Jiang Chao Ge kicked the door open and strutted out.
The guards outside the door rushed in front of them. The old lady tapped her cane and said heavily: âLet them go.â
Jiang Chao Ge held Zhi Xuan in one hand and the sword in the other, leading Yu Ren Shu and Ruan Qian Xiu through the crowd. The three of them were all slim and graceful with an extraordinary demeanour. That calm and unmatched power allowed them to walk out of Fan mansion under the gaze of everyone.
Jiang Chao Ge whispered to Ruan Qian Xiu: âWhat happened to you in Fan mansion? Did you meet Chen Xiang Yu? How did you get caught?â
Ruan Qian Xiu sent him a meaningful glance: âWeâll talk after we leave.â
The three left Fan mansion and returned to the inn with a group of soldiers following behind.
Zheng Cheng caught Ruan Qian Xiuâs scent and ran out of the inn dragging a wounded body. Ruan Qian Xiu rushed over and hugged his head, stroking his mane a few times, then returned him to the weapon to heal his wounds.
Long Xiang closed the door and asked: âYou actually came back so fast. How did you free them?â
âPack your things. We must leave immediately.â Yu Ren Shu expression was dark, âXiao Xue is currently on his way to Ying City.â
âWhat?!â Zui You yelled: âHurry we must escape.â
Jiang Chao Ge grabbed Ruan Qian Xiu: âChen Xiang YuâŠ.â
âI went to find him but he said I shouldnât have come to find him. He suspected that his own identity had already been exposed to Fan clan and they were monitoring his every move. As expected I was ver quickly discovered by Fan clan people. However he gave me something.â Ruan Qian Xiu fished out a wooden box from her clothes and gave it to Jiang Chao Ge, âHe said before we arrived, heâd already been notified of our situation. This item is for you.â
Jiang Chao Ge opened the box. There was actually a spirit pill inside and also half a dragon fish jade pendant. He picked up the jade pendant, had a look and muttered: âWhat does this mean?â
âHe said someone with the other half of the pendant will come find you.â
âWho?â
âThere is no time to think about that now.â Yu Ren Shu gave him a push, âHurry.â
Everyone went out of the inn. Tian Rong gave a roar, his tall body instantly expanding. This fierce amber coloured rare beast startled all the soldiers horses in neighing non stop, retreating frantically. Zui You followed closely behind, returning to his true form. There was a clear contrast between a elegant and beautiful nine tailed fox and the fierce and unruly Zheng but they were equally frightening. The opportunity to see two Heaven grade rare beasts at once was one that was hard to come by for ordinary people. In spite of that, the soldiers had already sealed off the entire street. But there were still many residents who climbed on the roof to watch secretly. Ying City began to seethe with excitement in the early morning.
Everyone jumped onto Tian Rong and Zui Youâs back, flying over the crowd of people and running towards the city outskirts.
Zui You asked in a panic: âThat Hun Dun is really coming? Is it arriving soon?â
Long Xiang rubbed his ears and comforted him: âLife and death are ruled by fate. Donât worry.â
Zui You yelled: âFool. Iâve long since been dead. No matter what happens they canât kill me. Iâm worried about you!â
Long Xiang said proudly: âIâm not afraid of death.â
Jiang Chao Ge thought, Iâm afraid. He yelled against the wind: âIâm the one Xiao Xue wants to kill. If we are really caught up with, you guys can just run. Youâll just be throwing away your lives if you stay anyway.â
Yu Ren Shu said gravely: âIf it really comes to that, we can only say goodbye.â
âFuck, donât you think youâre too ruthless?â
Yu Ren Shu snorted: âRelax. No matter what happens, weâll fight to the death.â
Jiang Chao Ge felt somewhat moved. Yu Ren Shu was a noble and honest person, his words directly portrayed his thoughts. These words definitely wouldnât be all talk. Although the wouldnât allow these people to remain and court death with him, he was more than satisfied upon hearing these words. While he came to those world on a stroke of bad luck, at least he met a few wonderful friends. It could be considered a worthy death.
Tian Rong and Zui You ran as fast as they could. Yin City was very quickly left far behind them
Zhi Xuan cheek pressed against Jiang Chao Geâs face and whispered: âI can hear the sound of Xiao Xue.â
Jiang Chao Geâs heart sank: âThen can he also sense you?â
âIn my current form he canât sense it, but it wonât be hard to track us from Ying City. With Xiao Xueâs speed, heâll definitely catch up to us within a hundred Li.â
Jiang Chao Ge looked back at Ying City thatâd almost disappeared behind them and made a decision internally. He yelled: âTian Rong, Zui You stop!â
Yu Ren Shu and Long Xiang looked towards him. Jiang Chao Ge repeated his words.
Tian Rong and Zui Youâs footsteps halted.
Jiang Chao Ge stood up and said calmly: âCompanions, let us seperate here. Zhi Xuan said Xiao Xue will catch up to us within a hundred Li. We wonât be his match no matter what. Since he is only after me, there is no need to drag you all down to court death.â
Long Xiang immediately said: âBig Brother Jiang, I accepted your money, I should naturally put my life on the line for you. I wonât leave.â
Yu Ren Shu said: âChao Ge, on our journey from Tian Ao City to here, Iâve already considered you a brother* . Back then when I was met with slander and was wanted, you didnât abandon me and leave. Today you are facing danger, I also wonât leave.â
Ruan Qian Xiu looked at him with crossed arms: âIâm still counting on you to succeed and help me take revenge. I wonât let you just die here.â
Jiang Chao Ge was stunned frozen, momentarily speechless as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat. They had originally only come together by chance, each having their own goal in mind. Honestly speaking, he had a overly suspicious frame of mind and had never truly trusted someone from start to finish. In order to return to his own world, he was using everyone including Zhi Xuan. Yet at a crucial moment they were willing to die with him. Dying together sounded easy. Movies and stories would often portray brothers* risking their lives for each other. But after mixing in the right and wrong paths for several years, Jiang Chao Ge had not seen many that would stand by each other in a life or death crisis. Looking at everyoneâs sincere and resolute gaze, he felt ashamed for the first time. He coughed lightly: âWith your words, I can lay down my life without regret. But letâs be rational here. Even if you stay you canât help me. Zhi Xuan could have a way to save me. Instead you will be a burden if you stay. Letâs arrange to meet at Kun Lun Fairylands in a month. If I donât appear after a month, donât wait for me anymore.â
Yu Ren Shu said disapprovingly: âChao Ge, if we leave how can you escape?â
âThatâs right big brother Jiang. You canât even summon Zhi Xuan right now.â
âI obviously have a way. With you guys here, you might actually prevent Zhi Xuan from utilising it fully.â Jiang Chao Ge smiled, âYou guys are really something. Relax I wonât die. I havenât returned to my own world yet, how could I die here? We agreed to go to Kun Lun Fairylands together to find Yin Chuan, I definitely wonât break my promise. But there is really no benefit if you guys stay. Instead you might distract Zhi Xuan. Listen to me, leave first. Weâll meet again at Kun Lun City.â
The three looked at each other with equal dismay but were hesitant. On this journey, they had become used to listening to Jiang Chao Geâs plans because Jiang Chao Geâs mind was the most flexible. But the plan this time was extremely abnormal. If Jiang Chao Ge really died here today, they wouldnât be at ease for the rest of their lives.
Zhi Xuan looked at them coldly: âWhat are you frozen for? Hurry and go. I can protect my people. Rather I donât want to care about you guys.â
Yu Ren Shu asked back: âHow do you plan to protect Chao Ge?â
Zhi Xuan spoke fiercely: âI have my own way. I wonât tell you. Hurry and go!â
Yu Ren Shu looked at Jiang Chao Ge with a frown, wanting to speak but hesitated.
Jiang Chao Ge smiled: âReally. You go. Xiao Xue will catch up soon. We agreed to meet again at Kun Lun City after a month. No one is allowed to break this promise.â
Yu Ren Shu hesitated for a moment and finally made a decision: âAlright, no one is allowed to break this promise.â
Long Xiangâs childish face showed worry for the first time: âBig Brother JiangâŠ.â
Jiang Chao Ge stroked his head: âLong Xiang, leave with them. Without me, you listen to third prince. I will definitely reunite with you are Kun Lun City.
Jiang Chao Ge jumped off Tian Rongâs body while carrying Zhi Xuan. He raised his head to look at the three of them and yelled: âEveryone, see you at Kun Lun City!â
Yu Ren Shu looked at him with a deep gaze: âSee you at Kun Lun City!â
Tian Rong and Zui You bother lowered their heads to look at him, then raised their heads and dashed towards the west.
Jiang Chao Geâs gaze followed them into the distance and sighed.
Zhi Xuan jumped down from his hold. The moment he touched the ground, heâd already transformed into adult form.
Jiang Chao Ge glanced at him and forced a smile: âThereâs only us left.â
âIâm more than enough.â Zhi Xuan looked towards the distance, âXiao Xueâs scent is getting stronger.â
âWhat kind of scent is it?â
âItâs filled with the smell of blood.â
Jiang Chao Ge remembered the hell like Da Liang City and felt his heart tremble: âZhi Xuan, can you really protect me?â
âYou donât believe me?â
Jiang Chao Ge smiled: âI believe you.â
Zhi Xuan held his waist, thin lips resting on his nose: âHow could I let you die? You might even be my mate.â
âI already said I wasnât.â
âWhat you say doesnât count.â
âYin Chuan has never met me. Does his words count?â
âSo weâll see when we meet him.â Zhi Xuan kissed from Jiang Chao Geâs nose to his cheek then moved to his neck. There was a warm pleasant smell from Jiang Chao Geâs neck. It made one very comfortable.
âUh, ifâŠ. Iâm just saying ifâŠ. Yin Chuan says I amâŠ.. then what?â
An excited light flashed across Zhi Xuanâs eyes: âThen Iâll immediately mate with you.â
Jiang Chao Ge stretched his neck away, avoiding Zhi Xuan: âDonât talk nonsense. Iâm male.â
âI donât care.â Zhi Xuan was so excited he almost wagged his tail, âI want you to give me a den of little Qilins.â
âDonât talk nonsense! I canât give birth.â
âIf you are my mate, then thereâs a possibility you can.â
âIâm not and I also canât.â
âOnly Yin Chuanâs words count.â
âIs Yin Chuan yourâŠ.â Jiang Chao Ge wanted to say âis Yin Chuan your father?!â but didnât dare and forcefully swallowed it back down.
Zhi Xuan seemed to become increasingly excited at the thought. He couldnât help hugging Jiang Chao Ge and began to gnaw and kiss his cheeks. He only let go when heâd truly kissed Jiang Chao Geâs lips to a bright red.
Zhi Xuan licked his lips in satisfaction: âWerenât you curious how Iâm going to protect you?â
Jiang Chao Ge took several deep breaths: âWhat?â
Zhi Xuan looked towards the distance: âWhen Xiao Xue arrives, youâll find out.â
Jiang Chao Ge suddenly felt slightly uneasy: âWhat do you plan to do?â
âI can appear in my true form without relying on you.â
âWhat?â Jiang Chao Ge said surprised: âWhy didnât you say so before?â
âBecause I wouldnât use it unless it was the last resort.â Zhi Xuan stared at Jiang Chao Ge fixedly: âAppearing in my true form by burning spiritual power, every minute and second Iâm in my true form, what is being consumed is my cultivation.â
Jiang Chao Ge froze.
Zhi Xuan stroked his cheek, deep eyes appearing to suck him in. He smiled demonically: âTo fight against Xiao Xue, at least a millennium of cultivation will be wasted. If you arenât my mate, Iâll have lost a lot.â
Jiang Chao Ge grabbed his hand: âIs there no other way?!â
âNo.â Zhi Xuan hugged his waist, lips pressing against his ear and said slowly: âIf I waste a millennium of cultivation just to save a human like you with a lifespan of a fe decades, then from now on, regardless of whether youâre my mate or not, you have to become one of my people.â
Jiang Chao Geâs mind was in complete shock. The ear that directly heard Zhi Xuanâs words suddenly became burning hot. Half his body began to heat up too.
In the distance, a crimson figure dashed towards them. The earth shook, the clouds changed colour. A thick wave of demonic spiritual power flooded Jiang Chao Geâs heart. He felt that the air was suffused with the heavy scent of blood. It made breathing difficult and fear grow.
In a blink of an eye, that mountain like ancient rare beast, Hun Dun, had already appeared nearby. Zhi Xuan stood in front of Jiang Chao Ge, looking at Xiao Xue coldly, not retreating a single step.
Xiao Xueâs body shrunk rapidly. That ferocious rare beast disappeared and was replaced by a tall man floating in midair. He had a head of long curly crimson hair. That curly hair was like red seaweed. It seemed as if one would never escape if they got caught within it. His features were demonically pretty like the Ghost of Envy from hell, lips as red as blood, gaze as deep as the sea, full of the smell of death. He held a beautiful little girl in the crook of his arm. It was precisely the maiden of Ming Yin Association.
Xiao Xue smiled slightly: âZhi Xuan, this time Ren Wangâs not here to interrupt. I can play properly.â
Zhi Xuan said haughtily: âThatâs right. This time Iâll let you enjoy it to your heartâs content.â
Brother*/ć ćŒ- this doesnât mean brothers in the traditional sense. Itâs moreso like a close friendship between two unrelated people. Kinda like when you would say that you and your bestie are like actual brothers or sisters. From now on if brother appears with an asterisk beside it, it means this definition of brother.
Translatorâs Corner
DamnâŠ. What happened to Zhi Xuan the selfish brat? Heâs gonna sacrifice his cultivation for Jiang Chao Ge uwu (///âœ///)