Chen Jiuyang, hearing his mother's voice, felt a surge of will to live, which he had lost.
After shouting, his wounds were aggravated, causing him unbearable pain. He gritted his teeth, quickly took out silver needles, and inserted them all over his body, trembling as he said, "Mom, why did you call me?"
"What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat? You're flesh and blood from me. Can't a mother call her son?" Zhang Xiuzhen said, a little angry.
Chen Jiuyang, in agony, forced a smile. "Mom, I didn't mean it that way."
"Jiuyang, Mom does have something to tell you," Zhang Xiuzhen said from the other end of the phone. "Jiuyang, you're over twenty now, not young anymore. Your dad and I can't be by your side forever."
"Don't be too busy with work, don't get too tired, get married and have children soon. Those daughters of your master's family are all very good. You mustn't let them down..."
Chen Jiuyang felt increasingly uneasy as he listened. He quickly said, "Mom, are you hiding something from me? Why do you sound like you're giving final instructions? What happened?"
Zhang Xiuzhen hesitated at first, then trembled, "Son, someone in our village is sacrificing to ghosts and spirits, and they've arrested everyone in the village. Those who were seriously involved in the sacrifices were shot on the spot."
"Jiuyang... If your dad and I don't make it, you must live well."
"I won't say more, hearing your voice makes me uncomfortable."
Chen Jiuyang's hands and feet turned cold, followed by a surge of anger and killing intent. Zhou Fangzun didn't even spare his ordinary parents. His heart felt as if it were being cut by a knife.
After the call ended, another call quickly came in, using his mother's phone number. However, it was a stranger's voice on the other end: "If you don't want your parents to be harmed, do not enter Longguo within seven days, or you will face the consequences."
After speaking, the call hung up. Chen Jiuyang tried to call back, but the phone was turned off.
Chen Jiuyang's heart felt heavy as a mountain. What had happened in Longguo after he left Suhang?
A night passed. Even if the Tianqi Legion didn't send reinforcements, the Chen family and the fifteen families of Shushan should have sent help to rescue him.
Yet, so much time had passed, and there was no sign of support.
Although Chen Jiuyang was reluctant to speculate, he had to admit that he had been abandoned.
In the face of absolute strength, interests and relationships were insignificant. Only family and close ones would care about him.
Through this ordeal, Chen Jiuyang had grown significantly.
A bitter smile played on Chen Jiuyang's lips, but he had no time for sadness. Zhou Fangzun had demanded that he not enter Longguo within seven days, which meant Zhou Fangzun could only maintain his King's territory privilege for seven days. Within these seven days, the Eastern Ying country would undoubtedly send people to hunt him down relentlessly.
Seven days. Zhou Fangzun was arrogant, believing that even if Chen Jiuyang killed Zhong Zhuiwu, he couldn't survive Zhou Fangzun's furious retaliation in Eastern Ying while carrying such severe injuries.
The voice of the Yan Sheng Blade echoed in his mind: "Blade Master, the luck and life force absorbed from Zhong Zhuiwu have reached their limit. I can no longer provide you with power. Do you have a way to survive?"
Chen Jiuyang's gaze fell upon the island littered with corpses. His eyes were deep. "I have a way..."
There were hundreds of corpses here, all of them warriors. Each carried at least some medicinal pills or herbs for emergency use. Especially since these were Eastern Ying ninjas tasked with protecting Princess Fujimoto Sakura, how could they not have pills or herbs?
Chen Jiuyang's body lay in a pool of blood, one hand gripping the muddy ground, his fingernails filled with black mud and bloodstains. He was covered in wounds, his face contorted as he crawled towards the corpses, scavenging.
He wanted to live!
...
Longguo, Suhang.
A night passed. The sixteen families of Shushan gathered, the atmosphere heavy.
Suddenly, a soldier from the Zhennan Army entered to deliver news: "Princess Fujimoto Sakura of Eastern Ying has died. The squad pursuing the Eastern Ying princess and their reinforcements have all perished."
The head of the Chen family's face turned pale, his body trembling uncontrollably. "...perished."
He couldn't believe it and asked, "Is our Chen family's young master, Chen Jiuyang, among the fallen?"
The Zhennan Army soldier replied truthfully, "Major Chen Jiuyang of the Tianqi Legion is missing."
"Alive or dead, bring him to me!" The head of the Chen family's eyes turned red. "Let me see him."
The Zhennan Army soldier responded coldly, "Then you can go find him yourself."
The head of the Chen family immediately stood up. "Fine, I'll lead people to find him myself!"
A mocking smile appeared on the Zhennan Army soldier's lips. "Then would you be violating the Golden Token King's Order?"
The expressions of others changed drastically, and they all signaled to the head of the Chen family.
The head of the Chen family remained standing in place.
The Zhennan Army soldier sneered and turned to leave.
In this era, the Longguo military faction was already at odds with the martial arts families of various regions.
"Brother Chen, you must consider the bigger picture and not act rashly."
"Indeed, Zhou Fangzun is the third King of the Heavenly Realm in our Longguo. Violating the Golden Token King's Order is tantamount to treason."
"Chen Jiuyang first made a move to kill Zhou Wushuang, the son of the Zhennan King. Zhou Fangzun is retaliating for personal grievances, and no one can fault him. Alas..."
In their eyes, Chen Jiuyang was essentially dead. Zhou Fangzun, as the third King, had issued nine tokens to eliminate Chen Jiuyang. Facing such power, Chen Jiuyang's chance of survival was less than one in a hundred million.
The head of the Chen family remained silent for a long time, his voice hoarse. He gave a self-mocking laugh.
"We are still afraid. Zhou Fangzun himself did not appear in Suhang, but his name and a golden token have made all of us afraid to act. We, the sixteen families of Shushan, have always been united. Ultimately, it was Zhou Fangzun's subordinate, Xi Butui, who attacked Chen Jiuyang first. Otherwise, why would Zhou Fangzun's son seek revenge against Chen Jiuyang?"
"Have we in Shushan not sacrificed enough blood for Longguo? Have we wronged Longguo in any way?"
"No!!!" the head of the Chen family roared, his face flushed.
"No matter how noble the excuse, it cannot hide the fact that Zhou Fangzun was wrong, and we were afraid."
"Today, I can agree to your consideration of the overall situation and not violate this golden token order."
"After seven days, even if my Shushan Chen family is annihilated, we will seek justice for Chen Jiuyang!"
"Right and wrong, justice resides in people's hearts. Can he, Zhou Fangzun, cover the sky of Suhang, but also cover the sky of the entire Longguo?"
With that, the head of the Chen family left in anger.
The news of Chen Jiuyang's disappearance reached the Han family in Suhang.
"I understand," Qiu Yihan said expressionlessly.
Elder Han nodded secretly at Qiu Yihan's calm reaction. It was good that Qiu Yihan was so mature and considered the overall situation and the Han family.