Chapter 293

Chapter 293 – Only I Can Cure Your Poison

Two men were in a pavilion at the foot of Fatepath Peak . One of them slumped on the long bench as he drank and ate some peanuts . He looked dirty all over, as if he hadn't bathed for a while . The other was dressed in a green robe and stood ramrod straight as he looked in the direction of Li Mausoleum .

"Be honest with me . When Yuwen Shendu lifted your daughter up by the neck, you were about to pull out the Venomdrake Spike, right?" Ye Shaoqing asked .

"Of course . She's my precious baby, you know," Li Wudi said, then took a few more swigs and burped .

"Really? I almost couldn't tell . "

"You don't have a daughter, so you can’t understand . True fatherly love is formless and subdued . Most people can't spot it . "

"Huh, so your skin did get thicker after all . I really have to take a page out of your book," Ye Shaoqing said, rolling his eyes .

"Haha!"

"Looking at your stupid face really makes me think you hit the jackpot with that son you picked up . He really did well by your clan . This time, he even shattered Yuwen Taiji's ambitions . If not for him, you might’ve gained only less than a fifth of what you should if you took out the spike . It would have all been a waste . "

"There can only be one explanation: the heavens are on my side . They gave me this son, after all . You, however, don't have this fortune . "

"Boasting again? He's my disciple, I’ll have you know . I have a closer relationship with him than you do . "

"Haha, so you say . " It had been quite a long time since Li Wudi had felt this relaxed . "This child really is a walking miracle . "

"That's right . You saw yourself how he dragged those old fellows like Huangfu Fengyun off their high horses . They actually willingly came to protect him . " Back then, Ye Shaoqing couldn’t have imagined such a scene . Nobody would believe that so many elders would step up to protect a mere disciple .

"I don't care . He’s my son . On the day I overcome my trials, he'll be the big boss of the whole realm . Nay, the path we shall embark on as father and son will lead to the Theocracy of the Ancients!"

"Alright, stop bragging . Just make sure you don't die, trash . " Ye Shaoqing rolled his eyes again .

"How dare you mock me? You're just a Shaoqing! I swear when I make my comeback . . . . "

"What then?"

"I'll give you ten beauties to wait on and serve you," Li Wudi said with a snide smile .

"Oh no . . . the Venomdrake Spike even turned you into an idiot," he said with a chuckle .

There were some brothers who would backstab him and bring him to a state of near death, but there were also some who would secretly support him from behind and lose a finger over it without complaining . It wasn't a matter of who called who brother . It was merely a form of address and said nothing about one's true character .

Yuwen Taiji was definitely the former type .

"My son is going to Heaven's Elysium . You have to go with him," Li Wudi said .

"You don't say . "

"From now on, shadow and protect him at all times . Since Qingyu won't be joining the Realm Wars, I’ll look after her," Li Wudi said .

"No problem . If your son dies, that means I'll be dead too . "

"Make sure to protect them . Huangfu Fengyun and the rest are mere fence sitters . If the situation changes, they might go to the other side . They might cheer at the thought of protecting the junior sect master today, but if my son dies, they'll be nowhere to be seen . I can only trust you . "

"I don't need you to tell me that . What's up with you today? You're not usually this naggy . "

"At my age, you start worrying about losing your loved ones," Li Wudi sulked with his head down .

"It won't happen again," Ye Shaoqing said, patting his shoulder, "Finish your final step . The day you overcome your trials will be the day we wage the final battle of the Grand-Orient Sect . By then, I'll personally take you up the sacred mountain to retrieve the Li Saint Clan's throne and place it back in Kunpeng Sacred Hall!"

Li Wudi's eyes were filled with bloodlust . "On that day, I will step on the corpses of the Yuwen Clan, like my son has, and sit on my throne . "

. . . . . .

The dark hall was filled with nothing but a chilling atmosphere, thanks in part to what had just happened . Anyone who entered would no doubt shiver uncontrollably . To the left and right of the hall were two gigantic beasts . The left one was like a small, pure white hill, while the one to the right was entirely black . Its bloody, open mouth and pair of red eyes made it look like a feral beast .

Sitting at the very forefront of the hall was Yuwen Taiji . He sat ramrod straight and radiated black and white strands of aura that circled him like snakes, making him look even more eerie .

Before him was a dark part of the hall where one wouldn't be able to see one's outstretched fingers . However, there was a figure kneeling in the shadows .

"Based on the plans, you'll be accompanying Tianming during the Realm Wars, right?" his cold voice rang, bone chilling like a glacial stream .

"That's right," said the figure with a hint of fear in his voice .

"Did you know that I wanted to kill him on this very day?"

"No . . . . "

"Actually, I can kill him at any time I like . Do you know why?"

"Because I and some others will be able to easily approach him," said the figure .

"That's right . With you lot working for me, I’ll be able to get what I want all the same . So, now do you know why I don't want to avenge Shendu right away?"

"I know . You want Li Tianming to retrieve the Grand-Orient Sword . I’ll then take it for you, because I’ll be by his side . "

"You've guessed right . That is the reason I've asked you to come today . "

"I know what I have to do . Don't worry, I haven't been exposed yet . However, it doesn't seem like he stands much chance at getting the Grand-Orient Sword . After all, you took the Spiritburn Tome back . "

"It would make it far too easy for Li Tianming to take the sword back if I didn't ask for something so precious back . But if I didn't take it back, Ye Shaoqing would start to suspect . He’d guess that I believe I have a good chance of getting the sword . I didn't want to risk that . "

The figure was thankful that Yuwen Taiji was such a secretive, paranoid person . There was no way someone like him would simply forget to take the tome back . If he hadn’t taken it back, that would mean he was intentionally leaving it with Tianming, which would imply he was confident in getting the sword . As a result, Ye Shaoqing would make preparations for what was to come .

"I've seen how fast this Li Tianming improves, and paid the price for ignoring it . That's why, I'm going to bet that he'll be able to get the sword back even without the tome . " Ironically, he was now the one who had the most confidence in Tianming . "When he gets the sword, it’ll be your turn to show . "

"I understand . "

"Do you know what awaits you if you fail me?"

"Yes, I do," the figure said with a shudder, then lowered his head begrudgingly .

"Only I can cure your poison . With Heartburn in you, you won't be able to die even if you want to . I'm sure you know the feeling better than I could ever describe it . However, I’ll remove the poison from your body on the day you give me the sword . I am a man of my word, always . "

The figure teared up at the promise and nodded, all the while continuing to shake in fear . He knew better than anyone the pain he felt . If it could be brushed off that easily, he wouldn't be casting away his dignity like that and kneeling to this man .