Here, Yan Zhaoge smiled, “With how I have provoked quite a number of opponents, it would be even more dangerous for you, moving about alone outside.”
Feng Yunsheng smiled, “However dangerous it is, it would still not be more difficult than when I was fleeing alone from the Sacred Sun Clan that year.”
“Thinking back on it now, while those were the hardest days of my life, it was also a source of great wealth.”
Feng Yunsheng laughed in a self-deprecating manner, “I feel like I have actually continually been depleting the foundation that I got from those two years, and this will surely run out someday.”
Hearing her words, Yan Zhaoge fell into deep thought.
Feng Yunsheng sighed, “Cultivating safely and normally is not for me. Battles of life and death in which my limits are seen are the best whetstones for me to temper myself with.”
Yan Zhaoge reached out and lightly flicked her forehead, “Why do I feel that you are more suited to cultivating in devilish martial arts?”
“I will not harm innocent lives just for the sake of cultivating in martial arts,” Feng Yunsheng smiled.
Yan Zhaoge was silent for a time before he said, “I will not stop you if you wish to go.”
He too was a straightforward person in truth. Still, if Feng Yunsheng were really to leave, fortune or calamity would be hard to predict as it would be unknown when they might meet again.
This was even optimistic thinking already. If he were to think pessimistically…
“I was not so wishy-washy with junior apprentice-sister Sikong that year,” Yan Zhaoge too smiled rather self-derisively.
Then, he looked earnestly at Feng Yunsheng, “I can tell that you have given this a lot of thought. Since that is so, make all necessary preparations and keep the utmost caution.”
Yan Zhaoge raised his brows, smiling, “There is no need for us to be so overemotional. If you leave seclusion and I am still not back then, you don’t have to wait for me. Just set off at your own pace.”
“I look forward to seeing you return with your blade even sharper. Let me see what a good sabre you have tempered then.”
Despite being reluctant to part with Yan Zhaoge as well, on hearing his words, Feng Yunsheng laughed magnanimously, “Coming back to see you is one of my greatest sources of motivation.”
Yan Zhaoge’s smile suddenly became rather rascally, “When you’re back, it should be high time we got officially married? At that time, your bones should already have become rather more sturdy…”
Feng Yunsheng instantly knew not whether to laugh or to cry, “You’re going straight for the lower half? And I only just raised my spirits. Look, with that, you’ve gotten my motivation all low again.”
Yan Zhaoge said righteously, “I already had it all planned out in the first place. I was going to choose a date when you left seclusion this time!”
Her hands on her waist, Feng Yunsheng shot an exasperated glance at him and said hatefully, “Fine!”
She suddenly reached out and pressed down on Yan Zhaoge’s head from both sides, leaving him unable to evade as she directly came over and kissed him.
Yan Zhaoge opened his mouth, but could not say anything.
Feng Yunsheng stepped back, biting her lips as she smiled, “When I’m back, we’ll do as you say!”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 895: Enforcing the agreement
HSSB895: Enforcing the agreement
After bidding Yan Zhaoge farewell, Feng Yunsheng entered secluded cultivation.
Meanwhile, Yan Zhaoge’s Northern Ocean Clone too would not be moving alongside his real body as he would be remaining in the Mountain to cultivate.
Bar any unexpected circumstances, the Northern Ocean Clone would probably be making use of this chance to break through into the sixth level of the Martial Saint realm, the late Seeing Divinity stage.
Aside from the flesh and blood of the Cyclone Turtle, Yan Zhaoge had also discovered some blood of a Bifang Bird amongst Daoist Shi’s belongings.
Bifangs resembled pills and had long white beaks.
The crystallisation of flames, it was an inauspicious omen as it foretold the coming of a fiery disaster.
The bloodline of this devilish race had been collected by Daoist Shi for the setting up of formations.
However, having been obtained by Yan Zhaoge, it would now be refined into the Northern Ocean Clone’s body.
The Northern Ocean Clone was progressing stably along the path that Yan Zhaoge had planned for him.
Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di who was finished with the arrangements for the sect met up with Fu Ting and left Broad Creed Mountain.
As they journeyed, seeing that his son seemed rather out of sorts, Yan Di could not help but smile, “I have already learnt about junior apprentice-niece Feng’s matter. While it will be dangerous, this is precisely the will and spirit that a martial practitioner should have.”
Yan Zhaoge curled his lips. He naturally understood this principle. Otherwise, he would not have agreed with Feng Yunsheng’s intentions.
What he was feeling pained about was the fact that he seemed to have been assaulted by Feng Yunsheng earlier…
“Outrageous! Huh, you ran off fast!” Yan Zhaoge thought viciously, “The next time we meet, I definitely will get you back!”
Just as Yan Zhaoge was thinking about such things, the group arrived at their first stop, Golden Court Mountain.
The Brocade Emperor and the Southeastern Exalt were on rather good terms. Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain were similarly on friendly relations with the Southeastern Exalt.
With Fu Ting having arrived in the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory, it was necessary for her to go to Golden Court Mountain and meet the Southeastern Exalt.
Moreover, Yan Zhaoge and Fu Ting were both on good terms with the Shadow Mountain Sword King Lin Hanhua. Now that something had happened to him, they should pay him a visit.
Having sensed that this would happen some time back, Yan Zhaoge was feeling a bit emotional now.
Fu Ting’s mood was comparatively more complex.
Her relationship with Lin Hanhua was pretty good. Lin Hanhua whose cultivation base and age both exceeded hers by quite a bit had even given her guidance in the martial arts before.
It was that she had been unaware back then that Lin Hanhua was actually connected to the Prime Clear lineage.
When the news had just come, Fu Ting had not believed it. Only from the words of her father, the Brocade Emperor, had she learnt the truth.
Travelling in the lands of the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory, they could feel the atmosphere gradually becoming rather restless.
As time passed, more and more people in the southeast heard of this news as it gradually spread.
Most people held a doubtful attitude. Still, various iffy things were said, such as…
“If the Shadow Mountain Sword King is really a descendant of the Prime Clear lineage, might the Southeastern Exalt also be…”
“Was it that the Shadow Mountain Sword King deceived the Southeastern Exalt in concealing his identity within the World beyond Worlds or is it that Golden Court Mountain’s entire lineage is…”
“Even if there is nothing problematic about the Southeastern Exalt, the Shadow Mountain Sword King has been in the World beyond Worlds for so many years. Who knows what things he might have done?”
“I wonder if there are any other Prime Clear lineage descendants besides the Shadow Mountain Sword King…”
Various rumours spread. Some were obviously fabricated while others seemed a little believable.
To those who knew the truth of the situation, most of the fake news sounded totally like a joke.
However, for those who did not know the truth, there was quite a market for some fake news.
Still, on the whole, the authority and image of the Southeastern Exalt Cao Jie and Lin Hanhua in the lands of the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory was still very great. Most people expressed doubt
and disbelief at this.
However, Yan Zhaoge could not really feel optimistic for Lin Hanhua.
According to Fu Ting, public opinion was very much against Lin Hanhua in places outside of the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory.
When they did arrive at Golden Court Mountain and saw Lin Hanhua, he seemed extremely calm.
He was still that domineering sword cultivator whose existence resembled a sword in its sharpness.
His back was ramrod straight, eternally steadfast.
“When Master fell out with the Heaven Emperor then, we already knew that such a day would come,” Lin Hanhua said calmly, “Shen Lingzi’s strength and discernment were both not weak. I inadvertently revealed some things when saving Gu Hong and Zhou Haosheng from his hands.”
“Even if Shen Lingzi had dared not be certain of my identity and reported it back, that Emperor would still have been able to tell.”
Lin Hanhua said, “It would be impossible for him to try to grasp a weakness of my Golden Court Mountain with this.”
“Just as things started with me, they will also end with me.”
Lin Hanhua smiled, his sharpness turning much more moderate, “It is just that I will not be able to continue staying in the World beyond Worlds. It will be harder for us to meet again in the future.”
“I am intending to leave soon. In having come to visit today, Junior Sister Fu, you lot are just in time for farewells.”
Yan Zhaoge did not find this any unexpected.
With the Earthly Sovereign’s decree in existence, as soon as Lin Hanhua’s identity was exposed, his only path out would be leaving the World beyond Worlds on his own.
If he did not leave, the Heaven Emperor and the Southern Exalt Zhuang Shen would be able to stir things up. They would be happy to see the Southeastern Exalt Cao Jie trying to protect Lin Hanhua.
At that time, even the Southeastern Exalt would be in a precarious position.
The Brocade Emperor would be hard pressed to assist too.
With Lin Hanhua ‘fleeing in guilt’ of his own accord, while Cao Jie would have to suffer the blame of having been deceived by him, failing in his duties, the pressure on him would be much lower then.
While the Earthly Sovereign was pretending not to know this, allowing Cao Jie and Lin Hanhua to circumvent it, it was only because of Lin Hanhua’s unique identity that he had made an exception.
In truth, the Earthly Sovereign truly forbade descendants of the Prime Clear lineage from entering the World beyond Worlds.
Therefore, this was actually like an agreement.
Lin Hanhua’s identity could not be leaked. Once it was, he had to leave, or there would be no mercy.
Now that it had been leaked, Lin Hanhua had to enforce the agreement.
He himself took it very well, just that he felt somewhat apologetic towards Fu Ting, “I have kept this from Junior Sister Fu all these years. I am really sorry for that.”
Fu Ting shook her head, “Do not say this, Senior Brother Lin. I too have been taken care of by you all these years…”
Lin Hanhua sighed, “There are two things that I feel worst about.”
“Having spent much time together with my fellow disciples all these years, I have continually been keeping this from them. Now that we are going to be separated just like this, I feel like I have done them wrong.”
“Having been taken care of by Master for so many years, I still caused trouble for him at the end. I am unable to rest easy with this.”
Yan Zhaoge, Yan Di and Fu Ting did not speak as they could all empathise with Lin Hanhua’s feelings.
Lin Hanhua’s sorrow only lasted for an instant as he quickly smiled, “Still, having been able to study martial arts under Master’s tutelage and get to know these fellow disciples as well as all of you, the years that I have spent in the World beyond Worlds have not been wasted.”
“While we will have to separate now, I still look forward to meeting all of you again.”
Yan Zhaoge and the others all cupped their hands towards him, “The Shadow Mountain Sword King is magnanimous. We all feel admiration.”
Looking at Yan Zhaoge, Lin Hanhua laughed, “Truly a youth hero! You having slain Shen Lingzi, it is with much fewer things on my mind that I will be leaving now.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 896: The guest comes but the host is missing
HSSB896: The guest comes but the host is missing
Lin Hanhua had been rather encouraging towards Yan Zhaoge.
In terms of attitude, he treated Yan Zhaoge no differently from Yan Di and Fu Ting.
Still, as Yan Zhaoge and Lin Hanhua exchanged looks, it was like a tacit understanding existed between them which did not have to be voiced out loud.
Lin Hanhua had come to stay in the World beyond Worlds more because of the wish of the Dragon Spring Emperor to return to his hometown than to be a spy for the Roving Jade Heavens.
Therefore, Yan Zhaoge guessed that due to considerations of safety, because there was no need to, Lin Hanhua might not have had much contact with the Roving Jade Heavens.
He had lived here generally as a disciple of the Southeastern Exalt.
It was only with the major matter of him having been forced to leave the World beyond Worlds now that he had tried to get into contact with the Roving Jade Heavens.
While he and Yan Zhaoge were totally unrelated, Lin Hanhua had continually taken rather good care of him partially because he had once discovered that Yan Zhaoge was versed in the Immortal Ending Sword Manual.
It was just that Lin Hanhua had been unable to confirm Yan Zhaoge’s background all along.
Still, this time, Yan Zhaoge could see an additional look of surety within Lin Hanhua’s gaze.
This caused Yan Zhaoge to wonder, “When he contacted the Roving Jade Heavens, did they tell him something?”
Here, that initial doubt arose within his mind.
Why had the Roving Jade Heavens given him the Immortal Trapping Sword Manual?
It was still a secret to most that he simultaneously cultivated in the Three Purities. With him having not clashed much with descendants of the Prime Clear lineage, it should not have been possible for them to notice this.
First not speaking of how he had precisely been in need of a supreme martial art of the Prime Clear lineage for a breakthrough into the Seeing Divinity stage, with the Immortal Trapping Sword Manual being exactly what he had needed, if Yan Zhaoge did not cultivate in the Immortal Trapping Sword, it would unquestionably have been much more difficult for his side to obtain victory in the previous battle of the Royal Reed Sea.
Victory and defeat might even have been uncertain.
After all, clashes at a high level were often decided by the narrowest of margins.
Shen Lingzi and Kang Ping were two major sword cultivators, yet had seen their Time Flowing Sword perfectly countered and restricted. They would surely have felt unresigned to their fates.
After all, these two people were both heaven-defying geniuses as martial practitioners who could still challenge experts of a higher cultivation level even amongst Immortal Bridge Martial Saints.
They had generally been able to beat experts with higher cultivation bases than them. Yet, before the Immortal Trapping Sword, they had been the ones who were beaten back.
The discrepancy between peak and trough was great indeed.
Yan Zhaoge could not help but ponder, “While the Roving Jade Heavens might not have known about the return of Shen Lingzi and Daoist Shi, having gathered information on me and the Royal Reed Sea, it would not have been difficult for them to know that those who posed a greater threat to me over the past few years were the three Immortal Bridge Martial Saints Kang Ping, Gu Zhang and He Dongcheng who cultivated in the Time Flowing Sword.”
Of course, those of the Roving Jade Heavens would surely also have underestimated Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain to some extent.
Whatever the case, though, the other party had aided Yan Zha
oge in having gifted him the Immortal Trapping Sword.
If it were said that they had done so to redeem Sun Zhongda, even Sun Zhongda himself would not believe it.
Yan Zhaoge had already profited off this.
Whether there were any detriments here still remained to be seen.
Still, whether it was the Roving Jade Heavens or Lin Hanhua before him, it was vaguely more of goodwill that Yan Zhaoge was able to sense.
This instead caused him to feel puzzled.
“Strange…” Yan Zhaoge shook his head, doubts arising within his heart.
Lin Hanhua seemed to have sensed Yan Zhaoge’s puzzlement.
Still, looking at Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di, he just smiled, saying nothing.
Perhaps he had already long since been mentally prepared for this day as even though he was being forced to leave the World beyond Worlds, Lin Hanhua’s mentality was calm indeed.
The invasion by the southern Blazing Heaven Territory had been repelled while Shen Lingzi who had led to his identity being divulged was dead too.
While he could not really bear to leave, he had no regrets.
Two days later, Lin Hanhua left Golden Court Mountain, leaving the World beyond Worlds and fleeing into extradimensional space, his whereabouts hence unknown.
On the mountain peak of Lin Hanhua’s cave manor, Yan Zhaoge’s group along with Mu Jun and the others of Golden Court Mountain watched the former head disciple of the Southeast as he departed.
While their emotions were complex, and a few of them even felt resentment and hatred at having been deceived, most of the Golden Court Mountain disciples were still rather unwilling to part with Lin Hanhua.
My Jun forcibly left Lin Hanhua’s dwelling on the shadow mountain intact, also dispatching people to maintain and upkeep its condition at regular, fixed timings.
As for the Southeastern Exalt Cao Jie who had not appeared throughout, he said nothing about this, tacitly allowing this action.
The Southeastern Swordmistress and the other longtime residents of Golden Court Mountain all maintained their silence as well.
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