Chapter 283: Chapter 174: Enemies Meet, Old Friends Reunite

"Haha, Feng, long time no see!"

On the shore of a lake in the Celestial Gate Mountain Range, Qing Yuanfeng cupped his fists and called out a greeting to a group of six people some twenty paces away.

"Sixth Brother!"

The leader of the group of six—a middle-aged man with a distinguished bearing and waist-length hair—cupped his fists in return. "Sixth Brother, you’ve arrived quite early."

"Not as early as you."

Qing Yuanfeng said as he slowly walked over.

Gu Zheng and Qing Yichan followed behind him.

’The one greeting Uncle Liu is Feng Wuji of the Feng Family,’ Qing Yichan transmitted to Gu Zheng as they walked. ’The person to Feng Wuji’s left is Nangong Yaoguang of the Nangong Family. I don’t recognize the one on his right, and I’ve never seen the other three behind them. Judging from their auras, aside from Nangong Yaoguang, the other four just broke through to the Heroic Body Realm, and they took a shortcut to do it.’

’The Feng Family is one of the Noble Families that first discovered the Nine Heavens Shadow Realm?’ Gu Zheng asked, also using the Divine Strange Sound Transmission.

As he said this, his eyes drifted to the young man standing behind Feng Wuji on the right.

The young man stared back at Gu Zheng, his eyes wide with astonishment and joy.

After a few moments, however, he looked away. He then made a subtle gesture with his hand—one that no one but Gu Zheng would give a second thought to.

Gu Zheng gave an imperceptible nod, though inwardly he was just as shocked and delighted.

’Yes, the Feng Family is one of the Noble Families that discovered the Nine Heavens Shadow Realm. I didn’t expect them to trade away their spots for this opening of the Shadow Realm,’ Qing Yichan lamented.

The Feng Family had reserved six spots but only used one for themselves.

The other five were all traded to others.

Gu Zheng took a longer look at Nangong Yaoguang of the Nangong Family.

There was indeed a resemblance to Nangong Yaoyue in his features. He was tall and handsome, with a remarkably distinguished air.

Noticing Gu Zheng’s gaze, he immediately looked over, his eyes meeting Gu Zheng’s from across the space between them.

The next moment, a look of surprise crossed his face. He cupped his fists from afar in salute. "Might you be Grand General Gu, Gu Zheng of the Jing Country’s Demon Slayer Bureau?"

"The very same."

As he walked over, Gu Zheng returned the salute. "Nangong, please, call me Ping’an. Miss Nangong has looked after me very well and always speaks of you. It is my honor to finally meet you."

"Haha, that sister of mine, Yue’Er, has mentioned you to me several times as well," Nangong Yaoguang laughed heartily. "The honor is all mine to meet you today, Ping’an!"

"Heh, you two know each other?"

Qing Yuanfeng glanced between them, stroking his chin with a grin. "Miss Nangong? Yue’Er? You’re talking about that girl Yaoyue, aren’t you? Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Yaoyue in ages. How’s she doing?"

"Greetings, Qing Liu!" Nangong Yaoguang first bowed to Qing Yuanfeng before answering, "Yue’Er is very well. Next time I see her, I will tell her to visit you at the Qing King’s Ancestral Land when she has time."

"Let’s skip the visit." Qing Yuanfeng held up a hand. "I’m afraid she’ll empty my house of all my valuables. That girl just loves to squirrel things away."

"Sixth Brother, if Yaoyue heard you say that, she’d burst into tears. And she’d do it right in front of the Matriarch," Feng Wuji teased with a smile. "Yaoyue liked to hide things when she was a child. How old is she now? You’re still holding onto that? Careful she doesn’t go complain to your family’s Matriarch and have her teach you a lesson!"

"Right, right, I’d almost forgotten. The Matriarch absolutely adores Yue’Er." Realization dawned on Qing Yuanfeng, and he quickly apologized. "Yaoguang, you absolutely must not tell Yue’Er the nonsense I was just spouting. I was just kidding, haha~"

Just as Nangong Yaoguang was about to reply, a loud burst of laughter cut through the air.

"Hahaha, Qing Liu, so you get put in your place sometimes, eh?"

With the laughter, a group of six figures streaked across the sky and landed by the lakeshore.

The man in the lead was a burly, scruffy-looking fellow who strode toward Gu Zheng’s group with a powerful and imposing gait.

"Yong Xingdian? Why are you leading the group this time?"

Qing Yuanfeng’s expression grew serious. He frowned as he asked, his eyes sweeping over the other five people. He raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t your Yong Family in the middle of the Dragon Struggle? How is it that only one of your own has come?"

"Chuanzong pays his respects to Qing Liu." To the left and behind the burly man, a young man with a transcendent air and an innate aura of nobility faced Qing Yuanfeng and bowed respectfully.

’That is Yong Chuanzong, the Third Prince of Yue Country, and also the most talented member of the Yong Family’s younger generation,’ Qing Yichan explained to Gu Zheng via Divine Strange Sound Transmission. ’The one beside Yong Chuanzong is Baili Mingjing of the Baili Family. I haven’t seen the other three. Their spots must have been part of a trade with others, too.’

Gu Zheng nodded and sent a reply via Divine Strange Sound Transmission. ’The Yong Family of Yue Country is close with the Baili Family?’

’Last time, Baili Mingge caused a huge uproar in the Royal Capital when she tried to snatch Zhong Tianlin at his wedding.’

’The Baili Family never responded to the incident, undoubtedly making an enemy of the Zhong Family.’

’There were no signs of it before.’

Qing Yichan responded, ’But when Baili Mingge made her move, the Yong Family immediately followed, throwing the Royal Capital of Jing Country into chaos. It’s obvious the Baili Family and the Yong Family have struck some kind of deal.’

’Gu, this Yong Xingdian was already a Heroic Body Divine Seed a century ago. Whatever you do, don’t be reckless,’ Qing Yichan warned.

’Understood,’ Gu Zheng replied.

The Yong Family had released tens of thousands of puppets in the Royal Capital, killing hundreds of thousands of people. Gu Zheng was furious, but he didn’t feel a deep-seated hatred.

The ones who hated them were the Zhong family!

"So it’s Chuanzong~"

Qing Yuanfeng raised a hand in greeting. "Chuanzong, you’re a good lad. It’s just a shame you were born into the Yong Family."

"Hey, Qing Liu, what bullshit is that?" Yong Xingdian’s brow furrowed at his words. "Chuanzong was born into my Yong Family. How is that a shame?"