Transcending the Nine Heavens

"Even though we feel that this person can be used to accomplish many great things, we should still be cautious. I am certain that he wants to rebel and fight against Diwu Qing Rou. However, the reasons why he would want to do such a thing remains unclear to me. Moreover, the strangest thing is that I did not detect a thirst for power in his eyes. This was truly surprising to me." Tie Long Cheng contemplated out loud.

"Has that day finally come...?"

"Are you referring to... the trials? Well, that is a possibility. Moreover, if that is the case, you should keep your identity concealed.

"Hmmm... but there hasn’t been much talk of such a legend in a long time."

"I believe you should seize this opportunity and at the same time send people to investigate further. See if there are any new appearances of young and powerful talents." Tie Long Cheng said plainly, "If there are, especially if there are more than one, then it is likely that our guess is accurate."

"Um, but we still have to keep some distance from that person."

"Of course. He could be used, but not controlled!"

"This Chu Yang was really expelled from Beyond the Heavens Sect." The young lady thought for a moment before uttering those words.

"Expelled by Beyond the Heavens Sect? How is that possible? Why would Wu Yun Liang be even willing to expel such a brilliant talent from his sect?"

"I also felt that was strange. Moreover, I felt the person who was beside him really came from that place."

"The person next to him?"

"Well the young man who stood beside him was also very frightening. Moreover, his background is even more mysterious compared to that of Chu Yang’s. It is as though he appeared out of nowhere."

"However, this is of no consequence as long as he listens to Chu Yang. Therefore, we only need to worry about the actions of Chu Yang and monitor what he does. Also, find a way for me to contact Wu Yun Liang of Beyond the Heavens Sect. I would like to meet him and ask him some questions face to face."

"Sure!"

"Let the court officials know that the case involving the string of robberies no longer needs to be investigated." Tie Long Cheng laughed as he said it, "If they continue to investigate and find out the truth, wouldn’t we have to waste our energy to clean his butt for him?"

"I see, so Second Uncle has even considered this." The young lady said as her face turned red with embarrassment. She felt slightly uneasy by the phrase that her second uncle used, "cleaning his butt".

"It’s more like everyone wants to wipe his butt!" Tie Long Cheng laughed.

This made the young lady a little pensive. Then suddenly her eyes lit up. These were crude words; but did they actually hold some profound meaning?

The young lady and Tie Long Cheng parted ways at a forked road. She waved and gently fluttered off, disappearing after a couple of turns.

Tie Long Cheng’s eyes followed the young lady as she left. Suddenly, a trace of pity appeared in his eyes as he sighed. He then muttered, "Iron Cloud has truly become a burden to hold up..."

"However, no matter how heavy the burden might be, as long as the Grand Marshal is here, Iron Cloud shall remain!" His second in command who stood next to him followed up in respect because of how highly he regarded him.

"I am but the Grand Marshal, not..." Tie Long Cheng shook his head without finished his sentence. He paused for a moment before yelling, "Let’s head back home."

With that, he proceeded forward, leading the group. Not too far away was Tie Long Cheng’s residence - Heaven’s Prestige Manor.

In Iron Cloud Nation, Tie Long Cheng was given the title Heaven’s Prestige Royal Highness!

I am already old. It’s time step aside and let the enthusiastic young people take over.

Tie Long Cheng thought and ordered, "In the future, all military matters, big or small, should be reported to the prince at the same time you report to me! If it’s not a big battle, there is no need to consult me. I... need to rest for a few years."

"This..." The subordinates who were next to him stood horrified.

"The prince can take care of it." Tie Long Cheng said lightly, "If he is unable to, then this nation should not even exist any longer."

These words of his were filled with implications.

...

Even though Tie Long Cheng left, his blockade order was never rescinded. People came and looked, but none of them dared to enter.

However, the two individuals inside the shop were not worried at all. At about noon, Gu Du Xing grabbed a large amount of money and spent it lavishly on food and wine. He filled the entire table with the food and beverages that he purchased. They then relaxed as took their time, relishing in the food and drinks.

After filling up a cup, Gu Du Xing proposed a toast, "Chu Yang, this one is to you!"

"Good, cheers!"

"Ah..., strangely, I don’t want to drink this cup of wine."

"Oh? Why?"

"After I drink this, I, Gu Du Xing, will no longer... journey alone. It is almost paradoxical considering my name means to travel alone."

"Then you should change your name. Gu Shuang Fei... How do you feel about that?"

"That’s ok. But... would you rather I carry you and fly or the other way around?"

"Get out of here! You can fly with a pair of pigs!"

"Hahaha..."

After three rounds, they had already finished two five pound wine jars which laid empty on the ground. There were still two jars left on the table but both of them were half empty. Moreover, this was the strongest type of wine.

Gu Du Xing was getting a little drunk and said loudly, "Chu Yang, I just realised how great and capable you are! But what really doesn’t make sense to me is why your family kicked you out? I can’t see any reason why they would have done so! How could there be a young person in this world worthy of my respect? This is not right..."

"I have no family." Chu Yang paused for a moment and hastily drank an entire a cup of wine.

"No family?"

"I am an orphan. More specifically, I was abandoned." Chu Yang laughed as tears came out of his eyes, "I don’t even know my own name. My current name was given by my teacher."

Silence filled the air.

"Well... At least there is a silver lining... You still have the hope of meeting your parents again! After all, you just don’t know where they are." Gu Du Xing sighed, "Although I know who my parents are, I will never be able to see them again because they were killed..."

"Let’s not talk about such depressing things! Drink, drink..."

"Yes, drink! Let’s not talk about that anymore."

...

"Chu Yang, before I met you, I did not have a brother..., but now I have one... hehe..."

"Really? Where is he? Why haven’t I met him yet?"

"It’s doesn’t matter that you haven’t met him. It’s enough that I met him, hahaha..."

"Brother... What is a brother?"

"Brother... A brother is a brother!" Gu Du Xing laughed loudly, "If there were a mountain of knives in front of my brother, I would be ready to go over that mountain for him! That is what it means to be a brother! It doesn’t matter even if my brother does not see me as a brother as long as I see him as a brother!"

Gu Du Xing was finally drunk. He stood up and wobbled unsteadily, trying to maintain his balance before suddenly beating his chest as he looked up towards the heavens and yelling. "In the past two decades, I have never been this happy! Hahaha... I am happy!"

He suddenly fell face flat on the table and started snoring...

Chu Yang’s vision started to become a little hazy, but he was still sober enough to bring the cup of wine to his mouth. After swallowing the wine, he suddenly became still. He muttered, "If there is a mountain of knives in front of my brother, I would be ready to go over that mountain for him! This is a brother! It doesn’t matter even if my brother does not see me as a brother as long as I see him as a brother!"

He nodded his head a few times. Then he shook his head and smiled, muttering "If you treat your brother that way, then your brother would naturally treat you the same way. That is what it means to be brothers! It is to take care of one another! It takes two not one."

His eyes stared blankly into space as he whispered, "If you are my brother then you will definitely not be alone!"

Even though he had said it in a low voice, the words that he uttered were full of bravado. He suddenly reminisced about Tan Tan, the person who found the only precious treasure in his entire life and wanted to give it to his martial brother!

That is also a brother!

He then lifted the wine jar in a drunken stupor and began to chug it, spilling wine everywhere!

...

The result of their drinking was the closing of the Heavenly Armament Pavilion. Both of the drunken men snored loudly as they laid on the table... Outside the door, people were passing by. However, inside the smell of wine and meat filled the air and was accompanied by sounds of snores.

Both of these people had a rare indulgence. They both knew that such a chance for careless indulgence would be hard to come by later.

It was not till it was afternoon that both of them awoke and came to their senses. The wine that was spilled over their clothes had dried up. As they came to their sense, they looked at each other and laughed.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door, "Excuse me. Is this Chu Yang’s place?"

The voice belonged to a young lady.

Chu Yang was startled. He recognised the voice instantly. It was Wu Qian Qian!