Chapter 291: Brother, Let's Explode!

Hu Wanwan is a burly man.

He is nine feet tall, with a thick beard, a square face, bushy eyebrows, tiger-like eyes, and a chest covered in thick hair...

Such a towering, rugged man acting in the manner of a delicate young woman is truly visually devastating and makes one's skin crawl.

Jiang Mingzhi is very regretful.

He regrets why he chose to pass through Hu Kingdom instead of choosing another kingdom.

He watches the loudly laughing Hu Wanwan, gritting his teeth hard, wishing he could kill this guy with a single blade.

This damn fatty!!!

Hu Wanwan has returned to normal by now, raising his cup to Ren Yidao, and after swallowing the wine in one gulp, he laughs:

"Ah, I apologize for letting Daoist Ren see such a spectacle just now, hahahaha!"

Hu Wanwan stretches out a large hand and wraps it directly around Jiang Mingzhi's shoulder, his movements very intimate and natural.

"Tsk, let go of me! Get lost!"

Although Jiang Mingzhi, who is being held by him, keeps his brows tightly furrowed and mutters under his breath, he does not push the other away, and there is even a faint, slight upturn at the corners of his mouth...

Ren Yidao:?

Something is not right.

Could it be that you are actually enjoying this?

Are you the type of guy who says he hates it but whose body is very honest?

Are you actually Second Pillar?

"Hehe, I also saw some interesting scenes."

The three of them sit down again, and Hu Wanwan orders the servants to add a few more delicacies; Ren Yidao does not stop him and asks curiously:

"Are you two very close?"

In his impression, the two of them did not have any extra interaction during the Two Domains Conflict back then.

"To tell you the truth, Mingzhi and I are old friends; we have been close for nearly thirty years."

"Back then, we were both reading companions for Chu Hairen in Chu City."

"Oh—so you were hostages."

Hu Wanwan raises an eyebrow and simply nods candidly:

"Yes, that's right, hostages."

Ren Yidao is lost in thought, understanding the relationship between the two.

So they were brothers in adversity who were once hostages together!

The Chu Family has many ways to control the various Marquis, one of which is to order each Marquis to send a legitimate son to Chu City to be a reading companion for the Chu Prince.

It is called a reading companion, but it is actually a hostage, used to restrain the Marquis.

If you dare to rebel, I will kill your son first!

Bloody, cruel, ancient... but effective.

The Human Race is indeed a very fertile race.

They can exercise at any time throughout the year, one pregnancy a year, and the number of offspring per pregnancy ranges from one to many.

To a certain extent, the Human Race has indeed conquered the world through the violence of numbers, relying step by step on a growing population and the heaven-defying geniuses who emerged from it to snatch Shenzhou from the hands of the Demon Race.

But for the strong of the Human Race, it is not so easy to give birth to a qualified heir.

Whether it is the Human Race or the Demon Race, the life level of the strong has long since transcended their original race.

Cultivators of the Human Realm and Heaven Realm can be completely regarded as two different types of life, so wanting to give birth to offspring is naturally difficult.

Either rely on the number of partners to increase the probability of trial and error.

Or, just rely on the number of times of exercise to stack the success rate.

For cultivators who want to continue their lineage, offspring are a fatal weak point that cannot be ignored.

However, there is one point here that makes Ren Yidao a bit strange.

"If you are hostages, isn't it usually the second son who goes? It shouldn't be the turn of the legitimate eldest son, right?"

Since they dare to speak of it, Ren Yidao has no taboos and chooses to speak his mind.

"..."

"..."

Seeing that both are somewhat silent, Ren Yidao raises an eyebrow and says:

"If there is anything inconvenient, then don't say it."

Jiang Mingzhi's expression changes slightly after hearing this; he is silent for a while, then shakes his head and sighs:

"No, there is nothing to hide; you could find out about this matter by asking others."

"Originally, it was indeed supposed to be Mingde who went to be the hostage, but he was not even two years old at the time, and he was just too small."

As if remembering that chubby boy from back then, Jiang Mingzhi's eyes are somewhat gentle.

"I couldn't bear to let him leave his mother's side, so at my mother's suggestion, I took the initiative to ask my father to let me take his place as the hostage... My father agreed."

"So I broke the precedent and went to Chu City as the legitimate eldest son, and once I went, I stayed for a full eight years."

Speaking of this, Jiang Mingzhi frowns, picks up his wine cup and drains it in one gulp, then slams the cup heavily onto the table.

Clang!

"But what I didn't expect was that when I returned to Jiang City eight years later, I found that Mingde had completely changed."

"He became someone I didn't recognize, someone I couldn't even bring myself to acknowledge..."

As for what exactly he turned into, he does not mention it; he had already let Ren Yidao see it before.

Bullying men and women, running rampant, lawless... a dissolute son who is like mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall!

Finally, Jiang Mingzhi's emotions stabilized somewhat, and he sighed softly:

"Perhaps, this is all my fault... It is because I was not by her side that Mother doted on him, this youngest son, so excessively, allowing him to develop such a personality."

"It is my fault."

Jiang Mingzhi looked somewhat dejected, while Ren Yidao curiously took a few extra looks at him.

Whoa...

I thought you were Sasuke just now, but it turns out you are actually the good brother Itachi?

Slap!

"What are you at fault for!!?"

Hu Wanwan, who was to the side, slammed the table hard, feeling indignant for him, and shouted angrily:

"Mingzhi! You are just too soft-hearted!"

"I told you back then to let me give him a good lesson, but you insisted on refusing, saying he was still young and would change when he grew up."

"But even now, has that Jiang Mingde shown even a shred of repentance? Not only has he not changed, he is even worse than before! Even I in Jiang City have heard of his notoriety!"

Hu Wanwan slapped the table repeatedly in righteous indignation, causing the dishes on the table to tremble violently.

And just as one of the wine cups was about to tip over from the shaking, Ren Yidao raised a finger and tapped it lightly on the corner of the table.

Hum—

The next moment, all the trembling vanished, neutralized by his single finger.

Still immersed in his memories and emotionally agitated, Jiang Mingzhi did not notice Ren Yidao's small movement, but Hu Wanwan, who appeared equally indignant, took in this imperceptible detail.

!!!

"This..."

Just a single finger?

I didn't sense any fluctuations of Dao Technique, which means... he only used the power of his physical body?

Seeing the small to know the great, this control over physical power made Hu Wanwan's heart sink.

"This is bad..."

Since entering the room, although Hu Wanwan appeared indifferent, he was actually very puzzled inside.

Hu Wanwan had received news from the city gate, but it only mentioned Jiang Mingzhi alone, and the other person was merely an accompanying guard.

He had thought it was Jiang Qi, so how did it turn out to be this Ren Yidao!?

Why would he appear here!

Back when they were in Beigan, this seemingly kind youth had left quite a deep impression on all of them... even psychological trauma.

Ever since they returned, some of them would still have nightmares from time to time, dreaming of what happened in the illusion, momentarily believing they were still living the life within that illusion.

If it weren't for Hu Wanwan's quick thinking to stage a farce, he would have been exposed back then.

"If he is here, then my plan cannot proceed..."

An outsider with uncertain combat strength, but who could go head-to-head with Chu Yiping, meaning he had at least Spirit Transformation level strength.

With such an unstable factor, many of Hu Wanwan's original preparations were rendered useless.

"Tsk! What should I do now?"

If he continued to let this guy interfere, he would likely miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Or, should he just give up now?

No...

He cannot just give up like this!

Jiang Mingzhi did not bring guards this time, clearly wanting to travel to temper himself, which was very rare for someone who had long been designated as the next Jiang King.

He didn't know how long he would have to wait to find Jiang Mingzhi this careless again.

Having made up his mind, Hu Wanwan's expression changed, and he smiled at Jiang Mingzhi:

"Forget it! Let's not talk about that bastard. We brothers haven't seen each other in a long time, how can we not drink a few more cups?"

Jiang Mingzhi had adjusted his emotions by then, and upon hearing this, he scoffed:

"Nonsense, didn't we just see each other half a month ago? Why are you spouting such rubbish to me."

"Haha! What does that count for? A day apart feels like three autumns! By that calculation, we haven't seen each other for decades!"

Hu Wanwan laughed loudly, took the initiative to stand up and pick up the wine jar to fill Jiang Mingzhi's cup, saying heroically:

"After we've eaten and drunk our fill, I'll take you both to see my Hu Family's Tianxiang Pavilion; it's much more sincere than this Drunken Immortal Pavilion!"

"Zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs—the women there are proficient in everything!"

"All that talk about selling art but not themselves, let me tell you, that's all nonsense! It's just that the money wasn't enough!"

"Our Hu Family is different; we never do that pretentious stuff and have always treated people with sincerity."

Hu Wanwan patted his chest hard and said loudly:

"If you take a fancy to any Hu girl, my Hu Family will absolutely not stop you! Not only that, the Hu Family will even give you a dowry!"

Being able to say this so passionately, Hu Wanwan could be considered a strange person.

Perhaps in the hearts of the Hu Family, these words were simply self-evident truths.

After pouring wine for Jiang Mingzhi, Hu Wanwan stood up to pour for Ren Yidao as well.

"Daoist Ren, don't be a stranger with me; you must have a good time."

But before he could pour the wine, he suddenly felt his wrist being gently pressed, unable to turn.

"Daoist Ren, what are you doing?"

Raising his head, Hu Wanwan met Ren Yidao's eyes.

"I am a person who cultivates the Dao and avoids the world; I accept your kindness, but the wine is unnecessary."

Hu Wanwan: Huh?

Weren't you still drinking just a moment ago?

Why is it that now that I'm pouring wine for you, you've stopped drinking instead?

"Daoist, what is the meaning of this?"

Hu Wanwan felt a surge of indignation in his heart, and just as he was about to use it as a pretext to get angry and stir up trouble to test him, he heard Ren Yidao's calm words:

"Jiang Mingzhi has finished stating his reasons, but you haven't yet said why you are also a hostage?"

Ren Yidao looked at him quietly and asked with a light laugh:

"I wonder, Your Highness, could you clear up my confusion?"

"Me? Heh, what do I have to explain to you?"

Hu Wanwan narrowed his eyes and tried to pull his wrist back, but despite using force, it didn't budge an inch.

That slender, jade-like palm was like an iron pincer, firmly locking onto his wrist.

!!!

"You!"

But no matter how fiercely Hu Wanwan glared, Ren Yidao's expression remained as gentle and calm as before.

Hu Wanwan turned his head to look at Jiang Mingzhi, wanting him to judge the situation, but he discovered that he had already walked to the window at some point and was gazing at the night view outside with a focused expression, seemingly completely unaware of what was happening here.

???

What are you doing?

Huh?

Seeming to have realized something, Hu Wanwan slowly turned his head back and looked at Ren Yidao once more.

The relationship between these two seems to be a bit different from what I imagined...

And the moment Hu Wanwan realized this, a bone-chilling cold began to grow frantically in the depths of his heart.

!!!

It was as if it had been there all along, only it had been blocked until now, when it was released in an instant.

Gulp.

In a daze, he felt that the other party was like an Elder of his clan... No, he had only ever felt this sensation from a Supreme Elder!

A natural suppression that seeped into the bones and blood.

Not good, not good, not good!

This guy might be even stronger than previously anticipated!

Spirit Transformation Late-stage? Peak? Or could it be... Void Refinement?

Although Hu Wanwan was panicked inside, he did not show it on the outside; he forced a loud laugh, waved his hand, and feigned ease:

"Haha! Since the Daoist wants to know, then I will tell you."

"... I was originally a second son, but my older brother passed away unexpectedly later on, so I luckily became the heir."

"I wonder if the Daoist is satisfied with this explanation?"

Staring at the unnaturally smiling Hu Wanwan for a moment, Ren Yidao also nodded with a smile and laughed lightly:

"Oh, is that so? So that's how it is."

"I understand."

What do you understand?

Pulling his wrist back the moment it was released, Hu Wanwan remained silent, though he still had doubts in his heart.

Hu Wanwan had an intuition that if he really insisted on asking further, he would get the answer.

But that answer might not be one he would desire.

After letting go of Hu Wanwan, Ren Yidao did not look at him again, but nodded and smiled at Jiang Mingzhi, who had turned back from the window:

"I am a bit tired; why don't we call it a night for today?"

Call it a night?

The dishes haven't even all been served, and he wants to leave already?

However, although Jiang Mingzhi was full of misgivings, after these few days of getting along, he had developed some patience for Ren Yidao's fickle temperament.

He was actually not too surprised; instead, he had a feeling that this was only to be expected.

I knew this meal wouldn't go too smoothly, didn't I?

Look!

Sure enough, there's going to be a complication!

Hehe, it was all within my expectations.

"In that case, why don't we just go to the Tianxiang Pavilion? There are quiet private rooms there where we can rest."

Jiang Mingzhi asked Hu Wanwan:

"Is my private room still being kept for me?"

Tsk.

Although Hu Wanwan desperately did not want Ren Yidao to stay there, he could only bite the bullet and say:

"That goes without saying!"

"You two should sleep at the Tianxiang Pavilion tonight! Don't be polite with me at all! Hahaha!"

But inside his heart, he was screaming incessantly:

Refuse quickly!

Refuse quickly!

After Ren Yidao tilted his head and thought for a moment, he did not refuse Jiang Mingzhi's good intentions and nodded with a smile.

"That works, let's go, it wouldn't hurt to take a look."

Believe me, I really am just going to take a look.

He chuckled secretly in his Heart Star:

"I was just about to broaden my horizons and see what a real den of demonesses looks like~"

Begging for the guaranteed Monthly Ticket at the beginning of the month!