Inside the dense expanse of the Devil Mountain Forest, Madam Clark’s hunt for Tang Zi continued with relentlessly. The forest was a labyrinth of twisted trees and thick underbrush, its silence only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves or distant animal calls.
After a full day of relentless searching, Madam Clark came to a stop under a massive, ancient tree. The roots spread out like gnarled fingers, providing a natural resting spot. She decided to pause and reassess her strategy.
Experience new stories on empire
Her loyal companions, the wind hawk, panther, and two drakes, gathered around her, clearly fatigued from their exhaustive search. Madam Clark tossed pieces of food to them, her mind already racing through the day’s efforts.
She had scoured every possible location, leaving no stone unturned, yet there was no sign of Tang Zi. No footprints, no discarded items, no signs of human presence at all.
As she watched her pets eat, Madam Clark began to analyse the situation more deeply. She knew Tang Zi was a formidable body cultivator, a man who thrived on the natural resources to sustain and strengthen himself.
This thought sparked a revelation. A man like Tang Zi would undoubtedly need access to the most potent herbs and minerals the forest could offer to maintain his powerful physique.
A surge of excitement coursed through her. She waited for her pets to finish eating, her impatience barely contained. Once they were ready, she immediately resumed the search, this time with a specific focus.
She directed her wind hawk to scout from above, its sharp eyes searching for any patches of unusual or rare flora. The panther prowled silently through the underbrush, its keen senses attuned to the scents and disturbances in the natural order. The drakes, with their robust endurance, plowed through the tougher terrain, their senses alert for anything out of the ordinary.
Madam Clark herself navigated the chariot with heightened anticipation, her eyes scanning the landscape for any sign of valuable herbs or resource-rich areas. She knew she was on the right track, her intuition guiding her as the forest’s atmosphere began to shift. The air grew thicker with the scent of potent herbs and the subtle hum of natural energy.
After an hour of intensive searching, she finally spotted a place that captured her attention. Nestled in a secluded valley, a glade shimmered with an array of vibrant, glowing herbs. The air was rich with their fragrant scent, a sign of their powerful properties. Streams of clear, sparkling water crisscrossed the area, and the ground was dotted with rare, luminous minerals.
Madam Clark’s heart raced. This was exactly the type of place where a body cultivator like Tang Zi would be drawn. She descended from her chariot, her pets forming a protective circle around her as she cautiously approached the center of the herb field.
As she moved deeper into the herb garden, Madam Clark’s senses were on high alert. She knew that Tang Zi, if he were here, would not be easily found. The herb field was vast and filled with numerous hiding spots, from dense thickets to shadowy caves.
Suddenly, a movement caught her eye. Her wind hawk screeched a warning, its wings fluttering above a particularly dense cluster of herbs. Madam Clark approached carefully, her breath held.
Suddenly, a gust of wind roared through the glade, and within mere moments, Madam Clark’s pets fell to the ground with loud, agonized screeches. The wind hawk, panther, and drakes were all disabled one by one, collapsing in a flurry of feathers, fur, and scales. Madam Clark, anticipating the attack, stood ready, her eyes sharp and focused.
Just as her panther fell, a shadowy figure leaped from the thick trees, targeting her with immense force. It was Tang Zi. The middle-aged man, built like a titan with twice the bulk of a normal human, had skin the color of blood and a fierce, unyielding face.
His roar echoed through the forest as he slammed his fists into the mana shield Madam Clark had hastily conjured with a talisman.
“Tang Zi… Tang Zi… I came here for you. Look at me!” Madam Clark shouted, her staff pointed directly at his face.
Tang Zi paused mid-strike, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the voice. His pupils dilated with surprise and a surge of unknown anger twisted his expression. “Quinn family daughter-in-law, what are you doing here?” he demanded impatiently.
“If you call me that again, I will burn down this entire place,” Madam Clark warned, her irritation palpable. The mere mention of ‘Quinn family daughter-in-law’ was like a thorn in her side.
“Hahaha…” Tang Zi, the cruel and beast-like warrior, laughed heartily at her threat.
Keeping her guard up, Madam Clark dispelled the mana shield and stepped forward to speak with Tang Zi.
“Tang Zi, I came here to ask a favor from you,” she said directly, her voice steady.
“Lady, I can guess why you’re searching for me in this devil forest. My answer is a straight NO. I don’t want to fight another war with the Quinn family. I lost all my family and clan because of the last war. I won’t repeat that mistake,” Tang Zi said, turning to walk away without waiting for her response.
“That’s not what I’m here for. Have you forgotten your promise?” Madam Clark called out loudly.
Tang Zi paused, wondering what favor she could possibly want. He turned around, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and caution. “During the last war with the Quinn family, you saved my life from your past husband. I gave you my word of a favor in return. So, tell me, what can I do for you that doesn’t involve fighting the Quinn family?” he asked seriously.
“Train my son in body cultivation,” Madam Clark said, her gaze unwavering as she locked eyes with Tang Zi’s confused stare.
“Lady, to succeed in body cultivation, one must have a divine rank body. Have you forgotten that?” Tang Zi asked, skepticism evident in his voice.
Madam Clark smiled before replying, “My son is a Lionheart, Tang Zi. Do you forget that? My son has a Divine Elemental Body and a Supreme Rank Bloodline. The Aries lineage continues in him,” she declared proudly.
Tang Zi’s expression shifted from confusion to surprise, and then to contemplation. The gravity of her words sank in, and he realized the magnitude of what she was asking. “The son of Lionheart… A Divine Elemental Body and a Supreme Rank Bloodline,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.
Madam Clark took a step closer, her voice softening but still firm. “You know the potential he carries, Tang Zi. He needs someone like you to guide him, to unlock that potential. This isn’t about revenge. It’s about preparing him for the future, for the war that may come. The Quinn family won’t stop, and neither can we.”
Tang Zi stared at her, his fierce demeanor wavering as he weighed her words. The promise he had made to her all those years ago hung heavily between them.
He knew the path she was asking him to take was fraught with challenges, but it was also an opportunity to make a difference, to ensure that another family did not suffer the same fate as his.
“Lady Clark, the path of body cultivation is filled with torture and self sacrifice. Do you really want your son to suffer all this. Even with Mana cultivation, your son can become an equal of Lionheart. Please think about it, before making a decision.” Tang Zi suggested as he remember how hard he trained to become what he is now.
Madam Clark didn’t even think for a second to reply Tang Zi’s question. With a determined look, she said, “Tang Zi, I don’t want to see any flaw in my son. I don’t want to rise my son like a garden flower. I want to see my son sitting on the throne of Quinn family.
The people who called him a lowlife and people who kicked him out, must kneel before him. The Quinn family will pay for everything what they did. Particularly his father, that mighty Ryon Lionheart, should feel regret for not having a son like mine.”
Madam Clark’s eyes turned red and she closed her briefly, swallowing all the anger back in her.
With a deep sigh, Tang Zi nodded slowly. “Alright, Lady Clark. I can see your will for the revenge. To crush the Quinn family, I will do my part. I will train your son. But remember, this path will not be easy.
He must be prepared to endure pain and hardship like never before.”
Madam Clark’s eyes glinted with a mix of relief and determination. “I know, Tang Zi. And so does he. I hope you will teach all your family legacy to him. Think of him as your disciples and carrier of your family legacy.”
_
Note: A Dish Best Served Cold. Thank you for your support. Leave some gifts for this poor author. 🙂