Lu Wei - 381

3 more years passed quickly. As always, everything had remained constant and steady. At least, until the blue flower sect was destroyed overnight.

"Those damn demonic cultivators. They always hide away like rats, only to strike when it is unexpected." The old man said as he read the newspaper.

"It is said that half of the people in the sect, including the sect master who had reached the soul formation realm, died. Luckily, the sect master did not go down without a fight. She self-destructed, destroying the soul formation realm demonic cultivator and the rest of the army. Sadly, the blue flower sect will decline, but it will not disappear." The old man sighed.

"It's tragic." Zhou Fan agreed.

"Actually, this is one of the better outcomes. Most demonic cultivators fear death and will only attack with absolute confidence. They did not expect the blue flower sect master to be willing to die for her sect. We lost a truly admirable cultivator." The old man said while shaking his head.

"Are the demonic cultivators strong?" Zhou Fan asked.

"Of course. If not, they would have been wiped out long ago. If I recall correctly, they have 3 void traversing cultivators, with one at the peak of that realm. They are also very good at hiding and running away." The old man said disdainfully.

"Have you ever encountered one? You seem to have a personal dislike for them." Zhou Fan asked.

"Not in my life, no. It is easy to personally dislike worthless cowards." The old man said.

Zhou Fan nodded and did not speak of the subject again.

3 more years passed slowly. The blue flower sect had been rebuilding, but their status was even lower than when Zhou Fan first heard about them.

The only thing stopping them from being wiped out or replaced was the achievement of the dead sect master. By sacrificing her life to kill a powerful demonic cultivator, the blue flower sect was granted protection by the ruling power of the world, which Zhou Fan learned to be the tri-sect alliance.

Their protection would last 300 years, enough to re-establish themselves.

Over the last years, Zhou Fan and the old man had gotten closer. They could even be considered great friends.

The old man was more than happy to be friends with a calm and steady person like Zhou Fan.

5 years later, Zhou Fan noticed that the old man was looking at him differently. Along with the usual friendliness, there seemed to be some appreciation and an unspoken understanding.

Zhou Fan assumed that the old man had finally realized that he was a cultivator.

It would be kind of weird if he had not after so long. Zhou Fan had not aged a day, and not a single feature on his face changed. No facial hair, no change in hair growth, no wrinkles, and no signs of age.

Despite the old man making such a realization, the way things went never changed and the old man never spoke of it.

Nobody was a regular at the library. Only the old man and Zhou Fan had stayed for so long.

"As the seasons change, so do the pursuits and the hearts of humans." The old man sighed. 

"I've met many people, yet all of them eventually go their own ways. It is appreciated to have a long time friend." The old man said as he passed Zhou Fan and patted him on the shoulder.

Zhou Fan was used to such behavior. For a few days every 5 years or so, the old man would become melancholy and recite poems or quotes.

Everyone seemed to have their own weird behaviors.

Ever since he had come to the city, Zhou Fan had brought Leaf out every night. Leaf had no issue with Zhou Fan's daily absence. He swayed happily in the sword's inner world.

As for the sword, it just sat in the corner of his room. Nothing would happen to it even if Ying Xiong were to attack it with his full strength.

10 years later, Zhou Fan saw the old man walk into the library holding a newborn child in his arms.

"I found this child in a basket outside the library. I suppose I can at least understand the thought behind not being ready to have a child, but who in the world decided to leave it in front of a library?" The old man said with confusion.

"What do you plan on doing with it?" Zhou Fan asked.

"Well. I suppose for now I'll take care of it here. Either someone from the city government or its mother will come and get it eventually." The old man said.

After a long time, the steady life within the library finally changed.

Unexpectedly, neither the city government nor the mother came back to claim the child, and after a year, the old man became too attached to let the child leave.

As they were sitting down and eating lunch, the old man mentioned that he was planning to adopt the child.

"You seem capable of raising a child." Zhou Fan said. He had no opinions on the matter.

"I know. I just need to figure out what to name him. Do you have any ideas?" The old man asked.

"If you're adopting him, then name him after you." Zhou Fan said. 

"He will naturally share my surname, but I still need a first name." The old man said.

"How about Long." Zhou Fan said.

"No. That is too domineering." The old man rejected.

"Tian." 

"Too arrogant."

"Wei?" Zhou Fan asked.

"Hmmm. That's good. Lu Wei." The old man said.

Zhou Fan did not have many interactions with Lu Wei for a year, but once he turned two, he began to follow the old man around the library.

Lu Wei seemed like a respectable young man. He had black hair and dark brown eyes.

He always seemed happy and was always respectful. Even Zhou Fan did not mind Lu Wei.

Once he turned four, Lu Wei began to read books often. Sometimes, he would read near Zhou Fan.

Once again, Zhou Fan was given the name, Uncle.