Chapter 27 Return to a Forgotten Home

Chapter 27 Return to a Forgotten Home
The decision to leave the forest was not made lightly, nor was it spoken with any sense of defeat, yet as the group began their journey away from the dense, shadowed expanse that had shaped them for over six months, there was an undeniable shift in the atmosphere surrounding them, as though they were stepping out of one phase of their lives and into another that carried a different kind of weight.
Liang Jie’s condition had settled, but not improved enough to justify further risk, and though he had made it clear more than once that he could still fight if necessary, the others had seen through the stubborn edge in his voice and noticed the strain beneath it. Even he could not argue against the quiet certainty in Lu Tian’s decision.
They would leave, not in retreat but in preparation.
The forest had given them growth, tempering their strengths and exposing their weaknesses, but it had also shown them the limits of what could be gained through brute survival alone. As the memory of the encirclement lingered in their minds, it became increasingly clear that if they wished to stand above those who hunted them, they would need more than just experience, they would need opportunity.
It was during the second day of their journey beyond the forest’s outer boundary that Lu Tian finally spoke of it.
“There is a ruin in the western region,” he said, his tone calm, as though he were mentioning something of little consequence, yet the words immediately drew the attention of every member of the group.
Luo Qingshan’s eyes sharpened. “A ruin?” he repeated. “What kind?”
“Unconfirmed,” Lu Tian replied. “It was discovered shortly before… I left the sect.”
He did not elaborate further, but there was something in the way he spoke, that suggested his knowledge went deeper than simple rumor.
Tang Bo leaned forward slightly, interest flickering across his face. “If it hasn’t been fully explored yet,” he said, “then it could still contain intact formations, or even inheritance structures.”
“Or traps,” Zhao Lian added calmly.
“That too,” Tang Bo admitted with a faint smile.
Chen Ran’s expression brightened slightly, curiosity overtaking the lingering fatigue from their earlier ordeal.
“Ruin exploration is way better than getting hunted in the forest,” he muttered.
Wu Zhen let out a low chuckle. “Anything’s better than that mess.”
Han Yue, however, did not speak immediately, her gaze resting on Lu Tian for a moment longer than usual, as though sensing that there was more behind the suggestion than simple opportunity.
“And the timeline?” he asked.
Lu Tian’s gaze shifted briefly toward the distant horizon. “The inter-sect competition is in two years,” he said.
A subtle stillness followed. They all understood that two years was not long when measured against the scale of cultivation.
“We won’t close the gap with others by training alone,” Xiang Feng said quietly.
“No,” Lu Tian replied. “We need chances others don’t have.”
After a moment, Zhao Lian crossed her arms lightly, her tone thoughtful. “And the western region is… how far from here?”
“Not close,” Luo Qingshan answered before Lu Tian could respond, his mind already mapping the route. “At least several weeks of travel, depending on the terrain.”
“That’s fine,” Wu Zhen said. “We’ve got time.”
Lu Tian nodded once. But then he spoke again. “There is something else.”
“My clan is on the way,” he said.
Chen Ran blinked. “…Your home?”
Lu Tian nodded. “I haven’t returned in years.”
That alone would not have been unusual as Cultivators often spent long periods away from their families. But something in the way he said it made it clear this was different.
Zhao Lian studied him briefly, her voice softening just slightly. “You want to visit them.”
Lu Tian did not deny it. In his previous life, he had not returned when he was weak or when he had been cast aside and his future deemed worthless by those who measured value only through strength and potential.
He had only gone back after he had risen again, after he had shattered expectations and forced the world to acknowledge him. By then it had been too late to change certain things. This time he would not repeat that mistake.
“We’ll go,” Han Yue said simply.
There was no hesitation in her voice, no need for discussion, and one by one, the others gave their quiet agreement, not out of obligation, but because by now, they understood that following Lu Tian meant walking a path that was not always straightforward, but always deliberate.
They continued their journey through different towns for days and taking breaks to tend to Liang Jie’s health before they finally got to Qingzhou town where the Lu clan was located.
The Lu Clan estate stood at the edge of the modest city, its walls neither grand nor insignificant, reflecting a family that held some standing, but not enough to command true authority within the region.
As they approached, the atmosphere shifted and they heard whispers.
“It’s him…”
“I heard he was crippled…”
“So, he actually came back…”
The murmurs spread quickly, carried in low voices that were not meant to be heard, yet not hidden enough to escape notice.
Chen Ran frowned. “…They’re not even trying to hide it,” he muttered.
Liang Jie, still walking with some support, let out a quiet scoff. “People like this never do.”
Lu Tian said nothing. His gaze remained focused and his steps steady as he crossed the threshold of the clan grounds, the familiar layout triggering distant memories that surfaced without invitation, each one carrying echoes of a past he had already decided to leave behind. Yet the reception was exactly as he had expected.
A middle-aged man stepped forward, his robes marking him as a clan steward, his expression stiff, his eyes flickering briefly over Lu Tian before shifting toward the group behind him.
“You’ve returned,” the man said, though there was no warmth in his tone.
Lu Tian nodded slightly. “I’m here to see my parents.”
The man hesitated for a moment. “They are… in the outer residence,” he said finally.
Outer residence. The words hung in the air like a quiet insult.
Chen Ran’s expression darkened immediately. “Outer…”
Zhao Lian’s hand pressed lightly against his arm, stopping him before he could speak further, though her own gaze had sharpened. Because they all knew that families did not send valued members to the outer residence. They sent those who had lost their worth.
Lu Tian did not react. At least not outwardly. “Lead the way,” he said.
The steward turned without another word and led them in. As they walked, the change became more apparent. The main courtyard was lively, well-maintained, filled with disciples and servants moving with purpose.
But the further they went the quieter it became. The buildings grew older and the paths less cared for. Until finally, they reached a small, worn courtyard at the edge of the estate.
And there were two figures standing just outside the doorway looking older and thinner.
For the first time since entering the clan Lu Tian stopped because standing before him were the people who had borne the consequences of his fall and their eyes looking at him were filled with relief and not disappointment.