琅琊榜海宴小说

Chapter 630 – Responsibility

“Your Majesty, do we let them go just like that? The fact that they dared attack a Martial Alliance member in front of you ... It grinds my gears ...” said one of the old Martial Saints next to him.

Zhao Wuji thought deeply for a while, then he said, “We will cross that bridge when we reach it. It’s just some old guy; don’t worry too much about it. It doesn’t matter how strong he is, because how much longer can he live? The Divine Martial Empire will forever be the Martial Alliance’s domain. You’ll see ...” Zhao Wuji did not look worried at all. He then walked directly into Martial Overlord Palace.

This is all in spite of him losing in the standoff just now.

Everyone looked at each other.

Xiao Lin was the only one who looked confident.

“Martial Emperor Xiao, does His Majesty mean that we don’t need to worry?” asked one of the Martial Saints worriedly.

Xiao Lin nodded and said, “His Majesty has never made a wrong judgment before, so you do not need to worry. What does the Long family know?”

Then Xiao Lin left to deal with other matters.

Through the informants of various factions, news of the incident at Martial Overlord City spread across the whole Divine Martial Empire.

***

After leaving Martial Overlord City, the four of them stopped in a valley to discuss their next step.

Long Shan had only just exited the Nine Spirit Purgatory, so Long Yue had to make arrangements for him. Long Chen and Long Yue’s eyes met, and Long Yue said, “Grandfather, we have a brother whose daughter is being forced to marry Zhao Wuji’s disciple. Our progress has been delayed greatly, so we must leave to settle that matter first, then we will head to the Battle clan. We’ll treat that as our base .What do you think?”

Long Shan smiled and said, “I’m old; this is the youth’s world now. It’s up to you guys to decide. Other than enjoying life, all this bag of old bones can do is help you block off a strong enemy during critical moments. The harsh words I said at Martial Overlord City were only to help you guys let the matter go.”

His intentions were clear. He had only just gotten his freedom, and he was old. Long Yue and the rest still had to take matters into their own hands. He was only in charge of dealing with the Martial Overlord.

“Why do you say that? Grandfather, you managed to strike the Martial Overlord back with just one punch just now,” said the gray-clothed teenager.

The moment after the teenager spoke, Long Shan gave a bitter smile and a bit of blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth. Even Long Chen froze when he saw the blood.

This meant that Long Shan had actually lost to the Martial Overlord in the battle just now. He had only forced himself to hold on until now.

“Now you see it, right? Zhao Wuji is quite extraordinary. Very few people are a match for him at the Fourth Earthly Martial Stage. My injuries have not healed completely yet; in a serious battle, I am definitely no match for him,” Long Shan said bitterly.

The gray-clothed teenager was shocked.

Long Chen initially thought that Long Shan was stronger. He had not expected the Martial Overlord to actually be the more terrifying one. Youth was strength. In Long Shan’s current state, he was no match for the Martial Overlord.

Long Yue said, “In that case, we’ll rest so that Grandfather’s injuries can heal.”

Long Shan nodded. “To me, recovery is the most important thing now. However, you have a brother who needs your help, so I’ll go with you. Years ago, I had a good relationship with the Battle clan. I didn’t expect my grandchildren to fight alongside the Battle clan too; this is fate.”

Long Chen and the others decided to settle matters at the Ancient Demon Domain first, then they would return to the Battle clan.

Long Chen’s main goal was the Ancient Token, then the two Emperor Seals, which were with the Martial Overlord. This meant that he would have to fight the Martial Overlord one day. Joining Long Yue’s team was the best decision he had made.

He was worried for Liu Yiyi’s safety too.

“Zhao Danchen has had five days; I think he should be arriving at the Ancient Demon Domain soon. We must go now. If Wuya isn’t able to hold himself back and decides to attack, I’m afraid something will happen to him because he is no match for Zhao Danchen and Jiang Wuxie. We must hurry.” There was a hint of worry in Long Yue’s eyes.

Jiang Wuya had followed her around for many years, and to tell the truth, she had long accepted him. However, she was unable to accept that he had a wife and child. Now that Jiang Wuya had gone to the Ancient Demon Domain to save his daughter, her heart was torn.

She kept feeling like she was destroying someone else’s happiness, so she felt a bit guilty.

“Eldest Sister, don’t overthink it,” said Long Chen while they hurried along, knowing what she was thinking.

Time was running out and they had to focus on their travels.

***

Yellow Martial City, in the outer regions of the Ancient Demon Domain.

Yellow Martial City was the first city Long Chen had visited after he entered the Divine Martial Empire. This was where he had killed the Demon Emperor’s son, leading to him being pursued by the Demon Emperor. In the end, he was saved by the Dragon clan, leading to the many events afterwards.

In a corner of Yellow Martial City, on the first floor of the city’s tower, Jiang Wuya and Jian Chen were looking in the direction of the Ancient Demon Domain with furrowed brows.

The Ancient Demon Domain was barren, as always.

“Zhao Danchen has gone to the Ancient Demon Domain. His entourage will likely come out with Yiyi in a day’s time.” Jiang Wuya looked pale. He had slipped into the Ancient Demon Domain more than once in the past few days, but he kept getting beaten out by Jiang Wuxie. If he were not smart enough, his older brother might have actually killed him.

“Second Brother, Jiang Wuxie and Zhao Danchen will both be present when that moment comes. Won’t that make it more difficult for us?” Jian Chen watched the Ancient Demon Domain with a sword-like glare.

“That may be the case, but we cannot back down. Even if I die, I cannot let her suffer. I haven’t been a good father, and I owe her too much. All I have left to give is my life, and I will risk it for her. It’s up to the heavens to decide whether I succeed or not.” Jiang Wuya’s abyss-like eyes started to moisten.

“You don’t just have your life, you still have a squad of siblings who are willing to live and die alongside you,” reminded Jian Chen.

Jiang Wuya froze.

Indeed, he had a squad of siblings too.

Jian Chen had stubbornly insisted on following him, and despite Jiang Wuya advising him to head back more than once, it did not work. That was why Jiang Wuya had stopped trying to convince him.

Both of them were quiet for a while, then Jian Chen broke the silence. “After Seventh Brother went to Martial Overlord City, we received no more news. I’m afraid ...”

“Afraid of what?” Jiang Wuya said.

“I’m afraid that he and Eldest Sister are both trapped in the Nine Spirit Purgatory, unable to get out,” Jian Chen said directly.

Jiang Wuya squinted.

Jian Chen was right. He thought the same too, but he had never said it out loud.

“Seventh Brother is still young, but he is extremely talented. It is truly a pity. As for Yue’er, if she dies there, I’ll go to the Nine Spirit Purgatory to keep her company after I save Yiyi and make sufficient arrangements for her,” said Jiang Wuya with great resolution.

“Second Brother, there’s something I want to say, but I don’t know if I should,” Jian Chen said suddenly.

“What is it?” Jiang Wuya asked.

Jian Chen was quiet for a long time, then he said, “I think the most important thing for a man to do is take responsibility. You have followed Eldest Sister for too long, and you’ve had your freedom for too long. You have lived a life you liked, but you rarely think about other matters aside from Eldest Sister and our little group. We’re all not young anymore. At our age, we should give up on certain things we chase after. Then again ...”

“Then again what?” Jiang Wuya pursed his lips with a bitter smile.

Jian Chen thought for a moment, then he decided to speak honestly. “Have you ever thought about how Eldest Sister feels? I believe the reason she hasn’t gotten together with you is because she isn’t willing to rob someone else of their happiness. Some people need you more than she does.”

Jiang Wuya was silent for a long time.

“Perhaps it’s true that too much time has passed. Must I really give up now? Take responsibility?” Jiang Wuya was in a daze when he spoke.

He thought about the Clear Shallows King and Liu Yiyi.

What kind of lives had the mother and daughter been living during the many years that he was away?

That girl named Liu Yiyi had his blood flowing in her veins. How did she grow up?

Thinking about the girl who once cried in front of him, Jiang Wuya suddenly felt his heart ache. He clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, then let go.

When he looked up once more, his eyes were filled with determination.

“Third Brother, I’ve got it. This time, I will put my life on the line for her! She is my daughter! No one can stop me from providing her with a happy life!”

He leaped from the city wall and strode towards the Ancient Demon Domain.

“I’ll wait here for them to come out. There’s a very low chance of Yue’er and the others surviving that place. I think if I do this, Clear Shallows won’t resent me anymore ...” Killing intent appeared in Jiang Wuya’s eyes.

“I’m only living now because I got lucky. Since Eldest Sister isn’t here, then there is no need for me to live. Tomorrow, anyone who tries to stop me will face my sword. I refuse to believe that I won’t be able to reach the Third Earthly Martial Stage! If Seventh Brother can achieve a breakthrough in battle, why can’t I, Jian Chen, do the same?” The two men were ready to risk their lives. They stood proudly like stone pillars.

One day later, the huge doors of the Ancient Demon Domain opened, and a large group of people emerged. The Enforcers of the Martial Alliance and the Demon Generals of the Ancient Demon Domain were all escorting Zhao Danchen, Jiang Wuxie, and the others out of the Ancient Demon Domain. This marriage would join the Martial Alliance and the Ancient Demon Domain, deepening their relationship. That was why Jiang Wuxie took this very seriously. In addition, knowing that someone was trying to stop them, he was personally present to escort Liu Yiyi to Martial Overlord City!