Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
“You, boy, are really lacking in respect. Once this news gets out, the pitiful scholar that you are will not survive for long.”
“Yes, he destroyed the future of every scholar in the Central Mainland Region on an impulse. If it were me, I would have killed him too!”
At noon the next day in the pavilion of King Wuyang’s palace, Zhou Bao, the Child-endowing Buddha, and Wang She were lying comfortably on couches. But this time the Child-endowing Buddha looked different. He was wearing a rich landowner’s garb, and nobody could see his portly figure. He was a monk of the Snow Mountain Great Wheel Temple but looked like the boss of a brothel ship.
These two men did not know where the rumors came from, but today at the break of dawn they hurried to see Zhou Bao, as if they wanted to hear his jokes. “I think your boy was harmed enough. He just swore at you a couple of times, and for that, you turned him into the single greatest enemy of all the scholars!”
“Hmph, he was that type of person, arrogant and young. I already gave him plenty of face by not killing him there and then!”
“His current problem is a lot more wretched than it would have been had you killed him there and then. Now, not only does he have to face every angry scholar in the realm, but he also has to face himself. Because of his few words, the sage’s path he believed in his whole life was cut off in all of the Central Mainland Region. If he can’t take it, he might kill himself!”
“That doesn’t mean a damn thing to me! Don’t start what you can’t finish.” Zhou Bao shrugged his shoulders and sneered. “By the way, what are you two up to today?”
“We heard that you were going to see your son-in-law today. We are quite interested in seeing how it will go!”
“Son-in-law? Hmph, figures. Since you two are here, I will give you a good show for free!” Zhou Bao said indifferently.
“A show? Will you split up the happy couple? My boy, be careful not to provoke your daughter’s ire, she will hate you for a lifetime!” The two unscrupulous guys beside him fanned the flames.
“A long punishment is better than a short one. This Feng Xuan boy is offensive to the eye. Also, my daughter is too young. If she were to find somebody else in two years’ time, that still wouldn’t be too late!” He suddenly stopped speaking as Zhou Mu arrived.
“Father—!”
“Come in and sit down. There are many benches.” Zhou Bao cast a shady glance at him. “Where’s your mother?”
“She’s in the rear court consoling my sister!”
“Consoling her? Why is she consoling her? Go and call them in!”
“Huh? Father, you—!”
“If I ask you to go, you will go. Today we will all sort this out face to face!” Zhou Bao looked at him resolutely.
“Yes!” Zhou Mu saw that Zhou Bao was in a bad mood and did not dare say anything else. He ran straight to the Inner Yard.
“Oh, is that Feng Xuan? He’s not bad looking. He’s young, well cultivated. It seems he’s carrying with him a little secret. Not bad! Quite suitable as a son-in-law!” The two men were still lying on the divans, but with their cultivation, they only had to scan the place with their divine thoughts and they could ascertain all the details big and small. It was almost twelve forty-five, and Feng Xuan was hurrying over to King Wuyang’s palace. At the speed he was going, he would arrive just in time.
“This boy sure has an air of haughtiness. If you made anyone else come here, they would be waiting at the entrance of King Wuyang’s place before the break of dawn!” Wang She smiled.
“I think we should play with him a little, set up some obstacle to make him arrive late. Then it’ll be easier to justify yourself to your baby daughter!”
“I know how I’ll handle this, don’t you worry about it. Just worry about watching the show!” Zhou Bao glanced between his two guests.
“Father, you can’t do this! Feng Xuan and I are just friends. How could you do this?!”
“Are you telling me what I can and can’t do?!” Zhou Bao looked straight in front of him at his willful daughter, Zhou Qing. It seemed helpless, he had really spoilt her. “You must understand, the boy provoked me first, he attacked me first. If it weren’t for you, he would not even have a corpse for you to find. Do you think that if someone is rude to your daddy, I will just sit back and watch?”
“No, I mean—!”
“It doesn’t matter what you mean. I won’t kill him, I will even give him a great deal. All I want to know now is whether you’ve really taken a liking to him?”
“Father, you—!”
Hearing this, Zhou Qing turned bright red and glared resentfully at her father. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at Wang She and the Child-endowing Buddha. “How could you do this, ask your daughter such questions in front of guests?”
“Don’t worry, those two are your elders. Whatever they think, whatever they say, it doesn’t matter!” Zhou Bao said without a hint of worry. “Have you or have you not taken a liking to the boy?”
“Yes, yes!” Zhou Qing had been spoilt by Zhou Bao since she was little, and there were no taboos between them. But admitting this kind of thing in front of so many people was embarrassing. She lowered her head shyly, face as red as a baboon’s bottom, eyes fixed on the floor wishing she could disappear into it. She also resented her father terribly for this. What type of father would do this? Even Yan Yunfei by her side couldn’t help but feel resentful, but she didn’t show it in front of so many people. She just comforted Zhou Qing by placing her hand on her shoulder.
Who knew whether Zhou Bao would ask more questions?
“So, do you think he likes you too?”
“I don’t know!”
“That’s no problem. Wait for him to come over, then ask. Eggie, the boy has arrived at the door. Can you bring him in here?”
“Yes, father!”
“Zhou Bao, don’t you think this is a little inappropriate? Whatever happened, Feng Xuan is still a guest here. You bring him all the way here just to ask him such a question to his face. It’s really…!”
“Yunfei, some things are better to deal with face to face, it’s clearer that way, especially with this type of thing. If we cannot open up and talk about, then the only person that suffers is our daughter!”
“But—!”
“Okay, that’s enough. We’re doing it this way!” Zhou Bao interrupted Yan Yunfei. He leaned back, closed his eyes and regained his composure.
When he was like this, Yan Yunfei could say nothing, she just had to let him have his way.
A short while later, Zhou Mu arrived at the front of the pavilion with Feng Xuan.
“Greetings, King Wuyang, Queen Wuyang.” Feng Xuan actually did know his manners. As he walked up to the crowd, he first greeted Zhou Bao and Yan Yunfei. Then he looked at Wang She and the Child-endowing Buddha. “If I am not wrong, this gentleman must be the first Highest Elder of Tian Long Taoism, the elder Wang She!”
“Good eye!” Wang She laughed with great interest. “If your eyesight is so good, can you tell me who this chap is?”
“This—!”
This really stumped Zhou Bao. He was only a Level Six master of martial arts, he had not even reached the Level Seven Expert Realm. Although he had had some adventures, they were nothing like Zhou Bao’s. He could easily recognize Wang She, but only because his and Zhou Bao’s relationship was the secret that everybody knew.
Even if he could not recognize the man, he could guess who he was. The Child-endowing Buddha had a relationship with Zhou Bao that was more like an underground love affair. Who could know that Zhou Bao would be messing around with this monk who didn’t follow the rituals? Furthermore, today he was dressed like a stout landlord. Who would have thought he was the Child-endowing Buddha of the Bigwheel Temple?
“Boy, pay no attention to me, I don’t want to be acquainted with you, either!” the Child-endowing Buddha said, swaying his fat head. Ignoring Feng Xuan, he went to sit down.
Feng Xuan raised his eyebrows. He wanted to say something but stopped himself. He understood that if he was here sitting together with Zhou Bao, with people talking so casually, he should not provoke the situation.
“I have brought you here for one reason, and that is my daughter. I know that my daughter is interested in you. So, I want to ask you, are you interested in my daughter?”
Feng Xuan was visibly stunned. He was not at all prepared for this. He had no idea how to respond to the question that Zhou Bao had so brazenly asked in front of so many people. He stole a glance at Zhou Qing; her face was bright red. He glared resentfully at Zhou Bao. But he quickly felt Zhou Qing’s eyes glancing at him in anticipation. Her eyes met with his. Her face became more pained with embarrassment and she looked straight down at the floor.
“Well, boy? Say something!”
Feng Xuan grew more nervous as he suddenly raised his head. His eyes shining and with a resolute expression, he said, “King Wuyang, I like your precious daughter very much!”
“Haha, so he isn’t simply interested, he likes her very much!”, Zhou Bao laughed mischievously. Seeing that Feng Xuan still had not said anything, he raised his hand and continued, “Then, I will tell you the condition. You cannot like, no, must not be interested in my daughter!”
“Father—!”
“Shut up!” As Zhou Bao glanced over, he felt the desire to be more unreasonable. Zhou Qing could not say a word. Zhou Bao looked again at Feng Xuan. “Come on, make an offer!”
“Junior Leopard, this is too old a trick. Even an idiot would know you’re testing him. I can answer for him now, that he will not agree to any offer you propose!” Wang She stretched and said lazily.
“Is that so? Well then, you don’t need to reply, I will state the offer. You are now a Level Six, but I will immediately make you a Level Seven, no, Level Eight of the Expert Realm. And I will give you three Pure Yang Celestial Devices. How does that sound?”
“Your Highness, you really look down on me. I am being sincere. I—!”
Zhou Bao did not wait for him to speak. “Within ten days, you can enter the Individual Immortal state under my protection. And I can get you to the Individual Immortal peak elixir within ten years. And I’ll give you five Supreme-class Pure Yang Celestial Devices!”
Now Feng Xuan was completely stunned. Zhou Bao’s offer was completely beyond his imagination. To be promoted to the Individual Immortal realm elixir within ten years, with five Supreme-class Pure Yang Celestial Devices? What did this mean?
This was essentially the capital needed to establish a new sect. With this he could establish a huge sect comparable to the Tian Long Taoism.
He almost nodded, but he stopped himself. He raised his head slightly, still not speaking, and listened to Zhou Bao as he continued. “In addition, I will guarantee that you will be able to transition through two Thunder Tribulations within the next twenty years and ascend to the state of Venerable Realm Genuine Immortal. I will also add this Pure Yang Celestial Device with the potential to be promoted to a fairy weapon. And before you become a Venerable, I will protect you to make sure nothing happens to you. This is the final offer. Do not bargain, if you do not agree, I will break you in two.
There was complete silence.
With the pavilion in complete silence, a while passed before Feng Xuan finally sighed. On his face appeared a bitter smile as he said, “King Wuyang, I have no choice but to accept your offer!”
