Chapter 961: with translation of chapter title

「Fu Hanxiu?! 」

Ye Qingran let out a low cry.

She never imagined she would meet Fu Hanxiu again in such a circumstance!

Not only Ye Qingran, Xiao Hu and Xiao Chen also wore happy faces; they hadn't seen their father in a long time, missing him dearly!

「Dad! 」

「Father Lord! 」

However, facing the mother and child's shouts, Fu Hanxiu appeared especially cold; his gaze swept over the mother and child, and he gave no response.

「Huh? 」

Ye Qingran saw Fu Hanxiu's reaction, slightly furrowed her brows, and sensed something was off.

Fu Hanxiu seemed not to recognize them mother and child anymore!

Yun Zhonghe also froze upon seeing Fu Hanxiu's appearance; it wasn't that Fu Hanxiu was overly handsome, but rather his looks were carved from the same mold as Xiao Chen's!

It's obvious this man is Xiao Chen's father, which also means he is the husband of his niece!

「Fu Hanxiu?! 」 Ye Qingran shouted again, unwilling to give up, but the man merely raised his eyebrows, gazing at her, with no former affection in his eyes.

「You've mistaken the person. 」 The indifferent voice came from the man's mouth; clearly it was Fu Hanxiu's voice, yet it carried not a shred of feeling.

Ye Qingran's heart gave a thump, and an ominous premonition rose in her mind.

Fu Hanxiu truly did not recognize them mother and child anymore!

The man's gaze shifted from Ye Qingran, and when he lowered his eyes to look at Xiao Chen beside her, he momentarily startled.

「What did you just call me? 」 the man asked, looking at Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen blinked, feeling the man before her was utterly unfamiliar, not at all like her Father Lord!

「Father Lord... 」 but he still answered honestly.

An inexplicable emotion flashed through the man's chest, then he said, "Come here." He lightly parted his thin lips and gestured with his hand.

Xiao Chen instinctively looked toward Ye Qingran, only to see Ye Qingran furrow her brows and shake her head at him.

「No! 」 Xiao Chen immediately refused.

Ye Qingran looked at Fu Hanxiu; although she was certain the man before her was Fu Hanxiu, his current state was full of too many uncertainties, and she dared not easily entrust the child to the present Fu Hanxiu.

Fu Hanxiu raised his eyebrows, the corner of his mouth curling into a wanton arc; he slightly narrowed his eyes, and in the next instant Xiao Chen appeared before him.

「Xiao Chen! 」 Ye Qingran's heart jolted; she instinctively moved to rescue Xiao Chen, but two figures blocked her path.

「Rest assured, before we clarify the situation, he is very safe. 」 Fu Hanxiu looked at Ye Qingran and said lightly.

Saying that, he took Xiao Chen's hand and walked toward the interior of the wine house.

「Scoundrel! Let go of me! I want my mother! 」 Xiao Chen struggled hard, but could not break free of Fu Hanxiu's restraint.

「Xiao Chen, don't be afraid, he won't hurt you! 」 Ye Qingran comforted.

Although it was unclear what had happened to Fu Hanxiu, at least she sensed no danger, so Xiao Chen was safe.

Ye Qingran followed Fu Hanxiu into the wine house; when Fu Hanxiu took Xiao Chen up to the second floor, two black-clad individuals blocked her path.

「What do you mean by this? 」 Ye Qingran narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing.

No one answered her.

「Fu Hanxiu, you'd better give me an explanation! 」 Ye Qingran clenched her fists, blazing with anger.

From the joy of just meeting, to now the raging fury, her mood was like a roller coaster.

「A Ran, what on earth is going on? 」 Yun Zhonghe didn't understand; clearly that man was the father of Xiao Hu and Xiao Chen, so why did he seem not to recognize them mother and child?

Ye Qingran calmed herself a bit and said, "I don't know either; he seems to have suddenly not recognized us mother and child." After speaking, fearing Yun Zhonghe might misunderstand, she added, "Uncle, he wasn't like this before; something must have happened after he came to Xuyu."

Yun Zhonghe gazed in the direction Fu Hanxiu disappeared, his brows slightly furrowed, not knowing what he was pondering; after a moment he said in a low voice, "Did you see those few black-clad individuals just now? Their auras are very strong, and..."

「And what? 」

「Their bodies seem to carry the aura of Demon Flower! 」

「Demon Flower? 」

Ye Qingran's pupils trembled slightly.

Back in Yunzhong City, she had first heard of Divine Flower and Beast Flower from the Vermilion Bird and Azure Dragon, but had never heard of Demon Flower. Now, however, she heard of Demon Flower from Yun Zhonghe's mouth, and Demon Flower seemed related to Fu Hanxiu?

「You've been in Xuyu for a while; have you learned about Moyu? 」

Ye Qingran nodded. The records about Moyu are actually scarce. This mysterious region, since ancient times, has been shrouded in mist; the demons inside cannot get out, while outsiders can enter, but none ever return with news.

Gradually, Moyu became a forbidden zone, turning into an existence people dare not mention.

「Could it be that Fu Hanxiu's abnormality is related to Moyu? 」 Ye Qingran speculated in her heart; at that moment, several figures strode in from outside.

「Dad, Uncle Lu, it's them! 」

Ling Qiye pointed at the two black-clad individuals guarding the stairwell and shouted loudly.

Lu Hongwei and the Ling Family Head, upon hearing that Ling Qiye was being bullied, rushed over immediately; upon seeing the two black-clad individuals, they were both startled.

「Who are you? 」 Lu Hongwei and the Ling Family Head exchanged a glance, then spoke first.

The two black-clad individuals ignored him.

The atmosphere suddenly turned grave, extremely solemn; those around dared not even breathe.

Just what background do these black-clad individuals have? They don't even give face to the Ling Family Head and the Domain Lord!

Lu Hongwei furrowed his brow, then gave a glance to the old man behind him; the old man nodded, and a terrifying pressure erupted—turns out he was a Flawless Emperor!

Just when everyone thought those two black-clad individuals would at least make a move, unexpectedly they remained unmoving, as if they didn't even regard the Flawless Emperor.

「Mystifying nonsense! 」 the old man snorted coldly, lashing out at the two black-clad individuals; the terrifying Mysterious Force wave made hearts tremble.

Just as the attack was about to reach the two black-clad individuals, they finally moved; two powerful auras emanated from them as centers, overwhelmingly strong, the Source-less Wind arose, filling the entire wine house with a terrifying aura that made one suffocate.

「Flawless Emperor! 」

Nobody knew who had let out a low shout, causing everyone to suck in a breath of cold air!

Who would have thought that these two black-clad individuals were, without exception, top-tier powerhouses of the Flawless Emperor!

You should know, they were left by that man just now to keep watch, yet they all possess such strength—just how strong must that man be?

The old man clearly hadn't expected these two black-clad individuals to both be Flawless Emperors, and his expression changed abruptly.

Nevertheless, he wasn't overly panicked, for with his strength he could face two Flawless Emperors at once—though he might not win, he at least wouldn't lose in the short term.

The two black-clad individuals raised their hands, and the old man's attack was instantly neutralized; they struck simultaneously, their assaults shooting forth, the old man hastily mobilized Mysterious Force to resist, but the terrifying attack directly engulfed him—he couldn't even block it for a second before being blown away, his body piercing the wall and flying out of the Wine House!

Hiss~

"How could this be?" Lu Hongwei's pupils constricted, shock overwhelming him.

He was well aware of the old man's strength; even among Flawless Emperors he was quite formidable—how could a single blow send him flying and severely injure him?

Even if the opponents were two Flawless Emperors!

Recalling the Demon Flower aura sensed from them just now, a horrifying speculation arose in Lu Hongwei's mind.

"Could it be..."

The Ling Family Head evidently shared Lu Hongwei's thought; he cupped his fists toward the two composed black-clad individuals, his tone much improved.

"May I ask where you two come from?"

The two black-clad individuals remained motionless like statues, not answering the Ling Family Head's question at all.

The Wine House fell silent in an instant, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard; everyone held their breath, trying to minimize their presence.

Ye Qingran, who had taken in everything just now, saw a gleam flash in the depths of her eyes.

The strength of the two black-clad individuals exceeded her expectations; even though they, like the old man, were Flawless Emperors, they were stronger than him—and even stronger than Hua Chong Master, one of the Ling Family's Twelve Chapter Pattern Masters—by more than just a little.

"Perhaps it's because of the Demon Flower..." she speculated silently.

In the Xuyu today, the two mainstream forces are Divine Flower and Beast Flower; it is precisely because these two special forces exist that cultivators of the Divine Clan and Beast Clan are considerably stronger than other cultivators.

"But how did Fu Hanxiu get involved with the Demon Race? Why does he lack any Demon Flower aura on his person?"

Fu Hanxiu not only lacks Demon Flower fluctuations, but he can also make countless Demon Race powerhouses obey his commands—this is too strange!

"Mother, their aura resembles that of the Great Demons of Mo Yuan, yet it's not exactly the same."

At this moment, Xiao Hu spoke beside Ye Qingran.

Ye Qingran nodded in agreement.

They likewise bear the Demon Race's aura, but the Great Demons of Mo Yuan possess no Demon Flower, and the demonic aura on these black-clad individuals seems somewhat different as well.

The Ling Family Head's words ultimately went unanswered; although he was furious inside, he showed no sign of it.

After much deliberation, the Ling Family Head and Lu Hongwei both decided to temporarily withdraw and reconsider later.

As soon as the Ling Family Head turned around, he saw Ye Qingran and Yun Zhonghe standing to the side.

"You two are quite bold!" the Ling Family Head sneered.

Someone leaned in to whisper something to the Ling Family Head; his eyes lit up, and his gaze toward Ye Qingran was full of mockery.

"It seems we don't need the Beast Clan to come; your fate will be the same."

Having offended these mysterious powerhouses, it looks like Yun Zhonghe and Ye Qingran's demise is not far off.