Chapter 22: Beset by Crises (Bonus Chapter 2)

Having been classmates for so many years, he knew this man before him very well; one must never provoke him when he is in a frenzy. Otherwise, with no one else around, if he truly were to be enraged and strike, being bedridden for half a month would be the least of his concerns. If he were to slip up, the Eight Spider Lances might just run him through.

He would simply return and tell the others that they had encountered someone from the Spirit Hall, and that Dai Mubai, ignoring his advice, had insisted on harassing a sexy and bewitching young girl from the Spirit Hall. As a result, they had been killed by the powerful protector lurking in the shadows... and he had only escaped by the skin of his teeth.

He could certainly pull off such a lie.

......

Tang San cursed Dai Mubai for a full quarter of an hour, until Dai Mubai secretly wiped away tears several times, before his anger finally subsided. With a face as gloomy as water, he said in a low voice, "He must die tonight!"

"Never in my life have I, Tang San, felt so humiliated!"

"Go find Ma Hongjun tonight and tell him..." Tang San leaned in and whispered a few words into Dai Mubai's ear. Dai Mubai nodded repeatedly.

"And in the future, use your brain. Never do something like today again. Reckless bravado won't gain you anything; it will only hasten your death." Tang San reached out his right hand and patted Dai Mubai on the shoulder, his tone softening, speaking with a sense of gravity.

Although Dai Mubai was not particularly bright, he was easy to manipulate and loyal enough. Unless absolutely necessary, Tang San would not discard this pawn, so he would offer guidance when he could.

"Understood, Xiao San..." Dai Mubai said habitually.

Tang San frowned. "Do not call me Xiao San! Is 'Xiao San' a name you are entitled to use?"

"Third Brother, I was wrong!" Hearing Tang San's icy words, Dai Mubai was terrified and quickly bowed to apologize.

"I heard you have a cousin, Nuolanjia, if I recall correctly, who is about to marry that good-for-nothing Gu Chen."

"Yes, I have heard as much. Third Brother, why do you suddenly ask about her?"

"Hmph... She possesses an ice-attribute spirit. When the time comes, introduce us. I am not far from reaching level fifty. If my Blue Silver Grass could fuse with her Ice Phoenix spirit before I advance, the effects would surely double." Tang San gave a cold hum, a lecherous smile appearing on his face.

"That won't do, Third Brother. You don't know, but my cousin is a chosen disciple of Elder Situ Qing of the Spirit Hall. If you make a move on her, I fear Situ Qing will not let it slide."

Tang San was overstepping his bounds. Although he had little connection with this distant cousin, they had played together as children. Now that he had aligned himself with the Spirit Hall, he might one day benefit from her status. Yet, this Tang San actually wanted to use him to compromise her. If he couldn't pull it off, wouldn't he end up like Zhu Bajie looking in a mirror—alienated on both sides?

Seeing Dai Mubai hesitate, Tang San looked displeased and let out a cold snort.

"Hmph... What is there to fear? I might as well tell you: do you know where I have been lately? Why have I progressed so much?"

"Where did you go?" Dai Mubai asked curiously.

"Where I went is unimportant; you don't need to know. What matters is that I am telling you now that I no longer fear the Spirit Hall at all."

Dai Mubai was speechless. He had hoped that Tang San still cherished the old bonds of brotherhood and intended to share the method of leveling up, but this wretch just wanted to show off.

"Fine! I will go to Nuoding City tomorrow and reconnect with her. It has been many years since we last met; if I approach her abruptly, she will surely be suspicious of me." With power dynamics being what they were, Dai Mubai had no choice but to agree helplessly.

"Very good, Mubai! Once I have your cousin, I will not treat you poorly! I guarantee your spirit power will increase by at least ten levels within a year."

Tang San, having lived two lives, was well-versed in the art of controlling others. The carrot-and-stick approach never failed; he was certain he had Dai Mubai firmly under his thumb.

"Third Brother, where are we going now? Back to the academy?"

"Back to the academy to stew in frustration? Let's go to the pleasure house. This month has been stifling; Lilian and Vivina must miss Little Tang San. I want to take him to see them."

"Very well, then go enjoy yourself, Third Brother. I won't be joining you. I want to return to the academy and check on things. I feel Zhuqing has changed; I must go back and keep an eye on her, I cannot let her cuckold me... When you are finished, wait for us at the Rose Hotel. Hongjun and I will find you there."

"Very well."

"Nothing to do today, time for music at the pleasure house." Tang San walked away, hands behind his back, whistling as if he were completely carefree.

What Dai Mubai could not see was that Tang San's face was currently as dark as water, and the Purple Demon Eye in his eyes flickered incessantly. A beam of divine purple light swirled in his pupils, oscillating between brightness and shadow. Xiao Wu was his inverse scale; no one knew how much he cared for her. That Gu Chen had dared to take advantage of his woman—he was simply courting death!

His hatred surged like volcanic lava, threatening to scorch the earth into charred soil, as he thought evilly about how to make Gu Chen wish he were dead tonight... his face gradually distorting.

Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, while stroking Gu Chen’s arms and whispering things that would make one’s blood boil, had arrived in Soto City without realizing it.

"What did you say? You slept with Gu Chen!" Zhuqing stared at Xiao Wu in shock.

Just as Xiao Wu was about to answer, they suddenly heard someone exclaim.

"Hey! Look everyone, isn't that our savior?"

"Oh! It really is! What happened to him? Why is he being supported by two great beauties?"

"Could he be injured?"

"Go take a look..."

"Benefactor."

"Benefactor."

......

"Fair ladies, what happened to our benefactor?" A group of spirit masters whom Gu Chen had saved at Sacred Heart Lake crowded around.

"His spirit power is exhausted, and he has fallen into a coma," Xiao Wu answered with a sweet voice and a charming smile. Knowing the boy she liked was cared for by so many made her feel wonderful inside. Zhuqing appeared calmer, though she was internally overjoyed as well.

"You two must be tired from the journey! My carriage is right there. Why not help the benefactor into the carriage to rest? I can take you wherever you need to go," an older man pushed to the front and offered earnestly.

Xiao Wu and Zhuqing exchanged a glance, thinking this was a good idea, and readily agreed.

Just as the two women moved with lotus-like steps and the crowd parted to let them pass toward the carriage, someone called out from behind.

"Beautiful sisters, wait a moment."

They looked back to see a slender, beautiful girl in yellow silk running toward them. Behind her followed a woman with a proud figure, wearing a low-cut V-neck dress revealing deep cleavage, clad in golden armor on her upper body and a split skirt below. Her legs were straight, round, and lustrous, made to look exceptionally long and slender by her brown knee pads and high heels. Her skin was whiter than snow, her nose bridge straight, and her slightly narrow phoenix eyes gave her a noble, peerless face that felt unapproachable.

Her arrival eclipsed everyone else's radiance, making everyone present, save for Xiao Wu and Zhuqing, feel dim and inferior. She looked at Gu Chen with a flat expression, completely ignoring Xiao Wu and Zhuqing.

"Such powerful spirit power, such a formidable spirit. If you devour the essence of her spirit, you will immediately gain the opportunity to become a god."

As Gu Chen was condensing the Merit Golden Body by guiding all energies with his heart as recorded in the Profound Heart Technique, that pleasant voice rang out in his mind again.

"Master Zhaoran, has my opportunity arrived?"

Gu Chen immersed his consciousness within the divine weapon, the Heavenly Net Umbrella, admiring the unclothed, beautiful woman without a hint of lechery in his eyes. This was the strength of the Profound Heart Technique: one could achieve a state of 'no object, no self,' using the heart as a mirror; when things came, they were reflected, and when they didn't, there was no need to force it.

The woman smiled bewitchingly, her eyes glowing with excitement. She muttered to herself: "Six-Winged Angel, Heaven's Favored Goddess. Sleep with her for one night, and you will advance at least ten levels!"

The mysterious woman smiled maliciously. Whether influenced by the divine weapon left behind by the ancient evil god or not, Gu Chen felt she was even more sinister than himself.

"Master, stop joking with me. I am not that kind of person..."

"Hmph... You are not that kind of person?" The mysterious woman snorted, her jade-like right leg lifting in a graceful arc.

Gu Chen instantly felt his blood start to boil.

"If you have the skill, don't look!"

"Hmph... You stinking man..."

Gu Chen quickly turned away and hurriedly withdrew his consciousness from the umbrella's space.

"How boring..." Watching the bright, empty space, the mysterious woman flicked her slightly curled golden hair with disdain. She turned and changed into a black lace short skirt and black silk stockings. With a charming smile, she touched her cold left arm, complex emotions surging within her.

"If one day I can find a physical body, I will definitely taste the flavor of this Sacred Emperor constitution..." The mysterious woman licked her lips, her eyes narrowed in desire.

[Today's two chapters are finished. To the dear readers who like this, please remember to comment. I beg for your follows, attention, and votes!]