High Martial Arts: Invincible Starts from Basic Archery Chapter 802 - 622: We Arrived at Just the Right Time
Previously on High Martial Arts: Invincible Starts from Basic Archery...
"So, you're telling me Su Chan has invited you to the Su Family tomorrow to talk about Chen Fan's situation?"
A middle-aged man on the screen in front of him posed the question.
"Indeed."
The Thunder Emperor gazed at the figure on the display. That unremarkable middle-aged man turned out to be the War Emperor, one of the three S-Class Awakened.
His demeanor matched his looks—utterly subdued and understated.
Yet, when combat erupted, his ferocious battle intent surpassed even what the Thunder Emperor could muster.
The War Emperor paused briefly before inquiring, "Any risks involved?"
He hated to question his ally.
However, learning that those two had been raised by the Su Family stirred some unease in him.
After all, with stakes this high, how could Su Chan remain oblivious?
He simply couldn't buy that.
And right now...
"I don't think so."
The Thunder Emperor grinned, adding, "I might doubt the Su Family, but Su Chan? No way."
The War Emperor stayed quiet.
Gradually, the grin on the Thunder Emperor's face diminished.
"Should danger arise, stay on high alert. Also, reach out to Chen Fan. For some reason, I sense he could resolve everything."
"Reach out to him..."
The War Emperor wavered slightly, then suggested, "Why not let me accompany you? If trouble brews, we could watch each other's backs."
"I gave her my word, so I'll head there solo. Plus, don't you have faith in her?"
The Thunder Emperor countered.
The War Emperor found himself speechless.
"Relax, it'll be fine."
The Thunder Emperor assured him with a chuckle.
"Fingers crossed."
The War Emperor narrowed his gaze.
He had no intention of sitting idle.
Should his comrade face peril, he'd stake his own life to exact a steep toll from the Su Family.
…
The following day.
Led by Su Chan, the Thunder Emperor stepped into the Su Family's hidden realm.
"Brother Lei, our patriarch awaits in the garden—please, come with me." Su Chan offered a soft smile.
"Very well."
The Thunder Emperor returned the smile.
Upon crossing into the secret realm, he immediately gauged the interior.
Truly, only a handful of the Su Family's leaders were there.
No additional souls lurked.
As they reached the garden, an elder with white hair occupied a seat by the table. Spotting the Thunder Emperor, he waved him over. "Xiao Lei, take a seat."
"My respects, elder."
The Thunder Emperor bowed.
This wasn't their initial encounter, of course.
"No need for such formality between old friends."
The Su Family's patriarch waved it off, lifting the teapot to pour tea into the three cups arrayed on the table.
"Sit down, drop the stiff manners."
He indicated the pair of stools before him.
"Then I shall, with thanks."
The Thunder Emperor settled onto one stool.
"Long journey must have worn you out—sip some tea first; we'll get to business later."
"Elder, your hospitality overwhelms me."
Without so much as eyeing the tea, the Thunder Emperor smiled and replied, "First off, matters at hand outweigh tea; secondly, thirst isn't an issue, though I appreciate the gesture."
"Worried the tea might be tampered with?"
The Su Family's patriarch queried, his smile not quite touching his eyes.
"Still the same old you, elder, always with the teasing," the Thunder Emperor responded steadily.
He had no clue if his tea held any additives.
In this boundless world, oddities abounded. Even within the Divine Cultivation Realm, hidden realms harbored elements that could assault the divine soul.
Thus, caution dictated avoiding the drink.
"Brother Lei, a toast to you."
Su Chan abruptly lifted her cup and declared.
The Thunder Emperor blinked in surprise, then a grin spread across his face.
"Does Xiaochan truly wish to toast me?"
Su Chan's heart skipped a beat.
Memories from bygone days surged through her mind.
But the arrow loosed could not be recalled—regret came far too late.
"Brother Lei, what do you mean? If trust is lacking, skip the drink."
With those words, she tilted her head back and drained her cup.
She set the empty vessel down on the table, her expression bearing a subtle smile, as though all was normal.
"With Xiaochan proposing the toast, how could I, as your big brother, refuse to honor it?" The Thunder Emperor bellowed a laugh and gulped down his tea.
The instant it passed his throat, his features twisted.
It was like myriad needles stabbing his soul, a torment of refined agony.
"This tea..."
"Correct, it's laced with poison."
The Su Family's patriarch grinned, explaining, "The Seven-Leaf Poison Flower targets Martial Artists in the Divine Cultivation Realm uniquely. Once ingested, power dives sharply. Lacking the antidote within three days, your soul disperses."
The Thunder Emperor chuckled softly to himself, "Straightforward and to the point, as expected."
"Hahaha, never thought it'd unfold this seamlessly. Naive or just plain silly—which is it?"
The Su Family's patriarch brimmed with delight.
Idly, he flung his cup to the floor.
"Crash!"
With the breaking sound, four silhouettes materialized in the garden.
They consisted of the Divine Cultivation Realm leaders from four clans—or three, really, given one was a shape-shifting demon beast at that level.
At that instant, the trio regarded the Thunder Emperor with sneers of derision.
"Who'd have guessed this fool was such a sentimental pushover." The Xu Family patriarch scoffed.
"Had I realized he fell this easily, no need to delay till now."
Upon hearing their taunts, the Thunder Emperor felt no rage; instead, he turned composedly to Su Chan and queried, "Why?"
A flicker of astonishment crossed Su Chan's gaze.
She'd figured the Thunder Emperor, post-poison, would lash out in fury, demanding why she'd betrayed him that way.