The Curtain Rises

Star Dou Great Forest, Yang Yi's location

The Mystic Spirit Python Yang Yi had hunted was over sixteen hundred years old. Though it was close to the age limit for a Third Spirit Ring, it had not yet reached it. Nearly two hours had now passed, and he had just finished absorbing the Spirit Ring. He was preparing to look for Yang Ming with Yang Hong when, not far from where they had set out, they saw Yang Ming approaching them with bloodstained clothes, carrying someone in his arms.

Yang Hong and Yang Yi's expressions changed at once, and they hurried forward. Although Yang Hong, constrained by his own abilities, had only taught Yang Ming one class, he had truly spent six years with him. He had long since been utterly convinced by Yang Ming's talent, character, and brilliance. He believed that as long as Yang Ming did not die, he would surely lead the Breaking Clan to a new peak in the future. As for Yang Yi, he had competed with Yang Ming for years and had not won a single match. He had long since been beaten into submission. Though he would never call Yang Ming boss out loud, he had already begun following his lead in practice.

Yang Hong's cultivation was higher, and he was faster. In the blink of an eye, he arrived before Yang Ming and anxiously asked,

"Yang Ming, where are you hurt? Are your injuries serious? Who did this?!!"

As he spoke, he summoned the Soul Breaking Spear. Six Spirit Rings reappeared, and scarlet Soul Power surged around him, as though Yang Ming only needed to name a person or beast and Yang Hong would charge off to deal with them the next second. He had hit Yang Ming with three questions in a row right from the start, showing just how anxious he was.

Seeing Yang Hong so agitated, Yang Ming hurriedly reassured him.

"Uncle Hong, don't worry! I'm not hurt. This blood isn't mine."

Upon hearing that, Yang Hong saw that Yang Ming indeed had no obvious wounds. Though his clothes were dyed red, aside from being a little wrinkled, they were not torn anywhere. Yang Ming's face was ruddy as well, nothing like someone who had been injured. Only then did Yang Hong relax and retract the Soul Breaking Spear. Yang Yi had also arrived by then. Seeing Yang Hong put away his spear and Yang Ming apparently unharmed, the worry in his heart eased.

But once the two had calmed down, their gazes were immediately drawn to Zhu Zhuqing in Yang Ming's arms. There was no helping it—a little beauty like her was far too conspicuous. They had only not asked sooner because they had been worried about Yang Ming.

Yang Hong glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, whose face was pale but whose beauty remained undiminished, then looked at Yang Ming, who had removed his mask, and asked in confusion,

"Yang Ming, what is this?"

Upon hearing Yang Hong's question, Yang Yi's face was also full of curiosity. There were quite a few older and younger girls in the clan who liked Yang Ming, but he had never seen Yang Ming so close to any woman before. Though this girl's injuries might have been part of the reason, Yang Yi was still rather curious.

Yang Ming then told Yang Hong and Yang Yi everything: what he had seen after arriving there, Zhu Zhuqing's identity, her confrontation with Zhu Zhuyun, how he had saved Zhu Zhuqing, and finally, the deductions he had made from the unreasonable aspects of the entire chain of events based on his judgment of Zhu Zhuqing's injuries. Other than the part about treating Zhu Zhuqing, he told them everything.

After hearing such a classic tale of a hero saving a beauty and seeing that Zhu Zhuqing was clearly far prettier than the older and younger girls in the clan, Yang Yi could only think that if this matter made its way back to the clan, quite a few of those girls would be heartbroken!

After hearing about Yang Ming's experiences over the past two hours, however, Yang Hong wore a strange expression. How had Yang Ming's parents gotten together? Hadn't it been because Yang Ming's father had saved a beauty? Now their son, Yang Ming, had staged another hero-saving-a-beauty act at just the right time and in just the right place. Was this some inherited tradition of the Yang family bloodline, or the cycle of fate?

But Yang Hong quickly cleared away those distracting thoughts. He was not merely the Clan School's Spear Art teacher; he also held the important position of elder within the clan. He had some political sensitivity. He immediately began sharing his thoughts with Yang Ming.

"Yang Ming, based on the information you gathered, I also think that Zhu Family Eldest Miss, Zhu Zhuyun, probably came to let her younger sister leave, thereby avoiding the Star Luo Royal Family's rules of succession and preventing blood relatives from killing one another. But—"

"Although you wore a mask, are you sure your identity wasn't exposed? This is no joke. The Zhu Family Third Miss's identity is far too sensitive. If the Star Luo Royal Family learns that she was taken away by someone from our Breaking Clan, then in order to uphold the royal family's dignity, it would not be impossible for them to send troops against the Breaking Clan!"

Yang Hong's tone grew grave toward the end.

Yang Ming had already carefully reconsidered the issue of his identity being exposed on the way back. He answered Yang Hong seriously.

"Probably not!"

"First, I've quietly cultivated within the clan these past few years. Only a few people in the clan know about my Martial Soul, Spirit Ring configuration, and cultivation level. I don't stand out."

"Second, my Atlas Spear and the Soul Breaking Spear differ greatly in appearance, abilities, and spear techniques."

"Third, if Zhu Zhuyun were to guess which faction I came from, Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect should be more likely possibilities. The Breaking Clan might be suspicious, but no more so than those two."

After hearing Yang Ming's analysis, Yang Hong thought it over carefully and found that it was indeed true. The first two points needed no further explanation. As for the third, though it left Yang Hong somewhat unwilling, he had no choice but to admit it. Compared with the Breaking Clan, Yang Ming truly seemed more like the kind of disciple that the top giants of the Soul Master World could only raise after exhausting tremendous effort—people like Pope Bibi Dong or Sword Douluo Chen Xin. And even that was only a possibility!

Yang Hong did not understand those great figures. He only knew that they were very powerful, Yang Ming's talent was extraordinarily high, and their disciples should be capable of reaching Yang Ming's level, right?!! But the truth was that people like Yang Ming were practically destined from birth. Teaching was important, but without that aptitude or fortune, no amount of teaching could produce someone like him!

For the time being, they set aside the issue of his identity being exposed. Yang Hong then began asking about Yang Ming's plans.

"Yang Ming, then how do you plan to arrange for this Zhu Family Third Miss?"

Yang Ming looked at Zhu Zhuqing in his arms. Thinking of how she was covered in injuries and had nowhere to return home to, he said to Yang Hong,

"Uncle Hong! She's seriously injured right now, and she still faces the risk of being hunted down. I can't simply abandon her!"

Looking into Yang Ming's determined eyes as he spoke, Yang Hong understood his resolve.

That would do. Yang Ming had grown up now. Going out to see the world and travel through the Soul Master World would be a good thing as well. He spoke to Yang Ming and Yang Yi, who had been listening beside them.

"I understand!"

"Alright! We've all been busy for an entire day. How about we get something to eat first?"

Yang Ming and Yang Yi's eyes lit up at those words. They truly were hungry. Yang Ming's group of three, along with Zhu Zhuqing, then headed toward the Mystic Spirit Python.

After enjoying a meal of snake meat stew and roasted snake meat beside the river, it was already nearing afternoon. Yang Hong and Yang Yi bid Yang Ming farewell. Yang Hong solemnly reminded him,

"I'll tell the Clan Leader about what happened today and your decision. You don't need to worry."

"Be careful when you're out there. We don't provoke trouble, but we aren't afraid of it either!"

"And remember to stay in touch with home!"

Yang Yi's tone was calm as well, but his concern was impossible to conceal.

"Don't die out there!"

Yang Ming smiled in response.

"Don't worry, Uncle Hong. I'll take good care of myself!"

"Yang Yi, I hope that when we meet again, you'll be a little stronger than you are now!"

Yang Yi snorted and tilted his head away. Though he was a little afraid of losing now, he had a mouth that refused to admit defeat. Yang Yi only muttered quietly,

"Hmph~"

"Next time, I'll definitely beat you!"

Hearing Yang Yi's obviously lowered voice, Yang Hong found it rather amusing and bade Yang Ming farewell.

"Alright, we're leaving!"

With that, he led Yang Yi toward Soul Hunting Town on the outskirts of the Star Luo Empire. Watching the two leave, Yang Ming picked up Zhu Zhuqing and headed in the opposite direction. His destination was—

The Heaven Dou Empire!!!

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