Chapter 672: Public Enemy

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Everyone’s eyes were on the group that showed up out of nowhere. The young man who seemed to be the leader glanced at Gu Dongliu and Zhuge Mingyue, smirking in his mind. He is doing this for a girl. Hardly surprising.

The impasse of love had always been the downfall of heroes. Gu Dongliu was one exceptional figure himself, who dared steal from that young man and had been on the run since. It was unfortunate that Gu Dongliu was caught eventually.

Girls, always the weakness.

“And you would be?” Zhuge Qingfeng looked at the group that just showed up. They gradually landed on the ground and the young man bowed and said, “I heard that the Zhuge family of Crouching Dragon Mountain was throwing a banquet and there were many senior figures of the Barren State here. I sincerely apologize for any disruption caused. My name is Zhan Xiao, from the Zhisheng Cliffs of Yu State.”

“Zhisheng Cliffs.” Many great figures at the scene felt rather surprised. Throughout every single one of the nine states, any place or force bearing a word implying ‘holiness’ or ‘divinity’ in its name was something to be reckoned with, as such naming conventions were never taken lightly. The Holy Zhi Palace and the Ice Temple had all once been sacred grounds. It was only due to the circumstances of the times that they gradually fell into decay, and hardly saints appeared in this generation. The Zhisheng Cliffs were one of such sacred grounds in Yu State, and it was a place enjoying prestige like none other in Yu State.

“You are all visitors from sacred grounds, I see. Please, take a seat,” Zhuge Qingfeng said.

“My pleasure.” Zhan Xiao cupped his hands and said, “But I only came for one person on this trip, and I will bother you all no longer after I’m done.” Zhan Xiao set eyes on Gu Dongliu. He then added, “This person has done something despicable in Yu State. He stole some treasure that belonged to me. I’m about to take him away and I assume you all will not mind that.”

I stole something? Gu Dongliu glared at Zhan Xiao with cold eyes. He knew well where that piece of treasure actually came from.

Many turned their eyes at Gu Dongliu. While there was no way they would have just believed Zhan Xiao’s words, they were curious as to what Gu Dongliu did to actually have mighty ones from Zhisheng Cliffs chasing him all the way to the Barren State.

What was the treasure that he stole?

Zhuge Qingfeng turned his eyes to Gu Dongliu, who stood up and glared at Zhan Xiao, saying, “I’ll hand you the piece that you seek. Would you settle the matter then?” If it had not been for the circumstances right there and then, there was no way he would have simply handed the piece over. He was only able to make compromises as he did not want to involve Mingyue and the rest in his mess. The score between them would be settled at a later date. Of course, Gu Dongliu also knew that the probability of Zhan Xiao agreeing was close to zero.

Zhan Xiao glanced at Gu Dongliu sarcastically and said, “I’m taking you away as well.”

Gu Dongliu continued glaring at him. Things turned out just the way he had predicted. Zhuge Mingyue stood beside him and glared at the visitor with cold eyes as well.

“I will need to know the situation better before I make any judgments,” Zhuge Qingfeng said.

Zhan Xiao and the rest of his party turned their attention to Zhuge Qingfeng and he added, “Sir, this person stole something of mine and ran away with it. There is nothing to explain about the situation, as I can’t be accusing him without solid reasons. I hope you understand, sir.”

“You expect to take someone away from the Zhuge family just because you say so? I’m afraid that is not appropriate,” Huang Xi said. He was not saying what he said because he was friends with Zhuge Qingfeng. It was on the contrary instead, as he and Zhuge Qingfeng had been rivals for a very long time. However, it was still inappropriate for someone of the younger generation from Zhisheng Cliffs, Yu State to simply intrude into the Zhuge family and ask to take someone away in front of mighty ones ranked on the Barren Sky Ranking. Furthermore, the visitor’s attitude was a rather harsh one, and it was deemed to be a rude thing to do in front of one’s seniors. Zhuge Qingfeng did not say anything further, as if he was acknowledging Huang Xi’s stance.

“Does this person have some kind of relationship with all of you seniors?” Zhan Xiao looked at everyone present and asked. He then continued after hearing no response, “In that case, pardon my intrusion then. That person behaved in a vile manner and stole something from me. I will be taking him away. Farewell.” The group turned around and left as soon as Zhan Xiao finished without any hesitation. Coldness was seen in Zhan Xiao’s eyes as he turned around.

They went investigating the happenings around the area after tracking Gu Dongliu to the Zhuge family estate. Many top-notch individuals were found there, and the clan leader, Zhuge Qingfeng, was a figure ranked sixth on the Barren Sky Ranking himself, which spoke of his capabilities. While the group hailed from Zhisheng Cliffs, they seemed rather shorthanded, given the situation they found themselves in. Since the opposing party insisted on keeping Gu Dongliu around, it was apparent that they were not allowed to simply just take who they came for.

Quite a surprise that you got someone so powerful to back you in the Barren State.

“Head back to Zhisheng Cliffs and tell my junior that I will be looking into that sacred item with him,” Zhan Xiao transmitted his voice to the one beside him, causing the mighty ones at his side to react abruptly. The person knew well who junior Zhan Xiao meant. There was no one else but him who would be able to move someone whom the top-notch figures in the Barren State insisted on keeping with them.

When the group of visitors left, the air on Crouching Dragon Mountain changed. While the visitors from the Zhisheng Cliffs were dismissed, their words meant that the matter was far from over. Gu Dongliu was probably made a target by the Zhisheng Cliffs.

Ye Futian stood there and he was at his wit’s end. He knew Third Brother was in trouble when he read that letter, and that was why he went to reveal his secret to Zhuge Qingfeng when he went to see the clan leader. He knew that if Third Brother indeed showed up, the one who would be able to break the deadlock was none other than Zhuge Qingfeng.

“How much of what he said was true?” Zhuge Qingfeng asked Gu Dongliu.

Gu Dongliu turned around and looked at Zhuge Qingfeng. He had come all the way to Crouching Dragon Mountain preparing to give his life up. He deemed himself lucky that he was still alive. Mingyue’s father had been good to him so far.

“Zhan Xiao is indeed someone from Zhisheng Cliffs. His plane is close to mine but he has sages serving him. As such, one could say that his status in Zhisheng Cliffs is a high one. It is said that he was one of the Nine Warriors of Zhisheng Cliffs. As for the treasure, I did take one, but it wasn’t exactly how way he put it. For now, I’m afraid it’s inconvenient for me to reveal the details,” Gu Dongliu explained. He did not want to lay out what Zhan Xiao did in front of everyone. If the details went back to Zhan Xiao’s ears, his vicious personality would make sure that many died for it. While everyone present was a renowned figure in the Barren State, Gu Dongliu would have rather not get anyone entangled in his mess.

Zhuge Qingfeng nodded. “In that case, stay and recuperate to your heart’s content. While Zhan Xiao may be someone from Zhisheng Cliffs, he won’t be able to do anything against the Zhuge family for now.”

While Zhisheng Cliffs was sacred ground, what the younger generations did outside would not reach the ears of the saints in Zhisheng Cliffs. There were many lineages to Zhisheng Cliffs, and that was one similarity shared with the Thousand Holy Islands in the Holy Zhi Palace. Even their most powerful individuals would only be on par with the mighty ones on the Barren Sky Ranking. Even if they were somewhat stronger, they would not be stronger by much. There was an old saying, “The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.” It would not have been easy for the visitors to do anything against the Zhuge family.

Be it Zhuge Qingfeng or any of the top-notch figures in Barren State, many of them were mighty ones ranked on the Barren Sky Ranking who had been through a lot. If they were intimidated enough by the words of someone of the younger generation to do as they pleased, it would be an insult to their current status.

“Thank you, sir,” Gu Dongliu gave his thanks.

“Father, let the banquet continue,” Zhuge Mingyue said as she looked at her father. Many looked at Zhuge Mingyue with startled eyes. No one had expected Zhuge Mingyue, a girl, to ask to be married to Gu Dongliu. Her personality was indeed something else altogether.

“Mingyue.” Gu Dongliu looked at her. Zhuge Mingyue returned the gaze, staring straight at his eyes, smiling. She said firmly, “If you are unwilling, I’ll just go find someone else.”

“…” Ye Futian was baffled, thinking that his Second Sister was definitely someone that no one would be able to keep in check. Third Brother simply had no way out of this.

Gu Dongliu sighed in his mind as he looked at Zhuge Mingyue’s eyes. He knew that Zhuge Mingyue’s mind was all made up.

“I’ll never forgive you if you don’t show up today. But since you’re here, I’ll be wherever you go from here on out. Be it living free and unfettered or on the run for the rest of my life, it will be my choice.” Zhuge Mingyue looked at him, then turned around to say to her father, “I won’t regret this.”

Gu Dongliu held her hand and felt warmth in his heart. “Alright.”

Both of them smiled at each other. Putting all worries aside, their hearts were connected as one at the moment. They gazed at each other warmly and sought comfort within each other.

Ye Futian beamed with a bright smile. He felt warm deep down as well. While he definitely was able to feel a tinge of pressure, at the moment, he was truly carefree and had put all worries behind him. His Second Sister and Third Brother finally ended up together after all.

This is just beautiful.

The same smile was seen on Hua Jieyu’s face as well, and it was a pretty one like none other. She looked at Ye Futian with her beautiful eyes. Their hands were held tight together, and both of them were able to sense the other’s thoughts.

“If that is how it is, Zhuge Qingfeng, just let them have it their way then,” Huang Xi said. Everyone who was there practically served as a witness to Gu Dongliu and Zhuge Mingyue. Their love was one that deserved to be made whole.

“Leader, I think it is best to handle this with more caution. It can’t be done in such a messy manner,” some elder from the Zhuge family said. While the Zhuge family did not fear the people of Zhisheng Cliffs, it was undeniable that there were risks to deal with. Furthermore, despite Gu Dongliu having demonstrated his exceptional talents, the arrival of visitors from the Zhisheng Cliffs irked them. If they had completed their alliance with White Cloud City, having Zhuge Mingyue married to Bai Luli instead, things would have turned out very differently.

The Zhuge family would have truly stood at the pinnacle of the Barren State. The state of affairs now, however, had too many uncertainties in it. The family ended up offending both White Cloud City and the Holy Zhi Palace. Now, they had Zhisheng Cliffs added to their list of enemies.

“My Second Sister and Third Brother are in love with each other. How is this messy in any way?” Ye Futian said. He then looked at Zhuge Qingfeng and continued, “I hope that you will give your blessings to them, uncle. If there are any risks to be had, Third Brother will definitely not drag the Zhuge family into the mess. When everything is settled, my Third Brother’s talents will prove that he is no way inferior to Bai Luli.”

“I will leave the Zhuge family,” Gu Dongliu said. Since Zhuge Mingyue made it clear that she was willing to travel the world with him, Gu Dongliu had no intentions of letting her down. If something untoward was to happen, he had no intentions of dragging the Zhuge family into it.

Zhuge Qingfeng looked at Ye Futian. Despite him singing praises about Gu Dongliu’s talents, Zhuge Qingfeng knew a thing or two about Ye Futian’s own talents. He also of course, had great admiration for Gu Dongliu.

“Since when do you get to say anything about the affairs of the Zhuge family?” a youth berated.

“Ms. Mingyue is the very treasure of the Zhuge family, how can her marriage be set with just a few words?”

“Ye Futian, you are no longer a student of the Holy Zhi Palace. Who are you to tell the Zhuge family what to do?” Zhuge Xing added coldly.

“First, he went kidnapping Hua Jieyu, and now he egged his Third Brother on to marry his Second Sister. He is something indeed.”

“He is now just a worm expelled from the Holy Zhi Palace. Of course he’d want to look for another backing. And what better could that backing be other than the Zhuge family, eh?”

The younger generations of the Zhuge family erupted in an uproar with their dissatisfaction towards Ye Futian. The score over what happened a month ago had yet to be settled. He openly insulted the Zhuge family as a bunch of good-for-nothing idiots. Back then, Ye Futian was still a student of the Holy Zhi Palace, the number one on the Law Rank, and a student of Sage Douzhan. His status was totally different back then. Now, he turned his back on the will of the Holy Zhi Palace and stood at the opposite side of the palace. It was unthinkable that he had the gall to interfere with the affairs of the Zhuge family.

The elders said nothing as the younger generation went on attacking Ye Futian with sarcastic words. The great figures looked at the scene and saw that the Zhuge family’s younger generation harbored a very deep grudge against Ye Futian!

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