Chapter 79: Kidnapping

After perusing the records of animal behaviors in the Lin family’s library and consulting the strange tales from the first floor of the Desolate Tower, Li Tan acquired a fundamental understanding of the young eagle, also known as the Xuan Shuang eagle.

Among the demonic beasts, the Xuan Shuang eagle is classified as a relatively low to mid-tier species. Juvenile eagles, incapable of flight and with their bloodline powers still dormant, are typically quite weak.

Although this young eagle was a variant, in Li Tan’s estimation, it shouldn’t have been much stronger—perhaps only capable of matching this wolfhound in a fifty-fifty fight.

But the current situation of absolute suppression was something he had never anticipated. However, that wasn’t what shocked him the most. The crucial point was that Li Tan hadn’t expected the young eagle to have already partially awakened its bloodline power. A demonic beast capable of awakening its bloodline during its juvenile stage could be considered exceptionally talented, even among the top-tier races of Jiuzhou.

“You’re pretty lucky.”

Recalling his momentary act of mercy back then, Li Tan couldn’t help but think of the old saying, “Good deeds bring good rewards.” However, his joy didn’t last long, as the stunned youth beside him soon soured his mood.

Without a word, Li Tan glanced at the youth, picked up the young eagle, and slowly walked towards the gathered crowd behind him.

“Get lost. Don’t let me see you again.”

Li Tan walked away slowly and soon disappeared into the crowd. Originally, he had planned to mock and lecture the youth thoroughly after winning, especially since he was a fellow clansman. But now, he had absolutely no interest in doing so and only wished never to see him again.

As Li Tan left, no one else showed any further interest in the disheveled youth. The curious onlookers gradually dispersed, and the street soon returned to its original state.

Walking along the street for a while, Li Tan arrived outside the Treasure Pavilion of his second uncle, Li Yang.

Looking up at the somewhat dilapidated signboard, Li Tan felt a slight pang in his heart.

After being crippled by the demonic invasion, the Grand Elder had repeatedly suppressed Li Yang under various pretexts. Though Li Zhen had tried to shield him, Li Yang merely smiled it off, declaring himself already a broken man. He reasoned that rather than remaining in the clan and consuming resources, it was better to allocate them to those more in need. Thus, he came to this place with his daughter, evidently resolved to spend his remaining days here.

But who could truly understand the bitterness in his heart—the man who once stood proudly at the pinnacle of Linjiang’s first steps?

Li Tan understood.

He withdrew his gaze, forced a smile onto his face, and slowly walked inside.

“Ying’er? Second Uncle?”

The front hall was empty. Li Yang was probably resting in the back, so Li Tan called out loudly. Still, there was no response. The cabinets of jewels sparkled with a cold, dazzling brilliance.

“That’s strange. Could they have gone out?

No, if Second Uncle and Ying’er had gone out together, they wouldn’t have left the shop door unlocked.”

Growing suspicious, Li Tan slowly made his way to the back hall. Passing through a short corridor, he pulled aside the curtain separating the front and back halls. A dining-like area was revealed: a square table, four chairs, and a copied painting of a demon-fighting scene hanging on the wall. Though simple, it was neat and pleasing to the eye. Yet there was no one there.

Further inside were two rooms, which belonged to Li Yang and Li Jiaying respectively. However, there wasn’t a soul to be found. The kitchen was at the very end, filled with the rich aroma of stewed meat. The lid was off, revealing a pot of simmering meat soup.

At this late hour, where could Second Uncle and Jiaying have gone?

Li Tan’s heart suddenly clenched, unease creeping in. Returning to the back hall, he carefully observed and noticed many things he had previously overlooked—for instance, the tea on the square table was still steeping but hadn’t been touched even once.

Putting it all together, it seemed as though the owners had just hastily left due to some unavoidable emergency.

“Could they have returned home urgently?”

Considering this possibility, Li Tan walked out with a slightly uneasy feeling. Suddenly, he stopped, quickly squatting down to pick up a jade pendant that had fallen into a corner of the corridor.

This pendant wasn’t nearly as valuable as Li Tan’s soul jade, but it immediately intensified his unease.

After a thousand years of passing time, many memories had long since blurred beyond recognition. Yet some remained vividly etched in his mind.

Such as this pendant.

He clearly remembered that during the Zhongyuan Festival when he was fifteen, he had sneaked out to play and used his pocket money to buy this pendant as a gift for Li Jiaying, who had been crying nonstop.

Jiaying had always cherished this otherwise unremarkable pendant. There was no way she would have carelessly dropped it on the ground like this.

With no signs of a struggle and their disappearance so complete that no one had noticed, there was only one possible explanation.

Something had happened—they had been kidnapped.

Realizing this, an immense surge of fury instantly rose in Li Tan’s heart. He was restless and furious, coldly analyzing the possibilities of who the culprit might be.

“The Grand Elder?

No, not him. He wouldn’t have a reason to do this.”

“People from the Zhang family?

It wouldn’t benefit them, and besides, even a dying centipede retains some strength. To silently take away my second uncle would at least require someone of innate cultivation. They wouldn’t send someone of that level to kidnap an innocent father and daughter.”

“The City Lord’s Mansion?

Probably not either. Aside from Mingde, no one should know of my existence. Even if they had become cautious recently, they wouldn’t stoop to such despicable measures.”

“Then it must be those people, hehehe.”

Li Tan emphasized the last three words with a deliberate, heavy tone, his fists clenching with a grinding sound. Since his rebirth, this was only the second time he had felt such anger, and it surpassed even the fury he had felt upon seeing Lin Yuan use the Coiling Dragon Fist.

Yet in an instant, Li Tan suppressed all his emotions, returning to his usual calm and composed self. However, those observant enough could still detect a chilling murderous intent in his eyes and brows.

Anger would not solve anything. Now was the time for damage control.

Li Tan retrieved the key and locked the shop, sitting silently on the bluestone step in front of the door while contemplating.

The only possible culprits who could have kidnapped Li Yang and his daughter were, without a doubt, those very black-robed men who had caused his tragedy in a previous life. Their purpose in doing so was also clear—to threaten Li Tan or, more directly, to eliminate him.

What would they do next to achieve this?

Li Tan quickly deduced the answer.

Whoever had kidnapped Li Yang and his daughter would certainly want him to know. And the best way to inform him would undoubtedly be to write a message and send it to his residence.

Li Tan stood up, resisting the urge to rush back to the Li family and confront the Grand Elder—who might be an accomplice—and quickly ran toward the Lin family.

Using the unpredictable Moye Steps, Li Tan soon returned to his house within the Lin family—the desolate courtyard.

Around this previously neglected courtyard, many guards had now gathered. Without even thinking, he knew they had been sent by Lin Long to monitor him.

Li Tan ignored their presence and rushed straight into the house.

Sure enough, on the ancestral tablet of Jiang Xin in the main hall was a dagger, and a blood-stained piece of Xuan paper was pinned beneath it.