Chapter 6 – Hai Clan Main branch!

“Scummy old fart…” Hai Yun mumbled.

After nearly an hour the flaming pillar faded, Elder Nangong was already waiting upfront. Naturally no one else dared to block his sight. The moment the flaming light vanished he began to speak.

“Child, would you like to become my legacy disciple?” Elder Nangong asked gently.

At this time, the Red-white flames were still burning vigorously on Qin Cheng’s body. The ground around her was completely blackened. Finally as the flames died down, a tiger patterned dress was revealed. On her back were two bright red feathered wings, giving her the appearance of a flaming angel.

As her eyes retained the red-white flame pattern around her pupils, her looks appeared to reach a whole new level of beauty. As she intently gazed at Hai Yun, he felt his entire body shiver. It was like she was peeping into his very soul. Right when he felt the fiery aura about to penetrate into his consciousness, he felt a huge boost of vitality come in and bolster his mental defenses.

“Whew, that was a close one. That stupid cat is almost at the same level of strength as this old god in my weakened state!”

“Thanks old man,” Hai Yun mumbled as his head continued to spin, however he controlled his motions and was able to maintain his image with sheer will power. If the old fart hadn’t intervened right now, Hai Yun would probably have had all his secrets revealed under that Samsara Flame tigress’ vision. He couldn’t help but regret calling him ‘scummy old fart’ just moments before. If he truly had meant what he had said about using another successor, letting him die now would have been of no consequence…

“Thank you Brother Hai.” Qin Cheng calmly stated. Although she was incredibly confused as to where this new power came from, she knew she had almost crushed her fiancé’s soul, but how was he able to defend himself? It was only after giving him a few more glances did she turn her head towards Elder Nan Gong.

“Elder Nan Gong, I would be delighted to become your disciple, as for legacy disciple, I do not believe this lowly one has the audacity to ever hope for something of this sort.”

A legacy apprentice would be a master’s very last apprentice. One they would train with everything they had, all their secret techniques which they wouldn’t teach their regular disciples. The legacy disciple was meant to use all their masters teachings and bring it into a new light, the greatest pride of a master, was typically their legacy disciple! To be offered this position from someone like Elder Nan Gong from the Holy Music pavilion, was almost the same as becoming a candidate for its future head!

Anybody else might be glad to, in fact if Qin Cheng truly had a holy beast physique, then perhaps she too would have agreed to it. But with a soul fusion with a Samsara beast, she had gained many memories of its previous life, and so could not help but look down upon the Holy Music Pavilion as being far too small. In fact she only accepted so she could have a backer to train safely under.

In the meantime, the Patriarch of the Qin family was beaming with smiles, as many people gave approving nods to the Qin clan, planning how to get closer.

But no one in the crowd paid attention to the ugly faces of Hai Cang Qiong and Yun Dong Qing. This was clearly a sign that the Hai Clan would not become the sovereign of the Western Sea territory, for how could the Qin family possibly want to keep their tremendously talented Qin Cheng married to their Hai Yun? She would probably travel outside and meet a more powerful young man to her liking and break off the engagement with Hai Yun! And even if they don’t do it, there would be a plethora of powers pressuring them into cancelling it themselves!

“Good, whether or not you choose to become my legacy disciple I will let you decide that yourself in the future. Come now apprentice, in 5 days, we shall depart and return to the sect.” elder Nan Gong beamed.

“Elder, if this lowly one could possibly implore you, could you please wait for 8 days?” Hai Yun cut in, bowing down on the floor.

The crowd was stunned for the third time now, but instead of shock, they only snickered.

“Does this little rascal actually still dream that he could have talent comparable to miss Qin?”

“Just who does this boy think he is, Miss Qin’s talent can only be said to be heaven-defying, you all saw that tiger shade! What is a tiger if not the king of the mountain! And that tiger was so powerful it changed the color of the sky!”

Although these people did not understand what kind of phenomenon had been inspired by Qin Cheng, they knew it meant she had heaven defying talent for Elder Nangong to want to make her his legacy disciple. For Hai Yun to think he could impress them after this show, wasn’t this just asking to lose face?

“Yun’er don’t be hasty!” Yun Dongqing called out.

Hai Yun chose not to respond and instead kept his head lowered.

“Yun? Is your name Hai Yun, Hai as in Sea and Yun for Gold?”

“Indeed, this young one is called Hai Yun.”

A tinge of sadness flashed through elder Nan Gong’s eyes.

“You pathetic twerp, do you think you can simply ask my master to stick around for an extra 3 days?!?! Even if the head of a peak level power asked, my master would still leave in 5 days.” The youngest disciple interjected before Elder Nan Gong could reply. He was also the one who had spoken earlier. His name was Li Jianyi.

“Twerp? Do you even know what that word means? And for your information, I wasn’t even talking to you! Why don’t you wait for 8 days when I awaken, and then let us see if you have the guts to call me a twerp!” Hai Yun’s statement echoed flatly, bringing about more snickering from everyone. Wasn’t he having a little too much confidence in himself?

“If my future wife could awaken her physique and turn the sky red for 50 li around, then no matter how far away you can get in 3 days, you will still be able to see the phenomenon on the day I awaken. Don’t be sorry that you missed it!” And with that, Hai Yun did not wait, but with a polite bow to Elder Nan Gong, avoiding the hateful gazes of the crowd he departed.

“Ah, brother Hai, it seems your son also has your same attitude,” Qin Wentian sighed.

Hai Cang Qiong raised his eyebrow but made no further comments. Before today, Qin Wentian would always refer to Hai Yun as his future son-in-law, not “Brother Hai’s son”. Sensing his displeasure, Yun Dong Qing intertwined her hands with Hai Cang Qiong.

“Cang Qiong, he is our son. No matter what, if we don’t believe in his potential then no one will,” she whispered into Hai Cang Qiong’s ear. Turning her head to face the crowd she continued, “And as for our friends in the Qin Clan, thank you for having us over. Please remember that our son is also having his awakening ceremony in 8 days, naturally you wouldn’t forget the awakening of your future son-in-law!” she smiled while stressing each of her last syllables. With that, the couple turned and followed Hai Yun out.

Behind them the remaining members of the Hai family followed them out with their farewell greetings.

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“What an interesting fellow! I recall your disciple was also this arrogant wasn’t he, elder brother. No, he was not arrogant, you would always say he was self-confident! Well, let me see if this Hai Yun can possibly match that one!” a tinge of nostalgia flashed in Elder Nan Gong’s eyes as he looked up into the sky.

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As the Hai Family departed, many people let out sighs of relief. One person in the crowd though was narrowing his eyes. This was none other than the Qin clan’s patriarch, Qin Wentian’s father Qin Wu. Before today, he had never even dreamt of having his Qin clan take control of the Western Sea region, but with Qin Cheng’s awakening, it became a gift from heaven!

Hai Clan manor – Hai Yun’s courtyard.

“Yun’er, at the awakening ceremony you said you were poisoned a few days ago! What was all that about?” Hai Yun’s mother asked with her brows furrowed. “If cousin brother Yun Duo touched so much as a single strand of hair on my sons head, let’s see if anyone from the Yun clan lets him off!”

“Don’t worry about that too much mother, I was being poisoned by talent eroding poisons every day for the last 3 years,” Hai Yun stated in a very matter of fact manner.

“What?!?!?! Everyday… for the last 3 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!” although Yun Dongqing had no idea what talent eroding poisons were she understood what poison meant.

“Indeed, so you don’t need to worry about me, none of them were aimed at my life, only to destroy my talent, but thanks to the mysterious senior I ran into the other day, all 2,376 poisons have been expelled and all the future ones for the next 10 years have been neutralized before administration!” Hai Yun explained. It wasn’t exactly a total lie, since he did meet the ‘Almighty Divinity who is my Benevolent Master’, just not 3 days ago. And the poisons were actually incapable of harming him for life as he had nearly 5 gallons of the ‘10,000 poison revelation’ elixir of which only a single drop would be sufficient to deal with anything these people in the Western Sea region and much of the mainland could use.

As the Hai Family departed, many people stared in mockery. One person in the crowd though was narrowing his eyes. This was none other than the Qin clan’s patriarch, Qin Wentian’s father Qin Wu. Before today, he had never even dreamt of having his Qin clan take control of the Western Sea region, but with Qin Cheng’s awakening, it became a gift from heaven!

“Who was it? Who’s been poisoning my son?!?!” Yun Dong Qing was incredibly flustered at the moment. Under their very noses, her son had been having his talent corroded by poisons for 3 straight years! How could any mother not be furious! She chose not to ask much about the senior, because she knew very well what level one needed to be in order to dispel so many poisons. Instead she simply took this seniors arrival as blessing, otherwise how would they have even known about such an event. So how could she dare to question her benefactor?

“Dong Qing my wife, can you bring our son to father’s pavilion?” Hai Cang Qiong’s voice called out interrupting her thoughts.

Hmmm… what does grandfather need from me? Was I too rude to elder Nangong? Hai Yun wondered, but still obediently followed his mother to his grandfather’s pavilion.

Hai Yun’s grandfather was a well-built man in his early 50’s and most of his hair was still not greying. If it weren’t for his wrinkles, then one could mistake him for someone at least 10 years younger. Right now this man was seated on a cushion cross legged with his eyes closed. As Hai Yun entered, his old eyes, slowly opened revealing a pensive look.

“Yun’er come over and sit with grandfather,” he called.

Hai Yun quietly went over and sat on his knee. Although it was quite awkward for Hai Yun, with the mentality of a late teen, he still had to do it, because according to his memories, the old Hai Yun used to still do it at this age.

“What requests does Grandfather have for me?” Hai Yun smiled.

Hai Yun’s grandfather’s name was Hai Duan. Because apparently, his mother had been the last descendent of the deceased Duan clan, hence her only son was given 2 surnames.

Hai Duan let out a sigh of exasperation. “Yun’er, as you’ve been getting older, you’ve become more… brazen… so I want you to explain a few things to grandfather today, is that ok?”

“Of course, anything grandfather asks, Yun’er will answer to the best of his ability!” Hai Yun nodded repeatedly.

“Very well, then grandfather won’t hold back. How did you get poisoned? Who was the mysterious senior you talked about in the ceremony? And why on earth did you speak so rudely to Elder Nan Gong?”

Hai Yun chuckled silently. Each of these questions was well within his expectations. “I do not know who was responsible for poisoning me, but I do know that they had no intent to kill me, only to destroy my talent. The mysterious senior was exactly that, mysterious so I do not know much about him myself, and as for the last matter, I never spoke rudely to Elder Nangong. I spoke to him with the greatest amount of respect. I only disrespected his apprentice because he disrespected me, but I think I made it quite clear that I was not insulting Elder Nan Gong as his teacher.”

Hai Duan gazed intently at Hai Yun, but found nothing out of place. Nothing seemed to be off, but why did he feel like Hai Yun was speaking differently? In the end, when his ponderings revealed nothing he could only sigh, “Yun’er, although grandfather supports everything you did today, but I need to warn you of things you haven’t taken into consideration, so you can be prepared for the future.”

Although he only had a faint premonition of something being off, Hai Cangqiong and Yun Dongqing were also bewildered by the intellect their son displayed. However because they thought this was a joyous matter neither of them brought it up.

“As you have probably wondered, there are many more reasons to why the Western Sea region was willing to let our Hai Clan lead it. One of those is because the Hai clan in this region is but a mere branch family of the true Hai Family. The main Hai Family once had a disgraceful descendent, he was too weak in his profound arts, thus he was thrown out. He landed up here and founded the Hai family in this Southern Sea area. After many decades of hard work, our Hai Family had risen to the top of the Western Sea area, thus the main family took notice of us and ‘invited’ us to become an official branch family.

Although I was against this, the remaining elders of our family were not. They fully supported it and thus we became a branch family of that Hai Clan. To compromise, they stated that should we ever become the overlord of the Western Sea region, then we will be re-invited to the main branch of the Hai Clan.

It was because we were able to promise the riches of Main branch clansmen that there was not so much opposition to us becoming the overlord when your father defeated Qin Wentian, and I defeated Qin Wu. However, with the phenomenon Qin Cheng inspired today, the main branch of the Hai family has most likely been alerted.

Nowif, this is a major if, as I myself am not too sure what exactly happened, but it seems to be something incredibly rare. Thus, it is very likely that they will send someone over here to use her marriage engagement with you, as a means to force her into marrying someone of the main branch.

Although elder Nangong will probably be able to defend her, you must remember that the exact phrasing of the marriage engagement was that the female holding the direct bloodline of the Qin clan patriarch would marry the heir of the Hai Clan patriarch. At best, Elder Nangong will only be able to delay the marriage, but not be able to prevent the engagement.

Originally, we never really cared about the exact wording of the agreement, as no one had expected such a scenario. But if the Main branch sends an heir of their patriarch, then by all technicalities, she could marry him to fulfill the engagement!”

Hai Yun was greatly alarmed when he heard this.

“Boy, you better make sure that girl remains your fiancé! Without her, you won’t be able to cultivate the deity tiered art I have prepared for you,” Hai Yun’s ‘Almighty Divinity who is my Benevolent Master’ mumbled.

“Even if that wasn’t the case, I would still make sure she becomes my wife! But this situation is a little tricky, in order to make their claims to a marriage with her more legitimate, they might try to kill me…”

“Grandfather, how many days will it take for the Hai Clan’s main branch to arrive?” Hai Yun asked.

“It should take 3 days for then to get the message, and probably 3 days to reach here, if they use magical steads.”

So I need to just survive for 2 days eh! This will certainly be easy! Hai Yun smiled. Since there were only 8 more days till his awakening which would definitely be on par with Qin Cheng due to his ‘Almighty Divinity who is my Benevolent Master’. So with them taking six days, he only needed to survive for 2 afterwards. If an elder from his previous life had seen this smile, they would definitely pre-order a gravestone for the person in question.

The two people you should never offend, are assassins and alchemists. Because if you get poisoned, only an elixir might be able to cure you, and if you pissed off an alchemist and they use strength increasing elixirs against you, only an assassin might be able to protect your life… This saying was something frequently told to very many disciples of the peak powers. However the peak powers had chosen to not heed their own advice, they certainly couldn’t blame others for what was heading their way…