80 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 80: The Flames of Hatred (Part 1) Zhu Cheng hurriedly returned to the Zhu residence with a few of his subordinates in tow. From afar, he saw flickering magical lights above the estate, the result of spells repeatedly clashing. The gusts caused by sword-riding cultivators shredded the clouds, occasionally accompanied by the sharp sounds of colliding spiritual energies. Even the Yuan Ying Elder guards were engaged in combat with the opposing side. Zhu Cheng anxiously instructed his men to park the flying vessel at a moderate distance from the estate—a safe spot—and barely managed to disembark quickly without stumbling. He cautiously approached the main gate and was shocked by the sight: the crimson door seemed battered as if by large-scale magical assaults. Even the pillars inscribed with protective formations were broken, leaving wood chips and rubble scattered. In front of the gate, a group was embroiled in chaos with the Zhu family's remaining guards, turning the street before the mansion into disarray. Those left at the gate were merely the portion of guards desperate enough to stay behind. Zhu Cheng knew that there were already more people who had entered the Zhu residence. These unaffiliated cultivators now found the perfect opportunity to stand on the side of righteousness, eager to settle both new and old grudges. Xiang Shi Yan merely spread some rumors, prompting them to come and investigate without hesitation. Though Zhu Cheng gritted his teeth, knowing these weren’t mere rumors, for those uninformed rogue cultivators, it was nothing more than a chance to vent and demand accountability from the three families. Turning back, he gestured to his subordinates to follow. They skirted around the chaos at the main entrance and slipped through a side alley to reach the Zhu residence’s side gate. The crowd out front was too large, and if they spotted him, who knew what turmoil might ensue. Zhu Cheng wasn’t here to explain anything to these rabble. As Xiang Shi Yan pointed out, it was normal for prominent families to surreptitiously maintain exotic beauties of other races. However, those women with beast-like ears were undeniable evidence in broad daylight. There are some unspoken societal norms that should never be laid bare. Right now, Zhu Cheng couldn’t care less about what those red-hot, blood-boiling rogue cultivators might do upon breaching the Zhu residence—to seize treasures or harm the family. In fact, if Zhu Yun or Zhu Yu were to suffer any injury, it would give him the leverage to paint these rogues as villains, discrediting them at will once their righteousness was gone. Other considerations aside, Zhu Cheng’s immediate concern was to conceal the exotic women within his estate as quickly as possible. The side gate, fortunately, wasn’t as crowded. The cultivators were here to protest, not raid, leaving the three guards and a few scattered individuals in a manageable skirmish. Zhu Cheng signaled his men to assist and took advantage of the commotion to slip inside. Draped in a cloak, no one noticed the noble attire beneath. The rogue cultivators outside even distracted the approaching guards, allowing him to pass unnoticed. Behind Zhu Cheng, a figure draped in a light-colored cloak silently trailed him, ghost-like, weaving among the guards without drawing any attention. Quickly, Zhu Cheng navigated through the courtyards of the Zhu residence, his mind a muddled mess. The place was relatively quiet, with no substantial damage visible, suggesting the rabble from the front hadn’t made it this far. Before inviting Xiang Shi Yan to Zhu mansion, he had put considerable effort into discreetly relocating his beloved concubines to other estates throughout the city, to avoid angering this representative of Yu Cang Shan. However, he dared not let the exotic women he bought from the black market leave the Zhu estate too easily—not out of fear they might escape, as there was no chance within the heavily guarded Huaihai City—but to prevent the Zhu family from a potential backlash if their secret was exposed. Although the servants in the Zhu residence were cultivators, their levels didn’t exceed the Qi Refining stage. Being at the bottom of the cultivation world, who among those seeking immortality would willingly serve others? Such cultivators couldn't possibly fend off the rabble. Whether they'd even resist was in doubt... The more Zhu Cheng thought, the more anxious he became. Those two exotic women were placed in secluded parts of the estate, but persistent raiders would eventually find them. It had been quite a while since his subordinates reported back. Had the rogue cultivators already found the "evidence" they were seeking? Someone was following him. Zhu Cheng’s steps suddenly slowed, a peculiar expression on his face as he glanced back. All he saw was the silent courtyard, where a light breeze rustled the grass and trees. Yet, he was certain someone was tailing him. Despite his feigned cultivation level, Zhu Cheng barely qualified as a Yuan Ying cultivator and had trained his divine sense through formation study. There was no way he wouldn't sense the unfamiliar presence trailing a safe distance behind him. As Zhu Cheng halted, so did the presence lurking behind. The stranger made no attempt to conceal themselves or release spiritual pressure to assert their presence, which left Zhu Cheng incapable of gauging the follower’s cultivation level. The person merely shadowed him silently, like playing cat-and-mouse, leaving Zhu Cheng deeply unsettled. Just as he was about to demand the intruder reveal themselves, an unsettling premonition crept into his heart. Zhu Cheng pressed his lips together, took two steps back, and then spun around to continue fleeing. Zhu Cheng had no clue who the pursuer might be, but an irrational fear abruptly ignited his survival instincts, driving him to escape from this uninvited guest. Was it Xiang Shi Yan? No, when he last saw her, she was with the Xu Bai and other family members. If she had followed him and he got harmed afterward, everyone would naturally suspect her. Would Xiang Shi Yan risk being ostracized by the entire cultivation world and implicate her sect by attacking him in broad daylight? Zhu Cheng shuddered internally, unable to confidently assert that Xiang Shi Yan wouldn’t be so foolish. The events over the past half-month had already shown Zhu Cheng how unpredictable Xiang Shi Yan could be. He felt something was off about this woman, her mindset beyond his comprehension. To Zhu Cheng, who was born into a clan and raised with family ideology ingrained from a young age—where “a man’s status is above a woman’s,” “order must be upheld, but its makers are often exceptions,” and “family interests outweigh individual needs”—these beliefs ran deep, enveloping him with every breath he took. The chasm between their mindsets might be larger than Zhu Cheng had anticipated. Years ago, when Gong Ning wished to move to Huaihai City, Xiang Shi Yan vehemently opposed it. While outwardly graceful and respectful, she inherently scorned so-called etiquette. Once, when Zhu Cheng manipulated Gong Ning into stating “a married woman must follow her husband” in her presence, she simply rolled her eyes at her dearest senior sister before advising Gong Ning not to be foolish. Zhu Cheng understood that female cultivators of her lineage carried the rebellious spirit of Yu Cang Shan’s former master. It dawned on him he should never have let his guard down around Xiang Shi Yan from the beginning. Two decades ago, when Hei Lin, the right envoy of the Yao clan’s holy sect, executed two mortal women in the borderlands between human and yao territories, hanging their bodies atop the city walls to mock human cultivators who claimed to protect all life, the human and yao relations were strained. Despite that, the Thirteen Seats made efforts to mend things, as the lives lost were merely those of two impoverished mortal girls, fated to disappear in any famine. The cultivation world was furious but restrained, bound by various forces at play. Xiang Shi Yan and Gong Ning were stationed at the borders to guard against the yao. The day they learned of the event, they defied their sect leader’s orders and went to the neighboring town, challenging the mid-stage Divine Transformation Hei Lin demon with their peak Yuan Ying cultivation without faltering, slaying the demon snake and sending its head to the Yao Emperor with the message: “One life remains unpaid; it shall be taken another day.” Xiang Shi Yan might not have considered the consequences of further straining relations with the yao, or perhaps she did but chose conflict over letting the deaths of two strangers go unanswered. Does this lunatic actually care about her reputation and the sect backing her? She would even purposefully stir Huaihai City’s hornet’s nest to achieve her goals. Zhu Cheng couldn’t fathom such irrational behavior. To him, Xiang Shi Yan bore a streak of madness that made his blood run cold. Zhu Cheng’s breathing grew rapid—his cheeks taut as he quickened his pace, eventually breaking into a frantic sprint within his own estate, heart pounding, casting terrified glances behind. Closer, ever closer. Zhu Cheng fled in desperation within the estate, relentlessly pursued. His follower neither hurried nor dawdled but gradually closed the gap, urging him onward. Fear colored the man’s features, and he could no longer focus on his original intentions—his mind fixated on one thought: find a place with people. The follower delighted in playing with his frayed nerves, leaving Zhu Cheng terrified to look back. When he abruptly collided with an invisible barrier, a distant memory flashed through Zhu Cheng’s mind. Years ago, in a hidden realm, he first encountered the twin beauties of Yu Cang Shan. Their youthful faces had long faded from his memory, yet Xiang Shi Yan’s condescending, piercing gaze remained a chilling brand in his mind. In Zhu Cheng's memory, Xiang Shi Yan had only looked at him with such a gaze twice—and she rarely met his eyes directly. The second time was on the day of his grand wedding to Gong Ning. Instead of offering blessings, the bride's junior sister grabbed his collar and effortlessly pinned him against the wall, threatening him word by word. Yet, as Zhu Cheng met her gaze, he felt an inexplicable thrill. The same contempt lurked in the depths of Xiang Shi Yan's eyes as it had years ago. She must genuinely despise him. Did Yue Hua Dao Jun, aloof to everyone, notice the helplessness and confusion in his eyes when confronted with his own internal insecurity? Seeing Xiang Shi Yan's impotent rage filled Zhu Cheng with genuine delight. In Xiang Shi Yan's eyes, Zhu Cheng was likely nothing more than a useless scion of a distinguished family, unworthy of her ethereal sister. Inferior talent, unremarkable appearance, his only praiseworthy trait being a small-minded and irksome personality—a miscreant with no morals. And yet, such a worthless person had taken away the thing she cherished most. Under the shadow of her cloak, Xiang Shi Yan's face appeared stern and menacing. She looked down with an emotionless gaze at the once proud Zhu family head, now groveling on the ground like a mangy dog. Zhu Cheng, infused with spiritual energy to quicken his escape, had collided with an unexpected air barrier, breaking his nose and nearly snapping his neck. The disheveled man let out a sharp laugh from his throat, turning to face her with a smug grin. "So that's it... You care so much about her, don't you? Did you realize that, Xiang Shi Yan? You're utterly disgusting!" His words were sliced in half by an incoming gale of sword energy that cut the air and severed his fingers. Xiang Shi Yan's expression remained indifferent: "Shut up, bastard. Keep your mouth closed." Author's Note: Originally, this segment was meant to maintain consistency in plot and emotion… but it’s already 11 PM, so I’m posting it. I can’t write another 3,000 words in forty minutes! When reading the next chapter, you might want to review this one first. Yes, some typos might seem intentional to avoid automated filters, so I used homophones. Aside from that, if you spot any glaring mistakes, please point them out (bows). Next chapter contains some graphic scenes, please consider this before purchasing QAQ No pop-up ads on this site, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)