Chapter 713 - 373: Wu Yiren’s Biological Father
Chapter 713: Chapter 373: Wu Yiren’s Biological Father
"Junior Sister Su, you don’t look well."
Below the Battle Platform, countless people were excited and expectant. On the Battle Platform, however, Ming Hu’s eyes were gentle as he softly spoke to Su Xin.
Last night, Su Xin had ingested the Soul-devouring Pill in front of Qiu Zhihe, believing she had become Qiu Zhihe’s servant.
She hadn’t slept all night, her mind in a haze.
Thankfully, today’s first-round opponent wasn’t strong, and she managed to pass smoothly.
Unexpectedly, in the second round, she encountered Ming Hu.
At this moment, Su Xin’s emotions were complex. Regardless of her disapproval of the actions of the Zhenyang Sect Leader and several elders, she remained a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect.
At the Immortal Ascension Ceremony, before cultivators from all over the world, she represented the face of Zhenyang Sect,
and she naturally couldn’t disgrace the sect.
However, Su Xin knew that she wasn’t a match for Ming Hu.
She was prepared to fight to the death.
Qiu Zhihe had already promised to spare her mother’s life, and rather than becoming a servant or maid, if she... could die at the hands of Senior Brother Ming, it might be a fitting end.
Su Xin bit her lip tightly, gripping the Gentle Heart Sword, about to operate her cultivation technique, when she heard Ming Hu’s gentle voice.
She paused, looking at Ming Hu — the rough and burly man was gazing deep into her eyes, a smile on his face.
Su Xin’s expression turned cold: "Senior Brother Ming, we are enemies now, please do not hold back!"
"Ming Hu, fight well, but don’t kill her!"
From a distance, a large hammer flew over, with Su Hongling sitting on it, calling out to Ming Hu.
On the high platform, Su Longxiang laughed: "Ming Hu, the Thunder Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect have been friendly for generations, so go easy and don’t harm Niece Su."
Seated beside him, Tantai Mingyue’s eyes were filled with worry, but her face remained composed and serene as she said to Su Xin:
"Disciple, just do your best."
In an instant, everyone’s eyes were on the two of them on the Battle Platform.
Su Xin raised the Gentle Heart Sword, her gentle eyes turning cold: "Senior Brother Ming, make your move!"
Thud.
Ming Hu plopped down to the ground with a broad grin:
"I concede."
The surroundings fell silent. Disciples of the Thunder Sword Sect stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, as if struck by an Immobilization Technique.
Others were similarly confused, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
"Senior Brother Ming, you..."
Su Xin stared blankly at Ming Hu: "Why did you do this?"
Ming Hu jumped up from the ground, dusting off his pants: "Because I like you!"
"I can’t bear to harm you, and with your nature, you’d fight to the death for the sect if we clashed."
"If it really came to that, I couldn’t guarantee you wouldn’t be harmed, so I might as well concede now."
The crowd erupted in chatter.
"A disciple of the Thunder Sword Sect actually likes a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect?!"
"Ming Hu is the senior disciple of the Thunder Sword Sect, and he just conceded like that?"
"Another hero falling for beauty’s charms!"
"Su Xin is a fairy on the Beauty Ranking. If I could win her heart, I’d be willing to concede too!"
"Confessing in public, willing to concede. If it were me, I’d be moved too!"
People chattered incessantly, while Su Xin stood stunned, looking at Ming Hu, her beautiful eyes filled with sorrow:
"Senior Brother Ming, why go to such lengths?"
Ming Hu scratched his head: "Junior Sister Su, I just spoke my mind. I don’t expect an answer from you. I know you don’t like me. It’s fine; be careful in the third round, don’t get hurt."
After speaking, Ming Hu jumped down from the Battle Platform, waving handsomely at Su Xin.
Su Hongling descended from the sky, patting Ming Hu on the shoulder: "Haha, Ming Hu, you finally look like a man!"
"Damn it, Su Hongling, what do you mean? Are you saying I didn’t look like a man before?"
The senior and junior argued playfully as they walked away, leaving Su Xin standing on the Battle Platform, bewildered.
"Mother, what should I do?"
She looked up at the high platform, only to realize Tantai Mingyue had disappeared.
At this time, outside the Celestial Tao Fighting Arena.
Tantai Mingyue stood in a secluded alley, surrounded by layers of Isolation Arrays.
Before her stood a thirty-something male cultivator named Wang Dan, a commanding disciple of Danxia Peak.
"Master, the person you asked me to investigate has been found."
Wang Dan presented a portrait with both hands.
The portrait depicted a man of ordinary appearance and decent temperament, appearing to be an ordinary person with no cultivation.
This was handed to him by Tantai Mingyue in secret before the Immortal Ascension Ceremony.
Wang Dan, being the second commanding disciple of Danxia Peak, wasn’t on the list for this West Imperial trip.
Yet, before the journey, Tantai Mingyue gave him a secret order to quietly leave the mountain and infiltrate West Imperial City ahead of time.
The goal was to find the man in the portrait.
"Found him?"
Upon hearing her disciple’s words, Tantai Mingyue’s eyes brightened, revealing a rare coldness.
Wang Dan respectfully replied: "This man is named Zhou Qing, a resident of West Imperial City, forty-three years old, unmarried, but throughout the years, women would occasionally come to his home, staying only a night before leaving."
"But no one has ever seen the identity of these women."
"Three years ago, Zhou Qing left West Imperial City, and his whereabouts were unknown."
"A few days before the Immortal Ascension Ceremony began, Zhou Qing suddenly returned to West Imperial City."
Tantai Mingyue asked coldly: "Where is he now?"
Never had Wang Dan seen his usually calm and gentle master exhibit such a cold demeanor, responding fearfully: "Zhou Qing is currently at his home."
"Understood, return to Zhenyang Mountain."
Tantai Mingyue obtained Zhou Qing’s address and then spoke to Wang Dan.
Wang Dan was taken aback, quickly saying: "Master, I am willing to serve you!"
Tantai Mingyue shook her head: "This is a personal grudge between Lin Yuan and West Imperial, I cannot allow sect disciples to interfere."
"Western Empress Lin Yuan?"
Wang Dan was surprised, then said: "Master, since I’ve already investigated someone related to the Western Empress, I cannot remain uninvolved. I implore you to tell me the secret; I wish to follow you!"
He knelt swiftly, determined.
Tantai Mingyue sighed, helping him up: "Dan’Er, this is dangerous; aren’t you afraid?"
"Master raised me and taught me skills; with you, I’m not afraid of anything!"
Wang Dan declared loudly.
Tantai Mingyue nodded: "Very well, I’ll tell you. This Zhou Qing... is Lin Yuan’s lover and Wu Yiren’s biological father!"
"Tonight, I plan to capture this man and expose his affair with Lin Yuan to the world!"
...
Celestial Tao Fighting Arena.
On the high platform.
"Empress, what do you think of He Zhiqiu?"
With a smile, Wu Zheng asked Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan maintained a gentle demeanor, replying to Wu Zheng: "Your Majesty, there aren’t many body cultivators in this world, and among those who have mastered the Body Cultivation Technique to such a degree, it could only be Qiu Zhihe’s husband... Qin Gengyun."
Wu Zheng chuckled: "So, He Zhiqiu’s wife... Ruo Mei, is likely played by Qiu Zhihe?"
Lin Yuan responded gently: "I know what Your Majesty is thinking; if you truly fancy her, you can certainly bring her to the palace, I won’t mind."