Chapter 320

Chapter 320.

Not long after, Ye Shi caught up with Qu Kun.

Qu Kun glanced at the sword in Ye Shi’s hand, his eyelids twitching with irritation, “Why did you take his sword?”

“He offered it! Why refuse a free gift?” Ye Shi replied with a sheepish grin.

Qu Kun sighed internally, thinking, “One should not accept rewards without merit.”

“Though that's true, didn't you always want to strip that scoundrel bare? Now that he’s offering, isn’t it perfect?” Ye Shi reasoned.

Qu Kun: “...”

Bai Chenxing and Mu Chen quickly caught up.

“Father, Mu Chen, you both came out too!” Ye Shi greeted.

Bai Chenxing sighed upon seeing the sword in Ye Shi’s hand, “Let’s discuss this back home.”

Upon returning to the Bai residence, Qu Kun, in exasperation, retreated into Mu Chen's spiritual tower.

“Father, you called for me?” Ye Shi asked with anticipation.

Bai Chenxing nodded and asked seriously, “When that man handed you the sword today, what did you feel?”

“Excited, of course! It was a gift, and a high-level, grade-eight artifact at that. Haven’t met someone so generous in a long time,” Ye Shi bragged.

Bai Chenxing: “...”

Bai Chenxing adjusted his forehead with a hint of resignation, activating his bloodline perception. This made Ye Shi feel as if his blood was boiling.

"Do you feel that?" Bai Chenxing inquired.

Ye Shi blinked somewhat bewilderedly before nodding. "Yes, that's the feeling, although not as intense as this."

Bai Chenxing nodded, replying, "That's right. At that time, he activated the bloodline perception. Being your father, our bond is closer, so the sensation is stronger."

Ye Shi blinked, pondering, "So, the one who had suppressed my grandfather was that guy? Another grandfather, then?"

Bai Chenxing hesitated momentarily before responding, "It's possible. Of course, there's also a chance that he belongs to the Ling lineage." This was a matter of great importance and couldn't be approached rashly.

Ye Shi, rubbing his chin, questioned, "Dad, is this Ling Chuan really that formidable?"

Bai Chenxing nodded, "More than two decades ago, Ling Chuan began his secluded cultivation. There haven't been many rumors about him since. I always assumed he was at the Martial Lord level, but in reality, he's a Martial Saint." Only Martial Saints can sense each other, and without Bai Chenxing becoming a Martial Saint, he wouldn’t have detected Ling Chuan's true strength.

Ye Shi was taken aback, thinking: "When did Martial Saints become as common as cabbages? One after another appears, and I'm still just a Martial Master?"

"I thought there were very few Martial Saints in Zhongzhou." Mu Chen remarked with a frown.

Bai Chenxing, narrowing his eyes, said, "Not many, but not too few either. Once reaching the Martial Saint rank, there's less to strive for. Most choose to remain hidden."

Ye Shi contemplated aloud, "If that guy is a Martial Saint, avenging my grandfather seems out of reach now."

Mu Chen remained silent.

Bai Chenxing turned to Mu Chen, inquiring, "Where's my father-in-law?"

"He's inside my spirit tower. As soon as he entered, he fell asleep. He's probably just tired." Mu Chen explained.

Ye Shi blinked excitedly, "I want to go into the spirit tower too."

Mu Chen nodded, saying, "Alright." He then admitted Ye Shi into the spirit tower.

[Pause in the narrative]

Qu Kun lay within the spirit tower's resting chamber, meditating.

Qu Kun slowly closed his eyes, drifting into slumber.

Suddenly, a blood-soaked monster invaded Qu Kun's dream. As the monster's face morphed into Ling Chuan's, Qu Kun was jolted awake in terror.

Ye Shi was beside Qu Kun, his eyes wide open.

Seeing Ye Shi, Qu Kun startled, asking with a hint of annoyance, "Why are you here?"

"Grandpa, you were yelling in your sleep. It sounded concerning, so I came to check on you. Are you alright?" Ye Shi replied, looking at Qu Kun.

Qu Kun took a deep breath, "I'm fine, don't worry."

Ye Shi, puzzled, inquired, "Grandpa, what really happened all those years ago?"

Qu Kun rolled his eyes. Recollecting would mean revisiting traumatic memories.

Back then, he heard agonizing screams, much like those of a dying beast.

Overwhelmed by curiosity, he sneakily peered at the scene, only to catch the attention of a dirty, bloody-eyed man or perhaps a beast.

In fear, Qu Kun tried to escape, but the man swiftly blocked his path.

Desperate, Qu Kun attacked the man but was easily overpowered.

A single blow from the man felt as if it had displaced Qu Kun's internal organs, plunging him into darkness.

Yet, that was only the beginning of the nightmare.

The man pinned Qu Kun beneath him, relentlessly dominating him for three days. Throughout this ordeal, Qu Kun often feared dying under another man, with lasting regrets.

It was a past too harrowing to recall.

When he awoke, the man was sound asleep beside him.

Qu Kun's initial impulse was to slay the man in his sleep.

However, fear held him back. He just wanted to escape.

But leaving without taking something felt unjust. With great audacity, he swiped a ring from the man.

Qu Kun thought that would be the end of it. But to his shock, over a year later, he discovered he was pregnant. What cruel fate! "Grandpa, are you okay?" Ye Shi asked with concern.

Qu Kun shook his head, saying, "I'm fine."

Qu Kun looked up, eyes thoughtful as he spoke to Ye Shi, "What's that man's cultivation level? Can we defeat him together?"

Ye Shi shook his head, expressing regret, "We can't."

Qu Kun frowned, "Aren't you capable of defeating a Martial Venerable?"

"I can only defeat those just entering the Martial Venerable rank, the novices. I can't handle the advanced ones," Ye Shi explained innocently, "I might stand a chance against a Martial Venerable, but that guy isn't one!"

Qu Kun's brow furrowed, "What about with the addition of Mu Chen?"

Ye Shi shook his head, "Still no good."

"Mu Chen really is useless," Qu Kun said irritably.

Ye Shi was silent.

"Grandfather, are you sure the other grandfather is that guy?" Ye Shi inquired.

Qu Kun gritted his teeth, pausing before nodding, "It's likely."

Although he hadn't gotten a clear look at the man's face back then, his intuition told him it was the same person. The feeling Ling Chuan gave him was exactly the same.

The man was like a wild beast, wanting to tear him to shreds, a monstrous creature in human guise.

Qu Kun frowned, suggesting, "If all else fails, we can get your father to give him a beating."

Ye Shi blinked, uncertain, "Is that a good idea?" Considering the man was the father-in-law of Ye Shi's father, and both were Martial Saints, it was hard to predict the outcome of their duel.

...

"Little brother," Bai Cheng Feng eagerly approached Bai Chen Xing.

"What's up?" Bai Chen Xing inquired.

Bai Cheng Feng rubbed his hands together, "The start date for the Pill Hall secret realm has been set, it's in five days."

Bai Chen Xing nodded briefly, "Alright."

Bai Cheng Feng looked at Bai Chen Xing with a teasing smile, "I heard you have good luck. As soon as you go out, someone gives you an advanced eighth-level artifact crafted by the renowned Ling Chuan!"

Bai Chen Xing gave a wry smile, "It wasn't for me; it was for my father-in-law."

Bai Cheng Feng shrugged, dismissively, "What's given to your father-in-law is essentially for you. Without your influence, why would Ling Chuan casually offer such a generous gift?"

Bai Chen Xing narrowed his eyes, voice dark, "Don't spread rumors. I don't have that kind of influence."

He had just received news about the Heavenly Garden secret realm from fifty years ago.

Qu Kun said the man inside had been drugged and lost his senses. The news he got was that Ling Chuan was trapped and drugged in that very realm.

Back then, the toxin Ling Chuan was afflicted with was from the Dream Serpent. It was similar to the Illusionary Serpent's poison, incurable, yet Ling Chuan miraculously survived.

The spiritual clan has a unique bloodline, which probably neutralized the poison.

From Ling Chuan's reactions, giving away an advanced eighth-level artifact casually, it's likely he's related to his other grandfather-in-law.

Bai Chen Xing massaged his temple. Soon, he would have to deal with another significant figure. This Ling Chuan probably wasn't easy to handle. However, considering Mu Chen and Ye Shi's situation, if Ling Chuan could assist, things might get better.

Bai Cheng Feng studied Bai Chen Xing's expression, realizing he wasn't pretending.

"Ling Chuan isn't after you? Could he be after your father-in-law?" Bai Cheng Feng asked with doubt.

Bai Chen Xing replied coldly, "Mind your own business."

Bai Cheng Feng shrugged, "Alright, but know that Ling Chuan will also be going to the Pill Hall secret realm."

Bai Chen Xing looked up, "He's attending?"

Bai Cheng Feng nodded, "Yes, he requested an entry from Pill Valley."

Bai Chen Xing pursed his lips. He initially wanted to deal with Ling Chuan after the Pill Hall event, but now Ling Chuan was attending as well.

Bai Cheng Feng tilted his head, curiosity evident, "Little brother, is Ling Chuan interested in your father-in-law?"

Bai Chen Xing replied half-jokingly, "Maybe."

Bai Chen Xing said with a mix of awe and humor, "Your father-in-law really is something! There's a saying, 'A hardened steel can be as pliable as silk.' That's the situation now. I heard Ling Chuan practices Ling family's Body Refining Technique, ridding himself of all desires and emotions, becoming a literal Iron Man. Yet, after just meeting your father-in-law once, he presented such a generous gift."

Bai Chen Xing just smiled without commenting.

At the time, his exploration into the mysterious region of Qu Kun was not out of a desire to confront that person, for that man was another father to Xin Yang.

Little did he know that his investigation would lead him to Ling Chuan, which was truly unexpected.

According to his findings, Ling Chuan also looked into Qu Kun years ago. At that time, Ling Chuan was not as powerful as he is now, and since Qu Kun had been transported back to the outer realm, Ling Chuan ended up empty-handed.

"I've heard that your father-in-law doesn't think highly of Ling Chuan's art of forging?" Bai Chengfeng said with a smirk, "Ling Chuan probably never thought his techniques would be looked down upon by a martial master."

Bai Chenxing gave a resigned smile, recognizing that Qu Kun had indeed been influenced by Ling Chuan's pretentious modesty.

Recalling the expression on Ling Chuan's face then, Bai Chenxing couldn't help but feel a little smug.

...

Inside the Spirit Tower, Ye Shi nervously held out the sword, offering it to Qu Kun: "Grandfather, do you want this?"

"Give it here." Qu Kun said, snatching the sword somewhat impatiently from Ye Shi's grasp.

Ye Shi smiled and remarked, "Grandfather, this sword is pretty useful."

Qu Kun coldly responded, "Aim higher in life. Don't be so easily swayed by trivial acts of kindness."

Ye Shi nodded and murmured his acknowledgment.

Holding the sword, Qu Kun sculpted a large piece of jade into a statue resembling Ling Chuan, then stabbed it through the heart.

"Damn it." Qu Kun cursed through gritted teeth.

Ye Shi: "..."

Mu Chen entered the Spirit Tower, witnessing an enraged Qu Kun and the statue with a sword through its heart. He wondered, what on earth had that old man done to Qu Kun to earn such hatred?

Ye Shi innocently blinked, "Grandfather, try to calm down."

Qu Kun took the sword and shattered the statue into over a hundred pieces.

Looking at the broken pieces, Qu Kun smiled contentedly, "Seeing these fragments eases my anger."

Ye Shi: "..."

Mu Chen: "..."

Qu Kun narrowed his eyes, "The day I can split the real person into a hundred pieces, I'll feel even better."

Ye Shi hesitated, "Grandfather, after all, he's still your... grandfather!"

Sword in hand, Qu Kun retorted, "Then I'll split just his third leg into a hundred pieces."

Mu Chen: "..."

Ye Shi frowned, "But Grandfather, you can't defeat him in a simulated battle!"

Mu Chen: "... Exactly. That's why he was overpowered in the first place."

Qu Kun shot Ye Shi an annoyed look, "I'm aware I can't defeat him. No need to remind me."

"I'm just worried you'd act impulsively and end up at a disadvantage!" Ye Shi said innocently.

Qu Kun glared at Ye Shi, "Do I seem like someone who easily gets taken advantage of?"

Ye Shi quickly shook his head, "No, no. After all, you gained a sword without losing anything, Grandfather."

Qu Kun said menacingly, "I'll whittle him down to nothing."

Qu Kun once believed that after all these years, his resentment would have faded. However, upon seeing Ling Chuan, he realized he'd been too naive. The mere sight of the man reignited a fiery passion, an uncontrollable urge to confront him.

...

Bai Chenxing entered the Spirit Tower. Seeing him, Qu Kun immediately felt a surge of annoyance.

Qu Kun glanced at Bai Chenxing with a discerning eye and inquired, "What brings you here?"

Bai Chenxing replied awkwardly, "I came to inform you, grandfather, that Ling Chuan will also be entering the secret realm."

Qu Kun exclaimed in frustration, "He's doing this deliberately, trying to intimidate me."

Ye Shi blinked, "Grandfather, maybe he's just concerned about you?"

Qu Kun said to Bai Chenxing, "If you get the chance in the secret realm, give him a good beating for me. Just don't kill him."

Bai Chenxing chuckled awkwardly and said, "I'm not certain I can capture him..."

Qu Kun said with evident annoyance, "You're really useless."

Bai Chenxing lowered his head, thinking to himself: As the saying goes, couples quarrel at the head of the bed and reconcile at the foot. Whether it's Qu Kun or Ling Chuan, both are his fathers-in-law. If he sides with Qu Kun now against Ling Chuan, but later they reconcile, he would be in an untenable position.

"Grandfather, I heard that other grandfather is a Martial Saint," Ye Shi said.

Qu Kun said through gritted teeth, "A Martial Saint? How can trash become a Martial Saint? Are your Central Continent's Martial Saints so undervalued?"

Bai Chenxing gave a wry smile, saying, "Ling Chuan is the first genius in thousands of years. Back then, he astonished the entire Central Continent."

Qu Kun looked at him with evident disdain, "I heard you were also touted as the first genius of the Bai family in thousands of years? People from Central Continent sure like to exaggerate."

Bai Chenxing: "..."