Chapter 133 - Chief of the Valley of Medicine Masters (1/2)

The afternoon of August 5th, 1229 of the Ziyun era.

An old man who looked worn and weary, rode a massive beast as he entered the main gate of the Yunyang imperial city arrogantly. Many passersby stopped to look at the sight.

The beast beneath the old man looked like a leopard but seemed slightly different from a typical wild leopard. This was a demon that looked like a leopard. It was covered with dark gray fur that shone in the light. Its saucer-large eyes were bloodshot, and its mouth was filled with two rows of razor-sharp teeth. It was a fearsome creature to behold.

“It’s a Lightning Leopard, a level-seven demon of the Qi-Gathering stage!” Many people recognized the demon that the old man was riding. Although it was a common sight to see demons being ridden as a steed, having a level-seven demon as a steed was a rare occurrence. A person who was able to ride a beast like this was either somebody from the imperial family or from one of the few premier tycoon families within the imperial city. Furthermore, even those few premier tycoon families had only one or two demon steeds of such a high level. Hence, when the old man rode the Lightning Leopard along the streets of the imperial city, it drew the attention of many people throughout the city’s streets.

“I hope… that emperor does not get angry at me,” said the old man on the Lightning Leopard going towards the emperor’s palace. As he spoke to himself, a bitter smile appeared on his lips, his eyes filled with impatience.

This old man was none other than the second elder of the Chu royal household of the Western Chu ridge, Xiang Donghua. This was the second time that Xiang Donghua had come to the Yunyang country imperial city this year.

The first time, it was because a young man had appeared in the Western Chu ridge, who had managed to defeat the two Great Consummate golden-crowned eagles of the Lost Forest. That young man had ignored the orders of the imperial court and had ordered the two golden-crowned eagles to destroy the tycoon Fan family of the Western Chu ridge. The Chu royal household could do nothing about the young man and could only report the matter to the imperial court in the hopes that they would be able to take action against him.

However, that time, although he had brought one of the most powerful adepts in the Yunyang imperial court back with him to the Chu royal city, together with the Cloud Condor that the imperial court had spent much effort training. But both the adept and the demon had been killed by that young man.

As he had brought the adept and the Condor back with him, so, when they were both killed, the Chu king had ordered him to return to the imperial city to report the news to the imperial court.

He had rejected it right away. What a joke! He had been the one to bring both the man and bird to the Chu royal city, and they had never returned. What if the imperial court was furious at him?

Because he had refused to go to the imperial city, the Chu royal household had sent someone else to report the news to the Yunyang imperial court. This time, he was here because of the continuation of the same matter.

After the messenger had relayed the news of the death of both man and bird to the Yunyang imperial court, the imperial court had sent the previous emperor and the current retired emperor of Yunyang country, Jiang Yunding, who was an early Connate adept, personally to the Chu royal city of the Western Chu ridge.

After that, Jiang Yunding had personally paid a visit to the young man. However, even before he got past the front door, he had been killed by that young man, and in just one blow, just like the previous time!

Jiang Yunding was the retired emperor of Yunyang country and the only Connate adept in the whole Yunyang country, but he had died in the Chu royal city of the Western Chu ridge, and even in one of the guest inns under the Chu royal household.

This matter was extremely significant and had to be reported to the Yunyang imperial court immediately. Hence, he was sent once again by the Chu king.

“We’re here.” As they reached the main entrance to the palace of the imperial household, Xiang Donghua hesitated as he rode his Lightning Leopard. He then inched closer and identified himself before he was allowed to enter the imperial palace.

In the imperial court, the emperor of Yunyang country, Jiang Tianchen, sat at the emperor’s seat. As he looked at Xiang Donghua, his expression seemed dark.

Although Xiang Donghua had not said a single word, Jiang Tianchen still had a faint sense of evil foreboding.

“Speak,” said Jiang Tianchen in a low voice.

Xiang Donghua breathed in deeply, then smiled bitterly as he said, “Your Majesty, my… my sincere condolences.”

Crack!

Just at the instant that the words left Xiang Donghua’s mouth, Jiang Tianchen’s right hand shook as he the right armrest of the throne was broken off by him, wooden splinters flying out of the chair. He had tried to comfort himself that his father must have run into some issues either on the way there or on the journey back, so had not returned to the imperial court yet. Now, this phrase from Xiang Donghua had confirmed his greatest worry.

“Your Majesty, please calm down.” Seeing Jiang Tianchen’s fury, Xiang Donghua was taken aback like a bird that had just been faced with an arrow. He was so frightened that his expression changed drastically, his body crumbling to the ground as he kneeled down anxiously and plastered his head to the ground. He did not dare to get up at all. Of course, this was a smart move on his part, as this gave him the greatest chance of keeping his life.

“Speak.” When Jiang Tianchen opened his mouth once again, although his tone seemed flat, it was clear that he was trying extremely hard to suppress the anger that was boiling within him.

“Your Majesty.” Xiang Donghua took a deep breath as he gathered his courage to look up. He looked respectfully at the emperor and continued, “The retired emperor came to the Chu royal city and headed directly to our royal household and learnt more about that young man. Right after that, he had left for the guest inn that the young man was staying in. According to eye witnesses inside the guest inn at that point in time, the retired emperor was originally very courteous and wanted to have a peaceful talk with that young man… but the young man did not even allow him past the door. The retired emperor had then asked the young man to give up the first-grade martial art at the door.”

Xiang Donghua told Jiang Tianchen truthfully, “The young man refused, and the retired emperor then threatened him by saying that if he did not do so, the imperial court would report everything about him to the Valley of Medicine Masters. Then, the Valley of Medicine Masters would gift the imperial court the first-grade martial art technique anyway. Later, in his fury, the young man then released a spear in a single blow, killing the retired emperor right outside the door. Before he died, the retired emperor had taken out the soft waist spear to defend himself, but he was not able to block the phantom like spear that transformed from the metal ball in the young man’s hands.”

With that, the atmosphere within the imperial court seemed to appear exceptionally oppressive and dark.