Hai Bodong's Choice

"Heh heh, old man Ice, never thought you'd see a day like this, did you?"

In the backyard of the Ancient Map Shop, Lei Na and Lin Sen circled Hai Bodong, whose expression was exceptionally grim. Lei Na was the one speaking.

Watching Lei Na's mocking expression and Lin Sen's slightly more restrained demeanor, Hai Bodong snorted angrily. Yet all he could do was lift his teacup and take a gulp. What else could he do?

With his current strength, merely that of a Dou Spirit, he was no match for Lei Na and Lin Sen, two Dou Kings. Not to mention Lei Na—who knew where that fellow had obtained such an inheritance? His strength had surged greatly, and he could probably barely trade blows with a Dou Emperor now.

As for Lin Sen beside him, judging by his appearance and Lei Na's attitude, Hai Bodong had a vague guess. Their strengths were likely evenly matched.

As for the origin of these inheritances, though it seemed unbelievable to him, Hai Bodong still trusted his instincts—it should be the smiling young man before him.

"Enough, Lei Na. The two of you, say less."

Yang Chen gave a light cough, making the two gloating men settle down. Only then did he turn toward Hai Bodong. He said nothing, merely watched him with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.

At a time like this, whoever spoke first would inevitably fall into a passive position. And Yang Chen had never liked letting others take control of matters.

Seeing that Yang Chen remained silent and simply sipped his tea with a smile, Hai Bodong could not help sighing inwardly. Still, he had no choice. The young man before him was the only hope he had seen so far.

"May I ask what brings you here today, sir?"

"My True Lord Hall has just been established. Would the Ice Emperor be interested?"

Yang Chen gently set down his teacup and spoke in an almost casual tone. He said nothing further and did not offer any corresponding conditions.

Yet Hai Bodong froze upon hearing this. He knew it was not merely an invitation; it was also very likely a transaction. If he agreed to join this so-called True Lord Hall, the other party would presumably help him break the seal within his body.

But Hai Bodong felt somewhat resistant. As a Dou Emperor, even though he was currently sealed, he still possessed his pride. He was deeply displeased by Yang Chen's approach of taking advantage of his predicament and striking while he was down.

Hai Bodong longed to recover his strength, but getting him to bow his head and serve someone else was exceedingly difficult. In fact, had he not been tormented by the seal for so many years, the Hai Bodong from when he had first been sealed would have fallen out with Yang Chen on the spot.

Seeing Hai Bodong hesitate, with even a faint sense of resistance and rejection, Yang Chen merely smiled and rose to his feet.

"Yang Chen has never liked forcing others. Since the Ice Emperor is unwilling, then I shall take my leave. The continent is vast, yet we were able to meet. As they say, meeting is fate. This is a gift for the Ice Emperor. Of course, if you do not believe me, you need not use it."

After introducing himself, Yang Chen placed a jade bottle on the table. He then stood, cupped his fists toward Hai Bodong, and turned to leave without the slightest hesitation. That clean, decisive back caused not only Hai Bodong, but even Lei Na and Lin Sen, to fail to react for a moment.

By the time Yang Chen was nearly out of the shop, Lin Sen and Lei Na hurried after him. Before leaving, Lei Na could not help patting Hai Bodong on the shoulder.

"Old man Ice, Second Master is kind-hearted. Not only did he overlook what happened before, he even gave you medicine. But if, after recovering your strength, you dare show Second Master even the slightest disrespect, I'll crush your skull with my own hands!"

As he spoke, Lei Na threateningly clenched his fist. Lightning flickered around it, and only then did he leave without looking back. His departing figure seemed somewhat angry, as if he were only one step away from directly cursing Hai Bodong for not knowing what was good for him.

Watching the three of them leave in a daze, Hai Bodong stood rooted to the spot. Proud as he was, he had never believed that there could truly be someone so foolish in this world, someone who would freely give such a precious treasure to a complete stranger.

Yet Yang Chen's departing back made Hai Bodong unable to raise even the slightest suspicion. In fact, whenever he harbored even a trace of doubt, a sense of guilt would arise in his heart, because it felt like a desecration of the other man.

Clutching the cool jade bottle and feeling the powerful energy contained within it, Hai Bodong remained silent for only two breaths before heading to the underground chamber with the bottle, without the slightest hesitation.

On the street outside the Ancient Map Shop, after Lei Na and Lin Sen caught up with Yang Chen, Lei Na still looked indignant. Lin Sen, who had not spoken earlier, spoke in a low voice.

"Second Master, are you really just giving that to that old fox Hai Bodong? That fellow is solitary and arrogant. I'm afraid he may not appreciate it. Why don't we..."

Lin Sen did not finish his sentence, but he made a throat-slitting gesture. Killing an Ice Emperor might be difficult for him and Lei Na, but killing the current Hai Bodong would be as easy as turning a hand.

Lei Na's eyes lit up at once, and he hurriedly nodded. Although True Lord Hall now possessed considerable strength, having an additional Dou Emperor as an enemy would still be troublesome.

"That's right, Second Master. We can't let him—"

However, Lei Na had only gotten halfway through his words when he saw Yang Chen raise his folding fan. He could only laugh awkwardly and swallow the rest.

"Don't worry. I believe he'll make his choice. Besides, what I hope for is someone from True Lord Hall, not the Ice Emperor."

Yang Chen smiled softly. He had never liked forcing others, whether it was Hai Bodong or Yun Yun. He had given them time to make their own choices. But he believed that, in the end, they would all choose True Lord Hall.

Strictly speaking, his agreement with Yun Yun consisted of two parts. The first was that, atop Cloud Mist Mountain, Yang Chen and Yun Yun had reached an understanding: no outsider was to interfere in the engagement between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan.

Yun Yun, Yang Chen, the Yunlan Sect, the Nalan Family... none of them would interfere. How things would ultimately be decided would be entirely up to Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, the two people concerned.

The second agreement was that Yun Yun would step forward to suppress certain voices within the Yunlan Sect, ensuring that the sect would not act against Xiao Yan or cause trouble for True Lord Hall. In exchange, Yang Chen could help guide Nalan Yanran.

On Cloud Mist Mountain, Yun Yun had not immediately agreed. After all, she was the Yunlan Sect's leader. The sect was where she had grown up, and her teacher and sect had shown her the grace of raising her and imparting the Dao to her.

As the sect leader, Yun Yun felt that doing this would be no different from cutting herself off from the sect. Thus, she did not agree. Even though Yun Leng had shown no consideration whatsoever for her position as sect leader in public, Yun Yun still did not make a choice.

But during those days she sat alone in the main hall, Yun Yun gradually saw the Yunlan Sect's situation clearly. She knew that if she refused, Yun Leng and the others would certainly do everything in their power to retaliate against Yang Chen. Xiao Yan would inevitably become their target.

Once the Yunlan Sect acted against Xiao Yan, the result would be Yang Chen's fury. At that point, flattening Cloud Mist Mountain would no longer be an empty threat. But in that case, Yang Chen would also need to constantly guard against the Yunlan Sect threatening Xiao Yan and the others.

As the saying went, a thief could steal for a thousand days, but no one could guard against a thief for a thousand days. That was why this agreement existed.

At the very least, in Yun Yun's view, this agreement was beneficial to Yang Chen, to herself, and to the Yunlan Sect.

Even if she did not consider her disciple Nalan Yanran, Yun Yun still had to suppress Yun Leng and his people for the Yunlan Sect's sake, preventing them from destroying the sect with their own hands. She could regard it as repaying the debt she owed her teacher and sect for raising her.

That was why, on the day after Nalan Yanran returned, Yun Yun had brought Nalan Yanran quietly down the mountain to meet Yang Chen without the slightest hesitation.

This also meant that from then on, she would gradually become estranged from the Yunlan Sect. Yun Yun could only hope that the Yunlan Sect would not ultimately become True Lord Hall's mortal enemy. Otherwise, she truly did not know how she would face it.

Even the Yunlan Sect's leader had been made by Yang Chen to choose True Lord Hall, let alone Hai Bodong, who had nowhere near as many attachments.

After returning to the Alchemist Association to rest for the night, Yang Chen changed into a black outer robe over white inner robes the next morning. Just as the first pale light of dawn appeared on the horizon, he arrived at the plaza where the flying magical beasts were kept and saw Hai Bodong standing beside the flying magical beast, waiting. Dressed in an ice-blue robe, Hai Bodong's temperament had completely changed, while Lei Na and Lin Sen chatted and laughed with him nearby.

From afar, when Hai Bodong saw Yang Chen approaching, he took the initiative to stop talking. With a serious and solemn expression, he cupped his fists toward Yang Chen from a distance and bowed slightly.

"Greetings, Second Master."

"We're all family here. No need for such formalities. Since everyone is here, it's time for us to set out."

Yang Chen smiled and made a slight lifting gesture with his hand. Once he drew closer, he patted Hai Bodong on the shoulder before taking the lead in stepping onto the flying magical beast's back.

PS: Don't be impatient, everyone. There's a rhythm to things. What the uncle gives his nephew has to be given bit by bit. Some things will be given directly, while others will be given indirectly.

PPS: It's impossible for things to be freely given to someone unrelated. Actually, this was already written earlier. When Yun Yun met Nalan Yanran, she had already said something like "no longer unrelated." That was practically an obvious hint.

Brothers, believe in Uncle's charm! He's a male god who could become the God of Charm among all the immortals!

PPPS: Most importantly, Uncle's premium release goes live at midnight tonight. Updates may be a few minutes late, but after the release, I'll definitely work hard to update. I'll try my best to manage three updates a day, though I can't guarantee it, since things may come up sometimes. All I can say is that I'll work harder.

So, I hope everyone will support me and keep following the updates. This struggling author doesn't dare ask for rewards—only that you all cast a few votes for Uncle.