Translator: Fate Proofreader: Silavin Standing outside the palace, Tang Wan was trying to convince Chu Hao with concern written all over her face. Her garment was swaying the winds while her snowy skin glowed. Hearing that, Chu Hao was dumbfounded for quite a while after Tang Wan told him to be patient and look past the matter. He couldn’t believe those words actually came out from her mouth. Just a while ago, she was so confident. She promised that as long as they worked together with Gu Changge’s foes, the humiliation he faced could be washed away. Despite his vanity, Chu Hao was no impatient fool that would act recklessly against enemies he couldn’t beat. Although Gu Changge’s background was powerful, it wasn’t at a level where he could only choose to retreat. In terms of cultivation, Chu Hao was almost at the Sacred Emperor Realm. Thus, even if Gu Changge used a Sacred Emperor Grade Weapon, Gu Changge, as a Junior, wouldn’t stand a chance against him. While an ordinary man would definitely have blown a fuse upon hearing such words from his childhood friend, Chu Hao didn’t. As thoughts flashed across his mind, he quickly calmed himself down without doubting Tang Wan’s intentions since he knew her well enough to understand that she would never cause him harm, and she must only be telling him to temporarily compromise after receiving some kind of news. “Wan’er, I trust you have your reasons. You know me. I can endure this with no problem, but you have to tell me why.” After taking a deep breath, Chu Hao stared at Tang Wan with his clear eyes and spoke. Lately, he hadn’t been in the Vermilion Bird Empire Palace, and he wasn’t exactly informed what really happened to Tang Wan. [Did Gu Changge notice something and decided to coerce her? But wasn’t he busy fighting against the Eternal Overcast’s assault, leading the young prodigies of the Immortal Academy to slaughter Eternal Overcast creatures? Just how did he find the time to do that? Honestly, what’s the problem here?] Standing still, Tang Wan heaved a sigh as sorts of emotions arose in her heart, yet she was unable to disclose anything about Gu Changge to Chu Hao, and the reason she was so upfront with Chu Hao because she knew him very well, so she wasn’t worried that he would be angered. “Just please believe me. I will never hurt you. Since you have dealt with this crisis caused by the Eternal Overcast, I think you should retreat to the Sect for now. As long as you don’t provoke Gu Changge, he will never come and attack you,” Tang Wan claimed. “Why? What happened? Can’t you even tell me that?” Chu Hao was bewildered. Tang Wan shook her head in agony and she could only grin bitterly, saying, “Please, you have to believe me, but I can’t tell you the reasons just yet.” At once, Chu Hao grew wordless as he remembered the Alliance of Thousand Merchants and thought, [Were her actions perhaps discovered by the Alliance of Thousand Merchants, who then warned her not to upset Gu Changge, as that would prove no benefit to the alliance?] With that in mind, Chu Hao nodded and replied, “Alright, I understand. But don’t worry. I’ll soon become the Sect Master of the Supreme Cave Heaven very soon. By then, the factions behind you will not dare force you like this anymore.” Bearing an ambitious dream, Chu Hao clenched his fists. Vermilion Bird Empire was a relatively small empire, and due to its fragility, it would fall under the immense pressure from other forces. Therefore, he swore that, after he attained the Great Dao, he would build a peerless and indescribable dynasty that would conquer worlds and even the Nine Heavens, which all would worship. Due to his strengthening resolve, he could feel his Primordial Spirit shake as his Peak Sacred King Realm cultivation dazzlingly lit up all of a sudden, granting Chu Hao a glimpse into a vague vision. [What is this?] Chu Hao was dazed as he saw a mysteriously glowing halo above his soul which then turned into a weak, tiny quail. He watched as the little quail thrived from weakness, gradually growing stronger and evolved into a python as it dreamt to be a dragon that would rise to Nine Heavens. As if he became the little quail, Chu Hao witnessed its growth and evolution, and eventually, the quail would morph into a dragon that soared through the skies. [What is happening? This emotion… Is this a beacon for help?] In that instant, Chu Hao widened his eyes in stupefaction, thinking that he was seeing things as he actually sensed desperation in the tiny eyes of the quail, and that crushed him. [How can I save you…] He subconsciously asked. Alas, the next moment, Chu Hao was absolutely shocked as glistening blood splattered before his eyes. A gigantic black sword was seen landing upon the little quail that was on the brink of evolving into a dragon, pulverising its skull and leaving a pool of blood. Even at the moment of its death, the devastating dread and hopelessness lingered in the quail’s eyes. Through the eyes of the quail, he vaguely saw a hazy figure of a young man. The young man carried a harmonious smile, yet there was not a hint of warmth in his eyes. [Gu Changge? What does this mean?] Chu Hao felt the top of his head tingle, feeling as if the quail was closely bound to him, as if something important to him was mysteriously, speedily drifting away from him. [Is Gu Changge perhaps… my fated archnemesis?] “Chu Hao? Chu Hao? Are you alright?” Swiftly, Tang Wan’s voice awoke him from the dazing vision. At a loss for words in that instant, he could only silently peer at her. “Perhaps I should give you some time to consider it. Then, I shall take my leave.” Seeing that, Tang Wan let out a sigh since the decision was solely up to Chu Hao as his thoughts and actions were out of her control. With that, Tang Wan excused herself and departed. Nevertheless, unlike how she would usually leave with a space artifact, she simply walked out through the gates of the palace. Upon that sight, Chu Hao furrowed his brows in confusion. He always knew Tang Wan to be a cautious woman, who had always been assiduous. Be it visiting or leaving, she would always travel with her space artifact rather than walking through the gates of the palace out of concern that she would be noticed by Gu Changge’s men. Thus, there was no way she would be careless enough to forget this. In other words, Tang Wan must feel that she no longer had the need to be discreet, and she could now openly come and visit him. [What in the world is going on? Wan’er is being so strange today. She seems to be holding onto something frustrating, yet she won’t tell me about it…] Restlessness arose in Chu Hao’s heart as he wondered. Accordingly, he suddenly made a decision. With his cultivation level in the Sacred King Realm, he could tail Tang Wan without getting detected by her. Given his personality, he would never resort to stalking in the past. However, it was Tang Wan’s awfully suspicious behaviour that troubled him, and she was obviously hiding something from him. [I am sorry, Wan’er. I only do this for you.] Whoosh! Bearing that in mind, Chu Hao regained his composure. As he stepped forward, his body disappeared into the void as he hastily followed after Tang Wan. Nonetheless, Chu Hao was relieved to find that Tang Wan, after leaving the palace, went nowhere but a merchant building, and that building was none other than the base of the Alliance of Thousand Merchants. [Did I have it wrong?] Chu Hao heaved a sigh of relief. Right when he was about to leave, his face suddenly froze as he almost failed to hide himself in the void. As he used his divine sense to scan the building, he noticed Tang Wan exited the merchant building through the backdoor and she was headed towards another direction where enormous, magnificent pavilions and palaces stood, and that place was where the young prodigies of the Immortal Academy were currently staying. Back when the young prodigies first arrived, it was the Vermilion Bird Empire who arranged the accommodation for them in order to avoid upsetting them. [Why does Wan’er look so hasty? She seems perturbed. And why would she come here?] On usual days, Chu Hao would never come to this region since he couldn’t stand the smug looks of the vain young prodigies, but now, he was left with no choice but to enter this region. Given he had reached the Sacred King Realm, he was confident no one would be able to discover his tracks so easily. [Impossible… Why would Wan Er come to meet Gu Changge?] Chu Hao continued to tail Tang Wan with his divine sense, only to find a figure he painfully abhorred in a pavilion. Thereupon, he was taken aback as daze was all over his face. [Tang Wan left the palace just to come and meet Gu Changge?] Fiery rage gushed in his heart as his intuition urged him to confront and question her, but his rational mind reminded him that it was no time to show himself yet, since Tang Wan’s distressed face indicated that she was only coerced to come to the pavilion. [Damn! Wan’er’s family must have forced her to rush and meet Gu Changge! These merchants are only blinded by benefits! The magnitude of power and the forces affiliated with Gu Changge are unimaginable. The Tang Family wouldn’t miss to seize such an opportunity.] Chu Hao’s face instantly changed as he arrived at the thought, trying hard to suppress his vexation. He was curious to find out what it was that Tang Wan was hiding from him. … Pavilion of Clouds, located in the depths of the eastern region of Vermilion Bird Empire, was a pavilion constructed by the Alliance of Thousand Merchants. Harbouring thirty-three floors, the Pavilion was used to accommodate important guests and it was usually closed to the public. It was the embodiment of prosperity and extravagance. At that moment, Tang Wan arrived at the top floor hastily, while Gu Changge’s back was facing her, seemingly writing something as though he had yet to notice her presence. Though, it was this woman in white beside him that drew most of Tang Wan’s attention. After all, if it weren’t for the woman in white, there wouldn’t have been a feud between Gu Changge and Chu Hao. [That appearance of hers is nothing but a menace to society!] Clueless as to why Gu Changge looked for her, Tang Wan remained silent, and she was unable to get herself to call Gu Changge ‘Master’ right in front of the woman in white. “You don’t have to call me that in front of anyone else. Though, I actually thought you’d directly return to the Tang Family Manor because of your reluctance to meet with me. It seems you care very deeply about Chu Hao. But rest assured, a man is only as good as his words. As long as Chu Hao stays out of my way, I don’t give a crap about him. Or, well, you know, killing him is no different than killing a bug.” Gu Changge finally spoke, but he was still facing Tang Wan with her back, still working on something he was writing. His tone was ever so leisurely, as if Chu Hao was no one significant to him. Upon those words, Tang Wan didn’t know what to respond with, so she simply stood still and remained silent. She felt somewhat relieved when Gu Changge didn’t have her refer to him as ‘Master,’ since that would be discomforting and humiliating. But of course, as Gu Changge stated, she wouldn’t have come to remind him if she didn’t care about Chu Hao. Nonetheless, Chu Hao was still hesitating to make a decision. [What is Gu Changge talking about? Where did he gain his confidence, saying that he could easily kill me?] Hiding in the dark, Chu Hao heard the conversation that then left him infuriated as someone as prideful as him had never been belittled this way. Yet, Tang Wan wouldn’t defend him. However, from the conversation, Chu Hao finally understood why Tang Wan advised him to be patient. Although she only did that out of concern for him, he couldn’t help but feel annoyed. [Why is she so confident that I can’t beat Gu Changge? Why must I put up with all this?] [It seems Wan’er has been grievously coerced by her family, but there’s no telling what role Gu Changge plays in this yet.] Chu Hao suppressed his anger so as not to alert his enemies. After knowing Tang Wan’s frustration, he was a lot more relieved as the distressing idea of her betraying him completely disappeared from his mind. “G-Gu Changge, are you serious?” In the pavilion, Tang Wan was still oblivious to the fact that her minor negligence led to Chu Hao following her in the dark. Upon Gu Changge’s assurance, hope arose in her heart. She didn’t know why Gu Changge looked for her, but after a moment of contemplation, she couldn’t fathom what intention Gu Changge might bear towards Chu Hao. “Do you think there’s a need for me to care about little Chu Hao?” Gu Changge casually asked with a smile without turning around as he was still writing. “Then, I guarantee that I will convince him to let go of his grudge, and if it’s possible, I wish both of you can be allies. That should be the best, I—” Tang Wan replied as she nodded. “No need for that. I didn’t look for you for such a trivial matter. Even if he does bear a grudge towards me, should I even worry about it?” Gu Changge interrupted her speech. With a faint smile, he continued, “You’re getting ahead of yourself.” Stunned, Tang Wan spoke not a word. Having witnessed Gu Changge’s terror, she could tell that he wasn’t bluffing. Be it his strength or background, Chu Hao indeed was nothing but a bug to him. [Gu Changge… What despicable attitude! One day, I will make sure he regrets this!] Seeing that, Chu Hao, who was hiding in the dark, hideously frowned as he clenched his fists. If it weren’t for his strong mental fortitude, he would have revealed his powers by now. Chu Hao’s heart was burning with wrath upon Gu Changge’s condescending, indifferent attitude, and he was especially enraged and frustrated by how Gu Changge was defaming him to Tang Wan. In fact, he would simply laugh it off if Gu Changge said the same thing to anyone else, since the listener would not care about it too much. However, it had to be Tang Wan who Gu Changge spoke to, and that made him feel as though he was looked down on by Tang Wan. After all, Gu Changge’s actions was intolerable for a man. Nevertheless, Chu Hao took the jab patiently, not wanting Tang Wan’s hard work to go in vain. If he were to suddenly show up and attack Gu Changge now, forget the probability of success, Vermilion Bird Empire and Tang Wan’s family would definitely be doomed, becoming a target for the rest of the world. “So, G-Gu Changge, why did you want to see me?” After hesitating for a bit, Tang Wan curiously asked. In response, Gu Changge put down his quill and turned around. Without answering the question, he leisurely grinned. “Ah, I’ve been writing for too long. My neck aches.” Catching the twitch on Tang Wan’s face, Gu Changge, casual as usual, stated, “The Tang Family doesn’t seem to be doing well among the Alliance of Thousand Merchants.” However, without elaborating his point, Gu Changge went off on a tangent, “To be honest, I didn’t have you come over for anything big. I simply appreciate your beauty, which is why I may need your help to warm my bed tonight.” At once, Tang Wan’s face drastically changed. Were the speaker somebody else, she would have dismembered them right away, yet it was Gu Changge, who planted a Slave Mark in her. As such, she grew anxious and panicked. “Perhaps in the future, I could consider having a personal escort or some sort.” Gu Changge was still grinning breezily. [Damn it! Gu Changge! you insufferable piece of shit!] Upon such degrading words, Chu Hao, despite cultivating his mind for countless years, was so exasperated that his face turned blue. His murderous intent was severe enough to shatter the sky. In that instant, consequences no longer meant anything to him as he was going to appear and take Tang Wan away. Nonetheless, with his usually cool face, Gu Changge said, “But of course, those are only lies. I am not the slightest bit interested in you. Though, this ache on my neck persists.” His grin grew somewhat enthralling. Hearing that, Chu Hao, who was about to attack, immediately halted as his face was constantly changing. Gritting his teeth, he never hated a person this much. Tang Wan, on the other hand, was also going through an emotional roller coaster. As she was no fool, she instantly understood Gu Changge’s insinuation. He intended to humiliate her by having her working as his servant. [Neck pain? How could a cultivator of your calibre possibly have an aching neck?] Alas, given the threatening circumstances, she would have to obey in spite of her reluctance as she wasn’t certain if those words would come true if she were to upset him. Besides, if she were to actually become his personal escort, her family would indubitably be shocked. [Absolutely despicable…] Watching as Tang Wan reluctantly walked towards Gu Changge while gritting her teeth, Chu Hao, hiding in the dark, could no longer stand the sight. Speedily, his body disappeared. No words could describe the resentment and frustration in his heart. He was filled with immeasurable abhorrence. He witnessed the woman he loved more than himself, being commanded by Gu Changge as if she was some sort of subservient slave. Yet, he did not dare to intervene, and nothing else in the world could be more devastating than this. In that instant, Chu Hao had an irresistible urge to dismember Gu Changge, to tear up his corpse, to turn his bones into ashes. To disintegrate his entire existence. Only by doing those things could he ever relieve his overwhelming hatred.