Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

Chapter 88: Demon or Immortal?

Everyone in the hall waited for a while before the guards brought in a man and a woman. The man was none other than Guo Jing.

He looked pale and haggard, his clothes tattered and messy, resembling a beggar. His recent time in prison had been rough; though Sha Tongtian had held back somewhat out of caution, Guo Jing had still endured significant hardship. Skipping meals had become the norm.

In comparison, the girl's treatment was far better. She was immaculate from head to toe, looking spirited and healthy, as though she were a guest rather than a captive in the Prince's manor.

Ouyang Ke greeted her politely, his voice gentle: "Miss Huang, I hope you'll come along with us later."

Huang Rong found his fake, lustful demeanor repulsive and sneered, "Ouyang Ke, not only did you poison me, but you also kidnapped me here. If my father knew, he'd make sure you die a terrible death."

Ouyang Ke chuckled, "Miss Huang, you're being overly dramatic. I only brought you here out of concern for your safety. Surely, Island Master Huang will understand my good intentions."

"Don't worry. I've already written to my uncle, and before your father arrives, my uncle, Ouyang Feng, will be here. When he arrives, I'll propose marriage to your father."

"Bah!" Huang Rong scoffed, wrinkling her nose in disdain. "Marry you? Keep dreaming! When the time comes, I'll make sure my father kills you."

Ouyang Ke didn't argue further. Had it not been for her Golden Silken Armor and his fear of offending Huang Yaoshi, he'd have dealt with this girl long ago.

Hearing their conversation, Wanyan Honglie turned to Ouyang Ke with a frown, "It seems this young lady has quite an unusual background."

Ouyang Ke cupped his hands and replied, "My Lord, this is Miss Huang, the only daughter of Huang Yaoshi, the master of Peach Blossom Island. Her status is indeed extraordinary."

Wanyan Honglie didn't respond but gave Ouyang Ke a long, thoughtful look.

Understanding, Ouyang Ke smiled, "My Lord need not worry about offending Island Master Huang. After all, my uncle is a master on par with him. If my proposal is successful, Zhao Palace may gain the support of two grandmasters."

Wanyan Honglie laughed heartily. "In that case, let me offer my early congratulations to Young Master Ouyang."

The other masters looked at Ouyang Ke with envy. Some people are born with every advantage, after all.

Wanyan Honglie then gave an order, and troops began gathering outside the palace, even pulling in the city guards from Yanjing. Soon, close to ten thousand soldiers stood in formation.

Seeing this, Wanyan Kang wanted to object, but upon seeing Wanyan Honglie's expression, he realized his father had already made up his mind.

While Wanyan Honglie treated Wanyan Kang like his own son, he couldn't quite believe there was anyone in the world who could defeat an army of nearly a thousand soldiers in formation. Not even a grandmaster should be that powerful. Wanyan Honglie assumed his son had simply been frightened.

Still, the opponent was likely a formidable master, and Wanyan Honglie, knowing his character, preferred to avoid needless conflict if possible.

However… if neither of the two captives was the person this scholar was searching for, there was no guarantee he wouldn't vent his anger on the Zhao Palace. A showdown was inevitable, and preparations had to be made.

He was curious to see how formidable this scholar, described so fantastically by Wanyan Kang, could actually be.

Surrounded by a vast army, the group soon made their way to where Chu Yang was located.

Jin soldiers surrounded Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Although they didn't know where they were headed, neither dared act rashly. In frustration, Huang Rong glanced at the dim-witted young man beside her and whispered, "Hey, big guy, how did they capture you and bring you to the Zhao Palace?"

Guo Jing replied in a low, sullen voice, "They falsely accused me of murder."

Huang Rong perked up, flashing her little tiger teeth as she asked excitedly, "Murder? Who did you kill?"

"I didn't kill anyone." Guo Jing angrily recounted the entire sequence of events. From his encounter with Hou Tonghai and the Four Demons of the Yellow River, to the ensuing battle, to accidentally involving Chu Yang, who then killed Hou Tonghai and pinned the blame on him.

Perhaps due to his sense of grievance, the usually slow-witted Guo Jing managed to recount the entire story without stumbling.

After listening, Huang Rong wrinkled her nose, thinking he was quite unlucky. But then she concluded that there must be something detestable about him too.

Huang Rong asked, "It's certainly despicable for that man to frame you, but have you considered that if he were truly a defenseless ordinary man, he might have died in your chaotic battle?"

Since it was he who dragged an innocent person into the fray, Chu Yang's act of only killing Hou Tonghai and not taking it out on Guo Jing could be seen as a clear distinction between friend and foe.

Guo Jing bowed his head and didn't speak for a long while.

Huang Rong found his honesty somewhat amusing. If it had been her, she might have simply blamed it on bad luck.

She patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "Well, we're fellow sufferers now. So maybe that counts as half a friendship. If I run into that guy someday, I'll help you give him a good kick."

Huang Rong's creamy skin and bright eyes made her smile look like that of a fairy from a painting, and Guo Jing couldn't help but stare in a daze.

Huang Rong, catching his gaze, suddenly thought of Ouyang Ke, and her expression darkened. She turned her head away, ignoring him and admiring the street scenery, showing no sign of being held captive.

Ouyang Ke, noticing their laughter and conversation, felt a surge of jealousy, and his expression grew increasingly sinister. Guo Jing seemed to irritate him no matter what.

With the army marching through, the streets were deserted, doors tightly shut. Adults hid behind their doors, peering through cracks to observe the Jin soldiers, while children were pulled further inside, mouths covered to keep them silent.

After passing a few streets, the group caught sight of the martial arts stage set up for the challenge.

At that moment, Guo Jing's mood grew animated. He'd spotted a familiar figure—the very person who'd caused him to end up in jail.

Pointing, he excitedly turned to Huang Rong and said, "Miss Huang, that's the guy I told you about!"

Huang Rong stood on tiptoe to look and was stunned when she recognized the figure. Her face shifted to disbelief and then to joy. Thinking of her recent experiences, her eyes misted over with tears.

Meanwhile, Guo Jing, still oblivious, mumbled, "Miss Huang, you said you'd help me kick…"

Huang Rong abruptly turned and glared, startling Guo Jing, then kicked him hard.

"You backstabbing rogue!"

The kick sent Guo Jing flying, dazed and confused as he landed on the ground. He didn't understand—hadn't Miss Huang just called him half a friend? How could her attitude change in the blink of an eye?

It was as though he'd kicked himself in his own rear end… Guo Jing felt wronged and was on the verge of tears.

Seeing Guo Jing take a kick, Ouyang Ke, who had previously felt jealous, clapped in delight and laughed, "Good kick, Miss Huang! Even I think this boy seems shady."

Huang Rong coldly replied, "Just wait. Soon it'll be your turn to get kicked."

Ouyang Ke: "…"

Wanyan Honglie scanned the area, searching for Bao Xiruo's figure.

Then, in the next second, he froze in shock.

He saw Bao Xiruo, but she was leaning affectionately against a middle-aged man, using a handkerchief to clean the man's face. Her face radiated happiness—the kind of expression he hadn't seen in eighteen years.

The shocking sight made Wanyan Honglie tremble, almost causing him to fall off his horse.

"Father!"

Wanyan Kang reached out to steady Wanyan Honglie's arm.

"I'm fine."

Taking a deep breath, Wanyan Honglie regained his composure.

Wanyan Kang looked at him suspiciously, noticing his father's red eyes, which resembled a ravenous wolf's.

Wanyan Kang was taken aback.

"Young Lord, is that the princess?"

Ouyang Ke, noticing the scene, pointed ahead in shock.

Wanyan Kang followed his gaze, becoming furious, "That vile scoundrel! How dare he insult my mother like this!"

Shouting, "Die, scoundrel!" he charged towards Yang Tiexin, completely forgetting about Chu Yang.

Chu Yang calmly extended a foot, tripping Wanyan Kang and sending him sprawling in front of Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo.

On his knees, it looked like he was honoring his father's birthday.

Chu Yang nodded approvingly, "A dutiful young man."

Yang Tiexin, surprised by Wanyan Kang's gesture, quickly tried to help him up, murmuring, "Though we've been separated for eighteen years, your filial piety brings me comfort."

In a fit of anger, Wanyan Kang, veins bulging with fury, pulled a dagger from his pocket and thrust it toward Yang Tiexin's chest.

In that instant, Chu Yang cast a wandless spell on the dagger in Wanyan Kang's hand, casting a "Flying Spell." The dagger flew abruptly from Wanyan Kang's grasp, clattering to the ground beside them.

Wanyan Kang stared at his now-empty hand, suddenly questioning his whole existence.

Seeing his son nearly stab him, Yang Tiexin, devastated, cried, "Kang'er, I'm your father!"

Fuming, Wanyan Kang shouted back, "I'm your grandfather!"

"Everyone's calling themselves whatever they want now?" Chu Yang turned to Mu Nianci, remarking in amusement, "Your family's hierarchy is all over the place."

Mu Nianci: "..."

Bao Xiruo stepped forward, embracing Wanyan Kang with tear-filled eyes, saying, "Kang'er, he really is your father."

Hearing his mother's words, Wanyan Kang froze as if struck by lightning.

Realizing that his wife and son of eighteen years were about to shame him, Wanyan Honglie could no longer sit idle. He ordered his soldiers to encircle Chu Yang and the others, interrupting Bao Xiruo before she could continue.

Chu Yang glanced at the surrounding soldiers, noting how similar this scene felt to one he'd seen only moments ago.

"Indeed, the only lesson humans learn from history is that humans never learn from history," he muttered, shaking his head in resignation.

Unlike Wanyan Kang, Wanyan Honglie didn't hastily command his soldiers to attack. Instead, flanked by martial experts, he rode forward to face Chu Yang. Guo Jing and Huang Rong were also brought forward.

"You must be the expert Kang'er spoke of. Today, I'll show you respect; though you've taken my wife and child as leverage, I won't hold it against you. I've brought the people you want—now I ask for the same courtesy."

Wanyan Honglie's words were polite, but his tone was cold as ice.

Ouyang Ke pushed Guo Jing forward, making Chu Yang raise an eyebrow. He hadn't expected to meet someone he knew in Prince Zhao's residence, let alone cross paths with him here.

Recognizing him didn't mean Chu Yang felt any obligation to save him. Shaking his head, he said, "Not him."

Ouyang Ke's expression tensed as he instinctively looked toward Huang Rong. Wanyan Honglie hesitated, a conflicted look on his face.

Ever since Ouyang Ke explained Huang Rong's background, Wanyan Honglie had grown increasingly reluctant to hand her over. If things went as Ouyang Ke envisioned, a marriage alliance between Western Venom Ouyang Feng and Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi would place both of them at the Zhao Palace's service—a most favorable outcome for him.

"Perhaps you should look again? Other than him, there's no other outsider in my residence," Wanyan Honglie replied with feigned nonchalance.

"Then perhaps Your Highness should reconsider. If Prince Zhao cannot produce a second person today, I'm afraid you may find it hard to leave this street."

Chu Yang clasped his hands behind his back, maintaining a courteous smile. His words instantly turned the atmosphere tense.

Being openly threatened in front of so many people, even Wanyan Honglie couldn't help but feel furious.

Meanwhile, Huang Rong, standing among the crowd, gazed blankly at her former teacher holding his own against an army, his aura unyielding. "That sly Chu actually turns out to be an expert! Keeping this from me… he's going to regret it when we get back!"