Chapter 82 - Shocking Fame (1/2)
Zhuo Fan spread his wings among the clouds and hovered like a god towering above the ants. In his hand, he was clutching a still-beating heart which was dripping blood.
But the owner of this heart had long met his end and was no more than a stiff corpse, never again able to find peace from the horrors he endured.
The onlookers raised their heads in shock but witnessing the majesty of Zhuo Fan, they even forgot to breathe. Fear was almost palpable among the Hell Valley’s guards.
In just a single blow, the notorious Insidious Demon, the number one sage of Hell Valley, You Guiqi died.
Xie Tianyang was in denial of what he witnessed, even Jian Suifeng was swept by fear as he gazed upon the youth hovering in the sky.
“A true monster!” Jian Suifeng muttered.
Zhuo Fan simply relaxed his grip and the heart dropped down to the ground with a splat.
But this casual action seized everyone’s hearts.
As Zhuo Fan’s cold stare roamed among the people, they lowered their heads in fear; horrified that the demon would set his gaze on them.
Zhuo Fan, however, only laughed, “That guy must’ve run off to his house. He actually slipped away again.”
He suddenly swooped down, alarming the people into scattering. But he went by Xue Ningxiang and held her.
Xue Ningxiang let out a short cry before being carried into the clouds. They both then disappeared in a lightning flash.
In a clearing outside Blue Expanse City, lightning sparked, revealing Xue Ningxiang and Zhuo Fan landing. As he eased her onto the ground, she looked at him in puzzlement.
Zhuo Fan had a faint smile, “I said that I will take you out of the city, and I have. Now, I have fulfilled my promise.”
“Is this the outside world?”
Xue Ningxiang darted her eyes around and breathed in, a smile playing on her lips, “This is the first time I’m walking outside the city.”
“I’m finally out!”
Xue Ningxiang laughed and blushed, “Thank you, big brother Zhuo!”
“It’s nothing. We shook on it, didn’t we?” Zhuo Fan said, “Ning’er, this might be the right time to say goodbye.”
“You’re leaving?” Xue Ningxiang jerked her head up, her eyes fixed on Zhuo Fan, “Where to?”
He sighed as he said, “I don’t know. There are still so many things I need to do.”
The most pressing matters were finding the Lightning Canyon, Heavenly Emperor’s remnant, and searching for experts to strengthen the Luo clan. Despite having no clue where to start on any of them, he had to keep looking.
Xue Ningxiang saw his mind was set and spoke softly, “Big brother Zhuo, c-can I come with you?”
“No!” Zhuo Fan denied, “With your strength, you will be in too much danger.”
Xue Ningxiang lowered her head in defeat. She knew she’d be just a burden to him if she went.
Zhuo Fan tousled her head with a smile, “And you still have your clan to look after. Xue clan offended Hell Valley and needs to find someone that can protect it. The Sword Marquise Abode is a good choice. From Xie Tianyang’s sharp mouth, he must be quite high placed. If he vouches for you, Sword Marquise Abode is sure to take you in.”
Xue Ningxiang raised her head then nodded.
Now was the time to look for a safe place for her clan. It would be too cruel of her, and selfish, to go with Zhuo Fan and leave her father and brothers in danger.
She was embarrassed but still felt reluctant to part with him.
“Ha-ha-ha, bye, little sister!”
Zhuo Fan ruffled her head one last time and left with a smile. Tears formed in Xue Ningxiang’s eyes as she shouted, “Big brother Zhuo, when will we see each other again?”
“When the Thunder Ring flashes!”
Zhuo Fan waved as he walked away, the Thunder Ring on his and Xue Ningxiang’s fingers flashing…
In another area, Jian Suifeng was looking down on You Guiqi’s corpse, the enemy who robbed him of his three fingers. He recalled You Guiqi’s wretched death and his mood livened.
“Oh, You Guiqi, what a tragedy befell you, one of the great men of Tianyu Empire!”
Jian Suifeng found that the Hell Valley guards Zhuo Fan routed were now scrambling away from this place, abandoning even their elder’s body.
Only a cold wind blew over the white hairs on You Guiqi’s body which was lying there on the cold and hard ruble. His eyes were wide, despited losing their light.
Xie Tianyang was still looking at the sky, in Zhuo Fan’s direction, but then spoke in a sour tone, “Damn bastard, good for you killing You Guiqi, but what are you playing at taking Ning’er?”
“Tianyang, help the others down, we’ll rush to Sword Marquise Abode to heal them. The Xue clan will become Sword Marquise Abode’s vassal clan.” Jian Suifeng indicated towards the crucified Xue clansmen.
Xie Tianyang jumped and smiled, “That’s my intention. Eighth elder, who knew we thought alike? I was also going to save Ning’er’s clan.”
“Humph, who is like minded with a brat?”
Jian Suifeng snorted, “You’ve seen what that little monster is capable of. Only time will tell how far his strength will reach. Since he went out of his way to save these people, it won’t hurt to earn his favor. We might even become friends in the future. And in case we stand on opposite sides, we can use these people as hostages to deal with him.”
Xie Tianyang only smiled wryly at his elder’s reasoning.
[Humph, so you’re not saving Xue clan because of me but because of that prick Zhuo Fan. Just who is a Sword Marquise Abode’s core disciple here anyway?]
[If this gets out, my name will be dragged through the mud!]
Although secretly cursing, he still went to work. Since this was his aim all along, to help Xue Ningxiang.
Yet none was the wiser as half a mile out, You Ming was curled up in shivers.
His fear of Zhuo Fan grew out of proportion, to such a scale that he might never overcome this heart demon.
[Bastard, this is the third time! What did I ever do to you? Everywhere I go, you come killing! Last time you killed two elders and this time you killed my master.]
[Abomination!]
You Ming cursed Zhuo Fan to high heavens. But when Zhuo Fan’s cold face resurfaced in his mind, shivers wreaked his body…
***
A month later, in the Emperor’s gardens of the Imperial capital.
Two old men were playing chess beneath a pavilion. One of them was dressed in a golden gown and had white temples and cloudy eyes, he was the Emperor of Tianyu Empire.
The other elderly had a long beard, white hair, and exuded an imposing aura. Whenever a guard looked his way, their eyes were filled with respect.