C14 Strange

Swept up in Su Chen's persuasive charm, Emperor Shun of Yuan was utterly captivated, his respect for Su Chen deepening by the moment. He hung on every word, whether true or false, determined not to abandon his newfound ally.

The emperor's banquet was a spectacle of opulence and excess that defied humanity. Su Chen, a mere ordinary citizen, had only recently come into possession of the Goldfinger and was unaccustomed to such grandeur. The splendor of the palace banquet took his breath away; it was a place of unparalleled prestige, truly in a class of its own. Three people dining amidst a sea of thousands of servants – it was a sight to behold. Su Chen couldn't help but wonder if amongst the crowd lurked Royal Guards, as often depicted in tales.

Zhang Sanfeng, if privy to Su Chen's musings, would have promptly dismissed such notions. Not a single Acquired warrior was present.

Upon entering the grand hall, three auras immediately zeroed in on him. They were not particularly strong, likely in the late stages of the Innate Realm, but this did little to change the inescapable truth of their presence.

"Jun Bao, it's been too long," a voice, almost otherworldly, reached the ears of all those gathered.

"Who is it?" Zhang Sanfeng bellowed, his composure shattered. Unleashing his peak Innate power, the air around him became a tempest, tossing Su Chen and Emperor Shun of Yuan about. The emperor fared slightly better, his martial prowess allowing him to quickly regain his footing, his legs anchoring into the ground like iron stakes.

Su Chen, on the other hand, was far less fortunate. Lacking any martial arts skills, he was sent tumbling four or five meters away, landing in a disheveled heap, struggling to rise.

The sudden burst of vital energy set off an explosive chain reaction. Two figures, one portly and one lean, appeared silently before Zhang Sanfeng, effectively separating him from Emperor Shun of Yuan.

"Who is there? Show yourself!" Zhang Sanfeng demanded, seemingly unconcerned by the appearance of the two silhouettes.

"How dare you show such disrespect to His Majesty? You shall pay!" The gaunt elder to the left, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, glared at Zhang Sanfeng with chilling intent. His hand poised like a raptor's talon, yet he hesitated to strike.

"Tianbao, has your state of mind truly deteriorated after all these years?" With a soft sigh, an elder clad in black emerged from a side room, strolling over as leisurely as if he were wandering through his own garden.

"Tianbao, it really is you."

"Ha! I never imagined that after so many years, you would still remember my name. It's been ages since anyone has called me that. It feels like we're back in the days when we studied together at Shaolin," Dong Tianbao said, a hint of nostalgia twinkling in his eyes.

"Tianbao, you're Dong Tianbao." Su Chen stared at the elder in black, astonished. He hadn't expected a character from the movie to come to life.

"Ha! To think that the Immortal himself would recognize me. Tianbao is indeed fortunate!" Dong Tianbao beamed warmly at Su Chen.

"Master Dong, don't bother talking to them. Just kill them!" the gaunt old man said icily.

"No, Master Borler, we must not harm the Immortal," Emperor Shun of Yuan interjected suddenly.

"Your Majesty, do you still believe he's the Immortal?" Borler exclaimed, incredulous. How could an Immortal be sent flying and struggle to get up? Clearly, this was a charlatan!

Not just him, but even the rotund elder with big ears and a corpulent frame was taken aback, his jowls quivering.

"Perhaps the Immortal has his reasons," Emperor Shun of Yuan suggested, his voice tinged with doubt.

Su Chen thought to himself, should I be amused or pleased? Is the emperor foolish? Can't he see through my deception? How will I ever be able to confront Yuan in the future?

"There's no need. I am indeed an impostor, with no secrets to hide. I've been deceiving you, so you needn't show me any mercy. Go ahead, take action!" Su Chen's declaration landed like a sledgehammer on Emperor Shun of Yuan's tender heart.

"The Immortal speaks the truth. If he says he is not, then he is not," the emperor affirmed.

Who would have thought that Emperor Shun of Yuan's words would wrap his fragile spirit in a protective shield?

"Pfft." Su Chen nearly choked on his own disbelief. The emperor must have been brainwashed by him! He was nothing short of a zealot.

"No, who are you?"

Su Chen asked with a grave tone. If someone with such intelligence could become emperor, Su Chen mused he might as well ascend to the heavens. There could only be one truth: either this man was not Emperor Shun of Yuan, or there was something amiss with Emperor Shun of Yuan.

"What does the Immortal mean? I am Emperor Shun of Yuan! I am Toghon Temür!" Emperor Shun of Yuan looked at Su Chen with a bewildered expression.

At that moment, even the four esteemed masters sensed that something was amiss. They swiftly repositioned themselves. Zhang Sanfeng, having regained his composure, stepped in front of Su Chen. The two aged masters, one portly and the other lean, along with Dong Tianbao, formed one faction, while Emperor Shun of Yuan stood alone, creating a tense standoff.

"Master Dong, Master Borler, Master Dalba, what's wrong? Hurry and protect me," Emperor Shun of Yuan implored, still perplexed.

"Who are you?" Dong Tianbao demanded, scrutinizing Toghon Temür. Whoever dared to target Toghon Temür right under the watch of three great Innate Peak experts was certainly no ordinary individual.

"I am Emperor Shun of Yuan, I am Toghon Temür! I am the emperor of the Great Yuan!" Emperor Shun of Yuan reiterated, still looking confused.

"Sage Zhang, if things go south, grab me and let's make a run for it," Su Chen said, unconcerned with Emperor Shun of Yuan's identity. The Yuan Dynasty was clearly in disarray. What else could he do but flee the chaos?

"You are not permitted to leave," Borler declared. "No one leaves until we've cleared up this matter."

"Ha! Just because you say we can't leave, we're supposed to stay? This isn't your home. Even the Emperor hasn't given an order yet!"

"Immortal, why do you wish to leave? Have I been a poor host?"

"Look, let's drop the act, shall we? It's obvious there's something off with you." Continuing the charade was pointless; the issue was apparent to all.

"Ah, a problem? I don't see one. I was actually looking forward to playing along with you, but since you're all so impatient, let's just end it here." Emperor Shun of Yuan's face twisted into a sinister smile as the confusion vanished from his expression.

"Sage Zhang, we need to leave," I said, sensing that Emperor Shun of Yuan was about to make his move. Escaping seemed to be the only sensible option.

"You wish to flee? After all the trouble of summoning the Immortal, you think you can just leave so soon?" Emperor Shun of Yuan said with a light laugh. As his voice faded, three figures dressed as Royal Guards materialized in the hall, the very late period Innate experts Zhang Sanfeng had sensed.

"Just three late period Innate experts? They can't stop us," Borler scoffed dismissively.

"Is that so?" Emperor Shun of Yuan replied, his smile unwavering.

As if to prove his point, veins grotesquely snaked across the guards' faces, transforming them into ghastly figures. Their auras surged, swiftly reaching the pinnacle of the Innate Realm.

"Kill them," Emperor Shun of Yuan commanded.

Su Chen sighed in relief; thankfully, the Emperor's command wasn't directed at him and Zhang Sanfeng but at Borler and his companions.

"Attack!"

Dong Tianbao's fist collided with a guard's chest, his potent vital energy propelling the guard through the air, shattering numerous tables and chairs. Yet, in the next instant, the guard sprang back to life and charged at Dong Tianbao.

Dahlba, with his staff in hand, brought it crashing down upon another guard's head. The guard raised his blade to defend, but the staff smashed through, breaking the steel and driving the guard's feet deep into the ground with its immense force.

"Gulp," Su Chen swallowed hard, awed by the display of strength. "We really should make a run for it!"

"No need to rush, Immortal," Emperor Shun of Yuan said, having quietly approached Su Chen from behind.