Chapter 118: Violet (An Extra Chapter for Hundred Beasts’ Reward)

When Qiao Feng finished speaking, he saw that Zhu Yu did not respond, so he stood up on his own. Before he could speak, A Zhu, standing beside him, spoke first.

"Brother Qiao, who was that family you mentioned just now?" A Zhu raised her slightly flushed cheeks, staring at Qiao Feng, attempting to look into his heart.

"This... this..." Although Qiao Feng was a man of rugged appearance, he possessed deep and complex emotions, yet expressing them was harder for him than ascending to heaven. As a grandmaster of the Heavenly Pride Sect, his martial prowess was three parts stronger than that of an average veteran master, yet at this moment, he broke out in a cold sweat under the gaze of this delicate woman who lacked the strength to truss a chicken. This caused Qiao Feng’s eyes to wander, not daring to meet A Zhu’s gentle, liquid gaze.

Fortunately, it was this wandering gaze that solved the awkward atmosphere and instantly cooled Qiao Feng’s fervent heart. Within his field of vision, he spotted a figure sneaking off into the distance—the very direction in which Zhu Yu had departed!

Seeing this, Qiao Feng had no more interest in romance. He channeled his internal energy and lunged forward like an arrow! Simultaneously, he operated his internal energy, his "Dragon-Capturing Skill" responding to his will. Under his full exertion, a tremendous suction force emanated from his palm, directed at the figure ahead.

The figure in the distance was quickly overtaken; unable to resist the terrifying suction, they were pulled through the air toward Qiao Feng. Once his palm made contact, Qiao Feng firmly gripped the person’s throat, raising his other hand high as he gathered his energy. Anyone with a modicum of common sense knew that once that raised hand fell, the person in his grasp would meet their end.

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law, let go! You’re hurting me! Sister, sister, help me!" The person in his grip began to shriek, the content of which left Qiao Feng bewildered.

Brother-in-law? Sister?

After placing the person on the ground and seeing them turn around, Qiao Feng instantly recognized her. It was the daughter Duan Zhengchun had acknowledged just yesterday—A Zhu’s own biological sister, A Zi!

At this point, A Zhu trotted over. Upon seeing A Zi’s face, she asked in surprise, "Miss A Zi? What are you doing here so late?"

"Oh, what ‘Miss’ this or that? I heard everything you two said just now. You are my own sister; calling me that makes us sound like strangers."

Although Qiao Feng wanted the two to have a proper reunion, he couldn't hold back. "Miss A Zi, it is one thing to eavesdrop on us, but why were you following that person? What are you trying to do? Do you have any idea that you almost caused a catastrophe?"

Qiao Feng’s tone was stern, startling A Zi, but she immediately responded with indifference. "What kind of catastrophe could there be? You’re just trying to scare me. My father is the Prince of Zhennan of Dali, and my brother-in-law is Qiao Feng of the North. Is there any trouble in this world that I can’t handle? Never mind that—Brother-in-law, come with me to the Star-Sect tomorrow. That Old Freak of the Stars bullied me; help me vent my anger."

Hearing A Zi’s words, Qiao Feng frowned deeply, but out of respect for her status, he kept his irritation to himself. A Zhu, hearing this, felt it was inconceivable. How could A Zi think this way? Putting aside Qiao Feng’s previous behavior, which indicated that the man’s identity was extraordinary, even if he were an ordinary person, one shouldn't act like this.

"A-A Zi, it is wrong to think that way. Everyone in this world is equal. How can you just bully people as you please? Even those without status or rank deserve respect."

A Zi’s bright, intelligent eyes darted from the scowling Qiao Feng to the gentle A Zhu. Suddenly, her expression shifted as she shouted, "Fine! You’re my own sister, yet you team up with this big oaf to bully me! I’m going back to tell Father. Just you wait!"

A Zi threw out a harsh remark and ran off, disappearing from sight in moments. Looking at the retreating figure, Qiao Feng sighed, "Two sisters born of the same mother—how could they be so different?"

"I was lucky to be taken in by the Murong family at a young age. A Zi has been wandering the martial world since she was small, so it’s no surprise her temperament is wild. If I had faced the same experiences as A Zi, I fear I might have been even worse." Although A Zhu also disapproved of A Zi’s behavior, she still offered a defense for her.

"Enough, let’s not talk about her. It’s getting late, let’s go back and rest." Qiao Feng did not want to continue arguing this point and used it as an excuse to change the subject.

"Mhm." A Zhu nodded, and the two walked back side by side. Under the dark night sky, they walked together. Due to the shifting weather, the surroundings were silent except for the sound of thunder, which created a subtle silence between them. Yet, for two people who held each other in their hearts, there was never a moment of true silence.

"Brother-in-law, was that gentleman just now truly so formidable? Even with the backing of the Duan family of Dali, you are no match for him?"

Hearing A Zhu’s question, Qiao Feng’s mind flashed back to the palace, where he had been struck by two unremarkable eunuchs. Those two eunuchs possessed unfathomable martial arts, and Qiao Feng had no idea how many more like them existed within the palace. He carefully organized his thoughts before replying.

"To put it in your terms: if I were to kill Prince Duan, I would be hunted by the Duan family of Dali, and life would be difficult. That is true. But there are ways to resolve it. The world is vast, and there is always a place the Duan family cannot find. Furthermore, if the Duan family were to pester me and truly anger me, given my martial arts, with enough time, I could eventually exterminate the entire Duan clan!

"But that man is different. Never mind killing him—if he were to suffer even the slightest mishap, we would never be able to set foot in the Central Plains again for the rest of our lives. Not only that, we would have to worry every day about assassins arriving at any moment. If he were to meet with an accident because of us, we would be the greatest sinners in this world!"

In a daze, Qiao Feng seemed to see a scene after Zhu Yu’s death: the world, which had known a century of peace, engulfed in the flames of war!

"Is he that powerful? What if you replaced him with Prince Duan?"

"Duan Zhengchun? I don't mean to look down on him, but if he truly had the gall to do such a thing, Dali would not be far from destruction."

Hearing this, A Zhu’s mouth fell open in surprise, her eyes filled with curiosity. She asked hesitantly, "Then... can I know the identity of that gentleman?"

Qiao Feng looked up at the empty surroundings and then whispered into A Zhu’s ear. Upon hearing his words, the curiosity in A Zhu’s eyes vanished, replaced by profound shock. This news was no less shocking to her than the moment she had found her biological father and learned he was the man responsible for Qiao Feng’s father’s death.

"How can that be?" A Zhu parted her red lips, speaking in disbelief.

Seeing A Zhu’s reaction, Qiao Feng thought for a moment, then lowered his head and whispered the entire history of his connection with Zhu Yu.