Crossing Over: The Strongest Mage

"No matter what the situation is, I must meet my mother and brothers. Otherwise, this trip will lose its meaning," Yan Huo thought firmly to himself.

As for Yan Huo's personal matters, Yang Lue had never inquired too much. Despite Yan Huo being a mysterious figure with an unclear background, Yang Lue had no suspicions or defenses. He treated Yan Huo with great care and attention. However, Yan Huo's true identity—being the son of Liu Yiqing—could not remain hidden forever. It was possible that today, Yang Lue might discover this truth.

"Brother Yang, thank you for everything you've done for me these days. But there is something I've been hiding from you. I hope that when you learn the truth, you won't blame me. I have my reasons," Yan Huo said with a serious tone.

"Yan brother, it's not too late for you to tell me now," Yang Lue replied, his voice calm.

"I can't say it now, but you'll probably know soon enough."

"Alright then! If that's the case, I won't ask further. Don't worry, no matter what you've done, I won't blame you," Yang Lue said with a faint smile.

"Everything will be as you say, Brother Yang," Yan Huo replied, giving a slight bow. He changed into his clothes and donned his silver mask.

It was still an hour before noon when Yang Lue and Yan Huo's carriage arrived at the entrance of the Fengyuan Escort Bureau. Liu De had been waiting at the door. The high walls and grand courtyard, with its red gates and green tiles, made the Fengyuan Escort Bureau look far more splendid than the Yang family's residence. After exchanging pleasantries, Liu De led them through the various pavilions and flower-lined paths of the Liu estate. Everywhere was warm and elegant, with flowers in full bloom—quite a contrast to the humble mountain manor where Yan Huo had lived for more than a decade. The disparity felt like heaven and hell.

As Yan Huo looked around, he couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort. But soon, this unease was replaced by other thoughts. The more Liu De led them inside, the more Yan Huo noticed people hiding in the shadows, as though the entire estate was on high alert, with guards stationed every ten steps. Of course, Yang Lue also noticed this, but he wasn't as astonished as Yan Huo. He only found it strange and muttered, "What has happened to the Liu family? Why are they being so cautious?"

But what surprised Yan Huo even more was that Liu De didn't take them to a grand hall or any usual meeting place. Instead, he led them behind a rockery. After surveying the surroundings to make sure no one was watching, Liu De moved a small stone in the rockery, revealing an entrance just large enough for a person to crawl through.

"Brother Yang, Master Yan, please," Liu De said as he stepped forward, leading the way into the hole. Although both Yan Huo and Yang Lue were puzzled, they followed without asking further questions. As soon as they entered, the entrance closed behind them, but they could still see a dim light from below, casting flickering shadows down a narrow staircase. The stairs led downward into a passage that was eight feet high and eight feet wide. Liu De guided them through this tunnel, made of tightly fitted stone, leading them through several turns and forks until they finally reached a heavy iron door at the end of the passage.

"This is my family's underground chamber, where the elders usually discuss important matters. Outsiders are never allowed here," Liu De explained. "Since today's discussion is of great importance, my father decided to invite both of you here. I hope you won't take offense."

Liu De paused in front of the door and, without leading them in, turned to say these words. Yang Lue immediately understood the meaning behind them. He nodded and said, "Brother Liu, don't worry. Neither Yan brother nor I have been here before, and we will never speak of this to anyone."

Liu De gave a slight nod, then pushed open the door, signaling for them to enter.

"Thank you! Please, take a seat. My father and the guests have been waiting for a while," Liu De said, gesturing for them to enter.

"Guests?" Yang Lue asked, puzzled. As Yan Huo stepped into the underground chamber, the first person he saw was Liu Yiqing. Though only a few years had passed since their last meeting, Liu Yiqing was now completely gray-haired. Liu Yiqing also studied Yan Huo with a careful gaze, but Yan Huo quickly avoided his eyes.

The room was dimly lit by the light of a few lanterns, and around a stone table sat five people. Yan Huo recognized only two of them—one was Wang Mang, and the other was Liu Yiqing. Standing to Liu Yiqing's left was a handsome young man, who Yan Huo realized must be his older brother, Liu Zheng. Liu De, who had entered right after them, took a seat on his father's right side. On Liu Yiqing's right sat a pale-faced scholar, and on his left was a greasy, overweight man.

Upon seeing the fat man, Yang Lue was taken aback. "Father! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed in surprise.

Yang Guang, the portly man, laughed and scolded, "You unfilial son! Seems you've been having so much fun here that you've forgotten your own family!"

"Enough, Yang Guang!" Liu Yiqing's voice rang out, calm but firm. "Sit down, both of you. Let's get started."

Liu De immediately spoke up, "Before we begin, let me introduce everyone." He made a gesture of respect as he spoke. "This is my father, Liu Yiqing, the head of the Liu family and the leader of the Fengyuan Escort Bureau. This is my elder brother, Liu Zheng, and I am Liu De. This is Master Fang Yu, the young master of the Fang family. Next to him is Wang Mang of the Wang family, and sitting to his left is Yang Guang, the head of the Yang family, and his son, Yang Lue. Across from my father is Master Yan Huo, who is also the one who saved Wang Mang."

At the mention of Yan Huo, Wang Mang cupped his hands and nodded toward him in thanks. Though his injuries had not completely healed, he seemed to be recovering.

Liu Yiqing gave Yan Huo a meaningful glance, then continued, "I'm sure you've all heard of the tragic annihilation of the Wang family. The matter is deeply connected to our four families—Liu, Fang, Wang, and Yang—who have shared a bond since our ancestors fought alongside the founding emperor. The relationship between our families is old and deep, so I'll not go into detail. However, what happened to the Wang family is not just their misfortune. It affects us all."

Liu Zheng, ever calm and composed, took over the conversation. "For the past six months, we've been observing strange individuals near Yancheng and at various other escort bureaus. These people's actions are incredibly secretive, and their movements are almost impossible to track. What's more troubling is their martial arts—they are all highly skilled. Two months ago, I had an encounter with one of them. Their martial arts were on par with mine."

"On par with yours?" Yang Lue asked in disbelief. He knew Liu Zheng's martial arts well. Two years ago, they had fought for a reputation, and Yang Lue had been soundly defeated. In Yang Lue's opinion, Liu Zheng was second only to the top young masters of the martial world, and no one dared claim the first spot in that group.

"Who was this person? What style of martial arts did they use? How old were they? Are they their leader?" Yang Lue asked, his curiosity piqued.

Liu Zheng responded, "That's the strangest part. They didn't use any known style of martial arts from the Jianghu. It seemed more like a type of battlefield combat technique, possibly something used by soldiers in war. The person I fought was younger than me, and they were merely one of their group, not the leader."

Yang Lue frowned. "You fought them, and they were that strong? This is troubling. If this group is so well-organized and so skilled, we may be facing something far more dangerous than we thought. Could they be part of a larger conspiracy?"

Liu Zheng nodded solemnly. "That's what we fear. It's clear that the Wang family was targeted, but the question is why. We suspect that the attacks are only the beginning. If they're not stopped, our families could be next."

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone processed this information. The implications were grave—if these mysterious enemies weren't dealt with quickly, the entire Liu family, as well as the other prominent families, might be in danger.

Liu Yiqing's voice broke the silence. "We need to act, and act swiftly. This is no longer just a matter of family rivalry or old grudges—it's about our survival. We cannot afford to let these people continue unchecked."