piratefiction Chapter 75 Uninvited Guest
Chapter 75 Uninvited Guest
Wang Dao's figure suddenly appeared in that secluded and quiet mountain stream.
He greedily took a deep breath of the fresh, grassy air outside, feeling the gentle breeze caress his cheeks.
At this moment, he finally understood how Liu Ruyan had opened that trial ground.
The ancient and mysterious bronze artifact that the demoness once held should be the so-called key, which could only be used to forcibly open the entrance to the trial grounds once and for a short time.
Now, the only way to set foot on that sacred land again is by relying on the credentials in one's hands.
Wang Dao looked down at the mysterious altar mark on his left palm that had disappeared beneath his skin, a slight smile playing on his lips, and was about to turn and leave.
Just then.
"boom!"
A terrifying sword intent, sharp and unparalleled, seemingly capable of splitting the world in two, descended from the sky without warning.
Before the sword energy even arrived, the ancient trees and boulders around them had already silently crumbled into dust.
A figure in a gray robe, enveloped in a sky full of sword light, instantly descended in front of Wang Dao.
He was none other than the former Sword Saint, now the master of the King's Way, the Martial Madman.
After sensing the reappearance of the sword talisman he had left for Wang Dao, he immediately tore through the void to rush over.
Seeing that Wang Dao was unharmed and his blood and energy were like a dragon, the Martial Madman's cold face showed a relieved smile, and he shouted loudly:
"Good lad! I knew you were tough, you wouldn't die!"
Without waiting for Wang Dao's reply, he waved his hand, and a gentle force enveloped Wang Dao:
"Hurry back with me! That princess has practically turned Zhenbei Royal City upside down these past few months. If she doesn't see you soon, she might even flatten this entire Hundred Thousand Mountains!"
Before he finished speaking, the Martial Madman raised the Kingly Way, and his entire body instantly transformed into a dazzling rainbow of sword light that pierced through the heavens and earth, traveling thousands of miles in an instant and speeding away.
Shortly after the two left.
A terrifying gaze swept across the endless distance, coldly sweeping over the mountain stream.
The mountain stream, along with the surrounding mountains for miles, was instantly reduced to ruins the moment that gaze swept over it.
……
The Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion, the Wutong Courtyard.
This is the residence of Princess Zheng Wanqing, and also the most quiet and elegant place in the entire palace.
However, the atmosphere inside the courtyard was unusually heavy at this moment.
Zheng Wanqing, dressed in a bright red robe embroidered with peonies and golden phoenixes, sat in the main seat. Her usually gentle and smiling face was now stern, and her beautiful eyes glared at Wang Dao, who stood below her, feigning anger.
"You brat!"
Zheng Wanqing stretched out her slender finger and tapped Wang Dao's forehead hard, her tone full of undisguised fear and reproach:
"He's been in the mountains for months, and hasn't even sent a single letter home!"
"Are you trying to drive me crazy? What kind of place is that Hundred Thousand Mountains? It's a vicious land that eats people alive!"
"If something really happens to you in there, what am I supposed to do? What are we supposed to do?"
Looking at the beautiful woman in front of him, whose chest heaved slightly with anger, Wang Dao felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew that the princess was genuinely concerned about him.
He didn't argue, but obediently lowered his head to accept the reprimand, occasionally revealing a flattering smile.
After her outburst, Zheng Wanqing calmed down slightly. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and her eyes suddenly sharpened, her tone changing accordingly:
"Dao'er, did you encounter any assassins from the Hall of Rebirth in the Hundred Thousand Mountains?"
Upon hearing the words "Hall of Rebirth," Wang Dao's previously playful expression instantly vanished, and a chilling killing intent flashed in his eyes.
"I did encounter one." Wang Dao's voice was calm, yet it carried a bloody undertone. "It was just a rat that couldn't stand the light of day, and I've already crushed it with a flick of my wrist."
"It really was that bunch of scum!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Wanqing slammed her teacup heavily on the table, making a crisp "bang".
A chilling aura suddenly appeared on her dignified and refined face—the unique authority and domineering presence of someone long accustomed to a position of power.
"Those damned rats, how dare they actually attack you!"
She slowly stood up, walked to Wang Dao, straightened his collar, and spoke in a tone as cold as ice:
"On the third day after you entered the mountains, I personally took action and uprooted all three strongholds of the Hall of Rebirth within the royal city, leaving no one alive!"
"Since they dared to lay their claws on you, they should be prepared to be chopped to pieces!"
Looking at the woman in front of him, who was usually gentle and tender but now exuded domineering power, Wang Dao was seeing his second mother's strong side for the first time.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Wang Dao was deeply moved, and earnestly bowed in thanks, his eyes then gleaming with confidence and sharpness:
"These rats will save the princess from getting her hands dirty in the future."
"When I become stronger, I will personally wield my sword and wipe out all these creatures hiding in the gutter!"
……
Looking at the huge plaque hanging under the eaves, carved from thousand-year-old sandalwood, with brushstrokes that exuded a powerful and majestic aura, Wang Dao's lips twitched uncontrollably.
"To dare name something after a real dragon, this woman really has no taboos."
Wang Dao secretly grumbled to himself.
The former residence was named Qianlong, meaning a hidden dragon in the abyss, requiring one to conceal one's talents and bide one's time.
Now, things have gotten much better; they've simply dropped the "potential" part and given it the name "True Dragon."
In the rigidly hierarchical and supremely imperial Zhou Dynasty, besides the princess who acted entirely on her own whim, probably no one else would dare to give a royal mansion such a name.
Upon entering the pavilion, Wang Dao dismissed his attendants and sat cross-legged on the cloud bed made of the finest warm jade.
The interior of the pavilion was extremely luxurious, but he had no heart to appreciate it at the moment.
In his mind, a past event that Zheng Wanqing had mentioned to him earlier in the Wutong Courtyard kept replaying.
His disappearance in the Ten Thousand Mountains has caused an uproar.
The person who surprised him the most—his father, Prince Zhenbei Wang Shengtian—actually took action himself.
The man who had treated him like air and hadn't given him a second glance in over a decade was furious upon learning of his disappearance.
He not only swept through several strongholds of the Hall of Rebirth with ruthless methods, killing countless people, but also risked his life to personally venture deep into the heart of the Ten Thousand Mountains to search for people.
"If you didn't know better, you'd really think it was a touching drama about a loving father and a filial son..."
Wang Dao lowered his eyes, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees, recalling the chilling look in Zheng Wanqing's beautiful eyes when she mentioned this matter, and the mocking expression that seemed to be a half-smile.
A chilling sensation spread through his body, rushing straight up to the crown of his head along the spine of the king.
"He doesn't care whether I live or die, but he won't allow me... to escape his control."
Wang Dao narrowed his eyes slightly, a chilling glint flashing in them.
To that domineering man, she was probably just an insignificant pawn on his chessboard.
A chess piece can be discarded or abandoned, but it must never jump off the board and disappear without the player's permission.
"call--"
Wang Daochang exhaled a long breath, forcibly suppressing these chaotic and heavy thoughts deep into his heart.
Whatever that man is scheming, only absolute power is the key to breaking all shackles.
He calmed his mind and began to examine his own progress in cultivation.
His time in the Trial Grounds not only brought his various techniques to their peak, but also caused a qualitative transformation in his combat instincts.
"Next up is the 'Burning Heaven Crimson Emperor Fist'."
With a thought, the dormant blood and qi within Wang Dao's body instantly ignited like a volcano. In the shadows, a phantom figure clad in a crimson imperial robe appeared behind him, radiating an overbearing intent that could burn everything.
This boxing technique has reached its peak, and is only one step away from perfection.
"Once I push this fist to its limit, I will begin my attempt to break through to the Thunder Furnace Realm."
Wang Dao sensed the powerful, surging blood and qi within his body, like a great river, and the faint roar of a dragon emanating from deep within his bones.
With his current unparalleled and terrifying talent, coupled with his powerful physical body enhanced by two extreme realms, even without relying on the source points on the panel to forcibly add points, he is fully confident that he can forcefully break through that barrier by relying on his own foundation.
A true strongman never relies on external things; the source point is merely a shortcut, while the path he chooses to take is the invincible path.
Just as Wang Dao's blood and qi surged, preparing to immerse himself in cultivation, a slightly nervous maid's voice suddenly came from outside the door:
"Reporting to the Seventh Young Master, Miss Liu Ruyan, the owner of Jubao Pavilion, requests an audience outside the mansion."
"Liu Ruyan?"
Wang Dao's eyes, which had been slightly closed, snapped open instantly. His brows furrowed slightly, and the fiery fist intent that had just risen within him slowly dissipated.
"They arrived quickly, and their intelligence network is excellent. I'd like to see what this vixen is up to."
Outside the True Dragon Pavilion, Liu Ruyan wore a semi-transparent purple gauze dress. Her waist swayed gracefully, and with each step, her beautiful curves rippled like water, enough to make any man with a weak will fall instantly.
However, when she raised her beautiful eyes and caught sight of the "True Dragon Pavilion" plaque with its flowing calligraphy, her captivating smile instantly froze on her lips.
"A true dragon? Ha, what a boastful tone."
Liu Ruyan cursed inwardly, her red lips slightly pursed.
This Prince Wangdao must be insane. How dare he display such an overstepping title? Does he truly disregard the current emperor, a man of great talent and ambition? Or has the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion become so arrogant?
Walk through the corridor and enter the living room.
Wang Dao was already seated in the main seat, with a pot of spiritual tea steaming in front of him, its aroma filling the air.
Seeing the purple-clad figure approaching, Wang Dao waved away the maids on either side, then stood up. His handsome face instantly filled with a flawless, insincere smile as he cupped his hands and said:
"Oh dear, what brings you here, Master Liu? I'm so sorry for not greeting you sooner. Please have a seat."
Liu Ruyan's eyes sparkled, but she didn't rush to sit down. Instead, she took graceful steps and approached Wang Dao, stopping only when the faint fragrance of orchids almost reached his nostrils.
A smile that could outshine a hundred flowers bloomed on her exquisitely beautiful face, and her voice was soft and sweet:
"What? Can't people come to see the renowned Seventh Young Master if there's nothing wrong?"
Wang Dao felt a slight dryness in his throat, so he picked up his teacup and took a small sip to suppress the restlessness in his heart.
This woman, every move she makes is seductive, she's practically a walking femme fatale.
Liu Ruyan seemed quite satisfied with Wang Dao's reaction, covering her mouth and chuckling softly, but her gaze lingered on Wang Dao like a fox:
"Besides, in this capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who doesn't know the legend of the Seventh Young Master? He was missing for several months and only returned today from the Hundred Thousand Mountains, a place where no living person can enter."
"Tsk tsk, that's forbidden land for humans. The fact that Seventh Young Master was able to walk out unscathed is truly admirable."
Wang Dao paused slightly in his hand holding the teacup, his eyelids lifted slightly, and his eyes, which had been smiling, instantly became as deep as an abyss.
"Master Liu's information network is indeed quite extensive."
Wang Dao put down his teacup, the porcelain cup clinking against the table with a crisp sound. He leaned back in his chair, looking at her with a half-smile:
"I'm just curious, I don't think I've ever mentioned to anyone where I went."
"How can Pavilion Master Liu be so certain that I have returned from the Ten Thousand Mountains?"
Liu Ruyan sneered inwardly.
"Still pretending?"
She simply stopped beating around the bush, slightly toning down her soft, seductive charm and replacing it with a sharp, shrewd edge.
She leaned forward slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Wang Dao, and said, word by word:
"Seventh Young Master is too modest."
"Who would have thought that the body that had been ridiculed by the world for so many years would have such earth-shattering and awe-inspiring skill in swordsmanship?"
"If word were to spread of the magnificence of that sword strike, the entire Great Zhou Dynasty would surely be shaken."
Now that things have come to this, the true intentions are revealed.
She pointed out directly that the silver-masked man who had wreaked havoc in the trial grounds was him.
Wang Dao looked at her quietly, his smile gradually fading, replaced by an unfathomable calm.
Now that everyone has made things clear, there's no need to put on an act anymore.
"You flatter me, Fairy Liu."
Wang Dao's fingers gently caressed the rim of the teacup, his tone calm, yet it resonated in Liu Ruyan's ears like a thunderclap:
"Compared to my sword, Fairy Liu's inner demon entanglement is truly impossible to defend against."
"I remember, even Xue Wuhen, who was known as the prodigy of the Demonic Sect, made a complete fool of himself when he was hit by the Fairy's move!"
"Add to that the fairy's unparalleled beauty, how many men in the world could resist falling at her feet?"
Liu Ruyan snorted coldly. Her inner demon-summoning technique had failed on Wang Dao, and she was very annoyed.
Just as she was feeling annoyed, she noticed that Wang Dao's gaze suddenly became somewhat unfocused, and his eyes fell unabashedly on her pert and full buttocks, his gaze carrying a hint of reminiscence and scrutiny.
Liu Ruyan followed his gaze, and was first stunned. Then her beautiful face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and a feeling of shame and indignation rushed to her head.
She recalled the scene in the Trial Grounds when Wang Dao slapped her across the face!
"The royal way!"
Liu Ruyan gritted her teeth, her beautiful eyes seeming to spit fire, and her voice squeezed out from between her teeth:
"If looks could kill, you'd be dead a thousand times over by now! And if I could, I'd chop off your groin and feed it to the dogs!"
Faced with this blatant threat, Wang Dao not only didn't back down, but instead raised his right hand, placed it to his nose in an extremely irritating manner, sniffed it lightly, and then revealed a look of intoxication, smacking his lips and saying:
"Don't get so angry."
"To be honest, it feels really good, both bouncy and soft."
"you--!"
Liu Ruyan was so angry that her chest heaved violently, and the thin purple gauze seemed about to tear. She wished she could rush up and bite off a piece of this shameless man's flesh right now.
"How can there be such shameless people in this world!"
Wang Dao knew when to stop. His expression turned serious, and he lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, extinguishing her impending outburst of anger.
"Alright, we've had our reminiscing."
"Master Liu, you couldn't have come all this way just to discuss our skills, could you? Tell me, what brings you here?"
The anger that was about to erupt from Liu Ruyan vanished in an instant.
She took a deep breath, and as if by magic, the furious little woman disappeared, replaced by the charming and alluring owner of the Treasure Pavilion.
She gently brushed a stray hair behind her ear, her eyes were like silk, and she leaned forward slightly, her alluring fragrance enveloping Wang Dao once again.
"If Seventh Young Master is so oblivious to romance, and she gets upset, wouldn't it make me seem inconsiderate?"
Liu Ruyan parted her red lips slightly, her voice soft and sweet, yet carrying a hint of seriousness as if she were discussing business:
"I've come this time to offer Seventh Young Master a great opportunity."
"I possess a clue to the secluded cultivation site of an ancient sword master, a secret realm that has never been revealed to the world."
She paused here, her beautiful eyes fixed on Wang Dao's eyes, observing his reaction.
"However, that place is protected by extremely strong restrictions, and only sword prodigies can step into its core."
"My conditions are simple: my swordsmanship is so-so, but the swordsmanship traditions there, and even the divine weapons left behind by powerful figures, are all yours."
"I only want one thing, one object that is very important to me."
Wang Dao did not respond immediately.
He picked up the teacup, his fingertips gently stroking the warm porcelain surface. His deep eyes were like two sharp swords, piercing straight into Liu Ruyan's heart, as if trying to see through the woman's very soul.
"You're so confident I can get in?"
A playful smile curved Wang Dao's lips as he leaned back slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of aggression.
"Besides, even if I get in and get the stuff, why should I give it to you? Once it's in my hands, it's not so easy for me to give it back."
Faced with Wang Dao's almost shameless questioning, Liu Ruyan showed no sign of panic.
She simply looked at Wang Dao quietly, a confident smile on her face, radiating self-assurance.
"You'll give it to me then."