“Work hard for my Tian Family, and my Tian Family will not treat you unfairly! For the next few days, you can rest assured and stay with my Tian Family. I will provide you with cultivation resources to ensure your strength improves further before you leave Yan City!”
Tian Jingyi patted Zhu Hai’s shoulder, acting like an honest elder.
Tian Yilin also stepped forward to win him over, smiling as he said, “Even when you arrive at Xuanlin Academy, Brother Zhu, you don’t have to worry. My elder brother is at Xuanlin Academy and has now Broken Through to the Kai Mai Realm, becoming an Intermediate student. With him looking out for you, that good-for-nothing Chen Zheng won’t be able to do anything to you!”
Zhu Hai nodded repeatedly: “Thank you, Elder and Brother Tian. Since you treat me this way, my life from now on, Zhu Hai’s life, is yours!”
As he spoke, a look of resentment appeared on his face.
“That good-for-nothing Chen Zheng didn’t die this time. Next time, I will definitely kill him with my own hands. If there’s an opportunity, Elder and Brother Tian, please don’t forget to tell me!”
Tian Yilin’s expression also turned sinister: “Don’t worry! I also wish that good-for-nothing would die!”
...On the other side, Chen Zheng and the others had already returned to Yan City.
Ai Linna left first with He Lan. Master Huo was bribed by the Tian Family, and the Qingge Auction House had lost its Alchemist’s protection. It was probably already in chaos, so she had to rush back to take charge of the situation.
After she finished dealing with the Qingge Auction House, she would visit Chen Manor.
Chen Zheng had no objections.
On the way back to Chen Manor, seeing Chen Zheng lying on Chen Hongying’s back, passersby on the street pointed and whispered.
“It’s Chen Zheng!”
“Heaven has eyes, allowing the Son of Marquis Chiye to return safely!”
“That’s great!”
The common people in the city, seeing that Chen Zheng had actually returned alive, all showed joy.
Looking at Chen Hongying’s crimson armor, they were even more excited.
“This is the Red Armor Army’s armor!”
“Has the Marquis returned?”
Ever since Chen Yu lost contact, Yan City had gradually been controlled by the three families, and the lives of the common people at the bottom had become increasingly difficult. They all yearned for the return of Marquis Chiye!
Although everyone was excited, seeing Chen Zheng’s weak appearance, they did not go forward to disturb him, only watching them leave with hopeful eyes.
“Your Lord’s prestige is very high!”
Chen Hongying was a little surprised.
Chen Zheng whispered, “Of course! When Father was here, he lightened taxes and prioritized production. The city’s public security could even be described as ‘doors not locked at night, nothing picked up from the road’…”
Chen Hongying was puzzled: “Since they respect Your Lord so much, why have the Young Lord and Madam lived so… miserably?”
Chen Zheng smiled bitterly: “They are just a group of unfortunate people struggling at the bottom. Even if they wanted to help Mother and me, what could they do?”
“But even so, during our most difficult times, they would secretly drop rice and flour at the manor. When we bought things, they always sold them to us at the lowest prices…”
Chen Zheng had seen all of this.
But in this world, martial power is everything! It’s better to rely on oneself than on others!
The two had just arrived at Chen Manor.
Yang Su and Ling'er, who had been waiting anxiously for a long time, came to greet them.
Seeing Chen Zheng, bare-chested, covered in blood, and looking haggard, on Chen Hongying’s back, tears streamed uncontrollably from Yang Su’s eyes.
“Zheng’er! My Zheng’er…”
Seeing Yang Su crying so sadly, Chen Zheng quickly got off Chen Hongying’s back, stepped forward to help his mother, and explained with a smile: “Mother, don’t cry! Your son was acting for outsiders! Your son is fine! If you don’t believe me, hit me a few times!”
Looking at her lively son, Yang Su also stopped her tears.
Ling'er, however, cried even more sadly.
“It’s over, Madam! The Young Lord is experiencing a final burst of energy! Waaah, waaah, waaah…”
Hearing this, Chen Zheng’s face turned dark. He reached out and tapped her on the head. Ling'er cried out “Ow!” and clutched her head in pain.
“What nonsense are you spouting! Go, go, go! Prepare me some clean clothes and heat some water. I want to bathe!”
Seeing Chen Zheng’s disgusted look, Ling'er immediately burst into laughter and believed that Chen Zheng was not experiencing a final burst of energy. After all, what dead person would still be thinking about taking a bath?
With Ling'er’s antics, the atmosphere eased considerably.
Chen Zheng supported Yang Su, and as they entered the house, he told her about everything that had happened to him over the past month, only omitting a few life-threatening situations and focusing on the easier parts. He gradually cheered his mother up.
“Mother, this time I passed the Xuanlin Academy selection. You and Ling'er should come to the Imperial City with me.”
This was Chen Zheng’s carefully considered decision.
He had originally planned to leave his mother in Yan City, protected by Chen Hongying, but what happened in the Hunting Ground changed Chen Zheng’s mind.
These people from the Tian Family have no bottom line when it comes to doing evil!
He simply couldn’t rest assured with his mother not by his side!
Although the Imperial City’s waters were deeper, with various forces balancing each other out and under the eyes of the Da Yuan Royal Family, his mother might be even safer with the identity of Marquis Chiye’s wife!
At least on the surface, everyone would have some reservations.
Moreover, with his mother by his side, if the time came to flee for their lives, Chen Zheng could directly take his mother and escape without any worries.
Yang Su stroked Chen Zheng’s head: “Alright! Wherever Zheng’er is, Mother will be. Even if we die, our mother and son must die together!”
Having experienced the feeling of losing her son once, she absolutely did not want to try it a second time!
Chen Zheng smiled: “Mother, you worry too much. We’re going to the Imperial City to enjoy ourselves! Father can’t return for now, so let your son earn you a fortune!”
...The next day was the day the results were posted.
Early in the morning, the wall was packed with people eager to see the list.
“Why haven’t they posted the results yet?”
“How much longer do we have to wait?!”
Everyone grew anxious, especially some commoner Geniuses. Entering Xuanlin Academy was their best chance to rise to prominence!
When the sun was high in the sky.
Whoosh!
No one was seen, but a long spear broke through the air and pierced into the wall. A huge banner unfurled from the spear shaft.
“They’re here!”
“The rankings are being announced!”
“Don’t push!”
“There are twenty spots this year. After the pre-determined ones, how many will be left?”
“It says on top! The top nineteen will be selected!”
The crowd surged, everyone’s eyes wide as they looked at the rankings on the banner.
At the end of each name, there were their respective hunting points, completely open and fair. If anyone had doubts, they could raise them!
But if anyone deliberately caused trouble, they would be permanently disqualified from entering Xuanlin Academy.
“Ah? I’m only twenty-sixth? Damn it! If it weren’t for the beast tide…”
“Stop wailing, everyone’s in the same boat! Who wasn’t affected by the beast tide?”
“Twentieth! Damn it! Just six points short! If only I had been bolder then, ahhh…”
“Hahaha! Nineteenth! I’m nineteenth, I got in!”
The scene was noisy, with joy, curses, and regret!
Those who got in cheered, those who failed shed tears, especially those who had reached the age limit; this was their last chance.
Compared to the participants, the other commoners watching the excitement seemed very calm. They were only curious about one thing.
“Who is the first place?”
“Is it someone from the Tian Family?”
“Or someone from the Peng Family?”
“I think it’s someone from the Shi Family!”
Everyone speculated. In previous years, the top spot always went to one of the three families, without exception. It seemed this time would be the same.
At this moment, a peddler who had squeezed into the inner layer saw the top ranking and exclaimed:
“No! All wrong!”
“First place is the Son of Marquis Chiye, Chen Zheng!”