Chapter 361: Reentering the Residence of Supremes!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It was Venerable Lord Sword who had woken up. Once he regained consciousness, he immediately swore an oath of absolute determination.
Venerable Lord Snow frowned, saying, "Of course we can’t forgo the chance for vengeance, but the source of this issue relates to the survivor of the Nine Supremes. There’s a high chance it was instigated by Supreme Wind… Doubts still remain, though…"
"When we catch Lei Dongtian, everything will be made clear!"
Venerable Lord Frost gritted his teeth. "Today is truly…"
He wanted to say it was truly depressing, but knowing that the source of his depression, Venerable Lord Sword, was just beside him, he swallowed his words.
"Where are our people?" Venerable Lord Snow asked uncomfortably.
"We fought for so long, why aren’t they here yet?"
"Your people?" A cold voice rang out clearly. "You have the face to ask this? Your people? If you all weren’t so impatient and attacked only when everyone was present, things would have turned out differently! How could you all have done something so ridiculous?"
"Lord!"
Ice, Frost, and Snow stood up immediately while Venerable Lord Sword who was laying on the ground tried to show his respect through his expression.
No one came in from the outside, but the unhurried voice still drifted in, "I will no longer be in charge of this. Since you’ve made a promise to them, you have to follow through. If you need help, go to the Hall of Latria yourselves. However, if there are any more mistakes, you shall bear the consequences on your own."
Inside, all four people hung their heads, with shame on their faces.
Venerable Lord Snow said, "Lord, Lei Dongtian has proven the strength of his family. If his family experts come, we might…"
There was a long silence as if the person outside was pondering the matter. After a while, four small jade bottles hovered in.
"These are Quantum Leap Pills."
The unhurried voice wafter in again. "You all are still a step behind in your cultivation bases to consume it. If you take it now, it might be damaging to your deity status in the future. However, since you are all determined to seek revenge, I shall give them to you first. Decide for yourselves what you’re going to do with it!"
There was no more sounds or noise coming from the outside. This time, Mr. Nian had really left!
The Four Venerable Lords were all indescribably ashamed. It was an extreme humiliation to manage something so likely to succeed and have it turn out this way. It was basically due to their capabilities, luck, and characters!
Could they take offense at Mr. Nian’s mocking tone? No, they had no basis to argue about this.
Looking at the Quantum Leap Pills on the ground, Venerable Lord Snow heaved a long sigh. The long sought-after pill that they were thinking about, even when dreaming, seemed to lose its usual temptation.
"Let’s speak of the serious matters first. Lord is very disappointed in us right now. We have to do something."
"Forget it. It’s better if we correct our attitudes and face the truth! The obvious fact right now is that we’ve exited Tiantang City. Whether it was us or our opponent who knows this, this is still a situation out of compelled mutual compromise. We, who have relatively higher prowess, are instead forced to stay in a foreign land with the eldest and ol’Fourth severely wounded. Insisting to stay in Tiantang City will undoubtedly bring us a lot of unneeded threats. It’s better to temporarily take shelter here, leaving one to take care of the eldest while another two return directly to take action in secret."
Venerable Lord Snow said, "My thought is that Ice will stay to look after the eldest. Frost and I will go back to Tiantang City to assemble our men, then send two to you so they can take care of you fellows for a carefree recuperation and recovery."
"Although the Residence of Heavenly Clouds has been destroyed, I believe that Yun Yang will rebuild it since both sides have reached an understanding. It’ll still need some time though, so they’ll still find somewhere else to stay for the time being. This is something we can utilize. It’s also the crux focal point right now. Lei Dongtian’s capability is astonishing and he even has a servant of similar prowess with him. It’s entirely possible that they appeared out of nowhere."
"Due to the restraints of our promise to Yun Yang, we can’t attack the Residence of Yun and kill this varlet but… perhaps we can use this point instead to make him let his guard down. When he leaves, we shall track him and wipe everything out, annihilating even his family in uprooting everything. This will save us troubles in the future or else there will always be a lurking threat!"
"Considering this, our unsuccessful attack wasn't exactly the worst of all. Knowing oneself and the enemy guarantees that we will emerge victorious in every battle. A victory that leaves no snake in the grass is the only real victory!"
"Besides, judging by Lei Dongtian’s individual ability, I believe his family or the school he’s come from must be significant and possess an unwavering authority. Our powers may not be sufficient to tackle them. To be safe, we might need to go to the Hall of Latria."
"Of course, everything must be confirmed first before we find the Hall of Latria. If we reveal any incorrect information, not only will it be embarrassing, it would be a futile waste of resources."
"Therefore, we need to completely understand Lei Dongtian’s background and strengths before informing lord and the Hall of Latria. We can’t act impulsively again. Missing this once is already one too many, we won't have a second time! Otherwise, we really won’t have any more dignity to face lord with."
Venerable Lord Ice said, "Second brother, has the lord really left?"
Venerable Lord Snow smiled faintly and replied, "Who can guess the Lord's thoughts? Since we can’t figure it out, there’s no need to make assumptions. It would only be futile and a waste of effort!"
Having served Mr. Nian for so many years, Venerable Lord Snow understood the unspoken implications very well.
Usually, when they messed things up and made compromises to this extent, it would be inevitable that an earth-shattering rage would be incurred and an even more serious punishment might await them. Now though, Mr. Nian was very displeased but he did not say much and had even given them the right to use the Hall of Latria.
He had even handed over the Quantum Leap Pills!
This was a treatment that they would never be enjoying in the past!
It had already been proven that their lord must have something else on his mind. This, in itself, warranted their careful contemplation. If they had completed the lord’s hidden goal simultaneously, it would be a real achievement!
"There is something equally important. Since the lord allowed us to utilize the divine hall, it also implies that the force behind Lei Dongtian may really be hard to handle. No, in fact, Lei Dongtian’s individual skill was already terrifying – especially that strange hand-seal arcane he used. Now that I think about it, I still feel the lingering fear."
Venerable Lord Snow said seriously, "When we meet him again, we must use our strongest and effective techniques at once! To jump into the fight with our fiefs."
Venerable Lord Frost nodded faintly. "That fellow's capability is indeed above ours, but as long as we cast frost and snow in a joint fief first, we can easily subdue him."
Venerable Lord Snow was still cautious, discussing combat tactics with Venerable Lord Frost for a good amount of time while Venerable Lord Sword and Venerable Lord Ice gave ideas from the side.
The four of them did not regard their failure this time too highly. Victory and defeat were common in the martial world battles; as long as the physical and cultivation base remained, anything could be brought back. It meant nothing to them.
What truly upset the four of them was actually Venerable Lord Sword’s injury.
It was not some ordinary wound that could easily recover. The brothers did not utter their concerns aloud, but they were worried sick internally.
As for Venerable Lord Sword himself who was the direct litigant, he was even more anxious but did not show it on his face. Only his gaze grew grimmer.
"This Quantum Leap Pill…" Venerable Lord Frost spoke hesitantly.
"Keep it first." Venerable Lord Snow said, "If things come to a head, it’s not too late for us to consume it when we flee using our fiefs!"
"Alright!"
…
On the other side, Yun Yang, the splendid actor, left the inn alone quietly after placating Lei Dongtian and headed towards the Residence of Nine Supremes!
It had been some time since Yun Yang had gone there. Firstly, it was to avoid the attention of people with ulterior motives; secondly, it was also to prevent him from the grief he knew he would suffer. He had been keeping the grievance of his brothers at the bottom of his heart; if he could avoid it, it was better to evade the entire matter altogether.
However, it seemed that entering the Residence of Nine Supremes today was imminent!
Yun Yang had simultaneously cultivated the methods of thunder, cloud, wind, flame, and blood for the period being and had rapid improvement in all the five methods. It was even much faster than when his brothers were cultivating. In spite of this, when Yun Yang wanted to cultivate the sixth cultivation method that was fourth brother’s Holy Water Charm, he could not even go through the first stage of the introduction method.
It was obviously not a question of talent. In fact, since Yun Yang had gotten the gift from Kirin Fish, the water element in him surged and his meridians had exceeded the ordinary definition of being a water physique genius! Among the various manifestation methods of the Nine Supremes, including Yun Yang’s original cultivated cloud method, nothing was more compatible with him than the Holy Water Charm. On the contrary, what was supposed to be most matching and improved the fastest could not even get past the initial stage no matter how hard he worked.
Only when Yun Yang was helped by Lei Dongtian did he leap through his improvements in addition to absorbing the hundred years of cultivation base from the ruby fruits. Only then did he experience a breakthrough and cultivated the first stage of Holy Water Charm after his deific consciousness increased by several folds.
When he was cultivating previously – cultivating wind, flame, thunder, and blood in one go, he did not feel much; he only knew that time was tight. The earlier he could cultivate each cultivation method, the more it would help in his plan. However, cultivating the first stage of Holy Water Charm actually gave way to a violent sense of need in Yun Yang.
It was as if the moment the water attribute in his body was triggered, it could no longer be contained, raging in turbulence and urging Yun Yang to continue cultivating to achieve the next method.
Yun Yang was astounded by the feeling, bewildered. The feeling even grew more intense and was harder to suppress after the battle with Venerable Lord Ice.
If it was not so, Yun Yang would never be willing to step foot into the Residence of Nine Supremes again. As long as he was inside, he felt terribly inadequate, like he had no dignity to face his brothers!
…
"Sometimes, I wonder if you all are ever coming back when I finish learning everything? If it’s so, I’d rather all my cultivation methods go to waste and be left with not one bit of mystical Qi cultivation base!"
Standing amidst the familiar fog of the residence, Yun Yang asked softly, facing Supreme Water’s door.
"Are you all waiting for the arrival of this day?"
Yun Yang murmured softly.
Only silence answered him.
"Actually, the situation today has been your intention all the while. All of you purposely hid from afar, so that I could pick up all nine manifestation methods, right?"
Yun Yang scoffed and said, "I know that all of you aren’t dead. You’re all watching me from afar!"
The door was still silent.
"All the bodies were in pieces on the battlefield. I’ve searched for so long and I didn’t find your heads!" Yun Yang’s eyes were rimmed red but he restrained himself, trying his best to analyze things in the best possible outcome without making a fool of himself.
"I took so long, searching through all the tattered flesh and bones. I only found the eldest’s hand. It’s only losing one hand, the most you’d be a cripple, you won’t die…"
"Where are you all?"
"You’re all still alive, are you not?"
Yun Yang mumbled to himself then plopped down on the floor suddenly, disregarding his image. He cradled his head between his legs, silent tears dripping down. He took big gulps of breath, trying to calm himself down, but he could not stop the violent tremors wracking through him.
Coming here, the Supreme Cloud who could manipulate everything with a flip of hand and behead the enemy amidst jokes, was gone from sight. All the calmness, the cool composure, the grace and ease, they were gone with the wind.
Yun Yang right now was only a lone child abandoned by the mass. Unspeakable desolation and forlornness filled him to the brim.
"When I finally had Sister Yue to talk to, you fellows took her away. You’re cruel. Are you fellows taking Sister Yue and Lingxi later, as well? Why don’t you take me away? Leaving me alone here in this world…" Yun Yang suppressed his sobs to voice his complaints.
The Residence of Nine Supremes was blurry as usual, with mist surrounding it as thick fog drifted around. In the silent tranquility, there seemed to be several pairs of eyes watching from somewhere.
"Sigh!"
Yun Yang’s emotions were on a rollercoaster ride. He stood up, pursing his lips and wiped away his tears. "Every time I’m here, I can’t help complaining. Luckily there aren’t any outsiders. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if others were to see it?"
"I’m Supreme Cloud, the think tank of the Nine Supremes!" Yun Yang chuckled in self-depreciation.
Without further hesitation, he executed Holy Water Charm and placed his palm on Supreme Water’s door.
With a loud squeak, the door opened with a gap.
Inside, it was the same tiny personal space. Looking around, there was an extra book rack in Supreme Water’s room compared to everyone else’s.
Beside the book rack, there was a small wooden figurine.
"Fourth brother’s hobby is really unique." Looking at the wooden figurine, Yun Yang could not help commenting in amusement, despite his heavy heart.
The wooden figurine was very abstract but it obviously looked like the eldest, Supreme Earth, except for the fact that it was extremely ugly and looked thoroughly funny.
Supreme Water’s will was left at the most obvious spot on the table, right in the center. There was a piece of jade ornament under the letter, an item that held all the consequent methods of Holy Water Charm. Below the jade ornament, an arcane object was stacked; it was most probably the introductory cultivation method of third brother Supreme Wood’s Sacred Wood Spell.
Compared to the other brothers, Supreme Water’s room was exceptionally clean and neat to the point that even Yun Yang was surprised since Residence of Nine Supremes rarely had any dust. Despite being left alone for so long, his table was still sparkling and bright; there was not even a handprint on the surface.
Yun Yang did not read the will first but had chosen to look at the rest of the room, like that book rack.
Staying in the room for some time now, Yun Yang actually smelled a faint fragrance. It was vague but it was there. Yun Yang could not help taking a deep breath.
"No wonder the brothers always say that fourth brother was strange. Although his actions aren’t soft and false, they aren’t the most straightforward actions. He rarely plays close to anyone when we’re together too, only to eldest brother. I didn’t expect his room to be so different too. He even sprayed perfume!"
The more he looked at the book rack, the more Yun Yang’s gaze became curious.
The books were mostly medical books. It looked ordinary, comprised of a wide range and variety at most, but looking carefully, the medical information these books contained mostly focused on females.
"Could it be…" Yun Yang’s eyes were wide.
Supreme Water’s will was finally in Yun Yang's hands.
His eyes were greeted by pretty and neat handwriting. It could be seen that Supreme Water had written the letter seriously. Other brothers used only a piece of paper, explaining and asking things in mere words, while Supreme Water’s letter was five full written pieces of papers.
"No matter which brother you are, I believe I’m no longer in the human realm when you read this letter. Our brothers are all amazing but if I have to mention who I wish to read my letter the most, there’s only one person."
"I hope that this person is ol’Ninth."
Yun Yang’s heart skipped a beat.
"ol’Ninth is meticulous with his thoughts and impeccable with how he does things. He’s the most cautious and most resilient one among us brothers. I’d be the most assured passing my post-death matters to ol’Ninth. If this were read by other brothers, it’s no big deal. You’re all people I’m the most relieved by."
Yun Yang stroked his nose, an unamused smile on his face.
Supreme Water had used two words here – assured and relieved.
Passing it to Yun Yang, he was the most assured.
Passing it to other brothers, he was the most relieved.
This was obviously very preferential treatment.
Yun Yang felt an inexplicable exclamation suddenly. If it had not been him who had opened this will today but the other brothers, would that elder one wallop him – where do I lack compared to ol’Ninth? Why must you be assured if it’s him?
Thinking of this, a sense of aggrieved resentment rose in his heart. If it had really been so, he would have been willing to be walloped tens or thousands of times, and enjoy it!
"My name is Shui Bingqing." It was written clearly in Supreme Water’s will, "Reading this, you must have realized that yes, I am a girl."
Yun Yang was stunned.
A girl!
Fourth brother Supreme Water was actually a female!
His fourth elder brother was actually… fourth elder sister?
Yun Yang would never have imagined such a huge secret even if he cracked his head thinking about it.
After all, fourth brother Supreme Water’s usual image in Yun Yang’s knowledge was rough and loud, the mannerisms coarse and ungainly. While his actions were… a little soft and deliberate, it was still a rough man’s façade. He was a little short but he still looked strong and stout.
No characteristics above could relate him being a female!
Knowing the point now though, Yun Yang could not help recalling the numerous doubts when they were together. It was true that Supreme Water’s body would look different sometimes; he was thinner during certain times while looking more muscular during others. Thinking of it now, Supreme Water must have used certain tactics to disguise her identity using the size of physique. In other words, fourth brother… fourth sister... did not actually show her real face in front of the brothers.
"I’m an innate Pulseless Water Pneuma and have been easily sick and weak since I was young. Those with Pulseless Water Pneuma will rarely live past thirty years old. I’m twenty-seven years old now, it’s fate. I’m indignant but I have no regrets!"
"When I was eight, I met my master by chance. It’s the first pivotal point in this life of mine. Master’s passed on the Art of Orenda Water to me and that allowed me to stay alive and even enter the path of cultivation. Although my initial cultivated method can’t erase the hidden threat of Pulseless Water Pneuma, it maintained my health. When I was twenty-one, becoming one of the Nine Supremes became the second pivotal point of my life. Upon cultivating water manifestation methods, my innate Pulseless Water Pneuma actually became a blessing in disguise. Not only did my improvement grow rapidly, I don’t have a death threat hovering over me. In spite of this, I keep sensing that I can’t pass the age of thirty, despite avoiding the fate of Pulseless Water Pneuma…"
"I don’t know when this life will end but for someone who’s supposed to be dead yet is still alive from sheer luck, I’ve gained too much. Even when I have no regrets, I have other concerns still. Other than us brothers, there are two more people – one is my husband and another is my son."
Yun Yang who had read this part was shocked.
Husband and son!
Supreme Water actually still had a husband and son.
"How have I never found out about this huge secret? It’s so shocking! Fourth sister, you’ve hidden it so well! Young brother is impressed! I wonder what kind of bastard has actually deserved this water lotus of my fourth sister. When I meet him in the future, it’s only right I make things difficult for him first!" Yun Yang scratched his head, an indignation of his own sister being taken by some man filling him.
"When I’ve passed then, I believe my husband will follow too… my husband is our elder – Supreme Earth!"
Reading to this point, Yun Yang felt an mini explosion go off in his head. The doubts surrounding him were resolved at once and disappeared entirely.
All the unusual occurrences…
"My identity isn’t a secret to the eldest right when I was selected to join the Nine Supremes. In the two years that followed, we gradually got to know and love each other and even became one three years ago… This bond can’t be shown in front of others nor can it be known by the brothers but it’s an immense fortune to be able to be by each other’s side all the time. The heart is content and joyous."
"Still, I feel remorse and guilty for keeping this from us brothers, so I’ve buried nine hundred pots of celebration wine under the old residence. I wish for the day, to be honest with our brothers and drink to our heart’s content."
"I know his identity. He is the crown prince of Yutang, but I’m not bothered by it. To me, he’s only my husband. In this life, other than being the Nine Supremes, he is my husband. That is all."
"I am truly blessed, much more so than most of the women in this world. In addition, the few years being in the Nine Supremes was the happiest times of my life. Even writing a will like this, I’m writing it happily."
"To the brother reading my letter now, I have only one request; it’s also the last wish of my life! My son. He’s only one year old this year. I hope you can take care of him well, bring him up as your own."
"The one I wronged the most in this life is my son. As one of royal blood, he doesn’t get to enjoy any privileges that come with it. As a child with parents, he didn’t get any love from them. As the descendant of the Nine Supremes, he can’t show it in front of anyone forever."