Wayfarer

Chapter 275: Nalan Changkong

Cui Haisheng's planning had been one step behind Xiao Nanfeng's at every turn, and it had cost him unimaginable losses as a result. His mind was filled with anger.

He could tell that the figures behind him, nominally his allies, wanted to retreat. They didn't fear Xiao Nanfeng, but rather Ku Jiang and Hong Lie's revenge.

"The Jingang Temple's main, Immortal-grade formation—do you really think that it can stop me? Xiao Nanfeng, you'll die today, no matter what!" Cui Haisheng declared.

He retrieved four corroded Immortal relics and tossed them at the formation as they glowed with blinding light.

As one, the four Immortal relics exploded in a huge mushroom cloud. The surging energy resulted in an earthquake that could be felt all across the region.

Cui Haisheng's allies widened their eyes. Sacrificing four corroded Immortal relics just to destroy this formation? They might not be in perfect condition, but they were still Immortal relics!

As the smoke and dust from the explosion dissipated, the city of Yongding could be seen. Many of the common people were fleeing with their hands protectively shielding their heads. Countless cracks had appeared all across the surface of the barrier, as though it would shatter at any moment.

"Is this all that the Jingang Temple's main formation amounts to? Break!" Cui Haisheng commanded, slamming a palm toward the formation.

Cui Haisheng's palm technique boasted tremendous strength, no weaker than the explosion of a single corroded Immortal relic. The formation shattered, the energy dissipating into the air.

Xiao Nanfeng was exposed before Cui Haisheng.

"Shield me! Block the four Wingform-realm cultivators around Xiao Nanfeng from interfering. I'll deal with Xiao Nanfeng myself!" Cui Haisheng declared.

"Understood!" everyone replied.

They shot toward the Xiao manor. Cui Haisheng's face was a mask of anger. He slammed forward with a palm, as though intending to turn Xiao Nanfeng into a pancake.

Just then, a man radiating golden light appeared beside Xiao Nanfeng and sent a palm slamming toward Cui Haisheng.

The two palms met in a storm that manifested all around them. The golden man's other hand curled, redirecting the force of the nascent storm up toward Cui Haisheng's helpers. The cultivators blanched as they stopped short and made to defend against the incoming attack. Cui Haisheng, overpowered by a significant margin, was sent flying back quite some distance before he stabilized himself.

"Hong Lie? What are you doing here?" Cui Haisheng thundered in rage.

Hong Lie had somehow appeared beside Xiao Nanfeng.

"Cui Haisheng, have you come all this way in an attempt to kill Nanfeng? You really are getting lawless, aren't you?" Hong Lie retorted.

"Senior Uncle, I'm a sectstarter of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Cui Haisheng attempted to kill a sectstarter of the sect. Please assist me!" Xiao Nanfeng announced.

Cui Haisheng blanched. He understood what was going on now. Hong Lie had to have been in hiding and was waiting for him to make a grave mistake.

The reason Hong Lie hadn't shown himself when Xiao Nanfeng killed Cui Haisheng's avatar was because he was waiting for Cui Haisheng's main body to appear and take on Xiao Nanfeng in person.

The cultivators in Cui Haisheng's camp sighed in relief. They were very glad they hadn't chosen to continue fighting against Xiao Nanfeng, or Hong Lie would have had an excuse to deal with them as well.

"Cui Haisheng, you've publicly pledged to kill a sectstarter of the Taiqing Immortal Sect and have taken action toward this end. This is punishable by death, but on account of your identity as a division leader of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, that punishment can be waived. Instead, I'll strip you of your cultivation." Hong Lie rose into the air.

"No! Hong Lie, you tricked me! I object!" Cui Haisheng howled.

However, Hong Lie had already appeared before Cui Haisheng and slammed a palm toward his body. Cui Haisheng attempted to defend himself. The resulting shockwave caused flames to flare up all around them, but because Hong Lie had controlled his strength, all that energy had been directed upward rather than downward into the city.

Cui Haisheng spat out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying through the clouds. Hong Lie gave chase.

Xiao Nanfeng turned to the cultivators that had accompanied Cui Haisheng. He smiled. "Everyone, do you intend to continue attacking me?"

The cultivators blanched as they turned tail and ran.

Was this a joke? Who knew what other cultivators were hiding in the Xiao manor? Hong Lie was deterrent enough. If they really did dare to strike, they would be killed!

They were astounded by Xiao Nanfeng's plan. They quickly understood what had happened. Xiao Nanfeng had been hiding Hong Lie as a trump card all along, waiting for Cui Haisheng to make a grave mistake that would allow Hong Lie to administer a punishment from which Cui Haisheng would never recover.

In the air, Cui Haisheng continued destroying one Immortal relic after another. These explosions were able to deter Wingform-realm cultivators, but proved to be of little use against Immortals. Hong Lie waved a hand and deflected the explosion.

"Cui Haisheng, you've had access to as many resources as I do, and your latent talent isn't any worse than mine. However, you've never been able to become an Immortal. Do you know why? It's because you aren't focused or dedicated enough. You keep playing with these flashy techniques, like avatars. It's true that having more avatars will help you accomplish more tasks, but they also require you to divert your cultivation resources, your fortune, your focus. So what if you have an army of avatars? If you can't become an Immortal, it's all useless!" Hong Lie shouted. "Break!"

"No!" Cui Haisheng screamed.

He was sent flying into the air once again, blood streaking from his body. His bones were shattered, and he vomited out a constant stream of blood. He had been weakened to an incredible extent.

In a flash, Hong Lie had beaten him until he was unable to move.

The allies he had brought with him shuddered, but no one dared to step forward and help him.

Hong Lie strode up to Cui Haisheng. "Did you forget what I told you last time? You still dared to attack Xiao Nanfeng? To prevent you from targeting him again, I suppose I'll have to cripple you permanently."

Hong Lie stuck out a finger that gleamed with golden light, preparing to paralyze Cui Haisheng for good.

"No! No!" Cui Haisheng shouted in fear.

He was completely unable to resist; Hong Lie really would cripple him.

"Be merciful, Uncle Hong!" a voice shouted from afar.

A beam of rainbow-colored energy separated Hong Lie from Cui Haisheng. A white-robed man recalled the energy as he flew over, then pulled Cui Haisheng behind him.

"Changkong?" Hong Lie frowned.

"The crown prince of the Tianshu Empire, Nalan Changkong!" Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he considered the new arrival.

This could be no coincidence; Nalan Changkong had to have been watching the scene play out from afar. There might even have been more schemes involved that he wasn't privy to. If he hadn't invited Hong Lie over in advance, he could very well have perished that day.

"Uncle Hong, please, be merciful. Cui Haisheng's my uncle, after all. How would I be able to face my parents if I allowed him to be crippled?" Nalan Changkong bowed to Hong Lie smoothly.

"What are you doing here?" Hong Lie frowned.

Nalan Changkong immediately replied, "Father told me about a misunderstanding between Uncle and Xiao Nanfeng, and he arranged for me to stop by to mediate. I didn't expect to arrive so late that the situation had devolved to this extent by the time I did. Uncle Hong, Father's aware of the dispute, and he has commanded Uncle never to bother Xiao Nanfeng in the future. I'm sure that Uncle won't disobey Father's orders. Please, Uncle Hong, won't you do Father a favor and let the matter drop here?"

"Your father really said that?" Hong Lie frowned.

He didn't believe that Nalan Changkong had just arrived at the scene, which implied that he had to have been in hiding. His sudden interruption now was indeed suspicious.

"I would never dare falsify an imperial edict," Nalan Changkong replied with a smile.

"Perhaps not, but you could certainly delay it. If you had arrived earlier, none of this would have happened," Hong Lie pointed out with some dissatisfaction.

"I really did just arrive," Nalan Changkong emphasized.

Hong Lie glared at Cui Haisheng, shuddering behind Nalan Changkong. Although he did want to help Xiao Nanfeng cripple Cui Haisheng for good, he would have to show Nalan Qiankun adequate respect as well.

"I don't think Cui Haisheng will stop causing trouble for Xiao Nanfeng," Hong Lie asserted with a frown.

"I will serve as guarantor for Uncle myself. If he causes more trouble for Xiao Nanfeng, I shall suffer the punishment on his behalf. I'll cripple my own cultivation," Nalan Changkong pledged.

"Changkong, you—" Cui Haisheng cried out.

"I've made my pledge, Uncle. Please don't make life difficult for me," Nalan Changkong told Cui Haisheng.

Cui Haisheng's eyes flashed with a series of complicated emotions. Finally, he gritted his teeth and nodded. "Very well. I'll listen to you."

Nalan Changkong smiled in satisfaction and turned toward Hong Lie. "Uncle Hong, will this suffice? As long as Xiao Nanfeng doesn't target Uncle in the future, Uncle won't actively target Xiao Nanfeng either."

Hong Lie pursed his lips and was silent for long moments before he finally nodded. "Then I'll let the matter drop here."

Nalan Changkong smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Hong."

Hong Lie inclined his head.

"Father also had a request for me to convey, Uncle Hong. He specifically asked for your help," Nalan Changkong continued.

"What is it?" Hong Lie asked.

"The return of the Xiang clan has caused rogue soldiers to rise up all over the empire. Lords governing their titled lands have all mobilized their troops to suppress these rebellions, all save those in Marquis Wu's lands. Those lands are currently ungoverned, and Father would like you to take care of the rogue soldiers therein personally."

"Marquis Wu?" Hong Lie frowned.

"Marquis Wu, who vanished in the undying realm after entering it in conjunction with Xiao Nanfeng and the others," Nalan Changkong confirmed. "Marquis Wu was the crown prince of the previous dynasty, and his status is particularly sensitive. That was why he was titled a marquis to begin with. The Xiao clan has been eyeing his lands, and they're in grave disarray. This is Father's imperial edict and summons. Uncle Hong, I humbly request your assistance." Nalan Changkong bowed to a slight extent.

Hong Lie took the edict and the corresponding token. After a moment of silence, he nodded. "I understand."

"In that case, I won't bother you any longer. Uncle is grievously injured and will need treatment immediately. I'll be seeking medical attention for him," Nalan Changkong explained.

"Go," Hong Lie replied.

Nalan Changkong bowed and departed with Cui Haisheng. Cui Haisheng's allies followed swiftly behind as they scurried away.