Hu Zhou caught the saber Lu Zheng tossed over, assumed a stance, and then unleashed it.
As the first move was made and the saber's momentum rose, a shimmering moonlit tiger phantom emerged from the tip.
Simultaneously, a low growl echoed, and blood Qi surged from Hu Zhou's body, along with a fierce aura that suddenly enveloped him.
Lu Zheng's eyes widened.
He had encountered many demons before and could certainly discern it.
This demon Qi was not only fierce and violent but also carried a bold and domineering presence, whipping up a fishy wind and an oppressive force that appeared out of nowhere, pressing down on Lu Zheng.
It was as if a real tiger had appeared, gazing around the world, with an aura that ruled over all.
Hu Zhou was this tiger.
At the same time, the sound of shattering dishes came from where Aunt Liu was cooking in the front yard. In the neighboring Liu Family, there were also exclamations, followed by a white figure flashing by, and Liu Qingyan appeared atop the wall of Lu Zheng's backyard.
"Master... Master..." Hu Zhou withdrew his saber's momentum and nervously called out, then looked at Liu Qingyan in surprise.
"Lu Lang!" Liu Qingyan floated down beside Lu Zheng, looking at Hu Zhou in astonishment. "What's going on with Xiao Zhou..."
Lu Zheng's eyes flickered, and he suddenly asked, "Has your mother never told you about your father?"
He recalled sensing a pressure from Hu Zhou's outburst the first time they met, noting his own strengthening under that condition.
However, later on, when he taught Hu Zhou martial arts and examined his meridians and bones, he found nothing unusual, assuming it was Hu Zhou's unique talent and paid it no mind.
"No, never mentioned it." Hu Zhou shook his head.
Lu Zheng nodded, "I think it might have something to do with your father. Better let your mother tell you."
"My father?" Hu Zhou blinked, feeling that the name 'father' was very unfamiliar.
Lu Zheng looked towards Liu Qingyan, "I'll go back home with Hu Zhou; you can have your meal first."
"I'll go with you." Liu Qingyan shook her head, looking at Hu Zhou with a touch of concern.
"Alright." Lu Zheng nodded and looked at Liu Qingquan poking her little head over the wall, "Qingquan, let Uncle and Aunt know that we'll go back home with Hu Zhou first, and come by a bit later."
"Okay!" Liu Qingquan answered and swiftly ducked down.
Lu Zheng and the others left Tongyi Lane, heading home with Hu Zhou.
"Sister Liu, you..." Hu Zhou curiously looked at Liu Qingyan.
In his impression, Liu Qingyan was a gentle and weak woman, adept at acupuncture and diagnosis. But leaping over walls, what was that?
Liu Qingyan smiled slightly, "Let's first figure out your issue before anything else."
"Oh oh! Fine, fine!" Hu Zhou nodded earnestly, then turned to Lu Zheng, "Master, is the aura within me related to my father?"
"Most likely, unless your mother also has some connection." Lu Zheng said.
Liu Qingyan shook her head, "Sister is just a mortal, otherwise wouldn't have worn herself out so much."
"Then it's definitely your father, or perhaps your grandparents." Lu Zheng said, "Ask your mother, and you'll know."
They hurried along and soon arrived at a part of the county in the northwest.
Old, but not impoverished.
Since Hu Zhou became Lu Zheng's apprentice, helping at Renxin Hall daily, he not only earned a lot of money but also received support from Lu Zheng and Elder Liu, allowing Hu Zhou to move out of the old slums into a new courtyard.
"Young Master Lu? Miss Liu?"
Madam Hu had just finished her meal and was washing dishes in the courtyard. Seeing them arrive together, she couldn't help but be surprised and worried, looking at her son.
"Did you get into trouble again?" Madam Hu asked in a flustered and fearful voice.
For both Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan to come together, it had to mean her son was in trouble. Instinctively, Madam Hu believed her son had caused another commotion.
"No!" Hu Zhou pouted, feeling indignant that his mother always thought he was immature, continually advising him to be sensible.
He had already become quite sensible, hadn't he?
"Sister, Xiao Zhou is well and very sensible. We came mainly because of an unexpected discovery during his martial arts practice."
"Huh? Unexpected discovery?" Madam Hu blinked, not understanding what it meant.
"Mother, who is my father?" Hu Zhou directly asked.
Madam Hu's expression changed.
"Sister." Liu Qingyan explained, "During Xiao Zhou's practice with the saber, his internal blood Qi, in conjunction with the 'Tiger Roar Saber' form, activated his bloodline aura. We suspect it comes from his father."
Madam Hu's expression changed again.
"Thus, since Hu Zhou has already inherited these powers from his father, he should know their origin." Lu Zheng stated.
Hu Zhou looked at Madam Hu with eager anticipation.
Madam Hu stood still for a moment, then continued washing the dishes in her hands. Hu Zhou wanted to speak, but Lu Zheng gently restrained him.
A moment later, Madam Hu finished washing the dishes, returned them to the kitchen, wiped her hands on her apron, exhaled a deep breath, and looked at Hu Zhou with a profound gaze.
"Young Master Lu, Miss Liu, let's talk inside."
Lu Zheng nodded, nudged Hu Zhou, who was quick-witted enough to go forward and support his mother, leading her inside first.
Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan exchanged a glance, nodded, and followed him inside.
Inside, Hu Zhou helped his mother sit on the bed while Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan sat nearby. A lonely oil lamp flickered, casting a dim glow over the bedroom.
"I was only sixteen at the time."
Hu Zhou tightly held his mother's hand, giving her strength. She was evidently lost in memories.
"We lived on the edge of a village, backed by a large mountain. My father died early, and my mother and I relied on three thin fields near the mountain to survive." Read complete version only at N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
"One night, I suddenly heard noises in the back yard. When I quietly went over to look, I found an injured, striped tiger hiding in the woodshed."
Lu Zheng's eyes flickered, exchanging a glance with Liu Qingyan, who nodded in acknowledgment.
Hu Zhou wasn't foolish. He picked up on something odd.
"I was terrified, but the tiger suddenly spoke." Madam Hu said, "It asked me not to yell and also asked me to find some medicine for its wounds."
"With my father gone, my mother busy in the fields all day, I often ventured into the mountains to collect common herbs, so we did have some hemostatic herbs at home."
"Perhaps it was fear, or maybe the tiger seemed pitiful. Regardless, I didn't make noise and instead treated its wounds."
"Mother was too busy, cooking and chopping wood were my responsibilities, so she never noticed it. I spent every day with it, and during my treatment, it kept me company and talked with me."
"About a month later, it said its wounds had healed, and then, before my eyes, it rolled over and transformed into a man."