Chapter 954: Old-Timers, Each With Different Goals
They didn’t have to wait long before a crisp, clear voice rang out. “What? Someone’s here again?”
‘Again’? Su Yi and Wang Chonglu instantly realized that someone had already come to see the Timekeeper.
The tightly shut door opened with a creak.
Immediately afterward, that crisp voice said, “Dear guests, please wait in the courtyard.”
They heard the voice, but they couldn’t see the speaker.
Wang Chonglu said in a voice rife with meaning, “Little fellow, do you know which person we just spoke to?”
Su Yi looked at him as if he were an idiot. “That was a bird.”
He then walked right into the courtyard.
Wang Chonglu, meanwhile, felt a bit awkward and embarrassed.
This was the residence of the Timekeeper. Even in the City of Eternal Night, few knew of this place.
He’d hoped to show off his superior knowledge. Who’d have thought Su Yi would already know all that? Now it was awkward!
Don’t tell me this kid’s been here before?Wang Chonglu entered the courtyard still confused.
Four orange-red lamps hung from the courtyard’s four corners, and there was a line of three houses built of black stone.
A massive, ancient tree grew at the center of the courtyard. Its bark curled like a dragon's scales and coiled whiskers, and the dense branches formed an umbrella seemingly capable of lifting the heavens.
A large, fat, orange cat sprawled out on its back atop one of the branches. Its eyes were shut, and it snored contentedly.
A table and two chairs were placed beneath the tree.
When Wang Chonglu entered, he saw that there were already people inside waiting for an audience.
Three of them!
One was a dignified middle-aged man in ink-black robes. He wore a purple-gold crown, and he had the imposing bearing of a monarch. He sat upright outside the door to the courtyard’s main hall, facing away from the group in complete silence.
One was a thin-faced elder. His hair and beard were scraggly and unkempt, and he carried a sword case on his back. He stood in one of the corners, hands behind his back, staring intently at a lamp as if transfixed.
One was an astonishingly beautiful woman. She wore a black dress without the slightest embellishment. Her snowy skin and unmatched figure were enough to bewitch the masses.
She seemed the most relaxed and content of the three. She sat in a chair beneath the ancient tree, her straight, slender legs crossed as she leaned against the table. Her jade-like ankles were visible beneath the hem of her dress, and glowed beneath the lamplight.
One hand supported her jaw, while the other twirled the blue hair at her temple. Her entire body emanated a relaxed, indolent charm.
When the moment Wang Chonglu laid eyes on her, an inexplicable chill coursed through his heart, and he felt an indescribable, invisible pressure.
Practically on instinct, he averted his gaze. He dared not look at her even further.
She might look like an unmatched, ravishing beauty, but her presence was as cold and cruel as a deity, and she had the imposing majesty of a sovereign!
But before long, Wang Chonglu lost his cool once more, and his entire body tensed.
He recognized the other two guests.
The dark-robed man in the purple-gold crown, the one facing away from the others, was another of the Seven Devils of the Sea of Bitterness: the Divine Saber Demon Emperor Zhan Beiqi!
Of the Seven Devils of the Sea of Bitterness, he was the most mysterious!
He was so terrifying that throughout the Netherworld, cultivators trembled at the mention of his name!
Wang Chonglu was also one of the Seven Devils of the Netherworld, but he was keenly aware that even in peak condition, he’d be no match for Zhan Beiqi.
What he found truly unbelievable was that it had been a long time since Zhan Beiqi had been spotted in public. There were even rumors that he’d long since left the Sea of Bitterness, and that he’d proceeded to some unknown world to pursue his Dao. Yet now, this mysterious demon Emperor had appeared in the Timekeeper’s courtyard!
Zhan Beiqi’s presence stunned Wang Chonglu and caught him off guard, but the withered old man with the sword case made him visibly lose his composure.
The Bloody Desolation Netherworld Sovereign, Qu Boling!
He was one of the Six Sovereigns of the Netherworld, and he controlled the Laws of Hell’s Nightmares.
More importantly, not long ago, this old-timer had chased Wang Chonglu through the far reaches of the Sea of Bitterness with the intent to kill…
Seeing him here now, Wang Chonglu felt thoroughly uncomfortable.
Fortunately, they were in the Timekeeper’s territory, the City of Eternal Night. Even so, had he known Qu Boling would be here, he absolutely wouldn’t have come.
Although this took a long time to describe, Wang Chonglu’s thoughts took but a moment.
When he sensed that the situation in the courtyard was a bit strange, Wang Chonglu cast all other thoughts aside and immediately transmitted to Su Yi, “Kid, you have to be careful. Whatever you do, don’t speak impetuously. It wouldn’t do to provoke any of these three!”
Wang Chonglu had accompanied Su Yi here, and he was far too keenly aware of the blue-robed young man’s disposition. He feared neither laws nor the heavens, and he had no reservations at all!
And a personality like that could easily cause disasters!
Wang Chonglu couldn’t help but worry that Su Yi would cross the line and create a crisis. What would he do then?
“It ‘wouldn’t do’ to provoke them?” Su Yi laughed.
When Wang Chonglu saw this, he was instantly frantic. How could he fail to realize that Su Yi hadn’t taken his words to heart?
But just as he was about to say something, a hoarse voice rang out. “So, it’s you, you defeated general.”
Wang Chonglu’s heart shook as he sensed Qu Boling’s gaze locking onto him. He took a deep breath, then feigned calm. “It’s been years since we last saw each other, Fellow Daoist Qu. You’re as magnificent as ever.”
Qu Boling’s withered face didn’t so much as ripple with emotion. “Relax; I no longer have the slightest interest in bullying someone of your level.”
He then refocused his attention on the lamp and sank back into silence.
Wang Chonglu’s face stiffened, and his heart filled with indignation. Qu Boling’s words were full of utterly undisguised contempt.
But in the end, Wang Chonglu merely snorted coldly and said nothing.
As for the Divine Saber Demon Emperor Zhan Beiqi? It was as if he didn’t even notice them. His majestic figure didn’t so much as budge.
Meanwhile, Su Yi swept his gaze across the courtyard, walked right over to the ancient tree, and plopped down in the empty chair.
Wang Chonglu’s heart was instantly on tenterhooks, and he was more nervous than ever before.
Of those in the courtyard, who did he fear the most? It wasn’t Zhan Beiqi, nor was it Qu Boling. Rather, it was that languid, bewitching woman!
But it seemed Su Yi had no idea how powerful she was. He just had to go right up to her. Wang Chonglu couldn’t help but sweat on his behalf, and his heart filled with anger.What’s wrong with this kid’s eyes!?
But just as Wang Chonglu silently raged, Su Yi seemed to find his seat uncomfortable. He looked at the charming woman seated at the same table and said, “Move your legs a bit to the side.”
It was just one light, airy sentence, but the courtyard’s atmosphere silently grew heavier, as if the air had frozen. It was difficult to even breathe.
The Divine Saber Demon Emperor faced away from the others, but even his eyebrows rose imperceptibly.
Even Qu Boling, the Bloody Desolation Netherworld Sovereign, looked away from the lamp he was staring at intently. A strange light flashed through his eyes.
Where did Wang Chonglu pick up such a stupid, ignorant kid?
Wang Chonglu’s eyes bulged, and the corners of his lips twitched. He silently let out a mournful sigh.If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have let the kid come with me!
He’s obviously just a troublemaker!
But against all expectations, the bewitching beauty seemed to find this extremely amusing, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
When she smiled, her blossoming beauty made even the lamps seem dimmer by comparison.
Then, beneath Wang Chonglu’s disbelieving gaze, the woman really did shift her legs to the side. She laughed, “Fellow Daoist, I said we’d meet again in the City of Eternal Night, and indeed, the heavens have given me face.”
Her subtly magnetic voice resounded throughout the tense silence of the courtyard, while the implications of her words swept over the guests like an invisible wave!
Qu Boling’s pupils constricted.He’s that woman’s… Fellow Daoist!?
Zhan Beiqi was stunned, and his gaze was inscrutable.That boy isn’t simple!
Wang Chonglu, meanwhile, felt as if something were stuck in his throat, and he suddenly started coughing. Waves of astonishment swept through his heart.
Of everyone in the courtyard, it was the woman who seemed the most dangerous and threatening, yet now, she was calling Su Yi her fellow Daoist!
This practically left Wang Chonglu dumbstruck.
Although “fellow Daoist” was a common, ordinary title, it was typically reserved for use between cultivators of the same realm!
Yet now, this mysterious, terrifying woman called a Spiritual Revolution Realm young man like Su Yi her fellow Daoist. The implications of this were utterly astonishing!
This was what surprised Qu Boling and Zhan Beiqi, too.
When you called someone your fellow Daoist, either your strengths were comparable, or your backgrounds and positions were comparable.
The two of them most certainly didn’t believe that this mysterious woman would casually address a junior as her fellow Daoist. There had to be a reason behind this!
But Su Yi didn’t seem to notice any of this.
He simply rested his legs on the table and stretched. Then, he felt much better. “The heavens didn’t arrange for this. Our meeting here was all a part of your plot.”
This bewitching woman was, of course, the Netherworld King!
She chuckled, and her eyes shone. “I got here before you. If you want to talk about ‘plots’, well, you’re the one who came knocking.”
Su Yi smiled. “Never mind that. I actually do have something I wanted to ask you.”
The Netherworld King looked around, and her shiny red lips parted as she whispered, “This isn’t a convenient place for a discussion. How about we find a place for a private chat after we leave?”
Her every gesture, her every frown and every smile, were full of enough charm to bewitch the masses.
But Wang Chonglu, Qu Boling, and Zhan Beiqi dared not stare at her.
In their eyes, although she was beautiful to the extreme, she was so threatening that even they had to be on guard against her!
They stayed calm on the surface, but when they saw Su Yi drinking and conversing with her, waves of shock coursed through all three old monsters’ hearts.
Especially Wang Chonglu. And here he’d been worried Su Yi would cause a disaster. He suddenly felt bitter, like he’d been the real bungling clown this entire time…
“Alright, it’s settled,” said Su Yi. He then raised the jug of wine and drank with relish.
The Netherworld King seemed delighted. Beneath the dim lamplight, her beautiful silhouette and exquisite face radiated joy.
So, Su Xuanjun has questions and sought me out of his own accord? Interesting!
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