Chapter 50: Online

This was a matter of old grudges.

Guo Decheng was not well regarded among martial artists. In the past, martial artists emphasized martial virtue. Someone like Guo Decheng, who had been bought by a corrupt warlord and served as the leader of assassins targeting political enemies and dissenters, could hardly be considered virtuous. Ruthless and merciless, he cared nothing for respecting teachers or honoring tradition; it was only natural for him to treat the legacy of his ancestors with irreverence.

Kuang Yimin was Guo Decheng's master. His feelings toward this former disciple who had strayed so far from the righteous path were complicated. He wanted to purge his own house of disgrace. Yet, now old and frail, with only this one worthy successor to carry on the ancestral martial heritage, if he were to truly kill him, where would he find another prodigy to inherit all that had been passed down? And so, the matter dragged on, unresolved.

Li Shuwen and Kuang Yimin were each called “Divine Spear” and “Spear King” respectively. In their younger days, they had exchanged skills and developed a rare and sincere friendship. Now, Li Shuwen, as a newly risen martial master, agreed to face Guo Decheng at the request of his old friend.

If not for the sudden appearance of Lan Yi, it was likely that Guo Decheng’s path would still be unrecognized. To some extent, he had now left the darkness for the light. Every family has its own troubles. These tangled affairs among martial artists were reported to Lan Yi by Shadow General Zhao Sikong.

Not only Guo Decheng, but figures like Zhao Jian, Liu White Ape, and Sun Lutang—any martial artist wandering the chaotic world of these times—would certainly have some tangled past, perhaps even lives taken. Zhao Sikong believed this information might be useful to Immortal Lan Yi, so he gathered intelligence in secret using his spiritual powers.

Lan Yi neither supported nor opposed this. Though he had no use for it personally, it was better for his subordinates to be occupied than idle. Idleness was a terribly dangerous thing. Especially for martial artists who had mastered the innate primordial breath—if left idle, their destructive potential would be terrifying.

“Boss, can you bring me along?” Xiao Hongzhuan, having eaten his fill, saw the gathering of martial artists whose auras seemed almost tangible and could be felt even with eyes closed. He immediately stopped eating and, a bit embarrassed, tried to curry favor with Lan Yi.

“Of course,” Lan Yi agreed readily.

Guo Decheng and Li Shuwen would cross hands.

He had always planned to bring Xiao Hongzhuan to watch. The “Earthly Fiends” was a prize he was determined to win. Trading a meal for a Fate Cluster was far too greedy, but if Xiao Hongzhuan himself proposed to exchange Fate Cluster for martial knowledge, then the transaction would be fairer for both sides. After all, what son of the stars could resist the dream of martial chivalry?

When martial artists of the Qi-cultivating level fought, it could never be done in a courtyard. If they tore down the governor’s mansion, Immortal Lan Yi would surely strike them down with lightning. So the location was chosen at a military stronghold outside the city, already requisitioned by martial artists.

Lan Yi split off a magical sword, adjusted its size, and let Xiao Hongzhuan sit atop it, flying him to the site. This spectacle naturally drew the envy of many martial artists, who only began to talk excitedly after Lan Yi vanished from view.

“In the end, there’s always a distinction between immortals and mortals. Immortal Lan Yi never deigns to speak kindly to us of the lower realm. If one were to attain immortal status, even he would look at us differently.” This was the deep-rooted belief in the divide between immortals and mortals.

“I think it’s not that simple. That little immortal must have something Immortal Lan Yi wants.” This one was clear-headed—Xiao Hongzhuan and Lan Yi both hailed from the upper realm, perhaps there was some connection.

“But doesn’t General Fierce also possess a Fate Cluster? Yet he’s never received such special treatment,” a martial artist wondered aloud.

“How could it be the same? An immortal is still an immortal. In the upper realm, perhaps he has someone backing him. We haven’t even become immortals and already expect to be treated differently? If you became an immortal, would you try to climb above Immortal Lan Yi?” another sneered.

“Never! I would never dare speak such madness!” The first martial artist turned pale and waved his hands in denial.

Though Lan Yi did not persecute people for their words, if anyone showed disrespect to Immortal Lan Yi, there would be no need for the immortal himself to be angered; the martial artists around, fierce as they were, had countless ways to make the offender die mysteriously in a gutter—always ruled a natural death or a suicide by gunshot.

That was power.

Even if Lan Yi cared nothing for it.

It would still seep into every corner and crevice, filling every place he disregarded.

…

…

“Damn, boss, you’re incredible, awesome, you really took me flying!” Xiao Hongzhuan clung to the great sword, trembling all over.

Lan Yi’s flying sword, when carrying passengers, had no protective barriers and certainly no stewardess for comfort. Sitting atop it was like being completely exposed, drifting at a height equivalent to over thirty stories, buffeted by fierce winds. Just looking down made one’s head spin and legs go weak.

Xiao Hongzhuan was both terrified and exhilarated!

“Boss, you look a bit familiar. I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before…” Flushed with excitement, Xiao Hongzhuan covered his mouth, trying to focus on Lan Yi’s sharply defined, masculine and handsome face.

He truly didn’t dare look down—the thrill was far greater than bungee jumping, and his heart could barely take it.

“Probably online,” Lan Yi replied coolly.

“Yes! That’s it, online!” Xiao Hongzhuan made the gesture of offering a bowl of iron beef noodles. “Which post was it… It was that CMG Observations…”

Cold sweat broke out on Xiao Hongzhuan’s brow.

He seemed to remember…

The male protagonist of that post had been subjected to brutal cyberbullying, condemned as irredeemable, sentenced to death by popular opinion before any trial.

“Go on, why stop now? Don’t you still have your life?” Lan Yi was in good spirits; encountering a fellow native of the main world, he even joked.

A joke, but not just a joke.

If he said the wrong thing, he might end up crashing to his death like those in the infamous memes.

“Boss, my admiration for you is like the surging river, endless and unbroken, like the flooding Yellow River, once begun, unstoppable! I support you! Those CMG types deserve to die—tricking you emotionally and financially, then slandering you to send you to jail, but now you’re wise and mighty, with divine powers complete!”

“When we finish the Conquest Space mission, I’ll go back and kill them all!”

“If you don’t mind, boss, I’d like to take you as my sworn father…” Xiao Hongzhuan felt as if he’d run through every line of flattery he knew.

“What nonsense! Am I really so terrifying?” Lan Yi cut off the near-hysterical Xiao Hongzhuan, still in good humor.

Not terrifying? How could he not be?

A man with no family or friends, who’d lost his job, been slandered, and buried in rumors—everyone online said he was the next Christmas Eve killer, the kind who might shout “brake, brake, brake” while driving!

Such a solitary, wronged, and invincible figure.

Now possessing powers almost divine.

Xiao Hongzhuan dared not imagine what Lan Yi might do upon returning from the artificial divine realm.

Thank goodness!

He wasn’t an enemy—he supported the boss!