History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 16: Being made a scapegoat
After stepping outside of the central flow region and being stimulated by the dense streams of baleful qi outside, the unconscious Chao Yuanlong rapidly regained consciousness.
Having woken up, Chao Yuanlong’s consciousness instantly began to replay his battle with Yan Zhaoge.
Within his sea of consciousness, there were still a multitude of excuses, but the reality of the situation became enormous and crashed down into his mind.
Thinking back to the time when he was exchanging blows with Yan Zhaoge, Chao Yuanlong felt like there was a fire in the pit of his stomach.
Compared to his rage back then, the puzzlement he was feeling now was even more pronounced.
Since when had Yan Zhaoge become so formidable?
Was this still the same Yan Zhaoge that he had clashed with before?
At this meeting, Yan Zhaoge also had improvements in his cultivation, which was well within Chao Yuanlong’s expectations. However, the scope and breadth of this improvement had toppled over Chao Yuanlong’s worldview.
Having regained his consciousness, his cheeks still burned with a fiery pain. Thinking back on the events that had just transpired, an intense sense of anger and humiliation rose up within him.
After examining the condition of his body, Chao Yuanlong became further enraged. Even with his sect being present, he had been expelled from the central flow region by Yan Zhaoge.
He fixed his gaze on the present Sacred Sun Clan disciples, and opened his mouth wanting to speak. However, it was as if the words were stuck in his chest and he was unable to utter a single sound.
The crowd of Sacred Sun Clan disciples each lowered their heads, afraid the meet the gaze of Chao Yuanlong.
Even though he had been injured by Yan Zhaoge and his palm had been pierced through, Chao Yuanlong was not someone that regular disciples like them could provoke.
Chao Yuanlong was renowned for his harsh temperament, and it was apparent that he was presently in a wrathful mood. Anyone who set him off at this time would have to bear the consequences*.
*TL note: Lit. if you can’t eat everything, you’ll have to bring it home. Funny sounding Chinese idiom that basically means you’ll have to bear the consequences
It’s just that the fear and veneration the other disciples had for Chao Yuanlong had now transformed to just fear without the veneration.
There were several people who, though they didn’t dare to outwardly express it, actually scorned Chao Yuanlong in their hearts : “Even after being beat up by that Broad Creed Mountain’s Yan Zhaoge like a bastard grandson, he still dares to posture in front of us.”
“If you have skills, why don’t you try to show them off in front of Yan Zhaoge’s face? Truly a case of *the soft fearing the hard.”
TL note: Fairly self-explanatory idiom, meaning that fakes/noobs can’t match up to the real deal
“The current circumstances—aren’t they simply the consequence of you not being able to beat Yan Zhaoge? If it was the other way around, we’d be the ones kicking them out of the central flow region.”
Chao Yuanlong took a deep breath, willing himself to remain more level-headed.
For a split second, he really had wanted to head back and put his life on the line to fight Yan Zhaoge. After being so deeply humiliated, why didn’t he perish in battle for that one last fleeting moment of joy?
However, from the results of their recent conflict, Chao Yuanlong couldn’t help but become even more depressed.
That was precisely because he realized that even if he wanted to fight a life and death battle, he might not be able to fulfill that desire. Rather, it was more likely that he would face another humiliation.
The gap between them was unexpectedly so large—if his temperament was not so tough and unyielding, he would feel hopeless.
“The task entrusted by senior apprentice-brother Xiao; we’ve spent so much time and effort to finally get some positive results. Shouldn’t we try to get that task completed first?” a Sacred Sun Clan disciple gently suggested.
The latter half of that sentence wasn’t actually what he meant—in reality he wanted to say: “Senior apprentice-brother Xiao will be arriving at the Sealing Dragon Abyss soon; at that time, we’ll go looking for that Yan Zhaoge to get revenge.”
However, in order to refrain from provoking Chao Yuanlong, he refrained from saying this sentence.
Chao Yuanlong wasn’t stupid though—how could he not understand the hidden intent behind the other’s words?
He swept his gaze over the other disciples. Even though none of them betrayed their thoughts, he could guess as to what roughly they were thinking.
After all was said and done, he had really lost horribly to Yan Zhaoge, almost to the figurative extent of losing his underwear.
Giving a cold glance to the crowd of disciples, Chao Yuanlong refrained from saying any more than a simple agreement: “Yes. First accomplish the task.”
Having finished speaking, he departed. The other people all loosened their breath after being safely behind him.
Chao Yuanlong was expressionless, but his inner feelings were in turmoil: “Outer aura Martial Scholar! I must cultivate to the outer aura Martial Scholar realm quickly so I can begin to cultivate the special martial arts of our sect to specially suppress Yan Zhaoge’s Coiling Dragon Sleeve. At that time, even if he also breaks through the same bottleneck, it won’t matter!”
“Today’s enmity; this one will definitely repay it! If this one doesn’t make Yan Zhaoge writhe in the dirt, this one isn’t a human!”
……..
Within the central flow region, only Broad Creed Mountain disciples still remained. Some were resting while others were exploring or gathering materials from the Sealing Dragon Abyss. Some other disciples were also teasing the cute and delicate Light Spirit Cat.
The Internal Crystal Furnace rumbled as it ceaselessly continued absorbing the golden liquid and refined itself.
Yan Zhaoge was seated cross-legged next to the Internal Crystal Furnace, eyeing it like a protective mother.
Suddenly, Ah Hu appeared with a report: “Young Master, Chao Yuanlong and that bunch seem to have come to the Sealing Dragon Abyss to seek something. It is uncertain whether they are looking for somebody or some object.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded but refrained from speaking.
Ah Hu continued: “Reporting to young master, the monastery cast out its net. That old monk and Clan Chief caught some really big fish this time.”
“Afterwards, there’s another piece of information. The surviving dregs of the Crimson Spirit Flags have arrived at the edge of the Sealing Dragon Abyss and are planning to take action against Young Master.”
Yan Zhaoge asked: “The matter of the Internal Crystal Furnace, do the Crimson Spirit Flags know about it?”
Ah Hu responded: “According to the ones who were captured, they only know that the young master has come to the Sealing Dragon Abyss to look for the seed of Li Flame True Fire.”
Yan Zhaoge paused for a moment: “The Crimson Spirit Flags is still a fairly influential force. Man for man, it would be best to not meddle in this affair. Let us hand it over to Eastern Tang’s Principal Elder to handle.
Ah Hu gave a straightforward laugh: “The Eastern Tang’s Principal Elder has already made preparations. He has personally led a group of people into the Sealing Dragon Abyss. They are lying in wait for the Crimson Spirit Flags to show up and are excited for the prospect of helping you.”
Yan Zhaoge laughed: “That’s rubbish. Even though he’s second apprentice-uncle’s man, it isn’t because of me. Vanquishing the last remnants of the wicked Crimson Spirit Flags would be a great contribution to the clan which would greatly raise his personal prestige. How could he not be excited?”
“In fact, if one wanted to bury me, they could push the responsibility onto the Crimson Spirit Flags. However, things are unlikely to go that far. This is de
finitely a scheme of my second apprentice-uncle. If the Eastern Tang’s Principal Elder wants to protect me, he may not even be able to.”
Yan Zhaoge shot out a supercilious glance: “Just like me and that Ye Jing, the Elder is the same. If something bad happens, even if it isn’t his fault, he will end up being made into a scapegoat.”
“The Crimson Spirit Flags are here for me. If I withdraw, then they will definitely withdraw as well. Though this plan has some risks, I want to take this chance to bait the rat out of its hole.”
Ah Hu looked up with a gaze full of adoration: “Young Master, you truly are a young hero!”
“That’s enough, quit it with your fake expression.” Yan Zhaoge responded. Ah Hu laughed in a silly manner: “Young Master, if we succeed and get rid of the Crimson Spirit Flags, your contribution to the clan cannot be ignored.”
Yan Zhaoge waved his hands: “That is only secondary. When all is said and done, the Crimson Spirit Flags are like a hidden dagger that previously remained in hiding. Now that they’ve finally showed themselves, this is a good chance to resolve this matter entirely.”
“However, risking my personal safety is my own matter, and should not have anything to do with the other disciples. Lead them out of the Sealing Dragon Abyss.”
Notifying Ye Jing, Sikong Qing and others of equivalent status, it turned out that roughly half of the disciples were willing to stay through this danger.
Some of them hoped that by passing through this trial together with Yan Zhaoge, they would be able to develop stronger relations, while others felt that they would be able to broaden their horizons.
Ye Jing and Sikong Qing both chose to stay.
According to Yan Zhaoge’s understanding, Sikong Qing was probably wholeheartedly devoted to the martial dao, wanting to temper herself in actual combat. As for Ye Jing, he could not fully understand his motivations.
However, their decisions were their decisions. The disciples present each made their own choices, and Yan Zhaoge did not pressure any of them for either choice. Those who wished to remain would remain, while those who chose to leave would be accompanied out by Ah Hu.
After Ah Hu and those who had chosen to leave had left, Yan Zhaoge and the others continued to remain at their original location.
An unknown amount of time passed, after which Yan Zhaoge suddenly jolted. In the distance, within the black mists, there was a barely discernible glow.
“Li Flame True Fire fire seed?” Yan Zhaoge’s eyes suddenly brightened: “The trip this time truly has had a propitious wind throughout the journey!”
Huge apology for taking so long to translate this chapter! I was planning on getting it out much earlier, but after midterms and assignments I found that I did not have any time to finish up the chapter. Now that the bulk of my midterms have finished, you can expect a regular release schedule again! (At least until finals.)
Also, as is abundantly clear, I’ve joined the Volare Translations team!!! I’m super excited to work with an established group while I keep doing my own thing.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 17: Don’t look for treasure in front of Ye Jing
17: Don’t look for treasure in front of Ye Jing
Fire appeared in the distance, in an area away from the central flow region.
Yan Zhaoge hurriedly stabilized the Internal Crystal Furnace, after which, another Broad Creed Mountain disciple spoke out: “Brother Yan, is that the seed of Li Flame True Fire that you’re looking for?”
“While you are stabilizing the Internal Crystal Furnace, we’ll help you collect it.”
Yan Zhaoge shook his head: “For you, the surroundings can be considered to be pretty dangerous. Don’t act blindly without thinking, I’ll have other people go instead.”
The youth looked around curiously, wondering at the identities of the “other people” Yan Zhaoge spoke of.
In the next moment, an enormous wind sound erupted from behind the crowd of disciples. A silhouette appeared, which rapidly made its way across the crowd of disciples and through the chaotic streams of baleful qi towards the blue flame that had appeared earlier.
The group of disciples shivered in their hearts. Up to this point, none of them had been aware of the other people following them this whole time.
And from what they could make out of the others’ movements, these were not practitioners of an ordinary background. None of them seemed to be below the Martial Scholar realm.
Moreover, these experts of the Martial Scholar realm were willing to silently follow Yan Zhaoge this whole time without appearing a single time until now, just to carry out his orders.
Unlike the blatantly visible Ah Hu, these experts were hidden in the shadows acting as an escort for Yan Zhaoge, but would not appear easily. Only under explicit instructions from Yan Zhaoge would they reveal themselves.
This scene caused all of the young disciples present to feel shocked, and as if they were dreaming.
Only now did they understand that with the imminent threat of the Crimson Spirit Flags, in these circumstances, following Yan Zhaoge into the Sealing Dragon Abyss—rather than any other Martial Scholar, was assuring their safety.
Several black shadows simultaneously pounced towards the blue flame. Chaotic streams of baleful qi billowed in the surroundings, while a phosphorescent azure nucleus of lightning hung in midair, surrounded by a shell of blue flames.
This was just the seed of Li Flame True Fire that Yan Zhaoge had been looking for.
However, just at this moment, a torrent of crimson light emerged from the black mists. Resembling a river of blood flowing towards the sea, the red light floated in the direction of the azure fire seed.
Under the influence of the red light, the chaotic streams of baleful qi began to emit a tyrannical and brutal presence as they began to roil.
The black-clothed men who had been sent to collect the fire seed began to be forced towards the fire seed, brushing against the wall of fire.
Yan Zhaoge wrinkled his brows and slapped the Internal Crystal Furnace, temporarily halting the refinement. He flew out of the central flow region and shot towards the red glow around the blue fire.
With a flick of his sleeve, the flying Yan Zhaoge sent a green light flying out of his cuff and immediately cut off the source of the crimson light.
Flying directly towards the seed of Li Flame True Fire, Yan Zhaoge put a specially prepared glove onto his right hand and reached out to grab the fire seed.
However, the crimson glow which had been previously cut off suddenly sent out multiple sinister shadows. These shadows sped out into the black mist and congealed the mist into an enormous corporeal body that resembled a giant demon god. Its glowing eyes revealed sentience as it reached out to grab Yan Zhaoge.
Yan Zhaoge let out a chuckle, shook his right sleeve, and sent another green light towards the giant. The green light flew into the gigantic demon god formed from the black mist and directly cleaved it in two!
Following the extermination of the giant, the black mist in the surroundings began to undulate with even greater intensity than before, causing it to seem as if the very heavens were trembling. It momentarily gave the onlookers a sense of the earth shaking while the heavens spun and the earth rotated*.
*TL Note: Idiom literally meaning the sky spins, the earth goes round. However, it can also be taken to mean that you get dizzy, but I kept the idiom for flavor.
Once again, the initial phantoms rushed out of the crimson light, though this time they seemed to be fainter than before. They shot away from the area as they sought to escape.
The blue glow emitted from the fire fluctuated again, hanging in the air like before,
The chaotic streams of baleful qi in the Sealing Dragon Abyss seemed to become more disorderly, yet also more violent. The previously orderly central flow region seemed as if the safe region there would dissipate as well.
Yan Zhaoge wrinkled his brows and made a split decision: “Those monsters definitely are r
elated to the transformation of the Sealing Dragon Abyss. I’ll go deal with them. All of you here should watch the Internal Crystal Furnace and take the li true fire seed.”
“As for the other disciples, this place’s transformation is quite dangerous. Don’t wait within the periphery of the central flow region—retreat further inwards.”
Having spoken, Yan Zhaoge shot away in pursuit of the red phantoms.
Ye Jing, Sikong Qing, and the others complied with Yan Zhaoge’s instructions and retreated further back. The black-clothed men once again threw themselves at the seed of Li Flame True Fire.
The crimson glow that had previously been shattered by Yan Zhaoge was now scattered throughout the black mist. The black mist interspersed with red began to rotate around the azure fire seed.
Ye Jing was partly concentrating on retreating with the others, while also partly staring fixedly at the azure fire seed. “It truly is the Li Flame True Fire. Staying in the Dragon Sealing Abyss really was the right decision.”
“Li Flame True Fire, it contains fire elemental energy of the highest quality. What’s more, this fire seed can continuously produce True Fire—if I were to possess it, perhaps I would be able to open the ring’s next restriction even earlier.”
Though he had previously thought about obtaining the Li Flame True Fire, he had never thought that it would be so easy to come in contact with it.
“If it falls into the hands of Yan Zhaoge, and I demand it in the sect, then it will only invite suspicion onto me and might cause the secret of the ring to be revealed.”
“If I obtain it first, I can open the restriction on the ring, and then give the fire seed to Yan Zhaoge. At that time, it will be him who owes me a favor.”
“Or, I can directly hand to a higher-up in the sect, since it directly relates to the Internal Crystal Furnace. At this time, the Internal Crystal Furnace is already known throughout the sect, and anyone who can contribute the Li Flame True Fire will have earned a great merit within the sect.”
“Why should I consider this Li Flame True Fire to already belong to Yan Zhaoge?”
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