AZI Volume 6 Chapter 40

Pass the hours of seven PM, Long Hua returns to the port, and finds Tian Cheng standing in front of the yacht.

As he approaches, she turns to face him with her magenta-colored eyes open, and asks—

"Master, about what you said—regarding a will-?"

"…"

Cutting Tian Cheng off, Long Hua places his index finger to his lips.

"I see."

Closing her eyes, Tian Cheng nods.

The venomous smile on Long Hua's face—when he had made the silencing gesture, it all but confirms the answer that the Tai Xuan Emperor had thought of.

...…

Within the dreamscape, the Tai Xuan Emperor pinches the bridge of her nose.

"This despicable bastard… Mindset wise, he's definitely returned to normal."

...…

Qing Ming Yang's home is located in the outer areas of the Ling Yuan family's estate.

The size of it can't be considered spacious—for it only consists of a small courtyard with a single bedroom.

Inside Qing Ming Yang's room, which is made up of a single bed, along with a table surrounded by four chairs, at this time—

"Surnamed Qing, I…-"

"Wait."

Raising his hand, Qing Ming Yang cuts Lin Yu Heng off.

Placed onto the table is a pouring vessel, along with two ceramic cups, to which, Qing Ming Yang gestures to the tableware, and suggests—

"Let's have a drink first."

"…"

Filling the cups with wine, Qing Ming Yang pushes one of them closer to Lin Yu Heng, who is seated to the former's right.

"Cheers."

"…Cheers."

With a bit of reluctance, Lin Yu Heng presses his cup to Qing Ming Yang's, while thinking—

(When there are business and secretive dealings to be made, wine and the likes must be involved…)

Sighing on the inside, Lin Yu Heng has already been informed of how Qing Ming Yang has been going around looking for others to join him on his venture—of searching for a specific weapon spirit within the Leng Bing Realm.

By no means is Lin Yu Heng slow in the head. Connecting the dots, he can guess this supposed weapon spirit to be none other than Long Hua or someone similar, and so—

"Surnamed Qing-"

"Ai, having downed a cup together, we're basically no different from sworn brothers. How about this? You can call me Qing-xiong or Ming Yang."

"…"

Realizing that Qing Ming Yang has no intentions of letting him off, Lin Yu Heng can only heave a heavy sigh, as he sets his cup down, and replies—

"Enough. Get to the point."

"Uh…"

Scratching his cheek awkwardly, Qing Ming Yang sets his cup down, and asks—

"Lin-xiong must have already found out that Elder Hou has assigned me with a new task, right?"

"…I've heard."

"…I don't want to return to the Leng Bing Realm. But… I don't have a choice."

"…"

Towards the clear sign of dread in Qing Ming Yang's blue eyes, Lin Yu Heng places a hand to the former's shoulder, and encouragingly says—

"Qing-xiong, I believe you can return safely. Have faith in your own abilities, and that the heavens are on your side. As the saying goes, the best way to deal with one's fears is to face it head on, ao-"

"Bullshit!"

Shaking off Lin Yu Heng's hand, Qing Ming Yang goes on to say—

"You fought that guy yourself and was beaten miserably! And you've also seen that surnamed Xia's face! I-If I meet him again, there's no guarantee that he'll let me live! Also… I've only just recently recovered from my wounds! Even if he does see fit to let me live, what if…- What if he thinks to cripple me again? I still haven't gotten married yet, I still haven't fathered a child yet, there's still so much family related things for me to do! I…!"

"…"

Massaging his temple, and ignoring Qing Ming Yang's nonsense, Lin Yu Heng sighs once more. Much like the latter, the former also doesn't wish to encounter Long Hua again, so—

"Qing-xiong, I understand your feelings, but you have to realize… I'm the same as you. I don't want to experience what it's like to be crippled."

"Lin-xiong, the fact that the two of us can escape from that monster's clutches alive—means that we've been through life and death together. At this point, you're as close to me as my genuine brother."

"…"

Batting Qing Ming Yang a look, as if to ask if he has any shame left, Lin Yu Heng asks—

"…Is there a brother like you in this Heaven and Earth—who would drag their brother back into the clutches of a monster just to suffer together?"

"Consider it me begging you to accompany me on this venture."

"Can I refuse?"

"No."

Raising a sigh, Qing Ming Yang continues to say—

"The number of people willing to accompany me, it's around two hundred this time."

The plan that Qing Ming Yang has is to first teleport the entire group near the Grounded City that Yao Ying is in.

Upon breaking through the Grounded City's defenses, Qing Ming Yang intends to find Yao Ying amidst the chaos and kill her—thus removing this individual who will forever be a nail near his heart.

"Ah?"

Ignoring Lin Yu Heng's astonishment, Qing Ming Yang says—

"Most of them are in the Foundation Establishment realm—with a few in the Core Formation realm. I've told them to prepare well, since it's their first time entering the Leng Bing Realm."

"…"

Maintaining a look of astonishment on Qing Ming Yang, Lin Yu Heng remarks—

"You…-? This is no different from conning the naïve onboard a pirate ship."

"With or without an Incarnation Scroll—heading into the Leng Bing Realm, it's something that every Ling Yuan family clansman must do at some point. This isn't me conning them onto a pirate ship, this is simply me leading an inexperienced group to experience a Leng Bing Realm venture together—with the slogan, safety in numbers."

"Heh…"

Snorting out a laugh, Lin Yu Heng replies—

"…Qing-xiong, I'm impressed by your forethought. But my answer is still no."

"Ai, Lin-xiong, I told them to prepare well, you know what this means, right?"

"…"

"Their pouches are filled to the brim with cultivation resources."

"…"

Spelling it out as clear as day, Qing Ming Yang adds—

"You and I have both been stuck at the peak of the Core Formation realm for a while now. For you—who cultivates in spear intent, it's much more difficult to make a breakthrough. Even if we cannot acquire most of the resources in those… People's pouches, we should still be able to salvage some of it, right?"

"…"

Twitching his lips, Lin Yu Heng is somewhat tempted by this thought, as he takes a sip of wine, whereas Qing Ming Yang goes on to ask—

"Besides, it's not fair for us to be the only ones to get cursed by that guy, right?"

"…"

Upon returning to the Ling Yuan family's estate, Lin Yu Heng had been quick to find his father, Lín Jìng Yún; however—

(Father is an Immortal realm practitioner, but not even he was able to do anything about this curse. …Grandfather might be able to, but he's currently in closed-door cultivation, so I can only wait.)

As Qing Ming Yang's words about fairness echoes in his head, Lin Yu Heng grits his teeth, and replies—

"…Fine. But only this once. Also…"

Nodding his head, Qing Ming Yang says—

"A Dao oath to not betray the other, and to keep these matters away from the ears of the household."

"Correct."