Chapter 173: Who's More Like the Bad Guy?

Zhao Yanzi was probably really exhausted. She fell asleep in just a little while.

The light on the ceiling was off, but the lamp by the bed was left on. Hao Ren curled up in the dark and looked at the ceiling, thinking about what happened during the day.

West Ocean must have a strong background to back up its attitude. Oldman Zeng, especially, was so arrogant. If it weren't for Zhao Yanzi's Third Uncle, he would have kidnapped Zhao Yanzi forcefully even though they were on East Ocean's turf!

There were other things besides the issue with East Ocean and West Ocean that were giving Hao Ren a headache.

The room was extremely quiet, and Hao Ren could see some dim lights from the few corners of the room. Those were the array formations that Zhao Guang and Zhao Hongyu put up when Zhao Yanzi and Hao Ren slept over at Lu Qing's place.

Hao Ren looked at Zhao Yanzi, who was already deep in her sleep, and sighed. He thought that maybe it would be easier to just be a mortal being.

Tik Tok... Tik Tok...

It was already the next morning, and Hao Ren didn't sleep at all. He silently cultivated the Light Splitting Sword Shadow Scroll and guarded Zhao Yanzi at the same time. He was unease about the East Ocean irritating the West Ocean yesterday. Although he was only on Kan-level, he was still stronger than Zhao Yanzi, who lost all her power.

"Ah..." Zhao Yanzi yawned as she stretched in her bed.

She noticed Hao Ren staring, made a humph sound and kicked her blanket on to Hao Ren's head.

Hao Ren pulled the blanket down, thinking, "So ungrateful. I guarded you for the entire night, and if you do not recognize my contribution, you should at least recognize my hard work."

Zhao Yanzi didn't know Hao Ren was awake all night. She hopped into the bathroom to freshen up. She was never concerned about the threat from the West Ocean. What on earth could they do? The East Ocean was not afraid of the West Ocean at all.

These two got downstairs, and Zhao Hongyu had already prepared breakfast for them. Everything was nice and ordinary as usual.

"I'm going to see Grandma with Hao Ren today, mom." Zhao Yanzi took a bite of her bread.

"How are you going?" Zhao Hongyu said.

"Driving over!" Zhao Yanzi pointed at Hao Ren. "Doesn't he know how to drive?"

Hao Ren nodded. "Auntie and Uncle should come with us."

"We can't. There's a lot of things to deal with after the birthday party," Zhao Guang said.

"Then...the two of us can go?" Zhao Yanzi asked Zhao Guang timidly.

"Yeah, you guys can go." Zhao Guang nodded randomly.

Zhao Yanzi was very glad. To Hao Ren's surprise, Zhao Guang really allowed her to go with him alone.

"Be careful," Zhao Hongyu said to them and went upstairs to pack a change of clothes for Zhao Yanzi.

Then Hao Ren took Zhao Guang's black Chevrolet and drove Zhao Yanzi towards the little village in Zhejiang where Grandma was at.

As soon as Zhao Yanzi and Hao Ren stepped out of the house, Zhao Guang turned to his study, "Premier Xia, go ahead."

"Yes, Dragon King," Premier Xia walked out of the study in his green robe, "According to the new information, amongst the Elders who used the Mystic Ice, six of them had leveled up to Kun-level.

"Six..." Zhao Guang looked down slightly as if he was weighing the meaning of that number.

"The West Ocean has higher strength than us, and now they have six more Kun-level masters. No wonder they had the gut to make a punitive expedition against us at the birthday party," Zhao Hongyu said beside Zhao Guang.

Zhao Guang nodded with a serious look on his face. "Keep going."

"Yes," Premier Xia's look was pretty serious as well, "There is also uncertain information about the appearance of a Soul Formation Cultivator in our East Ocean City!"

"Soul Formation Cultivator?" Zhao Guang, who had always kept his calm, looked surprised.

"Since it involves the Soul Formation Cultivator, we weren't able to dig too deep. However, according to Su Han's remarks during the birthday party and the comprehensive judgment of us East Ocean, the reason for Qin Shaoyang's transfer to North-West Sky Mountain was that he probably had pissed this cultivator off."

Zhao Guang frowned as he touched his chin, "In that case, it does sound like that's what had happened. Qin Shaoyang belongs to the Metal Dragon Clan, and he should have a special status in the inspector system. He must have gotten on the bad side of some important people to be sent to the cold and poor North-West area."

"Also..." Premier Xia dragged his voice as he hesitated for a few seconds, "When consort prince Hao was breaking through to Kan-level, a passing by a Soul Formation Cultivator gave him some help."

"Oh?" Zhao Hongyu and Zhao Guang were both surprised this time.

Premier Xie continued, "The entire situation appears to be more complex than Dragon King had estimated. The West Ocean gathered a lot of forces, yet they retreated from taking any action. They might have scruples for this Soul Formation Cultivator in the East Ocean."

Zhao Hongyu shook her head, "The Soul Formation Cultivators do not interfere with issues within the Dragon Tribe. Even if the war between the East and West Ocean start, they won't get involved as long as no human is injured. But the transfer of Qin Shaoyang was surely a reason for the West Ocean to be on alert."

"You are absolutely right, Mother of Dragon. All three parties are in a stalemate for now, and we need to wait and see if Third Lord can break through to the Heavenly Dragon Realm. Oldman Zeng is not easy to deal with, and he must be waiting for his opportunity as well," Premier Xia said.

"You are right. The temper he revealed yesterday was just an act. He is actually extremely sneaky. However, both sides are holding grudges about yesterday. I'm sure there will be some small conflicts or even large conflicts that involve elders these days. It's a good thing Zi is not here for now," Zhao Guang looked at Premier Xia. "Don't worry about us and just go ahead and secretly protect Ren and Zi for the next two days."

"Yes!" Premier Xia bowed his humpback and disappeared in a ray of green light.

Hao Ren, in the meantime, was driving the black Chevy toward a toll station on the highway.

Zhao Yanzi was a bit nervous since this was the first time she and Hao Ren went on a trip by themselves. However, she was just happy as long as she could take this opportunity to avoid doing her homework.

"What? Do I look like a bad guy?" Having sensed her nervousness, Hao Ren asked as he drove.

"What do you think?" Zhao Yanzi posed the question back to him.

"I didn't do anything other than watch over you as you slept, did I?" Hao Ren asked.

Zhao Yanzi pouted her mouth to contradict, but she didn't know what to say. Hao Ren's tone made her feel like he was going to do something more this time.

"I told you the condition over there isn't that good. So, don't be yelling to come back when you get there." Hao Ren re-confirmed as soon as they entered the toll station.

"I know! So annoying!" she rolled her eyes at him because she didn't think of herself as spoiled at all.

The vehicle got on the highway. Hao Ren drove for a while until he finally asked, "What's that prince from the West Ocean's name?"

"Told you not to speak of him!" Zhao Yanzi was not happy, but she still answered, "Zeng Yitao!"

Hao Ren secretly memorized the name - he had always known this guy wasn't a good one.

"Have you... canceled the marriage engagement with the West Ocean before?" Hao Ren asked again.

"Pttf! I was never engaged to him! They were the ones who came up with it on their own, and my dad never agreed to it!" She said.

Hao Ren knew that the West Ocean must have proposed a few times on this issue and every time Zhao Guang rejected using the excuse of Zhao Yanzi's age. However, the East Ocean suddenly found Zhao Yanzi a fiancé without telling them. This was what was making the West Ocean Dragon Palace furious.

At first, Zhao Guang fought against all the pressure to make Hao Ren, a human, Zhao Yanzi's Fuma. Maybe that was one of the reasons.

The road trip on the highway was very boring, and Zhao Yanzi slowly fell asleep on the chair. She had had a busy day the day before and didn't get to sleep well at night. It was normal for her to get sleepy today.

Hao Ren tried his best to drive as steadily as possible in order to not interfere with her dreaming. Sometimes, he felt sorry for her because although everyone catered to her needs as the princess of the East Ocean Dragon Palace, she needed more freedom.

The reason why Zhao Guang and Zhao Hongyu were bringing her up in the city was probably to cheer her up.

The three-hour-drive took them to the small village Hao Ren was just at a few days ago. The bumpy road woke Zhao Yanzi up from her dream. She rubbed her eyes and looked outside at the simple houses and was slightly astonished. "Ah? This is it?"

She grew up in the prosperous city and went to the Dragon Palace to see the luxurious scenes from time to time. Even when she went on a trip to the GreenStone Mountain, she lived in the hotel at the foot of the mountain. When did she ever live in a "village" like this?

Hao Ren ignored her because they were already at the destination. Even if Zhao Yanzi wanted to protest, she could scream all she wanted, and it wouldn't do her any good.

The vehicle drove into the yard, and Grandma saw Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi get out of the black car as she was sunbathing. She walked over, surprised, "How come...you are here?"

"Grandma!" Zhao Yanzi ran over to her as she greeted in her sweet voice.

"Oh! How come you didn't tell me you have such a pretty granddaughter!" Grandma's good friend smiled as she walked over with a fan in her hand.

"Grandma..." Zhao Yanzi called out as well.

"Such a pretty little granddaughter..." The old woman walked around Zhao Yanzi and sighed.

"This is not my granddaughter. This is my..." Grandma was about to explain.

Zhao Yanzi blushed as she said "Grandma" once again. She finally realized and said, "Hehe, our little Zi is shy!"

Yet the old lady didn't think much as she rubbed her head and said, "Today is Saturday, and all my sons who work in town are back. There is only one room left, and we don't have enough blankets..."