Ou Yangming’s eyelids twitched a little because he was familiar with peculiar medicine.
The Ni family had peculiar medicine too such as the Life-prolonging Spiritual Pill and the Life-prolonging Golden Pill. Needless to say, these medicines were also categorized into different ranks. For instance, the Life-prolonging Golden Pill was a hundred times more valuable than the Life-prolonging Spiritual Pill.
Nevertheless, even the lowest-ranked Life-prolonging Spiritual Pill was also significantly valuable, and it could not be traded with ordinary items.
Ni Yinghong was moved too. “Elder Brother, you’re very lucky. Congratulations.”
“We’re very lucky,” He Liangce remarked while shaking his head. He added calmly, “I found something great during our trip to the forest this time. Ah, but I’m not sure if this discovery is good or bad for you.” “Brother He, what is it?” Ou Yangming was dumbfounded.
“I’ll inform the three great ancestors directly. Brother Ou, please forgive me,” He Liangce responded sternly. Ou Yangming scoffed and guessed if it was related to Ni Yinghong. In any case, he was fearless regardless of He Liangce’s little tricks.
The three of them fell silent. In particular, the atmosphere between Ou Yangming and He Liangce was becoming tense again.
Ni Yinghong frowned as she was puzzled. She looked deeply at He Liangce and urged, “Since we’ve accomplished the task, we should go back.”
“Okay, let’s go back.” Ou Yangming agreed and said coldly, “I was the scouter during our way here, so it’s your turn now, Brother He.” He Liangce smiled bitterly as he responded, “Of course.” He picked up the bag and slung it onto his body, then he went ahead to find the path.
Ni Yinghong looked at Ou Yangming in bewilderment because she could not understand why he was being so calculative. On the other hand, Ou Yangming lowered his voice and commented, “Elder Sister Ying, this fella’s too… Cunning!” “What?”
“He already apprehended the integration of Heaven and man, but he didn’t want to show it before we entered the forest, and he asked me to be the scouter instead!” Ou Yangming poured out his grievances.
“Oh, I see…” Ni Yinghong felt helpless. “Elder Brother doesn’t look like a bad person, so stop being hostile toward him, Lil’ Ming.” Ou Yangming explained in a hurry, “Ah, Elder Sister Ying, I didn’t say he’s a bad person, but he… Isn’t up to any good.”
Ni Yinghong looked at him oddly but no matter how she pressured him, he was unwilling to reveal anything.
After all, Ou Yangming could not tell Ni Yinghong that the despicable and shameless fellow was secretly going after her. As long as Ou Yangming was still rational, he would not say it in front of Ni Yinghong.
In actual fact, He Liangce’s performance was outstanding. Being a comrade, he was more than just satisfactory.
If He Liangce did not desire Ni Yinghong, perhaps he and Ou Yangming could become friends. However, since they were both pursuing the same person, it was practically impossible.
Without the big multicolored tiger as their formidable energy, the young men no longer had a common interest.
With that, the three of them hastened on with their journey for several days. Ni Yinghong occasionally chatted and laughed to brighten up the mood; Ou Yangming showed He Liangce a long face; He Liangce looked calm as though he was unconcerned.
They finally left the dense forest after being in there for about ten days. Ou Yangming and his companions looked up together at the Sun, which was no longer blocked by anything. They never realized how pretty and delightful it was.
Although the sunlight was strong and glaring, it gave them a feeling of warmth.
“Younger sister, Brother Ou, we’re out. Are we heading to the Immense Forest Military Camp first or are we returning to the prefecture?” He Liangce laughed out loud and asked. He tapped the bag on his shoulder, as well as the big multicolored tiger’s carcass on Ou Yangming’s body. “It’s inconvenient for us to travel with these. How about we rent a carriage?”
Just as Ou Yangming was listening quietly, he tensed up slightly because he had a strong sense of crisis.
The feeling had alerted him many times and saved his life. This time, it was also very intense such that it did not feel so extreme even when he faced the big multicolored tiger.
Ou Yangming immediately took a step forward and held his spear. When the spear tip shook, he had already pointed it at He Liangce.
He Liangce was taken aback. He stopped and was alarmed, but he got into a stance to be prepared for what would happen next. Ni Yinghong widened her hazel eyes and asked, “Lil’ Ming, what’s wrong?”
Ou Yangming uttered coldly, “He Liangce, you’re the one who led us out.”
He Liangce answered with a deep voice, “That’s right.”
“Then are you the one who asked the people here to lay in ambush?” Ou Yangming questioned with a grim expression.
“What… People?” He Liangce immediately looked around with his sharp eyes, and there was a ghastly look on his face. “Who are you, mischief-makers? Come out!” He stomped his foot lightly but crushed the ground beneath it.
“Pow!”
The crushed stones and soil zoomed to the back like an arrow leaving its bow.
“Hmph!” A scoff was instantly heard, then a person jumped out from the dark and hit his palm at the gravel. The palm’s attack carried a massive force, and its distinctive style was displayed during the person’s breathing. With that, the person forcefully shook away the crushed stones.
He Liangce was dumbfounded and halted just before he was about to make a move. “The Ni family’s fist technique?” It was evident from the attacker’s palm that it contained traits of the Ni family’s technique. At that moment, He Liangce suspected that the Ni family had sent a master to protect Ni Yinghong in secret.
“It’s you!” Ou Yangming’s face changed when he saw who it was.
That person smirked and looked at Ou Yangming indignantly. “Ou Yangming, you still remember me!”
Ou Yangming answered, “I never forget those I’ve met, let alone you.”
Ni Yinghong’s face took on a grave expression too. “Grandfather Xueming, it’s been a long time since we’ve met.” The person who showed up was Ni Xueming. He sneered and commented, “The Ni family’s favored young lady still remembers someone like me, who has been expelled from the clan. How rare!”
“Grandfather Xueming, you were banished from the clan because you sent people to attack Lil’ Ming.” Ni Yinghong’s face turned dark.
“Pfft… So what if I sent people to kill him? Hmph, who is he? He’s just an outsider! I can’t believe you gave him the Life-prolonging Golden Pill,” Ni Xueming expressed furiously with red eyes. He pointed at his chest and continued with a hoarse voice, so much so that he was growling, “As for me, my grandson-my only grandson-is on the verge of death. I requested for one Life-prolonging Golden Pill from the three great ancestors, but I failed to acquire it. I served the Ni family for decades, but the great ancestors attach lesser importance to me than they did to an outsider. Heh, why should I remember fondly of a clan like that?!”
Ou Yangming raised his eyebrow. He recalled Ni Yunhong telling him that Ni Xueming coveted the Life-prolonging Golden Pill because of his old age, but it seemed like there was a hidden story behind it.
Ni Yinghong looked gloomy as she sighed. “Grandfather Xueming, you should understand why Lil’ Ming could get the Life-prolonging Golden Pill..” “I don’t. I only know that you evil members from the clan will always sacrifice us from the collateral branch to fawn over outsiders!” Ni Xueming was resentful. He looked determined as he voiced, “I’ll definitely make you pay!” “Haha.” He Liangce suddenly laughed out loud and said, “You’re just a person who twists principles and distorts logic!” “What? Who are you? Reveal your identity!” Ni Xueming glared at He Liangce.
He Liangce asked smilingly, “What are you going to do after you know my name?”
&nb
sp; Ni Xueming answered indifferently, “Of course I’m going to eliminate your clan to vent my anger.”
“Oh? You’ll be dreaming if you’re thinking about doing that on your own.” He Liangce was suddenly interested. He continued after a short pause, “An aristocratic family naturally has rules and regulations. Hehe, how many people does the Ni family have? If everyone whose life is hanging by a thread requests for a Life-prolonging Golden Pill, the clan won’t be able to provide even if it loses its fortune.
He curled his lips and noted, “Instead of thinking about contributing to the clan to exchange it for a golden pill, you were jealous of someone else’s contribution and attempted to kill that person too. Hmph… You’re lucky that you were born in the Ni family. If you’re from my clan…”
Ou Yangming was moved. He asked with a smirk on his face, “What happens if he’s from your clan?”
He Liangce laughed and replied to him, “I’ll personally kill him!”
Ni Xueming flushed with anger and was full of killing intent because He Liangce’s words hit him right away. He yelled, “B*stard, which clan are you from?”
He Liangce’s face darkened, but just as he was about to speak, he focused and took three steps back to protect Ou Yangming and Ni Yinghong. The young master then moved his wrist to open his folding fan, where he slowly drew a semicircle.
A disdainful voice was heard at that moment. “I see, you’re from the He family in Linlang County. No wonder you’re so bold!”
Chapter 205 - The Zhang Family’s Great Ancestor
A thin elder slowly walked out from behind Ni Xueming. He looked calm as if he was indifferent toward everything.
In actuality, he was indeed qualified to act like that.
Ou Yangming and his companions were taken aback because they instantly sensed the obvious change in the person’s aura. The elder in front of them was definitely a Supreme Great Ancestor.
Ni Yinghong’s eyes wandered about before she greeted with a sweet smile, “Greetings, Great Ancestor, I’m Yinghong from the Ni family. May I know your name?” The elder glanced at her and smiled. “What a clever young lady, you’re indeed the Ni family’s little princess. How’s Older Brother Jingshen lately?”
“Great-grandfather is healthy, and he seems to have broken through during his recent cultivation.”
“Oh?” The elder hesitated for a while before he expressed, “I must congratulate Older Brother Jingshen. I’m Zhang Tianshi, and I’m friends with your great ancestors from the Ni family and the He family, so I won’t make things difficult for you.”
He Liangce was relieved. Though he had not let down his guard, he clearly looked more relaxed.
On the other hand, Ou Yangming and Ni Yinghong looked at each other with a bitter smile.
‘Zhang?
‘It can’t be… A coincidence, right??’
Sure enough, Zhang Tianshi looked coldly at Ou Yangming and asked, “Are you Ou Yangming?”
Ou Yangming inhaled deeply. Since he was already faced with the situation and could not avoid it, he might as well face it with courage.
He did a fist salute and greeted, “Greetings, Great Ancestor Zhang, I’m Ou Yangming.”
The young fellow was tall and strong. Apart from when he bowed, he was like a towering tree whose roots were firmly rooted in the ground. In a trace, he became one with his surroundings.
He Liangce’s eyelids twitched, but his heart sank.
He immediately sensed that Ou Yangming had entered the combat state of the integration of Heaven and man. Although he could not understand why, he was almost sure of one thing; whatever happened today could not be settled easily.
Countless thoughts crossed He Liangce’s mind at that instant. ‘I heard Ou Yangming’s an orphan, so how did he become enemies with the reputable Zhang family from the capital?’
Zhang Tianshi’s eyes were bright, but he was not surprised that Ou Yangming had suddenly entered the integration of Heaven and man. The elder scanned the young fellow with interest and remarked, “You’re really good to have a profound understanding of nature at such a young age-you’re blessed by Heaven.”
Ou Yangming was neither humble nor overbearing when he responded, “Thank you, senior, you’re flattering me.”
“Heh.” Zhang Tianshi uttered slowly, “It’ll be such a pity if a genius like you dies.”
He spoke calmly, but a cold killing intent had already spread in the air.
He Liangce had a grave look on his face. “Senior, I don’t know how Brother Ou offended you, but if it’s possible, the He family is willing to apologize on his behalf.”
Zhang Tianshi looked at the young master strangely and chuckled. “You cultivate the He family’s orthodox techniques, so you’re probably a disciple from the direct line of descent. That said, you’re not enough to represent the He family.”
With a solemn expression, He Liangce tidied his shirt, which was already unwrinkled. “I’m He Liangce, the eldest grandson from the He family’s direct line of descent. Greetings, senior.”
Zhang Tianshi and Ni Xueming were stunned, and they began to cast a serious and different look at the young master. Everyone knew very well the difference between a disciple who learned authentic teachings and the eldest grandson from the direct line in the He family. In fact, even Zhang Tianshi could not ignore the majestic He family from Linlang County.
“Oh, you’re He Liangce? I’ve heard a lot about you,” Zhang Tianshi said with glowing eyes.
An ordinary person would dance and stay awake for three days and three nights due to the excitement of hearing such recognition from a Supreme Great Ancestor.
Nonetheless, He Liangce did not bat an eyelid as if he was not affected at all.
He replied to the great ancestor with respect, “I’m extremely blessed that you’ve heard of me, senior.”
Zhang Tianshi hesitated for a while before he added, “You’re a stallion from the He family, so I shouldn’t refute you, but Ou Yangming has killed two direct disciples from my clan, and one of them is a Yang Grade successor. Heh, tell me, can I let him go?”
He Liangce was dumbfounded, and he turned to cast a strange look at Ou Yangming.
‘Young fella, you’re from Changlong County, but you provoked the Zhang family from the capital and even killed an important descendant from their clan. Aren’t you… Too good at causing trouble?’
Ou Yangming grinned and defended himself. “Senior, I wasn’t the one who wanted to kill them; they were the ones who wanted to kill me. Should I have resigned to death without resisting them at all?” Zhang Tianshi questioned, “Since someone from my clan wanted to kill you, why couldn’t you just wait for your death without doing anything?”
Ou Yangming stopped breathing at that moment, and he raged with fire.
It was such a tyrannical and impolite statement. Zhang Tianshi did not ask who was right or wrong because he only valued the Zhang family’s interests. In his opinion, a person must die if someone from the Zhang family wanted to kill him or her. If that person dared to resist, it would be an offense against the Zhang family, and someone from the older generation in that clan would make a move if the younger disciples failed to take down that person.
Zhang Tianshi spoke so naturally even when the statement was unreasonable.
“Okay, I learned something new today.” Ou Yangming was so mad that he laughed instead. He said coldly without any emotion, “If I become successful in the future, I’ll certainly thank you in person!” “In the future?” Zhang Tianshi burst out laughing. “Do you actually think you’ll have a future? You’re such a presumptuous fella who doesn’t know the immensity of Heaven and Earth.”
The elder suddenly took a step forward. It looked like a slow movement, but it was so quick that he arrived roughly 3.6 meters in front of Ou Yangming in a flash. Following that, the great ancestor reached out his hand to grab the young fellow.
Nevertheless, He Liangce took half a step back at once and thrust his folding fa
n without any hesitation.
Almost at the same time, Ou Yangming turned his wrist, causing sparks to be seen around his spear as he stabbed it out from the side of He Liangce’s body.
Zhang Tianshi sneered and was about to seize hold of the spear tip, but he somehow became afraid of it. As such, he evaded the spear but was faced with He Liangce’s folding fan.
The elder growled and flicked his finger.
“Pow!”
He Liangce took a step back but managed to gain a firm foothold right away while Ou Yangming took half a step sideways and stood diagonally away from him. The two of them had not cooperated many times, but they were both martial artists who had apprehended the integration of Heaven and man. With that, they were so deeply connected that they seemed to be the same person.
Zhang Tianshi flew far away with a grim look on his face. “He Liangce, I don’t want to incur hatred between our clans, so please back away!”
“Senior, please forgive me. I clicked well with Brother Ou during our first meeting, and I’ve since become close friends with him. We made narrow escapes together throughout our journey in the dense forest, so I mustn’t abandon my close friend.” He Liangce sighed.
Ou Yangming’s face twitched, and he instantly had goosebumps. ‘What do you mean by we clicked well during our first meeting, and that you won’t abandon your close friend?
‘We’re rivals in love, okay…’
Despite cursing in his head, Ou Yangming kept a straight face.
He would not reject He Liangce’s help like a fool at this crucial moment.
Zhang Tianshi looked deeply at He Liangce and asked, “Will you not hesitate to become enemies with the Zhang family for this young family?”
He Liangce was undecided for some time before he finally explained, “Senior, Brother Ou is extremely precious, so he mustn’t die here. During our adventure in the dense forest, the three of us killed a great-ancestor-leveled half-spirit beast. If you’re willing to resolve the grievance between the two of you, we’re willing to offer you the beast’s carcass.”
Immortal Path to Heaven c1-725 Page 122
