Chapter 24: I Have Never Seen One Either
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In Ji Ling’s extensive memory, there were only a few individuals who could have come close to Yun Yang’s collected manner - and these were the very ancestors of her own family. They had been seniors who had suffered through the vicissitudes of life, endowed with a wealth of knowledge and served as the fount of wisdom for their honorable families. She knew full well what these paragons had to go through to attain such an esteemed stature; risking their lives in countless battles, witnessing an unending stream of births and deaths, suffering immeasurable heartaches and surviving an innumerable count of hopeless situations. It was only through these tribulations that they could become who they were, men and women unimpressed by authority that possessed of incredible foresight. They were always unruffled, a deep pool of clear water that would not be perturbed in any circumstance.
How had Yun Yang achieved all these when he was just nineteen years old? Ji Ling was truly curious about this young man who was wise beyond his years, with an impeccable demeanor and flawless mannerisms. Nobody could fault him on the way he carried himself, bold with a graceful flair. All said and done, Yun Yang was a man with many secrets.
“… we are here today, firstly to witness for ourselves Young Master Yun’s grace.” Their pleasantries had finally given way to the real meat of the conversation. Beiye Qingkong was the first to speak, “Secondly, it was to sate our curiosity. The astonishing wager of the ninth class mystical beast offspring placed by Young Master Yun has indeed astounded the world at large.”
He seemed to be abashed as he rubbed his hands together, “Truthfully, it is a tad embarrassing to admit this. While we come from great, influential families, we have never seen the young of a ninth level mystical beast with our own eyes.”
His words garnered the agreement of the other three young masters as they nodded furiously in unison.
“Yes, I have never seen it.”
“A ninth level mystical beast has always been shrouded in mystery, I had always hoped to be able to catch a glimpse of one…”
“Sigh, my losses the other day can all be attributed to my greed for this being… How could I not come to see it for myself?”
Ximen Wandai was the last to speak, his sigh laced with helplessness. Given a choice, he had initially planned to make this journey alone but the three other young masters, upon hearing his intent, had clung onto him like tenacious leeches. They refused to let Ximen Wandai experience the wonder of seeing the exquisite beast all by himself. If it were not for these troublemakers, Ximen Wandai would have wound up at the Residence of Yun on the very same afternoon of the day he had lost the bet. The young masters were all smiles but the tension in the air had obviously thickened.
Ji Ling, who was by the window, too held her breath, unsure of how Yun Yang would figure his way out of this one. These young masters might be amicable now, but the moment Yun Yang failed to produce the ninth level mystical beast’s offspring, the entire Residence of Yun might very well be razed down to the ground.There would be no exceptions as these people were here to hold him accountable. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that, they were here to divide the bounty!
Whether Yun Yang was able to produce the ninth level mystical beast’s offspring or not, it would be the end of him either way. The moment he brought it forth, the four young masters would certainly covet it. Regardless of who would ultimately end up possessing it, Yun Yang would certainly not be left alive as the original owner! The conviviality of these people now was simply the calm before the storm.
“A ninth level mystical beast baby…” Yun Yang smiled, “It is something wondrous indeed. I do not doubt that the four young masters have never seen it. But then again, never have I..”
As his words tumbled out into the open, the atmosphere in the courtyard grew silent with a sudden chill. Collectively, all four of the young masters’ expressions darkened instantaneously.
You have never seen it?
Ximen Wandai’s face had turned an odd shade of maroon as he gazed menacingly at Yun Yang. Taking a deep breath, he spoke with an eerie calm, “Perhaps I have misheard what Young Master Yun has just said. If Young Master Yun has never seen a ninth level mystical beast offspring, then just what exactly was it that was offered to me as a stake in our wager?”
The other three young masters stared at Yun Yang with wide, unblinking eyes.
“If I had lost the wager, I would naturally have been able to keep my end of the bargain.” Yun Yang was nonchalant, his tone taking on a defensive edge, ”But since I’ve won, that’s all water under the bridge.”
Ximen Wandai could feel his fury rushing up to his head, “If you’ve never seen it, it means you don’t have it. What then was your bet based on?”
Yun Yang smiled, “It was based on a few premises, the first of which was that I was certain I could win. As long as I win, everything would be fine. Second… Young Master Ximen, who was it that told you not seeing means not possessing?” His words confused everyone, as they were meant to.
If he had never seen it, did he or did he not have it?
Dongfang Mingtian’s expression transformed at once, his icy smile replaced by a warm beam as he spoke, “Could it be that Brother Yun has another explanation? I would really love to hear it.”
Yun Yang smiled faintly, lifting the teapot to serve everyone the hot beverage even as he spoke, “Truth be told, I need not explain this. If it were anyone else I had challenged, that’d be the end of it; there would be no long-lasting consequences. However, since you young masters have all paid me a visit… it’d only mean trouble for me if I failed to explain. It would be proper of me to speak further.”
Ximen Wandai’s face was still the same crimson maroon as he said, “I can admit my defeat but I loathe being cheated.”
“To say that you were cheated is an exaggeration.” Yun Yang spoke with a straight face, “If Young Master Ximen had won and I could not hand the ninth level mystical beast baby over, that would be cheating. When I last checked, however, Young Master Ximen had not won.”
“Hmm, this isn’t important actually.” Yun Yang continued, “Please, do drink your tea. To gamble, one must have the capital to back up his wager; if one did not, that would be cheating. I suppose Young Master Ximen’s thoughts are also along this line?.”
All the young masters were thinking, “Who would have come all the way here if not for this?… Are you speaking rubbish?”
“I really have never seen the offspring of a ninth level mystical beast.” Yun Yang was assertive, “It is true, from when I was young until the present, I have never laid eyes on one.”
Boom!
The fuse was lit once again.
You speak of a lot of things, but, you still have never f*cking seen it…
“However,” Yun Yang’s emphasized, “I have an egg of a ninth level advanced mystical beast that is about to hatch.”
“Uh…” Ximen Wandai felt horrible, like his full-force swing had punched nothing but air.
“Where then is this mystical beast egg?” Nangong Bubai asked with squinted eyes. Yun Yang smiled and shot him a quick glance. The four young masters understood well in their heart nobody would be willing to respond freely to such a question;
“It wouldn’t mean that Young Master Yun is merely trying to tell us that doesn’t have one, would it?” Beiye Qingkong asked in an odd voice.
“Young Master Beiye, you do not need to provoke me. I’ll speak what I have to.” Yun Yang smiled, “Simply put, I do not wish for any conflict with your noble and influential families; or should I say, I do not wish to hand to these young masters the instruments of their own deaths.”
“Instruments for our deaths?” Ximen Wandai smirked, “Isn’t that a bit absurd, Young Master Yun?”
Yun Yang looked at Ximen Wandai meaningfully, “Would Young Master Ximen be willing to bet with me again?” His gaze was disdainful, hints of condescendence and provocation apparent when facing these four great young masters.
“Uh…”
Ximen Wandai’s face paled. Another bet? If he lost this wager again, he would have no means to survive.
Dongfang Mingtian played the intermediary as he laughed, “We would all become gamblers if we go on like this. Brother Yun, as we have traveled all the way here, please don’t leave us guessing.. We intend to forge a friendship with Brother Yun; it wouldn’t be beneficial for either of us if we got off on the wrong foot.”
Internally, he was thinking, “Is he threatening us? Where does his confidence come from?”
Yun Yang’s smile was full of meaning as he said, “That is correct. It would not be advantageous for anyone if we have any conflicts.”
“Admittedly, I was indeed rash about the ninth level mystical beast offspring.” Yun Yang spoke casually, “I instantly felt regret the moment the words left my mouth and I fully intended to call off the bet with Brother Ximen right on the spot… If it wasn’t for the slip of my tongue, this would have passed and there wouldn’t have been as much commotion afterward.”
Everyone’s gaze had then fallen upon Ximen Wandai, whose face flushed red. He had been the one to insist on continuing with the wager, turning hysterical over the mention of a ninth level mystical beast baby.
“This relates to a secret of the Yun Family.” Yun Yang said, “I am not allowed to say much, but this ninth level mystical beast egg… is a Golden Pinion Bird’s egg.”
A Golden Pinion Bird’s egg!
All four young master’s breaths quickened harshly.
Legend has it that one of the strongest legendary beasts of heaven and earth was the Garuda. It was magical and could wreak havoc across both the planes. Of course, the Garuda had only existed in old myths and legends as nobody had ever seen it before. This Golden Pinion Bird was naturally not the Garuda itself, but an advanced mystical beast that had sprung from the weakest lineage of the legendary beast. Once fully grown, it would undoubtedly become a ninth level advanced mystical beast!
What made it even more priceless was that it could fly!
“My master had always wanted to find a more powerful mystical beast offspring for me; firstly to keep me company as I grew up, and secondly so that I could protect myself when he was gone for good…” Yun Yang spoke slowly and admiringly, his expression was one of utter devotion.
“Your master?” Dongfang Mingtian finally caught onto the main point.
“May I ask who is Brother Yun’s master?” Dongfang Mingtian questioned with barely veiled interest.
Yun Yang kept quiet for a moment before his hand went into his robe and removed a small, wooden plaque, placing it gently on the table. Everyone’s gaze followed his slight movements. The wooden plaque was black all over but as they continued to look, it seemed to glow faintly. Upon further scrutiny, the glow seemed to glimmer like stars in the night sky. It was akin to the constellations of yore that glimmered with endless radiance, eons away.
“Stellar Wood of Onyx?” Dongfang Mingtian shuddered in reverence.
“That is correct, it is the Stellar Wood of Onyx, or more commonly known as… the Infernal Stellar.”
Yun Yang’s tone was deliberately indifferent, “My master’s writings were carved on this. Please keep it in your heart when you look upon them. I have no choice but to reveal this plaque today, and this act alone would be an utter humiliation to my school! If news were to spread, my master would definitely be angered!”
All four great young masters felt the obvious threat within Yun Yang’s words, and an indescribable tension fell on their shoulders. This small black wooden plaque was filled with greatness and grandeur, and seemed to be far heavier than thousands of catties.
Since Yun Yang had brandished this small wooden plaque, there was no longer doubt in the hearts of Dongfang Mingtian and his cohorts. The Stellar Wood of Onyx was a treasured gem in the known world. What rendered it so impossibly invaluable was that there had only been one of it in this world for the past thousand years.
Furthermore, there had been only one person who was known to have possessed this ancient talisman. No hand other than his could have held the Stellar Wood of Onyx! Its appearance signaled the presence of that vaunted personage. As the wooden plaque was turned slowly, four rows of words on its back struck the four young masters’ eyes like lightning; at that moment, all four pairs of their pupils actually contracted and their delicate faces grew pale.
“Long since have I been a guest of heaven; half a step to ethereality; by virtue of a soulmate, I was halted a step before the clouds.”
There were only these four lines, with nothing else to prove its identity. Four lines, however, were sufficient to demonstrate its extraordinary character, one which even the eight greatest families in the Tianxuan Continent were unable to offend. It was the singularly unparalleled mythical figure of his time.
He was a legend who could already decimate the void and soar through levels five hundred years ago; the first and only one to attain the godly rank of his times, the unprecedented hero who triumphed in the Tianxuan Continent for over three hundred years.
Dugu Chou!