Hua Family Gate…
The main hall of the Hua Family was engulfed in an oppressive silence. The grand chamber, adorned with golden pillars and intricate dragon carvings, usually radiated authority and power. But tonight, it bore witness to disgrace.
Hua Zhong, the patriarch of the Hua Family, sat on his elevated throne, his fingers gripping the armrest with bone-crushing force. His expression was dark, and his eyes burned with fury. A line of kneeling figures, the defeated Hua disciples, including Hua Jing, trembled before him. Their heads were bowed low, not daring to meet his gaze.
“Useless trash!” Hua Zhong roared, his voice echoing like thunder through the chamber. “A group of esteemed Hua family disciples went to a mere slave village and returned crawling like beaten dogs! Not only did you fail, but you brought shame upon my name! The Wei and Ping families are laughing at us right now!”
Hua Jing, despite his pride, clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. “Patriarch, that man—Kent—is no ordinary person. He carries the authority of the Green Poison Peak. We couldn’t—”
“Silence!” Hua Zhong’s palm slammed against the armrest, causing a deep crack to form. “Do you take me for a fool? Do you think I fear the Green Poison Peak? That boy—Kent—he is nothing but an insect who has temporarily found shelter under a poisonous tree! But you, Hua Jing, you let fear grip you! You let an outsider dictate terms in my domain!”
The other elders, seated on the sides, exchanged grim glances.
“Patriarch,” an elder cautiously spoke, “if this Kent is truly the disciple of Yao Fang, then our retaliation must be calculated. Yao Fang is not a man to be trifled with.”
Hua Zhong sneered. “So what if he is Yao Fang’s disciple? The Green Poison Peak specializes in poison, not battle! If we cannot strike openly, we shall strike from the shadows.”
He then turned to the kneeling disciples. “Every one of you will receive fifty lashes! Hua Jing, you will receive a hundred! You will kneel before the ancestral shrine for three days without food or water. This humiliation will be burned into your bones so that the next time you face an enemy, you will not return to me as cowards!”
The disciples bowed deeper. “Yes, Patriarch!”
As the guards approached with long, whip-like rods, the hall filled with the sharp sounds of punishment and the groans of those enduring it. Hua Zhong sat back on his throne, his expression one of seething rage and calculation.
–
Ping family Royal Manor…
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit courtyard, Gu Ping stood with a goblet of wine in her hand, her fingers gripping it tightly. She had just received the news that Ai Ping, the woman she despised, had now found a powerful backer.
“Kent… Kent… Kent!” she muttered, her voice laced with venom. “First, she hides behind her pitiful status, and now she hides behind a man? How pathetic!”
A servant cautiously approached. “Lady Ping, many people have begun investigating Kent. They wish to know his origins, his weaknesses.”
Gu Ping’s lips curled into a cold smirk. “Good. I want every detail about him. If he thinks protecting Ai Ping makes him untouchable, he is gravely mistaken.”
She threw the goblet onto the ground, shattering it. “I will make them regret standing against me!”
A servant rushed into the Ping family manor, bowing before Gu Ping, his voice hurried yet cautious. “Madame Gu Ping, the Emperor has summoned all Ping family members to the throne room immediately. The emperor is already seated and waiting for everyone.”
Gu Ping’s eyes narrowed. A summons from the Emperor was never to be taken lightly. She straightened her robe and gathered other family members and led them to throne room. The Ping family members exchanged glances before proceeding toward the palace, their thoughts clouded with speculation.
–
Green Poison Peak…
Kent flew towards Green Poison Peak with a calm expression, but the moment he landed, a powerful voice boomed through the air.
“Kent!” Yao Fang’s deep voice cut through the silence like a blade. The peak master stood at the entrance of his poison-filled domain, his eyes narrowed. “You wasted time protecting some slave women? What foolishness is this? Don’t you afraid of the Hua family’s anger?”
Kent bowed respectfully. “Master, I promised to protect those beast women and I kept my word. Also, I did what I felt was right. Power should not be used merely for personal gain but also to bring balance to chaos.”
Yao Fang stared at him, his expression unreadable. Then, after a long pause, he let out a low chuckle. “Balance to chaos, huh? Ha! I have always believed that the greater the enemy you make, the more powerful you will become. By standing against the Royal Families, you have put yourself in the center of a storm.”
Kent met his gaze without fear. “Then I will face the storm head-on.”
Yao Fang burst into laughter. “Good! Good! I expected no less from my disciple. But poison alone is not enough. Your combat ability… I have seen your talent, and I believe it is time for you to refine it further.”
He reached into his robe and pulled out an intricately designed pendant. The pendant was crafted with deep crimson and gold, radiating a subtle but undeniable energy.
“Take this,” Yao Fang said, tossing it to Kent. “This is a pass to Red Fist Mountain. Seek out Master Lao. He is a combat expert. While you have mastered the way of poison, you must also master the way of battle. A true warrior must have both brains and brawn.”
Kent caught the pendant and studied it. “Master Lao…”
“Yes,” Yao Fang nodded. “He is known for his ruthless combat training. If you survive his methods, you will no longer fear any combat.”
Kent placed the pendant inside his robe and bowed deeply. “Thank you for your guidance, Master. I will not disappoint you.”
Yao Fang grinned. “Go, boy. Become stronger. Never forget that whose disciple you are. Hahaha.”