Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
âYou, boy, are really lacking in respect. Once this news gets out, the pitiful scholar that you are will not survive for long.â
âYes, he destroyed the future of every scholar in the Central Mainland Region on an impulse. If it were me, I would have killed him too!â
At noon the next day in the pavilion of King Wuyangâs palace, Zhou Bao, the Child-endowing Buddha, and Wang She were lying comfortably on couches. But this time the Child-endowing Buddha looked different. He was wearing a rich landownerâs garb, and nobody could see his portly figure. He was a monk of the Snow Mountain Great Wheel Temple but looked like the boss of a brothel ship.
These two men did not know where the rumors came from, but today at the break of dawn they hurried to see Zhou Bao, as if they wanted to hear his jokes. âI think your boy was harmed enough. He just swore at you a couple of times, and for that, you turned him into the single greatest enemy of all the scholars!â
âHmph, he was that type of person, arrogant and young. I already gave him plenty of face by not killing him there and then!â
âHis current problem is a lot more wretched than it would have been had you killed him there and then. Now, not only does he have to face every angry scholar in the realm, but he also has to face himself. Because of his few words, the sageâs path he believed in his whole life was cut off in all of the Central Mainland Region. If he canât take it, he might kill himself!â
âThat doesnât mean a damn thing to me! Donât start what you canât finish.â Zhou Bao shrugged his shoulders and sneered. âBy the way, what are you two up to today?â
âWe heard that you were going to see your son-in-law today. We are quite interested in seeing how it will go!â
âSon-in-law? Hmph, figures. Since you two are here, I will give you a good show for free!â Zhou Bao said indifferently.
âA show? Will you split up the happy couple? My boy, be careful not to provoke your daughterâs ire, she will hate you for a lifetime!â The two unscrupulous guys beside him fanned the flames.
âA long punishment is better than a short one. This Feng Xuan boy is offensive to the eye. Also, my daughter is too young. If she were to find somebody else in two yearsâ time, that still wouldnât be too late!â He suddenly stopped speaking as Zhou Mu arrived.
âFatherâ!â
âCome in and sit down. There are many benches.â Zhou Bao cast a shady glance at him. âWhereâs your mother?â
âSheâs in the rear court consoling my sister!â
âConsoling her? Why is she consoling her? Go and call them in!â
âHuh? Father, youâ!â
âIf I ask you to go, you will go. Today we will all sort this out face to face!â Zhou Bao looked at him resolutely.
âYes!â Zhou Mu saw that Zhou Bao was in a bad mood and did not dare say anything else. He ran straight to the Inner Yard.
âOh, is that Feng Xuan? Heâs not bad looking. Heâs young, well cultivated. It seems heâs carrying with him a little secret. Not bad! Quite suitable as a son-in-law!â The two men were still lying on the divans, but with their cultivation, they only had to scan the place with their divine thoughts and they could ascertain all the details big and small. It was almost twelve forty-five, and Feng Xuan was hurrying over to King Wuyangâs palace. At the speed he was going, he would arrive just in time.
âThis boy sure has an air of haughtiness. If you made anyone else come here, they would be waiting at the entrance of King Wuyangâs place before the break of dawn!â Wang She smiled.
âI think we should play with him a little, set up some obstacle to make him arrive late. Then itâll be easier to justify yourself to your baby daughter!â
âI know how Iâll handle this, donât you worry about it. Just worry about watching the show!â Zhou Bao glanced between his two guests.
âFather, you canât do this! Feng Xuan and I are just friends. How could you do this?!â
âAre you telling me what I can and canât do?!â Zhou Bao looked straight in front of him at his willful daughter, Zhou Qing. It seemed helpless, he had really spoilt her. âYou must understand, the boy provoked me first, he attacked me first. If it werenât for you, he would not even have a corpse for you to find. Do you think that if someone is rude to your daddy, I will just sit back and watch?â
âNo, I meanâ!â
âIt doesnât matter what you mean. I wonât kill him, I will even give him a great deal. All I want to know now is whether youâve really taken a liking to him?â
âFather, youâ!â
Hearing this, Zhou Qing turned bright red and glared resentfully at her father. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at Wang She and the Child-endowing Buddha. âHow could you do this, ask your daughter such questions in front of guests?â
âDonât worry, those two are your elders. Whatever they think, whatever they say, it doesnât matter!â Zhou Bao said without a hint of worry. âHave you or have you not taken a liking to the boy?â
âYes, yes!â Zhou Qing had been spoilt by Zhou Bao since she was little, and there were no taboos between them. But admitting this kind of thing in front of so many people was embarrassing. She lowered her head shyly, face as red as a baboonâs bottom, eyes fixed on the floor wishing she could disappear into it. She also resented her father terribly for this. What type of father would do this? Even Yan Yunfei by her side couldnât help but feel resentful, but she didnât show it in front of so many people. She just comforted Zhou Qing by placing her hand on her shoulder.
Who knew whether Zhou Bao would ask more questions?
âSo, do you think he likes you too?â
âI donât know!â
âThatâs no problem. Wait for him to come over, then ask. Eggie, the boy has arrived at the door. Can you bring him in here?â
âYes, father!â
âZhou Bao, donât you think this is a little inappropriate? Whatever happened, Feng Xuan is still a guest here. You bring him all the way here just to ask him such a question to his face. Itâs reallyâ¦!â
âYunfei, some things are better to deal with face to face, itâs clearer that way, especially with this type of thing. If we cannot open up and talk about, then the only person that suffers is our daughter!â
âButâ!â
âOkay, thatâs enough. Weâre doing it this way!â Zhou Bao interrupted Yan Yunfei. He leaned back, closed his eyes and regained his composure.
When he was like this, Yan Yunfei could say nothing, she just had to let him have his way.
A short while later, Zhou Mu arrived at the front of the pavilion with Feng Xuan.
âGreetings, King Wuyang, Queen Wuyang.â Feng Xuan actually did know his manners. As he walked up to the crowd, he first greeted Zhou Bao and Yan Yunfei. Then he looked at Wang She and the Child-endowing Buddha. âIf I am not wrong, this gentleman must be the first Highest Elder of Tian Long Taoism, the elder Wang She!â
âGood eye!â Wang She laughed with great interest. âIf your eyesight is so good, can you tell me who this chap is?â
âThisâ!â
This really stumped Zhou Bao. He was only a Level Six master of martial arts, he had not even reached the Level Seven Expert Realm. Although he had had some adventures, they were nothing like Zhou Baoâs. He could easily recognize Wang She, but only because his and Zhou Baoâs relationship was the secret that everybody knew.
Even if he could not recognize the man, he could guess who he was. The Child-endowing Buddha had a relationship with Zhou Bao that was more like an underground love affair. Who could know that Zhou Bao would be messing around with this monk who didnât follow the rituals? Furthermore, today he was dressed like a stout landlord. Who would have thought he was the Child-endowing Buddha of the Bigwheel Temple?
âBoy, pay no attention to me, I donât want to be acquainted with you, either!â the Child-endowing Buddha said, swaying his fat head. Ignoring Feng Xuan, he went to sit down.
Feng Xuan raised his eyebrows. He wanted to say something but stopped himself. He understood that if he was here sitting together with Zhou Bao, with people talking so casually, he should not provoke the situation.
âI have brought you here for one reason, and that is my daughter. I know that my daughter is interested in you. So, I want to ask you, are you interested in my daughter?â
Feng Xuan was visibly stunned. He was not at all prepared for this. He had no idea how to respond to the question that Zhou Bao had so brazenly asked in front of so many people. He stole a glance at Zhou Qing; her face was bright red. He glared resentfully at Zhou Bao. But he quickly felt Zhou Qingâs eyes glancing at him in anticipation. Her eyes met with his. Her face became more pained with embarrassment and she looked straight down at the floor.
âWell, boy? Say something!â
Feng Xuan grew more nervous as he suddenly raised his head. His eyes shining and with a resolute expression, he said, âKing Wuyang, I like your precious daughter very much!â
âHaha, so he isnât simply interested, he likes her very much!â, Zhou Bao laughed mischievously. Seeing that Feng Xuan still had not said anything, he raised his hand and continued, âThen, I will tell you the condition. You cannot like, no, must not be interested in my daughter!â
âFatherâ!â
âShut up!â As Zhou Bao glanced over, he felt the desire to be more unreasonable. Zhou Qing could not say a word. Zhou Bao looked again at Feng Xuan. âCome on, make an offer!â
âJunior Leopard, this is too old a trick. Even an idiot would know youâre testing him. I can answer for him now, that he will not agree to any offer you propose!â Wang She stretched and said lazily.
âIs that so? Well then, you donât need to reply, I will state the offer. You are now a Level Six, but I will immediately make you a Level Seven, no, Level Eight of the Expert Realm. And I will give you three Pure Yang Celestial Devices. How does that sound?â
âYour Highness, you really look down on me. I am being sincere. Iâ!â
Zhou Bao did not wait for him to speak. âWithin ten days, you can enter the Individual Immortal state under my protection. And I can get you to the Individual Immortal peak elixir within ten years. And Iâll give you five Supreme-class Pure Yang Celestial Devices!â
Now Feng Xuan was completely stunned. Zhou Baoâs offer was completely beyond his imagination. To be promoted to the Individual Immortal realm elixir within ten years, with five Supreme-class Pure Yang Celestial Devices? What did this mean?
This was essentially the capital needed to establish a new sect. With this he could establish a huge sect comparable to the Tian Long Taoism.
He almost nodded, but he stopped himself. He raised his head slightly, still not speaking, and listened to Zhou Bao as he continued. âIn addition, I will guarantee that you will be able to transition through two Thunder Tribulations within the next twenty years and ascend to the state of Venerable Realm Genuine Immortal. I will also add this Pure Yang Celestial Device with the potential to be promoted to a fairy weapon. And before you become a Venerable, I will protect you to make sure nothing happens to you. This is the final offer. Do not bargain, if you do not agree, I will break you in two.
There was complete silence.
With the pavilion in complete silence, a while passed before Feng Xuan finally sighed. On his face appeared a bitter smile as he said, âKing Wuyang, I have no choice but to accept your offer!â