Chapter 1448 - 423: Why Did This Old Man Suddenly Show Up?

"Hmph!"

A cold snort resounded in the darkness, the sound carrying a certain tremor of the laws of heaven and earth, causing the air in the entire dense forest to pause.

"Boom——"

An extremely terrifying pressure suddenly erupted from the woods, like a hundred thousand mountains crushing down at once.

Zhou Qing only felt his whole body’s bones creak and groan, his body tilted violently, almost kneeling to the ground.

His pupils shrank suddenly, a tempest of shock surging in his heart——

This pressure...

He had fought against two Spirit Slash Realm Perfections before, yet he had never felt such a terrible sense of oppression.

Could it be that this old man has already... silently stepped into the Supreme Realm?

This thought made Zhou Qing’s heart race wildly.

Indeed, Shen Hanyi had learned the truth from her second aunt, Su Yurou; all this was nothing more than the other three branches’ jealousy and hatred leading to various schemes against the fourth branch master’s talent.

For so many years, he seemed to drown his sorrows in alcohol and indulge in self-pity, but in truth... he was biding his time!

Facing this oppressive force now, Zhou Qing clenched his jaws, his forehead veins bulging.

His legs felt as heavy as if filled with lead, his knees trembled incessantly, yet he stubbornly kept his back straight, refusing to bow.

"Boom!"

The pressure surged again!

This time, Zhou Qing’s entire muscle network convulsed uncontrollably, his internal organs seemed gripped by an invisible large hand.

Tiny blood beads began to seep from the surface of his skin, yet he fiercely clenched his teeth, not uttering a single word.

"Boom!"

The third wave of pressure followed closely, crashing down like thunder from the nine heavens.

Zhou Qing’s face turned deathly pale in an instant, a muffled groan escaped his throat, a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Damn it—

He cursed silently in his heart, but then he saw Shen Hanyi suddenly turn, her silver hair cutting a cold arc under the moonlight: "Enough!"

However, the presence in the darkness seemed unwilling to stop, the pressure not only not abating but growing even more intense!

Zhou Qing’s knee slammed heavily into the ground, creating a shallow pit in the hard surface.

Even his spine groaned under the unbearable weight, seemingly about to break apart the next moment.

Yet his eyes shone brightly, defiant and unyielding.

Trembling arms supported him from the ground, blue veins bulged out, his knuckles white.

He gradually, inch by inch, stood back up as if contending with the entire heaven and earth.

"I, Zhou Qing..." His voice was hoarse, but every word was like iron, "Kneel to heaven and earth, kneel to parents, kneel to mentors..."

With each word, his back straightened a bit more.

"You want me to kneel to you?"

When he finally stood fully upright, facing the darkness with a cold sneer on his lips: "Dream on!"

"Oh? Is that so?" A mocking voice came from the darkness, "Then make sure you never kneel again!"

Before the words were finished, the terrifying pressure gathered again, even more violent than before.

Zhou Qing’s entire skeleton crackled and groaned, his newly straightened body starting to bend again.

"I said—enough!"

Shen Hanyi’s voice suddenly rose, her silver hair fluttering without wind.

Her face was frosty, her eyes flickered with icy anger.

With her sharp shout, the pressure enveloping Zhou Qing retreated like a receding tide.

Zhou Qing felt his whole body lighten, staggered half a step backward, cold sweat pouring from his forehead, gasping for breath.

"Not bad!"

A voice of admiration came from the darkness, followed by the sound of a wine gourd being sloshed.

"You all talk; I’ve got some business to attend to, I’ll take my leave." Among the shifting shadows of the trees, that scruffy figure had already disappeared.

Zhou Qing, having regained his senses, was not at ease, his bloodshot double pupils scanning around, only relaxing when he confirmed the presence had truly left.

Shen Hanyi then spoke again, her voice still cold: "Why was Yu Yan with you?"

Zhou Qing wiped the cold sweat from his head, hurriedly retrieving an intricately carved wooden chair from the storage bag, covering it with a soft snow mink fur: "Have a seat first."

Shen Hanyi hesitated for a moment but sat down.

Zhou Qing moved the campfire closer with spiritual power, his gaze inadvertently drifting to her abdomen.

"What are you looking at?" Shen Hanyi flicked her sleeve, blocking his view.

Zhou Qing let out two dry laughs, changed the subject: "I killed Yama."

Shen Hanyi’s pupils contracted: "What?"

Zhou Qing then simply recounted the events.

After listening, Shen Hanyi was silent for a moment: "The Yan Family might go mad."

The night wind swept through, the campfire flickered.

Zhou Qing hesitated for a long time, but still spoke: "Actually... there’s something I lied to you about."

Seeing Shen Hanyi looking at him, he said in a low voice: "The truth is, it wasn’t the beasts in Kunpeng Palace that injured Uncle Yan Sen and his nephew, it was... me."

"You?" Shen Hanyi looked at him in disbelief, "At that time, you were only at the Divinity Transformation Realm, how was that possible?"

"Heaven, earth, and people were all in my favor." Zhou Qing scratched his head, "Just luck."

Shen Hanyi gave him a deep look: "Why tell me all this?"

Zhou Qing gazed at the flickering campfire, softly said: "I don’t know... maybe for removing a pestering rival in love, just felt you should know."

"You!" Shen Hanyi’s face under the veil blushed red, and the two fell silent for a moment.

After a while, Shen Hanyi spoke again: "And the second granduncle?"

"He went out to handle some matters, should be back soon." Zhou Qing said, then suddenly asked impulsively, "He won’t be mad at me, will he?"

"What do you mean our dad?!" Shen Hanyi was both shy and annoyed, her ears turning red.

"A slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue!" Zhou Qing waved his hand quickly, "I meant your father, your father—"

After a moment of silence, Shen Hanyi shook her head: "The reason we came out this time was... to put an end to him. I should actually thank you, otherwise..."

Her voice trailed off: "Whether I killed him myself, or let my father do it, I would have felt guilty and reluctant. Some things, after all, are... family ties."