Chapter 28: Overwhelmed by a Multitude of Affairs

Silence.
A deathly silence.
The deck suddenly became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

The strange atmosphere that had begun before the young man landed on the deck only grew more intense. Meanwhile, many other agile, sharp-looking figures were descending from the sky, though their arrival was far less dramatic than the youth’s. They landed gently, saluted him, and then, almost involuntarily, their gazes all turned first to Zhang Ning.

Had Zhang Ning witnessed such mysterious and nimble movements before, he would have recognized these people as members of the Xuanming Palace. But even by guessing, he realized as much—after all, rumor had it they loved to make appearances by “air-dropping” like this. But that wasn’t the point...

Slowly, realization crept over Zhang Ning. His mouth fell open bit by bit. My god... What did I just say? Did I really tell him to be my concubine? That’s far too insulting! No one could possibly endure that! Am I really going to die, fragrant and delicate, here and now?

The worst part was, it was a last-minute slip of the tongue! He was originally going to call him his main wife, but then changed it to concubine—how could that possibly be tolerated? No, under no circumstances would anyone stand for it!

Forcing down his expression, Zhang Ning assumed the air of a prince, managing not to retreat in panic. He mustered a perfunctory businesslike smile, trembling slightly, not even sure what he himself was doing.

Zhuge Yi took a deep breath. He felt that the many years of close alliance between Xuanming Palace and the Grand Freedom Demon Sect—so close they practically wore the same pair of underpants—would today come to an end!

Yet, contrary to everyone’s expectation that the young man would erupt in anger, he only burst out laughing. “You’re certainly amusing!”

Two hours later—

Han Zun and Zhang Ning sat at one end of the dining table. The senior brother who usually dined with Zhang Ning had been deliberately seated far away by Han Zun. Zhuge Yi’s face was expressionless, maintaining a veneer of harmony with difficulty, while Han Zun completely ignored him, instead eagerly engaging Zhang Ning in conversation, even treating him with unexpected cordiality.

Zhang Ning felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

The two sacred lands had long enjoyed cordial relations, and it was customary for Xuanming Palace to send disciples as exchange students. (Upon hearing the term “exchange student,” Zhang Ning didn’t even have to ask—he knew it was his eldest senior brother’s doing.) This time, Han Zun himself was leading the group of exchange students.

Han Zun was the undisputed leading figure of his generation. As the sole disciple of Xing Qiluo, the Demon Lord of the Nether Realm, he had displayed the makings of a peerless villain since childhood—ruthless in action, brazen in manner. Just a few years ago, when he first entered the martial world, he climbed from the hundredth spot on the Human List all the way to the top, a feat so legendary that for a time, Han Zun’s name was even more renowned than some seniors on the Earth List.

To be ranked first on the Human List—among those under thirty-five years old and below Martial Master level—was an extraordinary feat. The world’s powerful individuals were divided into the Heaven, Earth, and Human Lists, with the Human List ranking the top hundred young warriors solely by combat ability. Han Zun was undoubtedly the idol of his generation in the demonic path—their pride and faith. As for what the righteous sects’ young people thought, Zhang Ning couldn’t say.

All the table etiquette Zhang Ning had practiced over the past few days seemed to have deserted him. He listlessly poked at his food, sneaking glances at his third senior brother, who looked as if he might die of frustration at any moment.

Zhang Ning wasn’t ungrateful—his body was truly only eight years old, and his third senior brother really had his best interests at heart, concerned for his martial foundation. He just didn’t know how to apologize... Maybe when he had the chance, or when he became strong enough to find all manner of rare treasures for his third senior brother!

Just then, Han Zun gave a tinkling laugh. “Really? You find antisocial personalities so interesting?”

Only then did Zhang Ning realize with a shock what he’d been saying! Just now, wanting not to lose his composure in the face of this formidable character, he’d decided to match him in bravado and had recounted the story of Hannibal. But this young master found it so amusing? What kind of sense of humor was that?

With a scrape, Zhuge Yi stood up. “All right, Ning, it’s time for you to rest. It’s late, you must be exhausted.”

Late? By the calendar of Azure Blue Star, it was only seven in the evening! If he went to bed now, wouldn’t he wake up at three or four in the morning?

Of course, Zhang Ning only dared complain inwardly, responding obediently out loud. At last, Zhuge Yi seemed visibly relieved.

Zhang Ning failed to notice the mocking smile Han Zun threw Zhuge Yi’s way.

Alas! Zhang Ning ran through the options for tonight’s lodging in his mind, returned to his room in the Fragrant Pavilion, and reflected on the day’s events... Maybe his luck was off the charts today? Never mind—he’d just sleep. With such fortune, only sleep could suppress it!

He dimmed the lights in the corridor, letting his room sink into darkness.

Zhang Ning hadn’t expected that sleeping would be worse than staying awake—he had a nightmare.

He “awoke” to find himself lying in a coffin, so terrified his soul nearly left his body. What’s more, he found himself utterly devoid of internal energy. He struggled and pounded against the coffin, but it didn’t budge an inch. He tried every ounce of strength but was as powerless as an ant shaking a tree. Fear overwhelmed him. Just as he was about to lose consciousness again inside the coffin, someone struck the lid with a heavy thud.

The touch was brief, and yet from it, Zhang Ning felt a vast sense of sorrow and regret, so potent that his own heart ached, a surge of unwillingness rising unbidden within him—as if he still had unfinished business, as if there were people he could not let go of.

Tears streamed down Zhang Ning’s face as he cried out involuntarily, “Master!”

He woke, gasping for air, flinging back the covers and sitting up in bed, drenched in sweat.

Yu Zhong burst through the door, swiftly scanning the room for danger before dropping to one knee before Zhang Ning. “Your Highness.”

“I’m fine, I’m fine...” Zhang Ning replied instinctively, trying to appear calm.

He swallowed a couple of times, puzzled—tonight wasn’t even Yu Zhong’s shift, so why was he standing guard outside?

Before he could think further, something else seized his attention. Glancing at the furnishings, he caught his own pale reflection in the white gleam on a tripod in the room and startled himself.

Clang! The doorframe shook again as another person entered. It was his third senior brother, Zhuge Yi, fully dressed and composed, his woolly curls unruffled, clearly not yet asleep.

“Ning, did you wake from a nightmare? It’s my fault—I didn’t expect it would come three days early... Don’t worry, the oppressive aura is overwhelming, but it won’t harm you. You’ll have to get used to this sooner or later.”

Zhang Ning, slightly recovered, was still at a loss. “Third senior brother, what are you talking about?”

Zhuge Yi’s gaze darkened with open hostility as he spoke each word with emphasis. “Tonight is the Night of Demonic Blossoms and Flowing Nectar!”

With that, he opened the window. At some point, the great-bellied boat had traveled to a stretch of wilderness. A strange, bewitching full moon hung in the night sky. Rivers of silvery mist seemed to flow across the earth and through the air—a scene of breathtaking beauty, but everywhere, grotesque creatures and some humans fought over something, blood staining every inch of the landscape. A suffocating sense of dread slowly closed around Zhang Ning’s throat.

Softly, Zhang Ning echoed, “The Night of Demonic Blossoms and Flowing Nectar?”