Chapter 987: Divine Son and Young Hall Master
"I told you to get out of the way."
Zhang Ruochen acted as if he could not see Huo Yin, walking straight past him, pulling Shi Meiren along as he headed down from the high platform.
Huo Yin's eyes blazed with flames, and he let out a low roar: "You're asking for death."
His right fist shot out, accompanied by a deafening sound of wind and thunder.
However, before his fist could land on Zhang Ruochen, the sound of bones cracking rang out.
Immediately after, Huo Yin flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing into a nearby lake.
The sound of breaking bones came from Huo Yin's fractured arm.
Everyone was stunned, having no idea what had just happened.
It was clearly not Murong Yue who had injured Huo Yin, as her cultivation level was far inferior to his.
Only a few Half-Saint-level experts barely managed to catch a glimpse of the scene.
Their gazes fell on Zhang Ruochen, all showing expressions of surprise. No one dared to underestimate him any longer.
"With just one move, he severely injured Huo Yin. This person is definitely no nobody."
"Of course he's no nobody, because he is the new Divine Son of the Blood God Sect, Gu Linfeng. You should have heard his name quite a bit in the past half month, right?"
"What? Gu Linfeng?"
"He is that Divine Son of the Blood God Sect?"
The news of the Blood God Sect Divine Son's appearance quickly spread through Pearl Light Pavilion, causing quite a stir.
What drew even more attention was that the Blood God Sect Divine Son had injured a Saint General of the Bright Hall and was even contending with the Bright Hall's Young Hall Master over Shi Meiren.
Hearing this, many troublemakers rushed over, ready to watch the excitement.
Zhang Ruochen pulled Shi Meiren along and led her away directly, with no one daring to stop him.
Of course, he did not leave Pearl Light Pavilion. Instead, he came to a pavilion by the lake to continue examining Ling Feiyu's injuries.
Grand Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works stood like two door gods outside the pavilion. Anyone daring to approach would be immediately thrown into the lake.
The scar-faced soldier looked toward the pavilion, quite surprised, and said, "This Gu Linfeng is really arrogant, daring to snatch the woman Kong Hongbi had his eye on."
Another soldier expressed some concern, "Kong Hongbi is ranked seventh on the Half-Saint List, practically invincible below the Saint realm. He is extremely proud and arrogant; he definitely won't let this slide. Your Highness, if Miss Murong stays with Gu Linfeng, she might be in danger."
Bu Qianfan rubbed his chin, his expression growing more serious.
The scar-faced soldier added, "Just now, when I went to retrieve Gu Linfeng's information, I accidentally overheard a piece of news. It is said that the Demon Sect's Divine Son, Ouyang Huan, and Holy Maiden Qi Feiyu arrived at Pearl Light Pavilion last night. If this news is true, Gu Linfeng daring to snatch Shi Meiren here is practically suicide. Ouyang Huan will never let him off."
"Ouyang Huan actually came to Tiantai Prefecture. That's quite interesting," Bu Qianfan said.
"Your Highness, today's matter will likely not end peacefully. Should we do something?"
Bu Qianfan shook his head, "Gu Linfeng, Kong Hongbi, and Ouyang Huan are the heirs of three top-tier sects. Unless they want to trigger a sect war, they won't go so far as to kill each other. Even if Kong Hongbi and Ouyang Huan do make a move, they will at most teach Gu Linfeng a harsh lesson, not kill him."
The scar-faced soldier chuckled, "In that case, Gu Linfeng snatching Shi Meiren is just asking for humiliation."
"Kong Hongbi is not a merciful person. He will definitely break Gu Linfeng's legs and throw him out of Pearl Light Pavilion," another soldier laughed.
Even though both soldiers mocked Gu Linfeng for overestimating himself, Bu Qianfan remained deeply worried about Murong Yue's safety, afraid she would be implicated by Gu Linfeng.
Lakeside, Pavilion.
Zhang Ruochen took out healing pills and fed them to Shi Meiren, then channeled Saint Qi into the top of her head to help her refine the medicine.
But Shi Meiren's meridians were completely unresponsive, unable to absorb the healing pill's medicinal power.
Zhang Ruochen withdrew his hand, furrowed his brow, grabbed Shi Meiren by the shoulders, and stared into her eyes, "Ling Feiyu, what is wrong with you? If you don't actively circulate your technique and absorb the healing pill's power, I can't save you either."
Shi Meiren's dull eyes slowly lifted, showing a hint of vitality as she spoke a single sentence, "Do you know me?"
Zhang Ruochen showed a hint of joy, "Do you remember that you are Ling Feiyu?"
Shi Meiren did not answer Zhang Ruochen's question, instead asking, "How do you know me?"
Zhang Ruochen had already released his Saint Soul Domain, covering the pavilion, so he was not worried about exposing his identity.
He immediately changed his appearance back to that of "Zhang Ruochen."
"So it's you," Shi Meiren said.
After saying this, Shi Meiren's eyes became hollow again. No matter what Zhang Ruochen asked her, she would not say another word.
Zhang Ruochen let out a long sigh, looking at her with a complicated expression.
Her Saint Soul was not damaged, and her memories were still intact, yet she had lost the spirit and energy befitting a Sword Saint, lost her pursuit of the Saint Path, and even lost her will to live.
"Could it be that the Azure Heaven Blood Emperor destroyed her will?" Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
If a person loses their spiritual will, it is even more terrifying than losing their soul.
"Swish."
"Swish."
Two sounds of breaking wind rang out.
Two Saint Generals of the Bright Hall, Yan Xu Saint General and Guigu Saint General, appeared above the lake, standing on two Saint Qi mist bridges.
Yan Xu Saint General was a middle-aged man with a strand of white hair at his temples. He stared at the pavilion with an unfriendly expression, "Gu Linfeng, the Young Hall Master wants to see you. Come with us."
Zhang Ruochen frowned, took another deep look at Shi Meiren, then changed back to the appearance of "Gu Linfeng," pushed aside the bead curtain, and walked out.
He glanced at the two Bright Hall Saint Generals not far away and said expressionlessly, "If Kong Hongbi wants to see me, tell him to come himself. I might grant him an audience."
To Zhang Ruochen's left, Grand Minister of Works chimed in, "That's right. If he wants to see my master's junior, let him come and pay his respects himself."
Yan Xu Saint General was somewhat angered, feeling that Gu Linfeng was too arrogant. He snorted coldly, "Quite the big talk, daring to make the Young Hall Master come to pay respects to you. Gu Linfeng, have you become too carried away after becoming the Blood God Sect's Divine Son?"
Before Zhang Ruochen could speak, Grand Minister of Works added, "So what if he's carried away? My master's junior's seniority is so high. A mere Young Hall Master of the Bright Hall dares to put on airs in front of him? Believe it or not, this humble monk will teach him how to behave with my fists?"
Yan Xu Saint General's eyes held a hint of mockery as he said arrogantly, "Do you think that defeating Huo Yin means you can look down on the Bright Hall? Let me tell you the truth, among the one hundred and eight Saint Generals, Huo Yin's cultivation ranks only ninety-fourth. I, however, am ranked sixteenth."
Guigu Saint General said, "Gu Linfeng, if it weren't for the Young Hall Master considering the friendly relations between the Blood God Sect and the Bright Hall, do you think you would still be standing there unscathed? If you are smart, you should respectfully return Shi Meiren to the Young Hall Master and avoid humiliating yourself."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I am taking Shi Meiren, no matter who comes."
Yan Xu Saint General and Guigu Saint General's expressions darkened. They lost patience and began to mobilize their Saint Qi, preparing to capture Gu Linfeng and hand him over to the Young Hall Master for punishment.
But before they could make a move, Kong Hongbi appeared first, stepping on the water's surface and standing at the center of the lake.
No one saw how Kong Hongbi had appeared.
It only showed that his speed had surpassed the visual discernment of all cultivators present.
Kong Hongbi wore a set of water-blue brocade, his hands clasped behind his back, looking exceptionally heroic. With the tip of his foot as the center, ripples spread outward in fine circles.
His eyes locked with Zhang Ruochen's, exuding a strong pressure, "Gu Linfeng, you shouldn't offend me over a woman. It brings you no benefit at all. Send Shi Meiren over, and I'll pretend nothing happened."
Yan Xu Saint General and Guigu Saint General descended from the mist bridge, respectfully bowing to Kong Hongbi, then retreated to either side, watching Gu Linfeng with smiles.
Although the Young Hall Master still appeared calm and composed, the two of them knew he was already angered.
Kong Hongbi's appearance finally stirred up the cultivators in Pearl Light Pavilion.
After all, among the humans of the Kunlun Realm, only about twenty or thirty had made it onto the Half-Saint List. Each one was a legendary figure, and their appearance would inevitably cause a sensation.
What's more, Kong Hongbi was ranked seventh on the Half-Saint List, practically invincible below the Saint realm.
"If Gu Linfeng still doesn't know his place, he's going to suffer quite a bit today."
Many cultivators thought the same way. (To be continued.)