C18 Not from the Same World

As Nangong Fan reached the summit, the sun was already dipping in the west, heralding the approach of nightfall within the next couple of hours.

With a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, Nangong Fan stood at the mountain's fork. Straight ahead lay the lakeside, flanked by two cobblestone paths that meandered into the unknown on either side.

Traditionally, he would veer left, steering clear of the trio that preferred the right-hand path, and seek out a massive boulder from which he could gaze upon the lake, shielded by the foliage.

Today, however, Nangong Fan shook his head with a mischievous grin. His spirits remained high, unmarred by the loss of his status as the legitimate son. He spared a glance at the path leading to the lake before boldly taking the right, the very route favored by the other three dandies of Dragonstone. Nangong Fan had little in common with them—perhaps they even scorned him, a dandy in name who lacked the ability to cultivate?

Fifteen minutes later, a long pavilion came into view at the highest point on the right, with three silhouettes moving within.

Nangong Fan intentionally trod on the branches, creating a jarring noise. Lacking strength, he was still a dandy; with strength, wouldn't he out-dandy them all? Did they look down on him? He was determined to show that the era of Dragonstone's four dandies was over. From this day forward, Dragonstone would recognize only one dandy: Hei Ze.

"Hey, everyone in Dragonstone knows this is the Three Swordsmen's turf. Who's got the nerve to trespass? Is it some out-of-towner?" boomed a voice.

"Brother Bing, it's that waste from the Hei family," declared a muscular, bald man clad in a fiery red coat, turning to fix his gaze on the intruder like a tiger eyeing its prey.

The three figures turned, their mouths twisted in disdain as they regarded the unexpected guest who stood his ground not far off. What gave this man, who usually avoided them, the audacity to step onto their domain?

The Three Swordsmen exchanged glances and began to advance toward Nangong Fan with a deliberate, imposing stride.

Nangong Fan crouched slightly, locking eyes with the approaching figures, all the while silently calculating the distance between them.

Twenty meters, fifteen, ten, five...

With a powerful thrust of his legs, Nangong Fan leaped into the air, soaring three meters high. As spiritual energy swirled in his mouth, he let out a thunderous roar that sent the surrounding trees rustling violently. Leaves fluttered briefly before helplessly falling from their branches, and pebbles tumbled skyward in the wake of his bellow.

Nangong Fan's roar echoed like that of an ancient, ferocious bear, resounding through time and space.

The three onlookers' gazes shattered in an instant. The quickest to recover was the golden-robed youth on the right. But by then, Nangong Fan was already upon him. The youth managed to brace his hands against his chest just as Nangong Fan's foot came crashing down upon them.

Jin Tai'an heard nothing but the grating snap of bones as an immense force, accompanied by excruciating pain, bore down on him, sending him stumbling backward uncontrollably for several paces.

The bald man on the left had barely come to his senses when a searing pain erupted from his chest, sending him flying backward, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth as he crumpled to the ground.

In the center, Ao Bing was jolted awake by the agony. Nangong Fan descended upon him like a mountain, pinning him to the earth. With a slight bend in his arm, he used his elbow as a spearhead, brutally striking Ao Bing.

Ao Bing's eyes were clouded, bloodshot with disbelief. Locked in Nangong Fan's gaze, he wondered, when had this so-called weakling become so formidable?

Before he could gather his wits, Nangong Fan's hand clamped onto his shoulder. Using his head as a mallet, he hammered Ao Bing's chest, the sound of splintering bones and the spray of blood painting a macabre tableau.

Nangong Fan executed a bear roll, narrowly evading Jin Tai'an's vicious kick, powered by sheer force. With an upward thrust, he sent Ao Bing, whom he had hoisted aloft, flying into a nearby boulder. Ao Bing slid to the ground, leaving a crimson streak, collapsing beside Huo Wushuang, both reduced to pained groans.

Jin Tai'an kept moving, and so did Nangong Fan, who seized the momentary lapse caused by Jin Tai'an's pain to somersault back to his feet.

With a thunderous yell, even the prepared Jin Tai An was momentarily dazed. Seizing the moment, Nangong Fan closed the distance, his waist twisting as he executed a move called Bear Leaps Mountain, sending Jin Tai An flying.

In midair, Jin Tai An managed to right himself and, with a raspy voice tinged with deep resentment, conceded, "We admit defeat."

Jin Tai An landed with a thud, sitting on the ground. Using the strength in his legs, he pushed himself to his feet, facing Nangong Fan with a bitter taste in his mouth. Since becoming a Martial Ancestor, he had never been challenged, considering himself the unrivaled prodigy of Dragonstone. Yet now, he had been soundly defeated by someone he had once scorned.

A spark of respect flickered in Jin Tai An's eyes. "You're quite impressive."

With a flicker of light in his weakened hands, he approached the two fallen swordsmen. Lifting one with each hand, he made his way down the mountain path without pause.

"It turns out that Jin Tai An, who usually keeps a low profile, is the first to reach the Martial Ancestor Realm," Nangong Fan mused, squinting as he watched them depart. He made no move to interfere. Their youthful skirmishes were not meant to be lethal. A single misstep could trigger a full-blown conflict among Dragonstone's great families, a scenario for which no clan was prepared. Despite their privileged backgrounds, none were fools; causing serious trouble could lead to being coldly cast aside by their families, with the exception of Nangong Fan, the sole heir.

Nangong Fan made his way to the pavilion and took a seat, his gaze settling on the small wooden boat at the lake's edge, marked with the Qing Family's emblem. He brushed off the dirt from the earlier scuffle, feeling an inexplicable nervousness.

As dusk settled, a striking figure in green descended the mountain path, her presence radiant like a blooming lotus, captivating onlookers.

Trailing her was a dashing man in a cream-colored robe, adorned with the embroidery of a majestic blue phoenix, its wings outstretched and feathers ablaze. His eyes bore a proud gleam, as if he were a deity surveying the mortal realm.

The man's demeanor matched the divine bird emblazoned on his robe. He carried himself with the arrogance of a deity, his gaze toward others cold and detached. Yet, when his eyes fell upon the woman before him, who was as delicate as a green lotus, they softened with tenderness and admiration.

Together, they boarded the small wooden boat, one after the other.

Nangong Fan struggled to breathe, his chest aching as though the heavens themselves were collapsing upon him, accompanied by the faint sound of a breaking heart.

Pain was evident in his eyes as he stared vacantly at the boat.

Was it over before it even began? Nangong Fan felt helpless, the urge to flee and leave everything behind growing within him.

A piercing look emanated from the boat.

In a flash, the striking man who had just taken his seat vanished from the vessel.

He materialized beside the pavilion at a speed imperceptible to the lakeside onlookers, a place ordinary people wouldn't dare approach.

He trod upon the air, his expression one of haughty indifference. His brows, sharp as swords, furrowed slightly as if he were irritated by the foolishness of an insignificant ant. With a kick that made no sound nor any other movement, he sent Nangong Fan flying through the air without even touching him. Nangong Fan crashed into the same boulder Ao Bing had struck, landing with a resounding thud.

A web of dense black cracks spread across the boulder's surface, threatening to shatter at any moment.

"Ant, you must recognize your insignificance. We are not of the same world," the man said, stepping forward and tearing through the void to arrive beside the powerless Nangong Fan, who lay slumped against the boulder. He grasped Nangong Fan's chin with his left hand and gently patted his pallid cheek with his right.

Nangong Fan choked back the blood he had yet to expel.

"Don't spit out the blood. If Lian Zi saw it, she might think I've mistreated you. It wouldn't do to offend such a beauty, now would it? What do you say?" he taunted.

Nangong Fan could only move his pupils, glaring at the malevolent man. He had no desire to speak, and even if he did, words failed him. He was like an ant in the grip of a god, powerless to do anything but listen to the deity's murmurs.

"The fury of an ant is quite amusing," the man remarked, his sinisterly handsome face breaking into a malevolent grin as a deep murderous intent flickered in his eyes. "I prefer not to leave loose ends. Even a worthless being like you will never touch the heights of my world."

As the man's left hand slowly tightened its grip, Nangong Fan's features began to distort as if his face were made of cotton under the immense pressure.

Unbeknownst to the man, within the seemingly insignificant figure before him, a blood-red light began to emerge in the depths of Nangong Fan's lifeless pupils. It was an eerie, profound red that seemed capable of throwing the world into chaos.

"Brother Qing, enough," came a voice as smooth as jade, its owner reaching out to halt the man's forceful left hand. The jade figure remained unchanged, though it had matured somewhat over the past two years. A green veil partially concealed her face, and her presence carried a seductive fragrance.

Releasing his grip, the man shrugged nonchalantly and rose to his feet, stepping behind Nangong Fan with the poise of a knight behind his princess.

Nangong Fan knelt down, her jade-like hand tenderly brushing over the fractures in Nangong Fan's chest. A soothing warmth emanated from her touch, sending a tingling sensation throughout his body wherever she caressed.

"You've been my only friend from outside our world all these years," she said softly. "You're somewhat timid, and your constitution is weak. I even implored my grandfather to heal your 'body of a hundred ailments.' Seeing you well now eases my mind. Forget about the one who insulted you; he hails from the Upper World, and his family's influence is vast. He's not someone you can contend with at this time. I won't be coming by the boat anymore, so forget about me. Truth be told, I'm old enough to be your grandmother; we're simply not from the same world." A green glow enveloped her, creating a barrier between the man and herself, encasing the two in a protective cocoon. Her voice was gentle, like raindrops seeping into Nangong Fan's soul.

"In truth, there's still a slim chance for you to showcase your talents, to gain your family's recognition, and to put an end to this senseless arranged marriage. But is it even possible? Moreover, I harbor no romantic feelings for you."

The final words were so faint that even Nangong Fan, who was right beside her, struggled to make them out.

The man outside the green energy shield was visibly pale, his face twisted in a mocking sneer as he mouthed words at Nangong Fan. No sound reached him, yet Nangong Fan felt as if the man was whispering directly into his ear, the fragmented sentences coming through clearly.

"Ants... Qing Chenghuang of the Qing Luan lineage..."

The fractured bones in Nangong Fan's chest knitted together under the healing green energy. He watched, numb, as Qing Lian'er rose to her feet and, alongside Qing Chenghuang, began to walk down the mountain path.

The voice that had echoed in his head countless times was now slowly drifting away.

"Is Lian Zi no longer boating?"

"No, Brother Qing, I'm somewhat weary. It's time to head back."