chapter 9 Henry Lu===

Tom Ye glanced at the person and also froze for a moment, recognizing this person's identity.
Henry Lu, a young man from Cumulus Town, one year older than him, sixteen years old, rumoured to have reached the fourth stage of martial arts.
Five years ago, Henry Lu, like himself, was sent by the elders to the sect to cultivate martial arts. The only difference was that Henry Lu went to Qinglan Sect, not Qi Yun Sect.
Henry Lu had always liked Lily Zhao since childhood, and he harboured a strong resentment towards Tom Ye. Their relationship was mediocre at best, if not outright poor.
"Why are you here?" Tom Ye was puzzled, not understanding why Henry Lu, who should be cultivating in Qinglan Sect, was here in Cumulus Town, dressed in guard attire and guarding the gate.
However, he didn't engage in much conversation with Henry Lu and continued to walk away.
"I'm asking you a question, answer me, why aren't you dead?" Henry Lu's long spear swept across, aiming to intercept Tom Ye.
At this moment, Tom Ye quickly jumped to avoid, looking at Henry Lu with some disgust.
"What do you mean?"
"Hmph, Lily returned to town yesterday and said you went crazy and jumped off the cliff. How come you're not dead? It's really disappointing." Henry Lu sneered and said.
"What? Lily came back to town and said I jumped off the cliff?" Tom Ye was shocked, looking at Henry Lu in disbelief.
"Heh, don't you know? Really don't know why Lily would marry a waste like you. Do you think you're worthy of Lily, such a genius?" Henry Lu sneered, watching disappointment fill Tom Ye's face. Clearly, he was very much looking forward to Tom Ye's death.
After hearing Henry Lu's words, Tom Ye clenched his fists. He hadn't expected something like this to happen.
This woman really seemed to wish he were dead. This way, she could completely break free from the marriage tie between them and openly be with Yao Hu.
Seeing Tom Ye not answering and continuing to walk forward, Henry Lu once again swept his long spear towards him.
"Henry Lu, I'm not in a good mood right now. It's best for you not to provoke me." Tom Ye glared at Henry Lu, dodging his attack, and shouted with fiery eyes.
He wanted to go home now, to see his mother and assure her of his safety. He knew his mother must already know about him falling off the cliff.
"Not provoke you? Heh, you really think highly of yourself, don't you?"
"You said not to provoke you, but I think I'll have to do just that today!"
Listening to Tom Ye's words, a mocking expression appeared on Henry Lu's face. It was hard to imagine Tom Ye, a useless warrior, being so defiant.
He didn't hesitate at all, and his long spear thrust straight at Tom Ye.
At this moment, Tom Ye was dodging with all his might, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.
"You brat, spending five years in Qi Yun Sect, it seems your speed has improved. But all you know is how to dodge, you really are a coward." Henry Lu's long spear continuously stabbed towards Tom Ye, quickly realizing the problem. His attacks were completely evaded by Tom Ye.
For Tom Ye, a warrior of the first stage, to have such speed was something Henry Lu found hard to believe.
Hearing Henry Lu's curses, Tom Ye clenched his fists, a cold intent flashing in his eyes.
Since Henry Lu seemed so ungrateful, he might as well teach him a lesson.
"What are you up to? If you really don't want to fight, just go home."
But at this moment, a booming voice rang out. A middle-aged man emerged from the grass hut at the town gate.
The middle-aged man had thick brows, also dressed in guard attire, but he had a badge on his chest. This made Tom Ye recognize his identity: Henry Lu, the captain of Cumulus Town's guard, currently at the eighth stage of martial arts.
In Cumulus Town, being an eighth-stage warrior was considered a top-tier powerhouse, with a prestigious status.
"Captain!" Seeing Henry Lu appear, Henry Lu's face instantly stiffened, and he quickly withdrew his long spear.
"Henry Lu, I told you to guard the gate, what are you doing?" Henry Lu slapped Henry Lu's head with one hand, causing a muffled sound to ring out.
Snap!
This slap made Henry Lu stand still obediently, lowering his head instantly, his gaze dark and resentful.
He had actually been slapped in the head in front of Tom Ye, a waste. This was simply humiliation.
However, he didn't dare to resist because the person in front of him was now his direct superior. He couldn't afford to offend him.
"Tom Ye, are you alright?" Henry Lu also saw Tom Ye at this moment, his face showing a hint of surprise.
"I'm fine, thank you, Captain!" Tom Ye didn't say much, but bowed to the captain of the guard and looked back at Henry Lu with a smug expression before turning to leave.
"You better guard the gate obediently. If you don't behave, just go back home." Seeing Tom Ye's retreating figure, Henry Lu scolded Henry Lu, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Just yesterday, Lily Zhao had returned to town and said that Tom Ye was already dead. So why was he perfectly fine and back in Cumulus Town today? It was hard for him to believe.
As Tom Ye moved away from Henry Lu and Henry Lu, he walked along the streets of Cumulus Town, and many people cast surprised looks at him. Many of the town's elders came up to him, expressing their concern.
They found it hard to believe that Tom Ye had survived.
For these people's care, Tom Ye informed them of the truth, that Lily Zhao had pushed him off the cliff. Regardless of whether they believed him or not, he had to make this fact public.
He wouldn't let Lily Zhao off so easily. He was determined to expose her misdeeds and make the villagers scorn her.
By the way, he also learned from the villagers why Henry Lu, this idiot, was guarding the gate. It turned out that Henry Lu had offended a powerful disciple in Qinglan Sect. In fear of retaliation, he fled the sect and returned to his hometown.
Looking at him, it seemed he had no intention of going back to Qinglan Sect in the future and might stay in Cumulus Town as a guard indefinitely.
"You fool." Tom Ye sneered. He had thought Henry Lu was doing quite well in Qinglan Sect, but as it turned out, he had returned because of such a small matter.
In Cumulus Town, whether a younger generation was welcomed or not depended entirely on their development in the sect and their own strength.
Henry Lu's behaviour was a complete disgrace to Cumulus Town. It was no wonder that the captain of the guard didn't quite look kindly on him.
Soon, Tom Ye arrived at his own mansion. He pushed open the half-closed gate and entered the courtyard.
At this moment, with a single sweep of his gaze, he could see a delicate figure through the window of the main room directly in front of him.
..