Love & Redemption
Chapter 227: Volume 5 Phoenix Flower Blooms, - 34 Jun Tian Sea Strategy (7)

Chapter 227: Volume 5 Phoenix Flower Blooms, Chapter 34 Jun Tian Sea Strategy (7)

Xuanji and Yu Sifeng exchanged glances, both uncertain and incredulous. How had they been followed so discretely during their journey to Li Ze Palace without any trace of pattern or predictability? Had someone been tracking them without their notice all along?

Amid these thoughts, the crowd from Lize Palace had gradually made their way into the inn. The inn, not very spacious, soon became overcrowded with a stifling mass of people. The Vice Palace Master, with a chuckle, approached Wuzhiqi unhurriedly and politely bowed: "Junior greets Mr. Wuzhiqi."

A strange noise came from Wuzhiqi’s nose as he curled the corners of his mouth, signalling that he had heard. The Vice Palace Master, still smiling, then said, "For someone of Mr. Wuzhiqi’s esteemed status, why reside in this decrepit small inn? Would you care to join this junior at Lize Palace, where my elder brother awaits with a prepared seat?"

Wuzhiqi frowned and said, "You come in here speaking all prim and proper, can’t you talk straight? Do you know how to speak plainly?"

His words were blunt and dismissive, not sparing any pleasantries—an attitude that would have set off most others. However, the Vice Palace Master merely chuckled in response, maintaining his composure and said, "Senior’s criticism is noted. This inn is indeed dilapidated and lacks proper hospitality. Why has no one attended the guests with tea despite their long wait?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than two disheveled figures, evidently the innkeeper and a waiter, squeezed through the crowd, trembling as they came forward to serve.

The Vice Palace Master then said, "This place hardly seems to serve any good tea. Just bring some second-grade Bi Luo Chun."

Wuzhiqi suddenly interjected, "I don’t drink tea. Speak if you have something to say, fart if you must fart. Beating around the bush is annoying. After a thousand years, you would think people would have outgrown such mindless blather, but you’ve mastered it perfectly."

The Vice Palace Master still did not show anger, smilingly said, "Senior’s mentorship is appreciated. Then let it be a cup of plain water for me."

Seeing the Vice Palace Master evading the main issue, Wuzhiqi grew visibly impatient and was about to leave when something suddenly prompted him to stay. His eyes darted around; this person seemed too composed, as if harboring hidden schemes. Thinking it better to stay and uncover these plans, Wuzhiqi grinned and sat back down, crossing his legs and said, "It’s been a thousand years, and you Golden Winged Birds disguised as men have improved significantly, even hiding your demon energy so well that if you didn’t reveal your identity, I wouldn’t recognize you on the street."

The Vice Palace Master replied with a smile, "Senior flatters us too much. If one is to be human, it should be flawless. Otherwise, what’s the point of being neither human nor demon?"

Wuzhiqi, pretending not to understand his sarcasm, laughed loudly, fiddling with his braid around his fingers, and said, "Is this about the Juntian Ring?"

The Vice Palace Master reacted joyfully, "Junior has always known Senior to be profoundly wise. Our ancestor left behind two wishes: one was about his dear friend who had been locked up in the Netherworld because of a violation of heavenly laws, justifying the existence of Lize Palace to rescue Senior, and now that Senior has safely appeared, our ancestor’s wish has finally been fulfilled. The other was that he placed the Juntian Ring with Senior years ago and never had a chance to reclaim it. Now that Senior is free from imprisonment, we kindly ask you to return the ring to its rightful owner, thus fulfilling our ancestor’s final wish."

Wuzhiqi chuckled softly, murmuring, "Return it to its rightful owner, return it to its rightful owner... that item is no longer yours, though."

The Vice Palace Master said, "A Divine Artifact indeed does not have a fixed owner; whoever can utilize it owns it. Much like the Sea Control Hook you possess Senior, or any other Divine Artifact you might wield and others cannot."

Wuzhiqi glanced back sharply, his gaze piercing even Xuanji and Yu Sifeng who stood nearby, causing them a moment’s unease. The Vice Palace Master leaned back slightly and whispered cautiously, "Senior?" Wuzhiqi lowered his eyelashes, smiling, "That boy until his death believed I had kept better items from him and even allowed such trivial sayings to be revered as standards by his descendants, which is truly ridiculous!"

With a slight bow, the Vice Palace Master continued, "Why would Senior say such things? The Sea Control Hook as a Divine Artifact is just lying idle; in Senior’s hands, it truly gains its power. And since the Juntian Ring doesn’t fit well with Senior, why not return it to its original owner?"

Wuzhiqi tapped his fingers on the table and said coldly, "Are you provoking me? Jealous of the Sea Control Hook I wield? Can’t stomach it?"

The Vice Palace Master replied calmly, "Senior, you speak too harshly. Even if junior had the utmost audacity, he would not dare to contradict Senior. The Juntian Ring has been a pending debt for a thousand years, don’t you think it’s better to settle it sooner for peace of mind?"

Wuzhiqi sneered, "I think not. I haven’t done unjust things, eat well and sleep well, and never have anything on my conscience. But you, you press relentlessly. What senior this, junior that! Feigning decorum while your intentions deserve condemnation! At the end of the day, both the Juntian Ring and the Sea Strategy were stolen from Heaven by me alone. I gifted them to your ancestors out of goodwill, retrieving them is merely proper. And yet, you dare speak of a thousand-year debt! I owe you nothing. Dare repeat that!"

The Vice Palace Master gently placed his teacup on the table, raised his head, and through his mask met Wuzhiqi’s gaze directly. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the inn seemed to freeze, no one spoke a word, and everyone from Lize Palace quietly rested their hands on their swords, tensely waiting for the command.

After a long pause, the Vice Palace Master finally said, "With Senior’s formidable presence, why resort to harsh words to intimidate us juniors? Even in your fury, a mere flick of your finger could crush Lize Palace, so why flaunt your anger so forcefully?"

He slowly stood up, took a few steps, and suddenly asked, "Si Feng, do you recall the vow you made before departing?"

At this critical juncture, he abruptly shifted the conversation to Yu Sifeng, catching everyone in the room off guard.

Yu Sifeng turned slightly pale and responded, "If I fail to retrieve the Juntian Ring, then I shall die."

Vice Palace Master laughed, "Indeed, so why haven’t you gone to die yet?"

Xuanji, startled, sprang up and said angrily, "You go die!" She was about to draw her sword but was stopped by Yu Sifeng, who shook his head and said, "It’s not his fault, it’s my own solemn oath." "Why would you make such an oath?!" Not only Xuanji but Zi Hu also roared, "He did it on purpose! To push you down a deadly path!"

Yu Sifeng took a deep breath and suddenly asked, "Where is my master? Why didn’t he come?"

The Vice Palace Master said softly, "Your brother is the master of a palace, how can he leave the palace so easily. Don’t worry, I am different from you, I never break my oaths."

Yu Sifeng’s face turned pale again; he had made that vow simply out of desperation, gambling with his life. Now, with his beloved by his side and his pain healed, asking him to draw his sword and slit his throat was something he could not do a thousand times over. The Juntian Ring belonged to Wuzhiqi, and he had no right to speak of it. Even though he was clever and resourceful, now he also felt his limbs go weak and was at a loss.

"Wuzhiqi!" Zi Hu turned around and pushed him hard, shouting, "That ring or whatever, just return it to him quickly! What’s the use of keeping it? Do you want Si Feng to die?"

Wuzhiqi almost toppled off his chair from the push, looked at her helplessly, and finally coughed, saying, "Alright, alright! Who makes me a man of honor! I’ll give it back to you!"

Having said that, he reached into his chest, and his palm suddenly emitted a bright and soft luminescence, dazzling yet gentle, incredibly beautiful. Everyone watched the light steadily as it emerged slowly from his chest, radiant with thousands of luminous rays, finally held between his palms, presented in front of everyone.

It indeed was a ring, made of unknown material, neither gold nor jade, somewhat translucent. Though it was incredibly luminous, it was very soft. It looked somewhat like the armlets worn by women, but thicker and larger. This was the famous Juntian Ring from the Juntian Sea Control, and for some reason, when Xuanji saw it, something thumped hard in her heart—a strange, familiar feeling!

Her heart thumped wildly, and she didn’t know why she couldn’t take her eyes off it, fixated, unable to get enough, as if bewitched. She was unaware of the surrounding noise or the unusual phenomena; she couldn’t take her eyes off it, really couldn’t...

"The Juntian Ring..." The Vice Palace Master uttered a sound like a sigh, just being near enough to feel its abundant power! He couldn’t help but step forward, reaching out his hand to take it—"Wait." Wuzhiqi withdrew his hand and looked up at him with a grin, "A thousand years ago, your ancestors were indeed good to me! Handing over the object so easily, how can I do it without feeling reluctant?"

The Vice Palace Master regained his composure and asked, "Then... what does Elder mean?"

Wuzhiqi laughed, "I should at least be allowed to kill a few Golden Winged Birds to vent my anger, right? A thousand years of imprisonment have really sharpened my killing instinct; today, I’m rather itchy!" He stared fixedly at the Vice Palace Master, even a fool could feel the thick killing intent emanating from him, while other ordinary people in the shop were already shivering in fear, crouching on the ground, daring not to move.

The Vice Palace Master chuckled nervously twice, then suddenly made a ruthless decision, "Then as Elder pleases! Except for me, Elder, kill as many as you like!"

"Vice Palace Master?!" The disciples of Lize Palace could never have imagined he would say such a thing, and were profoundly shocked. The Vice Palace Master spoke indifferently, "Lize Palace has raised you for so many years; it’s time to repay the kindness! Elder, please do as you wish!"

Wuzhiqi laughed heartily, "Truly a cold-blooded and heartless clan of Golden Winged Birds! Let me clarify beforehand, this Juntian Ring can only grant supreme demon power to one person! If you take it, the others in your clan will benefit nothing! Have you decided to keep it all to yourself?"

The Vice Palace Master bowed and said softly, "Please honor me, Elder!"

Wuzhiqi laughed uproariously, slipped the Juntian Ring onto his wrist, rolled up his sleeves, and declared, "Alright then—let me have a real slaughter!" The Vice Palace Master did not intervene, stepped back to clear the way for him. Seeing the situation turn dire, those Lize Palace disciples panicked, scrambling for escape, jumping through windows and pushing doors, causing chaos. Yu Sifeng, unable to bear it, was about to speak up to stop it, when suddenly he heard Liu Yihuan, who had fainted on the ground and started to groan again, hurriedly bent down to support him, asking gently, "Big brother? How are you feeling?!"

Liu Yihuan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, then he suddenly raised his hand to press hard on his continuously bleeding Heavenly Eye, letting out a painful cry, his body curled up, shivering severely, looking extremely miserable. Yu Sifeng and Xuanji were so anxious they didn’t know what to do, Zi Hu urgently said, "It seems like the Heavenly Eye is reacting to something?!"

Before she could finish speaking, Liu Yihuan shouted loudly, "Someone is coming!"

Someone is coming? Yu Sifeng was slightly startled; he had said the same thing earlier, and they all thought he was referring to people from Lize Palace. Could it actually be someone else?

Just then, the escaping Lize Palace disciples outside the door let out a series of cries, then, like a flood, ran back into the inn. Everyone turned their heads to look, only to see a thick blood-red fog suddenly arising outside the door, obscuring even the shops across the street. The slower Lize Palace disciples, upon touching the blood fog, immediately screamed in agony as they corroded into white bones, their cries and miserable state chilling to the bone.

Soon, the thick blood fog enveloped the entire inn. Everyone’s face was coated in a reddish glow, their expressions twisted strangely. (To be continued, for more details, please visit www.qidian.com, more Chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)