Proofreader: Papatonks
Ten days later, Zhuo Fan opened his door to take a deep breath of fresh air. He was in a better mood now that his wounds were healed.
What awaited him outside was his team, the nine disciples and three fiends of Demon Scheming Sect. They had always been waiting for Zhuo Fan to get better and get home.
These days, the other sects had already gone, leaving them behind. They came last and now they were leaving last.
Though the mood was completely different. They were no longer tense, but jubilant.
“Zhuo Fan, you’re the only one left. Can we go now?”
Fiend Yang grinned at Zhuo Fan, “I’ve sent the sect a sending jade already, saying that we’ll get back in two months, but… he-he, I have yet to give them the good news.”
Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow and noticed Fiend Yang’s rotten smile. “You’ll be making them sick with worry.”
“Ha-ha-ha, that’ll make things more interesting. While we risked our lives here, they’d just been casually waiting for the news. That’s too easy for them.”
Fiend Yang winked at Zhuo Fan, “You’re going to leave anyway. You should use this chance to get back at those old fools now while you still can. Besides, once we sent them the great news, their towering fury would just fizzle out, right?”
The others laughed along.
Zhuo Fan shrugged. “Fine, I’m leaving anyway, so I’ll just take this burden. Take it as my prank.”
“Ha-ha-ha, wonderful. That’s our great steward!” Fiend Yang patted his shoulder and the others nodded with soft eyes.
They knew their days with Zhuo Fan were running out…
“Zhuo Fan, are you… leaving the Demon Scheming Sect?” A girl cried out. Zhuo Fan turned to see Yongning who suddenly looked at him in shock. “Where are you going? You better give us a clear location or we won’t be able to find you?”
Zhuo Fan’s eyes softened, “You don’t have to look for me. Once I finish reporting to the Demon Scheming Sect, I’ll be going home to Tianyu.”
“Really?” The girls cheered.
Zhuo Fan nodded, “Of course, why else did you think I asked you to wait? Forget Mystical Heaven Sect and come with us. Once I finish over at the sect, we’ll be going home together so you won’t meet any trouble on the way.”
The girls bobbed their heads in elation. With Zhuo Fan back in the Luo clan, the girls would no longer have to suffer the bitter loneliness of being so far apart.
But the fact that Chu Qingcheng couldn’t come along made them sad. No one else knew Zhuo Fan better than her.
Even though they were love rivals, for her not to be around Zhuo Fan, they thought it was a great loss.
Actually Chu Qingcheng’s graceful stance had moved the girls. If they could all go together, it would be so much better.
“Now, let’s set off!”
Zhuo Fan shouted, breaking their thoughts. Seeing them all go, the girls caught up.
But then Shuang’er stalled and her eyes turned black as they reflected the starry sky. Her heart throbbed in her chest and she was gasping for breath.
“What’s wrong, Shuang’er?” Yongning started in worry.
Zhuo Fan frowned, coming over, “What happened?”
“I don’t know. My heart suddenly became frantic. I’m better now.” Shuang’er looked lost as she shook her head.
She felt a sudden danger, as if someone was coming for her. But then the feeling went away as quick as it came.
Zhuo Fan looked around the area with a careful gaze before setting his mind at ease.
[It must be that Shuang’er is unwell. Once we return, she’ll be getting better.]
And so, they left the Double Dragon Manor, unaware that Shuang’er’s frantic heart was an omen of the future…
Bam!
In a forest, a rock covered in moss was pulverized.
The sun’s bright rays shone down deep in the dark and humid cave, long hidden from the world. Two panting figures stood before it in joy.
“Second prince, we finally found the Yun clan ancestral home! Ha-ha-ha…” A mere Profound Heaven expert, wearing all black, looked at the other in glee.
Grinning, the youth nodded, clenching the yellow silk tight in his hand, “So many years and now we finally found this accursed place.”
“Big brother, imperial father, once I crack the Yun clan ancestral home’s secret, I will find the best in western lands and will return the lands to the Yuwen clan. I will avenge you. And you, old third, dishonorable pig, your days are at an end. Ha-ha-ha!” The youth cackled like mad, his eyes consumed by hatred.
The guy in black sighed, nodding to himself.
[The lies Crown Prince weaved had the second prince seek revenge rather than instruct us. He was truly wise.]
[Only hatred can make one seek revenge!]
These men were Crown Prince’s men. They had no feud with the imperial family or Yuwen Cong. After the Crown Prince’s death, all of his loyal men were wanted across the nation. Scurrying like rats for so many years had worn the fight out of them.
That went double for those who went with the second prince after the Yun clan ancestral home. After the bitter life they had been through the past years, it proved to be too much for most as they left one by one.
Leaving him all alone. Even so, even he had to beat a hasty retreat against some of the dangers they faced.
Now, thanks to the Crown Prince beguiling Yuwen Yong into exacting revenge, with his help, they finally arrived.
This was just another proof of how hatred could drive a person to no end.
If it was their mission, they would have long abandoned it. Only the second prince persevered, to restore the empire without fail.
The guy in black even found himself admiring the second prince. Though the clueless royalty was being played like a puppet on a string.
Looking ahead, the guy in black took the lead, “Your Highness, I’ll be scouting ahead. Stay behind me and be careful!”
“Thank you, Hei Ying!” Second prince nodded.
(StarReader: the name is lit. black hawk.)
After years of toil, the second prince finally shed his overconfidence as an imperial prince. Finally showing respect to the wise.
The guy in black was touched, “Your Highness, you’re too kind. It’s my duty.”
“You’re too humble. Hei Ying, without you, I would’ve never reached here.” Being close all their journey, the second prince sighed, “To find the Yun clan ancestral home, we’ve been through so much danger, and lost our way more times than I can count. We have even been trapped again and again. In the end, how many died, how many are left? Now I am alone, with you as my sole companion to share life and death with. From now on, you are my brother!”
The guy in black shook, touched to the core. He never imagined that the second prince they were ordered to use as a pawn would treat him so.
He felt ashamed. He wanted to spill the beans about everything and not let His Highness suffer for another’s revenge.
Everyone had a heart, even the Crown Prince’s die hard followers. Having spent so many years with the second prince, he had a change of heart.
He couldn’t bear to see his new master being hurt for following this stupid hatred. But that would mean the Crown Prince’s final wish…
“Your Highness, actually…” Hei Ying was conflicted, frowning as he wanted to say something…
In his moment of carelessness, he stepped onto something and fell.
Plop!
In the darkness, Hei Ying suddenly vanished and the second prince cried out, “Hei Ying…”
What followed was him falling as well, and beneath him was nothing but utter blackness, a dark hole swallowing him whole…
