Chapter 64

The story of Hua Yu Xin spread everywhere in Daming that night and would soon spread to the entire immortal world.

The topic of this year's Jiaolong assembly was hotly debated, changing from "who would win the championship" to "who had eaten the human core of the Huaying Sect cultivator".

The immortal world has always hated the core thief to the bone, and now that Chen Xing Yong is dead, the buyer deserves to die as well. The ghosts of the victimized cultivators are now haunting the Jiaolong assembly, and there are many opinions on how Emperor Ning Hua will investigate tomorrow.

What they did not know was that Zong Ming He was not interested in capturing the Lion Alliance, only hastily handing over the case to an elder and his eldest son, and hardly ever asked about it. It was the perseverance of Zong Zi Heng, Xu Zhi Nan and others that led to Chen Xing Yong's execution.

That night, Zong Ming He summoned Zong Zi Heng, Zong Zi Xiao, Xu Zhi Nan and Hua Jun Cheng to the palace.

Among the four, only Hua Jun Cheng really knew nothing about it. Zong Zi Xiao had intended to tell Zong Ming He what had happened, but Xu Zhi Nan and Zong Zi Heng both objected. Xu Zhi Nan, who is not a Zong, was justified in being cautious, while Zong Zi Heng wanted to protect Zong Zi Xiao because the man behind the curtain wanted his own core, and he could not let his younger brother or his father know until the matter was clarified.

Zong Ming He was very upset and questioned why they had caught Chen Xing Yong but failed to find out who was behind the purchase.

Zong Zi Heng could feel Zong Ming He's anger towards him, but he had to take into account the Chunyang Sect and Huaying Sect, so he did not lash out in front of outsiders.

Seeing that nothing could be done, Zong Ming He brushed his sleeves and left.

After sending Xu Zhi Nan and Hua Jun Cheng out of the palace, Zong Zi Heng did not return to Qinghui Pavilion. He did not want to face his mother yet, so he decided to go to Bailu Pavilion to sleepover for one night.

It was late at night and Chu Ying Ruo had long since rested, with only the inner servants, who were keeping watch at night, greeting them. Zong Zi Xiao asked the servants to send some food to his room.

"Big brother, you haven't eaten anything yet, right?" Zong Zi Xiao pushed the food over, "You didn't eat last night, and I haven't seen you eat during the day."

Zong Zi Heng smiled bitterly, "I really would've forgotten about it if you didn't mention it." It was true that he had not eaten anything since he had been poisoned by the love drug last night. At first, he felt uncomfortable and retched, but by the afternoon, when the drug had subsided, he did not feel hungry.

"Hurry up and eat." Zong Zi Xiao urged.

Zong Zi Heng ate obediently.

Zong Zi Xiao sat next to him, staring at him unblinkingly, his eyes seemingly glued to this face.

"You're looking at me like that, is it you want to eat too?" Zong Zi Heng took a piece of pork ribs and shoved it into his brother's mouth.

Zong Zi Xiao said as he chewed, "I ate some for dinner. These pork ribs are nowhere near as good as the ones you make."

Zong Zi Heng laughed, "It's been a long time since big brother made pork ribs for you, hasn't it?"

"Mhm."

"When the Jiaolong assembly is over, big brother will cook you a big table of delicious food."

Zong Zi Xiao smiled, "Then I'll set the menu."

"Okay."

"Big brother, do you think that Yan Shu will believe that scene today?"

"I saw Miss Hua acted quite well. I was previously worried that she was a girl with thin skin, but it seems that she has gone out of her way to avenge her little martial uncle."

"How is she thin-skinned? She's always in front of you."

"How could that be?" Zong Zi Heng laughed, "You're the only one who thinks others are trying to steal me away. Who would know that other than you, who else would cherish me?" He teased him originally, but for some reason, he remembered his mother's disappointed accusation and his father's disdainful impatience, and his heart felt indescribably bad.

"They just want to steal you away from me. Other brothers and sisters love to play with you, and that glib-tongued Li Bu Yu, who is annoying as hell."

"Li Bu Yu is from a first-class upbringing, and that’s called being eloquent. Unlike you, he is not big in size but is not small in temper."

"So what you're saying is that Li Bu Yu is better than me?" Zong Zi Xiao glared, "I can even beat him with my feet."

Zong Zi Heng smiled helplessly, "In big brother's mind, of course you are the best, but he is not bad either. Such words can no longer be said anymore."

"Hmph."

"Alright, let's rest."

Zong Zi Heng washed up and laid down on Zong Zi Xiao's bed, unable to resist sighing.

Zong Zi Xiao dawdled and refused to go to bed, finally awkwardly lying down next to his big brother. He still has to keep a fist's length apart, as if he was afraid of even touching the corner of the other party's clothes.

Zong Zi Heng didn't notice and murmured, "Tomorrow, it's your final battle, and also our final battle."

"I will win, we will both win."

"Xiao Jiu, go to sleep."

"Mmm."

"Come in here a bit, aren't you afraid of falling off the bed?"

"... I won't."

Zong Zi Heng teased him, "When you were little you were dying to sleep with me in all seasons, but now that you've grown up, you're not even close to big brother anymore, are you?"

Zong Zi Xiao was silent for a moment and moved into the bed.

With his arm next to his arm, Zong Zi Xiao could only feel his skin burning through his clothes. He understood vaguely, but at the same time he seemed to not really understand about his own abnormality.

But Zong Zi Heng did not notice as he concentrated and meditated, and soon fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Zong Zi Heng woke up abruptly. His spiritual breath was a bit abnormal, his body became hot and cold, and his breathing was not smooth. He sat up, feeling uncertain. He had experienced this sensation not long ago when he had taken an immortal pill given to him by Xu Zhi Nan to help him expel the effects of the love drug. It was the exact hot and cold alternation at that time that made him feel extremely uncomfortable. That’s why he didn’t eat anything for a day.

But what was going on now? The drug effect had clearly passed long ago, and he didn't feel any signs of poisoning, could it be the residual medicinal properties of that immortal pill?

"Xiao Jiu, pour a cup of water for big brother." Zong Zi Heng gently pushed Zong Zi Xiao.

However, Zong Zi Xiao did not move a muscle.

Zong Zi Heng's heart tightened. People who cultivated immortality were very alert, not to mention pushing him like this. The moment he got up, Zong Zi Xiao should have sensed it, so why did he not react? He probed Zong Zi Xiao's nose and felt his pulse, but it was too calm and obviously not right - ecstasy!

There must have been ecstasy in this room, and the immortal pill he had taken was still in effect, so it had helped him resist the drug. Zong Zi Heng's hair stood on end as he tried again to wake Zong Zi Xiao, but to no avail, so he turned over and got out of bed. But there was no strange scent in the air. What kind of ecstasy in this world could be colorless, odorless and so potent?

And who had done it, and for what purpose?

Suddenly, he thought of the incense burners placed all over the Bailu Pavilion.

He returned to the bed and placed a guarding barrier around Zong Zi Xiao before silently opening the door and walking out.

When he reached the front hall, the fragrance became stronger. If there was some kind of bewitching drug in the incense. People who were not sensitive to the smell would not be able to detect it for a while, but he had been raising flowers for many years and had made incense before, so when he distinguished it carefully, this incense seemed to be a bit different from when he first came in.

He soon found the chambermaid who was on guard fainted on the ground.

Whoever had done this, the target must be the owner of this Bailu Pavilion. Zong Zi Xiao had a barrier around him which was set up by him so that he would be notified immediately if there was any danger. He had to hurry to see if Chu Ying Ruo was safe.

Zong Zi Heng cautiously walked towards Chu Ying Ruo's bedchamber, but just as he approached, he heard a sweet moaning sound, and he stiffened, unable to believe his own ears.

He took a deep breath and tiptoed to the door to confirm what was coming from inside the house; the sound of a man and woman making love, and doing it sneakily, it could not be his father. His mind went blank. At this point he really wished the fact that he too had been dazed. He had discovered a secret he didn't really want to know!

Coming back to his senses, he gritted his teeth and slowly, slowly backed away. If his father found out about this, Chu Ying Ruo would lose her life, and Zong Zi Xiao would also be implicated. Whoever is in that house, he does not want to know at all. He decided to swallow this matter into his belly.

---

When he woke up the next day, Zong Zi Xiao was refreshed, but Zong Zi Heng was black-eyed and listless.

"You didn't sleep well?" Zong Zi Xiao cupped his big brother's face and looked at it carefully.

"Had a nightmare."

"What nightmare?"

"I forgot." Zong Zi Heng got out of bed with a sullen face. He also doubted whether what happened last night was a nightmare. Whether it was or not, let him forget it, forget it completely.

"Big brother." Zong Zi Xiao came around to his side, his eyes filled with concern, "With all that has happened recently, I know it's hard for you, but everything will be fine. I will win, we will all win. No matter what, I'll be with you. There's nothing in this world that we can't solve, hand in hand, as brothers."

Zong Zi Heng smiled tenderly and smoothed his younger brother's hair, "Xiao Jiu has really grown up more and more like a man."

Zong Zi Xiao smiled contentedly, and had to pretend not to care. He never got tired of hearing his big brother's compliments since he was a child.

"Let's go, big brother will watch you win the championship!"

---

On the third day of the Jiaolong assembly, every match was highly anticipated.

Hua Jun Cheng lost to Chen Lan Duo by a single move. Although many people thought that Hua Jun Cheng lost because he was reluctant to deal a hard blow to a female cultivator, Chen Lan Duo's strength was also evident to all. It was a bit strange that Qi Meng Sheng did not even show up when Chen Lan Duo was crowned the third best.

And the ultimate battle for the win was, not surprisingly, between Zong Zi Xiao and Ye Yun Chen.

Zong Ming He was overjoyed and promised once again, in front of everyone, that if Zong Zi Xiao won the championship, he would have a divine sword forged for him from Shen Nong Ding.

The Daming Clan, which had not produced a great talent in three generations, was about to turn its fortunes around with this young prince, who was only 13 years old.

Guests from all sects gathered around the ring to take their seats. When Zong Zi Heng saw Chu Ying Ruo, he had goosebumps all over his body.

She still had a face like a peach blossom. Compared to Qi Meng Sheng’s cold and ruthlessness, she was as charming and delicate as ever. But when Zong Zi Heng looked at her, he could no longer find the respect he had before, and when he thought what kind of storm her illicit affair might bring to Zong Zi Xiao once it was revealed, he felt nothing but anger.

"Zi Heng, Zi Heng?"

Zong Zi Heng snapped back to his senses, "What?"

Xu Zhi Nan said, "You look so pale, is it your body hasn't recovered yet?"

"It's fine, it's better than yesterday." Zong Zi Heng said quietly, "Is Flying Plume Ambassador ready?"

"Well, as soon as the competition is over, she will bring that person here."

At this moment, Yan Shu came with the people from Wuyun Sect, and Xu Zhi Nan rose to greet him.

"Congratulations, Xu Zhen Ren, the future Chunyang Sect’s descendants are immeasurable."

"Haha, Thank you Sect Leader Yan. The few brats from Wuyun Sect are also stunning. In another twenty years, it will be their world."

Yan Shu looked at Zong Zi Heng again, "Ninth Highness is so outstanding, Your Highness gets the greatest credit."

Zong Zi Heng stood up, "You flattered me. It all depends on my father’s and uncle’s fostering." He wrinkled his nose slightly. He seemed to smell a very faint fragrance from Yan Shu, it smelled so familiar.

It seemed to be ...

Zong Zi Heng was as if struck by lightning. In that instant, it was as if all the blood in his body had gone cold.

 

 ----

PS: Honestly speaking, I forgot most of the parts going on in the front chapters, so translating this novel is benefiting me in recalling what I’ve read in the past. So, when I read the last 3 lines of this chapter…my mind instantly went ‘WTF’. *finds toilet bowl to vomit*

 

Edited on 29 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

 

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