Chapter 149: Nan Zhongyi Defects to Zhang Huayu

Dongfang Wuji was hiding his aura in a secluded corner of some unknown place, concentrating on healing his serious injuries.

Seventh Heaven experts rarely get injured, because no one can harm someone at that level.

Even when Dongfang Wuji was surrounded and killed three hundred years ago, he never got injured. But today, three hundred years later, he is injured, and the injury is severe.

A thick, pitch-black aura enveloped his whole body, faint and eerie; if an outsider saw it, they would surely think it was a lone ghost curled up in the corner.

He draws the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, takes the essence of sun and moon. A Seventh Heaven expert can perceive the power of nature, relying on the vital energy between heaven and earth, the vitality in nature, to heal his own wounds.

This is also an advantage of Seventh Heaven experts: merging with heaven and earth, perceiving life.

"Damn, it turns out that girl's body really suits me! Though we share the Dongfang clan's bloodline, the gap is actually so obvious; otherwise I wouldn't have lost." Dongfang Wuji muttered inwardly.

Dongfang Wuji is now extremely weak; although his true qi is concealed all over his body, it keeps leaking. If not stopped, not only would his life be in danger, but even his cultivation would be greatly diminished.

Dongfang Wuji's own strength is too great; if even Dongfang Tian's body is unsuitable for him, then only Dongfang Xing's body in the whole world can fully display his true power.

"Chen Yi He..." Dongfang Wuji will probably never forget that brat Chen Yi He; if it weren't for his meddling, his demon ball would have blasted all those martial arts masters into dust! How could he have lost such a fine body as Dongfang Xing's?

Dongfang Wuji, the Eastern Giant Demon from three hundred years ago, how could he endure such humiliation? He will surely avenge this grudge!

The Dongfang clan, repay every grudge!

…

Seven days later, when the Embroidered Uniform Guard reported to Grandfather Zhang, besides discovering a vast expanse of ruins on the Dong Hai coast, they saw no other corpses; Grandfather Zhang flew into a rage and crushed the teacup in his hand.

At that moment, an Embroidered Uniform Guard reported to him, saying someone outside requested an audience.

While the angry Grandfather Zhang was still wondering who would seek him at this critical juncture, that person had already entered the Western Depot's residence.

The visitor wore coarse gray cloth from head to toe, with only his head covered, revealing two sharp eyes. He walked in, looking back every few steps, until he reached the main hall. Seeing Grandfather Zhang, he then stopped.

"General Nan, why are you dressed like that?" Grandfather Zhang asked, suppressing his anger. Even though Grandfather Zhang was curious how General Nan had survived, he wouldn't be coming to demand an explanation, would he?

The Embroidered Uniform Guard standing aside glanced back before leaving, but couldn't tell who the visitor was, whereas Grandfather Zhang recognized him without even really looking.

"General Nan, isn't that the famous General Nan Zhongyi?"

"Grandfather Zhang, you must decide for this humble one!" Nan Zhongyi fell to his knees with a "thud", the gray cloth on his head slipping off to reveal a face covered in dust yet full of obsequious smiles.

In those days, Nan Zhongyi was a great general guarding a region; at his peak, he single-handedly resisted ten thousand foes, defending the north of the Great Zhou Dynasty and protecting the people of Bei Du from war's ravages. One battle made him famous, becoming the object of admiration for myriad people; wherever he went, the streets would be emptied as crowds gathered to see him.

This is that renowned general who dominated a region; he would kneel to heaven, to earth, to his parents, to the emperor, without a word—but when he knelt before a eunuch, all his former glory would vanish like smoke, becoming history.

He would become a pawn of Zhang Huayu, willingly so.

"General Nan, what are you doing? I could never bear this!" Grandfather Zhang said, full of doubts, but upon seeing Nan Zhongyi he knew his doubts would soon be dispelled.

"Please, Grandfather Zhang, accept me!" Nan Zhongyi had rushed straight from the Dong Hai to the Western Depot; he dared not return to the Southern Heaven Gate.

The Southern Heaven Gate—he simply couldn't afford to think about it; if several sects joined forces to attack him, it would be a dead end.

At a critical moment, what are relatives, friends, and disciples? Following Grandfather Zhang, what's there to fear about not being able to make a comeback?

"Accept you?" Grandfather Zhang asked deliberately.

"Yes."

"But I don't lack people."

"The Eighteen Riders of the Western Depot—you could break free and fill the spot with me!" Nan Zhongyi pleaded excitedly to Grandfather Zhang.

"The Eighteen Riders of the Western Depot?" Grandfather Zhang never expected Nan Zhongyi to aim for his right-hand man; he found it funny, wondering whether this person wanted to become his confidant or had some other motive.

However, seeing Nan Zhongyi's fearful expression, it didn't look like he was lying. "You want to join the Western Depot, join the Eighteen Riders of the Western Depot? Then tell me what happened on the Dong Hai coast in detail, and I'll arrange things for you."

Thus, Nan Zhongyi explained to Grandfather Zhang in full detail what had happened after Grandfather Zhang's incarnation was destroyed.

Including Chen Yi He cutting his way out of the Dong Hai midstream, Dongfang Tian sacrificing himself to Dongfang Wuji, and Dongfang Wuji's defeat at the hands of Dongfang Xing, among other events.

"Chen Yi He! That damned brat again!" Grandfather Zhang trembled with anger, his body shaking as if he might collapse at any moment, yet he didn't fall; he couldn't help pointing an angry finger at Nan Zhongyi and demanding, "Are you still hiding anything?!"

"I... I dare not conceal anything!" The kneeling Nan Zhongyi hastily lowered his upper body to the ground, willing to bow and submit.

Nan Zhongyi is no fool; he knows having a Seventh Heaven expert as a backer is incredibly stable.

Now his life is no longer safe; when adaptation is needed, he must learn to adapt. This is Nan Zhongyi's adaptation: sacrificing his own dignity, willingly becoming a frontline pawn.

"They didn't even die—only a bunch of good-for-nothings perished! Damn it!" Grandfather Zhang was furious; this outcome was completely contrary to what he had expected.

"I originally wanted to kill Chen Yi He and Dongfang Xing, but they blocked me, leaving me no choice; otherwise I would have brought those two heads to see you right now!" Nan Zhongyi told Grandfather Zhang.

"Even if they escaped, what could you use to fight me, Zhang Huayu?" Grandfather Zhang sneered in reply. Seeing Nan Zhongyi's sincerity, and noting that his cultivation was not low and his reputation among the people high, he was fully capable of leading the Eighteen Riders of the Western Depot. Moreover, it was time for him to break free from them. "I can let you join my forces, even put you in charge of the Eighteen Riders of the Western Depot. But the precondition is that you must be loyal."