Turning his gaze around, Zhang Ruochen looked at the approaching three Tu brothers. The reason he had used Yanshen’s leg earlier was to achieve such an effect; it was to defeat them cleanly with absolute power in order for them to willingly admit defeat.
Of course, he was not arrogant because of this. Instead, he said with a smile, “You three do not need to show me so much reservation. I do not know much about the camp, so I will need to rely on the three of you.”
“Commander, you are too kind. The three of us were too full of ourselves, and we made a fool of ourselves before you,” Tu Tian said in embarrassment.
They were full of confidence, so sure that they could easily crush Zhang Ruochen and take his command as a matter of course. They never thought that the results would end up like this instead.
Ever since they started their cultivation, they had never lost so thoroughly before, more so to a person who is two realms beneath them.
However, they did not feel bitter about the lost. On the contrary, they were extremely impressed with Zhang Ruochen. After all, Zhang Ruochen had not used any dirty tricks, and had beaten them fair and square.
A true powerhouse deserved their admiration and respect.
Zhang Ruochen said. “It’s a very common thing to learn from one another. For the three of you to be willing to fight with me, it is also a recognition of my strength. The three of you do not need to feel bad about it.”
“Commander, your generosity shames us. The three of us want host a welcoming banquet for you, we hope that you would not decline.” Tu Tian looked directly at Zhang Ruochen, his gaze was very sincere.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said. “Since the three of you have such good intentions, I of course cannot refuse it.”
He only wanted to take control of the scene, but there was no need for him to offend the three Tu brothers. Having too many enemies was not a good thing after all.
Immediately, the formation array in the arena was dispelled as the thre Tu brothers walked out of the arena escorting Zhang Ruochen.
Before long, many good food and wines were served inside the camp, all of the Nine-Step Saint Kings were all gathered inside the camp.
Since it was a banquet to welcome Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin, the more the merrier.
At the banquet, headed by the three Tu brothers, a group of elites came to toast Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin.
Xiang Chunan was originally despised the three Tu brothers, but after three rounds of drinking, he and the three Tu brothers called each other brothers, that sort of friendliness felt like they had known each other for a long time.
By the time the banquet was over, it was already dark.
Zhang Ruochen walked out of the camp alone and found a place to sit down at random. He looked up to the moon as many emotions inevitably welled in his heart.
Tonight was New Year’s eve, snow was falling from the sky and it was beautiful.
For ordinary persons, today should be the day families gathering together for a reunion dinner as they talked about their daily lives.
The image of Concubine Lin appeared in his mind, he had went to the Celestial Court to try to make himself stronger for the past years, and he had not been together with Concubine Lin for many years now.
Now that he had returned to Kunlun Realm, he still could not spend the New Year’s eve with Concubine Lin.
However, with Mu Lingxi by Concubine Lin’s side, he supposed that she would be very happy?
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen thought of Chi Kunlun and Chi Kongyue. After their farewells at the Celestial Domain of Truth, he had never seen time again, and did not know how they were doing now.
Whether as a son or as a father, he felt that he had been horrible at both, and had not fulfilled his responsibilities.
But he had no choice. Too many burdens had been placed upon his shoulders. If he had a choice, why would he not want to reunite with his parents, wife and children to enjoy life.
Gradually, the image of Mu Lingxi became clearer in Zhang Ruochen’s mind.
Thining of Mu Lingxi, a happy smile unconsciously appeared on Zhang Ruochen’s face. For so many years, no matter what situation he was in, Mu Lingxi had always been by his side. This could be said to be God’s greatest favor for him.
He then wrote a communication talisman and sent it to Mu Lingxi.
There was nothing important on it, only expressions of his longing for Mu Lingxi. After all, they had been separated for a very long time now.
Not long after, a communication light talisman flew over from the horizon and was caught by Zhang Ruochen.
The communication light talisman was naturally from Mu Lingxi. There were not many words on it, but also expressed her deep longings.
Just as an arc was about to form on Zhang Ruochen’s mouth, another light talisman flew over, also from Mu Lingxi.
Seeing the content of the communication talisman, Zhang Ruochen’s expression changed drastically.
“I have news that I think it is necessary to tell you. Sister Chen’s parents were killed by the Blackslaughter Ghost Lord a few days ago.”
Clearly, Mu Lingxi had been wondering if she should break the news to Zhang Ruochen. After some contemplating however, she decided to let Zhang Ruochen know. After all, the two of them were Zhang Ruochen’s parents-in-law.
The news was so sudden that Zhang Ruochen could not respond to it for a moment.
He had met Chen Liuli during the battle for the Eastern Region Saint Kingdom’s Mansion. Unexpectedly, she would encounter her end just a short period of time later.
Inevitably, Zhang Ruochen thought of Huang Yanchen as many images appeared in his mind, all of them bits and pieces of him with Huang Yanchen.
He had thought that he had forgotten everything about Huang Yanchen, and did not expect the memories to be so deeply entrenched.
After all, he was not a heartless person, and was unable to truly forget about Huang Yanchen. After all, she was the first woman he had opened her heart to after he was hurt by love.
Only after that incident, when Huang Yanchen deceived him with Chi Yao, and when Huang Yanchen stood by Chi Yao’s side in the end that broke his heart completely, almost causing him to close off his heart once again.
He should have hated Huang Yanchen, but in fact, he could not hate her at all.
Back then, the Immortal Vampires had attacked the Qianshui Royal City and slaughtered Huang Yanchen’s entire family in order to force him to show up. Even the king and queen of Qianshui Commandery was taken captive. He had really owed Huang Yanchen too much.
Plus, the Divine Scripture Maiden had told him before, Huang Yanchen was dead, and the dead cannot come back to life, so he could not hate Huang Yanchen at all.
However, neither he not Huang Yanchen can go back to the past.
“The Blackslaughter Ghost Lord must die.”
A terrifying murderous intent appeared in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes.
Now that Huang Yanchen was no longer around, the vengeance for her parents could only be done by him.
There was no other reason, he was just following his own will.
Zhang Ruochen wanted to go to the Eastern Region himself, and personally slay the Blackslaughter Ghost Lord, but he couldn’t. A major battle in the Northern Region was about to commence, and he could not leave at this moment regardless of the reason.
Immediately, he sent out another communication light talisman, but it was sent to Le.
The Blackslaughter Ghost Lord was a powerful Six-Tribulations Ghost Lord whose strength is comparable to those of the Precept Dominion realm. He had occupied a city in the Eastern Region, and no one knew how many humans had been slaughtered by him. Killing him was not something ordinary persons could pull off.
Although he had not seen Le for a very long while, Zhang Ruochen believed that Le would have sufficient strength to complete the matter.
Plus, Le himself was in Kunlun Realm, and was the best person to do this.
A short while later, Le sent a message back, with only a sentence. “The Blackslaughter Ghost Lord will not live to see tomorrow’s sunrise.”
As long as one was in Kunlun Realm, going anywhere was actually very convenient. One can just reach them directly through the various Merit Sub-Terminals.
Earlier on, as Zhang Ruochen did not want people to know where his whereabouts was, so he deployed his own teleportation array to obscure his movements.
And his sudden appearance in the Northern Region that had caught many off guard proved that fact.
After handing the matter to Le, Zhang Ruochen became silent, with many thoughts and emotions mixing in his heart.
“Brother, why are you here alone?”
Feng Yan appeared behind Zhang Ruochen without him noticing.
Hearing Feng Yan’s voice, Zhang Ruochen’s thoughts were instantly snapped back to reality.
Exhaling lightly, Zhang Ruochen said. “It’s nothing. I just wanted to come out to enjoy the silence, and look at the snow.”
How could Feng Yan not see there was something wrong with Zhang Ruochen’s mood, so he could not help but say. “Brother, what’s on your mind? Why don’t you tell me.”
Zhang Ruochen did not say anything, but instead just raised his head, looking at the bright moon in the sky and the falling snowflakes. His mind could not help but to return to the New Year’s Eve ten years ago. It was then did he and Huang Yanchen went on antagonizing paths as they slowly became strangers.
If that had not happened, he and Huang Yanchen would have been living happily, and perhaps their children may have already grown up.
After a long silence, Zhang Ruochen. “Second brother, let me tell you a story.”
“Alright, Brother, please go ahead.” Feng Yan responded as he sat down beside Zhang Ruochen.
He did not know what happened to Zhang Ruochen nor did he knew how to comfort him. All he could do was to stay by Zhang Ruochen’s side, even if just as a listener.
Only at this moment there their bond as brothers was best reflected.
Zhang Ruochen recomposed himself and said. “There was one a prince of a weak commandery, in order to help his land through a crisis, he followed his father to a powerful commandery to seek help. It happened that the powerful commandery was hosting a husband selection for its lady. Through his outstanding performance, the prince shocked everyone and won the martial arts competition for her hand in marriage. By twist of fate, marriage was arranged between him and the lady’s elder sister. At the same time, the prince also learned that the lady’s elder sister was a Senior Sister of the same school…”
“After going through many trials and tribulations, the prince finally walked out from the dark emotional pall, and began to open up to the Senior Sister, and finally married her…”
“When the prince found out that the Senior Sister that he had finally opened his heart to was actually deceiving him with their Master, and insisted on standing by the master’s side in the end, the prince was furious, and his heart was sealed up once again. The prince cut off all ties with the Senior Sister, and the two went on opposing paths.
“The prince thought that he would forever hate that Senior Sister, but when he found out that she had died, he realized that he had already put everything down, and his love and hatred drifted away with the wind.
At the end, Zhang Ruochen could not help but to shed a tear.
Perhaps it was because he had verbalized what he had been suppressing in his heart for too long now, Zhang Ruochen felt somewhat better now.
If everything were to happened again, perhaps he would not have been as decisive as before, and perhaps she would not had passed away in sorrow.
After listening to Zhang Ruochen’s story, Feng Yan could not help but to sigh deeply, but he did not make any comments.
If it were him, what choices would he make?
How could he not tell that the hero of this story was Zhang Ruochen himself, and the heroine was naturally Lady Yanchen.
He had actually heard about the two, but he did not expect it to be so complicated.
Raising his hand, Feng Yan took out a wine gourd and said. “Brother, let’s have a few drinks together.”
Zhang Ruochen did not any anything, he simply just reached out to take the wine gourd as he raised his head and took a swig.
He was not an alcoholic, but he really wanted a drink at this very moment. Perhaps he would no longer have any troubles and sorrows if he was drunk.
“Big Brother, the both of you were secretly drinking outside, and did not call me along. This will not do.”
At this moment, Xiang Chunan ran out from the camp.
A faint smile appeared on Zhang Ruochen’s face, and tossed the wine gourd to Xiang Chunan, saying. “You came at the right time, Second Brother had just taken out wine. It’s a rare good wine, have a taste.”
Xiang Chunan stretched out his hand and caught the wine gourd, as he said with a guffaw. “Then I’ll not hold back.”
Feng Yan rolled his eyes at Xiang Chunan, saying. “Third Brother, you have wronged Big Brother and I. Since when we have forgotten about you when we have something good? I thought that you had drank a lot earlier, and almost floored yourself. That’s why I didn’t call you.”
“Floored myself drinking? You gotta be kidding, with my ability to drink, who can floor me? Also, drinking a couple more is fine so Second Brother, take all of your good wines out. Before the battle, let’s have a good time drinking.” Xiang Chunan glared back.
When it comes to drinking, he had absolutely confidence.
Feng Yan shook his head saying. “Sure, drink as much as you wish today. I’m in the business of selling alcohol, why should I even be afraid of you drinking?”
Hearing this, Xiang Chunan burst into laughter and said. “Still Second Brother is the best.”
Looking at Feng Yan and Xiang Chunan beside him, a genuine smile appeared on Zhang Ruochen’s face. To have two good brothers by his side, the heavens had treated him well.
