Chapter 116: The Decision of the Chu King
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“They investigated separately but came to the same conclusion: Zhou Donghuang just turned eighteen this year, and was born and raised in the inferior Yunfeng prefecture. He has no background at all.” s.h.i.+ Yu paused.
“Yunfeng prefecture? An inferior prefecture? Born and raised there?” Hearing what s.h.i.+ Yu just said, the whole hall turned silent. From the Chu king, Xiang Xiong, to the royal concubine, Fan Ji, to the Chu royal city guard commander, Xue Meng and the elders from the Chu royal household—everyone was shocked.
That young man who had defeated the two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest and destroyed the whole Fan family was from an inferior prefecture?
“Impossible!” Xue Meng was the first to respond as he shook his head fervently. “Someone from an inferior prefecture cannot possibly accomplish this; it would be a miracle for the person to even achieve level-six of the Qi-Gathering.”
“I think it’s impossible too.”
“Absolutely impossible!”
…
The other elders from the Chu royal household also shook their heads in disbelief.
What a joke! How could such a young person from an inferior prefecture, who has just turned eighteen, already achieve Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering? If so, then what would that make of them? Simply ridiculous!
“What proof do you have?” Xiang Xiong glared at s.h.i.+ Yu as he asked coldly. “You should know that if you dare lie to me, not just you, but your whole family will pay the price!”
“Your Highness.” s.h.i.+ Yu dropped to his knees as he said seriously, “s.h.i.+ Yu would not dare to lie to Your Highness. All that I say is the truth. If Your Highness does not believe what I say, you may send people to Yunfeng prefecture to investigate. That Zhou Donghuang was adopted from young by his mother, Lin Lan… and Lin Lan was a disciple of the side family of the preeminent Lin family and was sent to a town beneath Yunfeng prefecture to run a guild. That town is called Qingshan town, and her guild is Magnolia Guild. Everyone in Yunfeng prefecture knows this. Furthermore, in Yunfeng prefecture, Zhou Donghuang is something like a legend… because he is just a young man from a small town, but in such a short time, he caused such an uproar in the prefecture.”
s.h.i.+ Yu continued, “If I uttered a lie, the royal household may execute me after investigating its truth!”
With that, s.h.i.+ Yu’s words brought silence over the hall again.
“Your Highness!” Xue Meng said to Xiang Xiong. “I am willing to make a trip to Yunfeng prefecture myself to find out more about Zhou Donghuang to see if he really is as what s.h.i.+ Yu says.”
“Thank you for the trouble.”
With Xiang Xiong’s approval, Xue Meng turned and rushed out of the hall.
“Your Highness,” said s.h.i.+ Yu after Xue Meng had left. “I suspect that Zhou Donghuang could possibly have received the essence from a Primal Core adept, which allowed him to achieve such power at such a young age and even overcome the two golden-crowned eagles.”
Primal Core! Hearing this, Xiang Xiong’s eyes narrowed. If what he said was true… then there was really such a possibility! Otherwise, there was no possible explanation for how someone born and raised in an inferior prefecture could achieve Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering at such a young age.
“Enough, you may take your leave first.” While Fan Ji and the other elders were all stunned by s.h.i.+ Yu’s words, Xiang Xiong waved his hand and said, “If Commander Xue returns and verifies all that you said, I will definitely reward your s.h.i.+ family.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” With that, s.h.i.+ Yu turned and left.
Once he left the hall, s.h.i.+ Yu broke into a wide smile. “Zhou Donghuang, you killed my father, now I will destroy you too! If the Chu royal household cannot handle you, there is still the imperial court of Yunyang country… and even if the imperial court fails, there is always the Valley of Medicine Masters. I don’t believe that they will not be able to defeat you.”
…
After s.h.i.+ Yu left, Xiang Xiong ordered, “Second Elder, head to the imperial city as quickly as possible and tell the imperial court everything so that they can send people to deal with Zhou Donghuang and the two golden-crowned eagles. Also, tell them everything that s.h.i.+ Yu just said.”
“Your Highness!” The second elder hesitated before he continued, “If everything that s.h.i.+ Yu said was true, then Zhou Donghuang really received the essence from a Primal Core adept… if we tell the imperial court, wouldn’t we be left with nothing?”
“Fool!” Xiang Xiong shook his head as he smiled sadly. “Even if what s.h.i.+ Yu said was true… do you think we can defeat this young man based on our current capability? Although Father achieved great consummation of the Qi-Gathering a few years ago, even he could not overcome the two golden-crowned eagles. Our Chu royal household will not fight that young man unless we are entirely confident of success!”
Xiang Xiong’s words were wise, but he still looked extremely displeased. Even then, there was nothing he could do about it. The young man was simply too powerful for the Chu royal household to control.
“Your Highness, from my understanding, he stays in Chuxiu Inn run by us.” Fan Ji, who was standing beside Xiang Xiong, pointed out. “Shall we try… to poison him?”
“No!” Her suggestion was immediately rejected by Xiang Xiong. “Notwithstanding how unlikely success would be, but even if we poison him, what do we stand to gain? We’ll surely be attacked by those two golden-crowned eagles. You may poison Zhou Donghuang, but not those two eagles… as demons, they are extremely sensitive to any poison.”
…
Zhou Donghuang was naturally ignorant to whatever had transpired in the Chu royal household. Of course, the news that the Fan family had been destroyed had spread like wildfire throughout the Chu royal city, but he was not concerned.
Now, he was troubled. His mother had taken a liking to that la.s.s Yang Zixi, and knowing that Yang Zixi was interested in him, he could not wait to bring them together.
“Donghuang, what’s wrong with Zixi? Not only is she beautiful, but her figure is also nice. After you marry her, she can definitely give birth to a healthy grandson for me.” Lin Lan could not understand her son. “Where else can we find such a great daughter-in-law? You don’t realize your own fortune. Xiao Lu, do you agree?”
That morning, Lin Lan brought Yun Lu to the second courtyard where Zhou Donghuang was now staying and has thrown a bunch of questions at him.
“Brother, I also think Sister Zixi is very good, why don’t you make her my sister-in-law?” agreed Yun Lu with a smile.
“What do you know!” Zhou Donghuang glared at Yun Lu, then turned and smiled bitterly at Lin Lan. “Mother, have you forgotten what happened with Chen Dandan? Now, you want to do this again?”
Lin Lan was quiet. Back then, she had almost forced Zhou Donghuang to agree to marry Chen Dandan once he grew up, but she had mercilessly betrayed the both of them. Before leaving, she had even called Zhou Donghuang a piece of “trash.”
“Donghuang, Zixi is different, don’t compare her to Chen Dandan… Chen Dandan is not worthy of her!” Lin Lan breathed heavily, her tone softening.
“Mother, I know that Chen Dandan cannot compare with Zixi. But I really have no intentions towards Zixi. Just like Chen Dandan back then, I only treat her as my younger sister,” replied Zhou Donghuang with a smile.
“Plus… I already have someone else in mind.” Seeing Lin Lan about to continue, Zhou Donghuang pulled his killer move. At the same time, an image of the figure flashed through his mind.
“What… What… what is your name?”
“My… My… My name is Luo Qinghan.”
…
The scene that unfolded in the Lost Forest seemed to appear before his eyes. Although that had been an accident, it was that accident that had made that girl, Luo Qinghan, leave such an unforgettable impression on him. Every time his mind wandered, he would think of her uncontrollably.
“Who knows… does she think of me in her free time too?” wondered Zhou Donghuang anxiously.
“Wow!” Just as Lin Lan was shocked by his words, Yun Lu had already cried in surprise, her eyes widening. “Brother, Brother… no wonder every time I see you in a daze, you have a smile on your face, and your gaze will seem so gentle. That gentleness is different from when you look at Mother or me. Were you thinking of that lady then? No! Were you thinking of my sister-in-law?” Yun Lu looked excited at Zhou Donghuang, as if she had just discovered a whole new world.
“You’re a troublemaker!” After being exposed by Yun Lu, Zhou Donghuang glared at her and reached out towards her.
“Mother! Brother is turning angry!” Yun Lu hid behind their mother and made a face at Zhou Donghuang. “Naughty brother, I must have guessed correctly, right? Brother, when are you bringing her back for us to see? Is she as beautiful as Sister Zixi? Also, is she from the Chu royal city?” Yun Lu was just like an excited baby.