"I was worried you might get into trouble, so I came to check on you."
The middle-aged man in the brocade robe replied with a smile.
"Thank you for your concern!"
Hearing this, Zhou Yan's face lit up with joy. He hadn't expected anyone to come and save him.
"Brother, since you are here, I will take my leave and rest. I will visit you again tomorrow!"
Zhou Yan cupped his fists in a salute and turned towards the city gate.
"Zhou Yan...."
Watching Zhou Yan's retreating back, the middle-aged man in the brocade robe's face was filled with complex emotions. He shook his head slightly and murmured:
"I hope you won't disappoint me!"
......
The Chu family mansion, deep within the Chu estate.
Inside a luxurious pavilion.
In the room, Zhou Yunshan sat cross-legged on the bed, clad in a loose sleeping robe. His breathing was long and steady as he recovered from his injuries.
Suddenly, Zhou Yunshan's eyes snapped open, and a sharp glint flashed within them.
Whoosh~
A stream of light zipped into the room and hovered in mid-air.
"Hmm?"
Zhou Yunshan reached out and grabbed the stream of light, examining it closely.
Within the stream of light was a jade slip, engraved with the words 'Ming Wen'.
"Ming Wen..."
A solemn expression appeared on Zhou Yunshan's face. He murmured, "Could it be... about that matter?"
He then pressed the jade slip to his forehead. Moments later, he stood up abruptly, his face filled with ecstatic joy.
Zhou Yunshan's palm unleashed surging primal energy, pouring it into the jade slip.
Soon, the jade slip vibrated, emitting a brilliant glow.
"Haha, it's real! The ancestor really left behind a secret technique!"
Zhou Yunshan's face was flushed with excitement, reaching an extreme fervor.
This jade slip contained a set of inscription techniques called the "Nine Dragon Imperial Thunder Art."
The technique had three levels. Upon reaching the great mastery realm, one would be enveloped by lightning, appearing as if truly possessed by nine dragons, possessing terrifying power capable of slaying even Martial King realm experts.
Zhou Yunshan desperately needed this technique because it had been passed down through generations of Zhou family patriarchs.
His father had even cultivated the "Nine Dragon Imperial Thunder Art!"
"Alright, I shouldn't linger here. I must leave quickly!"
Zhou Yunshan suppressed his emotions and hastily gathered his belongings.
After securing the jade slip, he silently slipped out of the room.
Of course, he did not leave Chu City.
After all, this was the foundation of their Zhou family, and he dared not leave easily.
If the Zhou family's higher-ups were to find out, his crimes would be severe.
"Alas, as long as I can cultivate the 'Nine Dragon Imperial Thunder Art,' what is a mere Zhou family to me?"
Zhou Yunshan sighed inwardly and walked out of the courtyard.
Rumble!
Suddenly, a low rumble of thunder sounded from afar.
The sound was incredibly loud, almost echoing throughout Chu City.
Zhou Yunshan's eyebrows furrowed, and a sense of foreboding washed over him.
"Could it be that Chu Aonan has already recovered his strength?"
Zhou Yunshan's expression shifted, and his figure transformed into a streak of light, rushing towards the source of the sound.
Soon, he arrived at the Chu family's plaza.
At that moment, in the center of the plaza, Chu Aonan stood disheveled, his chest shattered, and his body covered in blood.
His face contorted with rage as he roared:
"Damn it! Who ambushed this young master? I will make you pay a heavy price!"
He, the dignified young master of the Chu family, had been reduced to a stray dog, inferior even to a household servant. It was an utter disgrace.
"Chu Aonan, you truly are foolish!"
A clear and pleasant voice drifted through the air, causing Chu Aonan to tremble and his eyelids to twitch.
He was all too familiar with this voice. Wasn't it that useless Zhou Yan?
"Zhou Yan!"
Chu Aonan gritted his teeth, his eyes wide with hatred, his animosity boundless.
He could never have imagined that Zhou Yan would appear alive at the Chu family!
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible..."
Chu Aonan roared frantically, appearing deranged.
How could Zhou Yan possibly win?
This completely defied logic!
"Heh heh, you must be quite confused, right?"
Zhou Yan smiled faintly and stepped forward.
His expression was serene, without a ripple, like an ancient well, profound and unfathomable.
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!"
Chu Aonan's face was filled with horror. He stared intently at Zhou Yan and roared:
"You can't possibly defeat me, you can't..."
Slap~
Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Yan raised his foot and delivered a resounding slap to Chu Aonan's cheek.
Crack!
Instantly, Chu Aonan's teeth were dislodged, and his face swelled.
Zhou Yan's gaze was icy as he said indifferently, "Impossible? Then let me tell you, this is real!"
Chu Aonan's anger surged, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Zhou Yan, you bastard, die!"
Chu Aonan erupted in fury and threw a punch at Zhou Yan.
However, Zhou Yan merely flicked his finger, sending Chu Aonan flying backward.
"Zhou Yan, don't forget, your mother is still in our hands. If you dare to act rashly again, I'll kill her!"
Chu Aonan stumbled to his feet, his face filled with venom as he glared at Zhou Yan.
He had repeatedly lost to Zhou Yan in their competition for women and had harbored resentment for a long time, wishing for Zhou Yan's death to eliminate a future threat!
"You're threatening me?"
Zhou Yan's gaze gradually darkened, and his killing intent surged.
"That's right, I am threatening you!"
Chu Aonan grinned savagely and said arrogantly, "Zhou Yan, I advise you to let me go. Otherwise, today's events will become widely known, and the Zhou Commercial Alliance will be implicated. Do you think the Zhou Commercial Alliance will fare well?"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan remained noncommittal, gazing at Chu Aonan with a half-smile.
"What? Are you scared?"
Seeing this, Chu Aonan's face broke into a wide grin.
"Chu Aonan, it seems I underestimated you!"
A mocking arc appeared on Zhou Yan's lips as he said, "However, this only applies to you as an individual. If you try to sow discord, it will be in vain!"
"You..."
Chu Aonan glared at Zhou Yan, his face twitching.
He hadn't expected Zhou Yan to be so confident!
"Hmph! Zhou Yan, although your talent is extraordinary, you are ultimately just a pampered young master!"
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Chu Aonan's expression turned sinister, and he said coldly, "Do you really think the Zhou Commercial Alliance can be resolved with just your word? I tell you, that is simply seeking death!"
"You are mistaken!"
Zhou Yan's eyes flickered, and he glanced lightly at Chu Aonan, saying softly:
"Since I dared to come, I naturally have absolute confidence!"
Hearing this, Chu Aonan couldn't help but burst into laughter, as if he had heard the most amusing joke in the world.
Chu Aonan laughed unrestrainedly, his laughter filled with mockery.
"Zhou Yan, are you an idiot? Where does your confidence come from?"
"Do you think you can change the outcome all by yourself?"
Chu Aonan's wild laughter was filled with utter contempt. His face was a mask of sarcasm as he said, "Let me tell you, you are not fit to be the young master of the Zhou family, I am!"
He looked smug, viewing Zhou Yan as insignificant.
He had even secretly investigated Zhou Yan and discovered that Zhou Yan was merely a useless person with no prospects in life!
"Zhou Yan, surrender obediently!"
Chu Aonan sneered, flicked his arm, and drew a sharp sword from its sheath, its cold glint piercing.
"Zhou Yan, you caused me to lose soldiers and generals. I will settle this score with you today. Today, your head will be the sacrifice for my warriors!"