Free Web NovelChapter 41: Chapter 41: Tiger Flame Academy
An elegant female voice, so jarring amidst the chaos of the Cheng Mansion.
Everyone blinked. ’At a time like this, someone is actually coming out to offer congratulations? Are they missing a screw?’
All eyes followed the voice to see a woman in orange robes walking out gracefully.
At the sight of her, Cheng Weishan and the others’ expressions changed drastically. "The Hundred Flames Trading Company... a holder of the Orange Fire Order." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
The entire crowd was stunned. Wu Xin’s face contorted as she suddenly remembered the lurking threat of the Hundred Flames Trading Company.
According to Cheng Weishan’s report from last night, the Hundred Flames Trading Company was very likely backing this person with the Life-taking Bone.
Thinking of this, Wu Xin demanded, "Hundred Flames Trading Company, what do you think you’re doing?"
Wu Caicai had finally made her appearance, formally offering her wedding congratulations to Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu.
The crowd of guests behind her was dumbfounded.
’This young woman is actually from the Hundred Flames Trading Company... and she just said the Life-taking Bone Calamity Star would win, and he actually did.’
’And we... we mocked her for it.’
Wu Caicai ignored the stares from behind her and replied to Wu Xin, "I was invited to the wedding, of course. I am here to congratulate Hero Lu and Miss Cheng on their marriage."
With that, she turned to Lu Chao with a smile. "Hero Lu, congratulations."
Lu Chao returned the gesture from his warhorse. "Thank you."
He glanced back at Cheng Yunsu and said softly, "Xiao Su’er, I told you someone would come to congratulate us today."
Tears welled in Cheng Yunsu’s eyes as she hugged Lu Chao’s waist tightly.
Other than her father, Cheng Chuming, their wedding was supposed to have been one without well-wishers.
But Lu Chao had brought the Hundred Flames Trading Company here, lending their wedding a sense of happiness and celebration.
Suddenly, Bai Wenrong, who was half-lying on the ground having barely escaped with his life, rasped, "It was you. It must have been you, Hundred Flames Trading Company, secretly helping this Life-taking Bone bastard! It was you!"
As his voice faded, a tremor ran through the crowd.
The people from the Cheng and Bai Mansions, who had suffered Lu Chao’s whipping the previous night, had a sudden realization.
They recalled everything Lu Chao had just done. ’He’s clearly only at the Postnatal Sixth Layer, so how can he be this strong? Especially severing Han Shu’s arm—that’s completely bizarre, impossible!’
Cheng Weishan immediately spoke up. "That’s right! The Hundred Flames Trading Company must be pulling strings behind the scenes."
The smile instantly vanished from Wu Caicai’s face, her expression darkening on the spot.
’Damn it,’ she thought. ’It was bad enough you all mistook last night’s events and thought we were helping Lu Chao. To still believe it now... you people are insane!’
Before Wu Caicai could retort, Wu Xin decided it all made perfect sense, and a cold killing intent washed over her...
"So, it was you."
"The night at the Qianling Trading Company... you helped the one with the Life-taking Bone escape, and then you helped him solidify his cultivation at the Postnatal Sixth Layer."
"The chaos with the warhorses just now must have been your doing as well."
"Holder of the Hundred Flames Trading Company’s Orange Order, what are you trying to accomplish?"
Wu Xin’s words made everything click for those who were still confused.
’That’s right, the warhorses suddenly went into a frenzy.’
’And no one saw what the Life-taking Bone Calamity Star did, but Han Shu’s arm was suddenly gone.’
’There must have been outside intervention.’
No one had been able to see Lu Chao’s movements...
Their logic was simple: since they didn’t see how it happened, people from the Hundred Flames Trading Company must have helped in secret.
Han Shu’s expression turned vicious as she raged, "Hundred Flames Trading Company! How dare you sever my arm—the arm of a master from the Great Wu Imperial Academy!"
She also believed the Hundred Flames Trading Company was responsible. ’Someone with a Life-taking Bone at the mere Postnatal Sixth Layer couldn’t possibly have done it.’
Wu Caicai’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
She quickly looked to Lu Chao, hoping he would explain. She had no intention of taking the blame for this.
Lu Chao was left speechless as he looked at the crowd, all of whom believed they had uncovered the truth.
’I was once an Emperor General who fought on countless battlefields,’ he thought. ’Throwing a few warhorses into chaos couldn’t be easier.’
’To think it would be misunderstood like this. It’s ridiculous.’
After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Chao felt he should clarify things. After all, this really had nothing to do with the Hundred Flames Trading Company.
’It wouldn’t be right to cause them unnecessary trouble.’
Therefore, Lu Chao spoke up. "This has nothing to do with the Hundred Flames Trading Company. They didn’t help me."
Unfortunately, this explanation only drew more cold sneers from the crowd. They all thought Lu Chao’s words were a blatant lie. One Patriarch even commented, "This Lu Chao with his Life-taking Bone really knows how to spin a tale."
Listening to the accusations from the crowd, Wu Caicai’s face went from dark to flushed with pure rage.
’This feeling of being wrongly accused is infuriating!’
Lu Chao fell silent, a helpless expression on his face. ’I’ve already explained, but nobody believes me!’
"Ha, hahaha..."
Just as Wu Caicai was about to let loose a string of curses, a burst of laughter echoed.
The big-bearded Fan Jinhua suddenly strode out, laughing. "This has nothing to do with the Hundred Flames Trading Company. I was the one who helped Lu Chao."
Hmm?
Everyone, regardless of faction, turned to look at Fan Jinhua.
Lu Chao was also baffled. ’Who is this big-bearded man? Why would he suddenly step forward and claim responsibility for helping me?’
Wu Caicai was just as confused. ’Why is Master Fan admitting to this?’
The others stared at Fan Jinhua. Han Shu shrieked, "Who are you? Was it you who severed my arm?"
Fan Jinhua gave an indifferent smile and replied, "That’s right, it was all my doing... As for who I am, I’m someone who can’t stand you lot from the Great Wu Imperial Academy. I am a master from the Tiger Flame Kingdom’s Tiger Flame Academy—Fan Jinhua!"
As soon as he said this, the entire crowd cried out in unison, "The Tiger Flame Academy?"
A look of surprise flashed in Lu Chao’s eyes. He, of course, knew of the Tiger Flame Academy, and he was even more familiar with the Tiger Flame Kingdom.
In the War of the Hundred Countries...
The Tiger Flame Kingdom was the primary rival of the Great Wu Empire and one of the strongest kingdoms among the Hundred Countries.
The Tiger Flame Kingdom and the Great Wu Empire were enemies, so naturally, the Tiger Flame Academy and the Great Wu Imperial Academy shared a long and storied rivalry. Even during peacetime among the Hundred Countries, they often held competitions.
Each one was exceptionally brutal...
The Tiger Flame Academy lost more than it won, and each defeat resulted in the deaths of many of its students.
In other words, a master from the Tiger Flame Academy had every reason to want to kill a master from the Great Wu Imperial Academy.
"Fan Jinhua... I think I’ve heard that name," Han Shu said, her voice dripping with hatred. "You actually dare set foot in the territory of the Great Wu Empire."
Clearly, she was now completely convinced that Fan Jinhua had been the one to attack her in secret.
Fan Jinhua shrugged, replying nonchalantly, "Why wouldn’t I dare? A small Great Wu border town like Yangzhou City... I can come and go as I please. And if I want to kill someone, I’ll just kill them."
Such domineering words sent a chill down everyone’s spine...
Wu Xin couldn’t help but ask, "Why help a piece of trash with a Life-taking Bone? How did we offend you?"
She was suddenly afraid. ’When I arrived, I considered that people from the Hundred Flames Trading Company might show up, but with Han Shu by my side, I wasn’t worried at all.’
’But now, that person severed Han Shu’s arm.’
"Because we at the Tiger Flame Academy have spotted a promising new talent and wish to recruit them."
As he spoke, Fan Jinhua turned his gaze back to Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu, saying, "Miss Cheng, Cheng Yunsu, I now formally invite you to join the Tiger Flame Academy as one of our students."
