Chapter 719: Origins Revealed
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The final Immortal sect in Eastern Wastelands had turned into a puff of cloud and smoke and transformed into a lush forest. There was a gigantic pit in the forest, and it was as if it was the only thing that could be a slight testimony to Great Leaf Immortal Sect's destruction.
This had always been the place where spiritual aura was the most abundant in Eastern Wastelands. Even if it had turned into a forest now, the spiritual aura was still spreading out slowly and filling up the entire area, making it seem like the forest was surrounded by a haziness, giving it a dream-like air.
From then on, this would be the place where Fated Kin in Eastern Wastelands would live. As long as Fated Kin continued to grow and become stronger and Su Ming remained alive, they were destined to become an extraordinary existence among the Berserkers.
They would just be like the God of Shamans Temple among the Shamans. As members of the same race as Su Ming, Fated Kin would stand over the other tribes and Berserker clans for a long time. No one would dare to challenge their might because they were of them.
'From now on, there will no longer be any Great Yu. What will appear among the Berserkers would will be a land where Fated Kin are the heads. They will build their homes in other continents as well to maintain the land of Berserkers' operations.'
This was what Su Ming was thinking right then. Since Great Yu had been buried by time, then they should let it be gone forever. Fated Kin would replace the previous Great Yu among the Berserkers, allowing them to grow stronger as they gained new life.
Su Ming left. Fated Kin had followed him into the area that once belonged to Great Leaf Immortal Sect spread out through the forest, and under Nan Gong Hen's lead, they started developing the place into the unique landscape that would be suitable to be their home.
Before long, this place would have two mountains. The mountain range would form a valley, and the valley would be modified to be able to gather the waves of Yin Death. They would have many Enchanted Vessels that would belong solely to their kin such as the gigantic bow, and a series of divine abilities and Arts, each of which would be stronger than the last.
A statue of Su Ming would be carved out as well. That statue would become the deity statue that Fated Kin would worship every day, and it would become the God of Berserkers' Statue in the land of Berserkers.
Su Ming left with his second senior brother, Qian Chen, the bald crane, a mutt that would occasionally drool… and a mischievous beautiful woman that loved smiling.
This was a strange group. Every single time Su Ming turned his head around, he would not be able to help but smile wryly. He was mostly alone over the years, so situations like this were rare to him.
The woman called Yu Xuan was sitting on the mutt, and it was running and leaping while drooling and reeling about in midair.
Su Ming could tell that the mutt should not be so… lively. It was acting this way because Yu Xuan's hands had seized the fur on its head. If she yanked the fur to the left, the mutt would run to the left, and if she yanked it to the right, it would immediately run to the right.
Along with the mutt's actions rang Yu Xuan's bell-like laughter. There was joy in her laughter, as if she was completely carefree… but to Su Ming, that was not a carefree laughter—it was one of ignorance.
The bald crane did not take the form of an old man this time, but had turned into a boy and was asking for lessons from second senior brother. The man and crane walked together, and the occasional peals of dark chuckles from the duo as well as the look of regret that they had not gotten to know each other sooner along with the congenial air made an incredibly thick presence that belonged to creeps coming together.
Su Ming rubbed the center of his brows and looked towards Qian Chen, who was constantly by his side and had practically never left him. Qian Chen had clearly been traumatized by all the bullying. He was scared of the bald crane, frightened by the mutt, and terrified of the woman.
This was his first meeting with Su Ming's second senior brother, but when he heard how he spoke to Yu Xuan and saw how the bald crane had acted as if it was regretting it had not met the man earlier, he instantly shuddered. His gaze when he looked at Su Ming's second senior brother instantly became different, which was why he decided to stay as far away as possible from him while showing respect. He had a feeling… that only Su Ming could be considered somewhat normal among this group of people.
Su Ming rubbed the center of his brows roughly until that spot turned red. He let out a long sigh in his heart and no longer paid any attention to the people around him. Instead, he turned into a long arc and left into the distance.
"Xiao Huang, follow him." Yu Xuan grinned as she cast a glance at Su Ming's back, then smugly lifted her chin. There was no longer any need for her to hide in the clouds to follow Su Ming. She could stay by his side openly, and even if she had promised to get married to him, she was completely unbothered by it.
'Heh heh, before those two old coots come here, I'll have to protect him, only then will I be able to get a good price. Oh well, I might suffer a little bit of loss because of it, but this Su Ming will have it easy. Once those two old coots come, I'll leave.
'And if this stupid boy really falls in love with me, then it'll be his misfortune… Ah, I'm just too exceptional, that's why people always fall in love with me. It's quite depressing.' The woman let out a pleased sigh and patted the mutt's head, hitting it until the mutt started bobbing its head up and down, but it did not dare become angry.
It was not afraid of Yu Xuan, but was afraid of her family. To it, every single person in her family was mad…
Yu Xuan was feeling incredibly smug in her heart, but as she sighed, she seized the mutt's head. The mutt winced in pain and looked as if it was about to cry. A complicated look that was made of feelings of having been wronged and nursing grievances appeared on its face. Then, as if it had accepted its fate, it lowered its head and chased after Su Ming.
Second senior brother had a gentle smile on his face as he patted the shoulder of the boy that was the bald crane. With the attitude of someone from the older generation, he praised the bald crane in an over the top fashion.
"Not bad, little baldy, your comprehensive abilities are very good. You managed to inherit these skills of mine. Learn it well and trust in yourself. Set a goal for yourself, and someday, you will become a pillar of support for someone else.
"Even if someone hits you, even if someone humiliates you, even if someone looks down on you, you must persevere and walk down your own path. This path is full of hardships, but I believe that you will be able to move down it even farther than I did."
The boy that was the bald crane had an incredibly excited look on his face. He hit his chest with all his strength and nodded vigorously.
"I got it. I have a goal, and that goal is to make that Dao Chen into my steed. Damn… If I make him my stead, just how majestic will I look like at that time?" The bald crane's eyes shone, and he grew more excited with each word.
"Good luck. I believe you can do it." Su Ming's second senior brother's eyes sparkled. There was an encouragement within that smile, and he patted the shoulder of the boy that was the bald crane before he swept his gaze towards the mutt in the distance. An even more brilliant smile appeared on his lips.
Several days later, the sky above the spot where the Immortals descend in Eastern Wastelands was dark. Great Yu Imperial City was in the sky like a huge patch that covered it up.
There was wind blowing on the ground, and it stirred up waves of dust with sashaying sounds. On the land filled with cracks was a statue without a head. That statue held a gigantic battle axe in its hand, and there was an indescribable ferocious air all around it. The hearts of anyone normal would quiver upon coming close.
Su Ming stood beside the statue and was staring at it blankly. Right by his side was his second senior brother.
Qian Chen and the bald crane were in the distance. Qian Chen, who had his throat seized by the bald crane, had a glum face as he pleaded for mercy, but the bald crane was riding on his body excitedly, testing out the abilities of speaking out of logical convention, which he had learned from Su Ming's second senior brother over the past few days.
As for the mutt and Yu Xuan, they were flying happily in circles in midair… as if they did not know what dizziness meant.
Besides Hu Zi, all the disciples of the ninth summit had finally gathered together, but this gathering was filled with sorrow and silence.
Su Ming looked at his eldest senior brother's statue, and so did his second senior brother. Neither of them spoke, but they lifted their hands gradually and placed them on the statue at the same time. Time trickled by, and after some time, the statue let out a ray of gray light. It started flowing all over the statue before splitting into two and charging towards Su Ming and his second senior brother's palms.
The two rays arrived within an instant and surged into their bodies. A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. He noticed that there was a presence that could numb his flesh and blood in that gray light, and that presence could turn him into stone, but he did not lift his hand off the statue. Instead, he circulated his cultivation base to suppress that presence.
A dark light shone in second senior brother's eyes, and his skin gradually turned green. With a cold harrumph, he, too, started suppressing that presence.
After a moment, a powerful rebound came from the statue, forcing off both Su Ming and his second senior brother's hands off. The two brothers cast a glance at each other.
"Eldest senior brother's presence is still around."
"We can chase away the gray light in the statue slowly, but it'll take time."
A smile appeared on second senior brother's face. When he looked towards Su Ming, praise showed up in his eyes. He had noticed Su Ming's level of cultivation once again, and he was very pleased in his heart. He knew that his youngest senior brother had truly grown up.
"If eldest senior brother wakes up, he'll also agree to the marriage I arranged for you, youngest junior brother." Second senior brother cast Su Ming a glance and suddenly said these words softly. His voice was very faint, and only Su Ming could hear them. There were also waves of power spreading out from him, blocking off all divine senses from intruding into this place.
"Second senior brother, did you manage to see where she came from?" Su Ming hesitated for a moment before he looked towards his second senior brother.
"The little girl is not a Berserker, and neither is she an Immortal. There's a presence within her that is similar to the aura of death, but it contains life force. This should originally be something that only puppets possess, but there is no way she is a puppet.
"I was quite uncertain about her identity at first, but when I saw that mutt, I was instantly clear about her origins!" Second senior brother did not lift his head to look at the woman and her mutt. He only spoke gently as he looked at eldest senior brother's statue.
"Master once said that his Master, which is our Grandmaster, had once told him that Immortals and Berserkers are located in a place called True Morning Dao World, but in this endless universe, there are four Great True Worlds." Second senior brother looked towards Su Ming.
"There is a world called the Emperor of Abyss' True World among the four Great True Worlds. The people in that world practice Abyss Arts. Their presence makes them feel as if they are alive but not, as if they are dead but not really. This description is very similar to what that girl exudes."
Chapter 720: Yu Xuan, Could You Give Me a Strand of Your Hair?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"Also, Master mentioned that our Grandmaster has killed a World Traversing Abyss Dragon and took three of its Origin Scales to create a treasure. He gave one of them to Master later… but Master gave it to me and I fused it with my phantom self. Only then was I able to stabilize my form.
"I refined that scale into part of my body a long time ago, that's why I could sense something different about that mutt. It's… not a mutt, but an Abyss Dragon, and it's not just any ordinary Abyss Dragon. It's even stronger than the master of the scale that is now a part of me," second senior brother said slowly. When Su Ming heard these words, he looked as calm as ever, but a thought appeared in his heart.
"Abyss Dragons are also known as World Traversing Spirits. These dragons are incredibly rare, and they are one of the rare ferocious beasts that can move through the barriers between the four Great True Worlds. If you can subdue this creature and make it your own, then it will be incredibly helpful to us when we want to leave Yin Death Region. With it, the possibility of us leaving this place will be higher. Only when we leave the world of Berserkers… can we search for our Master."
Su Ming fell silent. After some time, he nodded.
"Besides, this little girl is not bad at all. She's quite suited for you," second senior brother said with a smile and a wink.
Su Ming shook his head. He did not speak.
His second senior brother regarded what that woman brought with her with great importance. It was an ability that could leave Yin Death Region and could even move through the four Great True Worlds, something that only World Traversing Spirits possessed. This ability was incredibly important to Su Ming himself and his senior brothers. It could allow them take their first step towards finding their Master.
But there was not just one method to leave this place. Nonetheless, since this was a decision made by second senior brother, Su Ming did not refuse him.
Besides, this was a relationship where both parties were mutually exploiting each other. In fact, it could even be said that one party was exploiting quite a lot from the other, and that was indeed the case. Su Ming believed that the woman had her own reasons to follow and even help him, like she had done in the Dead Sea.
Su Ming had a few guesses as to why she did that, but he could not verify any of them.
"She must be seeking her personal interests by following you. If that's the case, then we should conspire against her a little. Only by doing so will we be able to reach a balance and you won't suffer losses. Don't worry, youngest junior brother, I'll help you handle this. I can guess what this lass is thinking about, somewhat." Second senior brother gave Su Ming a gentle smile and winked at him.
"Let's go. We'll take eldest senior brother with us… and return to ninth summit!" Second senior brother waved his arm, and a layer of black fog immediately spread out from his body to envelope eldest senior brother's statue. Then, it swept it up to his sleeve.
There were no longer any Immortals in Eastern Wastelands. All the tribes were assembling their strength, and they would need some time to gather together the large amount of their tribe members that had gone to the other continents. They also needed to build an innumerable amount of ships that could cross the Dead Sea. This, too, needed time.
Based on Su Ming's promise to Chi Lei Tian, Xue Sha, and the others, they would need to make preparations as soon as possible, and once they were done, they were to immediately send word to Su Ming.
"The ninth summit…" Su Ming lifted his head and looked into the distance. His eyes revealed his thoughts.
"Second senior brother, I… saw Zi Yan a few days ago," Su Ming said softly.
"Is she well?" His second senior brother was momentarily stunned. Some time later, when he asked that question, the gentle smile was still on his lips, but there was a nostalgic look on his face.
"She's already married." Su Ming hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he still chose to say it.
His second senior brother closed his eyes. A long time passed, and when he reopened them, not a single hint of difference could be seen on his face, but Su Ming could sense that his second senior brother was feeling a little melancholic.
"Then let's go see her."
Second senior brother lifted his head and let sunlight shine on the side of his face. His eyes might have seemed calm at that moment, but only he knew that the picture of a petite and pretty woman glaring and standing on the ninth summit with her hands on her hips had appeared in his head.
Su Ming nodded quietly and slowly rose into the air, then turned into a long arc. His second senior brother followed behind him quietly. The mutt and Yu Xuan that were still sauntering about in the sky as if they did not know fatigue followed them… as well as the bald crane that was riding Qian Chen. All of them flew into the distance.
Yu Xuan was sizing up Su Ming all along the way. Her gaze would also occasionally land on his second senior brother. Gradually, she saw something off about them and instantly became curious. She grabbed the mutt's fur, and it dashed a few steps ahead to catch up to Su Ming and stand beside him.
"Hey, little dummy Su, what's up with your second senior brother?" Yu Xuan asked, looking quite curious.
Su Ming frowned and did not bother with her.
"Little dummy Su!" Yu Xuan shouted at him again.
"Little dummy Su, big dummy Su, old dummy Su… I'm your betrothed. I'm not even married to you yet, and you're already ignoring me?! I'm breaking off this engagement!" Yu Xuan said loudly as she lifted her chin.
"Are you done?" Su Ming frowned and cast a glance at Yu Xuan.
When she saw that he was being so cold and indifferent, she let out a cold harrumph. She lifted her right hand and a jade bottle appeared on her palm. She poured out some medicinal cores that were exuding a thick medicinal fragrance, then threw one of them into her mouth and crunched on it.
The medicinal fragrance from it immediately made the mutt lick its lips. Even the bald crane riding on Qian Chen and following behind them widened its eyes instantaneously. It quickly moved a little closer and sucked in a breath of that medicinal fragrance, and its eyes instantly started shining.
'It's a supreme spirit core. That's definitely a supreme spirit core!'
"Abyss Control Core. It has incredibly good effects towards spiritual bodies and those who practice the cultivation methods that use Abyss Death Aura. If you are injured, you can heal your injuries with it, and if you're not injured, you can increase your power with it. Even if you eat a lot of it and there are no longer any obvious effects, it can still be used as a beauty product." Yu Xuan poured out another one of those cores and cast Su Ming a glance before she placed it in her mouth and crushed it.
Su Ming cast that medicinal core a glance, but before he could speak, his second senior brother immediately took a few steps forward from behind him and put on a gentle smile.
"Sister-in-law, my youngest junior brother is slow to the uptake. Don't bother with him. How about this? I'll answer your question. One question for five medicinal cores," he said with a smile.
"I want him to answer. Ten questions for one medicinal core." Yu Xuan narrowed her eyes, turning them into the shape of crescent moons. She was incredibly beautiful to begin with, and this expression made it seem as if her beauty had blossomed like a flower, making her even more attractive.
"My youngest junior brother refuses to speak, though. This is a little difficult. Two questions, nineteen medicinal cores," second senior brother stated at a moderate pace.
"He has to listen to me talk during our journey. Three questions, two medicinal cores," Yu Xuan said.
"That won't do. My youngest junior brother definitely won't agree to this. We'll have to talk about this…" Second senior brother shook his head, and they continued discussing the number of medicinal cores for the number of questions.
Su Ming rubbed the center of his brows again and looked towards the sky before he cast a glance at his second senior brother and Yu Xuan. Then, he let out a long sigh.
After a moment, his second senior brother and Yu Xuan reached a consensus. As for the number of medicinal cores that were negotiated, Su Ming did not know. He only knew that he would no longer have any peace during this journey...
"Little dummy Su!"
"You're not answering me, so I'm reducing one medicinal core."
"Big dummy Su?"
"Still not answering? Fine, I'll reduce another medicinal core."
"Old dummy Su!"
Su Ming turned around and glared at Yu Xuan coldly before letting out a harrumph. Yu Xuan instantly beamed and twirled a lock of her hair smugly.
"Oh, so you like being called old dummy Su, huh?"
Su Ming's second senior brother let out a few fake coughs and quickly took a few steps back to stand beside Qian Chen and the bald crane. As he watched Yu Xuan bothering Su Ming, he sighed and swallowed one of the medicinal cores.
"Youngest junior brother, if your senior brother Hu Zi was in your place and he was being bothered by such an adorable girl, he would be really happy." When Su Ming's second senior brother spoke, he brought out another medicinal core and placed it in his mouth.
The bald crane watched by the side with eager eyes and continued licking its lips. It was even drooling, and it caused an incredible amount of distress for Qian Chen, who was its steed. He continued sighing and groaning with a face full of despair.
'Damn this crane. I swear that once my power is restored when I leave the world of Berserkers, I'll definitely make this damn crane pay!' With a glum face, Qian Chen made this exact same oath that he had sworn for the umpteenth time during this journey.
In this manner, this group of people gradually flew out of Eastern Wastelands and moved into the Dead Sea. The numerous islands of South Morning were located not too far away from them.
"Little dummy Su, that big fish in the sea is really pretty, catch one for me."
"Little Su, why don't you call me big sister? Come on, hurry up, call me big sister… Hmph. Second senior brother, I'll give you three more medicinal cores. Just call me big sister once and I'll give you three medicinal cores, you know? It's a really good deal."
"Little Su Su, that Dead Sea Giant just glared at me. Go hit it."
"Dumb dumb Su Su, that sunlight is too vicious, hold an umbrella for me…"
Su Ming almost had a mental breakdown during the journey. That Yu Xuan chattered nonstop, and she had placed all her attention on Su Ming. She had even reduced the amount of time she bullied the mutt by a huge margin, making the mutt incredibly happy. It was only too eager for the woman to continue ignoring him, which was why it did not even stretch out its tongue during the journey or make a single sound, worried that Yu Xuan would remember its existence.
Second senior brother cast a pitying glance at Su Ming and swallowed a few more medicinal cores. His weakness had been cured by a large margin as he continued using these medicinal cores as supplements. As he watched Su Ming being tormented this way, he sighed.
"Youngest junior brother, I suddenly realized that this girl… seems to not be too suited to you…" Second senior brother had uttered these words when Yu Xuan immediately threw two medicinal bottles towards him. Once second senior brother caught them, the smile on his face instantly grew resplendent.
"No, no, you're very suited for each other, youngest junior brother. The two of you are a match made in heaven. You have to work hard and give birth to a few babies."
The bald crane looked at Su Ming with an incredibly pitying glance. Qian Chen did the same. Compared to what Su Ming had to endure, his suffering was really nothing.
When they were not too far away from the island where Zi Yan was, Su Ming finally snapped, no longer able to endure the torment. He sucked in a deep breath and suddenly looked towards Yu Xuan. His expression was not dark, though. There was a gentle smile that was similar to his second senior brother's on his lips. He had always had extraordinary looks, and coupled with his presence of Life Cultivation, he had a strange charm.
While this charm might be somewhat effective against other people, to Yu Xuan, due to the Abyss' presence within Su Ming's body that was from the same source as hers and was even purer than hers, it was a feeling of a sort of natural cordiality towards him. When he looked towards, she was stunned.
"Yu Xuan, could you give me a strand of your hair?" Su Ming asked softly and walked towards the stunned Yu Xuan. Once he was at her side, he lifted his right hand and stroked her hair gently.
Chapter 721: Arriving in Southern Swamp Once More
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yu Xuan was stunned. She had never seen Su Ming put on such a gentle expression throughout the whole journey, and neither had she ever heard him use such a gentle voice. All of this happened too suddenly, and there was an indefinable strangeness to it. This caused Yu Xuan to suddenly remember something.
But before she managed to retreat, Su Ming had already arrived next to her at the brief instant she was stunned and lifted his right hand to naturally place it on her dark locks.
All of this might seem to have happened over a long period of time, but in truth, it had happened instantaneously. Yu Xuan's expression changed swiftly, but by the time she moved back, Su Ming had already taken a dark strand of hair from her head.
With a flip of his right hand, that hair immediately disappeared from his palm.
"Since you've been following me all this while, then you must surely know what will happen if I am in control of someone's hair!" The gentle look on Su Ming's face disappeared, and the gentle tone in his voice also turned icy cold. His whole demeanor returned to how it was previously.
Qian Chen saw all of this as he stood at the back, and a shudder ran through his body. He remembered the days of misfortune that had fallen on his head when he was still in Evil Spirit Mountain, and when he looked at Su Ming, fear appeared in his eyes. He suddenly realized that even Su Ming was abnormal. Each person around him was more evil than the next.
How evil must a person be to be able to turn a strand of hair into a small humanoid so that he could curse whoever that hair belongs to. Qian Chen imagined Su Ming crouching in a corner and chuckling darkly while turning that strand of hair into a person so that he could lay a Curse. His body trembled even more viciously.
The bald crane widened its eyes and looked at Yu Xuan with a bewildered gaze. It saw that her expression had changed, but it could not wrap its head around it, thinking that it was just a strand of hair and would be able to do nothing.
Su Ming's second senior brother was momentarily stunned as well, but based on the changes in Yu Xuan's expression, he could tell that Yu Xuan was feeling incredibly terrible at that moment, and he could not help but smile.
Even the mutt looked as if it had seen a ghost once it saw Su Ming taking one of Yu Xuan's hair. It quickly moved back slightly. It had seen Su Ming use this method multiple times to lay a Curse, and while it might not know the origins of this Art, memories towards the terrors of that Art were fresh in its mind.
After all, Su Ming had disappeared after his battle against Di Tian in the Dead Sea. When Yu Xuan found Su Ming again, he was already in Evil Spirit Sect, and no one knew about the things regarding Ugly Little Thing and her family.
Yu Xuan glared at Su Ming. She had always been intelligent and had always been the one who had the upper hand. She was rarely the one who would be deceived and suffer losses. Even when it came to Su Ming's second senior brother, they were both mutually exploiting each other.
She could naturally tell that second senior brother had been able to find some clues from her or the mutt, but she had used this to follow Su Ming in plain sight. In fact, all of this was more of a fun pastime for her, and there was absolutely no need for her to use too much of her head.
The act of using medicinal cores in exchange for asking questions had seemed like a joke, but in truth, she had wanted to do so. The injuries Su Ming's second senior brother had sustained might not seem to be consequential, but in truth, his foundation had been injured. If he did not heal it as soon as possible, it would have a huge effect.
But that second senior brother refused to say a single word about it, and that little dummy Su was a real idiot, because he had been unable to see it. When second senior brother had circulated his cultivation base before that statue in an attempt to awaken it, this had worsened his injuries even more
That was why she used this method to tease Su Ming and help his second senior brother to heal. In her eyes, she was the one helping Su Ming, and besides, she had been very happy all along the way. After all, she could tell that second senior brother did not harbor any ill intentions towards her. This matter about them mutually exploiting each other would naturally depend on their individual skills.
As for Su Ming, Yu Xuan had only thought that he had quite the potential, and his status as an Abyss Builder could net her a good price. She had not paid much attention to his intelligence, and that matter about marriage was also treated as a joke.
Yet at this moment, she was glaring at Su Ming, becoming serious for the first time. The reason for it was because she had just suffered a very huge loss due to him.
This was something that she had not expected. If she had been schemed against in this manner by second senior brother, she would not have felt so indignant. After all, it was difficult to predict just how he would act with how unpredictable he was.
But… but she was manipulated this way by Su Ming, and this made her very angry.
She glared at Su Ming, and he looked at her flatly. Their gazes met, and there seemed to be sparks flying in the air, but those sparks were not due to the birth of any sort of feelings… It was due to two opponents standing off against each other.
After some time, Yu Xuan let out a harrumph and turned her head around to ignore Su Ming. As she sat on the mutt, she started tugging at the fur at the top of its head, ignoring the mutt's grievances and its helpless anger. Her beautiful eyes sparkled, and no one could know just how many ideas to punish Su Ming had fleeted through her mind.
Su Ming was indifferent, completely unbothered by how many schemes she would come up with. At the very least, he had obtained the peace and quiet that had been absent from his life for a long time now. The voice that almost brought him to a mental breakdown was no longer around, and in the midst of this quiet, the group turned into several long arcs that charged towards the island where Zi Yan was.
A rarely seen quiet filled the air within the group. Su Ming's second senior brother still had the gentle smile on his face while his thoughts remained hidden from others. The mutt looked as if it was suffering more with each passing moment and was wincing in pain, because the woman had a steely expression on her face as she continued wrestling with the fur on its head.
The bald crane blinked and immediately did not dare to even breathe loudly. It had a feeling that a violent storm was about to arrive and knew that it should not make itself known at that moment, or else it would be all too easy to get dragged into the mess.
Qian Chen behaved in the same way. He lowered his head and acted his part of the bald crane's stead, afraid that he would get dragged into the mess.
The group was not too far away from the islands around South Morning to begin with, so as they charged forward in silence, an island appeared before long at the surface of the Dead Sea.
The island looked barren, and there was nothing unusual about it, but when Su Ming approached it and lifted his right hand to form a seal before striking his palm forward in the direction, the island remained the same for the span of ten breaths before a layer of blue light surrounded it. That screen of light was faintly blue in the beginning, but it instantly turned dark blue, and long tunnels appeared on its surface.
Fang Cang Lan, who looked a somewhat delicate while dressed in white, walked forth with light footsteps. She did not look at anyone else besides Su Ming. As she watched him, a gentle smile appeared on her face.
An ethereal air spread out from Fang Cang Lan's body, acting as a background against the dark blue screen of light around her. It made her dream-like beauty increase even more.
There were a dozen something people behind her. All of them were residents of the island, and they knew Su Ming. At that moment, they wrapped their fists in their palms and bowed towards him with respectful expressions.
Among them was Zi Yan… and Ya Mu. Zi Yan, who was dressed in the manner of a married woman, was about to bow with the crowd, but at that moment, her body suddenly started trembling viciously. She looked at the man standing beside Su Ming, the gentle man who had a slightly pale face but was still wearing a faint smile that was so familiar to her.
At the instant she saw him, all the people in her vision disappeared, and the only one left was the man who was as gentle as a flower and who had sunlight shining on the side of his face.
It was a scene from her memories. It was a memory that was buried deep within the recesses of her mind. He was the man who had blocked off her path when she was heading to the ninth summit, the man who had kept his side profile directed to the sun and who believed that his actions were very elegant.
It was… a beautiful moment that existed in the past. Perhaps it could be considered not just a beautiful moment but a budding romance, yet it… existed in the past.
Ya Mu was silent. He noticed Zi Yan's strange behavior and could tell that the reason for her behavior was the man beside Su Ming, and anguish rose in Ya Mu's heart. He gradually lowered his head and slowly took a few steps back, making it so that he was behind Zi Yan instead of standing by her side.
'Zi Yan, as long as you're happy, I can give up everything for you. I know that you don't like me. I know that…' Ya Mu lowered his head and chose to give up.
Among the crowd was Zong Ze, who had clearly entered old age and whose body was exuding a thick bleak air. He looked like an ordinary old man, and with a pretty woman supporting him, he looked at Su Ming with a smile.
Su Ming knew that woman who was supporting him. She was… Autumn Sea Tribe's Sacred Lady - Wan Qiu. She must have reached Southern Swamp Island after Su Ming left all those years ago and reunited with Zong Ze.
Southern Swamp Island was flourishing behind the dark blue screen of light. The layer of green that covered the land, the city moat that was of quite the sizable scale, the buildings on the mountains all around the place, and everything else had turned this place into a paradise.
The fragrance of grass and flowers filled the area within the screen of light, and that scent had the power to creep into one's heart and stay there. Su Ming stood on a cliff and looked into the distance. He could see the blue sky and white clouds from where he stood, and they were real.
The sky above South Morning had originally been filled with thick clouds, but the fight between Su Ming and the Immortals at the place where they descend had stirred up the power of the world, allowing even the sky of South Morning to return to its original color.
The seawater struck the reefs underneath and stirred up splashes from waves as well as black bubbles. Fang Cang Lan stood beside Su Ming. She had become even more quiet than before, and there was an air of gracefulness and restraint in her gentle demeanor.
She was smoothing out the wrinkles in Su Ming's clothes by his side. The elegance of her face allowed others to sense her gentleness in the midst of all that peace and quiet.
Wan Qiu stood in the distance and watched this scene without a word.
If anyone cast their gaze about, they would be able to see two other people standing on another mountain not too far away from Su Ming and Fang Cang Lan. Those two were… second senior brother and Zi Yan.
Yu Xuan was also glaring furiously at the spot where Su Ming was from another mountain, but her gaze found itself on Fang Cang Lan more often than not.
The mutt lay by the side and looked at Yu Xuan, then at Su Ming in the distance, and eventually at Fang Cang Lan. It suddenly shuddered. It could sense a chilling air spreading out from Yu Xuan, and when it cast a sideways glance at her, it saw an expression similar to those Abyss Dragon Consorts wore when they were sizing each other up.
Chapter 722: Second Senior Brother and Zi Yan
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The smell of the sea was contained within the breeze, and it rose up when the waves struck the reefs. The smell fused with the fragrance of the grass and turned into a smell that was unique to areas near seas. Those familiar to it would love it, but those who were unfamiliar would find the smell a little difficult to bear.
Fang Cang Lan was clearly already used to the smell. She stood beside Su Ming, and once she smoothed out his clothes, she looked at the horizon and remained quietly by his side, not saying a single word.
She knew that Su Ming loved silence.
After a long time, he said slowly, "After this, I'll head to the Alliance of the Western Region."
"Mm." Fang Cang Lan nodded with a soft hum.
Su Ming turned his head around and looked at her. This woman was not as beautiful as Yu Xuan, but her quiet demeanor was comforting to other. This was something Yu Xuan did not have.
"Are you coming back?" Fang Cang Lan's eyelashes fluttered lightly and she looked at Su Ming as well.
Su Ming remained silent for a moment before he said calmly, "Perhaps I will, perhaps I won't."
"It doesn't matter whether you choose to come back or not, I will always be here. If a day comes when you are tired, you can come here and take a rest. If I am no longer here when that day comes, my soul will still be here to keep you company," Fang Cang Lan said softly. There was a determined quality in her voice, along with a carefree air.
Her determination came from her existence in this place, and her carefree attitude came from her rejecting Su Ming's companionship when he had offered it to her not out of love.
Su Ming did not speak, but instead looked at the world in the distance.
But this silence that existed between him and Fang Cang Lan… was broken by a bark that sounded like a dragon's roar after a moment.
The mutt came running over with an expression of resignation and suffering as it cried out towards the sky. By its side was Yu Xuan, who had her hands behind her back. She walked with a smile on her face and would occasionally kick the mutt, causing it to cry even louder.
When Su Ming and Fang Cang Lan turned their heads to look, Yu Xuan stuck out her tongue and put on an embarrassed look.
"Ah… what's wrong with this mutt? It keeps barking and won't listen to me. It didn't interrupt the two of you, did it?" Yu Xuan blinked and looked towards Su Ming and Fang Cang Lan. As she spoke, she kicked the mutt again.
Su Ming frowned. Fang Cang Lan smiled gently by his side and looked at the woman, then asked softly, "Who might you be?"
"Hello, senior, I am Yu Xuan. I'm-I'm Su Ming's betrothed." A shy look appeared on Yu Xuan's face.
Fang Cang Lan was momentarily stunned. Then, with her smile unchanged in the slightest, she looked towards Su Ming.
"Second senior brother was the one who arranged our marriage. I'll be married to him in a few days' time. Please come to the wedding feast at that time. I've heard my husband-to-be mention you before, and now that I've met you…"
There was a shy look on Yu Xuan's face, along with an air of naivety as she spoke softly, but before she could even finish speaking, Su Ming took out the strand of her hair. The words then died in her throat.
Fang Cang Lan smiled softly and sized up Yu Xuan. She then took a few steps forward to hold Su Ming's arm. She turned her head sideways to look at Yu Xuan again, and at that moment, her smile was akin to a blooming flower.
"Then congratulations, little sister Yu Xuan. I'll definitely attend the wedding feast later, but I'd like to talk about some private matters with your betrothed right now. Could you step aside?"
Su Ming smiled wryly. This was the first time he saw this sort of expression on Fang Cang Lan's face. She might be smiling, but there was a sharp edge to her smile.
As Yu Xuan and Fang Cang Lan faced off verbally, leaving Su Ming by the side smiling wryly, Zi Yan held back her tears as she smiled and looked at second senior brother on the other mountain.
Part of his face was turned so the sunlight would shine on it. He looked at Zi Yan, and gradually smiled at her as well.
However, their smiles were laced with a hint of melancholy and an indescribable nostalgia. They were like two good friends who had not met each other for years and had buried away the beautiful moments of their past. When they met again, they were strangers who were not really strangers.
Zi Yan smiled and asked softly, "Did you really like me when you were still at the ninth summit?"
"I did indeed like you… but you avoided me like the plague, and I didn't even have the chance to confess to you." Second senior brother let out a dry cough and changed his position, letting the sun shine on the other side of his face.
When Zi Yan saw second senior brother behaving this way, she covered her mouth and chuckled. She sounded really happy, as if she had returned to the past.
"Honestly, I've always wanted to tell you… that when you let sunlight shine on your face like this… you look really horrid," Zi Yan said as she laughed while covering her face.
Second senior brother touched his face and changed an angle before he turned his head sideways to look at her.
"How about now?"
"Still as horrid as ever."
"How about now?"
"Still horrid."
"But I saw youngest junior brother behaving this way last time." Second senior brother changed a few more angles before he eventually sighed.
"Honestly, when you smile, that gentle expression of yours and that tender gaze make you much better looking than anything you did now," Zi Yan teased second senior brother as she laughed.
She had changed. She had become different, and was no longer the girl from all those years ago. There was a mature gracefulness to her, and even her words had become much more magnanimous than in the past.
As second senior brother he looked at the happy Zi Yan, he was dazed for a moment. The image of the girl from the ninth summit and the current Zi Yan gradually overlapped with each other before slowly separating. There were similarities between them, but there were also certain aspects that were very different.
Zi Yan gradually lowered her head under his gaze. No matter how brilliant her smile was, it was still a way to hide the emotions in her heart. She did not want anyone to see how fragile her heart was, especially second senior brother.
He fell silent, and it was something that rarely happened to him. With his personality, it was rare for him to be silent, but at that moment, as he looked at Zi Yan, for some unknown reason, he felt a sharp stab of pain in his heart and fell silent.
How could he not see that Zi Yan was trying to cover up the air of seasons having passed that was all over her? How could he not see the fatigue that came from the bottom of her heart? In silence, he walked towards her slowly.
Zi Yan bit her bottom lip and looked at the man who was like a flower walking towards her. When he stood so close to her that she could even smell the scent of grass on him, she lowered her head.
She did not see Ya Mu sitting on a stone in a place far away from them. He was looking at her blankly, and there was deep anguish on his face.
"Come with me." Second senior brother stretched out his hand and lifted Zi Yan's chin, then gently kissed her forehead.
A dazed look appeared on Zi Yan's face as she looked at him. After a long moment, she lifted her hand and gently caressed his face before shaking her head and taking a few steps backs.
Second senior brother fell silent and looked at Zi Yan moving backwards, then sighed. The gentle smile appeared on his face again.
"Then I wish that you will be happy." Once he finished speaking, he lifted his head and cast his gaze towards Ya Mu, who was sitting on a rock in the distance. After giving him a profound look, he turned around and left the mountain.
Once second senior brother left, Zi Yan looked as if she had lost all her strength and took a few staggering steps backwards. Tears fell from the corners of her eyes. During that instant just now, she had wanted to agree to him… but she could not.
Zi Yan knew that what they'd had was all in the past. All of the things that transpired could only be said to be fate toying with them.
There had only been some fondness between the two of them, and that fondness had all been from second senior brother. As for her… after the things she went through during the change in South Morning, her memory of second senior brother had become incredibly clear as she went through all the vicissitudes of life, but that was only because of recollection.
Due to her helplessness in reality, as she remembered the past, she regretted, but that… was not love.
She could not lie to herself and certainly not to second senior brother.
As she cried, a person she was familiar with appeared by her side. It was Ya Mu, who had taken care of her without complaint over these years and yielded to her wishes. He was Ya Mu, who gave and kept on giving quietly without asking for anything in return.
"Ya Mu… let's go home." Zi Yan wiped away her tears and look towards Ya Mu. She looked at his gentle gaze, and it was… so incredibly similar to that of second senior brother.
The group did not stay long in Southern Swamp Island. The next morning, Su Ming left with everyone following him. As they left into the distance, Fang Cang Lan stood on the island quietly and watched Su Ming's body disappear, just like she had done in the past. She did not know when would be the next time she would meet him and did not know whether… she would still be alive at that time.
She knew that she was in Su Ming's heart, but that was all. It was not love. There seemed to be some sort of barrier she could not describe between the two of them. There seemed to always be a ravine between them, and it was invisible… as if it was life and death itself.
"He's a heartless person."
A calm voice came from beside Fang Cang Lan. It was Wan Qiu who had spoken as she moved to stand beside Fang Cang Lan, and she, too, looked at Su Ming leaving into the distance.
"Even he doesn't know that he is a heartless person… There is no woman in the world who can truly walk into his heart… unless she is a dead person," Wan Qiu stated lightly.
"Perhaps one day he'll understand, and only when he understands would he perhaps be able to accommodate love in his heart." Wan Qiu's voice became lighter with each word, and in the end, she was speaking in a volume at which only she could hear.
"You're wrong." Fang Cang Lan shook her head. "He's not a heartless person. He's simply burdened with too many things, and these things are suppressing him so much that he can't accommodate anything else in his heart, because his heart has always been in a state of confusion."
Zi Yan and Ya Mu stood together and watched Su Ming leave with his group in the sky. There was a silent man standing behind them. It was Zi Che. He had regained his senses during the years he was in the Candle Dragon's body. Su Ming had promised Zi Yan before that he would help search for Zi Che, and now, Su Ming had fulfilled his promise when he returned to the island.
Zi Che wanted to continue following Su Ming, but when he saw his sister, he chose to stay.
Yu Xuan sat on the mutt and remained by Su Ming's side in the sky. She would occasionally look at him, and she would feel slightly pleased with herself in her heart. Due to her interference, Su Ming and Fang Cang Lan had no longer had any time alone. Yu Xuan had thought about everything that she could do and changed her methods to continue following Su Ming during that day in the island.
Second senior brother returned to his usual gentle self. There was no hint of melancholia or unhappiness about him, but he knew that his third change of heart had started during this trip, and this change of heart was due to a woman and the fondness he held for her in the past.
'She doesn't like me, and neither does she like the man beside her now. She likes… a gentle gaze. She likes it because it can give her warmth.' Second senior brother sighed softly.
As the group flew, they moved through the Dead Sea and arrived at the island where Freezing Sky Clan was located. Gradually, Su Ming and his second senior brother saw a mountain in the sea in their field of vision. They saw a tall figure standing on the mountain, and it was… Hu Zi.
Chapter 723: Whose Is It?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The ninth summit was surrounded by the light from the setting sun that was reflected off the surface of the sea, giving it a dazzling feeling. Once Su Ming and his second senior brother saw the tall person standing on the mountain, they gradually stopped charging forward and stopped in midair. There were thousands of feet away between them and the ninth summit.
The figure in the distance was so incredibly familiar to them. It was Hu Zi!
Hu Zi, with his thick, powerful back and shoulders as well as his sturdy body was looking at Su Ming and his second senior brother from the mountain. It was as if he had been standing there since a long time ago, waiting all this while, believing that one day Su Ming would return, second senior brother would come home, eldest senior brother's body would appear before him… and their Master, Tian Xie Zi who loved changing his clothes, would come back to the ninth summit.
"Second senior brother!" Hu Zi's voice came in loud buzzing tones. As his voice reverberated in the air, he took a step into the air and charged towards Su Ming and his second senior brother like a fierce tiger.
As he took huge strides forward, he closed those thousands of feet within an instant. When a huge gust of wind crashed into everyone's faces, a gentle smile appeared on second senior brother's face, and he went up to hug Hu Zi.
Hu Zi's expression was filled with excitement. He hugged second senior brother tightly with slightly red eyes. The faint traces of tears were from joy that one felt after seeing family members that they had not seen for years.
"Second senior brother, how could you come back only now..?" Hu Zi wept, and just like when he first reunited with Su Ming, he started bawling. His cries spread through the entire area, causing all the other people who were staying on the ninth summit to quickly walk out. They then saw Su Ming and the group in the sky.
Bai Su was also in the crowd. She looked at Su Ming, and a smile appeared on her face. Dressed in a purple gauze dress, she stood on the mountain with her black locks flying in the breeze.
However, very soon, her gaze fell on the woman who was sizing up the crowd with a smile on her face while riding on a yellow mutt behind Su Ming. The two's eyes met at that moment.
The woman pursed her lips and smiled before nodding towards Bai Su as a sign that she had seen her. Bai Su could not really tell just what was the woman's relationship with Su Ming, so she only smiled and nodded as well.
She could not tell what the woman was thinking about, and hence did not know that Yu Xuan was sighing in her heart. Yu Xuan cast a sideways glance towards Su Ming. She suddenly felt that there seemed to always be women one way or another involved with the little dummy Su. This was one such woman when they were in Southern Swamp Island, and now there was another in the ninth summit.
Based on the expression of the woman in the purple dress standing on the ninth summit, Yu Xuan could already tell that she had a complicated relationship with Su Ming.
She did not know what had happened to her. Ever since Su Ming's second senior brother had set up that marriage that was more of a joke than anything, her heart would feel a little uncomfortable every time she saw another woman appear beside Su Ming.
However, she did not choose to take the initiative as she did in Southern Swamp Island. Instead, as she looked into Bai Su's eyes, not only did she smile, she also lifted her hand and tugged the hair that had been blown before her eyes. That action was filled with feminine beauty, and it served to make her beautiful face stand out, immediately making her beauty become even more eye-catching.
Hu Zi was bawling nearby, his tears almost drenching second senior brother's robes. Second senior brother was slender, and could not compare to Hu Zi's burly stature. When Hu Zi hugged him, his entire person was drawn into his younger brother's embrace. He could hear Hu Zi's cries in his ears as he patted his back. The smile on his face made Hu Zi cry even harder when he saw it.
"Second senior brother, I'm sorry, when you left, the mountain had been filled with plants, but now that you're back, there's nothing left… Those plants and flowers are all gone…"
Su Ming watched this from the side and felt his heart fill with warmth. Hu Zi's honesty and adorable attitude as well as second senior brother's gentle demeanor that was akin to the spring wind made the ninth summit regain its past presence, although it was faint.
"Alright now, Hu Zi, don't cry. The plants may no longer be there, but I can still plant them again," second senior brother said with a smile, patting Hu Zi's back.
"Second senior brother, you have to promise that you won't hold a grudge against me because of these plants." Hu Zi blinked and cleared out some tears again before starting to bawl again.
"Alright, I won't hold a grudge against you." Second senior brother smiled and shook his head, but gradually, a hint of doubt appeared in his heart.
"Really?" Hu Zi immediately stopped crying. His tears also instantaneously disappeared.
"Truly. Hu Zi, did you do something?" The doubt in second senior brother's heart grew stronger.
"Alright, that's what you said… When you left, I saw that the plants occupied too much space, so I cleared them out a little…"
"So that's what happened. It's fine. I won't hold a grudge against you for this," second senior brother said with a smile.
"That's including the plants outside your house. I thought they looked rather pretty, so I started drinking there and fell asleep, but once I woke up, I discovered that all the plants had died…" Hu Zi let go of his brother's hands and took a few steps back towards Su Ming.
"What else?" Second senior brother continued smiling. He would not be concerned by this.
"The three small blue shrubs outside your room bloomed one day, and they smelled especially nice. So uh, that day… I got hungry and broke them off to eat them while drinking." Hu Zi took another few steps back and stood beside Su Ming.
"Also, I ate all the seeds kept in the four boxes you hid under your bed…
"There was also a garden you hid behind your house with a series of Runes and seals so that no outsiders would get in there, right? I broke that too and used all the flowers there to make wine… I already finished drinking it.
"There're also some dried fruits you hid under a big rock at the foot of the mountain. I ate them as well once I found them… They weren't that good and really dry. I don't understand why you would change your hiding spot every single day so that I wouldn't find them.
"And uh… I drank the water you treasured and had placed in a few bottles in Master's cave because I got thirsty one day and didn't have any wine with me… It made me suffer through a few days of diarrhea.
"Also, after you left and before the Calamity of the Eastern Wastelands arrived, I thought that very few people in the other mountains besides me knew that you had left, so I invented a Rune that would allow me to transform and changed into your shape, wore your clothes, and went off to peak at quite a few number of people…"
Second senior brother's expression gradually changed, but there was still a smile on his face as he looked at Hu Zi.
"What else?"
"What else? Erm… Second senior brother, I can promise you that I've found every single one of your hiding spots in the mountain. Honestly, those seals of yours may deceive other people, but who am I? I could see through them with just one glance.
"The only thing that was slightly more difficult and took me a long time as well as a huge amount of effort to break was that spot seven steps away from Master's cave abode where you hid your… Heh heh, second senior brother, I didn't expect that you had that sort of hobby. You hid some really interesting beast skin scrolls about a man and a woman fighting. Those were really fun to read…"
"Damn it, Master was the one who hid those things there!" Second senior brother glared at him, and his cheeks turned slightly red. He instinctively looked at the crowd in ninth summit, then immediately appeared next to Hu Zi with a single move and seized his neck.
"You said you won't hold a grudge against me! Youngest junior brother, save me…" Hu Zi shuddered and immediately cried out, but his second senior brother still got him by the neck and flew to the ninth summit, right into Tian Xie Zi's cave abode.
Shrill screams then came from the cave. A strange look appeared on Su Ming's face and he let out a fake cough. He remembered that Hu Zi had not been like this when he initially returned to the ninth summit, but he seemed really energetic now.
"Little dummy Su, what's that beast skin about a man and a woman fighting that your senior brother spoke about? Could it be some sort of divine ability? How could it only describe a man and a woman fighting?" Yu Xuan frowned. After a moment of thought, she asked Su Ming about it, puzzled.
Su Ming was also momentarily stunned. He thought about it carefully for a moment, then shook his head.
He had seen his second senior brother's expression change once Hu Zi said those words, and he looked as if he was in a hurry to justify himself before he looked at the crowd underneath. After that, he had brought Hu Zi to their Master's cave abode to teach him a lesson.
"Could it really be some sort of divine ability? One outsiders aren't supposed to know about it?" Su Ming cast a glance at his Master's cave abode. He could hear Hu Zi's pained cries coming from within, so he decided that he should look for a suitable time to ask them just what sort of divine ability it was.
Qian Chen, the bald crane, and the mutt were right beside him. The mutt rolled its eyes and put on a look of disdain. Qian Chen's face, though, had a vulgar look to it. Only the bald crane was stunned and had a similar expression as Su Ming and Yu Xuan. It scratched its head and started mumbling to itself.
"A man and a woman fighting? It must be some strange divine ability. I'll have to learn it when I have the chance."
They were not the only ones who showed a reaction. There were quite a large number of people in the ninth summit at that moment, and most of the men and women there immediately spotted incredibly strange expressions on their faces. They would occasionally look towards the cave abode where the screams were coming from, then look towards Su Ming, who they held in the same amount of respect as they would a deity, thinking hard about it.
Bai Su's petite face colored red. When Su Ming had gone off to search for his Master several years ago, Hu Zi had restored his cultivation and used a long period of time to break the seal that contained that so called beast skin about a man and a woman fighting.
At that time, she had heard Hu Zi mumbling to himself, seemingly because he had failed several times while he tried to break that Rune. He had only managed to open it a year ago, and in the midst of her curiosity, she had also read that beast skin about a man and a woman fighting by his side.
Most of the people's expressions in the ninth summit were incredibly odd as they forced down their laughter. Only Su Ming, Yu Xuan, and the bald crane were still out of the loop. Hu Zi's pained voice echoed in the midst of all the screams from the cave abode.
"Second senior brother, you broke your promise… I just looked at that beast skin scroll you treasured. It's just about a man and a woman, a man and two women, a man and three women, a man with four women and so on fighting against each other naked… Ah!"
"That's not mine! It belongs to Master!" Anger appeared in second senior brother's voice.
"Nonsense, that Rune had your presence! It's exactly the same presence you left behind on all your other seals. Don't even think about lying to me. Oh, there's even one about two women…"
"Master imitated my seals! Damn it all! Hu Zi, I'm definitely going to teach you a lesson today!"
Chapter 724: Youngest Junior Brother, Do You Really Want to See It?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The light from the moon fell on the ground and turned into glistening sparkles on the waves at the surface of the sea, as if there were silver scales spread out on them. The sea breeze blew gently, and it wasn't cold when it touched their faces. It seemed to have fused together with the moonlight, becoming a light veil for the moon.
Under the moon and the sea breeze, Bai Su smiled. She looked calm, but the wild beauty within her was still there. She held a pot of wine in her hand and filled up Su Ming's cup, which was placed in front of him, before she sat down demurely by his side.
Second senior brother sat across Su Ming. His expression was melancholic as he looked at the sky and the sea. He touched the mountain rock under him and drank the wine in his cup in one fell swoop.
"It… feels good to be home," he said softly.
Hu Zi was also by their side, his face swollen and bruised. When he heard it, he let out a harrumph. He did not use a wine cup, but picked up the pot of wine right in front of him and took a big swig from it.
"You promise breaker, I shouldn't have told you. It's just a few plants and a stupid book about a man and a woman fighting, I'm not even interes…" Hu Zi mumbled, but when he saw his second senior brother looking towards him with a smile, he quickly shut up. He was afraid of his second senior brother. This was something Su Ming knew as well.
Hu Zi was not afraid of their eldest senior brother, and he was not even afraid of Master, let alone Su Ming. He was originally the youngest among them, but when Su Ming arrived, the feeling of a senior brother had instantaneously grew in his heart. To him, even if he died, he would absolutely not allow anyone to bully his youngest junior brother.
Yet Hu Zi was truly afraid of second senior brother.
Because eldest senior brother was constantly in isolation and would not hit him… because Su Ming was his youngest junior brother and would not hit him… because Master was too busy and would even occasionally come to Hu Zi with shifty eyes while asking him to break some Runes, he was not afraid of Master, either.
However… this was not the first time second senior brother had hit Hu Zi. All the past experiences had caused Hu Zi to be incredibly terrified of second senior brother. But he also had a very strange personality. The more afraid he was of something, the more he would want to challenge it…
It was precisely because of his fear that he had bawled the moment he saw second senior brother. These cries and tears contained the excitement of a reunion… and also terrified nervousness.
This was why he had decided that he might as well use words to restrict his second senior brother, then confess to everything that he had done in one breath. Once he did that, he did not expect that he would still be hit.
"You're my senior brother, and we haven't met in years, but right when we meet, you hit me…" Hu Zi felt incredibly wronged and took another big swig from his pot.
"Senior brother Hu Zi, what's that book you mentioned about a man and a woman fighting? Could you let me see it?" This voice was very clear and contained hints of naivety. It was Yu Xuan's voice. With a look of puzzlement and curiosity, she sat down beside Su Ming and asked Hu Zi.
Second senior brother's expression twitched, and he glared at Hu Zi, instantly dispelling Hu Zi's urge to speak as his face brightened with a lively glow.
"Little sister Yu Xuan, that book isn't anything good, and neither is it a divine ability. It's best that you don't read it. It's very difficult to understand." The two spots beside Su Ming were now occupied by Yu Xuan and Bai Su. Bai Su covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.
Yu Xuan was momentarily stunned then lifted her chin.
"No matter how hard that book is, I'll be able to understand it. I have plenty of books in my house, and I managed to finish all of them when I was ten. There's nothing I don't understand. Senior brother Hu Zi, bring me that book. I don't believe that I won't be able to understand it." Yu Xuan let out a harrumph.
The mutt lying beside Yu Xuan blinked when it heard her words, then bared its teeth in a grin. That expression was incredibly strange, but the mutt did not make a single sound.
Qian Chen was holding onto a pot, pouring wine for Su Ming's second senior brother with an eager and attentive look on his face. When he heard Yu Xuan's words, he accidentally spilled some of the wine. He was forced down the mad laughter in his heart, rejoicing inwardly that even the witch would have such a day upon her. He looked forward to the moment the woman's expression changed when she saw the book about the man and woman fighting.
"That's right, Hu Zi, come on, bring that book to…" The boy that was the bald crane rubbed his hands with a look of curiosity, but before he managed to finish speaking, Hu Zi glared at him and lifted his right hand to seize the boy's neck.
"Damn you, did you really think that I won't manage to see who you are?! You're that damn bald crane!" As the bald crane screamed in pain, Hu Zi swung him a few circles before throwing him again the ground again and again.
"Change into a woman! I'll let you know personally what's drawn in that book!" Hu Zi stood up and lifted the bald crane before he threw him on the ground again.
Second senior brother was taking a sip out of the wine cup at that moment. When he heard Hu Zi's words, he nearly spat out his drink. As he laughed wryly, he looked at Hu Zi and the bald crane, then at the puzzled Yu Xuan as well as Bai Su, who knew what was going on but had decided not to speak and had instead chosen just to smile.
Eventually, he looked at Su Ming. When he saw a slight spark of curiosity towards the beast skin book in Su Ming's eyes despite the indifferent look on his face, he could not help but let out a long sigh and shift his gaze to look at the statue placed near their group. That statue was naturally their eldest senior brother, and there was a pot of wine placed in front of him.
This was a gathering among those of the ninth summit. Their eldest senior brother might have turned into a statue, but this was his home. He must be present when the disciples of the ninth summit gathered together.
The bald crane's screams of pain traveled outwards, and his body rapidly changed to his original look - that of a crane without feathers. With Hu Zi holding onto its neck, it continued forming arcs in the shape of a fan as it was repeatedly hit against the ground.
"Hu, you little brat! Your Grandpa Crane is a crane of integrity! I am not going to change!"
"You damn brat, if I didn't save you all those years ago, you would have turned into a seed a long time ago! I refuse to change! I refuse to!"
Hu Zi glared at the bald crane and brought it to his face.
"How dare you talk about what happened in the past. Do you think I don't know about this? You could have saved me with an even easier method, but you just had to let me suffer… You don't want to change, huh? Fine, I'll drag you into my Dreams and continue beating you up there.
"Let me tell you, your Grandpa Hu is great. A year ago, I had a dream, and I dreamt that I reached Berserker Soul Realm. Guess what? When I woke up, I really reached Berserker Soul Realm."
Su Ming smiled and brought the wine cup to his lips to take a sip. He had managed to tell much earlier that Hu Zi had become far stronger than before, and only then did he know the reason. When he remembered their Master talking about the mysteries of Hu Zi's Enter Dream as well as his expectations towards him, he was not surprised.
Their second senior brother was also looking at Hu Zi with a smile. He might always hit him, but he was even happier than Hu Zi himself when he saw Hu Zi's level of cultivation increasing.
"I'm not going to change even if you Enter Dreams! Your Grandpa Crane is a crane of integrity, and I won't submit to your will!" It was rare that the bald crane would be so firm. As it screeched, its expressions and tone made it clear that it would absolutely not submit to Hu Zi, even though he was abusing his power.
Yet at that moment, Yu Xuan, who was beside Su Ming, blinked and said with a smile, "Senior brother Hu Zi, don't be angry. How about this? I'll have it change into the form you want, but you'll have to show me the divine abilities you learned from the book, okay?"
Second senior brother immediately let out a few fake coughs, but before he managed to say anything, Su Ming had already cast his eyes on the bald crane.
"It's fine even if you transform for a while. Senior brother Hu Zi, you have reached Berserker Soul Realm, and you can use that divine ability to let me see the circulation of your Qi. I feel that your Qi has stagnated in certain parts, but I don't know what caused it."
Second senior brother hit his forehead. He had no idea what he could say now.
Hu Zi's expression became a little strange. He might be simple and honest, but he had still managed to understand what that beast skin book was about. After a moment of hesitation, his face turned red, which was a rare sight on him.
"Youngest junior brother… Do you… Do you really want to see it?" Hu Zi looked at Su Ming helplessly.
Su Ming was momentarily stunned, then nodded.
"Are you… Are you sure you really want to see it?" Hu Zi looked as if he was about to cry, then turned towards his second senior brother as if he was trying to ask him what he should do.
His second senior brother decided to turn his head away and ignore him.
"Fine, then. Youngest junior brother, since you want to see it, then I'll give it my all!" When Hu Zi gritted his teeth, a look of excitement appeared on Yu Xuan's face. She pointed at the bald crane and ordered it with a clear voice.
"Little baldy, hurry up and change!"
"No! Even if you beat me to death, I won't change! It doesn't matter who's the one who said it, I won't change! This Grandpa Crane won't submit to anyone, I will absolutely not bow my head this time. Even if Dao Chen becomes my steed in front of me, I won't change!" the bald crane cried out loudly with a determined look on its face. It continued telling itself that this time, it definitely must adhere to its principles, and it would absolutely not change into a girl. This was the bottom line that it must absolutely not pass as Grandpa Crane.
"Heh… Youngest junior brother, if it refuses to change, I can't do anything about it." Hu Zi let out a sigh of relief and quickly sat down. Just as he was about to take up his pot of wine and continue drinking, he suddenly widened his eyes and stared blankly at Yu Xuan.
Right before his eyes, Yu Xuan brought out a bag with flowers embroidered on it from her bosom. She poured out some sparkling crystals from it and threw one into the distance.
That crystal turned into a ray of crystalline light as it flew, but then a black shadow shot up with a whooshing sound and caught up to the crystal before it grabbed it with its claws. It was naturally… the delighted bald crane.
The crane brought the crystal in its claws to its beak and bit down on it. The crane's eyes instantly began sparkling.
Yu Xuan threw out a few more crystals with a smile, causing the bald crane to fly about everywhere.
In the end, Yu Xuan flipped over the bag towards the ground, and a dozen something crystals instantly fell on top of each other on the ground in a pile. The light that spread out from them made the bald crane so excited that it started shivering.
"Transform. Once you do, I'll give all of this to you," Yu Xuan said with a smile.
At that moment, all talks about principles and bottom lines faded away in the bald crane's eyes. The pile of crystals on the ground became the highest bottom line and the greatest principles in the world in its eyes.
Without a single bit of hesitation, it moved its body swiftly… and a delicate lady with a vulgar expression appeared before the group.
"Senior brother Hu Zi, hurry up and use that divine ability."
Yu Xuan was truly incredibly curious, and she was also slightly unwilling to accept what Bai Su had said about her not being able to understand this ability. When she saw that the bald crane had already transformed, she immediately opened her mouth and urged Hu Zi to take action.
Su Ming also looked over.
Second senior brother closed his eyes and sighed with a wry smile.
Hu Zi was stunned. He looked at Su Ming, then at Yu Xuan, and at Bai Su, whose cheeks were flushed red and whose expression had turned strange. Eventually, he looked towards his second senior brother, who had his eyes closed. Then, Hu Zi scratched his head hard, looking as if he was about to burst into tears.
"Youngest… Youngest junior brother… Do you… Do you really want to see it?"
Chapter 725: Morning Dao Sect!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the end, Hu Zi could not find it in himself to give a show of the contents in the beast skin book to Su Ming with the bald crane. As he was struck by a cloud of gloom, he looked at Su Ming helplessly, then patted his own forehead, thinking that he was indeed the most intelligent person in the ninth summit, or at the very least smarter than his youngest junior brother. Otherwise, why would he understand things that his youngest junior brother did not and even played them out in his dreams multiple times...?
That was why he decided to bring out some of the beast skin books that he had hidden away so that second senior brother would not be able to take them and handed them to Su Ming.
Once he did so, the bald crane quickly went to Su Ming's side. Yu Xuan, too, widened her eyes and looked closely at the beast skin book. She refused to admit defeat, thinking that no matter how profound a divine ability was, she would not necessarily be unable to see some clues about it.
Su Ming also turned his attention to the beast skin book. Once he took it, he opened it, but at just the first glance, he was stunned. After a moment, he frowned. Once he mulled over it, a strange look gradually appeared on his face.
The bald crane was dumbfounded at first, but then it let out a long breath, and its eyes begun to shine. It stared at the pictures on the beast skin book, its breathing quickening.
Yu Xuan stared at the pictures in the beast skin book for a long while before her brows slowly furrowed, but there was still mostly bewilderment on her face. This is why she snatched the beast skin book from Su Ming's hand and started examining it carefully.
Su Ming let out a fake cough, then his gaze landed on Hu Zi, who immediately put on an aggrieved expression. When Su Ming looked towards his second senior brother, the man quickly picked up a pot of wine and pretended to drink from it.
"Little dummy Su, this divine ability is really easy, why don't you understand it? I just don't know why they don't wear clothes when they train, though…" Yu Xuan plopped her chin on her left hand and flipped through the beast skin book with puzzlement on her face.
Judging by her expression, she was not joking. Yu Xuan did indeed not understand what was drawn in the book.
"I don't know why either."
Su Ming quickly picked up his wine cup and drank from it, wanting to avoid the topic. He had understood it somewhat, but the more he understood it, the more it showed just how naive Yu Xuan was.
It was also at this moment that Su Ming noticed a trace of adorableness about Yu Xuan for the first time…
Yu Xuan flipped through a few more pages before she looked at Su Ming and said, "No, your expression is off. You must know why! Tell me! Why don't we try practicing it? But we have to wear clothes, though."
Su Ming nearly spat out his drink, then immediately snatched the beast skin book from Yu Xuan's hands and threw it back to his second senior brother. As he let out a few dry coughs, he found that he could not remember just how long it had been since he had been caught in such an awkward situation.
Bai Su covered her mouth and laughed by the side. When she saw that Yu Xuan was still trying to figure out the secrets in the beast skin book, she laughed out loud till her body started trembling, and when she saw the rare, awkward look on Su Ming's face, she became even happier.
"Alright now, we'll talk about this later. Yu Xuan, Bai Su, please go rest. Us fellow brothers have something to discuss with each other." Second senior brother put away the beast skin book into his bosom while also letting out a few fake coughs and languidly told others to disperse.
Bai Su stood up obediently. Yu Xuan continued wondering about the things in the book, but when she saw the mutt grinning with a smug look, she went and kicked it before grabbing the fur at the mutt's neck and leaving with Bai Su.
She would not have originally left so easily, but at that moment, Yu Xuan had something important to do, and that was to think about the pictures on that beast skin book and what exactly were the secrets contained within them. She lifted the mutt, which was now swathed in misery after that bout of delight, and left after turning into a long arc.
As for the bald crane and Qian Chen, once an unknown thought rose in the bald crane's heart, it cast a profound look at Qian Chen, and continued to stare at him until goosebumps appeared on his face. Then, the crane sat down on Qian Chen's body and continued treating him as its stead as they left as well.
At that moment, only Su Ming and his senior brothers were left at the top of the ninth summit. Su Ming drank his wine in huge gulps, and when he downed his eighth cup, he lifted his head and glared at Hu Zi and his second senior brother.
Second senior brother looked as calm as ever. As he smiled, he even nodded at Su Ming before he took a sip from his wine cup.
Hu Zi, however, had a miserable look on his face. When he saw Su Ming looking over, he immediately spoke.
"Youngest junior brother, those beast skin books belong to second senior brother…"
"Nonsense, they belong to Master!"
"But your presence is in them…"
"Damn it all! That was Master imitating my presence! Those really belong to Master!" Second senior brother could no longer keep the calm smile on his face and glared at Hu Zi as he spoke.
Su Ming watched Hu Zi and his second senior brother bicker about who was the owner of that beast skin book. He smiled wryly and shook his head, then picked up the pot of wine and took a big swig from it.
"It might not belong to Master. It might actually belong to… eldest senior brother?" Hu Zi blinked.
"Huh, that's also a possibility. It might actually belong to eldest senior brother!" Second senior brother immediately smiled.
"Honestly, I think there's also a possibility that it belongs to youngest junior brother…" Hu Zi cast a sideways glance at Su Ming.
Before second senior brother could agree to his words, Su Ming quickly put down his pot of wine with a very solemn expression.
"That beast skin book belongs to Master!" Su Ming said seriously.
Second senior brother instantly put on a serious look. Once he nodded, he said to Hu Zi, "That's right. Even youngest junior brother agrees to it, so it looks like it really belongs to Master. Or perhaps it belongs to eldest senior brother. Eldest senior brother, if you don't speak up, I'll take it that you shook your head. Eldest senior brother won't lie, so it must really belong to Master."
Hu Zi's mouth twitched. Eldest senior brother no longer had a head, so there was no way he could actually shake his head.
Su Ming and second senior brother had already told Hu Zi about what happened to eldest senior brother. Only since he knew about the reason behind why eldest senior brother was missing and that he was still alive did Hu Zi have the heart to talk about the question of the owner of those beast skin books.
"Alright, they belong to Master. Well, Master has no respectable qualities despite his age anyway, and he often uses my Runes to peek at others… It's very logical that he hides such things." Hu Zi immediately moved to stand with his second senior brother and Su Ming.
But as he spoke, he fell silent. The joyful atmosphere that surrounded them previously gradually disappeared as if it was blown away by the sea breeze.
As the moon shone on them and Hu Zi fell silent, second senior brother did not speak up, either. Instead he looked at the sea and the sky. There was a slightly melancholic look on his face.
Su Ming drank his wine quietly.
"I miss Master…" Hu Zi mumbled softly.
"When I reached Eastern Wastelands, I searched everywhere, but I only managed to find some clues. It seems like Master has already left the land of Berserkers and went out of Yin Death Region… At that time, I was ambushed and chased down by the Immortals. In the end, Di Tian attacked and suppressed me under Great Leaf Immortal Sect…
"Many years later, I sensed eldest senior brother's presence approaching the place where I was…" Second senior brother picked up his pot of wine and took huge gulps from it. Sadness filled his face.
"I slayed all of Di Tian's clones in the place where Immortals descend and eventually killed his magical body as well. As one of the Immortals' Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, it will be difficult for Di Tian to descend to the land of Berserkers again in a short period of time.
"Eldest senior brother was captured alive by Di Tian all those years ago because he wanted to turn him into his clone, but in the end, eldest senior brother used Di Tian and returned to his roots by cutting his own head. He took up his battle axe and named himself Xing Gan…" Su Ming mumbled as he looked at his eldest senior brother's statue.
"I only knew that second senior brother is in Great Leaf Immortal Sect because eldest senior brother told me about it. Eldest senior brother once said that Master's presence was no longer in the land of Berserkers, but that Master was not dead. There can only be one explanation for this… It's just as you said, second senior brother, Master has left the land of Berserkers." Su Ming remained silent for a moment, then drank his wine.
"Then we can be certain that Master has left the land of Berserkers." A dark light shone in second senior brother's eyes as he mumbled under his breath.
"What could have caused Master to leave the land of Berserkers in such a hurry that he would not even have time to tell us?"
"Unless… Master did not go willingly, but instead had run into an accident, or had even run into a powerful enemy!"
"Morning Dao Sect" Hu Zi suddenly lifted his head and looked at second senior brother.
He remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
Su Ming looked at them. He had a feeling that Hu Zi and second senior brother knew a secret that he did not.
Hu Zi fell silent. A smile appeared on second senior brother's lips, but that smile showed a biting cold killing intent. Su Ming remained calm, but the murderous aura within his calm composure was the thickest among the three of them.
"Yu Xuan's mutt is a World Traversing Abyss Dragon. That lass must have been able to come to the land of Berserkers because of it. With that dragon, we might be able to leave the land of Berserkers and Yin Death Region to head to the land of Immortals." A glint appeared in second senior brother's eyes.
"Qian Chen is also not a Berserker. He's a person who descended to our land, but he's not an Immortal. The way he descended is different from the others, and we had an agreement before that he would take me to the place he descended," Su Ming said calmly.
"Hmph, that bald crane has its own secrets as well. I brought it to my Dream before, and it did not notice that I saw some of its memories here and there. That bald crane is not a spirit from the land of Berserkers, but neither did it come from the land of Immortals. It came from True Morning Dao World. It seems like it has quite a complicated relationship with that Morning Dao Sect that Master mentioned before." A lively sparkle appeared in Hu Zi's eyes. At that moment, the simple and honest demeanor could no longer be found on him. Instead, there was a rather crafty look on his face.
"Youngest junior brother, you entered Master's tutelage late and joined the battle between the Shamans and Berserkers soon after. Then, you were alone outside… There are many things you don't know about. Master did not have time to tell you those things before he went missing either." Second senior brother looked at Su Ming when he spoke. He had already managed to tell the questions in Su Ming's mind.
"Master is a Berserker… but the sect he entered and the skills he inherited were not from the land of Berserkers but an incredibly huge galactical sect within True Morning Dao World. There are an endless number of disciples in that sect, and it's the most powerful sect in True Morning Dao World!
"More accurately speaking, that sect is the reason why True Morning Dao World exists!
"The entire True Morning Dao World and even the Immortals' Three Sovereigns and five Emperors are just a part of that world. That sect is too big, and its name is Morning Dao Sect. True Morning Dao World is in truth… this sect!"
A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. He had never heard of this before.
"Master told us all of these when he thought the time was right. He had intended to tell it to you once the battle between the Shamans and Berserkers ended… but before he could manage to do so, he went missing." Second senior brother looked at the sea and the sky, and an expression that said he missed Master appeared on his face.