Chapter 220: Brothers, I'm in Hot Water!
"I still have matters that require my attention... Thank you for the hospitality, young master. Let us gather again next time!" First Court King Qinguang said, thinking that Yun Yang would definitely hold him back; he had no intention to stay, however, no matter what Yun Yang said.
This was a serious matter.
"Ah, I see. Since Your Highness is so busy, I won't be keeping Your Highness up. It'd be ignorant of me to have delayed Your Highness' urgent matters."
Yun Yang beamed as he cupped one hand over the other and said, "Have a smooth journey, Your Highness. Come often if you're free."
When First Court King Qinguang walked out of the Residence of Yun, he felt immensely bewildered.
Why was this fellow incapable of speaking in logical sequences each time they conversed!
Logically, when a host invited the guest to stay passionately but was refused by the guest, should the host not hold the guest back even more passionately? Even when the host knew well that the guest would not stay, shouldn't the host still make pleasantries?
"But how could this Young Master Yun behave like this?"
"He's too honest! Indeed too honest..."
"It's just... why do I feel so apprehensive with his honesty?"
"Forget it, let me go back and quickly check the background of He Hanqing - that is paramount!" King Qinguang told himself.
He did not feel good about this matter, wondering faintly if he had been tricked...
First Court King Qinguang turned into a ghastly mist and swiftly floated away...
After a long, long time in a remarkably hidden location, King Qinguang let out a loud cry; his face was pale, drained of all color.
He shuddered slightly as his eyes bulged, moaning in despair, "You damned bastard! What deep pit have you pushed your father down this time?"
Initially, King Qinguang was relieved upon making sure that the name He Hanqing did not appear on the banned list of names but as he flipped through the list for dangerous figures, he realized something...
The real intention of the list of people they were banned from killing was that if they could not kill them, then they should not; killing these people would only bring huge trouble upon themselves. In spite of this, it was not that those people were completely untouchable; as long as the price was high enough, an assassination could still be attempted.
Yet things were entirely different with the list of dangerous people.
The list of dangerous people meant that these individuals posed a serious threat. Firstly, the threat was reflected in the ridiculously high capabilities of these figures. One might not be able to kill them but one could very well die from an attempt to ambush them. Secondly, even when the target was killed, the case would not end there. There was still the backing force of the target that could possibly bring grave danger to the Concourse of the Underworld - a threat that could even end the organization.
These were people that should never be provoked!
First Court King Qinguang immediately saw the problem when he was scanning the list of names. When he went through them the first time, he did not find the words 'He Hanqing'. It was when he decided to close the list that he saw a familiar section and could not help glancing at it more carefully - the Four Seasons Tower Immunity List.
Mr. Nian, Saber, Sword, Snow, Frost, Ice; Four Supreme Lords.
There were only aliases but there were no particular names for the six people in front while the latter four Supreme Lords were attached with names and the first one of them read 'Supreme Lord Spring Frost He Hanqing'!
First Court King Qinguang gave a violent jerk, his eyes bulging in shock. With an anguished moan, he sprang up as goosebumps raked through his body - hairs standing and pores opening. He felt like he was freezing up.
Oh... oh, my god... I must be dreaming!
He then checked once more without blinking. Finally, he moaned again, his face ashen.
It really was him! An important figure of the Four Seasons Tower - Supreme Lord Spring Frost!
He Hanqing!
He wasn't only extremely dangerous - he was absolutely untouchable!
"According to the Concourse of the Underworld's principles, this was someone that no one was to lay a finger on, even when the other party paid millions in gold. Who would have thought that I would sign the Absolute Kill Contract with the price of one million silver taels today?"
"I've even given a twenty percent discount for the one million taels!"
First Court King felt like dying. Looking at the signed contract and thinking of the acknowledgment of God's will and the punishment if he violated the contract... King Qinguang's despair was simply too deep for tears.
"I'm doomed, I'm doomed. I'm really in the deepest pit, how can this be?"
King Qinguang paced around in his secret chamber, making a total of seventy rounds in just a short while; he was pulling at his hair, his frustration was making him bald.
"I must discuss this with the other brothers..."
First Court King Qinguang was a nervous wreck, turning into a ghastly fog and charged out of the secret chamber hastily like he was being chased by a million men.
He was rushing back with all his might, to the headquarters of the Concourse of the Underworld.
He wanted to discuss the matter with his other brothers.
This was simply too large a problem to deal with himself. Brothers, I've stirred up the biggest mess!
King Qinguang was wearing the most miserable face he could conjure as he rushed back.
No wonder I felt that this was so familiar... There are actually four more words before the three words 'He Hanqing', those four words were where the deafening impact lied. That's why the name He Hanqing right at the back was so easily ignored.
Of course, I didn't recognize the name 'He Hanqing', why didn't you tell me you wanted me to kill Supreme Lord Spring Frost?
I'm doomed, I'm doomed! I'm doomed this time...
I will never hear the end of it from my brothers once they hear of this.
"Are you a pig?!"
"What's in your brain? Mush?!"
"Even if there no mush, water must have gone in!"
"All these years you've been alive... are they for nothing?"
"Are you stupid?"
"Why haven't you gotten yourself killed yet?"
...
He did not know more but these lines would definitely be thrown right at him!
First Court King sighed as he continued on his way.
F*cker, I knew pretty boys are good for nothing; your father has indeed been tricked today...
Oh, your father's eyes! Why did you take a liking towards him? Why are you so fond of him? Pretty boy toys are nothing good - what a maxim!
...
King Qinguang had left.
Yun Yang could finally breathe in relief. They had signed the contract, witnessed by God's will. Even when King Qinguang realized it afterward, he could not back out of it. Although this was tasteless and despicable, violating his own principles, this was how things were; he could not afford to care how other people's sentiments at this point in time.
Bai Yixue could finally relax as well. Coming out from his room, he looked at Yun Yang like he had seen a ghost - disbelief, bewilderment, and doubt was splayed across his face.
There was shock in his eyes.
"Young Master Yun, you must know He Hanqing's genuine identity!" Bai Yixue said.
"Why do you think so?" Yun Yang asked.
Bai Yixue answered, "If you didn't know how much a terror he is, you wouldn't have tricked First Court King Qinguang! You know King Qinguang's status, the consequences will be grave for bamboozling him like this. You knew this but you still did it anyway. This can only explain that He Hanqing's identity is far more terrifying than that of First Court King Qinguang."
"That might not be the case," Yun Yang replied calmly.
"Who is He Hanqing, really?" Bai Yixue asked in a low voice.
Yun Yang's eyes were filled with mirth when he looked at Bai Yixue. "Are you sure you want to know?"
"I've already offended him to no end. I would know his real identity." Bai Yixue retorted angrily.
Yun Yang's gaze at Bai Yixue changed into something else altogether. It was by instinct that Bai Yixue felt the apprehension as he continued, "If it's not convenient..."
He was supposed to say "If it's not convenient, then don't say it." but before he could finish his words, Yun Yang was already replying coolly, "He Hanqing is... the Four Seasons Tower's Supreme Lord Spring Frost!"
"Supreme Lord Spring Frost!"
The four words were like a streak of thunder that crashed into Bai Yixue; he actually felt dizzy for a short moment.
When he regained his senses, Bai Yixue felt extremely speechless and exasperated!
He... he had actually offended the most terrifying clan in the martial arts world, the Four Seasons Tower! To add to that, he intended to assassinate their Supreme Lord Spring Frost as well.
Was he tired of living?
Bai Yixue was looking at Yun Yang with grudging admiration, "I must say, you've gotten me good!"
"It's useless to kill me or to rat me out. You've already offended someone you shouldn't." Yun Yang's smile was very gentle.
"I've been had!" Bai Yixue said in anguish, his mouth agape.
Yun Yang was still smiling when he said, "You won't regret it in the future."
Bai Yixue felt like punching the smiling rascal.
Only after digesting the shock did he realize something. Bai Yixue said, "But... even if this was so - you - shouldn't have been able to pull a fast one on First Court King Qinguang!"
"I yet I did!" Yun Yang said calmly. "And I'm confident."
"Confident?"
Bai Yixue was stumped. What sort of character was First Court King Qinguang, how could he really not know He Hanqing's identity?
The more he thought about it, the more confused he was. Watching Yun Yang's confident grin, Bai Yixue finally understood that his brain was nothing worthy of mention when compared to that of Young Master Yun's.
He was not guessing anymore; it was best to just ask honestly.
"Young - young master Yun, how did you do it?" Bai Yixue was actually stuttering.
Yun Yang shot a meaningful glance at Bai Yixue and smiled faintly. "Because of you, I could do it."
"Because of me?" Bai Yixue was still stumped. What did this have to do with him?
He could feel the inadequacy of his intelligence right now; he wondered if all this was an illusion. Ever since he had stayed at the Residence of Yun to heal his injuries and to avoid being hunted, his mind had been pretty useless.
He had planned to seek refuge here with the excuse of pointing fingers at Yun Yang, yet the tables were turned quickly enough; his dignity had been torn to shreds and he could not even leave from the anger.
Then, his treasured collectibles had been reduced to nothing. He had only asked a few questions before he was viciously attacked with arguments; he had been so close to breaking down from the sulking.
There was something else that truly incurred the sense of defeat and fear, petrification even, within Bai Yixue. First Court King Qinguang had arrived today and had been unknowingly led into the pit by Yun Yang's brief words; there was even the acknowledgment from God's will. This was obviously a deadly trap.
Recalling his own situation, was he not the precedent of King Qinguang? Yun Yang was doing the exact same thing, pouring the old wine in a new bottle!