twojebook Chapter 946: Huangfu Lingyun: As Long as This Little Tree Stands, I Won't Fall!
Chapter 946: Huangfu Lingyun: As Long as This Little Tree Stands, I Won't Fall!
...
Elder Deng laughed a bit sheepishly: "I know him more than just casually."
"Back then, in my hometown of Iron Thorn Ridge, the enemy altered the feng shui and turned it into a corpse-refining ground—Iron Corpse Ridge. The entire village, several hundred people, including the three squads stationed there, were all slaughtered."
"The captain used a secret technique, borrowing the Kitchen God's protection, to hide me under an iron pot."
"Later, the leader brought people and saved me."
This was also one of the reasons Elder Deng, by extension, treated Yan Feifan so well.
It was also why, even though both Huangfu Lingyun and Yan Feifan were Lu Ding's friends, Elder Deng was especially kind to Yan Feifan.
As for Huangfu Lingyun, Elder Deng only saw him as a younger generation member with a good relationship with Lu Ding—he'd pay attention, offer some care, but not go out of his way.
After all, Yunhai 749 had so many geniuses, and Elder Deng had only ever favored Lu Ding and Bai Hemen before. That showed his personality and pickiness.
But Yan Feifan was different.He carried the Kitchen God's ceremonial tablet.
Listening to Elder Deng recount those old days, Elder Shui chimed in: "Hahaha, you kid, I never thought you'd grow this big. When I found you back then, you were wiping your tears and gnawing on a cold bun, your face all messy, with only your two eyeballs moving around in all that black."
"Ah, what a pitiful sight."
"What was your cultivation level back then?"
Elder Deng answered sheepishly: "I had just awakened not long ago, otherwise I'd have gone out to fight them to the death."
Elder Shui looked him up and down: "Mm... seems like you've been slacking off these past few years."
"Only the first restriction of the Five Decays of Heaven-Man."
Then he turned to Lu Ding: "These young lads, take them to the new city. Leave this young man here with me—he's too old to go to the new city and fight."
"Stick with me, cultivate your character, drink some tea, practice your skills—that'll do too."
Wait, 'young man' but also 'too old'?
Don't you find that a bit contradictory?
Lu Ding hesitated.
Well...
Elder Deng spoke up: "Take Xiao Bai and the others and go. I'll stay here with the old leader, alright?"
Since Elder Deng had already said so.
And the two had history.
Lu Ding could only agree.
"How about a meal together?"
Elder Shui waved his hand: "No, no, you young folks eat. Us old folks will eat too, but you're busy. Isn't there a lot to do in the new city?"
With that, he took Elder Deng's hand: "Come, come, let's go have a drink. I can smell you brought some liquor."
It had to be said, Elder Shui had a sharp nose.
Elder Deng took the bag from Lu Ding's hand and patted it: "Sorghum liquor, and I brought a few packs of cicada larvae."
Of course, Elder Deng hadn't specially prepared these. They were just sitting in the fridge, he had no idea how long, and he couldn't bear to throw them away, so he brought them along.
Old folks, after all, coming from that era—even if it's unhygienic after sitting too long, their strength was enough to ignore such trivial concerns.
Elder Shui: "Ooh, good stuff! Fry them up, they'll be so fragrant. Then I'll whip up some peanuts, mix some houttuynia cordata, pour out the liquor, start chatting away—now that's the good life."
Lu Ding: ..........
Bai Hemen walked over, looking in the direction the two old men had gone, and asked quietly: "Everything okay?"
Lu Ding shook his head: "Not just okay—Elder Deng just hit a major opportunity."
After all, not everyone got to follow Elder Shui.
Having said that, he stopped thinking about it.
He raised his hand and lifted the sleeping Huangfu Lingyun with his power.
"Let's go. Head back to the new city."
Lu Ding was the first to board the chariot.
The others followed.
With a flick of the reins,
the [Eight-Dragon Sandalwood Chariot] roared away.
Clouds brushed past their faces as they felt the speed and thrill.
Everyone was excited.
Bai Hemen, in particular, stared at the reins in Lu Ding's hands, lost in thought.
Lu Ding said: "Want to give it a try?"
He was waiting for that.
Bai Hemen took the reins, imitating Lu Ding's move, and flicked them. The [Eight-Dragon Sandalwood Chariot] accelerated again. That feeling—even the coolest man couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
Yan Feifan said: "Xiao Bai, you gotta yell it out."
Bai Hemen, barely suppressing his grin, asked in confusion: "Yell what?"
Lu Ding knew what Yan Feifan meant and cut in: "Haven't you seen the shows? 'Giddyup!'"
Bai Hemen immediately thought of scenes from TV dramas.
He flicked the reins again: "Giddyup!!!"
The [Eight-Dragon Sandalwood Chariot] shot forward like a rocket, shattering the clouds in the sky as Lu Ding and Yan Feifan's laughter rang out: "HAHAHAHAHAHA.........."
Bai Hemen quickly added his own laughter.
Lu Ding and Yan Feifan exchanged glances.
Their laughter stopped abruptly.
Leaving Bai Hemen laughing alone: "Haha..."
Then, a beat too late, he silently hid his teeth.
This time, Lu Ding and Yan Feifan burst out laughing outright.
New place, new environment, new world, new strength and realms—everything was changing. The only constant was old friends and their laughter.
At that moment, Huangfu Lingyun still slept.
Not until they flew into the new city.
Lu Ding's dragon chariot swept across the sky.
Lu Ding waved his hand, showing off the western region: "This area—it's the kingdom I carved out."
Yan Feifan, ever the supportive one, asked: "This entire stretch?"
Lu Ding's lips curled: "Past this stretch, it's all mine!!"
Bai Hemen, who didn't tire from driving the chariot, looked toward the southern area: "And this part?"
Lu Ding sighed: "You really don't know how to keep a conversation going."
Bai Hemen's lips curled into a smile—genuine, but stiff all the same.
It gave him a look of not-quite-smart craftiness.
Meanwhile, beneath the sky, the hidden members of the Child Association and Wuwang all looked up.
Lu Ding was so famous in the new city—who didn't know this was one of his signature extraordinary phenomena?
"That damned Lu Ding, he sneaked out!!!!"
"We didn't get a single hint! Missed the perfect chance to stir up chaos in the west! That bastard deserves to die!!!"
"Exactly! Leaves without saying a word, this guy's so dull. All guarded and full of schemes."
Until the chariot landed at White Ridge 749.
Well then.
Huangfu Lingyun woke up.
His eyes opened groggily, and his first reaction was to anxiously check on the monsters he'd brought.
When he saw Pigtail and Mourning Guest tied up like dumplings and tossed in the corner, he let out a long sigh. Then, slow on the uptake, he asked: "Where is this place?"
Lu Ding replied: "This is my headquarters. From now on, you're working here as my slave laborer."
Having just been beaten, Huangfu Lingyun was still behaving himself, within his three-day cooling-off period. He couldn't be bothered to argue with Lu Ding.
He scanned his surroundings—obviously far less luxurious than Hanjing: "How did we get here?"
Bai Hemen was eager to show off: "By chariot—dragon-pulled, and I drove it!!!"
"WHAT!!!??"
Huangfu Lingyun's voice shot up several octaves!!!!
He twisted his head left and right: "Where's the chariot?! Where's the chariot!!!?"
"Why didn't you wake me up!!!?"
"You guys are way too much!!!"
Bai Hemen extended his hands beside him, mimicking holding the reins, and gave a flick: "Giddyup."
The calm, flat tone made it all the more infuriating.
Huangfu Lingyun slammed the thing he was holding to the ground.
SMACK!!!
"Bai Hemen, you son of a bitch, you've gone too far!!!!!"
Xiao Bai: "Are you cursing at me?"
Huangfu Lingyun's overheating CPU instantly cooled: "I didn't."
Xiao Bai rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward: "You used 'son of a bitch.'"
Huangfu Lingyun backed away: "You heard wrong."
Bai Hemen's pace quickened: "Don't run."
Huangfu Lingyun's retreat sped up: "Don't come near me!!!"
One ran, one chased—and in the end, it was the familiar scene.
Huangfu Lingyun hugging a tree, Bai Hemen pulling his legs, stretching him out straight.
"Let go."
"You get lost!!!"
"You yelling at me?"
"What's wrong with you? I'm not letting go! As long as this little tree stands, I won't fall!!"
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Bonus chapter for Asking the Undying's previous Gift King reward. Thank you for the support!