Ling Fan's eyes glittered like twin stars. These two women were the strongest women she'd seen in her two life times. No wonder Tian Cai was a genius.
"Focus Disciple Focus! If they target this Queen and battle erupts, this will be a price nobody in the city can pay," snorted Shensheng.
Eyes still glittering, Ling Fan was looking back and forth between Zhao Jia and Zhao Wen.
Boss!
Boss!
In her previous lifetime, if she had met these powerful women early on, what-what would have been her potential?
Upon hearing Zhao Wen's assurance regarding the valuables in the Zhao Clan warehouses, Ling Wenyan said, "Senior, this one is greatly relieved. As this is the case, our Ling Clan can only accept your offer."
Zhao Wen nodded in understanding. "Grandmother, earlier were you able to discern the location of the beast?" she asked.
"There was no doubt it was here. However, it has left...mostly like it has flown off. What attracts it to our two manors? Why does it only attack Chen'er?"
"These are questions we can ask it before killing it. As it has left, why don't we search the city outskirts. I'll take the north. Grandmother, can you take the south?"
"Mhm."
"Juniors, we apologize for the visit, however we must hunt this beast down at all costs. So we must take our leave. Little Fierce Fairy, how about you escort us to the gate?"
"Yes Boss!"
Everyone looked at Ling Fan with strange looks.
Zhao Jia chuckled, "Juniors, your clan was graced with such an adorable child. Come hold Fairy Granny's hand."
"Yes Boss!"
The Divine Pig shook her head as she watched Ling Fan lead the two women out.
Ling Wenyan and Ling Ming both sighed in extreme relief after bowing deeply.
"Wine! Dammit, bring this Old Man wine!" commanded Ling Wenyan.
"Father, this day, son can't count the number of times we were close to death."
"Granddaughter is indeed a blessing. Barely 6 years old and she's already saved the clan. Surely, she'll be our greatest pillar."
"Father, today-today she reminded me so much of her mother," Ling Ming pulled out a scroll and unfurled it.
Ling Wenyan shook his head in resignation.
Ling Ming was carrying her portrait with him?
Under a cherry blossom tree sat a beautiful woman. She actually wore a mask and her eyebrows were sharp as swords.
My original fierce fairy. Daughter, is growing up to be just like you.
Soon, Ling Fan returned. Seeing her Father, looking at a portrait, she quickly ran over and peered over his shoulder.
Shock stunned her.
"Father-Father this??"
"Daughter, you haven't seen this portrait yet. This was your mother when she just arrived into our clan. Isn't she beautiful?"
Her mother was wearing a mask too?
Ling Fan looked at Shensheng, whose face actually appeared dejected.
"Disciple, Master commands, you-you burn all the grass in the vicinity. She doesn't want to see another vile green blade."
"My mother here is wearing a mask, you-you didn't know her?"
"It's coincidence...that was before Little Fan first found me."
"Mother is so beautiful. Do you still have that mask? Can Daughter wear it?" asked Ling Fan to her father."
"Mhm...Father will look for it."
Chief Li came up. "Patriarch we've done an assessment. The wounded are currently being attended to. We lost the Guard Barracks and were mostly able to find housing for the majority of the guards. Elder Bing also lost her courtyard. For her and Vice Chief Tang Xifeng, we're unable to find suitable housing."
Rolling up the scroll, Ling Ming said, "Chief Li, If I am interpreting your words correctly...no one died?"
"Patriarch deduces correctly. There were no fatalities. However, the damage to the manor is quite extensive."
"The Zhao Clan has agreed to assist us. Later, send accountants to the Zhao Clan. They will pass along keys to their warehouses. From there, have the accountants appraise all items. Upon reviewing their findings, we'll decide how to sell them."
"As Patriarch commands," said Chief Li.
As he left, Ling Fan tugged on Ling Ming's sleeve. "Father, there's plenty of room in my Cherry Blossom Pavillion. Why not have Elder Bing and Vice Chief Tang stay there? Also, wouldn't this mean greater security for me?"
"Ming'er you have being raising Granddaughter extremely well. Not only has she saved our clan from destruction but she willingly sacrifices her needs for the clan. Fan'er, indeed you make Grandfather proud."
Ling Fan's heart jolted. Realization finally revealed itself. In her previous life wasn't she always alone? When-When had she ever had a loving family?"
Falling to her knees, she kowtowed. "Grandfather, Ling Fan pays respects."
"Mhm!! Quickly rise child. Please go rest well. Tomorrow, Grandfather will take you shopping."
Recovering to her feet, she wiped hot tears from her eyes.
In a soft voice, Ling Ming asked, "Fan'er, what-what's wrong?"
"Ah-This?? Daughter is happy that the family is together."
Upon hearing her words, both Father and Grandfather turned away. Wet tears welled in their eyes.
Turning about, she headed back to her pavilion.
"Sisters...Elder Bing, let's go settle everyone down," trailed Ling Fan's voice.
Shensheng snorted, "This Queen needs real food."
Ling Fan rubbed her glabella. She felt a headache coming on.
"Tonight, that Zhao Chen will get it good," said Shensheng.
"Upon entering her courtyard, Ling Fan turned about. Elder Bing, Sister Tang choose any available room," she said with a smile.
Shensheng grunted.
Still smiling but with a twitching eyebrow, she said, "Any room except for the one closest to the kitchen. That is Zhu Shensheng's special place.
Zhu Shensheng?
Explaining with a whisper, Wang Chuhua explained, "The piglet. They're inseparable."
Elder Bing nodded, "I already surmised."
In the distance a bell rung five times.
"Che! Finally my shift has ended," said Tang Xifeng. She slumped into the nearest chair, pulling off her headband. She loosened her robe, exposing her shoulders. From a bag, she pulled out a cup and jar of wine. Her eyes sparkled as she gleefully filled her cup with wine. In one swoop, she downed the whole cup.
"Ya Cha! Drinking after work is best after all," exclaimed Tang Xifeng. Noticing everyone was staring at her. She quickly protected the wine jar with cupped hands. "This-This is my hard earned wine. You-You need to procure your own."
Elder Bing sat down next to Tang Xifeng and chortled. "You young ones really know how to enjoy life. Vice Chief Tang, being new to our Ling Clan, have you tried our Thousand Flower Wine?" Elder Bing brought out her own cup and a rather large jar of wine.
Tang Xifeng eyes popped wide, "Elder Bing, you-you are like the older sister I never had."
Elder Bing filled both cups of wine. "Little Sister, you should know, in our Ling Clan there is a rule to only drink our Thousand Flower Wine. Normally, you would be punished for bringing in contraband wine. However, since you are new and talented, this Elder will only warn you."
Taking her cup, Tang Xifeng said, "Thank you Elder Bing for your generosity." Gingerly sipping her cup, she closed her eyes to mull the experience. After a moment, her eyes sprung open in delight. "This..This...This is real wine!" Forming a sword with her fingers, she immediately sliced her own jar in half. "Trash...this Tang Xifeng was a frog at the bottom of the well drinking sewage."
The Wang Sisters looked at each other.
Did she just use her finger to cut an object in half?
"Big Sis, she-she is really talented."
"Mhm...we need to work harder. Let's practice," said Wang Chunhua.
Wang Chuntao squirmed a bit. "Big Sis, can we have a snack first. Earlier weren't we running around all over the place?"
Wang Chunhua's face blackened.
Elder Bing chuckled, "Vice Chief, you should know. As part of your salary, everyone at minimum is allotted one jar of wine. Being as you are a Vice Chief, you should be able to receive two."
The news jolted Tang Xifeng. Abruptly, she stood up and bowed. "Teacher," she said.
Elder Bing chuckled some more. Waving her hand, she said, "Sit-Sit. We both lost our homes and now share a residency. If anything, we should just be sisters."
Tang Xifeng bowed again, "Elder Sister."
"Someone bring lots and lots of food," commanded Ling Fan. Sitting down, she asked, "Elder Bing, how much do you know about the Zhao Wen and Zhao Jia? They-they-they're really strong."
Tang Xifeng and the Wang Sisters nodded in agreement.
Snorting, Shensheng said, "This Queen is stronger."
Ignoring the Divine Pig, Ling Fan asked, "Please-Please tell me everything."
Finishing her cup. Her face stiffened a bit, and she said, "It's taxing living next door to the Zhao Clan. However, it's actually quite safe."
Filling Elder Bing's cup, Tang Xifeng asked, "How can it be safe, living next door to two Empyreans?"
"Indeed, two Peak Empyreans to be exact. With those two, the Zhao Clan is considered one of the great powers of Savant City. I believed they first arrived in the city 21,000 years ago. No one recalls where they came from, however, people soon learned never to bother them. Back then, the Cao Clan controlled the city. When the Zhao Clan started buying up shops and properties. Of course the Cao Clan pressured them to submit. Zhao Clan refused. Then one night, the Cao Clan with their various subordinates attacked thinking the Zhao Clan was like fresh meat. Humph! That Zhao Jia was already an Empyrean—The Blue Flame Empyrean to be exact. The night exploded in endless pillars of blue-white flames. Zhao Jia had lit them up like burning trees. The next morning, news broke out that the Cao Clan lost ninety percent of their forces."
"Later when Zhao Wen was already a peak Martial King, she was known as the Sun Sword Queen. However, she had another title that only the men knew. You see, she was quite a charmer and several men had set their eyes on her. But they too soon learned never-never-never anger Zhao Wen. She was called the Legacy Killer. The men that dared harassed her—snip-snip—she cut off all their shorties."
"Sister Tang, so to answer you question, who would dare cause trouble near the home of those two crazies?"
Tang Xifeng gasped, "All this time I heard no one wanted to be close to the Disaster Kings."
"Have you ever heard that behind every good man is a good woman? Humph! Behind those Disaster Kings are two crazy Empyreans. In fact, that's precisely why they are called Disaster Kings. Messing with them is equivalent to courting death."
Abruptly, Ling Fan jumped to her feat. Her heart was palpitating like crazy.
Gangsters! They Gangster Bosses!
With a bright gleam in her eyes she started pacing about filled with unbearable excitement.
Boss! Boss! Boss!
Shensheng curiously asked, "Disciple what's wrong with you?"
"I Ling Fan-I Ling Fan have-have idols."
"Idols?"
"Mhm!!! Zhao Wen and Zhao Jia, I want their pictures. I want their autographs."
"Child your acting strangely, does Master need to make you sleep?"
"When have you ever seen women so strong? In my life, I was considered one of the strongest. No one ever pressured me. No one ever had the ability to stop me. But these two.."
"Child, didn't you die?"
"That?? Shensheng, I-I have no recollection of how that happened. Do-do you know how I died."
"No. However, when Master ascends, she can investigate everything."
"Ascend?"
"Child, sooner or later Master will have to return to being Queen of the Cosmos. At that time, I will ascend and leave the Nine Chaos Heavens. Should I formally accept you as my Disciple, naturally at that time you will ascend with me."
"I-I would leave the Nine Chaos Heavens?"
"Mhm..and with ascension all my powers will return. This Queen will learn everything about your death."
"So soon, I never thought I would leave so soon? I have my promises to fulfill. Now I have father and grandfather...now I have a family."
"Silly, my ascension is still a long way. After all, this Queen is on vacation. She will enjoy it to the fullest."
"I-I was planning on taking over the whole city and ruling with beauty and an iron fist."
"Isn't that just replicating your previous life? This is your new life, you didn't have any dreams in your previous life."
"Dreams? This...actually long ago as a child I did have a dream."
Shensheng grunted, "Really, and what was it child? Where you planning on becoming the Overlord of Bright Star World?"
Ling Fan looked down, twirling her fingers. "I-I wanted to write the world's best love story. The old me wanted to be a romance writer."
"Eh? Romance as in true love?"
Ling Fan nodded, with embarrassment. "I wanted to write about true love. What? You-You aren't laughing."
"This is your second life. Despite your promises to Ling Fan..you are you..live the second time well. When you ascend, it will be like having a third life. So have no regrets."
"Shensheng, this side of you...your words...you sound like a true mentor."
Gurggle.
"What was that sound?"
"Earlier this Queen ate too fast. Also, its not mixing well with all the grass. It's already dark...This Queen will go relie—will go see how Little Genius is doing."
"After your business your going to talk to Zhao Tian Cai?"
"Mhm..earlier after declaring a truce, we agreed to meet later."
"What-What is there to talk about with him?"
"Since I cannot be his Master, instead I will be his teacher."
"Teacher?"
"Master needs to watch him well as he's an abomination. In addition, he must be carefully guided. One little mistake can cause diaster to the Nine Chaos Heavens."
"An abomination?"
"Child, Master isn't allowed to divulge such secrets. Perhaps, should you ascend, then I can explain well."
Gurggle-Gurggle.
"Ah Master needs to go now!"
Unbeknownst to the others, Ling Fan watched as the Divine Pig disappeared.
High above the sky, Shensheng reappeared. Hidden in the clouds, she sensed her location to be exactly above the Zhao Clan. To be exact, she was directly over Zhao Chen. Sniffing a bit she measured the wind direction and force of the wind flow.
With gleaming eyes, she snorted. "Old Geezer, prepare to receive Divine Punishment!"
Below, Zhao Chen felt a chill run down his back. Then all the hair on his neck raised. With dreaded realization, he looked up and said, "Oh-no-no-no-nooooooooooooooooooo!"
His screams inundated the night sky.
Sipping a cup of tea, Ling Fan heard the distant screams from next door. She nodded in righteous contentment.
Divine Punishment indeed felt really really good.