Demon Person? Immortal!

The group waited in the main hall for a while before the manor guards soon brought in a man and a woman.

The man was Guo Jing.

His face was pale, his clothes ragged, and he looked utterly haggard, like a living, breathing beggar.

His time in prison had not been easy. Though Sha Tongtian had held back out of misgivings, Guo Jing had still suffered plenty.

Going without one meal or another had become routine.

Compared to Guo Jing, the girl’s treatment had been far better. Not a spot on her body was dirty, and she was bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked. Rather than looking like someone captured and brought into the manor, she looked more like a guest.

Ouyang Ke was also extremely courteous to her as he said gently, "Miss Huang, please come with us later."

This lecherous hypocrite disgusted Huang Rong. She said contemptuously, "Ouyang Ke, not only did you poison me, you kidnapped me and brought me here. If my father finds out, he’ll make sure you die horribly."

Ouyang Ke chuckled. "You flatter me, Miss Huang. I was merely worried that you would be in danger alone outside, so I had no choice but to bring you to the manor. I trust Island Master Huang will understand my good intentions."

"Rest assured, I have already sent a letter to notify my uncle. Before Island Master Huang finds you, my uncle, Ouyang Feng, will arrive here first to wait for him. When the time comes, I will ask Island Master Huang for your hand."

"Pah!" Huang Rong wrinkled her delicate nose and said disdainfully, "You want me to marry you? Keep dreaming! When the time comes, I’ll have my father kill you."

Ouyang Ke did not argue with Huang Rong any further. If not for the Golden Silk Armor she wore, as well as his fear of offending Huang Yaoshi, he would have had his way with this little girl long ago.

Wanyan Honglie had heard their conversation. He turned to Ouyang Ke and frowned. "This young lady seems to have quite an extraordinary background…"

Ouyang Ke cupped his hands. "Your Highness, Miss Huang is the only daughter of Huang Yaoshi, the master of Peach Blossom Island. Her identity is indeed exceptional."

Wanyan Honglie said nothing, merely giving Ouyang Ke a deep look.

Understanding his meaning, Ouyang Ke smiled. "Your Highness need not worry about angering Island Master Huang. My uncle is, after all, a grandmaster on par with him. And if I succeed in asking for her hand, Zhao King Manor may gain two grandmaster-level experts as honorary retainers."

Wanyan Honglie burst into laughter. "Then I shall congratulate Young Master Ouyang in advance on having your wishes fulfilled."

The other experts looked at Ouyang Ke with envy. Some people were simply born winners.

No matter the era, nothing beat having a powerful father!

At Wanyan Honglie’s command, large numbers of Jin soldiers began gathering outside Zhao King Manor. He had even summoned the soldiers defending Yanjing City.

In the blink of an eye, nearly ten thousand Jin soldiers had formed up in battle formation.

Seeing this, Wanyan Kang wanted to say something. But when he saw the expression on Wanyan Honglie’s face, he knew his father had already made up his mind.

Though Wanyan Honglie had raised Wanyan Kang as his own son, he still found it hard to believe that anyone in the world could easily defeat a military formation made up of nearly a thousand Jin soldiers. Even a grandmaster might not be capable of such a feat.

Wanyan Honglie believed his son had been scared out of his wits and was spouting nonsense.

Still, no matter what, the other party should be an exceptionally skilled expert. Given Wanyan Honglie’s temperament, it was best not to make an enemy of him if possible.

However…

If neither of the two before him was the person that scholar sought, Wanyan Honglie could not guarantee that the man would not take his anger out on Zhao King Manor. A fierce battle between them would likely be unavoidable, so preparations had to be made.

He wanted to see just how formidable this scholar, whom Wanyan Kang had described in such godlike terms, truly was.

Escorted by the vast army, the group immediately headed toward Chu Yang’s location.

Jin soldiers surrounded both Huang Rong and Guo Jing. Though they did not know where they were being taken, neither dared make a rash move. Irritated, Huang Rong glanced at the foolish-looking big fellow beside her, tilted her head, and asked quietly, "Hey, big guy, how did they capture you and bring you into Zhao King Manor?"

Guo Jing answered in a muffled voice, "They falsely accused me of murder."

Huang Rong was instantly intrigued. Her two little canine teeth showed as she asked excitedly,

"Murder? Who did you kill?"

"I didn’t kill anyone." Guo Jing angrily recounted the whole story.

He explained everything clearly, from his encounter with Hou Tonghai and the Yellow River Four Demons, to their battle, to accidentally dragging Chu Yang into it, and finally how Chu Yang killed Hou Tonghai and the others before framing him for it.

Perhaps because he had been holding it in for too long, Guo Jing’s foolish brain seemed to have suddenly become enlightened.

He did not stumble over a single word, telling the whole tale in one breath.

After hearing him out, Huang Rong’s pretty little face scrunched up. She thought he was truly unlucky, but then she felt that pitiful people often had something hateful about them.

Huang Rong asked, "It was certainly hateful of that man to frame you, but have you considered this? If he had really been an ordinary person with no power to even truss a chicken, wouldn’t he have died long ago in the chaos of your battle with those enemies?"

Guo Jing had implicated him first. The man had only killed Hou Tonghai and the others, yet had not dealt Guo Jing a fatal blow. That already counted as clearly distinguishing between grudges and gratitude.

Guo Jing lowered his head and said nothing for a long while.

Huang Rong found this foolish boy rather interesting. He was actually reflecting on it. If it had been her, she would probably have thought that the person dragged into it was simply unlucky.

She patted Guo Jing on the shoulder and said with a grin, "We’re sharing hardship now, so we can count as half-friends. If I run into that guy in the future, I’ll definitely help you give his butt a hard kick."

Huang Rong’s skin was like congealed cream, her eyes bright and teeth white. When she smiled, she looked like a fairy stepping out of a painting, and before he knew it, Guo Jing had become entranced by the sight.

Guo Jing’s gaze reminded Huang Rong of Ouyang Ke. She frowned slightly, turned away, and ignored him. Then she simply began admiring the scenery along the street, not looking at all like someone being held hostage.

Ouyang Ke, who was traveling alongside Wanyan Honglie, noticed the two chatting and laughing. The flames of jealousy instantly surged within him, and his expression darkened.

No matter how he looked at Guo Jing, the boy irritated him.

As the army passed through, the streets were deserted. Every household had its doors tightly shut. Adults hid behind them, watching the Jin soldiers through narrow cracks.

The children were pulled into the inner rooms, their mouths tightly covered as they dared not make a sound.

Ancient soldiers and bandits were separated by no more than a single thought.

After passing through several streets, the group vaguely spotted the martial arts tournament stage for seeking a bride.

At that moment, Guo Jing suddenly grew agitated because he saw a familiar figure—the very person who had sent him into prison.

Pointing at the figure ahead, he turned to Huang Rong and said, "Miss Huang, that’s the guy I told you about!"

Huang Rong stood on tiptoe and looked into the distance. The figure that entered her sight was the one she had longed to see day and night, and disbelief immediately appeared on her face.

Then came an uncontrollable burst of joy. Remembering all she had endured lately, a mist gradually filled her eyes.

Meanwhile, Guo Jing was still foolishly saying, "Miss Huang, you just said you’d help me kick…"

Huang Rong suddenly turned and glared viciously at Guo Jing, startling him. Then, without another word, she kicked him in the butt.

"You shameless bastard, trying to turn the tables!"

Huang Rong’s kick sent Guo Jing flying. He landed sitting on the ground, his eyes full of confusion. He did not understand it. Miss Huang had just said he was half a friend—how had things changed in the blink of an eye?

That kick had somehow landed on his own butt…

Guo Jing felt so wronged that he wanted to cry but had no tears.

His masters had been right. A woman’s heart truly was the most complicated thing in the world.

Seeing Guo Jing get kicked, Ouyang Ke, who had been jealous moments ago, could not help slapping his hand against the table in approval. He laughed loudly. "Excellent kick, Miss Huang! I also think this boy doesn’t look like a good person."

Huang Rong sneered. "Just wait. You’ll be the one getting kicked later."

Ouyang Ke: "…"

Wanyan Honglie looked around, searching for Bao Xiruo.

The next moment.

Wanyan Honglie’s eyes nearly split open in rage.

He saw Bao Xiruo.

But she was pressed intimately against a middle-aged man, using a silk handkerchief to wipe the grime from his face.

Bao Xiruo’s face overflowed with happiness, an expression Wanyan Honglie had never seen on her in eighteen years.

The sight was so shocking that Wanyan Honglie’s entire body trembled, and he nearly fell from his warhorse.

"Father!"

Wanyan Kang promptly grabbed Wanyan Honglie’s arm.

"I’m fine."

Wanyan Honglie took a deep breath and steadied his emotions.

Wanyan Kang looked suspiciously at his father. His eyes were bloodshot, like those of a man-eating wolf.

Wanyan Kang was greatly shocked.

"Little Prince, is that the princess consort?"

Ouyang Ke looked from afar, saw the exact same scene, and pointed forward in shock.

Wanyan Kang followed the direction of Ouyang Ke’s finger and instantly flew into a rage. "You damned bastard! How dare you humiliate my mother like this!"

Cursing, "Die, you bastard!" he used his lightness skill to charge at Yang Tiexin.

In his fury, Wanyan Kang had even overlooked Chu Yang’s presence.

Chu Yang silently stretched out one foot and tripped the charging Wanyan Kang. The latter flew forward, tumbling and scrambling until he crashed down before Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo.

He landed on both knees.

Anyone seeing him would have thought he was some dutiful son paying respects to his father on his birthday.

Chu Yang nodded. "This young man is quite filial."

Yang Tiexin also looked flattered and alarmed. He hurriedly reached out to help Wanyan Kang up, muttering, "Though you and I have not met for eighteen years, your filial heart truly comforts me as your father."

Wanyan Kang was so furious that the veins on his forehead bulged. He pulled out a dagger from his robes and stabbed it toward Yang Tiexin’s chest.

In that split second, Chu Yang cast wordlessly and used the Banishing Charm on the dagger in Wanyan Kang’s hand. The dagger suddenly flew from his grip and dropped onto the ground beside him.

Wanyan Kang stared at his empty hand and suddenly began to question his life.

When Yang Tiexin saw that his son had actually tried to stab him, he immediately said in anguish, "Kang’er, I’m your father!"

Wanyan Kang’s veins bulged as he cursed, "I’m your grandfather!"

"Each of you calls it your own way?" Chu Yang turned to Mu Nianci and clicked his tongue in wonder. "Your family’s generations are quite a mess…"

Mu Nianci: "…"

Bao Xiruo stepped forward and hugged Wanyan Kang. With tears clouding her eyes, she said, "Kang’er, he really is your father."

Hearing his mother say it herself, Wanyan Kang was struck as if by lightning and froze completely.

Seeing the wife and son he had raised for eighteen years preparing to place a bright green hat on his head, Wanyan Honglie could no longer sit still.

He ordered large numbers of Jin soldiers to surround Chu Yang and the others.

Interrupting what Bao Xiruo had been about to say next.

Chu Yang looked at the Jin soldiers around him. The same scene had happened half an incense stick ago. It was remarkably familiar.

"Sure enough, the only lesson humanity can learn from history is that humanity cannot learn any lessons from history."

Chu Yang shook his head helplessly.

Unlike Wanyan Kang, Wanyan Honglie did not rashly order the Jin soldiers to attack. Instead, surrounded by a group of Jianghu experts, he rode his horse up before Chu Yang.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong were also brought over.

"You must be the expert Kang’er spoke of. Today, I will give you some face. You used my wife and son to threaten me, yet I will not hold it against you. I have brought the person you wanted. I ask that you also give me some face."

Wanyan Honglie sat atop his tall horse. His words were fairly courteous, though his voice was ice-cold.

Ouyang Ke first shoved Guo Jing out from the crowd.

Chu Yang could not help being surprised when he saw him. He had not expected this fellow to have been locked up in Zhao King Manor, much less that they would meet here.

Knowing him was one thing, but Chu Yang had no intention of rescuing him from peril. He shook his head. "Not him."

Ouyang Ke’s expression tightened, and he instinctively looked toward Huang Rong.

Hesitation flashed across Wanyan Honglie’s face.

After Ouyang Ke had explained Huang Rong’s background, his reluctance to hand her over had only grown stronger.

If events developed as Ouyang Ke had said, with Ouyang Feng, the Western Poison, and Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic, becoming in-laws, and both serving Zhao King Manor, it would be most beneficial to him.

"Why not take another careful look, sir? Other than him, there is no second outsider in Zhao King Manor!"

Wanyan Honglie said with feigned sincerity.

"Why not think carefully again, Zhao King? If Zhao King Manor cannot hand over a second person besides him, then Zhao King may have a hard time leaving this street today…"

With one hand behind his back and the other resting over his abdomen, Chu Yang smiled politely.

The moment he said this, the atmosphere between the two sides immediately turned grim and murderous.

Being threatened before so many people, even someone as composed as Wanyan Honglie was greatly angered.

Huang Rong, within the crowd, had no idea that Chu Yang had come looking for her. She stared blankly at her former teacher confronting an army of thousands all by himself, his momentum not the least bit weaker.

"Little Chu is actually an expert? He dared hide something this huge from me. When we get back, I’ll make him pay!"

Jealousy brimmed in Huang Rong’s heart as she angrily clenched her little fists.

Just then.

"Madman, don’t be so insolent!"

Peng Lianhu and Sha Tongtian leaped into the air at the same time, attacking Chu Yang!

They simply did not believe that Chu Yang was as formidable as Wanyan Kang claimed.

Peng Lianhu wielded a pair of iron judge’s brushes, while Sha Tongtian wielded a black, gleaming iron oar.

Neither weapon was commonplace, making them easy to recognize.

Peng Lianhu and Sha Tongtian attacked together. One used his judge’s brushes to strike at Chu Yang’s lower body, while the other swept his iron oar at Chu Yang’s neck.

"You’re clearly two murderous bandits, yet you call yourselves the Thousand-Handed Human Butcher and the Ghost Gate Dragon King. That’s like putting a gold rim on a chamber pot."

Chu Yang sneered. His Observation Haki had long predicted their attack patterns. He reached out, gripped the iron oar and judge’s brushes, and snapped the weapons that had made the two men famous with a slight exertion of force.

Then he kicked each of them once, sending them back beneath Wanyan Honglie’s horse.

Peng Lianhu and Sha Tongtian’s breastbones were shattered. Both spewed blood, and they were clearly taking in less breath than they were letting out.

In just one exchange, two of Zhao King Manor’s so-called five great experts had been severely wounded by Chu Yang.

Looking at the dying Peng Lianhu and Sha Tongtian, Wanyan Honglie’s heart pounded in fear.

He really was an expert!

Wanyan Honglie took a deep breath and cupped his hands. "May I ask your honored name, sir?"

Chu Yang replied blandly, "My surname is Chu."

Wanyan Honglie kept trying to recall which Jianghu expert bore the surname Chu and was also this young. Such a person could not possibly be unknown.

Yet after thinking for a long while, he had no clue.

Eager to recruit talent, Wanyan Honglie took the initiative to lower his stance. He dismounted and, ignoring even his personal guards’ attempts to stop him, walked beyond the army formation and asked loudly, "May I ask where Mister Chu serves?"

Chu Yang curled his lips and made something up. "The 358th Regiment…"

"Ah?" Wanyan Honglie was rather bewildered. He had never heard of any 358th Regiment.

The clever Huang Rong immediately knew that Chu Yang was teasing this Jin prince and could not help laughing. Her laughter was especially conspicuous amid the silent army.

Chu Yang heard the laugh and was certain it was Little Yellow’s voice.

He had told Little Yellow the Bright Sword joke when he was still in that small Southern Song Dynasty city. She had especially liked the line, "When narrow paths meet, the brave prevail."

Now that he knew Little Yellow was here, Chu Yang felt much more at ease. He had feared making such a huge commotion only for it to amount to nothing.

"Zhao King, you keep saying Zhao King Manor has no second outsider, but just now, I clearly heard my friend laugh."

"You’re a prince, and at your age, you’re still deceiving people?"

Chu Yang looked at Wanyan Honglie with contempt.

Wanyan Honglie coughed twice. Knowing he was in the wrong, he could only signal Ouyang Ke to release Huang Rong.

Ouyang Ke felt somewhat uneasy as well.

He was confident he could defeat the other four great experts, but he could not do what Chu Yang had done—kill Peng Lianhu and Sha Tongtian in a single exchange while fighting two against one.

With Lingzhi Shangren and Liang Ziweng already dead, he was now the only one left of the former Five Great Experts.

In street fighting within the city, military formations could not display their advantages.

Without experts to support them, and with Chu Yang holding both the timing and terrain, Ouyang Ke felt that he might truly be able to withstand the Jin soldiers by force.

Take a step back for now. Once Uncle arrives, I’ll ask him to deal with this scholar.

While Ouyang Ke was still secretly calculating, Huang Rong beside him had already stepped out of the military formation. Even when he realized it, he did not dare stop her.

Chu Yang waited for a while. Instead of the little beggar from his memories, a pretty, adorable, graceful young girl emerged before him. She looked strangely familiar.

"Holy shit!"

Chu Yang sucked in a breath, then furiously pointed at Wanyan Honglie and cursed, "You old bastard, you’re pretty damn perverted! You actually made my brother wear women’s clothes! Brother, I’m sorry I came late. They didn’t do anything weird to you, did they…"

In front of so many Jin soldiers, Wanyan Honglie was inexplicably subjected to a furious tirade.

Wanyan Honglie was so aggrieved that his face turned red, and he nearly suffered a brain hemorrhage.

Huang Rong stomped her feet in anger, regretting that she had ever joked with Chu Yang in the first place. He had already believed from the bottom of his heart that she was a boy with unusual preferences.

The key issue was that Chu Yang had seen far too many boys online who looked even prettier than girls when dressed up. He had instinctively taken her for a cross-dressing guy.

"I’m a girl!" Huang Rong shouted, both embarrassed and angry.

"I said I don’t discriminate…" Chu Yang froze for a moment, then asked blankly, "Do you mean biologically or psychologically?"

Only Huang Rong understood the terms Chu Yang used. Blushing furiously, she gritted her teeth and said, "Biologically…"

This time, Chu Yang was caught completely off guard.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to ease the awkward atmosphere.

Just moments ago, he had been calling her brother, and now, in the blink of an eye, his brother had become a sister. It was so sudden…

Chu Yang felt that this plot seemed familiar. Had he seen it somewhere before?

As Huang Rong walked to the middle of the road, she did not forget to shove Guo Jing and whisper, "What are you standing there for? Come with me! Do you still want to go back to the prince’s dungeon?"

Only then did Guo Jing foolishly walk over with Huang Rong to Chu Yang’s side.

Though she was angry, Huang Rong naturally pressed close beside Chu Yang. The latter, however, quietly shifted a small step away.

Huang Rong’s sharp eyes caught Chu Yang’s movement. Her originally adorable little face instantly became fierce as she snapped, "Little Chu, what do you mean by that?!"

Chu Yang glanced at her and said awkwardly, "You’re standing too close. I’m not used to it."

Huang Rong gritted her teeth. "Back in the Southern Song Dynasty, you put your arm around my shoulders, patted my head, pinched my cheeks, hooked an arm around my neck, slapped my… and now you’re saying you’re not used to it?"

Chu Yang spoke righteously, "It’s different. Back then, you were my brother."

Huang Rong stared at him coldly. "What about now?"

Chu Yang said sincerely, "We’re all good sisters!"

Huang Rong’s murderous gaze repeatedly swept over Chu Yang from head to toe.

Chu Yang coughed dryly, slapped his right hand with his left, and scolded it, "Look at you fooling around. Now you’ve caused trouble, haven’t you?"

Huang Rong sighed softly. She suddenly felt a headache coming on.

"By the way, why did you bring this thing back?" Chu Yang asked, pointing at the dazed Guo Jing.

"Ouyang Ke’s look at Guo Jing just now wasn’t right. Something would definitely happen to this kid if he went back. Better save his life—it’ll count as good karma for you," Huang Rong replied.

Guo Jing?

Chu Yang stared in shock at the dumb kid who had nearly gotten him killed.

He was actually Guo Jing!

"Why the hell is he…"

Chu Yang had just wanted to argue when he suddenly reconsidered. Guo Jing was indeed an idiot, wasn’t he?

Thinking Chu Yang was still angry, Huang Rong put on an adorable smile and said sweetly, "Oh, Big Brother Little Chu, I know this fool caused you trouble, but with your skills, dealing with small fry like Hou Tonghai and the Yellow River Four Demons should be a piece of cake, right?"

"You’re a magnanimous person. Don’t hold it against him…"

Chu Yang quickly waved his hand. "No, wait a second. Let me sort this out."

Guo Jing, Hou Tonghai, the Yellow River Four Demons, and a Little Yellow dressed as a girl—the plot was becoming more and more familiar.

Chu Yang hesitated. "What’s your full name?"

Huang Rong tilted her head. "My name is Huang Rong. Haven’t I told you?"

Chu Yang closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Rising from his deathbed in shock, he realized: Guo Jing was actually me!

Fuck, I actually stole Guo Jing’s role. When I watched TV before, I always thought Guo Jing was braindead. How could he mistake such a beautiful girl for his brother?

Well, now the stupidity had transferred to me…

As Chu Yang and Huang Rong chatted animatedly in front of nearly ten thousand Jin soldiers, they left Wanyan Honglie standing off to the side. He was deeply embarrassed by this.

Wanyan Honglie had no choice but to interrupt them. "Mr. Chu, I have handed over the person you wanted. May I ask whether you can return my wife and son to me?"

Chu Yang nodded. "Rest assured, Zhao King. I’m a man of my word. No problem."

Yang Tiexin and his wife behind him trembled violently at those words.

Their faces suddenly went pale as they stared at Chu Yang in disbelief.

Mu Nianci glared at Chu Yang in a rage.

Her foster father and foster mother had stayed behind to help him despite the danger, and this was the repayment they received.

She gritted her teeth and cursed at Chu Yang, "Shameless scoundrel!"

That curse displeased Huang Rong. Baring her little tiger teeth, she snapped, "Who are you calling names? Watch out, or I’ll sew that mouth of yours shut!"

Mu Nianci snorted coldly, not taking Huang Rong seriously.

Huang Rong narrowed her eyes and sized Mu Nianci up and down.

It seemed that a grudge had been formed between them at that very moment.

On the other side.

Having received Chu Yang’s affirmative answer, Wanyan Honglie was immediately overjoyed. He laughed loudly. "Mr. Chu truly is a hero. Once a gentleman gives his word, four horses cannot pull it back."

Chu Yang nodded in satisfaction, turned to Huang Rong, and smiled. "Though that old bastard is a pervert, he has a good eye for people."

Wanyan Honglie: "…"

Huang Rong quietly reminded him, "Don’t forget about those experts of his who are ‘shit pots with gold rims.’"

Chu Yang immediately wiped the smile from his face and shook his head. "Pretend I never said that."

Wanyan Honglie’s lips twitched, and his breathing became much more rapid.

If he did not leave soon, he would be angered to death by this man named Chu.

And that damned girl named Huang too!

"Xiruo, bring Kang’er back quickly. I’ll pretend today’s events never happened!"

To win his wife back, Wanyan Honglie spoke in an almost pleading tone.

But…

Bao Xiruo firmly shook her head.

At this point, she still did not know that the tragedy at Niu Jia Village eighteen years ago had been orchestrated by Wanyan Honglie. She still felt some guilt toward him.

After all, for all these years, Wanyan Honglie had showered her with affection. He had not taken a concubine for eighteen years, and even after learning that Wanyan Kang was not his biological son, he had still treated him as his own, allowing them to enjoy every luxury and honor.

Whether materially or emotionally, Wanyan Honglie had not wronged this mother and son.

Thus, Bao Xiruo’s eyes were filled with guilt as she slowly shook her head. "My lord, you always knew that the one I longed for was my husband, who supposedly died eighteen years ago. That is why you built a Niu Jia Village for me within that enormous prince’s residence."

"Now that I know my husband did not die, I must leave with him. I hope my lord will allow us husband and wife to be together."

Every word Bao Xiruo spoke was like a knife stabbing fiercely into Wanyan Honglie’s heart.

Wanyan Honglie’s eyes widened in fury. "What makes you so certain that he is your husband? Yang Tiexin died eighteen years ago!"

Bao Xiruo, her expression mournful, said firmly, "He is my husband. I recognize every part of his body!"

At those words, Wanyan Honglie, overwhelmed by rage, actually coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell backward. Ouyang Ke reacted swiftly and caught his back.

Chu Yang looked at Bao Xiruo in amazement. "She’s ruthless."

At that moment, Wanyan Kang finally snapped out of his daze. He rose and grabbed Bao Xiruo’s arm, saying in a deep voice, "I am the Little Prince of the Jin Kingdom. My father is Zhao King Wanyan Honglie. I don’t know any Yang Tiexin, and my name is not Yang Kang."

His tone grew colder. "Mother, you must have been deceived by this man. How could someone who died eighteen years ago possibly appear now, alive and well?"

Bao Xiruo looked at her son in disbelief. At this moment, Wanyan Kang seemed so unfamiliar to her.

Wanyan Kang continued rambling on, utterly failing to notice his mother’s expression.

Until a loud slap struck his face.

Smack!!!

Wanyan Kang clutched his face and stared at his mother in shock. In eighteen years, she had never hit him so hard.

Yang Tiexin and Wanyan Honglie were equally shocked. They both understood Bao Xiruo’s character well. If she had not been furious beyond measure, she never would have acted like this.

After that slap, Wanyan Kang finally fell completely silent.

At the same time, Bao Xiruo stepped forward a few paces and looked directly at Wanyan Honglie. "Zhao King, I have no way to repay the kindness you have shown me over these eighteen years. But if you wish to separate my husband and me, I would rather die than submit!"

Wanyan Honglie’s gaze darkened. "My patience is limited. If you keep this up, everyone here will be buried with you!"

Chu Yang asked unhappily, "Everyone?"

Wanyan Honglie’s eyelids twitched.

Oh no!

He had forgotten that this walking disaster was still here.

An awkward, fake smile appeared at the corner of Wanyan Honglie’s mouth. "Naturally, Mr. Chu is not included. But since you have already found a beautiful companion, could you perhaps leave now? What follows is my family matter."

The words "beautiful companion" caused a blush to spread across Huang Rong’s fair little face.

Chu Yang smiled. "Tsk, tsk. Is it against the law to leave slowly?"

Wanyan Honglie felt like he was about to have a heart attack. He decided that he would no longer respond to Chu Yang. Instead, he directly ordered the Jin soldiers to surround Yang Tiexin.

The Jin soldiers surged forward like a flood. Yet when passing Chu Yang, they naturally detoured around him as though he were a reef.

"Kang’er, so what if you are not my biological son? As long as I acknowledge you as my son, you will forever be the Little Prince of the Jin Kingdom, Wanyan Kang!"

Wanyan Honglie mounted his horse and declared loudly, "Kang’er, bring your mother back!"

Wanyan Kang’s body trembled, and light returned to his eyes. What had struck him hardest was not that he had become Yang Tiexin’s son, but that he might no longer be Wanyan Honglie’s son.

As more and more Jin soldiers closed in, Yang Tiexin held his spear and shielded his wife and daughter behind him.

"Kang’er!"

Yang Tiexin shouted loudly, trying to awaken Wanyan Kang’s conscience.

Yet that cry only stirred Wanyan Kang’s anger. He attacked directly.

The two immediately began a battle between father and son.

Bao Xiruo watched with overwhelming heartache.

In terms of martial arts, Yang Tiexin was no match for Wanyan Kang at all.

This time, Chu Yang did not intervene to stop Wanyan Kang, but Guo Jing beside him was growing restless.

"What are you doing?"

Chu Yang rolled his eyes at him.

"Big Brother Chu… this Uncle Yang may be an old friend of my parents. I can’t just stand by and do nothing."

Though Guo Jing was foolish, he had always remembered what his mother Li Ping had told him about the relationship between the Guo and Yang families. His journey from Mongolia to the Central Plains had also been to fulfill his martial arts match with Wanyan Kang.

Chu Yang nodded. "Then go ahead. If something happens to you, I’ll collect your corpse."

Guo Jing cupped his fists. "Thank you, Big Brother Chu!"

Chu Yang froze.

Seriously? He was thanking him for that?

After saying this, Guo Jing leaped into the air and charged at Wanyan Kang. Unfortunately, Guo Jing had never had the chance to drink snake blood, so his martial arts were still as weak as before. Rather than helping, he was beaten by Wanyan Kang until he spat blood after only a few moves.

Huang Rong whispered beside Chu Yang’s ear, "Little Chu, when exactly are you going to make your move? If you keep playing around, something is really going to happen."

Chu Yang asked strangely, "What makes you so sure I’ll act?"

Huang Rong looked at him disdainfully. "Oh, please. Who in the surrounding villages doesn’t know that you, Chu Yang, are a great philanthropist? You’ve fed all the beggars in the city until they’re plump and rosy…"

Chu Yang said, "Kindness and principles are two different things. My principle is that a person cannot go back on his word."

As he spoke, both Yang Tiexin and Guo Jing were subdued by Wanyan Kang, though neither had suffered life-threatening injuries.

At the crucial moment, Wanyan Kang still did not dare truly harm the man who might be his biological father.

Bao Xiruo let out a breath of relief.

But in the next moment, Wanyan Kang seized her hand and forcibly dragged her toward Wanyan Honglie.

Neither Yang Tiexin’s hoarse cries nor Bao Xiruo’s streaming tears could move Wanyan Kang’s heart of stone.

Just as Wanyan Honglie smugly prepared to take Bao Xiruo away.

Chu Yang suddenly asked, "May I ask, Zhao King, whether the agreement between us has now been fully settled?"

Wanyan Honglie laughed heartily. "I have taken my wife and son away, so naturally our agreement has been fulfilled. We are completely even."

Huang Rong seemed to have already guessed what Chu Yang wanted to say and suddenly began giggling.

"Since we are even, then what Chu does next has nothing whatsoever to do with our previous agreement." Chu Yang smiled faintly.

A bad feeling suddenly rose in Wanyan Honglie’s heart.

Chu Yang dusted off his sleeves, appearing refined and courteous, before speaking.

"Robbery! Hand over your wife and son!"

A dignified prince of the Jin Kingdom had been toyed with again and again today by an unknown scholar. No matter how skilled Wanyan Honglie was at endurance and compromise, no matter how broad-minded he was, he was now humiliated into fury.

Enough was enough!

"I thirst for talent and respected you as a worthy man, which is why I repeatedly yielded to you. Have you forgotten that this is Yanjing City? This is the Jin Kingdom!"

With Wanyan Honglie’s furious shout, masses of Jin soldiers swarmed forward and surrounded Chu Yang’s group so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Unlike the previous force, which had consisted entirely of close-combat soldiers, Wanyan Honglie had brought many archers to hold the rear. At the front was a vanguard composed of sword-and-shield troops and spearmen.

This was the most common battlefield formation.

With so many Jin soldiers, Huang Rong, who had been laughing heartily just moments ago, grew tense. She clutched Chu Yang’s arm tightly and whispered, "Little Chu, are you really confident you can handle them?"

Chu Yang rolled his eyes and said irritably, "Now you know how to be afraid? You were the one laughing the loudest just now."

Huang Rong was extremely dissatisfied with Chu Yang’s attitude. She pouted and glared at him angrily.

Yang Tiexin, Mu Nianci, and Guo Jing also immediately moved to Chu Yang’s side.

Seeing that all their targets had gathered together, Wanyan Honglie did not send his melee troops forward to test Chu Yang’s strength. Instead, he decisively ordered, "Loose the arrows!"

A trace of admiration flashed through Chu Yang’s eyes. This man truly was a battle-hardened hero. He gave Chu Yang no opportunity and chose the safest method to end this fight.

All the archers fired at the same time.

Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~

The dense black arrows fell like a curtain of rain.

At the sight of this, Bao Xiruo had already cried herself unconscious atop Wanyan Honglie’s horse.

Wanyan Kang flipped onto his horse, but kept his head lowered, not daring to look where the arrows were falling. He secretly glanced at Yang Tiexin from the corner of his eye. His hands gripping the reins trembled slightly, and his face had turned pale.

The whistle of arrows tearing through the air reached Huang Rong’s ears clearly. Even if she wanted to use her lightness skill to flee now, it was too late. She could only close her eyes, her hand still clutching Chu Yang’s clothes tightly.

Yang Tiexin, Mu Nianci, and Guo Jing wore equally despairing expressions, their bodies trembling involuntarily.

Yang Tiexin gave Bao Xiruo one last loving look.

Everyone believed that Chu Yang and the others were about to die.

At the critical moment, Wanyan Honglie suddenly saw Chu Yang press his palms together and clap lightly. In an instant, thick tree vines burst from the ground.

The trees formed a sturdy defensive barrier, successfully blocking every arrow that fell like rain.

No one was harmed.

After a brief stunned silence, the expressions on Yang Tiexin and the other two changed from despair to wild delight!

At the same time, Wanyan Honglie and nearly ten thousand elite Jin soldiers all wore the same look of utter terror!

Wanyan Honglie shouted, "This isn’t martial arts—it’s sorcery! This man… is a monster!"

Wanyan Kang was scared out of his wits and toppled headfirst from his horse, crashing heavily onto the ground.

Ouyang Ke’s face was bloodless and his legs went weak. He no longer had any thought of asking his uncle, Ouyang Feng, to help him get revenge.

Revenge his ass!

He only wanted to run away as quickly as possible. He never wanted to encounter Chu Yang again for the rest of his life!

Fear of the unknown was the worst kind of fear. Especially when such godlike power was displayed before people of ancient times, it dealt an almost devastating blow to their minds.

Most of the Jin soldiers instantly lost their will to fight. They instinctively backed away, their gazes toward Chu Yang filled with awe.

Whether this scholar before them was a monster or an immortal, one thing was certain: he was no ordinary man.

And if he was no ordinary man, how could flesh-and-blood mortals like them possibly win?

That was the true thought in the minds of most of the Jin soldiers at that moment.

Chu Yang glanced at Huang Rong, who was hugging him with all her strength, and could not help teasing, "Wake up. Open your eyes. We’ve arrived in the underworld!"

At the words "underworld," Huang Rong’s face went pale with fright. She hurriedly opened her eyes and looked at Chu Yang. "We’re there already? How come I didn’t feel anything?"

Chu Yang asked strangely, "What did you want to feel? Ten thousand arrows piercing your heart before you died?"

At the words "ten thousand arrows piercing your heart," Huang Rong’s scalp tingled.

She suddenly felt as if countless thumb-sized holes had been pierced through her body by arrows.

Her little mouth trembled, and tears began dripping down. "I’m only fifteen. There are still so many fun things, delicious things, and beautiful things I haven’t had the chance to experience."

Chu Yang stroked her head and comforted her, "It’s fine. Just be more careful in your next life."

Huang Rong could no longer hold it in and burst into loud sobs.

Chu Yang laughed so hard he could not close his mouth.

"Miss Huang, Brother Chu was joking with you. We’re not dead."

Guo Jing awkwardly moved closer to explain.

"Huh?"

Huang Rong stopped crying and looked around. Only then did she realize that Chu Yang had fooled her. She had been too nervous just now and had fallen for it without thinking.

Huang Rong, who prided herself on being clever and quick-witted, had never imagined that one day she would be fooled senseless by such a clumsy little trick.

She immediately glared at Chu Yang in angry embarrassment.

Not wanting to provoke her any further, Chu Yang turned around first and slowly walked toward Wanyan Honglie.

For every step he took, the army before him retreated one step in perfect unison.

Wanyan Honglie knew that this could not continue, so he could only steel himself and say, "Mr. Chu, the conflict between us arose entirely because of that confidante of yours. But I was not the one who brought her into my residence. Every grievance has its culprit and every debt its debtor. Why must you press me so relentlessly?"

Ouyang Ke cursed inwardly. Wanyan Honglie’s words were clearly meant to remove himself from the matter and make Ouyang Ke take the blame.

Without hesitation, he leaped into the air and used his lightness skill to race across the rooftops.

"Brother Chu, catch him! I still have poison he gave me in my body!"

Forgetting her anger, Huang Rong urgently reminded Chu Yang.

If it had been ordinary poison, Huang Rong could have cured it herself. But what Ouyang Ke had used was poison carefully concocted by Western Poison Ouyang Feng, and only he had the antidote.

Hearing this, Chu Yang also took to the air.

Ouyang Ke’s lightness skill was superb, personally taught by Ouyang Feng. Wanyan Honglie had seen it before and had praised it greatly.

But compared to Chu Yang, he was as slow as a drifting hot-air balloon.

With a whoosh, Chu Yang flew past Ouyang Ke like a fighter jet with the throttle fully open.

"What the hell just flew past me?"

Ouyang Ke looked utterly bewildered.

Before he could react, Chu Yang kicked him off the roof. When he hit the ground, everyone around him heard the clear crack of bones breaking from his body.

The searing pain in his waist nearly made Ouyang Ke pass out.

Gradually, his lower body went numb.

Huang Rong walked over and snapped, "Ouyang Ke, hand over the antidote!"

Ouyang Ke did not dare delay. He hurriedly pulled a bottle of pills from his pocket and held it out to Huang Rong.

Huang Rong took the pills, but the next second, she viciously kicked Ouyang Ke in the waist.

"I said I was going to kick you!"