On the White Cloud flying ship:
After flying for close to a month, the flying ship finally reached the border of Ying Province, the periphery of the battlefield.
“Hall Master, we should be arriving at the battlefield soon, right? I heard that Huangfu Chaoge moved the capital to the border for the sake of the battle? Then, he clashed with Duke Lu Yang’s armies at the border,” Mu Chenfeng said as he looked into the distance.
“Over there! I hear it. There’s a ferocious battle in that direction!” said Ensnaring Performance, who stood at the side.
“Oh? That way!” Long Wanqing instructed the people controlling the flying ship.
Nearby, Gu Hai sat on the deck at a desk piled with reports.
He put down the book in his hand.
“Gu Hai, you are really capable. To think that you managed to finish reading through so much information.” Mu Chenfeng looked at Gu Hai with a vacant expression.
Gu Hai smiled bitterly and said, “These contain all the information on the Divine Foundation Royal Dynasty that we found over the past few days. I have no choice but to read all of them. I need to understand the Divine Foundation Royal Dynasty a little, at least. However, ninety-nine percent of this information is useless.”
Venerable Liu Nian smiled and said, “Mister Gu’s success does not come from just wisdom but also effort.”
“Did you find anything?” Long Wanqing asked out of curiosity.
Gu Hai nodded and said, “According to this information, the Divine Foundation Royal Dynasty had friendly relations with the Qian Heavenly Dynasty. Even the Divine Foundation Royal Dynasty’s citizens thought very highly of the Qian Heavenly Dynasty.”
“Oh?” Venerable Liu Nian appeared startled.
“The citizens all thought highly of the Qian Heavenly Dynasty? How can that be? Normally, the sovereign of a nation would encourage their citizens to reject other nations and let their nation maintain independence, right?” Long Wanqing asked curiously.
“This Huangfu Chaoge did not do that. He was indeed close to the Qian Heavenly Dynasty. Furthermore, this Huangfu Chaoge does not seem like a sovereign at all.” Gu Hai frowned.
“Oh? What do you mean?!” Long Wanqing asked.
“This Huangfu Chaoge is a person who acts on his emotions. He would eat with his citizens and have a good time with them. He would frequently travel among the people incognito, even partying with the citizens, hunting with them. He never invaded another nation and would frequently hold competitions and events for everyone’s pleasure,” Gu Hai explained.
“Huh? That isn’t what a sovereign should do, right?” Long Wanqing frowned.
“Indeed. The citizens adore such a sovereign like him. When invaders come, the citizens would not even have to be drafted into the army. Instead, they would volunteer to defend the Divine Foundation Royal Dynasty. While the citizens thought highly of the Qian Heavenly Dynasty’s prosperity, no one would betray the nation, as they have an extremely affable emperor,” Gu Hai explained.
“Huh?” Everyone felt slightly puzzled.
“Furthermore, Huangfu Chaoge is still single.” Gu Hai smiled bitterly.
“He is still single? That is impossible, right? He is an emperor!” Mu Chenfeng exclaimed.
“However, facts are as such. He did not hide it from his citizens. He said that he loved a certain woman, and he started the Divine Foundation Royal Dynasty not to fight for the world but to prove himself to the woman he loved, so that he would be worthy of her.” Gu Hai smiled bitterly.
“Indeed, he is a person of passion.” Long Wanqing nodded, feeling dazed.
“Haha! Even I did not know such a secret. You actually managed to figure that out from the information?” Venerable Liu Nian smiled bitterly.
“Have you met Huangfu Chaoge?” Gu Hai looked at Venerable Liu Nian.
Venerable Liu Nian nodded and said, “Perhaps the woman that Huangfu Chaoge wants to pursue is Long Xiaoyue.”
“Ah?” Long Wanqing exclaimed.
“Actually, I am also quite curious. What kind of magnificent woman was your mother? So many people cared for her so deeply. Even Venerable Liu Nian swore off love for her,” Gu Hai asked curiously.
Venerable Liu Nian showed a faint bitter smile, but he just shook his head without explaining.
At the side, Mu Chenfeng shook his head and said, “You don’t understand. Although the previous hall master was not exactly the most beautiful woman, she had a charm that attracted us all. She was always lively and made everyone’s heart pound. How unfortunate! Hah!”
“Venerable, do you know who my father is?” Long Wanqing suddenly looked at Venerable Liu Nian with a frown.
This question slightly startled Venerable Liu Nian, who fell silent.
“Venerable, you previously refused to say. Do you know?” Long Wanqing asked with anticipation.
“Indeed. Venerable Liu Nian, who is that man? He is really a scoundrel. To think that there has not been a single word from him even though the previous hall master has already been dead for twenty years. We know that the previous master always had someone in her heart. However, who is that person? The previous hall master gave birth to two daughters for him, but where is he? Where is he hiding? It has been twenty years; the previous hall master died twenty years ago, but he never showed up,” Mu Chenfeng said with a frown.
Venerable Liu Nian remained silent for a while before eventually forcing a smile. “I promised Long Xiaoyue not to mention him. Sorry. I cannot say.”
“But I just want to know who he is!” Long Wanqing said anxiously.
“Hall Master, sorry. Perhaps the truth will come to light someday. However, I promised Long Xiaoyue. I can break a promise to anything—but absolutely not to her. I promised her I would take care of you, so I have been following you around all these years.” Venerable Liu Nian stubbornly shook his head.
Long Wanqing appeared bitter.
“Roar!”
“Hah!”
Suddenly, a thunderous roar rang out, and the flying ship came to a sudden halt, sending everyone staggering.
A gigantic black dragon appeared in front of the flying ship. This black dragon was blinded in one eye and had an asterisk mark on its forehead; it was a sin dragon.
“Who is it? Return!” the one-eyed black dragon shouted coldly.
As the black dragon shouted coldly, it released a strong aura, causing everyone’s expression to change.
“Liao Ya?” Venerable Liu Nian’s expression changed as he waved his hand.
Buzz!
Eighteen Buddhist prayer beads suddenly flew out and revolved around the flying ship, blocking the vast aura of this sin dragon.
“Oh? It’s Venerable Liu Nian?” the one-eyed black dragon said coldly.
“Liao Ya? Sin dragon Gui Mian’s uncle?” Mu Chenfeng’s expression changed as he glanced at Gu Hai.
“Gui Mian’s uncle?” This startled Gu Hai.
Gui Mian? Wasn’t that the largest sin dragon that I killed in Silver Moon City not long ago? This is its uncle?
“The Elite Hall Master? Long Wanqing?” Liao Ya coldly eyed the group.
“Why are you blocking our path?” Long Wanqing glared.
“This is the battlefield, a strategic military location. No one is to intrude. If you take another step forward, don’t blame me for being rude! Roar!” Liao Ya said coldly.
Liao Ya roared, and the weather suddenly changed. Surging clouds covered the sky as the sin dragon showed an intense murderous intent.
“Roar! Roar! Roar!”
Dragon roars came from the distance. Clearly, it was not just Liao Ya. Many sin dragons were sealing off this area.
They would definitely attack in a group if there were any intruders.
“Let’s go!” Long Wanqing said that while glowering.
Whoosh!
The flying ship went around Liao Ya before moving back.
Liao Ya coldly watched the flying ship leave before descending onto a large mountain and continuing to stand sentry against intruders.
“Ensnaring Performance, your ears are sharp. Is there any route we can take to avoid these sin dragons?” Long Wanqing looked at Ensnaring Performance.
Suddenly, Ensnaring Performance’s eyes lit up. “There is. However…”
“However, what?” Long Wanqing asked, puzzled.
“All you have to do is to listen to me sing a song. Hey! I can even lead the way first. I’ll sing as we fly. After the song is over, just applaud me,” Ensnaring Performance said excitedly.
“Alright!” Long Wanqing agreed without a thought.
“Don’t!” Gu Hai immediately cried out.
However, Gu Hai was too late. Long Wanqing already agreed.
“Huh? Why?” Long Wanqing looked at Gu Hai in confusion.
Gu Hai’s expression turned stiff as he looked at Ensnaring Performance.
“Master! Master! It was the hall master who agreed. Don’t stop me. The hall master has to honor her word. You won’t make her go back on her word, right? Furthermore, it is just one song. It will be over soon. My singing is very nice. Just because you don’t like it does not mean that others don’t. Everyone appreciates different things!” Ensnaring Performance exclaimed.
“Gu Hai, what’s wrong?” Long Wanqing asked again.
“Sob! Sob! Sob! Master won’t let me sing,” Ensnaring Performance promptly said, feeling aggrieved.
“Go on, then. Sing!” Gu Hai said with an expression of disdain.
“This is great!” Ensnaring Performance immediately smiled.
Just as everyone showed dubious expressions, Ensnaring Performance pointed to a direction for the person controlling the flying ship.
“Everyone, listen well. Next up, the song god Ensnaring Performance will sincerely offer you a song called Little Radish,” Ensnaring Performance said excitedly.
“Little Radish?” Long Wanqing and the others appeared confused.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
Ensnaring Performance waved his hand, and zither music rang out from nowhere.
The zither music sounded very elegant. When Long Wanqing and Venerable Liu Nian heard it, they nodded. He lives up to the reputation of being a heaven-grade zither. This music is very pleasing, deeply penetrating our hearts. Everyone slowly felt intoxicated. Only Gu Hai covered his face, not daring to look.
Just at this moment, Ensnaring Performance’s voice rang out.
“I am a little radish. Hey! Hey! Big and tall. Hey! Hey! Everyone wants to kiss me! Hey! Hey…”
The moment Ensnaring Performance opened his mouth, the flying ship shook.
Nearly everyone felt their entire body shiver, feeling like a sword pierced their heart. Lightning flashed across their vision and struck their mind.
With every word that Ensnaring Performance sang, everyone felt more goosebumps on their body.
Ensnaring Performance did not sing well. Rather, he sang horrendously.
Not only did the lyrics inspire extreme shock, but Ensnaring Performance could not even sing in tune. The moment the voice came from Ensnaring Performance’s mouth, it nearly half-killed everyone.
Everyone who was intoxicated in the zither music earlier instantly startled awake from the stark contrast. All of them looked at Ensnaring Performance with expressions that looked like they were dying.
“I am a little radish. Hey! Hey! Big and tall. Hey! Hey! Everyone wants to kiss me! Hey! Hey…”
Everyone looked like they were dying. However, the more Ensnaring Performance sang, the more engrossed he got. He fluttered his eyelids and held his left hand to his chest while spreading his right arm out. He could no longer extricate himself from his intoxication.
He is a heaven-grade zither? Everyone looked at Ensnaring Performance in fear.
This was not just a problem of harshness to their ears. Instead, this song felt completely repulsive.
Everyone used their energy to block their ears. However, there was no blocking this demonic music. It went straight to their mind. Even if they blocked their ears, they still could hear.
It was too repulsive!
However, Long Wanqing had promised Ensnaring Performance to listen to the end and applaud. Her expression turned stiff as she continuously moved back. Her mind felt dizzy and heavy.
Venerable Liu Nian pressed his palms together. Cold sweat continuously appeared on his bald head as he endlessly chanted, “May the Lord Buddha have mercy!” while mentally reciting the scriptures.
Mu Chenfeng used all the energy in his body to block out his hearing. However, he could not stop the music at all. Ensnaring Performance’s voice seemed very piercing. No matter how much energy went to blocking his ears, that voice would still penetrate.
Phish!
Blood shot out of Mu Chenfeng’s ears. He had used too much energy and injured them.
The other Wood Division disciples had run in horror to the other side of the ship long ago. All of them looked terrified beyond compare.
The flying ship wobbled at this moment. The people controlling the flying ship also seemed to be on the verge of death. The flying ship threatened to fall out of the sky at any moment.
“I am a little radish. Hey! Hey! Big and tall. Hey! Hey! Everyone wants to kiss me! Hey! Hey…”
Ensnaring Performance continued batting his small eyes, holding his two hands to his chest, engrossed in his singing.
Bang!
Gu Hai kicked Ensnaring Performance to the deck, and the singing stopped.
The world finally turned clear again.
The engrossed Ensnaring Performance appeared confused at suddenly falling over.
“Good kick!” The Elite Hall disciples in the distance looked at Gu Hai in gratitude.
“Master, why did you interrupt me again?” Ensnaring Performance looked at Gu Hai innocently.
“Just look! See what your singing did. Mu Chenfeng is already bleeding from all his facial orifices,” Gu Hai said with a dark expression.
Venerable Liu Nian held his palms together as he muttered, “Ah, a mental demon…a mental demon…what a sin…what a sin…may the Lord Buddha have mercy!”
