King of Creation Chapter 1797 - 1782: A Debt Owed in June Must Be Repaid Swiftly
Previously on King of Creation...
"What have I done? Esteemed Patrol Officer, could you be a little more specific, please?" Ye Zhen inquired with a smile gracing his features.
In truth, Ye Zhen had only just made his return from Weizhou.
Based on Ye Zhen's initial intentions, he had planned to stir up further chaos, perhaps targeting another subordinate family of the Xio Family or even a Hidden Clan.
However, the issue was that Ye Zhen found himself seized by fear.
He cast his gaze upward towards the sky, where it seemed as though shadows were flitting past at every conceivable moment.
The initially stated five thousand Demon Soul Army had been wildly inflated to a hundred thousand Demon Clan army, creating a widespread sensation that dwarfed the earlier infiltration by over a thousand Demon Clan troops.
Not only had the West Patrol mobilized a substantial contingent to conduct an investigation, but the Secret Overseer, the Heavenly Patrol Department, the military forces of the neighboring states, and intelligence operatives from the Ministry of Justice were all actively engaged in searching for the elusive hundred thousand Demon Clan army.
Even Prince Ji Yuan, stationed at the Human Demon Battlefield, had dispatched an air cavalry unit numbering approximately ten thousand to lend aid in the search effort.
After all, a Demon Clan army of one hundred thousand could decisively alter the outcome of a battle, making their discovery an absolute imperative.
Under these circumstances, any further troublemaking by Ye Zhen could easily lead to him being apprehended red-handed.
If caught in the act, escape would be impossible for Ye Zhen; the Void Hunting King of the Dao Realm was not merely a title but a formidable reality.
Given the prevailing situation, Ye Zhen opted to retreat, recognizing that these mere three confrontations had already plunged Xio Qiangu into immeasurable difficulties.
What Ye Zhen had not anticipated was encountering Xio Qiangu's voice upon his return.
With Xio Qiangu, the West Patrol's representative, appearing in Ye Zhen's North Sea County, Ye Zhen could reasonably deduce the underlying cause.
Consequently, Ye Zhen decided to playfully engage Xio Qiangu with a touch of half-truth, leading to the current exchange.
"Cease this pretense of ignorance, Ye Zhen; you are fully aware of my meaning. I spend my days hunting geese, only to have my eyes pecked out today. Tell me, by what means did you achieve this?" Xio Qiangu demanded, fixing a stern gaze upon Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen chuckled lightly and shifted slightly, "Esteemed Patrol Officer, you jest. I genuinely do not comprehend your accusation. If you harbor suspicions, it would be prudent to present concrete evidence."
"Evidence..."
Xio Qiangu whispered, his voice trailing off as he fell into a contemplative silence, his eyes locked onto Ye Zhen as if lost in profound thought.
Initially, Ye Zhen assumed Xio Qiangu was genuinely pondering the matter of evidence. However, at that precise moment, a sharp premonition of danger flashed within Ye Zhen's mind.
"Dodge swiftly!"
Concurrently, Purple Spirit's urgent warning echoed directly within Ye Zhen's Dark Palace via Divine Soul Telecommunication.
Instantly, acting almost on pure instinct, Ye Zhen's Divine Sense surged, his form dissolving into a fleeting blur of motion.
In that fleeting instant, the aura of contemplation surrounding Xio Qiangu exploded with ferocity. His figure transformed into a shadow, and a colossal hand descended forcefully towards Ye Zhen.
The terrifying aura of the Dao Realm erupted, sending Liuu Feng and the others nearby reeling and staggering. The entire Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy Office was reduced to rubble amidst a thunderous crash.
Almost simultaneously, Xio Qiangu's swift and brutal palm strike enveloped Ye Zhen's apparent position.
Without a moment's hesitation, Xio Qiangu's hand, imbued with immense power, plunged downward, causing the very air around it to collapse inward like a turbulent whirlpool. The adjacent ground and the void itself crumbled at a speed clearly discernible to the eye.
The distinct sound of cracking bones and spraying blood permeated the atmosphere.
Under the brutal impact of Xio Qiangu’s palm strike, any martial artists below the Realm King Realm within a thousand-meter radius suffered shattered bones and were forced to disgorge blood.
But at that critical juncture, Xio Qiangu's expression suddenly froze, contorting into one of extreme displeasure.
The form concealed within his grasp was merely an illusionary afterimage.
In essence, Ye Zhen had eluded his grasp, even under the full force of his attack.
Ten miles away in the void, Ye Zhen observed the hundreds of individuals left behind, their bones broken and blood spewing from their mouths due to Xio Qiangu’s devastating blow. His complexion shifted dramatically.
The might of the Dao Realm was truly this formidable.
How utterly terrifying Xio Qiangu proved to be.
More startling to Ye Zhen was the undeniable realization that Xio Qiangu harbored a lethal intent, determined to kill him at any cost.
Had it not been for Purple Spirit's precognitive sensing of the impending danger and her timely warning, coupled with Ye Zhen's possession of the Wind Flash and Sweep technique – a short-range movement secret art derived from the Strong Wind style – he might have fallen directly into Xio Qiangu's deadly trap.
Regaining his composure, Ye Zhen could not suppress a surge of indignant rage.
To so brazenly attempt the assassination of a subordinate – Xio Qiangu had truly exceeded all bounds of propriety.
Just as Ye Zhen prepared to confront him, Xio Qiangu, his expression still deeply displeased, suddenly let out a resounding laugh. "I was suddenly moved by an impulse to test Commander Ye's martial prowess, and it appears Commander Ye's skills are indeed exceptionally formidable."
He spoke of a misunderstanding, but if anyone could have seen the coldness filling Xio Qiangu’s eyes as he glanced towards the heavens, they would have known the truth.
Xio Qiangu had genuinely intended to eliminate Ye Zhen.
Had he succeeded in killing Ye Zhen and silencing a few witnesses, would not the entire narrative be firmly under his control?
Would Venerate Emperor Ji Long of the Ren family, for the sake of a deceased individual, risk the complete disintegration of the West Patrol’s intelligence network, or even the defection of intelligence personnel to the Demon Clan, thereby severing ties with Xio Qiangu?
The answer was a resounding no!
This certainty fueled Xio Qiangu’s decision to bring Ye Zhen down.
A mere insignificant Ye Zhen, ending his life would be inconsequential; as long as he was dead, no one would go to extreme measures for a departed soul.
Regrettably for Xio Qiangu, Ye Zhen managed to escape, leaving him filled with immense regret.
Such an action, performing it once was sufficient.
Even if Xio Qiangu shamelessly attempted it a second or third time, Ye Zhen, now forewarned, would absolutely not grant him another opportunity.
However, the sheer speed Ye Zhen displayed just now had truly astonished him.
He had been faster than Xio Qiangu himself.
A chilling aura suddenly emanated from behind the ruins of the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy Office, unsettling Xio Qiangu profoundly.
The moment he turned, Xio Qiangu was met with the sight of Princess Changle fixing him with a murderous glare.
Princess Changle, enjoying the privileges akin to a prince, was permitted to attend court sessions and held the esteemed position of first princess within the Great Zhou Dynasty; she also served as the Barbarian Spirit Hall Master of the Ancestor Hall.
As a minister, encountering Princess Changle necessitated a formal salute; failure to do so could result in charges of contempt of royalty, an offense, while not severely punished, was undeniably unpleasant.
Adhering to the principle of avoiding unnecessary trouble, the West Patrol Inspector Xio Qiangu promptly bowed to Princess Changle, stating, "Minister Xio Qiangu of the West Patrol greets Your Highness, Princess Changle."
An instantaneous shift occurred precisely as Xio Qiangu performed his obeisance to Princess Changle.
While Xio Qiangu bowed, Princess Changle suddenly glided towards him, her delicate hand flashing with Spirit Light as it moved to strike.
An overwhelming pressure, akin to the eternal heavens, emanating from Creation Spiritual Power, descended abruptly.
Startled by the formidable Creation Spiritual Power, Xio Qiangu looked up in shock, stammering, "Princess...."
Before he could utter another word, Princess Changle’s slender hand, saturated with Creation Spiritual Power, slammed down upon Xio Qiangu’s head; though this palm strike appeared leisurely, its execution was breathtakingly swift.
In a state of utter bewilderment, Xio Qiangu instinctively retaliated, attempting to ward off the Princess’s assault brimming with Creation Spiritual Power.
It was also a desperate bid for his own survival.
Two colossal forces collided, and Xio Qiangu was violently propelled backward as if struck by a bolt of lightning, the distinct cracking of his bones, both hands and arms, echoing continuously.
Blood erupted from his mouth in a torrent, flowing without cessation.
"My Lord!" Weis Gang cried out, quickly moving to support the grievously injured Xio Qiangu, his gaze warily fixed upon the furious Princess Changle.
At that moment, Xio Qiangu was consumed by a mixture of sorrow and outrage. "Princess Hall Master, where have I wronged you? Please speak plainly. Why did you ambush me and strike with such viciousness?"
Hearing his words, a playful smile graced Princess Changle’s once-tense features.
"Vicious? Lord Patrol, you exaggerate. Changle harbored no such intent."
"It was merely after witnessing Lord Patrol exhibit his Dao Realm aura to gauge Commander Ye’s capabilities that I suddenly felt an impulse to test the renowned skills of Inspector Xio.
However, Changle did not anticipate holding back her full power and inadvertently injured Inspector Xio. Alas, I am truly sorry."
With a final statement, Princess Changle’s eyes twinkled with feigned innocence. "Lord Patrol, are you quite well? Changle happens to possess some excellent medicinal remedies for injuries that could aid your recovery, and furthermore, Changle can petition my father for a leave of absence for you to rest and recuperate."
Upon hearing this explanation, Ye Zhen, observing from the sidelines, sported a subtle smile, while Xio Qiangu could only roll his eyes in exasperation.
This was a perfect illustration of “repaying a favor as swift as the June weather.”
Xio Qiangu now clearly understood that Princess Changle was executing a retaliation for the sneak attack he had launched against Ye Zhen earlier.
She had employed the identical pretext and method to strike back at him, Xio Qiangu.
The crucial difference lay in Xio Qiangu’s failure, whereas Princess Changle had achieved her objective.
He was consumed by a profound sense of injustice, yet rendered utterly speechless.
Princess Changle’s claim of learning from him meant that escalating the matter to the imperial court would be perceived as him lacking the fortitude to endure humiliation.
Moreover, what tangible benefit would pursuing the matter in court yield?
Yet, the undeniable reality was that this time, he had suffered a silent, undeniable loss.
Princess Changle had wielded Creation Spiritual Power against him.
With a solitary palm strike, she had wounded him, yet the lingering Creation Spiritual Power continued to surge within his hand, causing the injury to his right arm to worsen incessantly. Even with his current cultivation, a full year would barely suffice for complete recovery from such a grievous wound. This situation left Xio Qiangu with a bitter frustration, as if he were forced to swallow his own shattered teeth along with the blood. However, since there was naught he could do concerning Princess Changle, Xio Qiangu offered a perfunctory response before departing in dejection. Upon his exit, Ye Zhen personally escorted Xio Qiangu and Weis Gang. "Inspector Xio, during these tumultuous times, I would advise you to exercise caution in your future actions. Provoking the ten-thousand-strong Demon Clan army once more could lead to an unmanageable catastrophe," Ye Zhen stated with significant meaning as he saw them off. Even a dullard like Xio Qiangu could grasp the implication behind Ye Zhen’s words. It was a threat! A clear and direct threat aimed squarely at Xio Qiangu. Should Xio Qiangu dare to scheme against Ye Zhen again, the formidable Demon Clan army might just make another appearance. Xio Qiangu, his mouth still tinged with blood, glared daggers at Ye Zhen upon hearing this, spitting out, "Are you attempting to threaten me?" Ye Zhen merely offered a slight cupping of his hands, replying, "That, my Lord Patrol, depends entirely on your interpretation. Safe travels, and no further farewells!" Ye Zhen's words subtly conveyed that if he perceived it as a threat, then so be it. Xio Qiangu departed, his countenance as dark as a thunderous storm!