“Heh heh…” The Embodiment suddenly grinned at the Mountain-titled cultivator.
The Mountain-titled cultivator started sweating profusely, and he couldn’t help but gulp nervously. “Wind, something feels off. This doesn’t look like an illusion.”
The Wind-titled cultivator’s face turned black and he shouted sharply, “Steady your mind, don’t let it affect your senses.”
Even at this moment, he still believed that everything before his eyes was a mere illusion, and it was simply because as far as he was concerned, no one should be able to summon a giant stone man and a young woman out of thin air, not even one of the Ten Great Emperors.
Upon hearing this, the Mountain-titled cultivator took a deep breath and quelled his emotions.
At this moment, Yang Kai revealed a queer smile at the Wind and Thunder-titled cultivators then spoke, “Can you guess how many strikes that Mountain guy can take?”
The Thunder-titled cultivator snorted coldly, “Can’t you live without cheap tricks? Even if an Emperor Realm Master arrives, Mountain would still be able to stand his ground against him for ten breaths, let alone a mere illusion.”
The Wind-titled cultivator also spoke, “Little brat, don’t look down on Blood Dagger’s Four Ghosts!”
Yang Kai laughed then said, “You’ll shortly turn into real ghosts then.”
Saying so, he shouted at the Embodiment, “Did you hear him? He’s claiming that Mountain guy can stand his ground against an Emperor Realm Master for ten breaths of time.”
“Ten breaths…” The Embodiment revealed a nasty smile and shouted, “Three breaths is enough for me.”
Saying so, he thrust his fist at the Mountain-titled cultivator.
From the moment the Mountain-titled cultivator had shown himself until now, he had never moved away from his current position, and this might have been some sort of restriction put on him by the Formation Technique. He had always been sitting cross-legged mid-air, taking charge of defence and sealing this region. It also looked like he was the one in charge of maintaining the group’s formation like some kind of core node.
Therefore, upon seeing the fist of the Embodiment approaching him, he didn’t plan to dodge the strike at all. Instead, his expression had already turned grave and he pointed his hand ahead of him, summoning Mt. Xumi again.
This time, it looked like the shining Mt. Xumi had almost taken a complete physical form, as if a real mountain was sitting in front of him.
“You’re overestimating yourself!” The Embodiment coldly said and thrust his hill-like fist forward.
*Hong…*
A loud rumble reverberated and the land shook. When the Embodiment’s fist fell upon Mt. Xumi, it gave rise to a shockwave of luminous energy waves that spread to the surroundings.
The Mountain-titled cultivator’s grave expression instantly turned pale and he sprayed out a thick mist of blood, while his aura turned feeble. As for Mt. Xumi standing between him and the Embodiment, it was shattered apart and turned into dispersing specks of light.
“What!” The Wind-titled cultivator’s expression changed.
“That’s impossible!” The Thunder-titled cultivator cried out in alarm.
They both couldn’t believe what they had just seen.
The Mountain-titled cultivator had been known for his innately strong defence, yet his impenetrable barrier had been broken by a single strike from the Giant Stone Man. Mt. Xumi had been shattered, while the Mountain-titled cultivator sustained heavy injuries. The two of them couldn’t help but question themselves again. [Is this also an illusion? If so, then isn’t it too realistic?]
The scent of the Mountain-titled cultivator’s blood pervaded the air and the bodies of the Wind and Thunder-titled cultivators couldn’t help shivering when it reached their noses.
The Embodiment didn’t stop with just a single move though, and soon thrust his other fist out.
*Hong…*
A deafening explosion echoed. This time, the Mountain-titled cultivator didn’t protect himself with Mt. Xumi and resorted to a different method. He revealed more of his Divine Abilities as Earth Attribute energy surged around him. At the same time, Earth Principles lingered around him, transforming into a giant shield that protected him.
*Kachaca…*
As cracking noises echoed out, a luminous membrane covering a perimeter of several hundred metres appeared. But this membrane was already covered with cracks like a shattered mirror and it didn’t take more than a blink of an eye for it to burst open and turn into specks of light, shortly dissipating.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai found that his body became lighter, as if he had just been freed from some kind of shackle. He grinned at the Wind and Thunder-titled cultivators, “It looks like the seal has been broken. Are you still so sure that this is just an illusion?”
The faces of Wind and Thunder-titled cultivators turned gloomy and confused. They were clearly dismayed by what they had just witnessed and heard. They were no longer certain that it was an illusion.
*Pu…*
On the other side, the Mountain-titled cultivator spouted another mouth of blood with his face as pale as paper, and his aura turned even more feeble and unstable. He gazed over at the Wind-titled cultivator and Thunder-titled cultivator and spoke with great difficulty, “Save… me!”
The Embodiment laughed wantonly and thrust his fist for the third time.
At this moment, the Mountain-titled cultivator couldn’t put up any more resistance and had to helplessly watch as the hill-like fist descended. He felt his body go cold, while his limbs cramped up.
The fist fell upon the Mountain-titled cultivator, and his body burst into a blood fog which then sprinkled lightly on the ground, his aura disappearing completely.
“See, it has been just three breaths of time.” After the Embodiment settled the fight, he grinned at Yang Kai.
In response, Yang Kai gave him a thumbs up.
The Wind and Thunder-titled cultivators exchanged a glance. They both realized that the current situation was anything but reassuring and they couldn’t bother with paying heed to the Void Cracks around them any longer. They both pushed the Principles around them to break through the Space Principle blockade and escaped in two different directions.
“Since you’ve come, don’t even dream about leaving!” As Yang Kai let out a chuckle, his body flickered and appeared suddenly in front of the Wind-titled cultivator, stretching his Dragon Claw toward him.
The Wind-titled cultivator’s face turned pale from fright and he raised the dagger in his hand, trying to parry Yang Kai’s claw with it. Wind Principles swirled around the dagger and it gave off a domineering might.
A vicious glint flashed past Yang Kai’s eyes as he directly caught the dagger with his Dragon Claw, leading to a jarring metallic reverberation.
“What the hell is this…” The Wind-titled cultivator’s eyes all but popped out of their sockets. He discovered in shock that his opponent had managed to block his strike with his flesh body without sustaining any injuries.
His dagger was a Dao Source Grade Artifact, one that even an Emperor Realm Master wouldn’t dare to catch with their bare hands, yet this boy managed to do so.
The Wind-titled cultivator had fallen into a trance for a short moment, but this short moment had been more than enough for Yang Kai to place his other palm on his chest. Yang Kai’s berserk Source Qi erupted and flooded the Wind-titled cultivator’s body.
As a splurting sound echoed out, the Wind-titled cultivator’s blood burst from his body like he had been struck by lightning, while the wind shrouding his body quickly weakened.
Yang Kai shortly closed in on him and weaved a series of hand seals, suppressing the Wind-titled cultivator’s cultivation.
Even though a disheartened look was plastered on the Wind-titled cultivator’s face, he still looked at Yang Kai coldly and said aggressively, “If you want to kill me, then just do so. Blood Dagger’s headquarters will shortly obtain word about our failure and they will send more powerful people after you next time.”
“If I kill all of you, then who will divulge any information about me?” Yang Kai sneered coldly in response.
The Wind-titled cultivator replied, “Thunder’s Movement Skill is second to none in the world, you won’t be able to catch him.”
“Did you lose your mind from fear?” Yang Kai smiled in mockery.
“Wind…”
At this moment, a dispirited shout echoed out near him. Upon hearing it, the Wind-titled cultivator turned his head around to see the Thunder-titled cultivator. He was trapped in mid-air between countless pitch-black buzzing Moon Blades, not daring to make any rash movements.
“How did you…” The Wind-titled cultivator looked in disbelief at the Thunder-titled cultivator. He didn’t expect that the Thunder-titled cultivator would also fail to escape.
“I was outmatched!” The Thunder-titled cultivator sighed and looked at Yang Kai with a complex gaze, saying, “Our superiors underestimated him, we aren’t… his opponent.”
“So, that’s how it is…” The Wind-titled cultivator revealed a miserable smile.
“I’ll be going on ahead,” The Thunder-titled cultivator suddenly spoke in a deep voice and weaved a series of hand seals, his body’s Source Qi fluctuating wildly as his body started swelling up.
Yang Kai’s expression changed and he shouted, “You dare!?”
The Thunder-titled cultivator revealed a mocking smile, “I’m not a match for you, but I can still choose how I want to die.”
Saying so, his body blew up, not leaving anything behind.
After he was trapped, he decisively chose to self-destruct. He was a decisive man with a firm resolve and Yang Kai couldn’t obstruct him in time.
The might of a Third-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator’s self-destruction was dreadful!
An unstable black hole opened, causing chaotic currents to flood the surrounding region. Even though Yang Kai was still far from the explosion, he was knocked off balance because of the shockwaves. As for the Wind-titled cultivator, whose cultivation base had been sealed, he just let out a soft groan before breathing his last breath. His bones had been shattered and he bled to death through his seven orifices.
As for Ye Jing Han, her pretty face had turned deathly pale. She had been sent flying by the shockwaves and had to use all her Source Qi just to defend herself.
After a long while, the shockwaves finally died out.
As Yang Kai’s body flickered, he went to check in the Wind-titled cultivator only to find his body lifeless. He couldn’t be any more dead than this.
“Damn it!” Yang Kai couldn’t help but curse out loud as he raised his head to gaze at Hua Qing Si and shouted, “Sister Hua, don’t take his life!”
Yang Kai had no idea what kind of organization Blood Dagger was nor why they were looking for him. If he could capture one or two of them alive, then he might be able to extract some information from them.
He didn’t kill the Wind-titled cultivator and instead sealed his cultivation mainly for this purpose; however, even Yang Kai didn’t expect that he would end up dead due to the Thunder-titled cultivator’s self-destruction.
The Mountain-titled cultivator had already been turned into a blood fog, so the sole survivor was the Fire-titled cultivator. As such, Yang Kai couldn’t afford to have him die too.
But shortly after he shouted those said words, he stood in a daze.
Hua Qing Si standing next to her bright-coloured ribbon turned her head and looked with a bitter smile at him while shouting, “That… won’t be easy!”
Not too far from her, the Fire-titled cultivator was laughing nastily with his mouth overflowing with blood and his dagger plunged into his heart. Great pain was apparent on his face, but he still laughed heartily, “Once Blood Dagger makes a move, it won’t stop until its target is dead. Hahaha!”
It looked like he had chosen to kill himself after witnessing his companions’ deaths. He obviously realized that he wouldn’t get a chance to escape, so he did not hesitate to stab himself through the heart.
Even an Emperor Realm Master wouldn’t live for long after receiving this kind of mortal injury, let alone the Fire-titled cultivator who was just a Third-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator. If Yang Kai simply did nothing, then he would soon die.
The ashen face of Yang Kai changed colour several times before he gritted his teeth and snapped, “Trying to seek death without my permission? In your dreams!”
Saying so, his body flickered and he arrived in front of the Fire-titled cultivator before tapping his body with his palm, sealing his cultivation. If this man self-destructed like the Thunder-titled cultivator, then Yang Kai wouldn’t be able to reverse the situation and save him.
“You… what are you doing?” Even though the Fire-titled cultivator had already heard death’s call, he still got scared by Yang Kai’s malicious look.
Yang Kai sneered. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m trying to save you, no need to thank me.”
“You’re… trying to save me?” The Fire-titled man’s eyes, which had already started losing their lustre, bulged and a dumbfounded look surfaced on his face.
Yang Kai grabbed the Fire man by his collar and his body disappeared along with him.
A reeking scent of blood pervaded the prairie, and the vestiges of this great battle were everywhere. It was a terrifying sight!
“Young Master Yang…” Ye Jing Han flew over with her face as pale as paper and surveyed the surroundings, but she was unable to spot Yang Kai anywhere. She could only question Hua Qing Si anxiously, “Sister, where did Young Master Yang go?”
Hua Qing Si exchanged a glance with the Embodiment then moved behind Ye Jing Han in a flash and struck the back of her neck with her palm.
Ye Jing Han would have never imagined that Hua Qing Si would suddenly attack her; after all, it was obvious that Hua Qing Si was one of Yang Kai’s companions and that was why she didn’t guard against her. Upon suffering this palm strike though, Ye Jing Han dropped down weakly on the ground.
“Did you kill her?” The Embodiment was startled by this sight.
“Like hell I did!” Hua Qing Si rolled her eyes at him then curled her lips, saying, “I just knocked her out.” She paused for a moment then looked suspiciously at the Embodiment and asked, “What are you doing?”
As she spoke, she suddenly noticed that the Embodiment moved next to the dead Wind titled man and picked his corpse up from the ground.
The Embodiment grinned and said, “What do you think? This is a pretty good tonic. Tsk, tsk, a Third-Order Dao Source Realm Cultivator!”
Upon hearing this, Hua Qing Si’s pretty face turned pale, as if she had just recalled some pretty bad memory and she couldn’t help but say in alarm, “You’re going to use that evil technique to devour his physical essence?”
The Embodiment nodded, “I can’t let good food go to waste!”
“It’s so sickening, don’t do it in front of me, or I’ll break off relations with you,” Hua Qing Si spoke with her disgust apparent on her face.
At this moment, Yang Kai’s body suddenly flickered and appeared again on the prairie before he beckoned to the Embodiment and Hua Qing Si, “Come back!”
After he said so, he looked at the unconscious Ye Jing Han on the ground and nodded in understanding, “Knocking her out is also a pretty good solution.”
He waved his hand and sent Ye Jing Han into the Sealed World Bead, then opened a Void Crack and had Hua Qing Si and the Embodiment also go back in.
…..
Inside the Sealed World Bead, Yang Kai and the Embodiment appeared next to the medicine garden.
The Fire-titled man’s aura was already pretty feeble, with next to no vitality left. The dagger which had been stabbed into his chest was still drawing out a constant stream of blood. This man was already in a sorry state and he obviously wouldn’t be able to survive, yet he still laughed in mockery, “I have sustained a mortal wound, nothing can save me other than some extraordinary healing pills that are essentially legends now. Don’t waste your time on this, cough, cough…”
Saying so, he coughed loudly with blood flowing out of his mouth and nostrils.
Yang Kai snorted and said, “I can’t help you make a full recovery, but I can still preserve your life.”
Saying so, he walked directly over to the Fire man and opened his mouth before tossing a large number of healing pills into it.
The Fire-titled man was still quite stubborn and didn’t plan to cooperate, constantly shaking his head to resist. However, with his cultivation already sealed, there was no way he could stop Yang Kai. After a short bout of futile struggle, he swallowed down the Spirit Pills.
The Fire-titled cultivator’s vicious gaze still remained full of mockery though, obviously not believing that Yang Kai could preserve his life. He could feel his vitality leaving his body quickly, which was also a pretty scary experience, but it was still better than the torment awaiting him if he fell in the enemy’s hand.
Yang Kai sat down cross-legged in front of the Fire-titled man and started weaving hand seals under his gaze before striking his chest with his palm. After this strike, the dagger in his chest flew out, together with a large spurt of blood. This violent act caused the Fire-titled man to groan in pain, while his body trembled, feeling like he would shortly die.
But in the next moment, the Fire-titled cultivator felt a clear stream of rich vitality flowing into his body and pulling him back from the gates of death.
A numb feeling started spreading from his chest and the bleeding instantly stopped, while his lost vitality had also been replenished greatly.
He opened his eyes widely to take a look around and his gaze soon landed on a small green tree that couldn’t have been taller than a little child. This tiny tree emitted a green aura that was visible to the naked eye, and Yang Kai was clearly using some kind of technique to draw this green aura into his body.
“What… What is this?” The Fire-titled man was aware that he would surely die, but he was still stunned by this sight and his body shivered involuntarily. He could feel an unimaginable amount of vitality coming from this little tree, and he knew he had avoided death only thanks to the green aura it was emitting.
He was dumbstruck and he quickly realized that there was much more to this little tree than meets the eye.
“The Immortal Tree, ever heard about it?” Yang Kai gave him a wicked grin.
“The Immortal Tree?” The Fire-titled man’s body shivered as he stared at Yang Kai in shock before vehemently denying, “Nonsense, it’s said that the Immortal Tree was formed at the birth of the Universe and is condensed from the purest vital energy between Heaven and Earth. It is said to be able to revive even the dead and if one is able to refine it, they will obtain an immortal and indestructible body. How could you possess such a divine treasure…”
“You’re pretty knowledgeable,” Yang Kai chuckled in response.
“The Immortal Tree? Hmph, who are you trying to fool?” The Fire-titled cultivator snorted disdainfully.
“It’s up to you whether you believe it or not,” Yang Kai cast a glance at him then revealed a nasty smile as he said, “You already have enough vigour to bicker with me. Not bad, not bad, it looks like you still have some life left to live.”
After Yang Kai said so, the Fire-titled man was dumbstruck and his face changed colours repeatedly. A spectacular look was plastered on his face!
He discovered in shock that just this tiny bit of green aura from the small tree had healed all of his wounds and brought him back from the brink of death. Didn’t that mean that if he were to refine this strange tree, he would be able to make a complete recovery?
Once this thought ran across his mind, the Fire-titled cultivator was stunned and beads of sweat started dripping off his forehead. He didn’t want to believe it, but he had already felt it himself. If everything he just experienced was real, then this little tree might really be the legendary Immortal Tree.
*Gudong…*
The Fire Ghost couldn’t help gulping hard while his gaze turned hot as he stared at the Immortal Tree.
Yang Kai didn’t bother with him and he just told the Embodiment, “I’ll hand him over to you, get something useful out of him.”
“Relax, I’ll make him talk,” the Embodiment let out a peal of sinister laughter.
When this laughter fell upon the ears of the Fire-titled man, he couldn’t help shivering as he turned his eyes back to Yang Kai, yet at this moment only the Giant Stone man remained, sitting down cross-legged on the ground with a corpse in his hand.
“Wind…” The Fire-titled man looked aggrievedly at his companion’s corpse and couldn’t help but sympathize with him. However, his gaze quickly turned cold as he shouted at the Embodiment, “I don’t care what the hell you are, but don’t dream of getting any information out of me.”
“You’ve got some spine!” The Embodiment praised him and said, “I like unyielding people. So, you can be at ease, I won’t embarrass you.”
The Fire-titled man only sneered coldly in response. He obviously didn’t believe a word of what the Embodiment had said.
But surprisingly enough, the Embodiment didn’t pay heed to him and he didn’t even bother with torturing and interrogating him. He just put down the Wind titled man’s corpse in front of him and covered it with his giant stone hand.
“What are you planning to do with the Wind’s corpse?” The Fire man’s expression changed as he questioned him sharply.
“What am I planning to do? Hehehe…” The Embodiment let out a burst of strange laughter.
Blue veins bulged out of the Fire-titled man’s forehead as he became somewhat anxious for some unknown reason. The Embodiment hadn’t given him a single decent answer to any question he asked, so he couldn’t help but get angry over this.
While the Fire man was still fretting over this, he witnessed the Embodiment’s expression turn solemn before it shouted, “Heaven Devouring Battle Law!”
In an instant, the Fire-titled cultivator’s eyes widened and he shouted in shock through clenched teeth, “Heaven… Heaven Devouring Battle Law!?”
…..
The Fire-titled man wasn’t as tough as he claimed, or rather, he had just witnessed a scene far more frightening than death. He could stab his heart with his own dagger without the least bit of hesitation and seek death on his own, but upon seeing the Embodiment using the Heaven Devouring Battle Law on the Wind titled cultivator’s corpse, he instantly broke down and gave in.
None wished for his flesh and essence to end up being devoured. This was far crueller than simply being killed, so the Fire-titled man quickly divulged everything he knew.
Those four people were really cultivators from Blood Dagger, and they had received orders from their superiors to bring back Yang Kai alive to their headquarters. As for the reason behind this, the Fire-titled man had no idea and was simply following orders. Blood Dagger had a strict hierarchy and people below a certain level weren’t privy to the organization’s core secrets.
The four of them didn’t even know who it was among their superiors that issued this order, they only received their mission at a certain time at a specific location.
After the interrogation, Yang Kai got a rough idea about the colossal size of Blood Dagger. Blood Dagger had many members and had branches established in every territory. They even had members who belonged to other great Sects who would seem perfectly ordinary until they received a mission, after which they would carry out their orders as members of Blood Dagger without question.
Once the mission ended, these members would go back into hiding and none would be the wiser.
Once the Embodiment questioned the Fire man about the location of the Blood Dagger’s headquarters in the Southern Territory though, the latter’s Knowledge Sea burst open and he died before he could give any reply. It looked like a powerful Master had placed a restriction on him to prevent him from divulging Blood Dagger’s more sensitive secrets.
Upon getting this intel from the Embodiment, Yang Kai’s face turned gloomy.
He had come in contact with Blood Dagger for the first time today, and from what he had seen so far from the powerful Four Ghosts, this wasn’t an organization to be trifled with. They had already set their eyes on him, yet he didn’t even know the reason behind this, let alone any useful information about his new enemy.
Yang Kai’s mood became pretty bad because of this and he felt like a bone was now stuck in his throat.
Once Blood Dagger made a move, they would keep fighting until their last breath. This mission was obviously a great failure and Blood Dagger wouldn’t take things lying down, they would surely send more powerful Masters after him next time. Yang Kai could deal with the Wind, Thunder, Fire, and Mountain Ghosts, but what about the next batch? If they sent Emperor Realm Masters after him, what could he do?
In a flash, Yang Kai’s mind became fraught with concerns.
While Yang Kai was still fretting, he heard a soft groan behind him and turned his head back to take a look there and saw Ye Jing Han sitting atop the boat with furrowed brows and a confused look plastered on her face.
She was a little confused by her current situation.
But, she quickly recalled what had happened before she got knocked out. She suddenly stood up and shouted, “Young Master Yang!”
“You finally woke up!” Yang Kai cast a glance at her and spoke calmly, “Don’t move around, you should first check your body and see if you have suffered any injuries.”
Upon hearing him, Ye Jing Han nodded and closed her eyes to observe the state of her body for a moment then opened them again, “I’m fine.”
She had just been knocked out by Hua Qing Si, and even though she was swept by the shockwaves of the Thunder-titled cultivator’s self-destruction, she hadn’t sustained any serious injuries. It was just her vitality that had gotten a bit feebler. Consuming some pills would be more than enough for her to make a full recovery.
“Yang Kai, where did that Elder Sister and the Big Stone Man go?” Ye Jing Han observed the surroundings, yet she couldn’t see Hua Qing Si or the Embodiment at all, so she couldn’t help but inquire about them.
“What Elder Sister and Big Stone Man?”
“Those…” Ye Jing Han was just about to describe them, yet she suddenly furrowed her brows and spoke with an odd look on her face, “Was it just an… Illusion?”
As she started mulling over the emergence of Hua Qing Si and the Embodiment, she felt like everything looked surreal, and she couldn’t help but suspect that she had fallen victim to an illusion.
“I used a special Secret Technique earlier to deal with those four; you must have seen an illusion because of it.”
“So that’s what happened!” Ye Jing Han let out a breath and said in self-mockery, “Young Master Yang, you’re endowed with remarkable abilities and I couldn’t provide any help to you. I’m really ashamed of myself.”
“Don’t brood over it, Blood Dagger’s so-called Four Ghosts are all quite strong. If you had meddled in the battle, you wouldn’t be alive right now.”
Upon hearing this, Ye Jing Han broke down into cold sweat and she realized the large disparity between Yang Kai and her.
The Blood Dagger’s Four Ghosts were all Third-Order Dao Source Realm cultivators and they had even used a Formation Technique to join their strengths together. In that state, they could fight evenly against an Emperor Realm Master for a time, yet they had all been killed by Yang Kai.
It was an amazing feat!
They were both Second-Order Dao Source Realm cultivators, yet the disparity between them was like Heaven and Earth. She couldn’t help but feel gloomy over this and she started longing for the great power possessed by Yang Kai.
She suddenly chuckled bitterly and she reached her hand back to rub her neck as she felt some slight pain on it. This was another point she was dumbstruck by!
She suddenly recalled how the ‘illusionary’ woman had knocked her out and she continued to have doubts, wondering if everything she had seen was real or not.
The rest of the road was crossed in silence!
Yang Kai had just suffered the attack of Four Ghosts, and it looked like Ye Jing Han was still in a low mood because of it. She didn’t bother him on the way and she just gave him some directions, then sat down on the boat to rest.
After around ten days, they finally saw a mountain range in the distance.
At this moment, Ye Jing Han stood up on the boat cheerfully and pointed at the mountain range, “Young Master Yang, this is the Thousand Leaves Mountain where my Thousand Leaves Sect is located. We’ll reach it in half a day.”
“En!” Yang Kai replied casually.
Ye Jing Han added, “I’ll send a message to my father, he must be worried about me.”
She had spent several months alone outside and her relatives would probably be worried about her. She had already returned safely, so she wanted to quickly get in touch with them.
Yang Kai didn’t pay heed to her and just sat at the front of the boat and observed the surroundings.
Ye Jing Han took out a communication artifact and inputted some information into it. Shortly after, she got a response.
After Ye Jing Han checked it, she couldn’t help but furrow her brow and a displeased look showed up on her face.
Yang Kai had detected that her expression had turned for the worse and he inquired over this, “What happened?”
Ye Jing Han pouted and grumbled, “My father asked me to participate in the wedding ceremony of Sky Crane City’s Lord with his new concubine. It’s so infuriating! If I had known this earlier, I wouldn’t have told him I had come back so I could avoid this troublesome matter.”
“It looks like you don’t want to go,” Yang Kai looked at her with a smile.
Ye Jing Han snorted coldly, “I don’t want to mingle with a man who betrayed his allies. If he wants to take a new concubine, then that’s his matter. Why does my father even bother with such a man, even sending our Sect disciples to this ceremony.”
Ye Jing Han’s expression turned cold, “That man is just a treacherous and ungrateful scum. He only obtained the City Lord’s position thanks to our Thousand Leaves Sect’s support, yet he quickly sought another backer after he got it and didn’t put us in his eyes anymore. He had even chased off many of our already established industries in Sky Crane City. He’s just a vile man!”
Yang Kai wasn’t really interested in this matter, so he just inquired about it briefly then dropped it.
Ye Jing Han had also realized that it wasn’t really proper for her to grumble about this to Yang Kai and apologized, “Young Master Yang, I apologize, I let my frustrations get the better of me.”
“It’s no bother, there are many vile and infuriating people in this world,” Yang Kai waved his hand in response.
“Young Master Yang, just wait for a little while. I’ll notify my father, then bring you back to the Sect and arrange residence for you,” Ye Jing Han said then started composing a new message.
“You don’t have to bother,” Yang Kai grinned in response. “I’ll just take a trip with you there, it’ll be less troublesome and I’ll just take it for a brief outing to loosen up a little.”
Upon hearing this, Ye Jing Han spoke in delight, “Many thanks, Young Master Yang; if you experience something unpleasant during this situation, please don’t take offence.”
“It’s fine!”
Saying so, they adjusted the direction and headed off to Sky Crane City.
Sky Crane City was located three thousand kilometres from Thousand Leaves Mountain. It wasn’t a big city, but it was still a lot better than Maplewood City, and it could be said that it was medium-scale.
According to what Ye Jing Han had said, Sky Crane City’s City Lord Mansion had around a dozen Dao Source Realm Masters, including its City Lord, Luo Jin, who was a powerful Third-Order Dao Source Realm Master. Luo Jin wasn’t any weaker than some second-class Sect Masters in the vicinity, and he had been able to take a firm hold of the City Lord’s position with his power.
When Yang Kai and Ye Jing Han reached the city gates, they found it bustling with activity with many carriages loaded with goods waiting for their turns to enter the city. Those carriages were loaded with precious treasures and Yang Kai had even sniffed the odour of some pills and spirit medicines.
Those carriages were all decorated with festive ornaments, and they were obviously loaded with congratulatory gifts prepared by the local forces.
Sky Crane City was one of the most powerful forces within a hundred thousand kilometres, and all of this region’s Sects had to send delegations to congratulate the City Lord for taking in a new concubine.
The guards standing next to the gates were all spirited and delighted. They welcomed the guests with a smile, then inspected the goods before letting them pass.
Yang Kai and Ye Jing Han didn’t rush into the city and just waited at a spot a hundred metres or so from the city entrance. They were doing so because Ye Jing Han told him that disciples of the Thousand Leaves Sect would shortly arrive.
Ye Jing Han had gotten this assignment by pure chance. If she didn’t come back today, she wouldn’t have been given this hateful mission by Ye Hen.
She was still the Young Lady of Thousand Leaves Sect and it wouldn’t be unseemly for her to lead the group of envoys to congratulate the City Lord.
After they waited for a short while, Ye Jing Han’s eyes lit up and she pointed in a certain direction, “They’re here!”
Yang Kai gazed over there and saw a ray of light streaking across the sky, one that became clear as it approached. This was a ship-shaped Flight-Type Artifact with several cultivators in matching uniforms atop it. The person standing near the ship’s bow was looking around and upon seeing Ye Jing Han, he grinned and waved at her amicably.
Ye Jing Han responded in the same way as the ship landed shortly after. The man who had been waving at Ye Jing Han a while ago descended and waited for the others to disembark before he waved his hand and collected the ship.
“Ye’er, you’ve finally returned. If you didn’t come back, I would have gone to Maplewood City to look for you.” The man went toward Ye Jing Han directly then gazed at her affectionately with his bright eyes. He had ignored Yang Kai completely!
“Senior Brother Du Xian!”
Upon facing his ardent gaze, Ye Jing Han’s face got flushed and she couldn’t help but lower her head bashfully.
Upon seeing this, Yang Kai couldn’t help but smile. He had realized right away that these two had a ‘meaningful’ relationship.
One of the other men stuck his head out behind Du Xian and grinned, “Senior Sister Ye, you have no idea what Senior Brother has been like since you left for Maplewood City. He didn’t even get a proper meal and he wasn’t even in the mood to cultivate! He was scolded plenty of times by our Master.”
“Enough of your babbling!” Du Xian glared at him with a smile in his eyes.
Ye Jing Han pursed her lips and said in a low voice, “This is unacceptable… You must still cultivate…”
Du Xian looked affectionately at Ye Jing Han and said softly, “I have been trying to cultivate… but, I couldn’t calm down, I couldn’t stop thinking about someone.”
“And who… was that….” Ye Jing Han’s body trembled as her cheeks flushed even more.
“Who else could it be but you!?” A sneaky man butted in and continued, “Senior Sister Ye, I have also missed you, I missed you so much that I couldn’t get proper sleep at night…”
Saying so, he put on a pained look and started twisting around, which incurred a peal of laughter from the other disciples of the Thousand Leaves Sect.
“Wu Ma, get lost!” Du Xian stretched his hand and struck Wu Man’s head. The latter couldn’t help but lower his head and grumble, “You can do whatever you want, but we can’t even flirt a little? How can you be so unreasonable? Senior Sister, you must seek justice for me.”
Ye Jing Han spat and spoke, “You deserve it, who told you to keep jabbering on and on? Senior Brother, you must teach him an unforgettable lesson.”
Upon hearing this, a dejected and dismayed look surfaced on Wu Ma’s face.
Yang Kai had just been observing this from the side and found the disciples of the Thousand Leaves Sect to be pretty interesting, feeling that they all had close ties with each other. He couldn’t help but chuckle and sigh slightly. The smaller a Sect, and the more precarious its situation, the more united its disciples would be, but once a Sect grew larger, then they would start trying to outwit each other and they would even put on fake acts of civility.
At this moment, Du Xian finally noticed Yang Kai and a surprised glint flashed past his eyes. Cupping his fists, he introduced himself, “Du Xian of Thousand Leaves Sect greets this friend, may I ask for your noble name?”
Upon raising this question, Du Xian revealed a bewildered look. He didn’t know why this stranger, Yang Kai, was with Ye Jing Han, but he still didn’t show any animosity toward him, and it was the same for the other disciples of Thousand Leaves Sect. They were just sizing up Yang Kai curiously.
Yang Kai revealed a smile and cupped his fist at him, then spoke, “Yang Kai greets Brother Du.”
Ye Jing Han said, “Young Master Yang is my distinguished guest. I planned to bring him back to the Sect to discuss a certain matter with my father, but I was dispatched by him to Sky Crane City midway. Junior and Senior Brothers, you must never slight him!”
She spoke solemnly, as if Yang Kai had some kind of prominent status, so Du Xian and Wu Ma couldn’t help exchanging strange glances, some doubt welling up in their hearts.
Upon releasing their Divine Senses, they discovered that Yang Kai was just a Second-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator. He was also not clad in luxurious robes and did not look like a disciple from one of the top Sects, so why was Ye Jing Han being so cautious around him?
They had many doubts about this, but they still didn’t raise any questions and just nodded lightly in response.
“Since everyone has arrived, let’s enter the city. That old thing’s wedding ceremony is tomorrow, isn’t it?” Ye Jing Han looked at Du Xian and asked without providing any further explanation about Yang Kai.
After all, she had invited Yang Kai to repair the World Crossing Space Array, which was an extremely delicate matter which was best kept secret. She didn’t even notify and report it to Ye Hen yet.
At this moment, Du Xian finally averted his attention from Yang Kai and spoke with a grave look, “Ye’er, watch your tongue.”
Ye Jing Han spat out her tongue in response, “It’s already polite of me to call him an old thing, he’s already got half a foot into the grave, yet he’s still taking in new concubines. I wonder which ignorant girl had been deceived by him this time?”
Wu Ma revealed a bitter smile and spoke, “She might not have been deceived, but rather forced. These past years, the City Lord has been taking in new concubines over and over again, yet he still hasn’t gotten any male descendants… I wonder if his body can keep up with this for much longer… Hehehe…”
“It’s divine retribution!” Ye Jing Han said with a pleased look.
Du Xian rubbed his forehead, “Fine, you have already vented your frustrations so leave it there. We have come to congratulate him, not stir up trouble. Before setting off, Master warned me repeatedly and he urged me to not cause any trouble; after all, the representatives of all the big Sects and forces in the area will be attending.”
Ye Jing Han just pouted in response with a displeased look on her face and didn’t say anything else.
Du Xian smiled at Yang Kai, “Brother Yang, we must have made a mockery of ourselves in front of you.”
“It’s fine,” Yang Kai waved his hand in response.
“Let’s tidy up and enter the city,” Du Xian shouted at the other people.
The crowd straightened out their clothes a little then went toward the city gate under the lead of Du Xian.
The gifts the Thousand Leaves Sect brought were all stored in their Space Rings, so they didn’t really have anything to ‘tidy up’. Only people trying to openly flatter Luo Jin would use carriages to carry their goods. This way, as soon as they arrived at the City Lord Mansion, everyone would be able to clearly see the gifts they brought.
There was a long line of people in front of the city gate and the members of Thousand Leaves Sect did not plan to cut the line, so they just joined the queue and waited for their turn to enter the city.
Meanwhile, Ye Jing Han started apologizing to Yang Kai, as she was afraid to incur his displeasure.
The others didn’t know what kind of power and means Yang Kai had, but she was clear.
Just ten days ago, the Blood Dagger’s Four Ghosts had been slaughtered by Yang Kai, the scene of which was still vivid in her memory. If Yang Kai didn’t want to line up, he could just force his way into the city and no guard would be able to obstruct him, but doing so would incur a calamity for Thousand Leaves Sect.
Fortunately, it looked like Yang Kai was quite relaxed and didn’t seem irritated.
Upon seeing this, the expressions of Du Xian and Wu Man turned even more doubtful. They both couldn’t understand why Ye Jing Han treated Yang Kai so prudently, as if she was dealing with an Emperor Realm Master.
The line advanced quickly, and in less than half a cup of tea’s time, it was their turn.
At the city gate, the man in charge of checking goods and visitors grinned upon seeing Ye Jing Han and cupped his fists at her, “So it is Thousand Leaves Sect’s Young Lady, excuse our disrespect for not offering a proper welcome.”
He was an average-looking middle-aged man clad in festive clothes with a smile plastered on his face, a very fake one at that.
He could be considered to be decent in strength, a First-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator, and it looked like he held some important position in Sky Crane City.
Usually, it wouldn’t be up to such an expert supervising the gates, but this wasn’t an ordinary time. All the factions in the nearby area were gathering at Sky Crane City to congratulate the City Lord, so someone of status needed to be present to welcome them.
He was that man!
As per what he had just said, he had recognized Ye Jing Han, which wasn’t really strange by itself, as Ye Jing Han had already stated that Sky Crane City’s Lord got his position only thanks to the support of Thousand Leaves Sect. The residents of Sky Crane City had obviously gotten a lot of chances to interact with the members of Thousand Leaves Sect, so the daughter of Thousand Leaves Sect’s Sect Master was a well-known figure.
Ye Jing Han replied calmly with an ice-cold look plastered on her face, “Elder Si Ming, just do your job, there’s no need for false courtesy!”
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man called Si Ming smiled, “Young Lady Ye, thank you for your understanding. Our Sky Crane City is honoured by your presence at the wedding of our City Lord. If Sir City Lord learns of it, he’ll be surely pleased. Please come in!”
Saying so, he beckoned at her and invited her into the city. He didn’t try to embarrass Ye Jing Han.
Ye Jing Han didn’t stand on ceremony and she just walked into the city directly.
But, when Du Xian, as well as the other people behind Ye Jing Han were about to enter the city, Si Ming suddenly raised his hand and blocked Du Xian’s way then shouted coldly, “What are your intentions here, are you trying to force your way into the city?”
Upon hearing this, Du Xian furrowed his brow, while Ye Jing Han who had been walking ahead stopped midway and turned over to gaze at them.
Si Ming shouted arrogantly, “Bold! You haven’t obtained my permission, yet you want to enter the city? Are you looking down on my Sky Crane City?”
Du Xian said with a displeased look on his face, “Elder Si Ming, are you blind or has your brain gotten worse with age? Didn’t you see that we came here together with our Sect’s Young Lady?”
“A brat like you still dares to curse at me?” Si Ming flew into a rage and snorted coldly, saying, “Do you think I don’t dare to arrest you right now?”
Du Xian squinted his eyes and sneered, “Elder Si Ming… What is your meaning here?”
Si Ming snorted and replied, “What do you think?”
Du Xian took a deep breath, trying hard to curb his anger, “We have come under our Sect Master’s order to congratulate City Lord Luo, are you trying to bar our way at the gate and make a joke of yourself in front of the masses?”
“You’ve come to congratulate our City Lord?” Si Ming said with feigned surprise then started sizing up Du Xian, his mouth curling into a sneer, “You’re clad in such cheap rags, which Sect do you belong to?”
“You… old dog, how shameless can you be!?” Upon hearing him, Wu Man flew into a rage. As long as one wasn’t blind, he would have noticed that they came with Ye Jing Han and they were all disciples of Thousand Leaves Sect, yet Si Ming still acted as if he didn’t recognize them. He didn’t just obstruct Du Xian and his companions, he openly mocked and disdained them.
He obviously wanted to humiliate Thousand Leaves Sect!
Upon seeing this, the cultivators lining up behind them to enter the city had also understood the other party’s intentions and they started whispering to each other.
Upon hearing the whispers of the crowd, the expression of the members of Thousand Leaves Sect turned ashen and unsightly.
They had just followed orders and came to congratulate the City Lord, yet they had been insulted so viciously at the city gate. No one would be able to bear this humiliation in silence and the few disciples of Thousand Leaves Sect had all started circulating their Source Qi, as if they were prepared to start a fight right here.
Si Ming jumped back in fright and spoke warily, “What are you doing? Are you trying to resort to violence? This is Sky Crane City, not the desolate wilderness you have come from. Even bumpkins like you dare to wreak havoc here?”
He shouted so solemnly, as if everything he said was pure truth, and the cultivators behind him couldn’t help but laugh in response. They all understood that this old man was playing the fool to shame Thousand Leaves Sect, but the latter still couldn’t fight back.
“Elder Si Ming!” Ye Jing Han cast a glance at him with the same cold look as before and spoke, “Elder Si Ming, have you already gone amnesiac? Can you not recognize our Thousand Leaves Sect’s emblem? Does my father have to come here in person to tell you this?”
Upon hearing this, Si Ming revealed a surprised look and looked at Ye Jing Han then said, “Young Lady Ye, what you are saying is…”
Saying so, he turned his head to observe Du Xian and the others and glanced at the Thousand Leaves Sect’s emblem on their robes. He then struck his forehead and said sheepishly, “Ah! Young Lady Ye, forgive my mistake, I didn’t notice it. So, those are the talented youths of your Thousand Leaves Sect. When my eyes fell upon them earlier, I thought they were just some bumpk… Cough… Cough…”
He put on such a serious act, as if he had just realized this for real and he kept apologizing to Ye Jing Han, as if he had just realized that Du Xian and the others were disciples of the Thousand Leaves Sect.
“Hmph!” Ye Jing Han had been infuriated by this and her pretty face went dark then flushed red. It was frustrating and she couldn’t even vent her pent-up emotions.
“Since you are the talented youths of the Thousand Leaves Sect, then you just have to register to enter the city. This has just flown out of my mind, please don’t take offence.” Si Ming beckoned at Du Xian and the others with a bright smile on his face.
“Register? What should we register for?” Ye Jing Han was surprised by what she had just heard.
Si Ming said with a smile, “Your name, Sect, as well as some other basic information. Young Lady Ye, you’re also aware that the City Lord’s wedding will be held tomorrow and it’s a very important event. These days, not just anyone can enter the city and any person who enters the city has to register. This is an important matter regarding the city’s order.”
Ye Jing Han spoke coldly, “Then why didn’t I see any of the people before us registering?”
Si Ming said with a smile, “Young Lady Ye, you have such sharp eyes. Those people… I recognize them all and I know of their backgrounds. So, they don’t have to register.”
“Are you implying that you don’t recognize our Thousand Leaves Sect’s disciples?” Ye Jing Han spoke through gnashed teeth with her fury apparent on her face. Si Ming had been embarrassing the Thousand Leaves Sect repeatedly and she couldn’t help but get angry. She didn’t even want to visit Sky Crane City and attend the wedding in the first place, yet she still suffered a lot of trouble for it. She couldn’t help but be filled with regret and hatred for coming here even more.
What was even more infuriating was that Si Ming was deliberately shaming her precious Thousand Leaves Sect in front of the whole crowd.
“Young Lady Ye, please don’t embarrass me. I’m just following orders,” Si Ming said solemnly with a smile plastered on his face, “If you enter the city without registering then the City Lord will condemn me upon getting wind of this, and I won’t be able to take responsibility for this.”
“Fine, fine,” Ye Jing Han couldn’t bear this any longer and she was so infuriated that she broke into laughter, “Sky Crane City, I’ll bear this in mind. We aren’t so adamant about entering the city. Senior Brother, let’s leave.”
Upon hearing her, Si Ming didn’t get flustered, but rather, his smile turned wider.
Ye Jing Han had already turned around, as if she would really leave, but Du Xian suddenly held her arm and shook his head at her, asking her to calm down.
Luo Jin’s wedding was just a normal celebration, but it had great significance as all factions within a hundred thousand kilometres would attend it, and if the members of Thousand Leaves Sect left, it would be an open insult to Sky Crane City, giving them the perfect excuse to have a fallout with Thousand Leaves Sect.
This was the reason why Ye Hen had admonished and urged Du Xian and his companions before they left to bear any hardships and insults they might face during their trip.
Du Xian was a mature and worldly individual, so upon seeing Si Ming’s delighted smile, he realized right away that all of this was a trap set out for them. Si Ming probably wanted to send back the members of Thousand Leaves Sect to fan the flames of conflict between Sky Crane City and their Sect.
Upon realizing this, Du Xian resolved himself to thwart his plans. He just pulled Ye Jing Han and moved his lips, sending a message directly to her ear.
Ye Jing Han had been gnashing her teeth out of fury, while her chest heaved up and down, but upon hearing Du Xian’s words, she quieted for a moment then nodded.
Du Xian revealed a smile and cupped his fists then said, “Elder Si Ming, we just have to register, don’t we?”
Si Ming furrowed his brows and replied, “That’s right!”
“Then isn’t it quite simple?” Du Xian nodded and walked toward the scarlet registration paper next to him and wrote his name, as well as his Sect’s name.
Under his lead, the other disciples of Thousand Leaves Sect followed suit, even though they were all irritated and angry.
The disciples of Thousand Leaves Sect quickly discovered an infuriating matter. Only the members of some weak families and third-class Sects had written their names on this registrar. Any faction with a little bit of influence didn’t have to do so, with their Thousand Leaves Sect as the sole exception to this rule.
In other words, they were placing the Thousand Leaves Sect at the same level as those weak families and Sects.
The members of Thousand Leaves Sect were all infuriated, but they could only bear this in silence.
Soon the registration process was finished.
When it was Yang Kai’s turn, Ye Jing Han’s pretty eyes flickered and she looked at him in worry, yet she quickly noticed that he just went to the table obediently and wrote his name with the brush.
Upon seeing this, she let out a sigh of relief. She was afraid that Yang Kai wouldn’t cooperate and would just leave in a huff.
“Wait!” Si Ming shouted and looked at Yang Kai with his ardent gaze, sizing him up before asking, “Friend, you have an unfamiliar face. Are you also a disciple of Thousand Leaves Sect?”
Yang Kai grinned and said, “That’s right!”
Si Ming snorted coldly, “Friend, you should give this more thought before replying. Our Sky Crane City is now heavily guarded, so if you want to use the Thousand Leaves Sect’s name to sneak into the city, then we must have a little chat.”
Yang Kai raised his brows and spoke with a smile, “Elder Si Ming, why are you so sure that I’m not a member of Thousand Leaves Sect? Can you recognize all members of the Thousand Leaves Sect?”
Si Ming replied, “I don’t dare to claim that I know all of them, but I have still seen most of them, especially those with a cultivation such as yours.”
Yang Kai said curiously, “Is that so? Since you recognize most people with my level of cultivation, then how did you fail to recognize Senior Brother Du Xian? Brother Du is our Sect’s Eldest Senior Brother, so how could you not recognize him?”
Du Xian next to them sneered, “I’m also curious about this as well. I may not have been friends with Elder Si Ming in the past, but I have still chatted with you once or twice, so how could you act like you didn’t recognize me just now?”
Si Ming let out a light cough and wiped off the sweat on his forehead before explaining, “I simply didn’t get a clear look of you a while ago.”
“Elder Si Ming, it looks like you have gotten a serious eye ailment. You must treat quickly, or you won’t be in this world for long,” Du Xian spoke mockingly.
Si Ming’s expression changed, “But your clothes don’t have the Thousand Leaves Sect’s symbol. How can you explain this?”
“I changed into a new set of clothes for the City Lord’s wedding and have yet to embroider the Sect’s symbol on it,” Yang Kai grinned and lied without a single pause.
“I’m afraid this explanation is… Far from satisfactory!” Si Ming sneered coldly in response.
“Si Ming, what are you implying?” Ye Jing Han had discerned that Si Ming didn’t plan to let go of Yang Kai and she couldn’t help becoming anxious. She had invited Yang Kai to repair the World Crossing Space Array, which was a critical matter that might even help Thousand Leaves Sect rise up once again, so she attached the utmost importance to Yang Kai.
Moreover, Yang Kai, just as an individual, was extremely strong so if he flew into a rage, then the city gates would be dyed in blood. That was why Ye Jing Han quickly stood up for him and glared at Si Ming aggressively, “Since we arrived, you have targeted us repeatedly, do you think it’s so easy to bully our Thousand Leaves Sect? We have come to congratulate Luo Jin, yet you obstructed our way here and intentionally embarrassed us. If we leave right now, then none will be able to blame our Thousand Leaves Sect as it is clearly your Sky Crane City that has slighted its guests.”
Si Ming furrowed his brows and wondered why Ye Jing Han got so angry. Even when he tried to embarrass Du Xian and the others, she didn’t get so irritated, yet she had now directly called the City Lord’s great name without an ounce of respect. She had obviously lost all patience.
As this thought ran across his mind, Si Ming smiled sheepishly, “Young Miss Ye, please calm down, I was just upholding my duty with caution and I just wanted to have a little chat with this little friend.”
“If you don’t allow us to pass, then we’ll immediately leave. I’ll give you three breaths, the decision is yours!” Ye Jing Han glared at Si Ming coldly with a stern look.
Si Ming’s expression changed. He really hoped for the members of the Thousand Leaves Sect to just leave, as he could use it as an excuse to break off all relations between Sky Crane City and the Thousand Leaves Sect and annex its numerous industries in the city, but he suddenly felt that something was amiss and his instincts were telling him that having a falling-out with them right now would result in something terrible befalling him.
This stranger sent a shiver up his back!
“I was just wondering who is so arrogant and aggressive, it turns out it was Ye’er.”
At this moment, a voice drifted over from afar as a streak of light flew over and landed nearby, revealing two old and one young man.
The two old men were both Third-Order Dao Source Realm Masters and they wore composed and restrained expressions on their faces. As for the youth, he looked like he was in his thirties and was a First-Order of the Dao Source Realm. He was a handsome young man with rosy lips, pearly white teeth, and a folding fan in his hand. As he stood there fanning himself, he looked quite graceful and elegant.
“Qiu Yu!” Upon seeing this person, Du Xian’s expression turned grave, as if this young man had some exceptional background. On top of that, it also looked like Du Xian was pretty displeased by the way Qiu Yu addressed Ye Jing Han.
Qiu Yu’s expression turned cold as he gazed at Du Xian and said, “My noble name is not something the likes of you can utter, slap him!”
After he said so, all cultivators outside the city widened their mouths with a shocked look on their faces.
After all, Du Xian was a Second-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator, yet Qiu Yu planned to slap him just for uttering his name. If Du Xian really suffered such an insult here, his Martial Heart might crumble and he wouldn’t have the face to see people in the future.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the disciples of Thousand Leaves Sect changed and they all openly began pushing their Source Qi, preparing to fight.
But, before the crowd could get over their shock, Qiu Yu laughed loudly and said, “I’m just joking. Brother Du, don’t be so nervous!”
Du Xian’s expression fluctuated rapidly, a pretty spectacular sight to see. Flames of anger raged in his heart, but he couldn’t do anything other than endure; after all, his opponent had two Third-Order Dao Source Realm Masters protecting him, so if he rushed out to fight against them, then the losing side would definitely be Thousand Leaves Sect.
Qiu Yu didn’t bother with Du Xian anymore and turned his ardent gaze back to Ye Jing Han, speaking intimately, “Ye’er, it has been a long time since I last saw you but you are more graceful than ever.”
He had been so bossy a moment ago, yet his bearing changed so drastically that it shocked the crowd, making them wonder if he was still the same person.
“You’re still as repulsive as before.” Ye Jing Han sneered in response.
After she said so, the eyes of the two old men next to Qiu Yu shone brightly and two powerful waves of pressure engulfed Ye Jing Han. She couldn’t help but groan softly, while her face turned a little pale.
“Stop!” Qiu Yu’s face fell and he shouted sharply.
Thereupon, the two old men next to him restrained their pressure.
“How dare you act without my permission?” Qiu Yu turned around and rebuked the two old men. “What if you hurt Ye’er? Without my permission, you are not to act, or don’t bother following me from now on.”
“Young Master, please forgive us!” The two old men that had just gotten rebuked didn’t get angry; instead, they lowered their heads and admitted their mistakes. It was a pretty shocking sight!
“Ye’er, are you all right?” Qiu Yu gazed at Ye Jing Han with concern.
Ye Jing Han took a deep breath and said through gnashed teeth, “You should put a tight leash on your family’s dogs so they don’t run around and bite others randomly.”
Qiu Yu revealed a smile and folded his fan before nodding to Ye Jing Han and saying, “I have always loved your straightforward and outspoken nature.”
“And I’ve always despised you.”
“It isn’t a problem, it isn’t a problem,” Qiu Yu said with a smile, “I believe that as long as there is a will, there’s a way.”
“Come back to reality, even if you’re the only man left in this world, I still wouldn’t spare you a glance!” Ye Jing Han sneered coldly in response.
Qiu Yu’s face fell, but he still just smiled gracefully and didn’t bicker with her. He looked at Si Ming and asked, “What have you done to incur Ye’er’s wrath?”
Upon hearing this, Si Ming wiped off his cold sweat, clearly afraid of Qiu Yu, then said, “Nothing, it’s nothing. It’s just a routine procedure.”
“Hmph, then hurry up and apologize to Ye’er.” Qiu Yu snorted coldly.
Upon hearing this, Si Ming ran toward Ye Jing Han and spoke servilely, “Young Lady Ye, if I have offended you a moment ago, then please don’t take it to heart and forgive me.”
Ye Jing Han cast a glance at him then gestured at him indifferently, “Elder Si Ming, you were just upholding your duty. So, let’s just forget this.”
“A planned meeting cannot compare to one destined by fate! Ye’er, why don’t we enter the city together? I have obtained some excellent Dark Blood Tea, and was eagerly seeking someone to taste it with. Would you do me the honour?” Qiu Yu turned around and said with a smile.
Ye Jing Han replied coldly, “The path we are taking is different. So, no!”
Saying so, she called out to Du Xian and the others, “Senior Brother, let’s go.”
Du Xian nodded lightly then smiled at Qiu Yu, as if he had won, “Young Master Qiu, you should slowly enjoy your tea alone, be careful to not choke on it.”
“Hehe, Brother Du, many thanks for your concern,” Qiu Yu didn’t get angry and just replied with a smile.
After a short moment, the members of Thousand Leaves Sect all entered the city. Likewise, Qiu Yu, who was already bored of this place, headed back to the city with the two old men and disappeared among the crowd.
“What kind of background does that Qiu Yu have? It seemed like his status was not simple,” upon entering the city, Yang Kai asked curiously.
Ye Jing Han let out a sigh and replied, “He’s the Young Master of Sky Illumination Palace, a Sect at odds with our Thousand Leaves Sect. They have repeatedly tried to suppress us, but we are still here. I also heard that Sky Illumination Palace’s Master, Qiu Ze, has gone into secluded cultivation in an attempt to break through to the Emperor Realm. If he were to succeed, then…”
Saying so, a worried look appeared on Ye Jing Han’s face.
Du Xian spoke, “Sky Crane City and Sky Illumination Palace are working together, so if Qiu Ze becomes an Emperor Realm Master, our Thousand Leaves Sect’s future will be bleak.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Kai realized that the City Lord’s new backer was none other than Sky Illumination Palace.
Wu Ma continued, “It isn’t that easy to enter the Emperor Realm. That old man Qiu Ze will probably suffer cultivation dissonance during his breakthrough and die.”
The crowd clearly discerned that he had just cursed him to die. However, since Qiu Ze dared to attempt a breakthrough to the Emperor Realm, then he surely had the confidence to succeed, and if he really did, the Thousand Leaves Sect would be in big trouble.
“Our Master has his own plans regarding this, so we just have to diligently perform our own duties,” Du Xian had realized that his Fellow Brothers had fallen into a low mood and he quickly consoled them.
…..
In Sky Crane City, the members of Thousand Leaves Sect stopped in front of a store called the Heavenly Puppet Workshop.
Ye Jing Han introduced it to Yang Kai, “This is our greatest industry in Sky Crane City. If you don’t mind, you can stay here for two days. Once tomorrow’s wedding comes to an end, we’ll return to the Main Sect.”
“En!” Yang Kai gazed at the grandiose and luxurious Heavenly Puppet Workshop then nodded.
He could clearly discern that the Heavenly Puppet Workshop’s business had once been amazing, as any store built in such an expensive plot of land would be as bustling with plenty of business.
But, this was clearly a matter of the past. The current Heavenly Puppet Workshop was completely deserted and the goods on the shelves were left to collect dust. Even the clerk was just dozing off behind the counter. This clerk was laughing in his sleep while drooling. Obviously, he must be having a pretty good dream.
“The business here is quite… bleak.” Yang Kai sighed with emotions.
Ye Jing Han smiled bitterly, “If a store is usually surrounded by a few vicious-looking men, using the name of the City Lord, it would naturally make our customers feel uncomfortable. Over time, who would dare buy anything from us?”
Upon hearing her, Yang Kai noticed a few thugs near the store and they were all looking at the doors of Heavenly Puppet Workshop with a sneer, as if they were ready to make a move at any moment. However, upon seeing the badge of the Thousand Leaves Sect on the robes of Ye Jing Han and her companions, these thugs hurriedly averted their gazes.
Yang Kai let out a chuckle, “Your Sect’s standing and businesses in Sky Crane City are in quite the conundrum.”
Ye Jing Han’s expression turned gloomy, “En… It’s gotten even worse than before… Young Master Yang, please come in!”
Yang Kai nodded and entered the store under the lead of Ye Jing Han.
Du Xian, Wu Man, and the others exchanged glances in confusion. They had all noticed that Ye Jing Han valued Yang Kai greatly, and she treated him respectfully, as if he was some important and noble guest. But, no matter how much they observed Yang Kai, he looked like an ordinary Second-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator. Therefore, they could not understand why Ye Jing Han was treating him with so much care.
But, this wasn’t time for questions. After they entered the store, Wu Ma rushed over to the counter and struck it several times to wake up the sleeping clerk.
The clerk must have also been a disciple of Thousand Leaves Sect, but his cultivation wasn’t high and his status was also pretty low. Upon seeing Ye Jing Han and her companions, he was scared out of his mind and his face turned pale. He could only lower his head and acknowledge his mistake.
Ye Jing Han waved her hand at him impatiently, “Ask the shopkeeper to arrange several rooms for us.”
“Understood, I’ll go right away to call the shopkeeper. Young Lady, please wait for a short while.” The clerk was scared witless and he rushed quickly to the back room as if he had just gotten amnesty.
After a short moment, an old man who seemed to be in his fifties walked out of the back room and went toward Ye Jing Han and her companions in quick strides. He bowed to them then brought them to the back room and made appropriate arrangements for them.
The wedding ceremony was being held tomorrow and there were no other important events today, so after Ye Jing Han helped Yang Kai settle down in his room, she went back to her room and waited for a short while, until she heard someone knocking on her door.
She moved toward the door with light steps and opened it only to see Du Xian standing there with a bright smile. The young woman’s face got flushed and she invited him into the room bashfully, a room which would be shortly drowned in sugary words of love.
…..
Yang Kai was sitting cross-legged in his room, resting.
He had come to Sky Crane City with Ye Jing Han only by pure chance and he planned to just spend his days here in peace.
But, he still felt uneasy for some unknown reason, and he felt like something major would shortly occur, making it impossible for him to calm down.
This was the first time he had such a feeling, he had never experienced something like this when cultivating.
He didn’t dare to take this lightly and he started examining his body repeatedly with his Divine Sense, out of fear that he suffered some hidden damage during his cultivation or he formed a Heart Demon unknowingly.
But, he still didn’t find any issue no matter how much he inspected his body. Rather, his uneasiness had only gotten stronger.
He furrowed his brows and started mulling this over. He noticed that he got this feeling ever since he had entered Sky Crane City, as if something here was affecting him.
It was a very peculiar feeling, but Yang Kai did not dismiss this sensation as irrelevant. He had already reached a fairly high realm and no external event would be able to perturb his inner peace without it being of true significance.
Yang Kai mulled this over for a long time, yet couldn’t come up with an answer and he could only let out a sigh and stand up.
He planned to greet Ye Jing Han and tell her that he would go out for a walk, but upon releasing his Divine Sense, he saw Ye Jing Han and Du Xian flirting in the room and his face had immediately darkened.
They weren’t really doing anything overboard. Du Xian was just holding Ye Jing Han’s hand and looking at her affectionately while showering her with words expressing his deep yearning for her. As for Ye Jing Han, she just lowered her head with her cheeks and neck flushed.
Yang Kai quickly took back his Divine Sense, as he was afraid that he would shortly gouge his eyes out if he continued watching this sight.
He didn’t tell anyone about what he had just seen and his body quickly flickered as he left Heavenly Puppet Workshop to appear in the crowded main street.
Sky Crane City could be considered one of the Southern Territory’s medium-sized cities, so both its overall layout and scale were far above Maplewood City. Its streets were big enough for eight carriages to pass side by side and they were filled with a throng of cultivators.
There were many stores set up at the sides of the street with loud shouts reverberating in them.
The whole city had a special festive air and was decorated with coloured lanterns and banners, which was most likely because of the wedding ceremony tomorrow. The city was bustling with activity and all cultivators wore bright smiles across their faces. One could make a guess as to why they were so cheerful.
Yang Kai walked along with the crowd and he quickly entered a restaurant filled with guests.
He was quickly welcomed by a cordial waiter. This waiter was also a cultivator, but his cultivation was pretty low, only in the Saint Realm. The waiter bowed to Yang Kai with a smile plastered across his face, “Sir, please come in. You look like a new face here, did you come to drink alone, or are you here to meet a friend?”
Yang Kai cast a glance at him and said with a smile, “I’m just by myself!”
The waiter smiled in understanding, “Understood, please have a seat here.”
Saying so, he brought Yang Kai to the third floor and offered a table next to the window to him then said with a smile, “Sir, what would you like to order? I’m not trying to brag, but there aren’t any restaurants in Sky Crane City better than ours. All ingredients used by us are from fresh Monster Beasts, cooked with exquisite Spirit Herbs and Fruits. If you can consume them all year long, then even someone at your esteemed realm will receive some consolidation effects. If one is lucky enough, then one may even achieve a breakthrough. This has occurred in our restaurant a few times already.”
“Oh?” Yang Kai raised his brows in surprise and spoke with a smile, “What do you think someone at my cultivation should have?”
The waiter chuckled, “Sir, I can guess with a glance that you’re a Dao Source Realm cultivator, so you should obviously have the best dishes and wine. The only thing missing would be the company of a beauty.”
The waiter had been working here for many years and he had already gotten a pair of pretty discerning eyes. He was just a Saint Realm cultivator, yet he still discerned that Yang Kai was at the Dao Source Realm. He wasn’t just decent looking, he was also slick-tongued and could easily get on people’s good side.
Yang Kai chuckled, “Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”
Upon hearing this, delight surfaced on the waiter’s face and he declared, “Sir, I won’t disappoint you, and if you don’t leave in satisfaction, then you can break my legs to make a stew out of them.”
Yang Kai nodded and spoke, “I’ll take you at your word, if I am dissatisfied by any little thing, then I’ll fulfil your wish.”
The waiter’s face darkened and he could only say, “Then I’ll have to do my best!”
Saying so, he quickly left to arrange and handle this.
Yang Kai sat down next to the window and looked outside while waiting. He found this pretty amusing and he regained his spirits. He had been pretty despondent for the past few days and he still got pretty uneasy a while ago, yet all of those gloomy feelings were swept away now.
It wasn’t limited to just this. Yang Kai also felt that his body had turned lighter. He felt refreshed and full of vigour, and his body’s Source Qi started circulating quicker than before.
Upon noticing this, Yang Kai was taken aback, but he quickly understood what happened. His state of mind seemed to have achieved a subtle breakthrough.
Realizing this, his delight quickly surfaced on his face. Going for a walk had been a wise decision.
If he stayed in the Heavenly Puppet Workshop and cultivated, then he would’ve just racked his brain over this in vain and wouldn’t have gotten this fortuitous encounter.
After a short while, the waiter served him top-notch dishes and wine. Even though Yang Kai felt that the waiter was just bragging somewhat, he couldn’t deny that the dishes of this restaurant were pretty delicious and they were all made from special ingredients rich in energy. If one consumed those dishes all year long, then it was theoretically possible to increase their cultivation.
But it was quite an insignificant increase and it wouldn’t be as pure and refined as meditative cultivation.
So, cultivators would usually avoid such methods to increase their cultivation. They would have to spend a large amount of Source Crystals to eat here every day, just to obtain limited growth. It would be far better to just sit down and cultivate.
But, Yang Kai didn’t bother with nitpicking over tiny details with the waiter. He just praised him with a few words and tipped him with a few Source Crystals then asked him to leave. Yang Kai then just sat there by himself and enjoyed his drink alone.
The third floor of the restaurant was packed with guests sitting down in groups. At worst, the patrons were pairs, with the sole exception being Yang Kai.
Everyone was drinking cheerfully and discussing miscellaneous matters in loud voices, touching upon many of lands’ affairs and oddities.
Yang Kai had been listening to them with full interest.
The topic of discussions quickly focused, however, on the new concubine being taken by the City Lord, Luo Jin. The reasons for this were most likely rooted in the curiosities of men.
“Now that you mention it, the City Lord is already so old, yet he’s still enjoying himself.”
“You’re right, the City Lord has already taken in fourteen concubines and he’s planning on marrying a fifteenth tomorrow! I really wonder where he gets all the energy to keep up? Hahaha!”
“Leaving beauties to spend their nights in solitude is pretty cruel and sinful. If Sir Luo can’t pamper them all equally, then his harem may stray off-road.”
“Huh? Brother, from what you have said so far, it seems that you’re harbouring some desires for them?”
“Hehe, I won’t dare. I would never dare, I’m just speaking randomly.”
“It looked like you were sympathizing with them, as if you wanted to help the old City Lord… Hehe…”
“If I get a chance, I may give it a try. As the saying goes, if you can die beneath a beauty, then you won’t have any regrets.”
“Don’t you think you had enough drinks? If you don’t zip your mouth, then a calamity may befall you. Don’t forget that walls have ears,” someone suddenly spoke in a cold voice and warned them.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the two people caught in a heated discussion changed and they said sheepishly, “We have really drunk more than we should, what did we say a while ago?”
“Nothing, we didn’t say anything. Come on, let’s have another drink.”
The topic of the discussion had suddenly shifted.
But, after a short while, someone brought it up again, “Now that I think about it, it’s said that his fourteen concubines are all outstanding beauties. If one can live as Sir Luo, then he won’t have any more regrets in life.”
“Well, he’s the City Lord after all. But from what you said, you must have gotten to see the City Lord’s concubines, didn’t you?”
“He’s got a point there, the City Lord keeps all of his concubines hidden in the City Lord’s Mansion. Even if they were to come out, they would be escorted by guards, clearing the way for them. Their faces are always covered by black veils. Friend, tell me. How did you get to see them?”
That person revealed a faint smile, “Hehe, I didn’t get to see them, but my niece is working as a maid in the City Lord’s Mansion and she got the opportunity to serve his concubines. According to her, they are all exceptionally beautiful, especially the newest one. She’s a lot prettier than the others and the City Lord is quite fond of her.”
“Huh? Do you have information about the new bride? Hurry up and tell us. What does she look like?”
“That’s right, we’re all curious about her.”
That man said with a smile, “I don’t mind telling you, but I don’t have any wine on my table…”
“I’ll take charge of it! Waiter, serve us a few bottles of your best wine,” someone suddenly shouted.
The man cupped his fists at him, “Friend, you’re pretty straightforward. I won’t keep you in suspense and I’ll tell you everything in detail.”
Saying so, he wiped off his mouth and started describing the City Lord’s new bride with his silver tongue. As the man described it, the crowd felt like they could see a graceful and alluring woman stroking her hair coquettishly and walking out of the void toward them. They had all revealed captivated looks and some had almost started drooling.
“Hmph!” At this moment, someone let out a cold snort and slammed his mug onto the table heavily, letting out a loud rumble.
The crowd lost in their fanciful dreams and they all looked angrily at that said person.
Yang Kai had also been listening to the previous man’s tale eagerly, and he quickly looked at the source of the noise. He sighted upon a muscular man stinking off alcohol with a vicious glare in his eye.
Upon sweeping him with his Divine Sense, Yang Kai discovered that this man was only a Third-Order Origin King, and his aura seemed pretty unstable. It seemed like he had suffered some kind of serious injury recently.
The man’s right eye was completely white without a pupil, as if it had been blinded by some unknown substance. The man looked pretty vicious, and his strange eye only made him scarier.
At this moment, anger was apparent on the one-eyed man’s face. He had even destroyed the cup in his hand, causing sweet liquor to drip through his fingers.
“I was just wondering who it was, it’s the lone tiger who has just left his mountain, Brother Hu Chai,” the person who had been speaking a while ago laughed then covered his mouth, “No, he’s now the One-Eyed Tiger! Hahaha!”
The man didn’t even bother with hiding his mockery, and he laughed along with the crowd. It looked like they all didn’t like the man surnamed Chai.
“Brother Chai, I’m pretty curious. Who blinded you?” After that man had his fill of laughter, he questioned him.
Chai Hu snorted and didn’t bother with replying. He just sat there with a vicious look on his face and rolled his sole eye at that person, “If you continue making things up, then I’ll tear you apart.”
The expression of that person changed and he shouted, “Making things up? What do you mean by that?”
Chai Hu said, “That woman… doesn’t look anything like that.”
“Which woman?” That person furrowed his brows, but he quickly came back to his senses and responded. Squinting as he said, “Chai Hu, are you talking about… The City Lord’s new bride?”
Chai Hu snorted coldly then raised a wine bottle on the table to drink it down in one gulp.
That man still didn’t let go of this, “You’re talking like you have seen the bride. Did you?”
Chai Hu’s hand suddenly stiffened and a reminiscent look flashed past his sole eye, but he still said coldly, “It’s none of your business!”
That person was taken aback and he clapped with a smile, “I suddenly understand how you got blinded.” He stopped for a moment, leaving those around him in suspense, then laughed aloud, “You must have peeped on the City Lord’s bride when she was bathing and your eye got blinded by her.”
After he said so, the whole place broke into laughter.
Chai Hu suddenly stood up and flipped up the table. As his body moved, he rushed at the man like a ferocious tiger with a sabre in his hand, swinging it out.
The current Chai Hu was shrouded in a dense murderous intent. This matter must have poked a sore point. As for his opponent, he was startled by this and he quickly summoned up all his might to defend against the unexpected attack.
These two were both Third-Order Origin Kings, so their moves possessed indomitable might. As their Saint Qi surged, the battle’s shockwaves flipped up all tables on the third floor and the whole restaurant started shaking. It had almost crumbled apart!
Upon noticing this disturbance, the owner of the restaurant quickly rushed over and sighted upon the two men fighting to the death. His face turned pale and he entreated them to leave and finish their fight outside, but his pleas didn’t reach them.
Yang Kai shook his head with a helpless look on his face then picked the wine bottle on the table, draining off anything left in one gulp. Shortly after, he left some Source Crystals on the table, then his body flickered away. He had left the restaurant and was making his way through the crowd.
Fights between cultivators were a common occurrence and every cultivator’s hands were stained in blood. On this day, Chai Hu or his opponent might get killed in the fight, but that was their business.
Yang Kai didn’t plan to intervene. He just wanted to get back to Heavenly Puppet Workshop, but when he passed by a pill store on the way, he suddenly stopped, then turned around and went inside.
This pill store was one of Violet Source Chamber of Commerce’s industries, as it had its symbol on its signboard.
Yang Kai planned to purchase some herbs. He had a lot of materials in his Space Ring, but he had consumed a lot of pills lately, and he was short of some secondary ingredients to refine replacements. Purchasing what he needed was the simplest method.
The Violet Source Chamber of Commerce’s pill store in Sky Crane City was a lot larger than the one in Maplewood City, and it had a much wider variety of goods than the latter. Yang Kai began purchasing a lot of herbs he needed with the help of the store’s attendant, and this attendant was very delighted by this. He realized that he had run into a pretty wealthy man, so he served him meticulously and respectfully.
After Yang Kai spent an hour there, he finally finished his purchases and he asked the attendant to pack all the goods then went to the counter to settle the bill.
The shopkeeper had also realized that they had run into someone with deep pockets and wore an amiable smile across his face.
But, while they were still counting the price of goods, a shadow fell upon the entrance and someone came inside.
The shopkeeper raised his head to take a look then said in surprise, “Young Lady Luo? We are honoured by your presence, please forgive us for not coming out to greet you.”
Upon hearing this, the expression of Yang Kai’s changed and he realized that ‘Young Lady Luo’ was most likely the daughter of Sky Crane City’s Lord, Luo Jin.
Those two had the same surname and the shopkeeper would likely treat only those from the City Lord’s Mansion so respectfully; after all, the shopkeeper here was a member of Violet Source Chamber of Commerce. With such backing, he didn’t have to treat guests without very special status with such courtesy.
Yang Kai turned his head and gazed at this ‘Young Lady Luo’ curiously. What he saw was a graceful young girl clad in a flashy dress. She had come here with a smile and waved her hand at the shopkeeper in response, “Shopkeeper, just take care of your business. I only came here for a stroll!”
“Young Lady Luo, please help yourself!” The shopkeeper revealed a faint smile.
The young girl walked in, accompanied by a handsome young man with rosy lips, white teeth, and a fan in his hand. This graceful young man was none other than the Sky Illumination Palace’s Qiu Yu.
When Yang Kai’s gaze met Qiu Yu’s, the latter was taken aback a little and he said with a smile, “It’s you?”
Yang Kai covered his face with his hand and turned around, saying, “It’s not me. I think you’ve got the wrong person.”
Qiu Yu was startled and he couldn’t help but wonder what Yang Kai was playing at.
The young girl sized up Yang Kai curiously then gazed at Qiu Yu, asking him, “Brother Yu, do you know this man?”
Qiu Yu smiled, “I know him, but I’m not that close to him.”
“Eh!” The young girl nodded, then patted Yang Kai’s shoulder boldly and said, “Hey, Brother Yu is talking with you, how dare you ignore him?”
Yang Kai moved his shoulder aside and shook off her hand, then looked at her in irritation, “Men and women should avoid any intimate body contact, didn’t your parents teach you this? Why are you patting someone else’s shoulders so casually? What are you up to?”
The young girl’s face got flushed and she said through gnashed teeth, “You dare to rebuke me?”
Qiu Yu said with a smile, “Little Sister Bing, don’t lower yourself to his level, this person has always been so guileful. He was also like this at the city’s gate. He even sneaked into the city under Thousand Leaves Sect’s name, who knows what he’s up to?”
“He is with Thousand Leaves Sect?” Luo Bing’s face fell upon hearing this, as if she had a very bad impression of Thousand Leaves Sect.
“That’s right!” Qiu Yu nodded lightly.
Luo Bing spoke promptly, “Then he surely has some malicious plan. Hey, tell me honestly, what did you sneak into the city for? Are you concocting some devious plot?”
She had unexpectedly started interrogating Yang Kai directly.
Yang Kai looked at the young girl with a helpless look on his face. [This little girl must have been spoiled to the bone and is completely oblivious to the ways of the world.]
Thinking so, Yang Kai suddenly let out a nasty laugh.
Luo Bing spoke out of disgust, “Your laugh is so sickening… Hurry up and blurt it out, what did you come to the city for?”
Yang Kai let out a peal of lecherous laughter and spoke, “What else other than that? I heard that Sky Crane City got so many beauties and I have just come here to enjoy myself, I’m especially interested in young girls with tender skin.”
Saying so, he took a deep sniff of the air with an infatuated look at his face then spoke again, “What a rich fragrance! What taste, so sweet and delicious! Ze ze ze…”
Luo Bing had been so frightened that her face turned deathly pale. She couldn’t help but move back several steps and she couldn’t utter another word.
Qiu Yu furrowed his brows and moved in front of Luo Bing, hiding her behind him, then snorted coldly, “Friend, pay attention to your words. You can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want. Some words may cost you your life.”
Yang Kai chuckled and shrugged his shoulders, “It’s you who forced such a label on me, insinuating that I sneaked into the city with ulterior motives. So, I just played along with you.”
At this moment, Luo Bing had come back to her senses and she jumped from behind Qiu Yu and shouted in a sweet voice, “You dared to scare me? Do you know who I am?”
Yang Kai cast a glance at her then brushed off her threats, “Don’t know, please don’t bother me. You’re a nuisance!”
“He dared to… Shoo me off?” Luo Bing widened up her pretty eyes and she got so angry that her chest heaved up and down. She was the daughter of Sky Crane City’s Lord, she was from a family with great influence, and had a prominent status. She was also a great beauty with many suitors pestering her, Qiu Yu being one of them. Every time Qiu Yu visited Sky Crane City, he would accompany her and would follow her closely like her shadow.
Moreover, Luo Jin spoiled her and satisfied every little request of hers. She had always lived with the world revolving around her, where everyone treated her with the utmost care. She had never been so shunned by a man before.
She felt quite aggrieved and she stamped her foot, “You… You… I’ll teach you a lesson!”
Upon hearing this, Yang Kai’s face fell.
He wasn’t afraid of Sky Crane City, but if he got into a conflict with Luo Bing, then he would implicate the members of the Thousand Leaves Sect and he didn’t hope to see this.
Luo Bing shouted then jumped toward Yang Kai with her head held high, staring at him viciously.
When Yang Kai had just gotten wary, she turned her head around and pointed at the goods on the counter then spoke with the shopkeeper, “Did he buy those goods?”
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper nodded without giving any thought to this, “That’s right.”
“Good!” Luo Bing gnashed her teeth, “Then I want all of them, don’t sell off any of them to him.”
Yang Kai’s expression turned gloomy, while Qiu Yu was taken aback. [Does she plan to teach him a lesson through this? Isn’t this lesson a bit too petty?]
An embarrassed look appeared on the shopkeeper’s face, “Young Lady Luo, those goods have already been picked by this guest, and we have just calculated the cost.”
Luo Bing said, “Then he didn’t pay for them yet, right?”
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, “He hasn’t done so. Yet….”
“Then, that’s fine, I want all of them,” Luo Bing snorted and looked at Yang Kai with a complacent look, as if she was saying, [Do you dare to fight with me?]
Yang Kai was dumbfounded by this, and he only got more certain that this little girl had been spoiled rotten to the bone. Even when she got angry, she didn’t know how to vent her anger.
The shopkeeper took a deep breath, “Young Miss Luo, those goods had been selected by him already, and if he wants to buy them, then I have to sell them off to him. So, I’m afraid that I can’t satisfy your request.”
“What?” Luo Bing pulled a long face and glared at the shopkeeper, “Didn’t you hear what I have just said?”
The shopkeeper explained calmly, “Those are our store’s rules, we hope for your understanding.”
This store wasn’t big, but it was still a branch of Violet Source Chamber of Commerce and it represented its face. So, the shopkeeper wasn’t really afraid of the daughter of Sky Crane City’s Lord, Luo Bing, and he also wouldn’t offend a guest for her and ruin the reputation of Violet Source Chamber of Commerce.
As for the consequences of offending the Young Lady of the City Lord’s Mansion? It would be up to his superiors to handle this. Besides, even if Luo Jin learned of this, he likely wouldn’t make any trouble for the store.
“You…” Luo Bing got so angry that her small face got flushed red.
Upon seeing this, Qiu Yu started to try and appease her, “Little Sister Bing, just forget about it. It’s just a few herbs. If they don’t want to sell them, we can just buy them from another place.”
“That’s out of the question! I have set my mind on this! So, I’ll buy them no matter what!” Luo Bing puffed up her cheeks, then said through gnashed teeth, “Shopkeeper, just tell me how much do those goods cost? I’ll pay double for them.”
The shopkeeper rubbed his forehead and said with a bitter smile, “I still can’t break the store’s rules.”
Yang Kai suddenly smiled, “Shopkeeper, how can you miss free money? Since this little girl wants to pay double the price, then just sell them to her.”
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper cast a grateful glance at Yang Kai and bowed at him, “Dear guest, many thanks for your understanding.”
Luo Bing shouted, “Why are you talking as if he let me have them? I snatched them away, you know?”
“You’re right, you’re right, you have snatched them and I have just conceded in defeat,” Yang Kai nodded repeatedly.
“That’s more like it,” Luo Bing’s expression turned for the better and she raised her head complacently then knocked on the table, saying, “Speak! How much do they cost?”
The shopkeeper quickly calculated the cost and said, “The original price would be 18,604,300 Source Crystals, but we can just round it to 18,600,000. So, Young Lady Luo, you’ll have to pay 37,200,000 Source Crystals.”
*Gudong…*
Luo Bing gulped hard and said with great difficulty, “How… How much again?”
The shopkeeper raised his head and repeated the price with a composed look.
At this moment, even Qiu Yu winded up his eyes and he looked in shock at Yang Kai.
He would have never imagined that the things Yang Kai bought were so expensive. Such an astronomical amount of Source Crystals would shock most Dao Source Realm cultivators. Even Qiu Yu, who was the Young Palace Master of the Sky Illumination Palace, didn’t have such a large number of Source Crystals.
Since Yang Kai was this wealthy, to the point that he would casually carry that amount around, then he surely was no ordinary cultivator.
Luo Bing was completely dumbstruck as she stood there in a daze for a long time.
After a long while, Luo Bing asked bitterly, “Shopkeeper, are you sure you didn’t make some mistake while calculating?”
The shopkeeper replied calmly, “I have been managing this store for thirty years and I have never made such a mistake.”
Yang Kai next to them grinned, “Little girl, what’s wrong? Can you not afford it?”
“Who says I can’t?” Upon hearing this, Luo Bing stomped her foot, as if she was a little rabbit that got its tail stepped on. “I wouldn’t… put such a small amount of Source Crystals in… my eyes. The allowance given to me by my father is a lot more than this…”
“Great!” Yang Kai nodded and cupped his fists at her, saying, “The Young Lady is so rich and imposing, I can’t help but admire you.”
Luo Bing said in a low voice, “But I left home in a hurry today and didn’t bring that much with me.”
Yang Kai smiled and cast a sidelong glance at her then spoke, “Young Lady Luo, are you planning to purchase on credit?”
“Who said anything about purchasing on credit?” Luo Bing’s face got flushed. She really planned to do this just now, but having been mocked by Yang Kai, she no longer felt she had the face to do so. With no other choice, she turned expectantly to Qiu Yu, “Brother Qiu…”
Qiu Yu stroked his Space Ring subconsciously and twitched his lips as he spoke, “Little Sister Bing, I only have a million in hand…”
Upon hearing this, Luo Bing stomped her foot, “Why didn’t you bring more Source Crystals with you?”
A dumbfounded look appeared on Qiu Yu’s face as he couldn’t help but wonder, [A million is more than enough, and I have saved up for so long to accumulate this much. Where can I get more of it? Even if I had more, I wouldn’t take it out now….]
She was trying to buy herbs at double their price in a fit of anger, yet she wanted to use his Source Crystals. Luo Bing’s family would surely not return such a sum to him.
Upon thinking of this, Qiu Yu glared resentfully at Yang Kai. If this man hadn’t caused so much mischief, he wouldn’t have found himself in such an awkward position.
As for Yang Kai, he just turned a blind eye to his glare and laughed loudly, “Young Lady Luo, it seems you didn’t bring enough with you. Then, I can only take these herbs for myself.”
“Stop!” Luo Bing shouted and jumped between him and the counter, using her body as a shield like she was protecting some precious treasure, shouting desperately at Yang Kai, “Just wait for a little while, I’ll go back and ask for the Source Crystals from my father.”
“Would the City Lord give such a sum to you?” Yang Kai curled his lips.
As long as Luo Jin didn’t lose his mind, he wouldn’t give Luo Bing such a large sum for her petty quarrel. At most, he would send some people after Yang Kai to teach him a lesson.
Qiu Yu couldn’t just continue to observe in silence. He stretched out his hand to pull Luo Bing and warned, “Little Sister Bing, don’t make a scene, the City Lord is completely focused on preparing for the wedding ceremony tomorrow, and he probably doesn’t have time to meet with you.”
“I’m not making a scene, I just want to make a purchase,” Luo Bing said obstinately.
Yang Kai shook his head and took the medicinal ingredients then put them in his Space Ring. Shortly after, he paid the shopkeeper enough Source Crystals and turned around to leave.
He didn’t bother with quarrelling with the two!
“Stop!” Luo Bing ordered, but her shout was futile. Upon seeing that Yang Kai would shortly leave, she quickly pulled at Qiu Yu and entreated him, “Brother Yu, please block him for me, I have to buy those medicinal ingredients today.”
“Just forget about it!” An irritated look flashed past Qiu Yu’s eyes. He had already accompanied this insensible little girl for so long and he couldn’t stand her temper tantrum any longer; however, Sky Crane City was a fairly powerful force and Sky Illumination Palace wanted to have a better relationship with them, so every time he visited Sky Crane City, he needed to keep Luo Bing company. “If the City Lord learned of this, it won’t be a good end for you.”
“What? What did I do wrong? I can take and do whatever I want in Sky Crane City, and if anything goes wrong, I’ll take responsibility,” Luo Bing said bossily. “What’s more, isn’t he with Thousand Leaves Sect? We can take this opportunity to ask him the reason why he sneaked into the city, and what he is plotting.”
“Haa!” Qiu Yu let out a helpless sigh. She kept pestering him as before, and he could only brace himself and agree. In any case, he also wanted to know how Yang Kai was related to Thousand Leaves Sect. After all, he knew that the Thousand Leaves Sect didn’t have any disciples or Elders called ‘Yang Kai’.
However, Ye Jing Han had claimed that he was part of the Sect, so he couldn’t help but get a little wary and eventually nodded, “Good, but if the City Lord asks about this…”
“I won’t mention your name. Brother Yu, you’re the best!” Luo Bing revealed a delighted look.
Qiu Yu’s expression turned grave and he shouted, “Elders, I’ll have to trouble you with this.”
He seemed to be talking to the air, those who saw this would question who he was talking to…
Luo Bing stood there with a smile and observed Yang Kai’s back in anticipation, and she started daydreaming about taking him down and interrogating him until he would kneel and beg for forgiveness. Finally, she would get him to hand over the herbs to her. But, as she continued observing, her smile quickly disappeared. Yang Kai had just walked out of the door leisurely then turned around and disappeared into the crowd.
“He… He ran away!” Luo Bing shook Qiu Yu’s arm and reminded him.
A startled look appeared on Qiu Yu’s face and he shouted to the void, “Elders, what’s wrong?”
When his voice just fell, two silhouettes flickered and appeared in front of them. The two Third-Order Dao Source Realm Masters, who had been at the city gate with him appeared, but they were now drenched in a cold sweat with faces as pale as paper, as if they just experienced some terrible fright.
“Why didn’t you make a move?” Anger was apparent on Qiu Yu’s face. He felt like he had just embarrassed himself in front of Luo Bing and was in an awful mood.
The two old men exchanged a glance then one of them spoke, “Young Master, you must know, we didn’t wish to disobey your orders, we simply couldn’t make a move.”
“What’s wrong?” Qiu Yu’s face fell.
The old man continued, “I also can’t say why, when we were about to act against that boy, we suddenly felt an ominous premonition, as though the shadow of death was looming over us… It was as if… As if….”
Saying so, clear fear appeared on his face.
The other old man added, “If we had really made a move, we would now be corpses.”
“Are you cracking a joke with me?” Qiu Yu’s jaw dropped as he glared at the two old men in disbelief.
The old man who had spoken first responded, “Young Master, we have followed you for so many years and we have never disobeyed your orders, but this time… Things are just not as they seem!”
“That’s right, please forgive us,” the other old man pleaded.
Qiu Yu observed them for long then said bitterly, “What you are implying is that he’s hiding his true strength, and he’s likely an… Emperor Realm Master?”
Upon saying so, Qiu Yu couldn’t help but gulp hard as cold sweat dripped down his back, his face turning deathly pale.
The two old men were both Third-Order Dao Source Realm Masters, and even though they had already grown old, their power had only grown more refined and vigorous with time. No one other than an Emperor Realm Master could instantly take them down and deter them from making a move.
Upon thinking he may have just provoked an Emperor Realm Master, Qiu Yu suddenly felt feeble and his legs started shivering, making it impossible for him to stand straight.
“No, no, no…” The old man that spoke a while ago shook his head and said. “He is fairly young so he is unlikely to be an Emperor Realm Master. What’s more, we have observed him with our Divine Senses carefully, and he’s really just in the Second-Order Dao Source Realm.”
“Then there is an Emperor Realm Master in the dark protecting him?” Qiu Yu was surprised again.
“It isn’t the case, that feeling we felt… It didn’t seem like it was from an Emperor Realm Master…” The other old man shook his head.
Qiu Yu knitted his brow, “Then aren’t your senses betraying you?”
The old man who spoke first asked, “Young Master, don’t you believe us?”
“I didn’t say so,” Upon hearing this, Qiu Yu quickly waved his hand in denial. “It’s just… This matter must have a reasonable explanation, is it because that young man could easily defeat you?”
The old man sneered, “He’s one hundred years too young to defeat us with his current cultivation.”
Luo Bing, who had been listening to this for such a long time, was confused. so, she butted in, “What are you talking about? That man has already left. You two old men are so useless, Brother Yu has taken care of you in vain.”
Qiu Yu’s expression turned cold and he glared at Luo Bing, “Shut up!”
Luo Bing was startled by this. Qiu Yu had never treated her like this since she became acquainted with him and she had never seen him so angry. In addition, she had just been thwarted a while ago; therefore, she couldn’t take it any longer and shouted hysterically, “Did you just scold me? You dare to scold me!?”
Qiu Yu snorted coldly, “These two are as close to me as my own Grandparents! You don’t have the right to insult them!”
Luo Bing’s eyes got flushed and she broke into tears. She gnashed her teeth and glared at Qiu Yu resentfully then pounced at him, raining kicks and punches on him as she shouted, “I hate you, I hate you, you’re the worst. I hate you so much!”
After she beat him for a while, she turned around and ran outside of the store and quickly disappeared among the crowd.
“Young Master, go after her!” Upon seeing this, the expression of one of the old men changed and he advised.
Qiu Yu snorted coldly, “That little girl has been spoiled to the core, just let her be. Hopefully, she will reflect on her actions after this.”
“But, if Lady Bing suffers any mishap, then…” The old man spoke with a worried look.
Qiu Yu didn’t take this seriously and he just explained, “She’s the daughter of the City Lord, so who would dare to harm her in Sky Crane City? She probably ran back to the City Lord’s Mansion. I know her temperament, you don’t have to worry over this.”
Upon hearing this, the two old men quieted down and didn’t say more.
“About that young man… We should pay more attention to him,” Qiu Yu said with a grave look on his face, “He probably has some great secrets, and I’m also pretty curious about his origins.”
“Young Master, you can rest assured, I will go to investigate this right away,” After one of the old men cupped his fist and spoke, his body flickered and disappeared.
…..
In one of Sky Crane City’s streets, a heartbroken young girl was rushing ahead through the crowd in tears, knocking into some people along the way. Her careless actions caused many to shout and curse at her.
Luo Bing was deeply hurt. She didn’t just get mocked by someone, she had also been shamed in that store. Worse, now even Qiu Yu, who she saw as her closest friend, had publicly scolded her.
She had never suffered so much in her life and she felt immensely aggrieved. The young girl’s tears flowed without stop and her eyes quickly got flushed and swollen.
As she ran away in tears, she still didn’t forget to frequently look back, as if she was expecting someone, but she didn’t see him chasing after her. Upon realizing this, she felt even more hurt and felt like she was the most miserable and pitiful person in Sky Crane City.
As she mulled this over repeatedly and eventually realized that the chief culprit was that wicked young man. If he had just given up the herbs to her, then she wouldn’t have found herself in such an awkward position and she also wouldn’t get scolded by Qiu Yu.
Upon realizing this, she cursed Yang Kai viciously in her mind and vowed to teach him a memorable lesson.
Luo Bing had been running in tears for a long time, and when she finally came back to her senses, she discovered in shock that she had gotten lost.
She was the daughter of Sky Crane City’s Lord and she had lived her whole life here; however, she was always accompanied by guards when she went out into the city, so she never paid any attention to her surroundings, only caring about her own amusement. After she was done with what she wanted to do, she would be escorted home.
Moreover, all regions she visited were the most prosperous areas of Sky Crane City!
But, at this moment, she ended up in a deserted region with narrow roads and filthy air. A sickening odour pervaded this place and many broken stalls and run-down shops surrounded her.
There was also a wretched beggar covered in filth trying to pick the lice off of himself, tossing each one he caught into his mouth, chewing them in delight…
Luo Bing quickly looked away and she felt like she would soon throw up. She couldn’t help but question whether this was still the prosperous Sky Crane City? Did she run so far away and end up in another unknown city?
Upon thinking of this, Luo Bing was terrified.
If it was so, then she wouldn’t be able to find her way back home. She had just calmed down, yet she quickly succumbed to despair again and started crying.
At this moment, she sighted upon two men walking in front of her and she quickly ran toward them in tears, as if they were the last straw she could clutch onto. She shouted in a desperate voice, “Sirs, please wait!”
Upon hearing this, the two men halted and turned their heads to take a look at Luo Bing.
Upon seeing her, their eyes lit up.
Luo Bing was quite pretty and had an alluring figure. She had always lived like a princess so she had a naturally authoritative air, and even though her face was tear-stained, this only added a kind of special charm to her.
It was no wonder that the two men couldn’t take their eyes off her and they had even started drooling. Usually, any woman with decent looks wouldn’t step into this region of Sky Crane City, yet a great beauty had arrived on this day. So, how could they resist the temptation?
Upon checking the young girl with their Divine Senses, the two men discovered that she was just a Third-Order Origin Returning Realm cultivator. They then exchanged a glance and could clearly see the eagerness apparent in each other’s eyes.
One of the two men, a slightly fat cultivator, revealed a friendly-looking smile and asked in a soft voice, “Little girl, what’s wrong? Did you… Get lost? Hehehe…”
Upon hearing this, Luo Bing’s pretty eyes lit up and she looked in surprise at the fat cultivator, then spoke, “How did you know? I have gotten lost and don’t know how to get back home.”
“Huh?” The fat cultivator was taken aback. He had just blurted out whatever came into his mind, yet it actually hit the nail on the head. Besides, the young girl looked so delighted and innocent that it was obvious she wasn’t putting on an act.
He quickly understood that the young girl in front of him was the kind of sheltered flower that rarely left her home and she didn’t know the ways of the world. He just let out a cough and put on a compassionate look, “Young Lady, don’t be afraid, no one will hurt you with us here.”
Luo Bing wiped her tears, then broke into a smile, as if she had just been relieved from a heavy burden, “That’s great, I knew there was still hope.”
As she smiled, she looked like a beautiful blossoming flower, and the two cultivators couldn’t avert their eyes from her, gulping as their bodies started heating up.
“You two, hurry up and send me home. Once I get back home, I’ll reward you generously,” Luo Bing quickly recovered her bossy attitude and she started yelling at the two cultivators.
The two men exchanged a glance, and the thinner one said with a smile, “Understood, we’ll send you back home. Young Lady, please follow us.”
Luo Bing nodded and waved her hand, “Lead the way!”
She didn’t even bother asking them whether they knew her or the location of her home and she just followed after them.
Those two men also didn’t plan to engage in any conversion with her, and they just walked forward in silence.
Luo Bing’s mood quickly turned for the better, and she forgot all the mishaps she had just suffered. She had even started humming a tune like a happy little bird.
After the time it would take to brew a cup of tea, Luo Bing suddenly realized that something was off and she stopped in her tracks. When she turned her head and looked around, she noticed that this area was even more deserted and she couldn’t see a single soul here. The houses here were all in ruins with many broken walls left behind, as if it was a ghost town. She was a little intimidated by this and she spoke in a shivering voice, “What… What is this place? Didn’t I ask you to bring me back home… Why did you bring me here?”
Upon hearing this, the two cultivators in front of her stopped and turned their heads around to gaze at her, letting out sinister laughter.
Even if Luo Bing wasn’t the brightest, she still realized by now that something was amiss. She quickly realized that these two men were anything but good-hearted and that they never planned to bring her home.
“You… What do you want to do?” Luo Bing’s face turned pale from fright and she started moving back, stumbling on something and losing her balance, falling on her butt.
Fright and pain overwhelmed her fragile heart and she started weeping on the spot.
“Heh heh heh…” The fat cultivator sneered and approached Luo Bing step by step, his looming figure putting a lot of pressure on Luo Bing’s fragile nerves, causing her heart to start beating loudly, like it was trying to leap out of her chest.
“I… I’m warning you… don’t… don’t you dare come closer, or else… or else, you’ll pay for it!” Luo Bing bit her rosy lips and assembled the best words she could to threaten them.
But, matters had already developed up to here, so how could those two people just give up?
The thin cultivator said with a smile, “Little girl, you’re pretty interesting, do your parents know how naive you are?”
The fat cultivator let out lecherous laughter, “Scream all you want, even if you shout yourself hoarse, no one will come for you.”
Saying so, the fat cultivator jumped at Luo Bing and stretched his hand toward her fair neck.
Luo Bing cried out in fright and pushed her palms forward, summoning up her Saint Qi. She had unexpectedly launched a strike with pretty considerable might.
But in the end, she was just a Third-Order Origin Returning Realm cultivator, and she had never been fond of cultivating. She had only gotten to her current realm thanks to a large supply of precious treasures, causing her Saint Qi to be impure and her techniques to be quite sloppy.
As for the fat and thin cultivators, they were both Origin Kings, so facing this messy strike, the fat cultivator simply waved his hand to casually disperse it before he swiftly slapped Luo Bing’s shoulder.
Luo Bing fell weakly to the ground and she couldn’t summon up even a little bit of strength. Her cultivation had been sealed and she could only look on helplessly as the fat cultivator pulled off her belt and started removing her clothes.
“Don’t… Please don’t…” Luo Bing started entreating him in sobs.
The fat cultivator’s most vile desires were only stimulated by Luo Bing’s cries though. He couldn’t help letting out a hot snort from his nose as he gulped hard, his eyes flashing as he muttered, “Her voice is so alluring! The Heavens have not forsaken us, sending us such a beauty!”
The body of the thin cultivator had also started heating up and he jumped toward Luo Bing then pinched her face repeatedly, saying, “Her skin is so soft, I wonder which family this little girl is from? Hehe, we struck it lucky this time!”
Upon hearing this, Luo Bing suddenly found newfound strength and shouted, “I’m the daughter of the City Lord! Hurry up and let go of me! If my father learns of this, you’ll both die miserably!”
After she said so, the body of the fat and thin cultivators stiffened and their faces turned deathly pale.
Cold sweat started dripping down the fat cultivator’s forehead and it wouldn’t stop no matter how much he wiped it off. He muttered in a bitter voice, “No… It can’t be… The City Lord’s daughter?”
Fright was also apparent on the thin cultivator’s face as he stared at Luo Bing and stuttered, “What… What’s your name?”
Luo Bing looked at them coldly and spoke through gnashed teeth, “Luo Bing!”
Upon hearing this, a chill ran down the two cultivators’ spines and they couldn’t help trembling. The fat cultivator started sizing up Luo Bing earnestly before he spoke haltingly, “She… She really does look like the Young Lady of the City Lord’s Mansion, I have seen her once from afar…”
“We’re done for… done for…” The thin cultivator couldn’t take this heavy blow and he started muttering to himself. He had even fallen on his butt with a dispirited look on his face.
The body of the fat cultivator shivered intensely and he quickly pulled back his hands, which were trying to take off Luo Bing’s clothes, then gazed at Luo Bing, and tried to squeeze out a fawning smile, yet couldn’t do so, his expression even more unsightly than a crying face.
After they learned that she was the daughter of the City Lord, they were both scared witless.
They assumed that Luo Bing was just an ordinary girl that got lost and never dreamed she had such a huge background. If they had known earlier, then they wouldn’t have dared to do this.
Upon seeing this, Luo Bing’s eyes lit up and she shouted, “You’re afraid now? If you don’t want to die, then send me back to the City Lord’s Mansion!”
The fat cultivator quickly crawled toward Luo Bing and kowtowed to her so heavily that his head quickly got drenched in blood. “Young Lady Luo, we must have been blind to affront you, please don’t take it to heart and forgive us!”
At this moment, the thin cultivator had also come back to his senses and he crawled in front of her and started kowtowing to her, without forgetting to beg for mercy.
Luo Bing looked in disgust at them then snorted coldly and said, “Send me back to the City Lord’s Mansion and I’ll spare your lives.”
“Are you serious?” Upon hearing this, the fat cultivator rejoiced and he raised his head to look at Luo Bing with relief and delight on his face.
Luo Bing nodded and declared, “I can spare your lives, but you must still be punished for your actions! I also want to punish you properly…” Saying so, she tilted her head sideways and mulled this over for a moment then said, “I’ll ask my father to lock you up for eight or nine years.”
The expression of the fat and thin cultivators turned spectacular and they looked at Luo Bing with odd expressions on their faces.
“What are you looking at? Keep your eyes to yourselves or I’ll gouge them out,” Luo Bing glared viciously at them, as if everything was under her control.
“Big Brother…” The thin cultivator turned to the fat cultivator and said in a low voice, “This girl… Is she messed up in the head?”
If she wasn’t crazy, she would have known not to start threatening them before she got away from them. Any person with a little bit of common sense wouldn’t do this.
The fat cultivator nodded earnestly, “I also think so… The City Lord is so pitiful… He is a great man with an illustrious name, yet he has such a daughter…”
“Then what should we do?”
A vicious glint flashed past the fat cultivator’s eyes and he said in a low voice, “What else can we do? We’ve already come this far, so we can only follow through to the end…” Saying so, a murderous look appeared on his face.
Upon hearing this, the fat cultivator gave it some thought then nodded, “Good… this is the only way…”
The two men’s voices were pretty low, but Luo Bing could still hear them clearly. She assumed that she would shortly get away from them, yet matters didn’t develop as she had expected. Besides, from what they said so far, they didn’t just plan to violate her anymore, they also planned to take her life. She got scared by this and her face turned deathly pale, calling out in a fluster, “What are you planning to do? Don’t do this. If you send me back to the City Lord’s Mansion, I won’t punish you, okay?”
“Too late!” The fat cultivator sneered coldly in response. He had already made up his mind and was no longer afraid. The City Lord was not a person to be trifled with, but they were now in a deserted region, so as long as they cleaned up the scene, any sins they committed could not be traced back to them.
He quickly crawled toward Luo Bing and knelt in front of her. He could clearly smell her sweet maiden fragrance and his body started heating up once more. He spoke in an indistinct voice and leaned closer to her, going after her lips with his large mouth, “She’s so beautiful, if I can have her even once, then I won’t regret dying right after it.”
“No… No!” Luo Bing shook her head repeatedly, as she wanted to avoid his sickening face, but with her cultivation having been sealed and her movements restricted, she could only look on helplessly as his large mouth approached hers.
She could already smell its nasty odour.
Luo Bing’s mind turned blank at that moment. At this precarious juncture, it wasn’t the image of her compassionate father that ran across her mind, nor Qiu Yu who obeyed her every whim, but rather the hateful silhouette of Yang Kai.
[If I wasn’t for him, if it wasn’t for him… Then I wouldn’t have suffered like this…]