Since Tian Lie could earn the title of “Lightning Spear,” he naturally wasn't trash!
But Chen Zheng didn't refute Chen Hongying either.
Putting himself in Tian Lie's shoes, Chen Zheng had long understood one thing: there's a gap not only between ordinary people and Geniuses, but also between Geniuses themselves!
And this gap would only widen!
Seeing Chen Zheng's silence, Chen Hongying thought he didn't believe her and explained further.
“This subordinate's words are not out of arrogance! While in the Red Armor Army, this subordinate has already slain many savages at the Great Perfection of the Kai Mai Realm. That Tian Lie's spear technique was decent, but he lacked a certain killing Qi. This subordinate only used the strength and cultivation of Kai Mai Realm fifth-tier to kill him.”
Chen Hongying's face was filled with pride.
“Sister Hongying, you don't need to explain. It's not that I don't believe you.”
Chen Zheng smiled, then asked many questions about his father.
Chen Hongying answered everything she knew.
Only then did Chen Zheng learn that his father had been out of contact for so long because he had fallen into an enemy trap, was surrounded, and all his escape routes were cut off, in an attempt to force him to surrender.
“Master actually had a chance to break out, but he gave it up!”
A cold glint flashed in Chen Hongying's eyes.
“Why?”
Chen Zheng asked, puzzled.
“Because Master discovered that there were barbarian informants within the Da Yuan Kingdom's court! Master wanted to use this opportunity to lure these people out, and then cooperate with the court to round them all up. These people are very cunning; if they don't see hope, they probably won't reveal themselves!”
Chen Hongying's face was frosty, and a faint killing intent swept out.
Chen Zheng instantly understood.
His father, Marquis Chiye, seemed to be in danger now, but it was actually just a play for others to see!
Once the opportunity was ripe, he would reveal his butcher's knife!
“However, those people are very cautious. Even though Master was trapped, they still tried to probe him repeatedly, and even targeted Mistress and Young Lord. After Master found out, he sent me back in secret, but somehow the news leaked. I encountered several assassination attempts along the way, delaying me for many days, which led to Young Lord and Mistress suffering humiliation from those three Families!”
Chen Hongying continued.
At this point, Chen Hongying seemed to let out a sigh of relief, her tone softening considerably.
“Fortunately, Young Lord is blessed with immense fortune and has overcome his physical defects, thwarting the Tian Family's conspiracy. Otherwise, if Hongying had returned this time, she would have had no choice but to bathe the Tian Family in blood and then atone with her own death!”
Chen Hongying spoke lightly, but Chen Zheng could tell.
If he had died, this woman would likely have truly done as she said!
Although he knew Chen Hongying was acting on his father's orders, Chen Zheng was still a little moved to hear that someone was willing to die and seek revenge for him without hesitation.
Over the years, he had experienced the coldness of human nature and cherished every bit of kindness!
“Sister Hongying, your life is far more important than those scoundrels from the Tian Family!”
Chen Zheng said with a laugh, then changed the subject: “I need you to promise me one thing!”
“Young Lord, please speak!”
Chen Hongying's face was serious.
Chen Zheng smiled broadly: “I need you to do nothing for now!”
Chen Hongying frowned.
With her personality, after the Autumn Hunt, she would definitely rally Marquis Chiye's forces in the court for revenge!
Although she couldn't deal with Tian Wuji, these Families in Yan City would definitely be made to suffer immensely to vent her anger!
But she didn't directly refute him, instead shaking her head and saying, “This subordinate doesn't understand!”
Chen Zheng smiled and said, “Sister Hongying, think about it, what would father do if he were here?”
Chen Hongying's eyes gleamed, her face full of admiration, and she said with certainty, “Given what those three Families have done to Mistress and Young Lord over the years, Master would personally lead the Red Armor Army to flatten all three Families!”
“Exactly!”
Chen Zheng nodded.
Marquis Chiye, as the God of War of the Great Yuan Kingdom, held command of a million troops, acted justly, but was also extremely domineering! And he was very protective of his own!
But the problem now was... “Father is no longer here...” Chen Zheng looked into Chen Hongying's eyes, hinting at something.
Geniuses are not stupid; it's just that most of the time, they are too lazy to use their brains!
Chen Hongying instantly reacted: “Young Lord wants to...”
Chen Zheng nodded with a smile: “Father spent so much time, even deceiving Mother and me. How can I let Father's plan fall short?”
He no longer kept her in suspense, continuing: “After the Autumn Hunt, when others see you, they will definitely send people to probe. Of course, you can directly kill those who provoke you. As for anything more, there's no need to do it. We just need to make those rats hiding in the gutters unable to guess! Unable to see clearly! Then they will naturally cautiously stick their heads out!”
Chen Hongying's appearance would inevitably make others suspicious of his father's exact situation.
Acting too aggressively would scare many people away!
Only by acting just right could it give people a feeling of guilt!
Whether they believed it or not, they would at least try to probe!
These fellows in Yan City were just small grasshoppers; the real big fish were hidden in the man-eating abyss of the Imperial City!
“After the Autumn Hunt, I will go to Xuanlin Academy in the Imperial City. By then, I will root out these fellows one by one, so that Father will know where the blade should fall!”
Chen Zheng's gaze was sharp, not at all like a child of only fifteen or sixteen.
“Young Lord!”
Chen Hongying looked at Chen Zheng with a hint of surprise, yet also felt it was only natural!
This was Marquis Chiye's son!
How could a tiger father have a dog son?
“You'll be in great danger this way!”
Chen Hongying felt a little uneasy.
“On the contrary! Once I reach Xuanlin Academy, I will be even safer! Some fellows who want to harm me will be even more apprehensive! Perhaps this is why the Tian Family is so eager to kill me here, especially when some people cannot be certain whether my father will actually die.”
Chen Zheng smiled faintly, saying it dismissively.
“This subordinate understands. Everything will be according to Young Lord's arrangements!”
Chen Hongying nodded, agreeing to the Young Lord's arrangements.
“I want you to stay in Yan City! All of this must be built on ensuring my mother's safety! Once my mother is in danger, disregard all plans and act without hesitation!”
Chen Zheng finally instructed.
“Yes!”
Chen Hongying stood straight, the expression on her face relaxing considerably.
“Oh, right! Was my current strength also within Father's expectations?”
Chen Zheng changed the topic, asking curiously.
“No!”
Chen Hongying shook her head.
Outsiders all thought Chen Zheng's transformation was due to the contingency left by Chen Yu, but Chen Hongying knew that before she left the army, Master was still worried about his son's delicate health and whether he could withstand the schemes of various Families!
Chen Hongying was naturally curious about Chen Zheng's changes, but this was not something she needed to know.
If Chen Zheng didn't say it, she wouldn't ask.
Chen Zheng nodded, stopped walking, and looked up at the mountain range not far away.
“We've arrived!”
...Within the Demonic Beast Mountain Range, there was a Hunting Ground managed by people, serving as the venue for the annual Autumn Hunt.
At this moment.
All the Families, big and small, from Yan City had gathered.
Countless young people were looking forward to it.
On a platform built of green bamboo, representatives from various clans were seated on either side, and the middle-aged man in the main seat in the center scanned the area, frowning slightly.
“Why haven't the people from the Chen Family arrived yet?”