Zhou Qiucheng’s words made Zhang Chen feel a sense of unease.
The entanglement between Prince Pingbian’s Mansion and the Kyoto Zhang Family was complicated. Zhang Chen had made a mortal enemy of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, meaning his future foes included not only Zhang Xiaohua but some members of the Kyoto Zhang Family as well.
Seeing Zhang Chen’s concern, Zhou Qiucheng smiled lightly and patted Zhang Chen’s shoulder: "I know your background, but as long as you remain in Jinling City and don’t admit to being Zhang Chen from the Northern Land—even if you revert your name to Zhang Chen—I can protect you! Even the Human King’s decree cannot kill you! So you needn’t worry about Zhang Xiaohua; I will warn him. If he doesn’t want his plans for Yellow Heaven Dao in Jinling City to be for nothing, he can’t ignore my will. Perhaps I can’t do anything against Zhang Xiaohua, but if I want to kill certain people in Jinling City, unless blocked by a Twelfth Tier entity, no one can stop me."
"Since you are so willing to help me, aren’t you afraid of offending Yellow Heaven Dao?" Zhang Chen asked.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiucheng shook his head: "The only person in Yellow Heaven Dao that can make me retreat is the Great Virtuous Master. Zhang Xiaohua isn’t worthy of making me retreat."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen relaxed. Since Zhou Qiucheng was willing to guarantee his safety, he needn’t worry further.
"Three days from now, the academy will conduct the Inner Courtyard selection trial. Once the trial is concluded, the mysterious tower will be opened, allowing insights into its mysteries," Zhou Qiucheng said. "If you wish to explore those mysteries, prepare yourself in advance."
Zhang Chen bowed deeply: "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I will certainly repay you generously in the future."
Zhou Qiucheng responded by patting Zhang Chen’s shoulder: "There’s no need for formalities between us. You’ve been generous to me, and it’s only right that I protect you."
As he spoke, Zhou Qiucheng suddenly lifted his head, eyes gazing toward the foot of the mountain: "Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives—Zhang Xiaohua has come."
Following Zhou Qiucheng’s gaze, Zhang Chen saw a figure flashing down the mountain. With a single step, the space around the figure distorted, appearing a hundred meters away, arriving at the courtyard entrance within a few breaths.
"It’s you!" Zhang Xiaohua steadied himself and saw Zhang Chen standing nearby, his pupils contracted, revealing a trace of murderous intent.
"Long time no see, Little Prince," Zhang Chen said with a smile.
"You’ve finally decided to show yourself, little rat? This time, I won’t let you escape," Zhang Xiaohua growled, teeth clenched in hatred.
Hearing Zhang Xiaohua’s words, Zhang Chen chuckled slightly. Though he wasn’t a match for Zhang Xiaohua, with his Ice Domain, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t kill him either.
"It’s those who steal from others that are called rats. Between us, who has performed unspeakable deeds? You know better who is the real rat," Zhang Chen sneered.
Zhang Xiaohua’s expression grew colder; his eyes fixed on Zhang Chen as divine light surged around him, a hint of resentment rising: "You’re courting death!"
As his words fell, Zhang Xiaohua raised his palm, a Treasure Sword of pure starlight slashed toward Zhang Chen, intending to turn him to dust. Just as the sword qi rose and converged, Zhou Qiucheng stepped forward to shield Zhang Chen. As the sword qi approached Zhou Qiucheng, an illusory ancient tower appeared around him, radiating a mysterious power that disintegrated the sword qi upon contact.
"Dean Zhou, are you blocking me? Are you intending to oppose Prince Pingbian’s Mansion?" Zhang Xiaohua glared at Zhou Qiucheng with a sullen expression.
"It’s better to resolve enmities than to create them. What grievance lies between you two that compels you to seek each other’s lives? Little Prince, why not let bygones be bygones in my honor and dissolve your feud?" Zhou Qiucheng suggested.
Zhang Xiaohua’s voice was ice-cold: "Resolve our feud? Do you even know what this boy has done to my Prince Pingbian’s Mansion?"
Before Zhou Qiucheng could speak, Zhang Xiaohua’s voice turned mournful: "My family’s ancestor said on his deathbed that both times he failed to undergo Dragon Transformation, it was because this scoundrel interfered, thwarting centuries of my Prince Pingbian’s plans, leaving us in a passive position. He instructed me to ensure that he is dismembered and subjected to Soul Extraction and Refining."
"The first time, when my Prince Pingbian’s ancestral patriarch attempted the Twelfth Tier True Dragon breakthrough, it was ruined by him. The second time, transforming into a Divine Dragon, aiming for the Eleventh Tier, he personally destroyed all hope. How can enmity of this sort be resolved?" Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes turned red: "If not for his interference on two occasions, sabotaging my Prince Pingbian’s plans, how could the Demon Race have crossed the White Bone Great Wall? My Prince Pingbian’s Mansion would have stood equal with the court by now; why would we be reduced to such a state? The chaos in the Northern Land today bears half his responsibility; he’s the source of turmoil! Half the sins of the dead souls in the Northern Lands lie on his head. So, should he not die?"
Zhou Qiucheng was astonished upon hearing this and turned to Zhang Chen with disbelief, not expecting such a backstory. Yet, doubt arose within him: "How did Zhang Chen possess the means to sabotage your Prince Pingbian’s ancestral patriarch’s Dragon Transformation plan? Could you be mistaken?"
"Impossible to mistake! Absolutely impossible!" Zhang Xiaohua declared coldly.
Zhou Qiucheng turned to look at Zhang Chen upon hearing this, noticing that his Qi mechanism was restrained, showing no signs of possessing divine techniques. How could he manage such a feat?
He suspected that Zhang Xiaohua was slandering Zhang Chen.
Facing Zhou Qiucheng’s inquisitive gaze, Zhang Chen smiled and said, "That’s karma. Your Prince Pingbian’s Mansion did all manner of evil deeds, and Zhang Shicheng’s two failed Dragon Transformations, resulting in death at my hands, are indeed deserved. If you and your father hadn’t plotted to harm me, attempting to swap lives with me, and even wanting to kill me and replace me in the Kyoto Zhang Family, why would we have any enmity? You wouldn’t have failed twice at dragon transformation either."
Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Zhou Qiucheng suddenly understood. There was indeed such a cause and effect behind it, yet he hadn’t expected Zhang Chen to have such abilities.
"I’ve truly underestimated this kid. But thinking about it, someone who can casually take out eight-thousand-year-old ginseng isn’t an ordinary person, is he? To escape from the Northern Land while facing the pursuit of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion — his methods are no simple matter. I underestimated him! The Zhang Family indeed produced an extraordinary figure this time, worthy of my investment." Continuous thoughts revolved in Zhou Qiucheng’s mind:
"I remember this kid is the son-in-law of the Shen Family. With his involvement, perhaps the Shen Family has a chance to weather this calamity. The Shen Family’s daughter has married an incredible person this time."
As various thoughts flashed through Zhou Qiucheng’s mind, Zhang Xiaohua across from him brought him back: "This enmity is irreconcilable. Dean Zhou, do you truly wish to intervene in this karma?"
Zhou Qiucheng shook his head after hearing this: "I don’t care about the karma between you. I only know that this is Jinling City, he is my student, and he saved my son’s life. As long as he is in Jinling City, and as long as I live, no one can harm him."
Hearing these words, Zhang Xiaohua’s face turned ugly. Although he has reached the Eleventh Tier, he has no hope of winning against Zhou Qiucheng. And Zhou Qiucheng stated so categorically, if he obstinately offends him, when Yellow Heaven Dao settles in Jinling, it would definitely face serious trouble if Zhou Qiucheng causes trouble.
Could he possibly keep an eye on Zhou Qiucheng forever? If Zhou Qiucheng intends to assassinate the disciples of Yellow Heaven Dao, Jinling City could become a forbidden zone for Yellow Heaven Dao.
Upon hearing Zhou Qiucheng’s words, Zhang Xiaohua turned to Zhang Chen: "You’ve got some luck, actually managing to escape a calamity, but you’d better never leave Jinling City, or I will surely kill you."
"Heh, such big talk for a loser. Back in the Northern Land, even with the home advantage of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, you couldn’t do anything to me. I disrupted your Dragon Transformation plan, drowning a million of your soldiers. And now you come to talk big in front of me? I can only hope your skills match your big mouth," Zhang Chen retorted coldly.
He refused to show any weakness!
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua coldly smiled and then stopped speaking, casting a glance at Zhou Qiucheng before striding away.
"Oh, and Zhang Chen’s family is also under my protection. Hopefully, your Yellow Heaven Dao won’t play any tricks," Zhou Qiucheng said as he watched Zhang Xiaohua’s departing figure.
Zhang Xiaohua paused, glanced at Zhou Qiucheng and Zhang Chen, and then departed swiftly into the distance.
"You have quite some methods, kid, to have put Prince Pingbian’s Mansion in such a miserable position. No wonder Zhang Xiaohua goes to such lengths to kill you." As Zhang Xiaohua’s figure faded away, Zhou Qiucheng turned to Zhang Chen, feeling as though he embodied a real, undisguised talent.
"It was just a coincidence; otherwise, why would I meddle with that old northern mud eel landing in my hands?" Zhang Chen replied with an awkward smile.
Zhou Qiucheng gave Zhang Chen a meaningful look, seeing him standing simply there, but to Zhou Qiucheng, Zhang Chen appeared unfathomable, as if he couldn’t discern any of his depths: "You just stay honestly in Jinling City from now on. He has his eyes on Jinling City, and if you step out, he will certainly catch you."
Zhang Chen smiled, "Rest assured; unless I’m fully prepared, I certainly won’t leave Jinling City lightly."
The reason why Zhou Qiucheng can protect Zhang Chen but not the Shen Family, unable to stop Yellow Heaven Dao from acting, actually involves two different concepts.
Taking action against the Shen Family is a big move by Yellow Heaven Dao, an unstoppable force. Even if the Celestial King comes, Yellow Heaven Dao would still act.
However, acting against Zhang Chen is a personal vendetta of Zhang Xiaohua’s, Yellow Heaven Dao wouldn’t get involved, nor would it allow itself to be involved.
Yet upon thinking of Chengyu’s special status, Zhang Chen also sensed: "Zhou Qiucheng’s threat may not deter Yellow Heaven Dao, I should prepare early. Once Yellow Heaven topples the Shen Family, they’ll certainly turn their attention to searching for Chengyu. Then, Zhang Xiaohua can leverage Yellow Heaven Dao’s great force to plot against me!"