Warrior’s Promise

Tian Hua Mansion was the mansion of Reverend Tian Hua, the other Chief Elder in Palmy Branch. It was located at the center of Palmy City, not too far away from Jin Wu Mansion.

Tian Hua Mansion was big and it was much bigger than Jin Wu Mansion. There were several palaces and garrets in the mansion.

“After you!”

Quan Ruhai invited Su Mo and Ling Chang into Tian Hua Mansion. They walked past several jaded paths before they came to a splendid palace.

“Please take a seat!” Quan Ruhai beckoned Su Mo and Ling Chang to take a seat as he took the main seat.

“Brother Quan, do you have any suggestions as to how I can become a disciple of Reverend Tian Hua or Reverend Jin Wu?” Su Mo asked after he had sat down.

“That will depend on your ability!”

Quan Ruhai smiled and said, “Two years from now, my Teacher will be celebrating his mega-annum birthday. You will have the opportunity to prove yourself at the banquet.”

Banquet?

Su Mo was surprised to learn that Reverend Tian Hua would be celebrating his birthday. In that case, he would have to target Reverend Tian Hua to be his Teacher.

“What has the birthday celebration got to do with the discipleship?” Ling Chang asked.

“During the banquet, many elders from Palmy Branch and the disciples and Chief Elders from the other branches will be present.” Quan Ruhai said.

“What should I do?” Su Mo asked.

“The disciples from the other branches will definitely challenge us. As long as you manage to defeat one of them or come to a tie, you will be bringing glory to Palmy Branch. When that happens, you will be easily accepted by the Chief Elders.” Quan Ruhai replied with a smile.

He had reservations about Su Mo’s strength but he merely offered his help. It would be up to Su Mo to make it happen.

“I see!” Su Mo nodded. Quan Ruhai wanted him to show his strength publicly. When that happened, Reverend Tian Hua and Reverend Jin Wu would readily accept him as their disciple.

“Brother Wu Shan, I will bring you to the banquet and give you the opportunity to perform!” Quan Ruhai said with a smile. Given Wu Shan’s status, he would not be invited to the banquet. Quan Ruhai would have to bring him in.

“Thank you, Brother Quan!” Su Mo cupped his fist at Quan Ruhai. He intended to attend the banquet to assess the situation before deciding on his next move.

“Junior Sister Xuan Qing, you must be prepared as well. As Elder Jin Wu’s new disciple, you will be in the limelight!” Quan Ruhai told Ling Chang.

As the disciples of Elder Tian Hua and Elder Jin Wu, they would have to endure great pressure on such occasions. Xuan Qing would have to face greater pressure as she was Elder Jin Wu’s latest disciple.

However, that was their opportunity to perform as well.

“Alright!” Ling Chang nodded. She was not interested in taking part in such occasions but she would attend if she was called by Reverend Jin Wu to do so.

“Great. Anyway, just be prepared for it!”

Quan Ruhai nodded. He looked at Su Mo and said, “Brother Wu Shan, there’s only so much I can do. Whether you can be accepted by any of the Chief Elders as a disciple will depend on your capability.”

“Thank you, Brother Quan. I will do my best!” Su Mo said as he cupped his fist.

“Haha! That’s great!” Quan Ruhai smiled broadly. He looked at Ling Chang and said, “Junior Sister Xuan Qing, I notice that you have been comprehending the Rules of Space. I have some knowledge about it and we can exchange pointers.”

Having said that, Quan Ruhai and Ling Chang started to discuss the Rules of Space.

Although Quan Ruhai did not cultivate the Rules of Space, he had much knowledge of them.

Su Mo sat quietly by the side and listened. It was apparent that Quan Ruhai had an ulterior motive.

However, Su Mo was not concerned about it. Even without him, no one would be able to lay his hands on Ling Chang.

After some time, Quan Ruhai sent Su Mo and Ling Chang out of Tian Hua Mansion.

“Junior Sister Xuan Qing, you are welcome to visit me at Tian Hua Mansion whenever you are free!”

Quan Ruhai told Ling Chang with a smile before they left.

Quan Ruhai looked impassively at Ling Chang and Wu Shan as they departed before he returned to the palace.

A man in a black robe was sitting in the palace and he was none other than Xiao Yushu.

“Xiao Yushu, how do you intend to thank me for helping you?” Quan Ruhai asked as he looked at Xiao Yushu after he had settled down on the main seat.

“Brother Ruhai, both of us are merely getting our heart’s desire!”

Xiao Yushu smiled faintly and said, “Since you have taken a liking for Xuan Qing, it will do you good to get rid of Wu Shan!”

“True. I can see that they are more than fellow disciples!” Quan Ruhai nodded and said. However, he did not take Wu Shan’s words to heart.

“No one in the entire Ancient Cloud Star Alliance is as beautiful as Xuan Qing. Moreover, she possesses the Pure Yin Body and she is a perfect cultivation partner. If not for her, I would not have ended up in this state.” Xiao Yushu said with a glum look. He was in such a pathetic state as he had dealt with Su Mo because of Ling Chang.

“Hoho! Since you have lost your opportunity, I shall not stand on ceremony!” Quan Ruhai said with a smile. He was determined to make Ling Chang his. This time around, he would show off his skills at his Teacher’s birthday celebration and ask his Teacher and Elder Jin Wu to arrange their marriage for him.

“Let me congratulate Brother Ruhai in advance!” Xiao Yushu said with a smile. However, deep within, he was unhappy about it.

“Hoho! In fact, it is not difficult to kill Wu Shan. After he is out of the city, you can kill him. Why do you have to go through all the trouble?” Quan Ruhai asked as he shook his head. Xiao Yushu had gone through much trouble to deal with Wu Shan.

“The problem is, he has been cultivating in seclusion and there is no opportunity to lay hands on him!” Xiao Yushu replied.

“Lure him out!” Quan Ruhai said.

“Brother Ruhai, Wu Shan is well-known in Palmy City. If he were to die outside the city, everybody would know that I am the culprit as I am at odds with him. Moreover, I can’t bear the consequences as I am an ordinary disciple at the moment.” Xiao Yushu replied.

“You are right!” Quan Ruhai nodded in agreement. Xiao Yushu had lost his special status and he could not afford to have another setback.

Quan Ruhai had agreed to help Xiao Yushu as they used to be on good terms.

“As long as Wu Shan shows up, someone will kill him.” Xiao Yushu said as a cold killing intent flashed across his eyes. Wu Shan can forget about learning from any of the Supremes who are at the Great Completion Realm!

“Great. I am looking forward to seeing it!” Quan Ruhai commented with a smile.

…

“Do you trust him?”

Su Mo asked Ling Chang, who was walking beside him, on the streets of Palmy City.

“No.” Ling Chang replied.

“He likes you.” Su Mo continued and said.

“I know.”

“What do you think of him?” Su Mo asked

“Nothing.”

“Many people like you, and that includes Xiao Yushu. In the future, there will be many more.” Su Mo commented.

“What about you?” Ling Chang stopped walking and asked as she looked at Su Mo with her big bright eyes.

“Me?”

Su Mo was stunned when he heard Ling Chang’s question. He looked at Ling Chang and replied with a smile, “The one I like is Qing Xuan.”

“I am Qing Xuan.” Ling Chang responded.

Su Mo was silent when he heard the response from Ling Chang. The two of them looked each other in the eye and they were filled with different emotions. They comprised memories, dreams, barriers, and uncertainties.

“I will ask my Teacher about Reverend Tian Hua’s birthday celebration. Wait for my news!”

Shortly, Ling Chang walked off after she had made that comment.

As Su Mo watched Ling Chang departing, he was in a daze. What does she mean? Is she trying to find out if he has feelings for her?

Su Mo and Ling Chang had known each other for many years. If he were to add on the years that he had known Hong Qingxuan, the two of them would have known each other since they were young.

However, after so many years, Su Mo had never expressed his feelings for her.

Sigh!

After some time, Su Mo sighed and left in a hurry. He had no desire or time to think about matters of the heart.

There were more pressing matters awaiting him.

Moreover, since both he and Ling Chang were in Palmy City, he would let nature take its course.