Chapter 46: Chapter Forty-Six: Warning

In the garden, green branches swayed, a few emerald bamboos rustled in the wind, and two figures stood side by side on a path paved with white porcelain pebbles.

The man on the left had a full beard, a leopard’s head and ringed eyes; though clad in a crimson official robe embroidered with clouds and swallows and wearing a beam-shaped crown, he still radiated an irrepressible crude, fierce vigor—like a massive bear suddenly trying to learn ethics, utterly out of place.

He was the fifth son of the Tong family, Tong Xiangyan.

Though only at the Qi Condensation realm, he was a rare cultivator in the Tong family, and thus heavily relied upon by Tong Gaolu, repeatedly entrusted with major responsibilities.

At this moment, Tong Xiangyan glared at Tong Gaolu in confusion, his ox-sized pupils filled with blank bewilderment—he had not understood a word of Tong Gaolu’s meaning.

Beside him stood a young man whose skin shimmered with a jade-like luster.

His nose ran straight to his brow, his eyebrows slanted upward, his stature tall and martial—clearly extraordinary and otherworldly.

Had one not seen it with one’s own eyes, no one would have believed that the forty-something Grand General Tong Gaolu, in appearance, was a youthful man radiating celestial aura, even younger than his younger brother Tong Xiangyan, almost not of the same generation.

“Since I mastered the Dao arts in the ‘Earth Palace Golden Scripture,’ my body has become pure and indestructible; each drop of blood holds divine radiance—when activated, it is as if I am shifting the Heavenly Stems and moving rivers and seas.”

Tong Gaolu spoke, frowning deeply: “Yet just now, my heart suddenly twisted in pain—as if some calamity was approaching…”

His face bore a faint hint of lewd, cruel arrogance, but it was masked by the transcendent aura of his body, making his entire appearance even three parts more handsome.

This frown could not conceal that otherworldly aura—his true nature was exposed.

“Brother, what nonsense are you spouting!”

Tong Xiangyan paid no heed to Tong Gaolu’s warning, only sneering:

“Ever since that last hunting trip, when you crushed those three foolhardy imperial attendants, who in the entire Garden Capital doesn’t respect our family? Who doesn’t fear us?! Old Rong Tuo loves visiting brothels more than anyone, yet after those attendants died, he’s too terrified to step out of the palace—even his urine trembles on his pants, and he hasn’t touched a woman in half a year! Are you afraid of that bunch of birds?”

This speech was crude indeed, yet Tong Gaolu couldn’t help smiling.

But after a moment of thought, he still shook his head:

“You speak sense, but my body rarely gives warnings—I must still be cautious…”

Tong Gaolu turned to leave: “I won’t attend the grand court today. We’ll go next time.”

As he turned, Tong Xiangyan immediately panicked, grabbing Tong Gaolu’s sleeve to stop him.

“Brother! So many high officials are waiting outside! If you refuse to attend the grand court, won’t it look like you’re afraid of Old Rong Tuo?”

Tong Xiangyan cried:

“Our family is at its peak now—your retreat will make outsiders think what? Besides, you’re only at the Qi Condensation realm—there’s no such mystical thing as heavenly-human resonance or heart-divining misfortune. You’re just making it up! I think you overindulged with women last night and damaged your kidney essence!”

The Tong family was now at the very center of imperial politics.

Every move they made drew countless eyes and stirred endless ripples.

Tong Gaolu’s retreat would appear to outsiders as cowardly weakness, inevitably sparking gossip.

“You fool, how can kidney essence damage explain heart pain?”

Tong Gaolu chuckled and scolded, then pondered a moment longer, still unable to decide.

The earlier twisting pain had vanished entirely, as if it had been a fleeting illusion.

And Tong Xiangyan’s words made sense—after all, he was only at the Qi Condensation realm; how could he possibly possess such mystical abilities as heavenly-human resonance or heart-divining fortune?

Even if his body cultivation arts were extraordinary,

they should…

not reach this level, right?

“Enough, enough—let’s go!”

After long deliberation, Tong Gaolu finally made up his mind, but before stepping forward, he asked one more question:

“Where is Ji Zhen? Where is he? I haven’t seen him in days.”

“Fourth brother’s playing with men at Chunhua Pavilion—he has no time for the grand court,” Tong Xiangyan now understood, quickly adding:

“I went there myself two days ago and saw Fourth Brother holding a man. He even complained I spoiled his fun and shooed me away with a few words.”

“Useless brat!”

Tong Gaolu muttered the rebuke lightly, yet felt a weight lift from his heart.

Ji Zhen was unharmed—so it probably wasn’t the Rong clan plotting… Who ever cuts grass without pulling out the roots? Losing a skilled military cultivator like Ji Zhen was a major problem for the Rong clan.

“Have Qian Qi join us too—he wants to follow me? Then prove himself!”

Tong Gaolu gave one final instruction, then strode toward the gate. Tong Xiangyan hurriedly replied, “Yes!” and rushed after him.

Outside the mansion, carriages crowded the streets, figures thronged everywhere—bustling and lively.

Seeing Tong Gaolu emerge, the long-waiting crowd all knelt, chanting “Grand General!” without end.

Tong Gaolu merely smiled and bowed to all sides, then lifted the brocade curtain and stepped into a carriage, the driver instantly cracking his whip.

As the carriage moved, countless others outside the gate began to stir slowly—suddenly, dozens of riders and drivers filled the road completely, radiating immense presence.

Lanterns glittered with color, gold and jade shimmered together, brocade and embroidery glowed in brilliance.

As the carriage passed through a pair of bright red lacquered gates, a few breaths later, Tong Gaolu suddenly opened his eyes from feigned slumber and yanked back the curtain.

He saw that the officials who had recently pledged allegiance to him had already fallen far behind; as the palace gate clicked shut, the two groups were severed.

This was an extremely long corridor—when the gates closed, countless archers appeared on both high walls, bows drawn, arrows nocked, a chilling aura of death.

“Brother! The Rong clan wants to kill us?!”

Seeing the gate suddenly shut and everyone trapped inside was their own, even the most dim-witted Tong Xiangyan now sensed something was wrong.

“Mere ants—crushed with a flick of the hand. What’s to fear?”

As countless arrows darkened the air, Tong Gaolu sneered, refusing even to shield himself, not closing his eyes.

He merely condensed his Qi Condensation into a single blade of light, slashing through the air—dozens of archers on the left wall had their heads severed instantly.

Seeing the arrows on the left cease, he sneered again and directed his Qi Condensation toward the right—but this time, a metallic clang rang out, the attack abruptly blocked.

“Withdraw. Staying here only means pointless death.”

Chen Hang flashed into view, casually catching the Qi Condensation strike, then spoke to the remaining archers.

The mortals, already stunned by Tong Gaolu’s earlier display, could barely thank him before scrambling away in panic.

“Who are you?”

Tong Gaolu coldly studied Chen Hang, his heart filled with suspicion.

“A nameless nobody—here to invite you to die,” Chen Hang smiled faintly.

At that moment, four aura trails surged upward—three from the Rong clan and the attendant Huang Zaichen.

Rong Tuo, upon seeing Tong Gaolu, could no longer suppress his murderous intent—but first he pulled a gray iron chain from his sleeve and lashed it violently toward Tong Gaolu’s followers below.

The chain lengthened instantly with the wind, growing to dozens of zhang in mere moments.

Those high officials and nobles were mere mortals—how could they resist? Instantly, they and their carriages and horses were reduced to pulps of flesh, dead on the spot.

Tong Gaolu paid no heed to their cries for help—only when the chain neared Tong Xiangyan did he slightly curl his fingers and deflect it away.

“Brother, why not save them?”

Tong Xiangyan, drenched in sweat, rushed over—he had narrowly escaped being crushed by the chain talisman.

“This situation has become complicated—I don’t know how the Rong clan secured this man’s aid.”

Tong Gaolu did not look at him, his eyes locked on Chen Hang: “I won’t be able to protect you soon—run. Go to Chunhua Pavilion and find Ji Zhen.”

“What?!”

Tong Xiangyan turned pale with shock—he had never imagined things had reached this point. He gritted his teeth and bolted away.

“Qian Qi, you once served the Rong clan—how dare you betray us for a traitor!”

Seeing all of Tong Gaolu’s followers slaughtered, Rong Tuo felt an indescribable surge of satisfaction. Ignoring Tong Xiangyan, he burst into laughter:

“Withdraw now, and I’ll forgive you. Otherwise, die here!”

At these words,

a short, middle-aged man standing near Tong Gaolu suddenly changed expression!