Chapter 0099

Chapter 99: Dancing on the Edge of Death

The empress blinked fast and denied it in a rush: “It isn’t like that. I didn’t. Stop saying nonsense.”

Zhang Chu Qiao kept pressing, eyes flashing with danger: “Is that so? How dare you smear my clean name? I sit upright and stand straight. I would never have such thoughts,” the empress protested, lifting her chin.

“Then swear,” said Zhang Chu Qiao.

The empress suddenly looked past her shoulder with bright joy and called out: “Guest minister, you came?” Zhang Chu Qiao turned by reflex. No one was there.

“You tricked me,” she snapped as she spun back, only to see the empress’s slim figure already running away. Zhang Chu Qiao clicked her tongue: “Hmph. You’re lucky you ran fast.” She let it go. Chasing an empress through the Imperial Palace would be too improper. [She can dodge for now, but I’ll catch her sooner or later.]

On the streets of the Imperial Capital the next morning, people greeted Zhou Tong from all sides: “Greetings, guest minister,” and, “Good morning, guest minister.” In just a few days, the residents had learned his face. But he was not out to stroll. He was measuring the city.

When the auction began tomorrow, the Imperial Capital might turn into a battlefield that ground flesh to dust. He had to prepare to spare the common people. [Know the enemy and know yourself, and you will not lose.]

He called out softly, and the captain of the guards hurried up. Zhou Tong whispered a few orders in his ear. The captain’s eyes went wide with shock: “Is that true?” Zhou Tong cut him off: “Do not ask. Do as I said.” The man swallowed, snapped to attention, and ran off without another word.

On a high ridge outside the city, several figures watched Zhou Tong. One scoffed: “Is this the man? He acts high and mighty, but his power looks weak.”

Another shivered and warned: “Do not underestimate him. He is pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger.” These were people of the Celestial Masters Clan. After their loss that night, You Feng and You Chong had reported to their clan for help. The reply had been only four words: “Nonsense and lies.”

It was hard to blame them. How could someone in the Heart-Union Realm suddenly be able to slaughter those of the Life-and-Death Realm? It made no sense. The clan had shown mercy by not treating the two as madmen.

You Chong turned to the woman beside him and spoke with care: “Sister Ye Lan, I also feel he is strange. We must not take him lightly.” This was You Ye Lan, a striking, crisp, and capable woman who kept at her side a boar with wild, patchy hair. It was no hobby. The beast was fierce and ancient, known as the Di Ting Divine Boar. It was a primordial species, strong in battle and famous for telling truth from lies. One look, and it could spot what was real and what was fake. Reading someone’s cultivation was even easier.

The clan had sent You Ye Lan to find the truth. If You Feng and You Chong had lied, they would pay when they went home.

You Ye Lan patted the boar’s head and gave the order: “Hun Hun, check how deep that man is.” The boar bounced twice, pressed one ear to the ground as if listening, then rose. Light shot from its eyes and drew words on the dirt: “Heart-Union Realm, Third Layer.”

You Ye Lan curled her lip at the two men: “How bold of you to make fools of the clan. I am very disappointed.” To think these clan elites could not even lie well. If word got out, people would laugh. A mere Heart-Union realm ant could never threaten a Life-and-Death master. If she struck, she was ten out of ten sure she could crush Zhou Tong.

You Chong opened his mouth to argue, but You Feng stopped him and said evenly: “Think. What do we gain from such a lie? It is so wild that we had to report it. Besides, we learned that the ‘material’ is with that man. Believe it or not, you decide.” The “material” meant the little demoness. His careful words finally made You Ye Lan frown.

She snorted: “Save your tricks. No matter how pretty your speech is, I can reveal the truth with one move. Admit you were wrong now and take the blame, and it will still be in time. If I expose you later, it will be much worse.”

“You want to test him?” You Feng’s face tightened. “I advise you not to. Wait for the clan’s stronger elders. Then act.”

“What, are you scared?” You Ye Lan let her aura bloom. Her power had reached the Seventh Layer of the Sky-Slaying Realm. Stronger than You Chong, a bit weaker than You Feng, she was still a star among the young.

“That talk is useless on me,” said You Feng, calm again. “I will only warn you once. If you keep to this path, accept the cost yourself.”

You Ye Lan laughed coldly: “A retreat to make me advance? Do you think I will fall for that?” She was now sure the report was a lie. Today she would rip off their false mask. She stopped hesitating, leaped into the air, and flew toward Zhou Tong. Hun Hun the Di Ting Divine Boar followed, stepping onto the air until they faced him.

She hovered above and called out in a scornful tone: “Stop.”

Zhou Tong’s face frosted over. “Trash of the Celestial Masters Clan,” he said in a voice like winter, “I have already warned you. Yet you still refuse to learn.” With the help of his Emperor Realm spirit sense, he had heard every word of their plotting.

You Ye Lan sniffed: “Since you know who we are, hand over that wretch, and I might spare your life.”

“What if I say no?” His voice was filled with killing intent. They had touched his bottom line.

“Then you are overestimating yourself. That wretch will die without a grave. If you block me, you die too. Your family and friends will also—”

She never finished. Zhou Tong turned into a dashed line of motion and, in a blink, was there, fingers clamping her mouth shut. She choked out a muffled cry: “Mmm—you!”

Before she could fight back, her body went light. He had already carried her far from the Imperial Capital. In a few blinks, they were high over open ground. He hurled her down. The throw was so fierce it cracked the air.

The earth split with a boom. You Ye Lan clawed out of the fissure a moment later, not badly hurt. A defensive treasure had saved her. She blamed her loss on carelessness.

Zhou Tong said nothing. There were countless ways he could end her in a heartbeat, but he set them aside. She had crossed the one thing he could not bear. He needed to vent. He would use absolute force to teach her what true fear was.