Chapter Ninety-Four: The Pursuit

Zi Fancheng walked out of the grand hall, glanced at Ma Bufan waiting outside, and turned toward the side chamber. Yet he did not forget to instruct Ma Bufan, "Go summon that brat Zi Chenyu to the main hall at once. Tell him to stop his secluded cultivation. Remind him that if he causes any trouble, I won’t be responsible for his life or death."

Zi Chenyu was deep in seclusion in a stone cave in the rear garden, having not left for half a month—the most diligent cultivation he had ever undertaken.

"I’ve finally succeeded in establishing my foundation, hahaha…"

His laughter echoed from within the stone cave, then he resumed his meditation, entering his sea of consciousness. The little figure, winged and identical to the soul disc, had grown larger than before.

No sooner had he entered his sea of consciousness than the miniature soul disc opened its eyes and stared at him. Zi Chenyu quickly withdrew, terrified—he had been tormented so long that he dared not approach her.

It seemed there was no way to dispel this thing, at least not on the Windwalker Continent. Zi Chenyu angrily threw a pill bottle before him, shattering it on the ground.

"Young master, Elder Ma Bufan has sent word: the patriarch asks you to come to the hall. There is an important matter to discuss."

Hearing the familiar voice of Steward Liu, Zi Chenyu, though reluctant, could only rise and head out.

As soon as Zi Chenyu stepped outside, Steward Liu came up, checked that no one was nearby, and spoke in a low voice, "Young master, have you managed to dispel that thing? If you have, you must tell me."

Zi Chenyu shook his head, dejectedly making his way to the hall, uninterested in responding.

Steward Liu hurried after him, the smile that had just been on his face now gone.

Inside the hall, Lin Zhi had finished his tea and was idly surveying his surroundings, his gaze landing unashamedly on Lin Na across from him.

Zi Chenyu entered, looked up to see only two people—a woman from the merchants’ guild, Lin Na, and the young man accompanying the old emissary from that day, who had been introduced as the next generation emissary.

Zi Chenyu saluted respectfully. "My father sent me. Where is he?"

Before he finished speaking, Lin Zhi approached with a smile. "You’re the foolish son of the Zi family patriarch. It’s me who summoned you, and it’s nothing too important. Just hand over the Star Map you bought at the guild auction that day. That will suffice."

As he spoke, Lin Zhi smiled expectantly at Zi Chenyu, waiting for him to hand over the item.

At the mention of the Star Map, Zi Chenyu grew flustered. Offending the emissary meant death, but offending Dao Sansheng was equally fatal. He stammered, unable to utter a word.

Seeing his hesitation, Lin Zhi smashed his teacup to the floor and snarled, "Zi Chenyu, with that item in your hands, you’ll never unravel its mysteries. If you’re wise, hand it over now. I can preserve your family’s status for this generation. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to reshape the Windwalker Continent."

Seeing Lin Zhi’s rage, Zi Chenyu knelt instantly, kowtowing furiously, mumbling incoherently—nothing like the debonair scion he once was in Zi Immortal City.

Lin Zhi struck with his palm; even before it landed, Zi Chenyu was sent flying, crashing into the courtyard and smashing the stone tiles, leaving a gaping hole.

"I’ve given you a chance, but you won’t shed tears until you see the coffin. I don’t mind a few more deaths."

Lin Zhi flicked his sleeve, then left the hall with Lin Na, standing on the steps outside, watching Zi Chenyu struggle in the dirt.

Zi Fancheng, who had been discussing matters with a young man, heard the crash and rushed over, the youth following close behind.

"My son!"

"What have you done to offend the emissary? Quickly, apologize!"

He lifted Zi Chenyu from the pit, then Zi Fancheng knelt before Lin Zhi, repeatedly kowtowing.

"Hand over the item and I’ll spare you. Otherwise, not a soul in the Zi family will survive."

Lin Zhi’s cold gaze swept the crowd, his finger pointed at Zi Fancheng, his tone harsh.

"Does that include me?" asked the handsome youth who had been talking with Zi Fancheng in the side chamber.

"Everyone here," Lin Zhi replied.

The spiritual energy around Lin Zhi grew chaotic, and soon the entire courtyard was engulfed, the energy in the air clashing and exploding around the gathered people, enveloping the whole Zi Estate.

Shouts, pleas for mercy, and cries blended into a cacophony—the Zi Estate plunged into chaos.

Yet the youth remained unmoved. He looked at Lin Zhi, then produced a dark, blackened scale and tossed it into the air. The scale grew larger and larger, finally transforming into a massive black dragon. The dragon soared through the sky, then let out a thunderous roar.

The soundwave stilled everyone. Lin Zhi was struck down, lying prone on the ground.

A long trail marked the ground from Lin Zhi’s slide, and even several walls of the hall behind had been smashed open.

The youth calmly retrieved the black scale and smiled at Lin Zhi. "Don’t think the Lin family is the only power in this world. Your vision is as narrow as a frog in a well. You’re the most incompetent disciple of the Lin clan."

Lin Zhi wiped blood from his mouth and struggled to his feet, staring in shock at the youth. "You’re from the Black Dragon clan! There’s actually a Black Dragon clan in this continent. Why has our Lin family never discovered it?"

The Black Dragon clan was a branch of the dragon race. Lin Zhi had never seen one, only heard that divine beast clans lived in higher realms, never appearing in lower ones.

"Where my Black Dragon clan resides is none of your concern. Don’t think you can act as you please just because you came from an upper realm. Others may fear the Black Dragon clan, but we do not."

"This is between us. Please, Black Dragon clan, do not interfere."

Zi Fancheng had gotten up and ran over to plead with the youth. He only knew that on Windwalker Continent, there was an old man surnamed Mo who was formidable, but no one had ever seen him act. Legend said those who witnessed his power never lived to tell the tale. Unexpectedly, he was of the divine beast Black Dragon clan. Still, one must solve one’s own problems; others cannot protect you forever.

"Zi Fancheng, at least you know what is important," Lin Zhi said, pulling out a bottle of pills, swallowing one himself and tossing another into Zi Chenyu’s mouth.

"Thank you for the medicine, emissary," Zi Fancheng said, saluting again and kowtowing before Lin Zhi.

"If you don’t need me, I’ll be on my way. No point in lingering here."

The youth vanished from the courtyard with a few flashes, Zi Fancheng raising his hand, unable to call out before he disappeared.