Chapter 471: Chapter 93: Incredible Divine Techniques, Senior Brother Zhang’s Love
Taishan Town.
This was a small town that had gradually been built up in the ten thousand years since the First Emperor performed the sacred rites on Taishan.
"Ah Shui, you’re here?"
The young man toiling in the fields had worked up a sweat on his brow. He wiped it away and spoke with a simple, honest smile.
"Mhm!" Ao Xianzhi, dressed as a village girl, lowered her head shyly. "Ah Liang, you’re amazing. You’ve already tilled all three acres..."
"It’s nothing, it’s nothing." Zhang Liang chuckled happily, setting down his hoe and saying with straightforward honesty:
"I was born strong, you know that. This is nothing for me..."
As he spoke, he suddenly became a little flustered. He had lived three lifetimes, with memories spanning more than a hundred thousand years,
but when it came to matters of the heart, Zhang Liang was still a blank slate...
After a moment’s hesitation, he said:
"How about I buy you a couple of candied fruit skewers, and then we can go to the top of Taishan to watch the sunset? We could also stop by the old man’s place for a couple bowls of herbal tea!"
"Okay!"
Ao Xianzhi’s eyes shone, and her smile made them curve into crescents. But hidden in their depths was a faint, almost imperceptible trace of sorrow.
’Father doesn’t approve of this marriage.’
’And I don’t dare tell Ah Liang my true identity. It would definitely scare him.’
’I am a dragon.’
Zhang Liang had no idea what was on the pretty girl’s mind. He was simply overjoyed, putting away his hoe, wiping the dirt from his hands on his coarse linen clothes, and then saying boldly:
"Let’s go! I’ll buy you some candied fruit skewers!"
A sigh surfaced in his eyes. ’The curtain is about to rise, and the world will descend into chaos. My peaceful days are coming to an end...’
’If all goes as expected, I’ll have to return to Xianyang soon... and I can’t take Ah Shui with me.’
’Once the curtain rises, it will be fraught with danger. Ah Shui is just an ordinary person. Keeping her by my side... it’s too dangerous.’
At that thought, the look of loss in Zhang Liang’s eyes deepened. In the life before last, back when he was Zhang Ling of the Guardian Storage Room,
his greatest dream had been to assist a wise ruler in pacifying the chaotic world, then find a home in the countryside with the girl he loved to go fishing and tend a farm.
In the life before last, he met no wise ruler and no such girl.
In this life, he had met the girl he loved, but a chaotic age was imminent.
Lowering his gaze slightly, Zhang Liang swept the disappointment from his eyes and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Ao Xianzhi—using the alias Shui Ning—into Taishan Town.
After buying the two biggest and best candied fruit skewers, Ao Xianzhi picked out some good-quality tea leaves at the market, had them wrapped up, and said with a smile:
"We can’t just keep drinking the old man’s herbal tea for free. I’ve noticed he really likes tea, so let’s bring him some."
"Deal." Zhang Liang nodded with a smile. The two walked shoulder-to-shoulder up Taishan under the scorching sun.
Both intentionally forced themselves to sweat, and both wore brilliant smiles, as if bathed in a spring breeze.
...
「North Sea Dragon Palace.」
The North Sea Dragon King, Ao Shun, slammed his hand on the jade table with a loud CRACK. The entire precious table, crafted from Profound Jade, let out a groan as if unable to bear the weight, and then collapsed with a deafening crash.
He roared in fury:
"That damned girl, she snuck out again?"
The Dragon Crown Prince gave a bitter smile.
"Father, why don’t you just let Xianzhi be? It’s clear she genuinely likes that mortal..."
"Impossible!" Ao Shun thundered. "If she’d found a prince or a general from the Human World, that would be one thing, but what is this about finding a Farmer’s Son? She is my daughter, Ao Shun’s daughter!"
As he spoke, Ao Shun was so enraged he shot to his feet and began pacing back and forth.
"That girl’s wings have hardened... Issue my decree! Order the Ten Dragon Generals to capture Ao Xianzhi and bring her back to me!"
"No, no, I’ll go myself!"
With that, Ao Shun revealed his true form, transforming into a ten-thousand-meter-long True Dragon that burst from the sea and rode away on the wind.
The North Sea Dragon Prince sighed and put a hand to his forehead. His father was explosive, but wasn’t his little sister just as stubborn?
Besides, he had met that Farmer’s Son named Zhang Liang before. Though unremarkable, he was truly sincere toward his little sister...
Thinking this, the Dragon Crown Prince stamped his foot and also transformed into a dragon, flying off in pursuit.
「Meanwhile, in Xiaopei.」
Liu Bang, holding the Chixiao Dragon-Slaying Sword, sat in the most honored seat of the City God Temple. Below him, the City God, Mountain God, Earth God, and other Earth Deities of Xiaopei all stood with their heads bowed respectfully.
Liu Bang stroked the Chixiao Sword, his gaze cool and detached as he seemed to mutter to himself:
"The grand tide of history cannot be easily altered. Xiao He is in place, Fan Kuai has arrived... Who else is missing?"
"Could it be Zhang Liang?"
"That’s right. It’s Zhang Liang."
At this thought, a profound and mysterious light glimmered in Liu Bang’s eyes as he analyzed Cause and Effect and perceived the grand tide of events.
"He’s in... Taishan?"
The moment he spoke, he sensed the suppressed soul within his Heart Realm tremble slightly. A look of great interest appeared on Liu Bang’s face.
"Well now, little one. Have you been to Taishan?"
Within the Heart Realm, the True Spirit, flickering like a candle in the wind about to be extinguished, gave a slight huff but did not reply.
Liu Bang smiled, and with a stir of his thoughts, he spoke within the Heart Realm:
"Still resentful? I’m only borrowing your body to clear the path for you and grant you a forty-thousand-year Dynasty. Isn’t that a good thing? Once Qin is overthrown, I will naturally return your body to you."
Seeing the True Spirit still hadn’t replied, Liu Bang didn’t give it much thought. He withdrew his Divine Thought and rose unhurriedly.
"Relay my orders."
All the Earth Deities bowed their heads respectfully.
"Profound Yellow has returned. You all are to act cautiously for the time being. Don’t stir up too much trouble, lest you draw his attention prematurely."
The Earth Deities responded in deference.
With that said, Liu Bang, holding the Chixiao Sword, took one step out of the City God Temple and with the next, ascended into the clouds, striding toward Taishan.
"Once I gather Zhang Liang, the momentum will be set. It will be time for Chen Sheng and Wu Guang to make their move."
"Ah, Qin..."
"It’s time for the heavens to change."
...
「Within a certain Celestial Palace.」
"Profound Yellow has now reached the Upper Grade and moves unhindered at the Immortal level. I suspect he can even contend with ordinary beings from the Celestial Realms."
