Chapter 369: Unreasonable

"Oh my god, Xing-er! You're finally back. Where have you been these six years?"

Xie Lianzhen walked towards his mother to greet her, but she grabbed his shoulder and started looking over him. "Are you okay? Did you have a hard time? Oh my god, you are so skinny now....."

Xie Lianzhen couldn't help but laugh as he grabbed the queen's hand. "Mother, I'm fine. I'm still in one piece!"

~A tough time? He looks like he had a blissful time outside! Look how healthy he is! Those apple cheeks have replaced his pale white face, and he even gained weight!~ Cao Lucun rolled his eyes.

However, that was obviously not what the queen thought. How happy was she to see her son return after six years? She put down her tough facade upon seeing Xie Lianzhen. After hearing Xie Lianzhen call her mother in front of so many people, she was on cloud nine.

~This child's heart is finally better?~

"Are you sure? If that's so, why didn't you return?" She caressed his head.

"I'm really okay." He smiled sweetly at the queen. "Let's talk about what happened later, okay?"

The smile was so sweet that it made the queen melt. "Okay, okay, then don't leave after this."

"Don't worry, mother."

The other star lords watched this scene with surprise. Xie Lianzhen had disappeared for such a long time that everyone thought that he died. They were not cursing him, just that for someone like Xie Lianzhen, who was emotionally unstable and seriously injured would find it difficult to survive on his own.

Look at him now, healthy and happy. He looked even better than he used to. ~Is it possible that this guy had been suffering for the past six years? He looks like he had the time of his life.~

After greeting the queen, Xie Lianzhen turned back to the other star lords. "Thank you for worrying, Senior uncles."

Among the star lords, Tian Bo was the oldest and most mature. He coughed and smiled, representing all the star lords. "No need for formalities, Junior Nephew Xie. We are all thrilled that you are back safe and sound."

"Is that so?" Xie Lianzhen chuckled and smiled sweetly. "I thought my senior uncles were more worried about the Alioth star-lord position more than me!"

"Junior Nephew Xie!" Being the most straightforward and bad-tempered among them all, Qiao Haishu couldn't stand his sarcasm and glared at him. "Yes, we were planning to find a new person to fill the seat, but it was for the good of the seventh truth platform. But you're our junior; we would definitely hope that you are safe!"

"Hahaha." Xie Lianzhen winked. He pouted and walked closer. "So, me occupying that position is not best for the seventh truth platform?"

Qiao Haishu did mean what he said. The seventh truth platform may be competitive, but not to the extent that relationships meant nothing. The reason why they wanted to take over the fifth clan was obviously for benefits. But no matter what, he was their junior, and no matter how much they disliked him, they wouldn't want him dead.

"Junior nephew Xie." Tian Bo looked at him sternly. "No matter what, you are our junior. Is that how you talk to your seniors?"

Xie Lianzhen shrugged and smiled. "Is junior nephew wrong? Oops. I guess I am. Junior nephew has been gone for so many years, living on the road, and yet I kept my senior uncles in my heart. But as soon as I returned, all I saw was my senior uncles ganging up against my mother ...Haish...I hope you can understand how I feel as a son."

"..."

If not for their situation, Cao Lucun would be laughing and rolling on the floor. ~Where did this annoying kid get his character from? After six years, he has become even cunning! He was a well mannered and pleasant boy back then, but as he grew older, he became more sarcastic, and now he is quite unlikeable, no matter how you put it. I would have slapped him if he wasn't my junior.~

~What do you mean by "But as soon as I got back, all I saw was my senior uncles ganging up against mother?" Do you mean that we were taking this chance to bully your mother since you weren't around? Hey, even with the six of us combined, it would still be the other way around! She's the tigress here, you know?~

Even though he felt like laughing, he still needed to step up when the situation called for it. Cao Lucun coughed and stepped forward, trying to keep a straight face. "Junior nephew Xie, please don't misunderstand. We were just too anxious! You've been missing for so long, and how can we leave the position empty? Remember the previous example? If a star lord disappears for too long, we re-appoint someone to ensure the sect functions well. This isn't the first time."

Xie Lianzhen looked over and faked a smile, "Yes, I know. But junior nephew remembers it was only when one disappears for ten years, wasn't it?" He looks over at Wen Wenzhe, the Megrez star lord. "Senior uncle Wen, am I wrong?"

The fourth clan was in charge of the books and records, so the Megrez star-lord should know.

Wen Wenzhen had always been a quiet guy who rarely spoke. Upon hearing his name, he looked up in surprise and stammered. "Erm....indeed....but...."

Before he could finish, Xie Lianzhen already cut him off. "Since senior Uncle Wen said so, then that's the case. Junior Nephew is sure that I've only disappeared for six years, so why is it that you're already thinking about replacing me? Are senior uncles not happy with me being the Alioth star-lord?"

Cao Lucun fought the urge to roll his eyes. ~Is this new information to you? Nobody wanted you to be the Alioth star-lord to begin with. But the queen forced us into agreeing, and we just gave her face. Some things are better left unsaid, isn't it?~

"Of course, that's not the case..." Tian Bo gritted his teeth.

"Since that isn't the case, then why is senior uncle so anxious? Junior nephew understands. I've always been sick and unable to help. Our clan is really unlucky. My dad passed early, and my martial grandfather...haish. I always thought that I got this position because my dear senior uncles pitied me, but who knew that it was unrequited. My father is gone, and my mother is rarely around. My martial grandfather too.... I'm so hurt to know that the uncles I liked a lot actually disliked me ..."

"..."

Tian Bo clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his skin. ~What the fuck? I've never seen such a dramatic person before. But we can't just leave. Our reputation is more important.~

He took a deep breath and looked up. "Junior nephew Xie..."