Chapter 372: Squeezing Extortion
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Looking at princes readily available, including the emperor-to-be crown prince, was it even possible to identify one that was actually capable?
The crown prince was a successor decided by Yu Peize himself. Shouldn't he at least have a certain amount of training? Yet, anyone with discerning eyes could see that the man would never make it big. Otherwise, why would the emperor be so concerned about the lack of a candidate who could shoulder the empire's burdens?
"Don’t worry, Old Qiu." His Majesty’s emotions were fully stabilized now. "It’s only a plan of mine, I won’t act impulsively. Well, at least, I won’t be making too much a change in such a short period of time."
"Even when I’ve decided that it's workable, I’ll still have to observe over a period of time and that duration will last at least a few years. Whether or not the child can shoulder a heavy responsibility can basically be judged when he’s around six or seven years old."
"If things can’t be done, I won’t be stubborn." His Majesty joked, "I’m not a fatuous emperor who knows nothing of the world."
Old Marshal Qiu nodded. That was true; if he were a fatuous king, the marshal would have stopped serving him a long time ago. How would the emperor still have the chance to accuse him of treason and threaten him with nine familial exterminations?
"I’ll pretend not to know this and wait patiently." The emperor said softly, "Patiently waiting for the day my grandson comes to me… I shall take a good look at how handsome my grandchild is… If he’s similar to his father, the same intelligence, good looks, obedience, filial piety, wisdom, strength, brilliance, decisiveness, bold vision, and fearlessness!"
The emperor’s gaze was brimming with a bitter gentleness.
He turned slowly to stare at the portrait of his eldest prince and murmured, "My child, father… misses you so much that I can’t sleep… If your soul hasn’t forgotten, why didn’t you come to meet me in my dreams?"
The eldest prince in the portrait was all smiles, watching his father from afar with serenity.
Old Marshal Qiu felt his heart clench as if he could faintly feel the emperor’s emotions.
At that very moment, the old marshal swore that if the eldest prince’s child could be brought up to enlightenment, he would put all his remaining years on the boy. He would like to see if he could really cultivate a majestic lord who could dominate the Tianxuan Continent!
…
When Yun Yang returned to Tower to Heaven Inn, he came across Lei Dongtian who was making a fuss to leave.
Lei Dongtian had already recovered a third of his prowess. He had been making a fuss to leave and Bai Yixue, who was the only one able to stop him, did not have a good impression of Lei Dongtian; he did not even wish to stop him. As for the others, they had the intention but not the capability. After all, a third of Lei Dongtian’s prowess was the level of a third or fourth tier of the heavenly realm. Even a Tenth Perfection cultivator was barely qualified as his opponent.
Luckily, Yun Yang had come back amidst the argument.
"Brother, it’s great that you’re back!" Lei Dongtian was delighted. "This elder brother has had enough! It’s too upsetting to be hiding like this every day. I’ve decided to return home and organize a force to take down the Four Seasons Tower so I can vent this rage!"
Yun Yang replied in shock, "Brother Lei, I’m not disallowing you to leave, but it’s truly too dangerous for you to go out there! It’s impossible for the Four Seasons Tower to give up their efforts to hunt you down! Going out is like a sheep sending itself into a tiger’s mouth! It’s half chance and half luck that this young brother could save you previously. It is unlikely to happen again. If there’s another mistake now, regret will be too late!"
What Yun Yang had said was the brutal truth and Lei Dongtian knew it as well but he had still said confidently, "Don’t worry, Brother Yun, how can it be as easy for them to track me with my skills of deceptions? Besides, I have partially recovered. As long as I don’t meet the Four Seasons Tower’s master, Mr. Nian, the rest are as nothing. What’s there to be afraid of?"
Yun Yang felt speechless for a moment, furiously thinking, "Big brother, where does your confidence come from?"
"The rest is nothing to be afraid of? You were beaten half to death just a while ago and even your only expert guard was killed. It's amazing that you can still be so confident and look down on people!"
"The education you received since you were young which forms your arrogant attitude must be amazing!"
"People remain stubborn after knocking into the wall, but not only that, you knocked into it continuously, not even stopping when you’re bleeding!"
"Are you seeking death or are you seeking death?"
"Give it a bit of wait!" Yun Yang said, "I believe Brother Lei’s cultivation method will recover at least a sixth and above with another two days. It’s not late for you to leave then and we’ll be more relieved too!"
Lei Dongtian sighed heavily. Although he was reluctant, he could only accept with a lowered head. After all, he knew that Yun Yang meant well.
"Right. Other than asking for relief troops this time, this young brother has something to ask Brother Lei for help with." Yun Yang hesitated, looking very fidgety.
"What is it?" Lei Dongtian found his sense of purpose again and said with a pat on his chest, "Just say it, my brother. If I can do it, I won’t say another word."
Yun Yang scratched his head and said, "This matter… it’s really… rather difficult to be spoken about."
Lei Dongtian said impatiently, "What is so difficult to bring up? With our relationship that surpasses the realm of death, anything you want is only a line of words! To help you is to help myself, speak easily."
Lei Dongtian was speaking truthfully. He had secured Yun Yang as one of his Seven Emotions Praxis cauldrons, so they had to share genuine sentiments between each other. The ideal situation would be Lei Dongtian constantly helping Yun Yang and allowing Yun Yang to feel dependent and trusting of Lei Dongtian.
However, the situation currently was the exact opposite. It was Yun Yang who had done Lei Dongtian a great favor. If Lei Dongtian’s initial thoughts remained the same and he executed his cultivation method simply to manipulate Yun Yang, he would instead be on the retaliated side of the cultivation method since Seven Emotions Praxis was a mythical method working on the basis on emotions. What it condemned was the opposite switch of genuine emotions, so Lei Dongtian wanted badly to help Yun Yang as much as possible!
It would be best if this fellow could weep from gratitude and bow as thanks, promising to requite him as his servant in the next life, so on and so forth.…
Yun Yang hesitated for a long time and said, "Brother Lei, this young brother didn’t want…"
Lei Dongtian rolled his eyes. "Can be you quick about it? Do you have to be so long-winded? We’re brothers. What is there that you can’t tell your big brother?"
"Resources!" Yun Yang spat out, flustered by the provocation. "Brother Lei, since the battle that day, this young brother has indeed realized that this bit of my capability is really too weak. It’s merely like an insignificant ant!"
"How hard would it be to increase one’s ability quickly? Only someone so proficient and low profile like Brother Lei might have another way!"
Yun Yang’s gaze was clear as he said respectfully, "This young brother knows this is overstepping the boundaries, but it’s true because my own ability is so weak. That’s why… that’s why I’m shameless to ask for Brother Lei’s help! It needn’t be anything too divine. Just give this young brother a bit of anything that Brother Lei won’t be using and is fairly useful to cultivation. I ask that Brother Lei avoid blaming this young brother’s rudeness."
Lei Dongtian chortled easily. "I still wonder what it is. Don’t worry, leave all that you ask to me!"
He thought for a bit and said, "What I’ve given you earlier, adding them up equals to ten portions of cultivation resources in our family. When I come back this time, I will bring you a hundred portions of them. How about that?"
Yun Yang was shocked. "Too much, there's simply too much! How will I be able to use so much of them? How dare this young brother ask for such a luxury?"
"Too much? Then two hundred portions it is!" Lei Dongtian waved without a care in the world."It’s set!"
The corners of Yun Yang’s lips twitched subconsciously.
This fellow’s Lei Family… what sort of an existence did they live in? Look at how generous he’s being!
Moreover, this fellow seems possessed of amazing mental faculties!
He said a hundred portions, I said that was too much, then he replied by saying two hundred should suffice!
What was going through his mind? I, as the Nine Supremes’ think tank, couldn't even figure that one out.
Of course, Yun Yang would not know that Lei Dongtian was using this chance to put an end to the fated tie he owed the man, by giving him an abundance of resources now. Only by giving more could the fated bond be erased quicker. Lei Dongtian was not an idiot, and cultivation resources were not things that fell from the sky. How would he add on to the amount himself?
"Right, you don’t want anything other than cultivation resources?" Lei Dongtian asked, "What about two hundred portions of top-grade medicine as well?"
Yun Yang was fidgeting. "How – how can I…"
"It's decided then!" Lei Dongtian waved his hand, looking extremely benevolent.
On the other side, Bai Yixue was distracted, looking out at the snow outside the window emotionlessly. He was putting up such a front because he was too terrified that he would laugh out loud once he lost control of himself.
This Young Master Lei… I wonder how long he'll continue to be manipulated before he realizes the truth?
I’ve been deceived, but I’m in the same boat as my young master now. Retain the goodies within the family – I will still be able to enjoy the benefits, but this fellow will only be pushed into the pit to his death.
"Brother Lei, rest well. Just speak up if you need anything. You don't have to be so courteous to me."
Yun Yang left behind a big bag of fruits rarely seen in winter.
This was, of course, food prepared for Jiji, but Yun Yang had bought two portions.
Turning to see Lei Dongtian happily munching the fruits with juice overflowing, Bai Yixue could not help the twitching at the corners of his mouth.
This fellow probably doesn’t know that the treatment he's receiving is just like young master’s bird. Maybe he is ranked lower than the Jiji bird in my young master’s heart!
Yun Yang was in a good mood.
He had been lusting over Lei Dongtian’s resources for a very long time. Those were high-level items never seen before in the Tianxuan Continent.
Since the fool had promised, he would undoubtedly bring a good amount of items the next time he came back. If so, the need for resources here would be fulfilled and would even be in excess.
Yun Yang was fairly satisfied.
The juices from Lei Dongtian were not yet fully squeezed out.
The extortion was not yet complete, he needed to work harder!