Chapter : 28 Madman Or Not?

Kayden and Li Wei sat on opposite sides of the enigmatic man, a table before them with cups of water glistening in the dim light.

"Who are you?" Kayden inquired, wasting no time in coming to the point.

"I am Chang," the stranger responded with a mysterious smile, "and I want you to accompany me to the Liu clan, where a reward awaits."

Kayden and Li Wei exchanged confused glances. Kayden turned to Li Wei and in a hushed tone asked, "Liu clan? Where is that?"

Understanding Kayden situation, Li Wei whispered. "This territory lies within the Jianguo Empire, home to four prominent clans – Liu, Chen, Zhang, and Wang. These clans are separated by meandering rivers, treacherous beast-infested forests, and unforgiving deserts. However, Liu and Chen are the closest neighbors among them."

As Kayden observed the man seated in front of him, he couldn't help but notice a disheveled appearance and the faint aroma of liquor clinging to his clothes. It was evident that the stranger wasn't in his right mind.

"What are you thinking, kid? Just come with me, and I'll take you home," the enigmatic man said, rising from his seat and reaching for Kayden's hand to pull him up.

Amid the shocked onlookers, Li Shu suddenly appeared in the room. He was taken aback by the sight of an unknown man in his house, attempting to lead Kayden away, whose expression clearly conveyed his annoyance.

Li Shu's response was swift and vigorous. He delivered a powerful flying kick to the stranger. "You madman! How dare you lay a hand on my guest!" Li Shu's voice boomed as Chang struggled to regain his balance.

"Why did you kick me, you stupid?" Chang retorted in a fit of anger.

Li Shu muttered "stupid" under his breath before issuing a stern command. "Where are the guards? Take this scoundrel and throw him into the pig shed," he declared, as two men promptly stepped forward to carry out his order.

Chang, struggling against their grasp, pleaded with a hint of desperation, "Why are you doing this? I only wanted to help the kid get back to his home." His tone had shifted from aggressiveness to pitiful sincerity.

Li Shu's patience wore thin. "What nonsense are you talking?" he retorted.

Chang, seemingly undeterred, urged Li Shu to check the poster concealed within his robe. Li Shu reached into the man's garments, retrieving a poster bearing a skull picture and a message that read, "Young master of the Liu clan gone missing. Whoever brings him back will be rewarded with 100 gold coins."

As Li Shu turned back to see Kayden and then at the poster, and then he crushed the poster and threw it to the side, he issued a stern command. 'Throw this rascal with the pigs,' Li Shu commanded as his two men took Chang, carrying him away.

Only Chang's fading voice could be heard, 'Why are you doing this? I'm a good man, just trying to perform a selfless act to help a child.'"

"I am truly sorry for this unexpected turn of events. I didn't anticipate my men letting a stranger in," Li Shu admitted, as he instructed his servants to prepare their meal.

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps drew Li Shu's attention as Lao Pi entered the scene. "Young master," Lao Pi called out, but he was held by two men.

Li Shu wasted no time and issued a new order, "Throw him in the pig shed along with the madman."

"Wait, young master, I don't want to go there again. I just came back from playing with them," Lao Pi pleaded.

"How dare you let a madman enter my house," Li Shu scolded, his anger clear in his tone. As Lao Pi was carried away, his voice faintly reached their ears, "Young master, how could I have known someone entered the manor? I was locked in with the pigs."

As some time passed, Kayden and Li Wei finished their breakfast. Kayden stood up, his attention drawn to the crushed poster that Chang Guy had brought. He picked up the poster, unfolding it out of curiosity, revealing a skeleton picture that oddly felt familiar to him.

"He is Liu Yuan, the grandson of the current patriarch of the Liu clan," Li Wei suddenly interjected.

"Liu Yuan?" Kayden queried.

Li Wei continued, "He's rumored to be around 17 years old but doesn't look his age due to his notorious drinking habits. There are also whispers of him dabbling in unknown drugs and possessing minimal talent for cultivation."

Kayden, in contemplation, crumpled the paper and tossed it to the floor as they began to walk away. Yet, his mind couldn't shake the nagging thought: "Somehow, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."