly that Fang Lin was unfathomable.

Although the three of them were somewhat cold towards Fang Lin, they did not dare offend him either.

Along the way, Dugu Xiong spoke of the recent situation in the Dugu Family, with Dugu Nian listening silently and not saying much.

Fang Lin also listened clearly from the side, realizing that the Dugu Family was almost being forced into a desperate situation, which is why when their Flying Boat landed, those people from the Dugu Family had rushed out, as though ready to fight for their lives.

However, Fang Lin was not concerned about these matters. His purpose in coming here was merely to accompany Dugu Nian, to let Dugu Nian come home to see her parents and grandfather.

As for the Dugu Family’s difficulties, Fang Lin did not wish to get involved, but if Dugu Nian decided to intervene, he would not stand idly by.

When they walked around a long corridor, they came face to face with an elderly man wearing a brown robe, his frame thin and his face somewhat bleak.

“Second Elder,” the three Dugu Xiongs hastily bowed and greeted the old man.

Dugu Nian’s expression was icy, showing no reaction, while Fang Lin narrowed his eyes—a classic case of enemies on a narrow road.

PS: The fourth update has arrived, time to eat, eat! Tomorrow is New Year’s Day, I’m considering whether to give myself a break…

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