Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

Chapter 48: Who's Climbing Up to Whom?

September 9

Amid the verdant mountains, two battered figures suddenly stumbled into a secluded and hidden valley.

"Ugh!"

As soon as they landed, Qin Zi spat out another mouthful of blood, falling to one knee, his face pale as a sheet.

"Are you okay?"

The Chu Yun Princess stood nearby, unsure of what to do.

"It's just a minor internal injury. I just need some rest."

Qin Zi replied, struggling to his feet. He conjured a ball of fire in his right hand and pushed it against the towering stone wall in front of them.

"Sizzle…"

The hard stone wall began to melt like cheese under the intense heat, quickly forming a small cave.

"Let's go inside."

Qin Zi said, limping toward the cave, with the Chu Yun Princess hesitating slightly before following him in.

Qin Zi sat cross-legged, taking half a bottle of healing pills he had refined himself, then began to circulate his energy to heal.

The Chu Yun Princess stood silently beside him, watching curiously. Although she had many questions, she didn't dare disturb his healing.

Two hours passed.

Finally, Qin Zi finished his healing, his previously pale face now glowing with vitality. Not only that, but his body suddenly erupted with a powerful aura, as if his strength had just reached a new level!

"So strong!"

The Chu Yun Princess was taken aback. She noticed that Qin Zi's cultivation was still at the Pure Yang Realm, but his aura was as strong as that of a Nirvana Realm expert.

Who exactly is this guy?

This talent of his was terrifying.

After a long internal struggle, she finally asked, her cheeks slightly flushed, "Who are you, and… why did you save me?"

She had a hunch about the answer, which made her heart race with both embarrassment and nervousness.

Qin Zi looked at her and answered honestly, "My name is Qin Zi. My father is Qin Chuan, the Honorary Elder of the Seven Martial Sect."

"I see."

The Chu Yun Princess nodded. She knew of Qin Chuan; after all, the Southern King's Manor had sent representatives to congratulate him during his elevation ceremony.

But…

"Why did you save me?"

She blushed even more.

"My father asked me to protect you," Qin Zi replied truthfully. He knew that doing a good deed for no reason would only arouse suspicion.

It was better to be straightforward.

Besides, he had no ulterior motives toward the Chu Yun Princess, so there was no need to intentionally curry favor.

"Your father? I don't even know him. Why would he ask you to protect me?" the Chu Yun Princess frowned.

"My father said he was a close friend of your grandfather's," Qin Zi replied, his gaze sincere.

"So that's it…"

The Chu Yun Princess nodded in realization, but a hint of wariness flashed in her eyes.

She wasn't naive.

The Southern King's Manor, being a branch of the royal family, wielded immense power. Many sought to ingratiate themselves or establish connections.

But now, after her grandfather had been dead for many years, a so-called close friend suddenly appeared—how credible could that be?

Could this whole assassination attempt have been a scheme orchestrated by this person and his father, a ploy to gain her trust?

Of course, despite her doubts, she didn't let it show. After all, there was a chance that Qin Zi was telling the truth.

So she smiled and said, "My grandfather did like to make friends during his lifetime, regardless of age or status. He indeed had a few close friends. How did your father meet my grandfather?"

"Well… I don't really know because my father didn't say much about it. It was a long time ago, after all."

Qin Zi smiled wryly.

The Chu Yun Princess furrowed her brow slightly, a detail that did not escape Qin Zi's observant gaze.

Immediately, his expression darkened. He looked at her and asked sternly, "Are you doubting me?"

"No, of course not!"

The Chu Yun Princess stiffened, smiling awkwardly and even instinctively taking a step back.

But seeing her reaction only confirmed Qin Zi's suspicions—this woman was clearly doubting him.

A wave of frustration and anger surged within him, making him feel as though his good intentions were being utterly disregarded. He felt an even stronger sense of indignation on behalf of his father!

Who did she think she was, that she dared to suspect them of trying to climb up to the Southern King's Manor?

Absolutely preposterous! What arrogance!! If anyone was climbing up to someone, it was the Southern King's Manor trying to climb up to his father! In fact, the Southern King's Manor wasn't even worthy to be in the same league as his father!

"Hmph! You know exactly what's going on. If you doubt me, you're free to leave. I won't stop you!"

The more Qin Zi thought about it, the angrier he became. Coldly, he added, "Don't think your Southern King's Manor is so great that everyone wants to cozy up to you. This world is bigger than the Nine Suns Empire. There are people… that your Southern King's Manor couldn't even dream of associating with!"

"You… you!"

The Chu Yun Princess had never been confronted like this before. Her fiery temper flared, and she pointed at Qin Zi, her body trembling with rage.

How dare he!? She had been pampered her entire life, never once being spoken to so harshly. It was absolutely intolerable.

Finally, she huffed, lifted her skirt with both hands, and stormed out of the cave, fuming.

"Hmph! Go ahead and leave! You think I want to be stuck here with you? Don't worry, I'll send a reward to you when I return. Whether it's a reward for saving my life or sparing it, only you will know!"

Having said her piece, she left.

Qin Zi scoffed, turning his head away—As if I care!

I'm done babysitting you!

"Ah—"

But just then, a panicked scream echoed from outside, followed by the earth-shaking sounds of explosions.

"Not good!!"

Qin Zi's face changed dramatically, and he rushed out in an instant.

As much as he didn't want to deal with this woman, if she got killed, how could he explain it to his father?

Qin Zi always did what he wanted, but his father's words were absolute! Whoosh! He shot forward like lightning, following the sound, and soon spotted the distressed Chu Yun Princess.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

A barrage of attacks rained down around her, shattering the surrounding rocks and trees, narrowly missing her.

Even though the attacks didn't hit directly, the shockwaves made her blood churn, and her face turned pale.

Her luxurious dress was torn and scorched in places, and some of the debris had cut into her skin, causing her to bleed.

Not far away, five assassins floated in the air, casually attacking her as if they were toying with a helpless animal.

"Whoosh!"

One of the assassins twitched slightly, as if miscalculating, and a golden beam shot straight at the Chu Yun Princess.

"This!!"

The assassins' expressions changed, but before they could react, a figure stepped in front of the Chu Yun Princess.

"Thud!!"

There was a dull thud, blood splattered, but not far—just enough to hit the Chu Yun Princess's face…

"This…"

The Chu Yun Princess stared at the figure whose shoulder had been pierced by the golden beam, her eyes unfocused.

"What are you waiting for? Run!!"

Qin Zi turned his head, his pale face streaked with blood, making him look savage, like an enraged beast.

"Didn't you think I was trying to cozy up to you? Well, let me tell you now, no matter how powerful your Southern King's Manor is, my father and I want nothing to do with you! Now get lost!!"

With that, he pushed her away with a burst of soft yet powerful energy, sending her flying into the distance.

He then roared, his body erupting in a blazing aura as he charged at the five assassins.

"Hellfire Lotus!"

He unleashed the powerful technique his father had taught him. Though he had only learned the basics, its power was formidable.

"Boom!!"

Flames soared into the sky, covering a radius of hundreds of meters. The intense shockwave uprooted trees and sent debris flying everywhere!

This attack wasn't enough to wipe out five Nirvana Realm experts; in fact, it was uncertain whether it even hit them.

But the blinding light and shockwave created by the attack were enough to obscure the assassins' vision, buying time for the Chu Yun Princess to escape.

In the distance.

The Chu Yun Princess watched the brilliant flames and the small, dark silhouette before them, and her eyes welled up with tears.

She knew she had wronged him.

If he hadn't shielded her just now, she would have been severely injured or killed. These assassins weren't just playing games.

They were really trying to kill her! And this young man, who had treated her with blunt honesty and even scolded her, was truly risking his life to protect her.

"I can't help him, and staying here would only hold him back. I have to escape so he can fight without worry!"

She bit her lip and sped off into the distance.

"Boom!"

"Boom!!"

Back at the battlefield, Qin Zi was locked in a fierce battle with the five assassins, causing the earth to tremble and the sky to darken.

A Pure Yang Realm warrior taking on five Nirvana Realm experts was an impossible task, let alone one versus five? This battle is destined to be extremely brutal...