Section Ninety-Three: Shangguan Qianhui's Resolve

Jin Hao lay sprawled on the ground like a heap of rotten mud, his eyes those of a fish on the verge of suffocation, with nothing left in him but breath. He had never imagined that one day he would be so utterly unseemly, face-down on the floor.

But at last, freedom...

His gaze unfocused, Jin Hao let out a long sigh deep in his heart. Twenty-four hours—he had fought for twenty-four straight hours!

Even for someone as strong-willed as Jin Hao, a battle of such insane ferocity left him quickly tormented to the point of nausea. It was not as though he had never sparred with others before, but never had he sparred like this. In between, apart from meditation, there was not even the slightest rest. Tang Tian was like some indestructible little monster; every time Jin Hao started to relax, he would leap up with a crash and roar for another match.

That was just too much...

Jin Hao was so regretful he could have cried. Why on earth had he agreed to this guy?

Tang Tian crouched beside Jin Hao, chattering on with the indignant air of one lamenting the stupidity of others. “I say, Big Brother Jin Hao, your stamina is really too poor. We’ve only been at it for a little while. I still haven’t won a single time—why are you stopping already? Are you doing this on purpose? Afraid of losing to me? Ah, you really don’t need to be like that. We’re upright men, aren’t we? How can we act this way?”

Spare me...

Jin Hao was on the verge of tears.

Tang Tian tormented Jin Hao for a long while, but there was still no response from him. In the end, he had no choice but to rise in frustration and leave, looking most unwilling.

The reason was that sparring with Big Brother Jin Hao had been extraordinarily effective, even more so than bitter cultivation. Whether it was several types of martial skill or the instinctive adaptation, the results were superb. But what truly made Tang Tian unable to let go was the Heavenly Dragon Force. He had only just begun to grasp it, and he was still far from mastery, which meant he was at the most exhilarating stage—yet Big Brother Jin Hao had suddenly said he would no longer continue.

Still, hearing Big Brother Jin Hao’s snores, he could only suppress the urge to drag him back up.

He did find it a little strange, though. Why was Big Brother Jin Hao’s stamina so poor?

Behind Tang Tian, Bing cast a sympathetic glance at Jin Hao, who had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Tang Tian did not know that, through long years of bitter cultivation, he had become accustomed to high-intensity training. Each round of cultivation lasted ten days, and for those ten days he had to maintain absolute focus and unbroken practice. Apart from him, no one else would do such a thing.

It had only been twenty-four hours...

Tang Tian’s indifference was merely measured by his own standards. He had no idea what other people’s training was like.

With no one left to spar with, Tang Tian simply returned to his original spot and began his own cultivation.

He intended to come again in a few days.

If the sleeping Jin Hao knew what Tang Tian was thinking, he would likely have been startled awake on the spot. But for now, he was enjoying a sweetness beyond anything he had ever known.

The young woman sat at her desk, looking at a faded old book before her, her expression grave.

Her long black hair flowed over her shoulders. Her delicate and beautiful face seemed untouched by the dust of the world, while her dark eyes were serene yet captivating. She wore the traditional dark green military uniform of the Shangguan family, black leather boots, a bright yellow sash, and snow-white gloves. In her valiant bearing there was a keen, frosty edge.

The Shangguan family had a long history, one that could be traced back to the age when Perseus was first being opened up. In that era, the Shangguan name was synonymous with Perseus; her forebears had devoted countless efforts to this star system.

Yet this most venerable and long-established noble house had, not many years ago, come perilously close to annihilation, and Shangguan Qianhui herself had been sent to the remote planet of Wu'an in order to preserve the family’s line. As the situation gradually stabilized, the Shangguan family’s crisis was quietly lifted. But in the eyes of all, the severely weakened Shangguan house had already begun to decline.

No one had expected that five years ago, the arrival of a young girl would change everything.

This was Shangguan Qianhui, the dazzling genius no one could look upon directly, the true ruler of the Shangguan family today!

She had returned to the Shangguan family without a sound, and in the span of only five years, the Shangguan house had risen again at a speed that left people stupefied. No one any longer regarded her as merely a girl. She had won everyone’s respect. The ruined Shangguan family, in her hands, burst forth with astonishing power and once again seized the glory it had lost for many years: the title of the first family of Perseus.

Toward her enemies, she was cold and lethal, decisive in all matters, never the least bit muddled or hesitant. But among the common people, her reputation for kindness and gentleness had spread far and wide.

She was the most perfect woman in all of Perseus!

“Uncle Qian, nothing unusual has happened at home lately, has there?” Shangguan Qianhui suddenly looked up and asked.

“Everything is on track,” Shangguan Qian hastily replied. He was Shangguan Qianhui’s most trusted steward, and also her elder kinsman. He had watched her grow up, and back when Shangguan Qianhui had gone to Xingfeng City to avoid disaster, he had gone with her, loyal to the core.

“Has the information about Brother Tian been confirmed?” Shangguan Qianhui asked. When she spoke of Tang Tian, the frost on her face seemed to melt at once, becoming gentle and lovely.

“It has been confirmed. Young Master A Tian was brought from Xingfeng City to Perseus by the Radiant Martial Association.” Shangguan Qian had spent five years at Shangguan Qianhui’s side in Xingfeng City, and when Tang Tian came up, he too wore a smile. “He was taken in by Kong Youren of the Radiant Martial Association. It is said that Kong Youren thinks very highly of Young Master A Tian. Young Master A Tian insisted on coming to Perseus, and then all the others wanted to come as well. By coincidence, Kong Youren’s younger sister is the head of the Radiant Martial Association branch in Perseus, so Kong Youren brought them all over. Young Master A Tian must be wanting to surprise the young lady.”

Shangguan Qianhui’s eyes curved with a rich smile. “He likes playing these sorts of games best.”

But gradually, the smile on Shangguan Qianhui’s face faded. She rose to her feet and murmured in thought, “Then Brother Tian will be here very soon. It seems that matter must be investigated to the very bottom first; otherwise, given Brother Tian’s temperament, he certainly won’t give up.”

Shangguan Qian’s face changed drastically. “Young lady, that must not be done! The matter of the Southern Cross Bitter Cultivation Token is of immense consequence and can even be traced back to the era of the Three Legions. This is far from simple. Young Master A Tian’s father, I’m afraid—”

“I know.” Shangguan Qianhui nodded. “But for Brother Tian, I’m afraid that even if it cost him his life, he would still pursue it to the end. I understand him.”

“But, young lady! Young Master A Tian’s matter—we can think of another way!” Shangguan Qian said anxiously. “If the young lady were to... the Shangguan family...”

Shangguan Qianhui did not waver in the slightest. Her black hair swayed, revealing a face so beautiful it was almost suffocating, while those dark, tranquil eyes were filled with resolve. Her voice rang out with iron clarity.

“For the Shangguan family, I have already done all that was my duty. Now that the Shangguan family has stabilized, even without me it will live well.”

“But...” Shangguan Qian was at a complete loss for words.

“Though Brother Tian usually acts as though he does not care, I know he cares deeply, deeply indeed. Back then, when I stayed by his side, I secretly made a vow in my heart: even if I must stand against the entire world, I would remain with him and fight this world beside him.” Shangguan Qianhui’s voice was soft, full of remembrance, yet as resolute as steel. “I know what my duty is. I never meant to shirk it. Five years ago, I left Brother Tian and spent five years returning the Shangguan family to glory; I have already fulfilled my duty to the clan. Power and authority mean nothing to me. If not for the blood of the Shangguan family flowing in my veins, I would never have left Brother Tian at all. Now that I have completed my duty, there is only Brother Tian in my eyes.”

“How could it come to this...” Shangguan Qian blurted out, shaken and incoherent.

Shangguan Qianhui smiled faintly, her tranquil eyes brimming with nostalgia. “You don’t understand. For a seven-year-old girl forced to flee her homeland and take refuge in a strange place, how desperate, dark, and cold that time was. I was frightened so badly that I dared not sleep, night after night. Then I went to school and was bullied by others, and at the time I felt that this world was truly wretched beyond all measure. You cannot understand how, when he suddenly appeared and helped me drive away those bad children, he seemed so dazzling, so warm, like the sun. Only by his side could I feel at ease; only then could I truly relax. Those years were the most beautiful time of my life!”

Shangguan Qian let out a soft sigh. He, too, recalled those years of constant fear and uncertainty, and when he thought of the fright the young lady had suffered back then, he suddenly found this no longer quite so unacceptable.

“He is foolish, but you will feel how happy it is to do those foolish things together with him.”

Thinking of the silly things she had once done with Tang Tian, Shangguan Qianhui suddenly burst into laughter, and the whole room seemed to brighten at once.

“I have never doubted that my Brother Tian will become very strong. He will certainly become strong, because he possesses a truly brave heart.” Shangguan Qianhui’s eyes returned to their calm. “He only needs time. And before that, let me go and clear the path for him.”

She suddenly smiled mischievously. “I was planning to take advantage of the fact that Brother Tian hasn’t arrived yet and sort through these clues first. Otherwise, once I see Brother Tian, I won’t be able to lie to him—and if I tell him, he will definitely go after it. But his strength isn’t enough yet! So at a time like this, powerful Qianhui has to step forward, doesn’t she? Hmph, all of Brother Tian’s enemies will be wiped out by Qianhui, one and all!”

Shangguan Qian knew the matter was settled. The young lady had always had strong opinions; once she made up her mind, no one could stop her.

“Then let the young lady take A Wei and Da Zhu with you.”

A Wei and Da Zhu were the two strongest experts in the Shangguan family, second only to Shangguan Qianhui herself.

“They can’t help with this,” Shangguan Qianhui said with a shake of her head. “I can go alone. Uncle Qian, rest assured, I’ll be fine.”

“And if Young Master A Tian comes looking for the young lady, what should I tell him?” Uncle Qian asked.

“I’ll be gone at most three months this time.” Shangguan Qianhui thought for a moment. “Tell Brother Tian to wait for me here. If I still haven’t returned after three months, then bring him to my study.”

“The young lady’s study?” Shangguan Qian blinked.

Shangguan Qianhui nodded.

“I understand,” Shangguan Qian said immediately. “I’ll go prepare the young lady’s baggage.”

“Go on.”

In the study, only Shangguan Qianhui remained. Light flickered in her eyes.

There were some things she had not said. The reason she was so anxious was that the Rift of Ashes in the Southern Cross was about to open...

There will be another update!