Chapter 502 - 500: Half way there/ If I may…

Chapter 502: Chapter 500: Half way there/ If I may...

A/N: Where do I even begin? Do I start by saying I still can’t believe I reached 500? Do I start by saying thank you for getting me to 500? Do I start by saying thank you for sticking till 500? I’m short of words.

Five months ago I wouldn’t have thought I’d get this far because I didn’t even know what I was doing, and yet you guys have chosen to stick with me.

Through my first rough Chapters. I know how many readers I lost due to my first 100 Chapters being terrible, yet you guys chose to stay and support me.

I am beyond grateful. We made it to half way there. The road after 400 has been bumpy especially these last two months, but we’re still here, and I hope we’ll be there when we hit the big one-k.

Honestly, thank you so much for all your support and love, I am unworthy of it, but I am appreciative nonetheless.

I’ve already eaten up enough of the word count so without boring you with my gratitude any more, please, enjoy...

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The room was charged.

The tension palpable.

My gaze first landed on Lin Xuan, and the fella wasn’t smiling like I’ve seen him do consistently.

His expression was blank. An emotionless canvas that gave off that subtle feel of untainted dignity.

This... was Emperor Lin Xuan.

My attention shifted, from the emperor to the one on whom his gaze had been locked before my very ceremonial appearance.

There, covered in blood, Shen Wu Zhen stood rigid. His hands had balled into fists so tight his knuckles whitened. His teeth gritted so hard I feared they’d shatter. The rage boiling within the man was enough to be felt without even trying. His gaze hadn’t shifted from Lin Xuan’s figure as the man wasn’t even bothered by the very loud entrance.

By his side, an older figure stood, face grim. The man looked like a withered old tree just waiting for the wind to blow him away, must have been your typical old ancestor either from the sect or Shen Wu Zhen’s family.

"Looks like I arrived at the perfect time."

"You couldn’t have arrived at an even worse moment," Shaia retorted, but,

"Exactly what I meant. Perfect timing." My grin widened as I finally addressed the room,

"So... what did I miss?"

The place remained silent for a beat before,

"AUDACIOUS!!!" One of the finely dressed people within the room exploded out in rage, the man’s black robe fluttering dramatically as his aura pressed towards me.

"IMPUDENT FOOL, I SHALL HAVE YOUR—"

The man never got to finish that sentence as,

SHAAAA!!!

A dark crimson wave of energy swallowed both he and his words as he was effectively removed from existence.

"Hey! Shulvan! Why’d you do that?" I turned, annoyed that this guy had taken action without my permission.

"Forgive me, Master. But I have tolerated these mundane fools soiling thy name for far too long. No longer shall I stand by and let rabble disparage your name. I shall accept whatever punishment you deem worthy of my audacious act."

The guy just dropped down to one knee as he gave his reasons, and I really couldn’t blame the guy; he was just putting ants in their places.

"Haa... fine. Whatever. Just forget it." I waved away his concerns as I turned to the now grim-faced audience that had already pulled out their sacred treasures or were getting ready to attack.

"I’m sorry about my friend here; he gets a bit trigger-happy. I hope you can find peace wherever you are now, whoever you were."

"Wait, just who exactly are you apologizing to?" Malachi asked, confused.

"To the guy Shulvan just deleted, obviously." This guy—was his monkey brain affecting his reasoning?

"But the guy is dead."

"I know, but it doesn’t mean I can’t apologize for Shulvan’s behavior now, does it? Or do you want Nyssara here to think I’m abusing my power and lacking proper etiquette, huh?"

"That’s... that’s not what I meant." Nyssara tried defending her words, but,

"Don’t worry, my dear. I understand perfectly. Even if I can just kill them, I can apologize later. Perfect etiquette."

"I.. I said that’s not what I meant! What’s... what’s wrong with you?"

"Ehh?"

"Young Hero Long Chen, you’ve arrived." Lin Xuan’s voice broke up the argument between me and Nyssara as I returned my focus to the man.

"Xuan. Forgive me for being late, buddy. I had to attend to some emergencies on the way—and by that I mean overwhelming an overexcited toddler with sugar till he passed out."

"It’s not a bother at all. You haven’t missed anything significant."

"Ahh.. then I am assured."

Lin Xuan nodded, and then,

"Why have you all not greeted my guest?" He addressed his council of stunned and ready nobles.

"This..." The hesitation within the room was clearly felt.

These people were literally the ruling class of these High Planar Galaxies, and now they were expected to greet someone that just barged into a secluded meeting, killing a significant figure and then acting like nothing happened?

Even if it was the emperor himself asking this, they were quite reluctant.

"Brother, I ask you to reconsider." A soft feminine voice cut through the tension as my eyes turned to Lin Luo Yao, who had finally stood up, brows creased in displeasure.

"Hmm? Yao’er, what is the meaning of this?" Lin Xuan asked, trying to hide the annoyance within his voice.

"Forgive my audacity, Brother, but I must ask that you reconsider your actions." She walked slowly down the elevated platform as she came to stand before the emperor, taking a position suspiciously close to the still motionless sect master, Shen Wu Zhen.

Lin Xuan’s brows twitched in clear irritation as the man’s grip on the handle of his throne tightened enough to crack the material, with Su Yin needing to place her palm over his just to quell his rage.

"Looks like your friend here is quite discerning," Shaia spoke out in approval, and I couldn’t help but nod in agreement, as it seemed Xuan was quite aware of the situation between his sister and the snake.

"What would you have me reconsider, Yao’er?" The man asked, trying not to let his irritation show.

"Your position as emperor, Brother."

The air got heavier the moment those words left her mouth as all the people within the hall had a drastic change in expression.

"What... did you just say?" Xuan’s voice was cold. Colder than I thought the man could get, and I couldn’t help but nod in approval,

"He’s no soft persimmon. Good. As expected of someone I like."

"Calm your anger , Brother. Forgive me, I meant no disrespect with my words." Lin Luo Yao, clearly realizing the blunder in her overreaching words, took a step back as she bowed her head.

Xuan remained silent for a few moments before he inevitably let it go.

"Speak. What is it you wish to say?"

Lin Luo Yao, now clearly aware of her brother’s apparent irritation, thought of her words carefully, nervous to speak again, but a subtle hand wrapping around hers took those nerves away as she turned to her side, locking her eyes onto the warm gaze of Shen Wu Zhen as the man gave her a subtle nod.

The others in the room missed it. Hell, even the target seemed to have missed it. But the moment that interaction between Luo Yao and Wu Zhen happened, a horrifying killing intent burst out of Xuan’s body—one that for a brief, almost inexistent moment in time, turned the world a bleeding red, locked onto Shen Wu Zhen’s figure, before disappearing even faster than it had appeared.

"Heh! Looks like Xuan over there really can’t stand that guy," Malachi laughed, having felt the killing intent.

"I don’t get it. Why must he put up with the fiasco if he’s powerful enough to blow the circus up? What’s all this political drama about?" Paku, ever the advocate of violence, asked in genuine confusion.

"Well, my furry friend, that’s because Xuan over there isn’t completely free from consequences if he were to act out now. He might’ve cashed in on the Calderans’ weakness and occupation, but right now, he risks losing his sister if he acts out, and that, more than anything, is enough to stop a man that cares about his family." I could see it as clearly as day.

The only reason Shen Wu Zhen still drew breath wasn’t because the Calderans would hit him back; a man like Xuan wouldn’t care.

No. The only reason the sect master still drew breath was because of...

"Brother, I ask you to reconsider your position not out of disrespect, but out of concern for your image." Luo Yao’s voice cut through our conversations as the woman finally gained enough confidence to continue her pitch.

"You surely cannot ask everyone here to disregard their honor and bow to someone who should, by all accounts, be dead for daring to raise a hand against a member of your court."

The gauntlet had been thrown by Luo Yao, and I could feel it.

"Heh! Little girl, it would seem you don’t even know your brother very much, do you?"

My grin widened as I wasn’t even willing to wait for the response I knew Xuan would give, finally deciding to take the issue into my own hands,

"If I may...."

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A/N: Of course somebody just had to die when the bastard squad shows up, Haa... anyways once again, thank you for staying till 500 and as always,

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Thanks for reading...