Song of Adolescence

Chapter 154 Four Heroes of Lei Clan

Lei Clan Fort.

In a somewhat run-down courtyard, there were two rather well-known people sitting.

One was Lei Qianhu, the current head of Lei Clan Fort. When he was a youth, he was a nobody, but during the Demonic Cult Eastern Incursion, he countered three palm strikes from the Demonic Cult elder and killed him.

The other was Lei Hong, who was already famous as a youth. Together with the young master of the Lei Clan, Lei Yunhe, they held all of the hopes of Lei Clan Fort and were known as the two great young experts of the Lei Clan.

Neither of them looked as awe-inspiring as they did in their legends. Lei Qianhu even wore a thick white tiger fur coat despite the summer heat. With his face pale, and incessant coughing, he did not look like the head of a prestigious martial arts family. Instead, he looked like a half-dead man with a lung disease. As for Lei Hong, he wore a plain gray robe, his looks were plain and far inferior to Zhao Yuzhen with his handsome looks and purple robes that ruffled without wind while he danced as if he was an immortal who’d descended. Lei Hong looked more like an ordinary academician.

Furthermore, the two of them seemed to be in a poor mood at the moment. Lei Hong pressed his fingers on Lei Qianhu\'s pulse, his brows furrowed. "Why has the cold qi been spreading so quickly lately? Did you properly take the medications I prescribed for you last time?"

"I’ve never stopped taking the medicine. But, I’ve had this affliction for more than ten years. My body can’t take it anymore." Lei Qianhu coughed slightly. "How long more can I live? Three months? Or one month?"

"With me around, you’re not dying so soon." Lei Hong snorted coldly.

"I know my own body best." Lei Qianhu retracted his hand and gathered the tiger fur on his body. "I won’t survive this winter. But I can die, Lei Clan Fort cannot fall. Do you know why this Heroes Banquet must be held by me, Lei Qianhu?"

"Why?" Lei Hong was stunned for a moment. Lei Qianhu was indeed not the kind of person who enjoyed lively and extravagant affairs. But, he was very particular about this Heroes Banquet.

"Because I want to let the whole martial world know that even though Lei Qianhu is dying, our Lei Clan is thriving more than ever. Because the Twin Sons of Lei Clan are about to re-enter the martial world," Lei Qianhu said solemnly.

"Twin Sons of Lei Clan." Lei Hong whispered the long-lost two words.

"Yes, since the day Yunhe stepped out of Snow Moon City, I have sent thirteen disciples with my letter to track him down. He will definitely come back during this Heroes Banquet. But knowing his temperament, both you and I know very well that he definitely won’t take over the position of clan leader. So, you will still have to shoulder the responsibilities of Lei Clan Fort," Lei Qianhu said.

"But I violated the ancestral decree. The elders already made an exception for not expelling me from the Lei Clan. How could I take over the position as head of Lei Clan?" Lei Hong smiled bitterly.

"Rules were set by people. A hundred years ago, when Lei Clan’s ancestors sealed the blade and hanged the sword, it was a form of resolution. Now that our Lei Clan will once again hold the blade and sword, it’s simply a step out of our self-imposed resolution." Lei Qianhu paused and coughed lightly. "And no matter how big the rules are, they’re not as big as the clan leader. As long as I\'m still in charge, I will have the final say in Lei Clan Fort. For so many years, you’ve confined yourself in Lei Clan, I know that it was partly due to the promise you made with Li Hanyi back then to discover that ultimate swordplay. But, it was also because of my injury. I feel ashamed that while I live, I’m a burden on you and when I die, I’ll still pull you back to stay in Lei Clan."

Lei Hong shook his head. "Back then, Uncle said that our generation had four heroes and it should have been an era for Lei Clan Fort to rule the martial world. However, who could have known that all of the burden fell on you alone. It’s us who should feel ashamed."

"You can also discuss it with Yunhe. You are the only person in the world who can persuade him." Lei Qianhu stood up. "He’ll be clan leader, and you can explore the martial world and look for Li Hanyi."

"Li Hanyi rejected me in the name of a sword. Although I believed it at the time, after so many years, I’m also not that foolish youth of the past. She didn’t feel the same way about me. Even if we’re to meet again, it would only cause more awkwardness. Rather than fixating on an encounter that shouldn’t exist, we should just forget them in the martial world." Lei Hong sighed softly.

"If one is an eagle, one will fly." Lei Qianhu kept his hands in his sleeves, and walked slowly towards the door. "My father was right back then. During this era, the Lei Clan should have ruled the martial world. The Lei Clan’s four heroes are no longer, but there are still the Twin Sons of Lei Clan."

"I won\'t give up." Lei Hong looked at Lei Qianhu\'s back, and said solemnly, "I will cure you."

Lei Qianhu smiled, did not answer, and he looked up at the sky.

When they were young, Lei Qianhu was very envious of Lei Yunhe and Lei Hong. They seemed to be favoured sons from birth, and they always caught everyone’s attention within the clan. On the other hand, Lei Qianhu had to work very, very hard just to keep up with them. Later, when the two of them entered the martial world and finally became famous, Lei Qianhu was still in Lei Clan Fort, working hard on his fist arts. Finally, he achieved a little success and wanted to join the two of them, one violated the ancestral decree and began practicing the sword, while the other lost an arm and vanished without a trace. He still lost his chance. Now, the three of them will be reunited again, but their remaining time was running out.

Rule over the martial world. That was also once Lei Qianhu\'s dream when he was young.

Mount Xianling.

The clouds and mists lingered, and the cranes were crying non-stop.

Lei Yunhe, who’d changed into a yellow robe, stood at the summit, looking into the distance. During this journey, he’d visited Qingcheng Mountain, and after a duel with Zhao Yuzhen, he re-entered the martial world. Although he left no traces of his whereabouts, he was still found by the Lei Clan. He didn\'t want to have anything to do with them, but after reading the contents of the letter, he finally decided to make a trip to the Lei Clan.

Lei Yunhe’s father, who was the former head of Lei Clan, once praised their generation as abundant in talents and referred to them as the four heroes of Lei Clan. However, the first to become famous was Lei Mengsha, who went to the capital and took up a government position, was exiled by his family, and finally died on the battlefield in the war with Nanjue. The next to become famous were Lei Yunhe and Lei Hong, who successively encountered unfortunate circumstances and left the martial world. That left Lei Qianhu, who was a late-bloomer, to inherit the Lei Clan and yet, he was seriously injured and infirmed by his cold all year round.

"Don\'t you dare die." Lei Yunhe sighed lightly. Regarding Lei Yunhe’s disappearance, there were many rumors in the martial world, one of which was that he was actually killed by his own brother, Lei Qianhu, for the position as head of Lei Clan. But Lei Yunhe knew in his heart what kind of person Lei Qianhu was. That silent, kind, and hard-working brother will never be the one to vie for the clan leader position.

"A-Li," Lei Yunhe whispered, and a crane flew through the clouds and landed in front of him. He leaped and jumped onto the back of the crane.

The crane named "A-Li" let out a long cry, and Lei Yunhe reached out his hand to stroke its head gently. "A-Li, you used to live on Qingcheng Mountain. That year, when I was seriously injured and going down the mountain, it was thanks to your rescue that I survived. All these years, I only had you by my side. Now, I’m going home. Come with me to go take a look.

"Take a look at the place where I grew up. That place is called Lei Clan Fort, the most famous place in the martial world, where many heroes are born!"