Chapter 553: Chapter 196: Reunion with an Old Friend

“Let’s drop this topic for the future. Bai Ying, take me to see them,”

Zhou Yan said.

“Yes, Master,”

Bai Ying agreed, then immediately set out.

Just then, everything between heaven and earth suddenly became blurred, and next, a woman of surpassing beauty appeared, dressed in white like snow, with long hair cascading like a waterfall.

This woman’s appearance hadn’t changed much, but previously, she lacked the current aura of controlling the destiny of heaven and earth, which made her merely a beautiful face without the presence to match.

Now, combining the Heavenly Mechanism Skill with the breath of destiny, she seemed to draw the attention of everyone, shining like an Ancient Goddess.

“Zhou Yanxuan, I’m here to demand someone from you,”

the woman spoke lightly, but there was an undeniable aura of command in her voice.

Although not overtly aggressive, there was an underlying sense of it not being open to refusal.

Seemingly calm, yet she appeared to dismiss everything in the world, as if she had ascended to a lofty divine status.

“Zhuge Jiayue, given our past relations, whoever you want, as long as there’s no ulterior motive, I am willing to concede,”

Zhou Yan replied with a slight smile, not minding the tone he normally disliked, all because of their connection through Tianji Mountain.

Zhou Yan understood that Zhuge Jiayue knew he didn’t like being spoken to in this manner, yet she seemed to disregard this. He chose not to quibble, assuming this was just Zhuge Jiayue struggling to adapt to her Awakening of the Life Chart.

“Zhou Yanxuan, the Jiayue of the past might have been rather fond of you, Zhou Yanxuan, but that was then. Now, Jiayue has realized her own destiny, and will no longer be constrained by affection. Thus, we can no longer talk of having any relationship, and I hope Zhou Yanxuan can understand and avoid any misunderstandings,”

Zhuge Jiayue stated calmly.

“Oh? So it seems I’ve been presumptuous?”

Zhou Yan chuckled self-deprecatingly, then a thought crossed his mind.

“Zhou Yanxuan, the person I seek is named ‘Zhou Momo.’ She has a connection with the Destiny Ancient Palace, and I hope she will switch to cultivating the Power of Destiny. As for the rest, Zhou Yanxuan need not interfere, after all, it is her choice to make,”

Zhuge Jiayue spoke with a frosty tone.

“Had it not been for our past bond, or if I were still of my former disposition, perhaps I would send you away with force right now. However, I’ve grown up as well and can see that you’re deliberately speaking to me this way because you want me to be harsh and let you give up.

It seems that you haven’t forgotten about me, and you still concern yourself with me in your heart. But you have your own destiny to fulfill and wish not to be entangled with feelings, so you are using this method to provoke me into pushing you away.

Zhuge Jiayue, why must you do this? If I were aware of your difficulties, naturally, I would not make things difficult for you,”

Zhou Yan understood the mindset of the seemingly high and mighty woman in an instant. He chose not to keep it to himself or act on it in the shadows, but instead, addressed it openly.

Zhuge Jiayue paused, suddenly not so aloof anymore, but sighed, saying, “You’ve truly changed now, too clever, and too capable of unveiling all mysteries with the slightest of clues, that it’s indeed very difficult to deceive you.

But… some of what I said is true. With my identity, the path I am to tread in the future is that of destiny’s ‘steadfastness,’ for each person’s fate is predetermined, unique to each.

Yet you are not meant to have such a singular path; by your side, there will certainly be more than just me.

If that were all, perhaps I would still vie for a chance, but… your fate is inherently complex and elusive, while our Destiny Ancient Palace, unfortunately, views cultivators with such fate as adversaries.

In the future, we will inevitably be enemies, so leaving you with a negative impression now might not necessarily be a bad thing.”

“Moreover, Zhou Momo indeed possesses a good talent for cultivating the Power of Destiny, and within the Zhou Family, she can only be buried and potentially grow for a while under your protection.

But have you considered what they might think in their hearts about being protected by you?

Through fate, I cannot see your destiny, but those who follow you are likely to experience a destiny that is better yet more perilous because of you. Of course, no one likes to be a burden, and you should respect their wishes as well,”

Zhuge Jiayue said.

“You’re right; I’ve been too attached. I initially wanted them to join Thunder Expansion Sacred Land for some security, but now, it seems we should consider their own wishes. You follow me, and I’ll let you speak with Zhou Momo alone.”

“Fine, if I can take her away, then this time, I owe you a favor. Afterwards, I will make it up to you with a huge favor.”

“Mm.”

Zhou Yan nodded, not saying anything more.

…

“Zhou Cangmu, Family Head, now our Great Zhou Family, even the Li Family, we only have so few people left. Do you think… do you think Zhou Yan, who is now famous throughout the Southern Wilderness, will still take us in? I think, he doesn’t want to shelter us, but to kill us instead?”

One of the Zhou Family Disciples asked arrogantly.

“I told you, he won’t abandon us. Don’t you believe me? Otherwise, why would Zhou Gucheng bring us here?”

Zhou Cangmu explained.

He spoke, holding back his anger.

By his side, Zhou Momo, Zhou Qianqian, and Zhou Ying, among others, just watched with cold eyes.

“Him? He has completely become Zhou Yan’s lapdog. I suspect his intentions are not good. Maybe he still wants to kill us,” another disciple said with a sneer.

“Zhou Jing, what are you talking about? If you want to die, I won’t stop you! But if it weren’t for Zhou Gucheng’s previous life-and-death battle with those powerhouses in the Tai Chu Secret Realm, would we be alive? As human beings, we have to have conscience!”

From not too far away, Zhou Qian scolded in a cold voice.

“Ancestor Zhou Qian, you can’t say that! If it wasn’t for Zhou Yan killing Xiao Tianlun, would we have been hunted by the powerhouses of the Tai Chu Secret Realm? Huh? This Zhou Yan is a jinx, wherever he goes, he brings trouble to others!” the disciple sneered again.

“Ha, the younger generations these days really have no shame. If that’s the case, what are you doing here? Just get lost!”

Zhou Qian replied with a laugh of extreme anger.

“He can’t leave anymore.”

At this moment, a voice sounded, followed by a sudden burst of Thunder Light. The previously arrogant Zhou Jing instantly shattered, dying miserably on the spot.

“Zhou Gucheng, you, this is too… But it’s good to see you’re unharmed. How about it, has… has Zhou Yan agreed to see us yet?”

Upon seeing this, Zhou Qian didn’t have time to intervene, and the third-generation Zhou Family Disciple, Zhou Jing, had already met his tragic end.

He wanted to say something, but after a thought, he decided not to speak for such an unworthy person and instead focused his attention on Zhou Gucheng himself and Zhou Yan.

“A clown like Zhou Jing, even if I hadn’t stepped in, he would have died out there. Taking up so much Cultivation Resources, not working hard, and constantly instigating and complaining about others, such a person living is only bringing shame upon himself, so I simply killed him.”

Zhou Gucheng said coldly.

“As for the young master, naturally, he will see us.”

As Zhou Gucheng spoke, his gaze swept coldly over the crowd. Even Zhou Cangmu, the Family Head, shivered and instinctively took a step back.

“Zhou Yanxuan comes from our Great Zhou Family, to be more precise, from the Carefree Main City of the Zhou Family, but since then, what support have we, the Zhou Family, given him? When it comes to being a person and doing things, without mentioning anything else, at least sometimes, you should put yourself in someone else’s shoes and speak a fair word with your conscience rather than just complaining.

The Zhou Family, including the Li Family People, are now down to less than a hundred lives. Doesn’t anyone have any thoughts about this? If it weren’t for Zhou Yanxuan, the Zhou and Li Families would have perished years ago.”

Zhou Gucheng’s words left the scene in dead silence.

And those Cultivators who still had reservations in their hearts finally began to seriously consider this issue.

Then, they all realized that they hadn’t helped Zhou Yan at all. Moreover, during the initial Heavenly Destiny plan, they had all been eager for Zhou Yan to die…

Now Zhou Yan was willing to accept them and even rebuild the power, yet they harbored dissatisfaction; that was simply inhumane.

With such thoughts, and thinking about the injustices and sufferings currently faced by the Zhou Family and Li Family People, all their grievances transformed into shame in their hearts.

At that moment, Zhou Yan arrived at the Cultivation Hall of the Secondary Main Peak with Zhuge Jiayue in tow.

(Note: Recommending a friend’s book “Rebirth of the Depraved Noble Young Master,” it’s a good read, everyone can check it out~)