by Feng Yise
Ye Yuan's eyebrows furrowed. He did not find trouble, but he did not think that trouble still came knocking.
Immediately, he said icily, "Keeping us here also has to depend on whether or not you have this capability!"
Zhu Shan smiled coldly and said, "Heh heh, revealed your true colors? If you don't have any ulterior motives, why would you be afraid of us investigating? Looking at your appearance, are you planning on resisting stubbornly to the end? Isn't it just a Third Level Sea Transformation Realm? How can our Cloud Prancing Tribe be unable to even bring out a couple of Sea Transformation Realms?"
Ye Yuan was just about to speak when Li Hong resolved his heart and blocked in front of Ye Yuan!
Chapter 355 - You Can't Accompany Him Even If You Die
"Elder Zhu Shan, Young Master Ji is my, Li Hong's, savior! I can't let you bring him away!" Li Hong said firmly.
When these words from Li Hong came out, Li Yan and the others also slowly shifted their feet to block in front of Ye Yuan.
Seeing this sight, Ye Yuan felt rather surprised.
Originally, him saving Li Hong and the rest was just a matter of convenience. Li Hong agreed to bring him here to use the transmission array. It was also considered a fair deal for both sides.
Ye Yuan and the Cloud Prancing Tribe had no connections at all. He naturally did not wish to be involved in their domestic affairs. Moreover, he was in a rush, so he was disinclined to bother with these things.
He initially planned on teaching this Zhu Shan a lesson before leaving the Cloud Prancing Tribe. But he did not think that this Li Hong was so loyal.
Since that was the case, there was no harm in him meddling in this side business.
Seeing Li Hong's actions, Zhu Shan did not get angry but was delighted instead. But his face had a furious look as he said, "Li Hong, is this you steeling your heart to revolt?"
"Why does Elder Zhu Shan say so? I, Li Hong, am a member of the Cloud Prancing Tribe in life, and a ghost of the Cloud Prancing Tribe in death! It's just that to let me watch helplessly as my savior is thrown into jail, I can't do it!" Li Hong said without being servile or disrespectful.
"Fine! Since that's the case, then don't blame me! All of you listen up! Li Hong colluded with outsiders and caused Young Patriarch's death! In the name of elders, I command you all to execute the five of them!" Zhu Shan said grimly.
Li Hong's expression changed. He moved his lips wanting to explain but ultimately did not say anything. Instead, he turned around and said to Ye Yuan with a bitter smile, "I'm so sorry, Young Master Ji! I didn't think that I'd implicate you two to be wronged unjustly! The deaths of the five of us are insufficient! Lord Ji Feng, please hurry up and bring Young Master Ji away from here!"
Ye Yuan smiled and said, "You fools. Other people are exploiting your loyalty to eliminate dissidents and you all still stupidly deliver yourselves to the door to let them kill you."
Li Hong was stunned and asked uncertainly, "What do Young Master Ji's words mean?"
Ye Yuan waved his hands but did not clarify his words. Instead, he said, "You don't bother with what my words mean first. Bring us to see that young patriarch."
Not that Ye Yuan did not wish to talk, but it was not convenient for him to say some things right now.
The matter within a tribe, if he, an outsider, talked too much, he would invariably be suspected of sowing discord, and it would be hard to avoid drawing suspicions.
In addition, Zhu Shan stated categorically that he and Li Hong conspired to cause young patriarch's death. These words became even harder to say.
"But Young Patriarch already . . ." Li Hong's face dimmed.
Ye Yuan patted Li Hong's shoulder and said smilingly, "Take a look first, then talk! You guys and Young Patriarch were as close as brothers. Can't be that you're not even going to see him one last time, right?"
Being patted by Ye Yuan, Li Hong finally mustered up his courage and nodded his head fiercely.
"Even if I get smacked to death by Patriarch in one slap, I also have to give Young Patriarch a kowtow!" Li Hong said.
Finished talking, he turned to Zhu Shan again and said, "Elder Zhu Shan, please let me go and give Young Patriarch a kowtow and admit my fault. I'll commit suicide before him to apologize for my offense!"
Ye Yuan was stupefied but did not say anything. With him making a move, Li Hong might not even get a chance to commit suicide!
"Taking your own life to apologize for your crime? Bringing these two outsiders? You aren't trying to wreak havoc in the mourning hall, are you?! What are you all waiting for; get to work!" Zhu Shan said.
"Stop!" Just as everyone was about to make their move, a voice barked.
When Li Hong saw the arrival, his face involuntarily showed great ecstasy. "Elder Li Min!"
Li Min nodded slightly and said to Zhu Shan, "Patriarch asked them to go inside and explain the reason. If there really was an intentional delay, punishing them then won't be too late."
Finished talking, Li Min turned right around and went in.
Li Hong was overjoyed when he heard this. With Patriarch's order, he believed that Zhu Shan would not dare to say anything else.
Zhu Shan's face was green as he looked at Li Min. Clearly, he did not think that Patriarch already knew what transpired outside the door.
. . . . . .
The group entered the inner hall. A coffin was placed in the center of the inner hall. Inside should be the young patriarch.
The moment Li Hong and the rest saw Young Patriarch's coffin, they immediately lost control and burst into tears, kneeling in front of the coffin.
"Young Patriarch, it's all Li Hong's incompetence! I killed you!" Li Hong, a grown man, cried like a baby.
When Ye Yuan saw this scene, he also knew that Li Hong and this young patriarch were as close as brothers.
Zhu Shan also followed in at this time. But he smiled coldly when he saw this scene and said, "Li Hong! Stop acting! I'm afraid that Young Patriarch's illness was caused by you from the start, right?!"
"Zhu Shan, don't jump to conclusions! Lord Patriarch will naturally make a decision!" Li Min frowned and said.
Before Zhu Shan spoke again, an old man at the helm opened his mouth and said blankly, "Little Hong . . . you come over."
This old man was shockingly a Ninth Level Sea Transformation Realm powerhouse. It was just that his complexion was very haggard and he looked downcast.
The voice was not loud, but Li Hong's body suddenly trembled and he stopped crying too.
"Lord Patriarch, Little Hong . . . is guilty! Little Hong came late!" Li Hong said as he kneeled onto the ground with a slam, choking through sobs as he took out the Purple Illusion Blood Ginseng.
The patriarch sighed lightly but did not take the Purple Illusion Blood Ginseng. Instead, he said, "Little Hong, I'm the one who watched you and Little Yang grow up. I know your feelings. It's just that this time . . . sigh . . . tell me the process of how you guys obtained this Purple Illusion Blood Ginseng."
Li Hong nodded and recounted the course of events on how they obtained this Purple Illusion Blood Ginseng, including the matter of Ye Yuan saving them.
When Li Hong was talking, the old patriarch lifted his head slightly to take a look at Ye Yuan but did not say anything.
"This means that you all didn't delay even for a moment?"
"Patriarch, Li Yang and I regard each other as brothers. He was gravely ill and on the verge of death. How can I dare to delay at all? It's just, I didn't think that . . . I was still a step too late in the end!" Li Hong said with a face full of self-condemnation.
At this time, another elder sitting at the head snorted coldly and said, "Li Hong! This step too late of yours is so coincidental! Little Yang he just passed away last night, and you brought outsiders to the tribe today!"
Li Hong eyebrows knitted when he heard that and was just about to speak. But he heard the patriarch let out a sigh and said, "Little Hong, after Little Yang breathed his last yesterday
, the Elders Association made a decision . . ."
The patriarch did not say the words at the back. But everyone present all knew what he was going to say.
Evidently, the Elders Association already set his crime, pinning Li Yang's death all on Li Hong's head.
Li Hong s.u.c.k.e.d in deeply, stood up, and slowly walked before Li Yang's coffin, and said slowly, "Li Yang, we practiced swords together since young, stole Lord Patriarch's medicinal pills together, and fought together. I didn't think that you would leave first today! It's all this Brother's fault! I didn't bring the Purple Illusion Blood Ginseng back in time! But, I absolutely didn't betray you! The sky and sun bear witness! Li Yang, I'm coming to accompany you!"
Finished talking, Li Hong revolved essence energy and smacked a palm towards the top of his skull!
When Zhu Shan and Zhu Tian watched this scene, the corner of their mouths showed a pleased sneer.
But right when Li Hong's palm was about to touch his crown, a figure appeared beside him like a ghost.
Slap!
Li Hong's hand was hit away!
"Young Master Ji! Why did you stop me?!" Li Hong exclaimed in surprise.
Ye Yuan smiled lightly. "You can't accompany him even if you die."
Chapter 356 - Eyes Are All Blind
The shocked one was not Li Hong alone. Among the people present, most did not clearly see how Ye Yuan made his move!
Ye Yuan was clearly still very far from Li Hong. But in the blink of an eye, he already reached Li Hong's side.
His movements were actually even quicker than Li Hong hitting himself!
Only now did Li Hong know that he underestimated this Young Master Ji these few days. If Ye Yuan wanted to kill him just now, he would already be a dead man now!
But Ye Yuan's words made Li Hong rather befuddled.
"Young Master Ji, what's the meaning of your words?" Li Hong asked puzzledly.
Ye Yuan's words were rather baffling; they were without rhyme or reason, making it very hard for people to understand.
Ye Yuan smiled and said, "You're dead, but he's still alive. How will you accompany him? At that time, not only do you have to shoulder infamy for life, you make your close brother feel guilty for life. Why is there a need?"
When Li Hong heard Ye Yuan's words, he was first overjoyed but immediately smiled wryly and said, "Many thanks for Young Master Ji's comforting. It's just that Li Yang is indeed already dead. There are so many people here. They couldn't all have misjudged, right?"
Ye Yuan was just about to speak when an elderly man snorted coldly and said, "Where did this ignorant child come from?! Li Yang is already utterly without life and doesn't have the slightest hint of a living person. You actually dare to shoot your mouth off here! Can it be that so many of us Sea Transformation Realm experts' eyes are all blind?"
Ye Yuan glanced at him and said nonchalantly, "That's right. Your eyes are indeed all blind!"
Ye Yuan's words caused a hubbub. There were seven to eight Sea Transformation Realm experts inside this inner hall.
Especially the patriarch and another old man. They were both Ninth Level Sea Transformation Realm existences.
Ye Yuan was only a Second Level Crystal Formation Realm brat. To actually call a bunch of Sea Transformation Realms blind people, wasn't his gall a little overly fat?
Li Hong was greatly frightened when he heard this and hastily held back Ye Yuan, saying, "Young Master Ji, thank you very much for your good intentions. Li Hong appreciates it! Li Hong is unable to repay your great kindness in this life. I can only repay it in my next life! But Young Master Ji, take care not to offend Patriarch and the various elders because of Li Hong. Otherwise, Li Hong cannot die in peace!"
This Li Hong was silly until it was cute. But he really was a loyal person. It was just that this sort of thing like dying to show consciousness had to be done meaningfully.
"Truly laughable! If you say that Li Yang is not dead, why don't you try calling him to make him reply?!" said the old man earlier, reproaching Ye Yuan.
Ye Yuan raised his eyebrows and said smilingly, "What happens if I make him respond?"
The elderly man sneered and said, "If you make him respond, I'll kowtow to you on the spot to apologize!"
"Then very well. You get ready to kowtow and apologize," Ye Yuan said coolly.
"Hang on! What if you call and he doesn't respond?" The old man pressured.
"Want to play big, is it? Fine! I'll play with you! How about this, if I call and he doesn't answer, Li Hong and I will commit suicide together to offer an apology. But if I make him respond, you cripple your entire cultivation. Dare or not? You're already in a highly advantageous position." Ye Yuan counter-checked and said.
The old man's face changed. Self-crippling cultivation was not something to joke about. Furthermore, looking at this boy's fully confident appearance, it seemed like he really had some capabilities.
At this time, an old man who sat at the helm stood up to denounce, "Utter nonsense! The deceased is the most important. What motives do you have, boy, to talk such drivel here? Come, men, take him down!"
Li Hong's expression changed drastically when he saw the situation and hurriedly said, "Vice-Patriarch Yun, Young Master Ji is doing it all for Li Hong. That's why he did such a rash action. I beseech Vice-Patriarch Yun not to take offense!"
That vice-patriarch Yun snorted coldly and said, "You, a traitor, still have the gall to talk! Come men, take them down!"
Ye Yuan had a leisurely look and paid no notice to this. He just said coolly, "Lord Patriarch, somebody doesn't wish for your beloved son to resurrect!"
Patriarch's originally lifeless eyes were abruptly shocked awake when he heard these words. He hurriedly said, "All stop for me!"
Patriarch stood up unexpectedly and came before Ye Yuan, asking with an oppressive aura, "Is Little Yang really not dead?"
When Lan Feng saw the situation, he quickly wanted to block in front of Ye Yuan but was stopped by the latter.
"Not dead," Ye Yuan was not affected in the slightest bit and said indifferently.
"Fine! You give it a shot! But if I discover that you're using Little Yang for a joke, you know the consequences!" When the patriarch reached the latter part of his sentence, killing intent seethed.
Under everyone's astonished eyes, Ye Yuan patted the patriarch's shoulders and said casually, "Oh relax. I won't wreck my own signboard."
This sort of thing like joking with the patriarch's son, nobody dared to laugh!
Everyone felt that Ye Yuan went insane. Provoking the patriarch like this, was he really complaining that he had lived for too long?
Li Yang was clearly a dead person already. How could he possibly revive? Could it be that so many elders could not even tell a person's life and death?
Especially Li Hon, seeing Ye Yuan pat the patriarch's shoulder, his heart almost jumped out of his throat.
This was their lord patriarch! A peak Ninth Level Sea Transformation Realm existence! If he slapped a palm down, Ye Yuan would be smacked into minced paste.
Li Hong had perceived Li Yang's body long ago. It was simply without any vital energy. How could he possibly revive?
He pulled on Ye Yuan's sleeve desperately. But Ye Yuan directly ignored him.
These people naturally could not hear that Ye Yuan was guaranteeing in the name of his Alchemy Emperor reputation!
Nothing was more dependable than such a guarantee!
Under everyone's gaze, Ye Yuan leisurely went beside the coffin. Li Yang was lying inside with a peaceful look currently as if he was asleep.
From his aura, one could sense that he was a Half-Step Sea Transformation Realm expert before his death.
Li Yang's age should be more or less around Mo Yuntian's. But he already had half a foot into Sea Transformation Realm. Indeed a rarely seen genius. It was also no wonder that Li Hong was so devoted to him.
Ye Yuan breathed in deeply and shut his eyes.
"Looking at this young
man's confident look, Young Patriarch wouldn't really be able to revive from the dead, right?"
"What nonsense are you saying?! Young Patriarch's breathing has already ceased; utterly without any vital energy. How can he possibly rise from the dead?"
"But . . ."
"But what? This punk is clearly kicking up a cloud of dust! I also don't know where this wild boy came from, to actually boast so shamelessly and profane Young Patriarch's remains!"
Towards Ye Yuan's words, the Cloud Prancing Tribe's members all scoffed with upturned noses.
Li Yan looked Li Hong's sleeves and said softly, "Young Master Ji, he . . ."
Li Hong heaved a sigh and said, "Sigh, I also don't know what to do. Wait and see I guess."
Right at this time, Ye Yuan's eyes opened. A hand lightly smacked the coffin. Li Yang's corpse stood up straight as a ramrod.
Ye Yuan rose into the air, both hands swiftly prodded on Li yang's various acupoints!
With each jab, pale yellow essence energy would be sent into Li Yang's acupoint, looking extremely dazzling.
Except, Li Yang's body did not react at all. Everyone could not sense his vital energy either.
After a hundred breaths, Ye Yuan circled around in the air and arrived behind Li Yang, smacking a palm down viciously!
Only to hear a spray. A mouthful of black blood spewed out of Li Yang's mouth!
Then, he fell back down into his coffin stiffly.
Everyone held their breaths . . .
Chapter 357 - Put Them All in a Bad Mood!
"How is it? How is it? Did Young Patriarch wake up?"
"No. I still don't sense his life force! Look at this boy putting on such airs, he isn't messing with us, right?"
"Sigh! Young Patriarch was a good person, and his cultivation was powerful too. He was the indisputable choice for the next patriarch! Although I know that it's impossible, I still hoped that this boy could bring him back to life. Looks like . . ."