Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Hand on the Shoulder

Ever since he had received the news, Fourth Senior Brother Han Zhifei and Han Zun had stayed constantly by Zhang Ning’s side, preventing him from truly losing his composure. When Zhang Ning finally regained his senses, he realized his subordinates had already followed his orders obediently, rushing through the formation at the fastest speed and returning to the Great Freedom Demon Sect. He arrived at the sect gates almost simultaneously with Third Senior Brother Zhuge Yi’s group, so Zhang Ning watched helplessly as his third senior brother was pushed into the “Critical Care Room.”

Zhang Ning barely had time to remark on what was surely another invention of First Senior Brother; he could only pray in his heart that the contraption would prove useful. Yet, as soon as he began to pray, Zhang Ning recalled that in the world of Azure Sky—a realm of martial prowess and fantasy—the most powerful beings were not the gods above, but rather…

Zhang Ning finally shook off the chaos that had clouded his mind and shouted at the door to the “Critical Care Room,” “Where is Master? Where is Master? Why hasn’t he come yet?!” Zhang Ning was frantic; his master was being far too unreliable this time. From past behavior, he’d seemed more like a doting, indulgent parent, so why was he absent now?

Only now did Zhang Ning realize just how dependent he was on Chu Hanyu, and how high a place Chu Hanyu occupied in his heart. In his confusion, Zhang Ning felt that so long as Chu Hanyu was present, everything could be resolved, and in truth, that wasn’t far from reality.

“Hey! Calm down; your senior brother will be fine!” a voice called.

“What?” Zhang Ning looked up and saw Han Zun, arms crossed, rolling his eyes at the door as well. Zhang Ning didn’t care about his attitude, but was startled by the content of his words: “Why are you so sure?”

At that moment, Zhang Ning felt a hand squeeze his shoulder, realizing that Fourth Senior Brother Han Zhifei’s hand had been resting there all along. His limbs were cold, but his shoulder was warm.

“Xiao Ning,” Han Zhifei, his murderous aura almost palpable, spoke with calm eyes and voice: “Third Senior Brother will be fine.” Zhang Ning immediately exhaled in relief, “That’s good, that’s good! Cough, cough, cough…” As he spoke, he began to cough, only then realizing he’d been holding his breath.

Han Zhifei said, “Back then, First Senior Brother had his entire spine pulled out… and afterwards, he was perfectly fine, even breaking through to a higher realm.” Hearing this, Zhang Ning was torn between laughter and tears, but admiration welled within him. He knew that though the result was fortunate, the process must have been perilous—perhaps the very reason First Senior Brother created this “Critical Care Room.”

Han Zun interjected, “Even I, an outsider, know that your Great Freedom Demon Sect has the best and newest techniques, with resources more than sufficient! Once your master’s personally refined elixirs are administered, you needn’t worry about saving your senior brother’s life. Ever since your First Senior Brother… Anyway, in your sect now, as long as someone still has a breath left and you spare no expense, they can be revived.” His tone was dismissive, but Zhang Ning detected a hint of jealousy.

Han Zhifei nodded, “He’s right. In fact, even if Third Senior Brother hadn’t returned to the sect for treatment, he would still have survived.”

Yet as he spoke, Han Zhifei’s gaze was not on Zhang Ning, but fixed on the red light above the “Critical Care Room” (surely another imitation by First Senior Brother; Zhang Ning felt the whole atmosphere was about to be ruined).

“But everyone seems so tense,” Zhang Ning said quietly.

Han Zhifei replied, “That’s because Senior Brother’s status is different.”

With his words, Zhang Ning finally understood: this assassination attempt might have been more frightening than dangerous. There were moments hanging by a thread, but since Senior Brother had not been reduced to ashes, with the sect’s sanctuary as a backing, even the dead could be snatched back, and as long as one lived, it made little difference whether the injury was light or grave.

But since it concerned a prince, the Great Freedom Demon Sect naturally had to be on high alert. It was much like how important figures, when catching a cold, could summon a private physician, even if a sip of hot water would suffice—simply because they had the means. Zhang Ning had been swept up by the tense atmosphere, but now he truly relaxed.

Just then, a tall, slender youth emerged from the “Critical Care Room” and said, “Your Highness, Third Highness’s condition is stable; he should awaken in a few days.”

“May I go in to see him?” Zhang Ning asked. The tall youth was taken aback, then replied, “I dare not presume, Fifth Highness! It’s just that Third Highness took a secret medicine to temporarily boost his realm, so his appearance is somewhat poor.” He bowed again, slightly flustered.

Only then did Zhang Ning realize that this wasn’t Earth, and in this martial world, sterile procedures weren’t a concern. He strode inside and saw Third Senior Brother lying on a couch. The incense burner in the room emitted an unknown fragrance, mist curling on the floor like clouds, as if one had stepped onto lush grass.

Third Senior Brother lay on the couch, eyes shut, face pale, looking thinner and bonier than the last time they met. Yet between his brows was a sharpness, gone was the usual clever but gentle demeanor.

Zhang Ning felt his anger flare, teeth clashing in frustration. How could a healthy person suddenly become so gaunt? Was this even human?! Who dared to harm my Third Senior Brother?! If I ever find out who you are!!!

Zhang Ning immediately turned to Fourth Senior Brother Han Zhifei behind him. Han Zhifei nodded to Zhang Ning and said slowly, “Let me explain everything to you.”

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea,

Han Zhifei and Zhang Ning strolled through the Great Freedom Demon Sect. It seemed Fourth Senior Brother was intentionally helping him clear his mind, but Zhang Ning was far from calm. “A Martial Lord’s remnant soul?” Zhang Ning asked incredulously. “Wouldn’t Master quickly detect such a thing?”

Han Zhifei was silent for a moment, then said, “If Master were here, he would certainly have noticed. But he is not.”

Zhang Ning stared blankly at Fourth Senior Brother, unable to react for a moment. “Where did he go?”

Han Zhifei replied, “Master and several other venerable ones went to the mid-sized world where the foreign strongman originated.”

Suddenly, Zhang Ning understood, and then clenched his teeth in anger. With Master gone, all sorts of monsters and demons dared to show themselves! The most infuriating thing was, while Master and other Martial Lords were sacrificing for Azure Sky, someone dared to stab them in the back? Truly…

Suddenly, Zhang Ning found the situation absurd. His master, clearly a Demon Lord, was busy saving the world, while others lacked any sense of the bigger picture, hiding behind the venerables and indulging their grudges.

“What’s the origin of that Martial Lord’s remnant soul?”

As soon as Zhang Ning asked this, he was surprised to see Fourth Senior Brother Han Zhifei clench his fist tightly, knuckles turning white.