“Young chief, young miss is only shaken up. You don’t need to worry.”
The night sky was brightened by the moon’s glow and dazzling stars. In a dusky cave crackled a bonfire, shining its light onto the hundred black-robed figures, all with heads down and in solemn silence.
A white mustached old man glanced at the girl resting near the fire with a youth at her side.
The youth asked, “She is in extreme shock, but why? I’ve known my sister for all my life. She grew among spiritual beasts and is very brash. Just what could have scared her so much?”
“Well…” The old man frowned, then sighed, “It is different for everyone. I am sorry this old man can’t be of any help.”
The youth sighed and waved the old man away.
It was now that the resting girl’s eyes fluttered and she said weakly, “B-brother…”
“Lian’er, you’re awake!” The youth grabbed her wrist in happiness. The other black-robed men rejoiced but did not disturb them.
“Lian’er, what happened to you? You are strong enough to wander the Beast King Mountain for months. So why did you suddenly black out? That was dangerous!” The youth looked at her in concern.
Lian’er nodded, her eyes glistening as she said anxiously, “Brother, don’t attack Tianyu. It holds our natural enemy and if we attack rashly we will suffer greatly. Our clan will be ruined!”
The youth looked at her puzzled. So she propped her weak body up and began retelling her encounter with Zhuo Fan from start to finish.
The youth was shocked, “What, Tianyu has such a mystical power to cower spiritual beasts?”
The faces of everyone around them fell.
This news was a nightmare!
“Tianyu is a true dragon among men. We can’t underestimate it!”
Taking a deep breath, the youth stood and paced around with a frown, “We, the Quanrong, are experts in rearing beasts, able to sweep the lands with our beast army. Not even that God of War, Dugu Zhantian, dares face us. Only with the help of his arrays and formations can he stand on equal ground to us. But if Tianyu has someone capable of instilling fear into beasts, to the point they’d go against their master’s orders, our beast army will collapse in a heartbeat.”
The others nodded, having reached the same dreadful conclusion. This news broke Quanrong’s strongest advantage, robbing them of any means to attack.
“Young chief, allow this general to purge this danger from the world!” A strapping middle-aged man cupped his hands.
From the powerful waves he released, this man was clearly a Radiant Stage expert!
Mulling it over, the youth shook his head in the end, “No. Tianyu is in the middle of its Esoteric Debate. We need to use this chance and inspect the Teleportation Array from the shadows. The slightest mistake on our part will endanger our entire operation.”
“Brother, you still want to do it? But that guy…” Lian’er spoke in worry.
The youth came to a decision, “All the more reason. If we can’t conquer Tianyu, we will never get the chance again and will lose every future war!”
They all nodded solemnly.
Lian’er sighed, “But brother, is that man truly trustworthy? Can we really take Tianyu in one move?”
“Ha-ha-ha, Lian’er and everyone needs to relax. There is no better spy in Tianyu than that man.” The youth cackled. As if the world was his oyster…
Back to Zhuo Fan, he was still flying among the clouds in search of Luo Yunhai and the rest.
Suddenly, his nose twitched and he changed directions.
Blood!
Whoosh!
Zhuo Fan landed near a river soaked in blood and bodies coming from upstream.
The wounds on the bodies clearly showed they were man made. A great battle must be underway upstream and he rushed to investigate.
His Discerning Field was strong enough to scout two miles ahead in great detail. He could even see what was behind those two mountains in front.
Zhuo Fan bypassed them with his senses and saw a great deal of men gathered at the mouth of a valley. From their signatures, he easily identified them as Luo Yunhai, Xue Ningxiang, and other second and third rate clans.
Outside the valley entrance were the vassals of the Regent Estate’s faction, forcing Yunhai’s group into the valley. He had no clue who they were but their leader couldn’t be more familiar. Zhuo Fan snickered, “Oh my, now a cripple goes out hunting? You must have a death wish.”
Quite right. The man leading the attack on Luo Yunhai was Forest Fleeting Dragon, Lin Xuanfeng. Albeit a one-legged dragon, but he still had the power to shock everyone.
His dragon title was shaky now, but to the average Profound Heaven expert, he was undefeated.
Lin Xuanfeng looked coldly at his enemies and shouted, “Listen up! I only care about the Luo clan to settle a grudge. I don’t have time to waste on extras so get lost. Or you could just follow Luo clan to their grave!”
The men were tense and glanced at Luo Yunhai.
It was obvious Lin Xuanfeng was taking it out on the Luo clan for having Zhuo Fan rip his leg clean off. Their grudges had nothing to do with these second rate clans.
Although vassals of Drifting Flowers Edifices, Sword Marquise Abode, and Veiled Dragon Pavilion were allies of Luo clan, they were nonetheless far from willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice in defending them.
Luo Yunhai knew this as well as he said solemnly, “Our meeting was pure chance, friends. There’s no need to implicate youself as well. If you wish…”
“Useless cripple, our fate lies with the Luo clan. You don’t scare us! Why don’t you pick on big brother Zhuo if you have the guts!”
The charming voice cut Luo Yunhai off, with a brash and arrogant tone. Her allies were scared witless.
[Young miss!]
[If you want to defend Luo clan and die, go right ahead, we won’t stop you. But could you please not drag us into this as well? And why are you even mentioning that guy’s name, are you trying to piss off Lin Xuanfeng some more?]
[How are we supposed to face that whirlwind, Lin Xuanfeng?]
They all felt like crying, having their lifeline cut off without remorse.
Xue Gang and Xue Lin looked at Xue Ningxiang with a shake of their heads. They knew she liked Zhuo Fan, but going as far as ticking off Lin Xuanfeng was the worst case scenario.
Luo Yunhai looked at Xue Ningxiang, moved, “Sister Ning’er, thank you…”
“What thanks? Without big brother Zhuo around, it falls to me to keep you safe!” Xue Ningxiang patted her chest with a prideful face. She was happy as long as she could do anything for Zhuo Fan.
And yet her brothers were crying inside.
[Damn brat! How can you look after someone when you’re constantly being looked after? Moreover, Luo Yunhai and his ten guards are stronger than any of us. How can we even protect them?]
Luo Yunhai scratched his nose, “Uh, I am grateful for sister Ning’er’s good intentions. But it’s best if I take big brother Zhuo’s place and look after you.”
Ning’er patted Luo Yunhai’s head and smiled, “Never mind protecting me, since big brother Zhuo is surely just around a corner, ready to jump in and save me.”
Luo Yunhai was puzzled.
Ning’er showed her Thunder Ring with a smile, “Each time I’m in danger, the Thunder Ring flashes and that means big brother Zhuo is here!”
Luo Yunhai sighed at how innocent and naive she was, even delusional some might say.
[It would be best if big brother Zhuo comes in the nick of time. But if you think he’s going to show up each time you’re in danger, won’t you treat your life as a joke?]
Her brothers knew this as well and tried reasoning with her, but Xue Ningxiang turned a deaf ear.
A girl’s fairy tail was impossible to dispel!
Xue Ningxiang’s choice of words sure got the obvious reaction out of Lin Xuanfeng. He was pissed and filled with bloodthirst.
“Young master Lin, we…” His men glanced at him.
Lin Xuanfeng’s eyes were bloodshot as he barked, “Ignorant brat! Just kill them all and be done with them!”
His roar resounded in Luo Yunhai’s group’s ears, scaring them. Only Xue Ningxiang was closely watching Thunder Ring for any signs, waiting for that spark of hope…