Chapter 99

Xiong Ba looked at the old man in front of him, nodded, and said, "Indeed, Ni Pusa is not to be underestimated as the top fortune-teller in the martial world. Your disguise is truly remarkable; no wonder I couldn't find you even with the full force of the Tianxia Society."

Ni Pusa replied, "Disguise is a minor art. How can it compare to the overwhelming martial prowess of Chief Xiong? I already know why you have come. The usual price: a thousand taels of gold."

Ni Pusa's words made Xiong Ba's lips twitch. He hadn't expected this man to still be so money-driven. "Aren't you afraid that I will kill you and take the money back once I know how to open the brocade box?" Xiong Ba said in a low, deep voice.

Ni Pusa laughed heartily, "Chief Xiong, your martial prowess is unparalleled and your righteousness reaches the heavens. You wouldn't stoop to quarreling over a thousand taels of gold with a minor character like me!"

Flattery is always welcome, especially from the top fortune-teller. Xiong Ba took out a silver ticket from his pocket and handed it to the other party.

Ni Pusa took it and smiled, "A thousand taels of gold from the Man Tuo Bank, Chief Xiong, you are indeed wealthy and powerful!" As he spoke, he took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Xiong Ba. "Follow these instructions to open the brocade box! I'll give you two free pieces of advice: some things cannot be forced."

Xiong Ba's eyes narrowed, and he shouted, "My Tianxia Society is at its peak, and the world is within my grasp! What could there be that I, Xiong Ba, cannot obtain?"

After saying this, Ni Pusa turned and left. Xiong Ba did not make things difficult for him.

Meanwhile, Xiong Ba, holding the paper from Ni Pusa, hurried back to the Tianxia Society. After all, the secret in the brocade box had haunted him for over a decade.

As soon as Xiong Ba returned to the Tianxia Society, he entered the secret chamber. Following Ni Pusa's instructions, he turned the Bagua compass on the brocade box at noon the next day.

With a series of clicks, the mechanism inside the brocade box was activated. When Xiong Ba turned the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches counterclockwise, the box emitted a crisp sound. With a clank, a beam of golden light shot out. "The dragon roars in the sky, and the wind and clouds gather in shallow waters." The erudite Xiong Ba's face changed when he saw these words. Putting all the phrases together, they read: "A golden carp is not a mere pond fish; once it meets the wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon. The dragon roars in the sky, and the wind and clouds gather in shallow waters."

"Hmph! Does this mean that my rise and fall are both due to the wind and clouds? I don't believe it! I don't believe it! The sky is vast, the earth is vast, but I, Xiong Ba, am the greatest! If heaven wants to destroy me, I will defy heaven!" Xiong Ba roared.

At that moment, a dark cloud covered the sky above the Tianxia Society's headquarters, and a strong wind blew, causing the trees to sway and the banners on the city walls to flip over.

At this moment, Wen Chouchou ran to the door of Xiong Ba's secret chamber and reported, "Chief, Young Master Qin, Young Master Yun, and Young Master Feng have returned!"

Inside the secret chamber, Xiong Ba's eyes narrowed at the news. He thought to himself, "If my rise and fall are both due to the wind and clouds, then if the wind and clouds die, I, Xiong Ba, will still be the Xiong Ba of the Tianxia Society! Hmph, I can create you two, and I can also destroy you two!"

Xiong Ba shouted at the door, "Let them wait!"

A moment later, Xiong Ba walked out of the secret chamber and into the main hall. Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng stood below. Xiong Ba's gaze had changed when he looked at Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng; they were no longer the treasures he once cherished. These two people were about to ruin his imperial ambitions. How could Xiong Ba have a good expression?

Sitting on the dragon throne, Xiong Ba's eyes scanned the faces of Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng, his gaze brightening. He seemed to have an idea and asked, "Where is Ni Pusa?"

As the eldest disciple, Qin Shuang stepped forward and replied, "Master, we had already found Ni Pusa, but on our way back, he was kidnapped by a masked expert! Please forgive us, Master!"

"Hmph! You can't even handle such a small task. How can I entrust the Tianxia Society to you in the future?" Xiong Ba shouted.

Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng, having failed their mission, all knelt on one knee and said in unison, "We are incompetent, please punish us, Master."

Xiong Ba calmed down and said, "Get up. This time, let it be a lesson to you that there are always greater people and higher heavens! Don't think that reaching the innate realm means you are invincible. This martial world is full of hidden dragons and tigers."

As he spoke, Xiong Ba slowly descended the steps, his gaze sweeping over Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng. At that moment, a clear voice came from the door, "Father? Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother have returned?" The person who entered was dressed in white, like a fairy. Her large, bright black eyes shone with a purity that was untouched by the world, and her small, cherry-red lips were delicate and lovely.

Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng instinctively turned at the sound of the voice, their eyes filled with deep affection. Even the cold Bu Jingyun's expression softened.

The cunning Xiong Ba couldn't help but know what his three disciples were thinking. He waved to the newcomer and smiled, "Kong Ci, come here and let Father see you! Oh, you're sixteen now! A young lady, and still so impulsive? How will I find you a good husband if you keep this up?"

Kong Ci's face turned red, and she pouted, "Father! I don't want to marry. I want to stay with you forever."

"Ha ha ha, what nonsense. When a man grows up, he should marry, and when a woman grows up, she should marry. I'm looking forward to holding my grandchild," Xiong Ba said, hugging his daughter.

Although Xiong Ba's eyes were on Kong Ci, his peripheral vision swept over Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng. Hearing Xiong Ba's words, the three had different expressions.

Xiong Ba had an idea and said, "By the way, the young lord of Wushuang City, Dugu Ming, came to discuss an alliance with our Tianxia Society. What do you think of Dugu Ming, Kong Ci?"

Hearing Xiong Ba's words, the usually quiet Bu Jingyun actually spoke, "Master, Dugu Ming is a complete fool! He's all show and no substance. How can our Tianxia Society ally with Wushuang City?"

Nie Feng quickly added, "Master, during our search for Ni Pusa, we did encounter Dugu Ming. He's just a fool."

"Master, what my juniors say is true. Dugu Ming is indeed useless," Qin Shuang also said.

Kong Ci, in Xiong Ba's arms, her eyes welled up with tears, "Father, I don't want to marry Dugu Ming! I want to stay by your side and serve you!"

Xiong Ba put on a helpless face and sighed, "Now, our Tianxia Society and Wushuang City each control half of the country, and our strength is equal. Recently, Dugu Ming came to propose an alliance and a marriage. I just postponed it."

Bu Jingyun looked at Kong Ci and said in a deep voice, "Two tigers cannot coexist on the same mountain! There can only be one ruler. What if we eliminate Wushuang City?"

"Then, of course, our Tianxia Society will be the sole ruler! Whoever takes Dugu Ming's head, I will marry Kong Ci to him!" Xiong Ba said, staring at Bu Jingyun, Qin Shuang, and Nie Feng.

Meanwhile, Li She had returned to the Man Tuo Manor, holding the silver ticket from Xiong Ba. Wang Yuyan and Li Yunlu watched as Li She played with the ticket. Wang Yuyan laughed, "Husband, it's our own silver ticket. No matter how you look at it, a thousand taels will never become two thousand."

"Hehe, Xiong Ba is still paying for his own mistakes! Due to our appearance, things have changed a bit, but the overall direction hasn't deviated," Li She said with a smile.

As he spoke, Li She told Wang Yuyan and Li Yunlu about Bu Jingyun's appearance.

Li Yunlu said, "It seems our appearance has indeed changed everyone's fate. Next, Xiong Ba will likely take action against Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun."

Li She hugged Wang Yuyan and Li Yunlu, "No matter what, as long as we get the dragon's blood and the phoenix's blood from Di Shitian, we can leave."

Xiong Ba's words were like seeds planted in the hearts of Nie Feng, Bu Jingyun, and Qin Shuang. Whoever takes Dugu Ming's head will marry Kong Ci. Marrying Kong Ci would make them Xiong Ba's son-in-law, and they naturally didn't know that Xiong Ba had another son and daughter, so they believed this would make them the heir to the Tianxia Society.

Nie Feng and Qin Shuang were fine, but Bu Jingyun was filled with melancholy. Xiong Ba had killed his father and destroyed his family. He joined the Tianxia Society with the hope of one day avenging his family. But after thirteen years, he had fallen in love with Xiong Ba's daughter. This made Bu Jingyun very conflicted.

Holding a jar of Immortal Drunk, he took a sip after sip. Bu Jingyun's mind was filled with the image of the clear and graceful Kong Ci. She was like a fairy, having unknowingly entered his heart.

At the age of sixteen, Bu Jingyun, Nie Feng, and Qin Shuang were all in the throes of first love, and Kong Ci's image was in their hearts.

Bu Jingyun took a deep swig of the strong 'Immortal Drunk' and smashed the jar to pieces. He stood up, breathing out a mouthful of alcohol, and thought, "No matter what, the woman I love cannot be taken by anyone else!"

Bu Jingyun walked toward the stable and saw Nie Feng and Qin Shuang.

Bu Jingyun was surprised; it seemed Qin Shuang and Nie Feng had the same idea.

"Wushuang City?" Bu Jingyun asked.

"Hehe! Let's go together," Nie Feng said helplessly. It seemed he wasn't the only one who had feelings for Kong Ci. His eldest brother and the cold second brother also loved her.

"Ah! Let's compete fairly," Qin Shuang said.

For a moment, Qin Shuang, Nie Feng, and Bu Jingyun rode out of the Tianxia Society toward Wushuang City.

Qin Shuang's departure was naturally reported to Xiong Ba. "Chief, Young Master Qin, Young Master Yun, and Young Master Feng have left," Wen Chouchou said nervously.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Xiong Ba swirled the wine in his glass, nodded, and dismissed Wen Chouchou.

In the vast hall, Xiong Ba sat alone, enjoying the feeling of looking down from the high steps. "A golden carp is not a mere pond fish; once it meets the wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon. The dragon roars in the sky, and the wind and clouds gather in shallow waters? Hmph! Nonsense! I, Xiong Ba, will defy heaven!"

People are like this; once they have power, they are reluctant to let it go. Ni Pusa's initial prophecy made Xiong Ba cherish Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun, believing that his rise to power was closely tied to them. But when he learned the second half of the prophecy, he began to think about how to destroy them. (To be continued. Please search for Piaowen.com for faster updates!)

PS: The story of Feng Yun is a bit long, but it's a turning point! Other female leads will appear after Feng Yun.