Upon hearing that voice, he shivered and closed his eyes involuntarily. Joy and sadness both appeared on his face. When he opened his eyes again, he had removed that expression, leaving coldness on his serious face.
Everyone followed the sound to look. They all screamed excitedly, “Our immortal and honourable leader.”
“It’s our leader. Leader has come to save us.” Some of the apprentices almost cried.
Cheng Ming was over the moon. He threw his sword away, shouting “Leader. Look at me. Look at Mingie.” And he just ran right ahead of him. If Liu Si Qian did not swiftly catch him, he would have fallen from his compass.
Xia Yi looked at it as that figure descended slowly from above. He grabbed Gu Wen Zhu tightly, “It’s a good thing that Ciang Yi still had a heart, didn’t give up on his apprentices and appeared in time.”
Ciang Yi, elegant and handsome, standing straight and tall, floated and descended in front of Jie Shang. All the people at the scene were nervous. They were all prepared for a great war. However, out of everyone’s expectation, the two did not fight right away. They just stood there and stared at each other.
CIang Yi’s eyes fixed on Jie Shang’s face. His expression unchanged. Waves swirled inside his eyes. Then he walked up a couple of steps. One of his hands on his side moved slightly and turned into a fist slowly.
At that moment, Xia Yi thought his hand was almost going to touch Jie Shang’s face. But he had recovered to his calm state, looking all bland and without the slightest concern. It was as if just now he was some other guy and was not acting properly.
At the same time, Xia Yi found that he seemed to have something to tell Jie Shang but hesitated with a complex expression. Thanks to this eyesight from this whatever phase? Immorality phase. Now he could see like through a pair of binoculars and found out this soap opera shit.
“179. Are you seeing this? I think their relationship is not simply one between enemies.” Xia Yi called out to the system excitedly.
“I saw. That jade pendant on their waist is the same. I do not know about these guys but, do we need to feel your opponent before beating them?”
Hmm? This is what you have found out? What about your bitchy radar? You have been with Lady Li for so long and the only thing you have learned from her was his accent? But that’s right. They had the same pendant.
There is clearly something between them.
Had the apprentices of Ciang Yi never found out about this? Maybe in their minds, their leader had already gotten rid of all the emotions in this world. These things between men and women, no, these things between men would be an insult if it happened to their leader.
“Are you not seeking revenge? I am here. Release my apprentice.” Ciang Yi stared straight at Jie Shang and said plainly.
Jie Shang smiled, tilting the end of his red lips. He pushed lightly. Qing Xiu then flew towards the people of the Qi Shan Sect, making him scream until he had been caught by QIng Hui jumping in the air.
“Great. Thne, today, you shall die for my son.” Jie Shang cleared away the smile on his face, his eyes becoming cold as ice. After saying so, a silver light appeared in his hand. It moved swiftly and pointing at Ciang Yi’s chest.
That was one glittering short sword.
CIang Yi was tall, but surprisingly, as the two were standing near each other, Jie Shang was half a head taller than Ciang Yi though it did not seem like it.
“I am going to cut out your heart to see what color it is. But well, you might not have one at all.” Jie Shang said behind gritted teeth with a painful and angry expression.
“Leader.” The people of the Qi Shan Sect were nervous when they saw this. All of them pulled out their weapons to come forward.
“No one moves.” Ciang Yi spoke with a moderate voice and a moderate tone, but he still managed to get people unable to disobey him. “It’s me who is in debt with him and I shall give what belongs to him back.”
Then, he closed his eyes calmly.
Seeing him like this, Jie Shang halted. His other hand grabbed Ciang Yi’s clothes, intense hatred lingered in his eyes, he screamed, “Are you so sure that I won’t hurt you?”
Hearing this, Ciang Yi opened his eyes, “It was me who was not treating you and your son rightfully. Do it.”
Those eyes were light in color and looked like ambers filled with light under the sunlight. It was as if Jie Shang had been mesmerized. He was holding Ciang Yi’s collar with the sword on his other hand pointing at his chest. And he just froze there angrily, not knowing what to do.
“Leader.” Cheng Ming growled angrily and shockingly. He suddenly started an attack towards Jie Shang.
Jie Shang was not in his right mind. He stared at Ciang Yi blankly. That attack was cutting through air coming at him but he did not use his arm to block it, letting Cheng Ming’s attack hit him.
That attack hit Jie Shang. He was blown away and the sword fell onto the ground with clanging sounds. No one expected any of this. Everyone was stunned.
Cheng Ming did not expect this either. He looked at his hands with an open mouth in shock.
Ciang Yi opened his eyes right when Jie Shang was hit. He wanted to grab onto him but missed because Jie Shang dodged out of the way in the air. Jie Shang turned and landed on the ground steadily. He only breathed heavily for a little while, then he became calm again.
“That’s alright.” He looked towards Cheng Ming and smiled.
But that smile was deep.
At this time, a roar like a thunderstruck exploded beside everyone’s ears.
All the people there had their chi roughed and chest in pain.
Some of the apprentices who were not too advanced in cultivation went pale and quickly meditated to push that chi in their bodies back down. Xia Yi felt slightly nauseous as well. He brushed his chest. From Gu Wen Zhu’s palm, a warm flow came through and circulate in his body, making that sick feeling go away.
With that growl, a black figure went down from those black birds flying in the air. It’s head was like a lion’s, with one horn on it. It’s body was like a deer, but with scales. It’s hooves were glowing like four silver fires.
Xia Yi looked at Kirin on his side, then he looked at that one in the air, his mouth opened. That was a kirin as well, just like his baby boy. It was only much bigger and fiercer.
The big kirin in the air jumped quickly to the side of Jie Shang. It lowered the front of his body, bending its back legs, showing a fierce look and its sharp teeth to everyone of the Qi Shang Sect.
Xia Yi found that Kirin was becoming uneasy as well. It used its front paws to dig the ground, splashing rocks everywhere. He thought that it was not looking good, then a black figure shot out from beside him like an arrow and ran towards the center of attention.
“Kirin.” Xia Yi screamed, staring at Kirin’s figure. He became anxious and ran behind it.
Gu Wen Zhu realized how bad it was when he saw Xia Yi dashed out, he quickly jumped forward to chase Kirin with him. Kirin ran and howled towards that big kirin.
Although it sounded like a thunderstruck as well, compared with the previous one, it was much more childish with a little babbling.
The big kirin was ready to attack. A red ball of flame appeared in its mouth. It looked fierce. Its back legs charged. It was about to pounce to the front and release that fire ball towards the people. From afar, Kirin’s voice rang. It was like a call or an echo.
That big kirin froze with its right paw in the air.
Then, a shadow flashed through. Kirin was like a breeze of wind, passing in front of everyone, pouncing onto that big kirin.
Xia Yi, who was chasing Kirin and arrived, was terrified seeing this. Just when he was about to run forth, Gu Wen Zhu pulled him back, “Don’t panic. Look.”
Xia Yi calmed himself down and saw an unbelievable sight.
After Kirin pouncing onto the other kirin, they did not attack each other, instead, Kirin was jumping around and pushing the big one affectionately. It was being adorable, rubbing its head against that kirin with tail wiggling. As for the big kirin, it slowly put its sharp paw down and sniffed around Kirin’s body. After all that, it seemed to have some facts confirmed and rubbed Kirin with its head in return, licking its head with its tongue.
The fierceness had been drawn away. Only gentleness and love was left.
Jie Shang saw Kirin and showed an unbelieving face, “Big black, is this your Little Black? Is this Little Black?”
Big Black looked at Kirin softly. Those yellowish orange eyes were watery. It heard Jie Shang. It lifted its head to hmm towards him as if he was saying yes to his question.
Sadness and happiness replaced each other on Jie Shang’s face. Jie Shang was puzzled, “It’s Little Black. It’s Little Black.” He turned sluggishly to face Ciang Yi. His peach eyes filled with confusion, “Ciang Yi, Ciang Yi. Is he, is he…”
That voice was so small that it sounded like it was afraid he would wake up from a dream like this. Ciang Yi stared at him, looking calm and cold, emotionless. But his fists were actually curling up tightly and he was squeezing so hard that his knuckles turned pale.
Seeing that Jie Shang was not paying attention, Xia Yi stepped up a little and called, “Son, son.”
Kirin, hearing this, turned to look at him, showing a merry face. As it was about to move forward, it looked behind to see the big kirin was hesitating. Jie Shang heard Xia Yi’s calling and turned his head abruptly to look at him. Seeing him and Kirin this way, he knew that he had been feeding this Little Black.
With a stern face, a red light flashed through the air, then Xia Yi was already in his hand. He grabbed onto Xia Yi’s thin neck and asked fiercely, “Talk. Where did you get Little Black?”
Xia Yi felt his throat tighten and it was hard to breathe. He stretched out to grab the hand which was holding him. However, those fingers grabbing him were like steel and could not be moved an inch with his full force pulling them.
“You jerk. Let him go. Ahhh. Host. Don’t give up.” 179 screamed in terror.
Kirin growled as well. It curled its body, ready to pounce onto Jie Shang, but was caught by Big Black on the back of its neck by its mouth. Kirin was struggling in the air with its four hooves.
“Let him go.” Then, with a shocked and angry voice, Gu Wen Zhu attacked with a spear in his hand as if no one could stop him. Immense spiritual power had been put into this attack and swept towards Jie Shang. The air around had been pulled and twisted because of this.
Jie Shang was feeling confused in the first place and focusing on Xia Yi. He did not even look at Gu Wen Zhu and continued to interrogate Xia Yi with reddened eyes, “Say it. How did you get Little Black?”
He did not care about that attack which was approaching him. That spear was going straight towards Jie Shang, about to stab into his vest. In the matter of seconds, with a loud clang, a silver light interrupted with spiritual energy to block that fierce attack.
Two powerful energies collided, roughing Gu Wen Zhu’s chi. He fell back for a few steps, sticking his spear on the ground, half-kneeling to stabilize himself. He looked up at Ciang Yi, who was surrounded with a frightening killing vibe.
Ciang Yi put down his sword and stared at him in silence. Mixed emotions appeared on his face. He opened his mouth to speak but, at the end, did not. He just blocked that for Jie Shang.
Gu Wen Zhu saw that Jie Shang was still squeezing Xia Yi’s neck, and that Xia Yi’s face was turning blue with tears sliding down, rolling his eyes to look at him. Gu Wen Zhu was so anxious.
Under these circumstances, he had no time to think about anything else and shouted angrily at Ciang Yi fiercely, “If you try to stop me again, I will kill you too!” He pointed his spear at the sky at the same time, intending to use the energy from the heavens and the earth.
Cheng Ming was nervous and yelled towards Ciang Yi, “Leader. Leader. Yi is one of us.” Then he swung his sword wanting to move forward but was stopped by Liu Si Qian.
“Don’t panic. The leader is here. Yi is going to be alright.”
“Jie Shang. Let him go.” Ciang Yi’s voice rang, “He knows nothing. Don’t kill innocent lives. He is that Wang Lan that you have never met.”
Upon hearing his words, Jie Shang shivered. He observed Xia Yi in shock, then slowly released his hand which was grabbing onto his neck. Xia Yi quickly struggled himself out of the grip. He covered his neck to breath heavily and stumbled towards Gu Wen Zhu.
Gu Wen Zhu swiftly took his spear back, walking a few steps forward, he took Xia Yi into his arms. He hugged and squeezed, then he loosened his hug. He used his hand to lift the hair on his neck to see clearly. A few purple finger marks were on his fair skin, making him angry and distressed. He grabbed his spear tightly, breathing heavily.
Xia Yi intended to complain a little, but when he saw his expression, he was scared that he might fight Jie Shang because of this.
What if they fight and something happens?
And so he caught Gu Wen Zhu’s arm tightly, his eyes begging and scared, and said in repeating words, “I am fine. I am fine.” With a slightly hoarse voice though.
Xia Yi was holding onto him like an octopus. Gu Wen Zhu made a few moves, unable to free himself, and was afraid that he might hurt him if he used too much force, making him stand at the same spot staring at Jie Shang.
Jie Shang then recovered from his confused state. He turned to look and met Gu Wen Zhu’s fierce eyes. At that moment, Jie Shang froze. He stared at Gu Wen Zhu unblinkingly, looking pale and weird.
Suddenly, he turned to face Ciang Yi and pointed at Gu Wen Zhu, “He, he…”
Ciang Yi looked at Jie Shang, then slowly nodded and closed his eyes. He seemed calm, but his breath was rough, clearly very excited as well. Xia Yi witnessed the rapid change of emotions on Jie Shang’s face between sad and happy, and becoming weird, thus began to feel alert and grabbed onto Gu Wen Zhu’s arm tightly.
“179. I think the way this person looked at Zhu was terrifying.” Xia Yi called out to the system, “Why am I having such bad feelings?”
“Host. Don’t be scared. According to normal cultivation world logics, it could be Gu Wen Zhu’s blood could cure some kind of disease by letting people drink it. Or, he was some sort of great power supply and everybody wants him.”
Shut up.
Big Black released the struggling Kirin at this time. Kirin made a small sound and ran towards Xia Yi. Then it comforted him with its head rubbing against his leg. Big Black silently walked towards Jie Shang’s side. It lied down and looked gently at Kirin.
Liu Si Qian and the others were stupefied and totally did not understand what had just happened. Those apprentices at the back were deeply confused, holding onto their weapons, frozen.
“Ze Yuan.” Jie Shang suddenly called Gu Wen Zhu that name. He sounded soft and light, shivering.
Gu Wen Zhu had been grabbed by Xia Yi dead tight. He looked at Jie Shang groomily with a spear in his hand. Seeing him like this, he was flabbergasted and became confused.
Jie Shang walked slowly towards Gu Wen Zhu, staring unblinkingly at him on his way. Gu Wen Zhu saw him approaching and wanted to guard against him. But somehow when he saw him like this, he could not bear to resist him. There was even this familiar feeling rising in him about this man.
Jie Shang stood steadily in front of Gu Wen Zhu. He raised his hand to the side of Gu Wen Zhu’s face, “Come. Let me see whether your spirit protection mark is still there.”
Gu Wen Zhu looked at Jie Shang’s eyes which were so familiar to him. He began to doze off and his legs moved forward, bringing Xia Yi with him as well. Jie Shang suppressed his breath. He brushed off the hair beside his ear to see that blue water drop shape mark.
“Right. Right. Spirit protection mark. I have given that to you and him.” Jie Shang gazed at that blue mark, eyes sparkling. “At first, your spirit was unstable. This is a mark which can protect your spirit. Everytime your spirit went away, that mark would pull your spirit back into your body.”
Xia Yi stood on the side, flabbergasted. Based on all those dramas he had been through with his mother, he had a brief guess in his mind. Is there going to be a family reunion?
No. It can’t be. How can there be such a coincidence? Zhu is not from the cultivation world. He is from the farming world.
“You are my son. Your name is Ze Yuan.”
Bingo.
Jie Shang took a few deep breaths, staring at Gu Wen Zhu to say it word by word.
This is not just some family reunion! He is his son!
“Host. Is this your mother-in-law? Father-in-law? They don’t have a red mark. I can’t tell.” 179’s terrified voice rang.
“Don’t say things like that. This is not the farming world, we don’t have gers.”
Jie Shang’s voice was not loud, but everyone heard it. It was as if Gu Wen Zhu had been struck by lightning. He was stunned.
Liu Si Qian and Cheng Ming both opened their mouths unbelievingly from a distance.
“I had always thought that I had lost you. But now I see that you are well.” Jie Shang, looking at Gu Wen Zhu, tears running in his peach eyes, said, “You are still alive. Great. Great.”
“You must have made a mistake. I have a father and a mother. It’s just that my mother died long ago. My father died some years before followed by that.” Gu Wen Zhu said, slightly panicking.
“You are my son. I am your father.” Jie Shang sounded dead sure.