Free Web NovelChapter 260: Chapter 247: Becoming Stronger, to Protect Certain People
Besides those worried about Celestial Phoenix City and their own fates, there were others with extremely complicated feelings.
In the crowd, when Drunken Thousand Cups heard Shen Lang say he had brought men, filled with Killing Intent, to storm the Shen Family, his expression became a magnificent mess. He almost cried, and he subconsciously ducked, as if looking for a hole to crawl into.
In truth, no one was paying him any attention at that moment.
Although Nalan Ziyun was comforting her parents, she was paying close attention to the situation. Hearing Shen Lang’s words, she blushed all the way to her neck and fidgeted, completely ignoring the potential consequences of what he’d said.
Now that Shen Lang had treated her as one of his own, her seven or eight years of quiet devotion seemed to have all been worth it...
"Amitabha, well said, well said!" Master Kong Jing’s originally bitter face unexpectedly broke into a slight smile.
Since Shen Lang was connected to the person who had helped the Xue Family all those years ago, as long as Xue Hongluan’s head was on straight, she couldn’t possibly make things difficult for him anymore.
Chu Qingcheng fanned herself with a paper fan she had produced from who-knows-where, a triumphant look on her face as she watched Shen Moran...
If looks could kill, Shen Moran’s glare would have already dismembered Chu Qingcheng countless times.
Shen Haotian gently patted Luo Dieqi’s back to comfort her, but he could no longer control the tears welling in his own eyes...
In his heart, Shen Lang could do no wrong.
Offend an Emperor Martial Realm expert?
So be it. The worst that could happen was the whole family dying together...
In the air, the eight King Martial Realm experts all thought they were seeing and hearing things. They couldn’t believe a junior would dare to say such words to an expert from the Xue Family.
And with such an arrogant and domineering attitude!
Xue Dangdang watched Shen Lang fearlessly and passionately question her aunt, and for a moment, she was completely mesmerized...
Xue Hongluan looked at Shen Lang with a complex expression, then glanced at Xue Dangdang. Her red lips parted, but she still didn’t say a word.
’Dingdang has much better taste than I do... In all the vast Star Continent, only a dragon among men like him could be worthy of my Dingdang...’
With this shift in her thoughts, Xue Hongluan’s attitude immediately underwent a major change.
From her initial cold observation to slight surprise, then to utter turmoil when the Xue Family’s secret was exposed, and finally to being rendered speechless by Shen Lang’s tirade... Only now did she truly take him seriously for the first time.
As for Shen Lang, after saying all that, he too was stunned into silence.
Lecturing an Emperor Martial Realm expert was not something he wanted to do, nor was it something a person with his temperament would do.
’After merging with the War Emperor’s memories, my consciousness has been subtly changing. The War Emperor’s life experiences, his thoughts... everything about him is influencing me.’
’But this is normal. The War Emperor is me, and I am the War Emperor! If I were speaking as the War Emperor, this would have been far too polite...’
’But why was I so impulsive just now? According to my own temperament, even though I truly think this way and want to resist, I would never have said it so directly to an Emperor Martial Realm expert... After today, the Xue Family will inevitably investigate me. The Celestial Purity Sect might even take notice. Trouble will likely follow.’
’The difference in our personalities is that... I’m overly cautious about everything, a bit indecisive, and not confident enough. But the War Emperor’s Battle Intent reigned supreme; he was direct, straightforward, and unrivaled! In that sense, since we are one and the same, we truly complement each other.’
’That impulsiveness just now... it was the War Emperor’s will that pushed me, making me say everything that was in my heart!’
After obtaining the War Emperor’s memories, Shen Lang had pieced many things together. He faintly realized he was already walking a path shrouded in mist.
Everything he saw in his dreams: Xue Dangdang’s Soul Scattering, the fusion with the War Emperor’s soul...
And even the Heaven-Sealing Cauldron he was born with...
In the shadows, it seemed someone had planned everything for him, manipulating his life.
He had seen Xue Dangdang’s Soul Scattering in his dream, yet now she stood before him, perfectly fine. It was all hazy and confusing, yet it reeked of an indescribable conspiracy.
Shen Lang wanted to become strong, but he wasn’t confident at first, so he pushed Xue Dangdang away.
He was afraid that, just like in his dream, he wouldn’t be able to protect her at all.
Later, his mindset shifted. He came to believe he could become stronger and break free from the shackles of fate, so he finally stopped distancing himself from Dingdang... At this point, his diligent Cultivation and his desperate desire to grow stronger were all to break free and transcend his destiny.
Until his parents faced an unimaginable crisis, and then Nalan Ziyun "died" before his very eyes...
It was only in that moment that he understood the question that had plagued him all along.
’What is the purpose of Cultivation? Why do I want to become strong?’
’After becoming strong, do I just go on a killing spree like the War Emperor? What would I be killing for?’
The moment Nalan Ziyun "died," Shen Lang instantly saw through many things.
The War Emperor’s life had been free and unrestrained, open and magnanimous. He absolutely wouldn’t have waged wars in every direction just for power or fame.
’He did it to protect his loved ones, his kinsmen...’
’He did it to protect the entire Human Race. He shouldered the mission of the entire Human Race!’
It was one thing for him to have sealed away all the powerful things in his memories, but why were the faces of so many people unclear, their very names blurred?
It was because the War Emperor, too, had a vulnerability in his heart!
This vulnerability was made of love, family, and friendship...
Aside from his responsibilities as the War Emperor, this vulnerability was his everything!
He went to his death with magnanimity, seeming incomparably free-spirited, but in truth, he couldn’t let go of everything.
Because there were still so many people who needed his protection, people he couldn’t part with, couldn’t forget...
Shen Lang felt as if he had understood many things, yet at the same time, he understood nothing at all.
It seemed that in this moment, his fusion with the War Emperor’s memories had deepened.
Countless voices flooded his mind, chaotic and complex, causing a sudden, sharp pain in his head!
"Ugh!"
Just as everyone was worrying about how Xue Hongluan would fly into a rage, Shen Lang clutched his head and squatted down, his expression one of extreme pain!
"Brother Lang!"
"Shen Lang!"
Xue Dangdang and Nalan Ziyun cried out in alarm at the same time, immediately rushing to support Shen Lang from either side.
Not far away, Shui Qingwu’s expression dimmed. The foot she had been about to move forward she subtly retracted, and instead, she supported Shen Haotian and his wife as they slowly walked over.
"My Lady, if my son has offended you in any way, it is because I have failed to raise him properly. If you must assign blame, I, Shen Haotian, will bear it all!" Shen Haotian said, preparing to kneel before Xue Hongluan.
"Dad!" Shen Lang suddenly lifted his head.
However, Shen Haotian’s knee never touched the ground. A gentle force from the void stopped him.
Xue Hongluan sighed softly and said, "Everything he said was the truth. What crime is there in that? I was the one who lost my composure earlier. If anyone should apologize, it should be me."
Hearing her words, everyone around them breathed a sigh of relief.
Xue Hongluan was seen waving her jade-like hand gently over Shen Lang’s head. A seven-colored divine radiance immediately coiled above him before silently merging into his head.
His thoughts in disarray and his head splitting, Shen Lang felt a gentle, cooling sensation pour in through his Baihui Acupoint. The pain immediately subsided, and his entire body relaxed.
Shen Lang took a breath and stood up again.
At that moment, he was certain. He knew that his earlier speech had stunned Xue Hongluan and made her change her attitude.
Sure enough, as soon as he stood up, Xue Hongluan waved her hand, and a Barrier shielded the auras of the three of them, preventing anyone outside from hearing their conversation.
Then, Xue Hongluan looked at him with great expectation and said, "Can you tell me... where he is? About him, and about the Xue Family..."
Shen Lang shook his head gently. "I know you want to find him. I did indeed receive his guidance, but... that man has always been as elusive as a divine dragon. You could search for him, but you wouldn’t find him, and there’s no need to. However, there is one thing I do know: he’s always been watching over the Xue Family."
"Is that true!"
Xue Hongluan, a dignified Emperor Martial Realm expert, was so agitated by Shen Lang’s words that she lost her composure once again! freewёbnoνel.com
"Of course it’s true. If I’m not mistaken, you will definitely have a chance to see him again. But since he is not yet willing to see you, you shouldn’t cause more trouble by searching for him everywhere."
Shen Lang laughed inwardly but put on a convincing act and nodded.
He was just spouting nonsense to stop Xue Hongluan or the Xue Family from causing him any more trouble.
’The War Emperor is already dead, so how could they find him?’
’But saying the War Emperor is alive and watching over the Xue Family isn’t exactly wrong, either.’
’Because he, Shen Lang, is the War Emperor!’
’Xue Dangdang is part of the Xue Family. How could he not pay attention?’
’Especially with the Xue Family making moves like this, they’re obviously planning to take Dingdang away. It would be hard *not* to pay attention!’
By mixing truths with falsehoods, Shen Lang no longer had to fear the Xue Family using force against him, which would save him a lot of trouble.
At this, Xue Hongluan nodded thoughtfully. "I understand... We’ll put the matter of that great personage aside for now. But you must have already guessed the reason for my visit, haven’t you?"
Shen Lang’s face fell. "You want to take Dingdang away. I’m not qualified to stop you, but you must at least ask her first. If she is unwilling, you cannot force her."
Wielding a chicken feather as if it were a command arrow, Shen Lang’s tone grew even firmer.
As he spoke, he turned to Xue Dangdang, the threads of affection in his gaze, impossible to sever, on full display.
Xue Dangdang’s nose tingled, and with tears welling in her eyes, she gripped Shen Lang’s hand, unable to utter a single word.
Xue Hongluan sighed inwardly and turned to Xue Dangdang. "Your father and mother miss you. You know the clan’s rules. You’ve been away for so long; even with your father as the Clan Leader, he can’t justify it."
"Before I came, I learned a little about the situation here and was originally strongly against it... But now, seeing Shen Lang, my feelings are completely different. You don’t have to worry about your aunt standing in the way of your relationship."
"However, as a descendant of the Xue Family, one who holds an important position in the clan, the person you are with must be a powerhouse who stands tall in this world. On this point, those old geezers in the clan will never compromise... If you truly want to be with Shen Lang, you should give him some time to grow, to let him become strong. You shouldn’t be clinging to each other, hindering his progress..."
"Aunt, you can’t let Shen Lang be with Dingdang! I object!" A figure flashed through the air as Xue Jingyuan, the one who had been sent flying and coughing up blood by Shen Lang earlier, descended.
Although Xue Jingyuan was outside the Barrier and couldn’t hear their conversation, he had been observing his aunt’s expression from atop the Flood Dragon.
Seeing Xue Hongluan’s expression and combining it with what had happened earlier, he had naturally guessed much of what was going on.
He flew down rapidly to the edge of the Barrier and roared with a ferocious expression, "Shen Lang, you’d better pretend nothing ever happened between you and Dingdang! Even if you can defeat me, you’re still not qualified to be with her! You’re not worthy!"
"The person qualified to be with Dingdang must be a powerhouse who stands at the Peak of this world! What are you, some country bumpkin? You’re nothing!"
Xue Jingyuan continued to clamor wildly, failing to notice that not only Shen Lang but even Xue Hongluan’s face had darkened...
