After Jing Wei finished speaking, the golden patterns on his arms gradually faded. Shen Tanqi knew Jing Wei probably couldn’t say more while near Xie Chi, but at least now he knew Taro Ball was safe.
But why did Xie Chi want to kidnap the child? Taro Ball’s cultivation was high; wouldn’t it be difficult to control him?
Shen Tanqi couldn’t understand Xie Chi’s thought process…
Well, normal people probably wouldn’t understand Xie Chi’s mind either.
Knowing Taro Ball was safe, Shen Tanqi briefly relaxed, rubbed the head of Goldfish beside him, and reassured, “Goldfish, don’t worry, your little brother is safe now.”
Goldfish’s eyes were filled with deep worry and self-blame. He murmured softly, “If I hadn’t been asleep, Erdan wouldn’t…”
Hearing the child’s words, Shen Tanqi frowned slightly, bent down, squeezed his shoulder, and said softly, “It’s not your fault. Goldfish, you’re still a child too. When you encounter danger, you need to protect yourself first, understand?”
Goldfish’s eyes turned red. He wiped away his tears, choked back his sobs, and whispered, “I understand, Daddy, but what about Erdan?”
They had rarely been apart since childhood. He was so afraid. If something happened to Erdan, what would he do if he never saw him again?
Shen Tanqi hugged him tightly, his anger towards Xie Chi growing stronger. He gently said, lips pressed together, “Nothing will happen to your little brother. With me and your father here, Erdan will come back soon. When he returns, shall we go back to Grandpa’s house together to play?”
Goldfish rubbed against him, tears streaming down his face. He bit his lip hard and nodded forcefully, “Okay, let’s go home together.”
Erdan, please don’t let anything happen to you. Don’t leave your big brother behind.
Shen Tanqi was about to comfort the child again when suddenly he heard a knock at the door.
He turned around, thinking it was Yu Ce returning. However, the voice outside was someone else entirely.
“Junior Brother, I heard Goldfish is missing. Is he okay?” Fang Wenxun’s tone was urgent, his breath heavy and slightly labored, as if he had rushed all the way here.
But why did Fang Wenxun say Goldfish was missing?
It was clearly Taro Ball who had been taken away, not Goldfish.
Shen Tanqi furrowed his brow, sensing something amiss. He slowly gripped the sword beside him. Just as he was about to speak, the child in his arms suddenly shivered violently, clutching tightly at Shen Tanqi’s clothes, trembling as he whispered, “Daddy, don’t open the door.”
The child seemed to sense danger, trembling all over. Shen Tanqi immediately recalled Jing Wei’s words.
— There are disguised demons around them!
It seemed the person outside the door was not the real Fang Wenxun, but a demon disguised as him.
Why do they always use Fang Wenxun’s face and voice? Can’t you demons find someone else to impersonate?
Shen Tanqi silently complained inwardly while tightening his grip on the sword. He pushed the child deeper into the bed, lowering his voice, “Goldfish, Daddy has a task for you.”
Wide-eyed and confused, Goldfish nodded as he looked at him.
“Hold onto Sandan, hide under the covers, and don’t come out no matter what you hear, okay?”
Goldfish’s trembling body suddenly stopped shaking. He reached out and carefully hugged Sandan to his chest, nodding vigorously. With determined eyes, he whispered softly, “Daddy, you can trust me!”
He had already lost Erdan; he absolutely wouldn’t let anything happen to Sandan!
Ensuring the child was securely covered with a soft blanket, Shen Tanqi took a deep breath, feeling the energy in his body. Having just fought a sword trial with Yu Ce, his energy was almost depleted. If the person outside was someone difficult to handle, he feared…
Wait a moment, he seemed to have a precious treasure that could be used at a critical moment.
“Junior Brother, open the door quickly! You’re driving me crazy!”
The ‘Fang Wenxun’ outside had run out of patience, interrupting Shen Tanqi’s thoughts as if he would forcibly break in if not let in soon.
Shen Tanqi narrowed his eyes at the wooden door, steadied his voice, and casually smiled, “I’m coming, what’s the rush, Senior Brother? Don’t you know how exhausted I am from the trial just now?”
He reached out to open the door, his right sleeve falling to where his sword hung at his waist, ready to draw it at any moment.
Outside the wooden door was indeed the familiar face of Fang Wenxun. Seeing Shen Tanqi come out, the demon even stretched his neck trying to peer inside, but Shen Tanqi subtly blocked his view with his body.
“Senior Brother, I was just about to go out. Goldfish must have run out to play. I need to call him back for dinner.” Shen Tanqi casually put his arm around ‘Fang Wenxun’s’ shoulder and guided him outside.
He didn’t want to start a fight here; otherwise, he might not be able to protect Goldfish and Sandan.
‘Fang Wenxun’ seemed somewhat unwilling as he glanced inside the room, but in the end, he couldn’t see what was happening inside. He frowned at Shen Tanqi and said, “You’re not worried about the child getting lost. What am I supposed to say about you?”
This bastard is playing the part quite convincingly. He must have secretly observed the real Fang Wenxun…
Shen Tanqi glanced at him, chuckled, and said, “I’m a laid-back person. Yu Ce almost knocked my soul out on the trial platform just now. I’m completely out of spiritual energy and exhausted. How can I spare any attention to find the child?”
‘Fang Wenxun’ looked at him suspiciously and asked in a low voice, “Are you really not worried at all?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Tanqi sighed deeply and casually escorted the fake Fang Wenxun out of the inn, saying slowly, “What’s the use of worrying? Goldfish is a playful kid. He used to sneak out at home too. Raising kids is troublesome; you always have to worry.”
Upon hearing this, ‘Fang Wenxun’ relaxed slightly. His gaze swept around the inn’s entrance, where several guests were still entering. He smiled lightly and gently grabbed Shen Tanqi’s arm, leading him towards a quieter spot. “You’re right. Although I should say we ought to find the kid. What if something happens…”
Both men unconsciously guided each other into a dark alley where no one was around, each with their own intentions.
“Well, it’s not easy for you, Senior Brother, to still be concerned about me,” Shen Tanqi observed calmly. Seeing that there were finally no people around, he smiled at ‘Fang Wenxun’ and said softly, “You see, the child is missing, yet Yu Ce isn’t in a rush to come find me. You seem to move faster than Yu Ce.”
‘Fang Wenxun’ also noticed that there was no one around. He patted Shen Tanqi’s shoulder with a smile and said, “Of course, taking care of my junior brother is my duty. By the way, did you really use up all your spiritual energy just now?”
Shen Tanqi nodded and smiled, “Not a drop left.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a fierce demonic aura surged straight towards his heart. Shen Tanqi had been thoroughly trained by Yu Ce on the trial platform, and his reaction speed at this moment was extraordinary. He dodged lightly to the side, evading the attack effortlessly.
Seeing his strike miss, Fang Wenxun looked at Shen Tanqi with surprise. “It’s been a few days, Junior Brother, and your skills have improved.”
Hearing him address him as Junior Brother, Shen Tanqi instantly recalled the demon Yan Ning, whose head had been chopped off by Yu Ce.
“However, dear Junior Brother, today you may truly fall into my hands. Your calls to the heavens and the earth won’t help,” Fang Wenxun said slowly, tearing off the mask from his face to reveal the face Shen Tanqi could never forget, a smile that turned one’s stomach. “This time, will Yu Ce come to save you?”
It was Yan Ning. Yan Ning, he hadn’t died after all.
Shen Tanqi immediately stepped back, his eyes coldly fixed on him. “So it’s you again, Xie Chi’s lackey. Weren’t you finished off by Yu Ce’s sword?”
The smile on Yan Ning’s face froze for a moment. He suppressed his grin and said calmly, “That was just my clone.”
He couldn’t possibly die for someone like Xie Chi, that lunatic. His life was meant to be preserved to ascend as the Demon Lord.
However, Yu Ce had indeed severely wounded him by killing his clone with a single sword strike, and after such a long period of seclusion and recovery, his first act upon emerging was to settle scores with Shen Tanqi.
He intended to make Shen Tanqi pay for what Yu Ce had done, blood for blood.
Not only Shen Tanqi, but also Yu Ce’s children—he planned to exterminate them all. Just imagining Yu Ce’s unbearable anguish brought immense satisfaction to Yan Ning.
He conjured a demonic aura with his hand, turning his head to look at Shen Tanqi with interest. He smiled and said, “Thanks to your dear husband for depleting your spiritual energy. Rest assured, after you’re dead, I’ll savor the taste of your and your children’s flesh. I haven’t had dragon meat before; it must be a delicacy, exquisite in taste…”
He pondered how he would play with Shen Tanqi to death.
Yes, peel off his skin and make it into a smooth lining for a coat.
Yan Ning’s excitement grew as he raised his hand and sent the demonic energy swirling towards Shen Tanqi.
“No!” Shen Tanqi retreated in terror, but his back pressed against the cold wall at the end of the alley. With nowhere else to retreat, he panicked and cried out, “Don’t kill me! Please, I’m so scared—”
At his words, Yan Ning smirked, pausing his attack. Slowly, almost as if savoring the moment, he approached Shen Tanqi and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, Junior Brother. I’ll personally strip your skin and make a beautiful little coat for your husband to wear when it gets cold.”
Shen Tanqi shuddered at the image that flashed through his mind, a chill running down his spine.
The antagonists in this novel seemed to have some sadistic tendencies.
His scalp tingling, Shen Tanqi reached into his sleeve, trembling as he asked, “Are you going to kill me yourself?”
“Of course, it’s by my own hands. If I don’t personally kill you, won’t me being your senior brother three times be in vain?” Yan Ning squinted, his tone even more excited. “Besides, I’ll find the best tailor in the city. Your death will be well worth it.”
With these words, he suddenly swung his demonic palm towards Shen Tanqi, who seemed paralyzed with fear and despair, offering no resistance whatsoever. A malicious smile lingered on Yan Ning’s lips.
The next moment, a head rolled to the ground with a dull thud, echoing through the dim alley like a dropped watermelon.
Drops of crimson blood dripped from the cold sword as Shen Tanqi skillfully flicked it, shaking off the blood from the blade, his face expressionless as he looked down at Yan Ning.
Laughing right up until the moment of death.
What a fool. He couldn’t even withstand a single move. He had actually been captured by someone like this before. Clearly, he had been weak back then.
With his dantian surging with remarkable spiritual energy, Shen Tanqi was fully revived. Finally avenging his long-held grudge, he looked down at Yan Ning with a profound sense of relief. “If you hadn’t mentioned it yourself, I wouldn’t have known whether you were a clone or not. Thanks a lot.”
Without looking back, Shen Tanqi stepped over Yan Ning’s body, feeling relieved all over. He took a deep breath of fresh air, sensing that he might break through another bottleneck soon.
The top-grade Stretch Legs and Widen Eyes Pill from the Qingliu Sect Elder was indeed very useful at a critical moment. With his spiritual energy fully restored in an instant, not to mention Yan Ning, Shen Tanqi now felt he could take on ten Yu Ces. When he returned, he was definitely going to give the Elder a big compliment!
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
