Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Astute observation.” Realizing that the young man in white had noticed him within moments of his appearance, the old man put his hands together respectfully as he greeted the young man, “I wonder… is it convenient for me to have a cup of tea with you?”
“Not at all.” Zhou Donghuang stared at the old man as he rejected him immediately.
“Young man, don’t you think… it’s impolite to reject someone at the door?” The old man did not expect to be rejected. He was first shocked, then could not help but frown.
“So what if I am impolite? I, Zhou Donghuang, have always done whatever I want… what does your opinion have got to do with me?” Zhou Donghuang said flippantly.
“I am from the Yunyang imperial court!” reminded the old man seriously as he frowned.
“So?” Zhou Donghuang’s tone did not change as he replied impatiently, “Say your piece, then you may leave.”
“Sir, in the whole country, you are the first one who dares to speak to me like this,” said the old man. His expression darkened as the kindness left his face. His eyes glinted murderously as he stared at Zhou Donghuang, his cloak whipping in the wind.
A faint green hue seemed to radiate from his skin. Without making any move, but the inner qi also radiating from the body uncontrollably… that was the hallmark of a Connate adept.
Clearly, the old man was aware of this and was trying to intimidate the young man in the courtyard.
“Why? You want to spar with me?” The young man grabbed the little girl with his left hand. In his right hand, a small metal ball rolled out from his sleeve into his palm. He toyed with it as he stared at the old man, a playful smile on his lips.
Seeing the metal ball in the young man’s hands and getting a sense of his immense confidence, a spark of fear seemed to flicker in the old man’s eyes. Soon, he withdrew the qi that was radiating from his body.
“Sir, I am the previous emperor of Yunyang country, Jiang Yunding.” After he had calmed the qi that was stirring within his body, the old man looked at the young man. When he spoke, he not only reported his background, but his tone had turned softer. “I have come today on behalf of the imperial court to make a deal with you.”
Just as he spoke, Zhou Donghuang responded without hesitation, “Not interested!”
“Sir, I suggest you listen to me before you make a decision,” said Jiang Yunding as he breathed in deeply, trying his best to control the anger that was stirring within him. Before Zhou Donghuang could reply, he continued, “If we guessed correctly, you must have obtained a treasure from a Primal Core adept, which allowed you to achieve so much in such a short time. You even have this metal ball that can transform into a spear and is equivalent to a blow from a Connate adept.”
As he spoke, Jiang Yunding’s gaze landed on the ball in Zhou Donghuang’s right hand. Of course, he did not know that this was a sword sphere.
“And?” Zhou Donghuang seemed extremely calm as he replied emotionlessly.
“Sir, maybe you do not fear the imperial court… but, what about the Valley of Medicine Masters?” asked Jiang Yunding.
“The Valley of Medicine Masters?” Zhou Donghuang’s expression slipped as he seemed to go into deep thought. In fact, he had been reminded of Chen Dandan, the lady whom he had grown up with but who had eventually betrayed his mother.
Initially, he had not taken revenge against her, partly because his mother had persuaded him not to, but more importantly because he wanted to take action only when the Valley of Medicine Masters had forgiven Chen Dandan and when she stood at her highest point. That way, she would be punished most severely for doing what she had done.
But to Jiang Yunding, it looked as if the young man was afraid of the Valley of Medicine Masters.
“Sir, you just have to hand me the first-grade martial art that you exhibited when avoided the sneak attack from Xiao Jiancheng… then, the imperial court will promise not to inform the Valley of Medicine Masters about how you received a treasure from a Primal Core adept,” proclaimed Jiang Yunding as he looked deeply at Zhou Donghuang.
“You want the first-grade martial art?” Hearing this, Zhou Donghuang laughed. “What if… I don’t give it to you?”
“If you don’t, then the imperial court will have no choice but to raise this matter to the Valley of Medicine Masters,” replied Jiang Yunding, his voice stone cold. “I think, once the Valley of Medicine Masters managed to take what they can from you, they will reward the imperial court with the first-grade martial art to thank us for our efforts.”
“Are you threatening me?” Zhou Donghuang’s eyes were shut, but a murderous glint flashed across his eyes. He broke into a radiant smile.
“You may put it that way,” smiled Jiang Yunding.
“You should know…” Zhou Donghuang’s eyes suddenly opened as the smile seemed frozen on his face. “The thing that I hate most is… being threatened!”
With that, the small metal ball in his right hand transformed into a spear.
At the same time, Jiang Yunding’s eyes never left the metal ball in Zhou Donghuang’s eyes. Seeing the small metal ball transform into a shiny small metal sphere, his eyes sharpened as he brought his hand to his waist in a lightning-fast motion.
Whoosh!!
Jiang Yunding pulled out a soft spear from his waistband. As his qi flowed into the spear, it hardened and straightened. The qi that was radiating from Jiang Yunding pulsated with a green hue.
Now, both him and the spear were radiating the green hue.
Just as Jiang Yunding pulled out the spear, staring focused at the small spear floating in Zhou Donghuang’s palm, his face fraught with caution, Zhou Donghuang quipped condescendingly, “Early Connate stage?”
At the same time, with a swift motion of his right hand, as if he was throwing garbage, Zhou Donghuang threw the spear.
Whoo!! As the small spear left his hands, the rare sound of a whistling spear could be heard.
“Hmph!” Jiang Yunding grunted as he waved the spear in his hands, to ward off the little spear that was flying towards him. But as he flung his spear, he realized that the speed of the little spear was simply too fast for him to defend against. His spear missed it entirely.
“No—!” As his spear missed the little spear, Jiang Yunding’s eyes narrowed as he cried.
Before he could close his mouth, that shimmering little spear had already run through his chest, and returned to the young man’s hand as a spear sphere, dripping with fresh blood.
Thud!
As the spear sphere returned to Zhou Donghuang’s hand, Jiang Yunding’s lifeless body fell to the ground, his mouth agape and his eyes widened in shock. Jiang Yunding, the previous emperor of Yunyang country and the only Connate adept in the whole country, had just died in the courtyard outside the second guest house of Chuxiu Inn in the Chu royal city.
“Brother, why does this old man radiate a glow?” After witnessing Zhou Donghuang murder Jiang Yunding, Yun Lu, who was sitting on his lap and in his arms, was not only not shocked, but was even curiously asking Zhou Donghuang questions.
“That is the release of qi from a Connate adept,” replied Zhou Donghuang as he stroked Yun Lu’s head gently as he kept the spear sphere.
“Connate adept?” Yun Lu’s eyes widened. “That was a Connate adept? Aren’t Connate adepts very powerful? How did he die so easily at your hands?”
“That’s because… Brother is more powerful than him,” answered Zhou Donghuang with a smile.
…
“The retired emperor… is dead?”
When the news traveled to the Chu royal household, the Chu king, Xiang Xiong, was stunned. His eyes were filled with fear. “Thankfully, I did not follow along this time… the retired emperor is a Connate adept, but even he was murdered by the young man. That young man has the power to go against a whole country alone indeed!”
This time, the retired emperor Jiang Yunding of the imperial court had come to the Western ridge of the Chu king and the Chu royal city. His first visit on his arrival was to the Chu royal household, to clarify matters with Xiang Xiong, the Chu king.
Then, he had left straight for Chuxiu Inn.
Although Xiang Xiong had not followed him, he had sent someone to follow him; so he was informed of the news right away when Jiang Yunding had died.
“Inform the imperial court,” sighed Xiang Xiong as he ordered someone to send the news of Jiang Yunding’s death to the imperial court. “The death of the retired emperor will surely anger the imperial court… and that young man is still holding on to a treasure. This time, the imperial court will surely stop caring about his treasure. But even if they no longer dare to seek the treasure, they will definitely inform the Valley of Medicine Masters of the news. There are so many Connate adepts in the Valley of Medicine Masters, some of whom are in the middle Connate stage… in fact, the leader of the sect has even been said to have achieved the late Connate stage! If the Valley of Medicine Masters takes action, will the young man be able to stop them?” Xiang Xiong’s eyes shone curiously. But at the same time, he was still adamant that the Chu royal household could definitely not afford to offend this young man… even someone from the Valley of Medicine Masters may not be able to contain him!
The last time, he was afraid. He had a strong hunch: if he continued to incite action from others against the young man, he would definitely not let him off!
