Chapter 40

"Master!" Looking at Xu Zhi Nan's weak appearance, Zhaowen's knees went weak and he knelt on the ground. He walked on his knees to Xu Zhi Nan's body, hands trembling and not daring to touch him. His eyes became scarlet in the light of the fire.

Zhong Kui violently wiped a handful of sweat from his face, leaving a few wretched traces of carbon dust: "Why is Immortal Lord's pulse so weak? I've infused spiritual energy into it, but it's like a clay ox going into the sea. It is absolutely useless!" If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Zhong Kui really couldn't believe that the man in front of him, one of the strongest people in the immortal cultivation world today, was so depleted in spiritual energy that it was as if his entire body had been emptied.

Xu Zhi Nan had aged a lot overnight, his lips were tragically white and dry, and he could not find any color on his face. He faltered and grabbed Zhong Kui's sleeve, his breath like a gossamer, and said, "No need ...my limit.... has reached."

Xie Bi An stood aside, anxiously watching Zhong Kui still infusing spiritual power into Xu Zhi Nan's body, but from Zhong Kui's expression, he could tell that it was just a futile effort.

Fan Wu She looked solemn. Looking at the old man who was as weak as a candle in the wind and remembering Xu Zhi Nan being high-spirited and vigorous back then. His heart had mixed emotions.

If Xu Zhi Nan died, the only people in the world who remembered his big brother and shared his memories of him would be him and Li Bu Yu, whom he loathed.

He did not want Xu Zhi Nan to die. He did not want to be the only one left in this world who remembered the amazing Zong Zi Heng.

Zhaowen choked, "Master, it is this disciple who is useless and has let you down."

Zhaowen's guilt was not unreasonable. Xu Zhi Nan was a rare genius in the three hundred years of Chunyang Sect. At the year of establishment, he made a breakthrough and became a Senior Brother of the Sect Master, and his journey to immortality was smooth sailing. However, his disciples did not have such luck. He only accepted five disciples in his life, none of whom had the qualifications to have the power to rule the sect, but Zhaowen's disciple had some of the momenta of Xu Zhi Nan back then. Unfortunately, he was too young to support such a large sect.

The decline of the Daming Zong Clan is certainly the main cause of the Clan's sibling rivalry, but the root cause is the failure of the Clan to produce a leader who could lead the immortal world for three generations in a row, and its inability to keep the foundation left by its ancestors. If a sect does not have a leader who can stand up to the immortal world, then the bigger the family business, the fatter the meat will be in the eyes of outsiders.

Xu Zhi Nan, at such an old age, is still determined to break through the Indestructible Heavenly Flame because this realm is like Phoenix Nirvana, which will allow him to regain his life. But it is a double-edged sword; the more critical it is, the more fierce the fire in his heart, and if he fails, he will have to watch his own decline.

Xu Zhi Nan shook his head, "Zhaowen, you have done ... very well, Chunyang Sect, I’ll leave it to you."

"No, no, Master ... Seven Star Lamp!" Zhaowen hissed, "Go find the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp."

"The Seven Star Lamp has been stolen." Zhong Kui said in a deep voice.

Zhaowen had tears of blood in his eyes, "Cang, Yu, Sect! Chunyang Sect will take revenge for this!"

Xu Zhi Nan looked at Zhong Kui with those grey eyes and said in a mute voice, "Heaven Master, I have an ... unrequited request." He struggled to get up, but this body, which was known as the toughest and strongest in Jiuzhou, could hardly move at this moment.

Zhong Kui felt his heart sink as he leaned down, "Please speak, Immortal Lord."

Xu Zhi Nan pressed himself against Zhong Kui's ear and whispered a few words.

Zhong Kui's eyes widened and his expression changed.

Xu Zhi Nan covered his chest and coughed violently twice, his body jerking violently as blood suddenly seeped from his mouth and nose.

"Master!"

"Sect Leader Master!"

Xu Zhi Nan clung to Zhong Kui's hand as if returning to light, his eyes wide: "Emperor Kong Hua ... he ..."

Fan Wu She was struck by lightning.

Empress Kong Hua, the last Human Emperor of the immortal cultivation world - Zong Zi Heng.

---

Daming - Wuji Palace - Qinghui Pavilion

"Really?" Zong Zi Heng put down his tea in his hand in surprise. His pair of hands and feet suddenly somewhat at a loss as to where to place them.

Shen Shi Yao covered her lips with her fan, her beautiful eyes smiling, "Really, the emperor has just told me that the decree has not yet been issued, but it has already been decided."

Zong Zi Heng stood up and blinked somewhat helplessly, "Many thanks, mother."

"What's the point of thanking me? Talking about it, you should thank yourself for this matter."

"This son does not understand."

"Three years ago you missed the Jiaolong assembly in order to investigate the identity and cause of death of that lonely spirit. We have suffered a lot as mother and son in these three years, I felt unjust in my heart, but ..." Shen Shi Yao snickered, "Who knew that it’s a blessing in disguise. That evil spirit was actually the guard of the head of the Huaying Sect. When the Huaying Sect came to Daming to say thanks, your father praised you for seeing the uneven road*, but in reality he was angry at you for missing the Jiaolong assembly, but just yesterday the head of the Huaying Sect sent someone to ask for a marriage proposal for his daughter." She was overwhelmed with joy, "Heng Er, this is a wonderful marriage."

Zong Zi Heng didn't understand and said, "Sect Leader Hua's daughter is famous for her beauty, and I heard that countless famous sect’s men have already proposed to marry her before she became an adult. Those who went to propose were targeting me?”

"Of course, that guard is close to Sect Leader Hua's family. He grew up watching their daughter, so the Hua family praises you." Shen Shi Yao laughed, "Besides, although the Huaying Sect is a famous sect, my son is the eldest son of Emperor Zong, and gifted, so you are more than worthy of her."

Zong Zi Heng said in his heart: Everyone knows that his eldest son is weak and unpopular. Although the Huaying Sect is not a top immortal family, it is still a famous sect. Even though being the Emperor Zong’s queen is not a bad deal, it’s a surprise that she admires me.

"Great, it's wonderful." Shen Shi Yao couldn't stop smiling. Being able to tie the knot with the Huaying Sect, their mother and son's status would definitely change drastically. With such a father-in-law, would they still worry about not having a supporter in the future? She said excitedly, "Heng Er, you must cherish this marriage, I will also urge the emperor to announce the marriage as soon as possible, and choose an auspicious day to have the wedding."

Zong Zi Heng could not say what he felt in his heart, he was more apprehensive than happy about marrying a woman he had never met before. He obediently nodded his head: “Son will listen to mother.”

Outside the door, there was a sudden rush of footsteps and a figure rushed into the house like the wind.

"Xiao Jiu, don't barge in like this. How many times have I told you!?" Zong Zi Heng didn't need to look to know who the visitor was.

A half-grown teenager ran in with a nervous look on his face. He was superb-looking, but at a young age, he has a face that is going to be a real crowd-pleaser.

"Big brother ..." Zong Zi Xiao saw Shen Shi Yao and gave a perfunctory salute, "Consort Shen."

"You guys play." Shen Shi Yao got up and walked out in a modest manner. As Zong Zi Xiao grew older and his talent became more and more amazing. Her attitude towards him was not as cordial as when he was a child.

After Shen Shi Yao left, Zong Zi Xiao said anxiously, "Big brother, I heard that Father is going to appoint you a marriage, is that true?"

"Mother was just talking to me about it." Zong Zi Heng laughed, "It's true, it's Huaying Sect's Sect Leader’s daughter. I've just ..."

"You cannot get married!" Zong Zi Xiao yelled.

Zong Zi Heng was startled, the tea in his hand almost spilt on him. He said in confusion, "Why?"

Zong Zi Xiao bit his lip indignantly, "Why do you want to get married? Aren't we fine without it? Why must you get married?!"

Zong Zi Heng couldn't help himself, "There's no such thing as to why or why not. For most people, don't they all have to get married?"

"But there are also many people who never marry for life."

"Those who are dedicated to the Dao may find the mundane world a drag, and there is nothing wrong with that, but this is a lifelong matter that should be decided by parents. Father and mother have decided, and that is not something bad either."

Zong Zi Xiao said angrily, "You just want to get married, you just want to get a wife! You ... how can you be so debased!?"

"Tsk." Zong Zi Heng frowned, "Xiao Jiu, you've grown up. You can no longer speak to big brother as childishly as you once did. If you keep being so rude, I'm going to punish you."

"You still want to punish me?" Zong Zi Xiao was so angry that he was about to cry, "You're going to get married, you're going to leave me behind, and you still want to punish me?"

Zong Zi Heng’s heart softened as soon as he saw his watery little face. He pulled Zong Zi Xiao to his side and let his ninth brother sit on his lap like he did when he was a child, and said in a good-natured and amusing way, "Where did you get these nonsense thoughts from? Why would I leave you alone when I get married? You are my younger brother, how could I not care about you?"

"When you get married, you'll have your own home. You'll have to stay with your wife and have children later. What about me? What about me?!"

Zong Zi Heng was amused. He pinched both of Zong Zi Xiao’s fleshy cheeks, "Are you going to cry? Let's see who’s the man who isn't ashamed to shed tears after being told off by his big brother."

Zong Zi Xiao opened Zong Zi Heng's hand, "Ever since I was little, you have always been with me. You spend the most time with me. You cannot give it to others."

Zong Zi Heng stroked Zong Zi Xiao’s head and said in a soft voice, "Xiao Jiu, Big Brother grew up with you, but Big Brother can't stay with you for the rest of your life. No one can stay with anyone for the rest of their lives. You will have to grow up too, and one day maybe you will have to get married and have your own family too. But we are still brothers, always brothers, big brother will never leave you alone forever."

Zong Zi Xiao shook his head in panic and begged, "Big brother, don't get married, I beg you. Don't take in any wife. Can't we stay together forever? I don't want you to stay with someone else." The ignorant teenager still could not yet understand the true meaning of this fear. He only knew that he was not willing to share his big brother with anyone. From young till now, he isn’t willing to even let go of his hands and feet. The thought of an outsider trying to take his big brother away from him was something he already hated before he even met her.

"Of course we will always be together. In the future even if we don't live in Daming anymore, you can still live with your big brother, we will never be apart as long as you want."

"No, it's not the same. You cannot get a wife, I don't want you to take a wife." Zong Zi Xiao grabbed Zong Zi Heng's arm and shook it.

Zong Zi Heng was not annoyed, wiping Zong Zi Xiao's tears while coaxing him patiently.

"I don't care, you're not allowed to get married. You're definitely not allowed to get married! How can you suddenly take a wife!"

"How could I suddenly take a wife? It's still early. Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu, listen to big brother." Zong Zi Heng said, "Next year you will be attending Jiaolong assembly, and at this time, Father is most concerned about this matter and cannot be distracted from anything else, so big brother will not get married so fast. You should calm down and train hard. Remember, you swore that you would win the Jiaolong assembly next year and get the sword quenched by Shen Nong Ding."

Zong Zi Xiao bit his lips and stared at Zong Zi Heng mournfully.

"By the way, at that Jiaolong assembly, Master Hua's daughter will also be there. I heard that she has both talent and beauty, maybe you will like her when you see her ..."

"I will not!" Zong Zi Xiao jumped off Zong Zi Heng and said angrily, "I hate her, I hate you, I hate you all!" He ran off indignantly.

"You ..." Zong Zi Heng chased a few steps after him and gave up. He shook his head helplessly. This child seemed to be really spoiled, not only does he have no manners, he is already twelve years old and still so arrogant and unaware. He couldn't help but reflect on whether he had spoiled Xiao Jiu too much.

There are only a few months left until the Jiaolong assembly. He could only hope that this matter does not affect him.

 

SQC’s note: Now one is nineteen years old and the other is twelve years old, so I'm going to keep writing until they break up

----

seeing the uneven road* [路见不平]--- Interpretation: When you encounter a bully on the road, you stand up to help the victim. It was a chivalrous act praised by people in the past.

 

Edited on 22 Mar.  21 (Emzie)

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