Riluo City (Blue Phoenix Book 1) (104 page)

“The Royal Family’s army arrived as soon as you and Deng Wu escaped the city.” Rong Ming started to explain what had happened within the city since their departure. “Together with father, they led the army to the Deng and Wang family compounds, and all the elders have been taken back to the city prison and are awaiting trial.”

Wang Ju Long had a sad look in her eyes, but her mouth was still firmly closed, not uttering a single word nor acting weak. A decisiveness was visible within her eyes.

During the battle, Wang Ju Long had not participated as a fighter. Instead, she had used her time and skill to save as many of the wounded guards and mercenaries as she could, bringing them to infirmaries, which had been prepared in a few specific places within the city.

“The two of you seem to have known about these plans for quite some time,” Gao Yan said, as he glared at both Wang Ju Long and Deng Wu with furrowed brows, clearly not ready to forgive them easily for their trickery. He felt as though someone was strangling him ever since he had seen the battle between Hui Yue and Deng Wu start.

Wang Ju Long nodded her head, while Deng Wu did not even bother to answer.Instead, he just buried his face deeper into Rong Xing’s bosom, causing the young woman to blush slightly, as she awkwardly patted his head.

Having had enough of the jokes, Hui Yue went to Rong Xing and Deng Wu where he hoisted the handsome boy up by his collar, revealing the lecherous smile to Rong Xing, and proceeded to drag the pervert with him to the other side of the circle to finally start the serious discussions.

“Did you know?” Ma Kong asked silently, as he looked at Hui Yue, and the white-haired boy nodded his head solemnly. “I knew,” he said with a wry smile.

“Deng Wu and Wang Ju Long both disagreed with their elders. Although the elders were certain that the Royal Family would approve of the behaviour if the Deng and Wang families were to win the battle, it is quite obvious that that is not the case.” Hui Yue explained quietly.

“The only way to ensure that the Deng and Wang families had a chance of surviving was by showing that the new generation disapproved of the elder’s decisions. Considering this, it is still very risky what we did.” Deng Wu took over, finally serious as he explained what was to happen.

“We would have had to kill off either my father, or Ju Long’s,” Deng Wu continued with a sigh. “Although, Ju Long always lived as a boy, her father did everything he could to allow for her to stay alive by making her dress as a boy, whereas my father did everything he could to ensure that I did not live. Considering the two sides it was only fair that it was my dad who had to die.”

Looking at Deng Wu, one would never expect that what he was talking about was killing his own father, yet that was exactly what had transpired, and his face was as calm as a frozen lake, showing no traces of regret or depression.

“Why did you need Hui Yue to reveal that he has the power of a Saint ranked expert?” Ma Kong asked once more, clicking his tongue.

“We needed an attraction which would cause both sides to halt their fighting, making them stare at him instead of each other or what was behind them.” Hui Yue interrupted with a sigh. “We had nothing else which could stun and amaze King ranked experts more than the sudden appearance of a Saint ranked cultivator.”

Everyone present rolled their eyes as they realized that anyone would be distracted the moment a Master ranked cultivator turned into a Saint ranked cultivator right in front of their eyes.

“Why did you have to fight against each other at the start then?Instead of just going for it?” Gao Yan asked curiously, as he looked at the two young men, still grumbling about the fact that he had known nothing. Not even his large network had managed to obtain any information about Hui Yue’s plans.

“We had to get close,” Hui Yue sighed. “To approach them carelessly would not be smart, yet we needed a way to get there. The only thing we could think of was to fight. It would’ve made everything seem as though we were truly betrayed. It is obvious that your performance was a great help, though, and made us seem inconspicuous.”

It did indeed make sense!Yet all three: Wang Ju Long, Deng Wu, and Hui Yue had made great sacrifices for this plan to succeed.

Wang Ju Long’s entire family was on the verge of collapsing, but so was Deng Wu’s.And he had even caused the collapse with his own two hands. Hui Yue had spent years doing his best not to stand out, and still — here he was exhibiting himself as a young Saint ranked expert just for the sake of attracting attention.

“You can’t return with us anymore, can you?” Rong Xing asked with a sad voice, as she looked at Hui Yue, who sent her a small apologetic smile.

“I cannot return for some time,” he said gently. “But neither of you will stay within Riluo City for the next few years.” he reminded them.

“Ma Kong is going to be so busy expanding the Ma Family’s Insurance to the other major cities in the Taiyang Kingdom, you and Rong Ming will be busy at the main branch of the Royal Academy, and Gao Yan will most likely going to the capital together with you. Who knows?He might even be working hard on creating his own connection network in the capital, many times greater than the one he has here.”

“But what about Wang Ju Long or Deng Wu?” Rong Xing’s eyes were slightly moist, as she thought of how the group would be broken up, but it seemed that no matter how things had played out, it was something which would have happened either way.

“We will return and face the consequences with our families,” Wang Ju Long said with her head raised high, determination shining within her eyes, as she said these words.

Deng Wu nodded his head at Wang Ju Long; however, his eyes showed more worry than resolve within them..

Deng Wu felt pressured, unlike a certain someone’s aloof personality, as it was quite unlikely for him to survive the trial in spite of having done everything he could to prove that the younger generation did not see eye to eye with the elder generation. It was also important for Deng Wu to participate in the trials so that he could save as many lives as possible.

“This is it for us,” Shui Wu said, as she slowly stood up and politely nodded to each and every one of us before hugging Sha Yun, and finally, making her way back to the Magical Forest, which could be seen in the background.

Seeing Shui Wu starting to move away, Bing Niao quickly followed her example, and after a short nod, she hugged Sha Yun, too, and then flew back to the forest where she would once again barricade herself within her world of snow.

Seated back in the circle were the friends. And one after another, they stood up, bowed slightly, then moved back to their magical horses and qilins, ready to return to the city in which the trial would take place.

Deng Wu had travelled to the village by relying on Lan Feng’s strength, and he had no magical horse, so he left together with Wang Ju Long.

Standing behind alone, a nostalgic feeling swept across Hui Yue as he gestured to Sha Yun. The two slowly made their way into the magical forest, where they would look after Sha Yun’s old clearing for the next couple of weeks, while waiting for the trial to end.

Hui Yue could no longer stay at home in his own village, as his presence would bring them danger. Not only the village would be in danger, Hui Yue himself was now unable to return to Riluo City, as he knew that although his relationship with the leading nobles was good, the Royal Army was likely to look at him with unfriendly eyes. Hui Yue sighed deeply as he was swallowed up by the dense magical forest.

Hui Yue left the village without them even knowing that he had been there. Knowledge like this could bring them trouble, and Hui Yue did not wish to harm anyone with his stupidity.

Chapter 95 – The Trial

Returning to Riluo City both Wang Ju Long and Deng Wu were instantly placed in handcuffs and moved to a special jail at the City Lord’s mansion. Although the two of them were constantly under surveillance, both of them were treated gently and with great hospitality.

During their imprisonment within the City Lord’s Mansion, both Deng Wu and Wang Ju Long got visited daily by high ranked officials from the royal army who wished to hear exactly what had happened, and whether or not they had planned ahead of time the killing Deng Tsang Ying, or if it had been on impulse after seeing that they were losing.

Another subject which they often asked about was Hui Yue. Were they aware that he was a Saint ranked cultivator? Was he using some kinds of divine technique to stay young rather than aging? Was he from around here?

The royal officials brought with them truth potions and although these were gentle potions they still made it impossible for the two to lie, however when the official heard that they had made a blood oath to never tell his secrets he instantly stopped asking questions.

The official never noticed that only Wang Ju Long mentioned the blood oath and that Deng Wu was keeping quiet, looking at him with attentive eyes.

“He was born in a small poor village which resides at the outskirts of the Magical Forest.” Lord Rong Liang said straightforward as soon as he was asked. He would never withhold information from the royal family, and all questions asked were answered to the best of his ability.

“I met him the first time when he was five years old, and although I felt something odd from him I never expected that he was a Saint ranked expert.”

“No, it was definitely not fraud. The young Hui Yue was using Wu Wei! Although you can fake an aura, it is impossible to fake Wu Wei. Only those who possess access to the upper dantian can refine Wu Wei.”

“I am sorry that I couldn't record what happened. He was fighting against the young Deng Wu, constantly inching closer to us before he suddenly let his aura explode forward, after which he went to protect the young Deng Wu and they rushed away together.”

“No I am not aware where he might be. He is no longer in Riluo City. I sent someone to question his home village with truth potions, but all they said was that they had not seen him for a whole year.”

“I gave him an erased past for the sake of keeping the village safe. Although they are not able to produce a lot in taxes they have assisted me throughout the years, and I felt that it a good way of returning their kindness.”

Rong Liang kept nothing back, and the royal officials recorded everything after which they too went to Hui Yue’s village only to find that he had not been there for a long period of time.

The trial went on for five consecutive days and ended with all the elders and family leaders of the losing fraction being sentenced to death.

Deng Wu and Wang Ju Long survived, yet both of them were banished from Riluo City, due to their negligence. Although they each had played a major role in the battle for Riluo City, it was obvious that they had been aware of what was happening long before the actual fight. Knowing such information hey were expected to notify the City Lord about it. .

Wang Jingshen ended up as the new head of the Wang family, while the Deng family went to the child of one of the elders. Both Deng Wu and Wang Ju Long were allowed to stay within the city for a short amount of time, as they wished to witness the executions of their family members.

Having the elders and the family leader all executed would be a major blow to any family, even more so when they belonged to the Great Hundred Names, but they were able to get through it precisely because of their centuries old history and reputation.

The families had wealth and although both families had to pay a heavy fine for their actions, this was nothing compared to the wealth that the Deng family had accumulated throughout the years.

The Wang family was slightly worse off, as they previously had money issues, however as a family with history they still owned a great deal of land, which helped them pay the fine. After paying their debts Wang Jingshen managed to keep their family amongst the nobles of Riluo City, although no longer as prominent as before.

Wang Jingshen had grown up in the shadow of his younger sister, but now it was finally his time to shine, and he proved that he had long since learned how to do well as a family leader.

The uprising within Riluo City was an event which shook the entire Taiyang Kingdom. Rumors started to float around about a new Saint ranked expert and even a child at that, but as the rumors started to spread they also quickly died out again.