Chapter 689: Why?

"What's going on?" Chu Youzhao's eyes went wide. She had just seen the Prince of Qi unleash a powerful attack, feeling her brother-in-law was in mortal danger, but in the very next second, it was the Prince himself who was struck.

Murong Qinghe was equally stunned. The sudden turn of events was beyond her imagination, and she instinctively glanced around. "Is there some master secretly assisting?" she wondered.

She had noticed the large water ball appearing from the side; could a powerful water elementalist be hiding nearby?

From a distance, the gap-toothed coachman also cast a sharp, yet bewildered, gaze around.

Zu An walked over to the convulsing Prince of Qi. As he watched him, he couldn't help but inwardly marvel, "Mastering science and physics truly makes one fearless in the world."

The moment he saw lightning emanating from the Prince, Zu An immediately summoned Lan Fu. He gathered water from various nearby sources—like garden ponds and large household water jars—and secretly formed a massive water ball, waiting for the opportune moment.

He hadn't awakened water elemental abilities, so he couldn't manipulate water in complex ways or combine it with elemental energy to create elaborate attack skills. However, using Lan Fu simply to douse someone was well within his capabilities.

He had waited to deliver a shocking blow when his opponent was convinced of victory, making him realize that even in the world of cultivation, the laws of physics still apply.

"Weren't you going to punish me with lightning? Why aren't you doing it now?" Zu An taunted, gazing at the charred, smoking, and burnt-smelling body before him.

The Prince of Qi twitched his fingers, as if attempting to summon lightning, but only faint blue arcs sparked before his entire body convulsed with paralysis once more.

"Oh, still trying to electrocute me?" Zu An chuckled, stepping directly onto his chest. "Who was it just now who claimed that everything else was meaningless in the face of absolute power?"

The Prince of Qi had never endured such humiliation as having someone step on his chest. He struggled desperately, but his entire body was paralyzed by the electric shock. What should have been a fierce struggle ultimately dissolved into only unconscious twitches.

Rage value from Zhao Zhi: 999,999,999...

In truth, if he hadn't been a lightning elementalist, anyone else struck by that much lightning would have been utterly cooked by now.

It was remarkable that he still clung to life, though the cost would likely be several months of recovery.

Zu An looked down and couldn't help but be amused. The Prince of Qi's once flowing long hair now stood on end, and his luxurious attire had been blasted to ash by the lightning. Initially, the clothes barely retained their original form, but as he writhed, the charred remnants completely disintegrated, revealing his blackened, electrocuted body underneath.

"Ah!" Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe, who had been watching, were startled and quickly averted their gaze, their hearts pounding.

Murong Qinghe, confused, glanced at Chu Youzhao beside her, thinking, "I'm a woman, so it's understandable for me to be embarrassed to look, but what are you so afraid of?"

Chu Youzhao's face was flushed, and a hint of confusion furrowed her brow. She was currently pondering a question: "Why is the Prince of Qi's... different from Brother-in-law's?"

It's so small...

Who exactly was the problem with?

Zu An now looked down, three inches below the Prince of Qi's navel, a flicker of disdain in his eyes. "Is that all?"

However, with several young women present, he found it inappropriate to make a direct comparison. Instead, he gestured with the tip of his sword nearby. "It's all charred," he remarked. "How about I just cut it off for you?"

The Prince of Qi was scared out of his wits. Other injuries could slowly heal, but if *that* were severed, it would be incredibly difficult to reattach.

As the saying goes, flowers may bloom again, but *that* doesn't get a second chance at youth.

His earlier arrogance evaporated, and his tone instantly softened: "It's a bit crispy, yes, but with careful use, it should still function."

Zu An smiled. "It's like this, and you still hope to use it? You'll be lucky if you can still urinate with it."

The Prince of Qi forced a smile, but his heart seethed with furious rage. *This bastard has humiliated me so profoundly; one day I will tear him limb from limb!*

Rage value from Zhao Zhi: 1,024,102,410,24...

Seeing the continuous surge of rage values, Zu An's expression turned cold. "Are you cursing me in your mind right now?"

"N-no..." The Prince of Qi's expression changed. He wanted to say something ingratiating to ease the atmosphere, but given his status, he had grown up accustomed to receiving compliments. He had never flattered anyone else, and now he found himself utterly incapable of fawning.

"Oh, right, I remember now," Zu An said, an expression of sudden realization dawning on his face. "Someone just said they wanted me to sever my own limbs and kowtow in apology, didn't they?"

"You misunderstood, that's not what I meant," the Prince of Qi hastily explained. He thought, *No matter what, I must get through this immediate crisis. Once my people from the Prince of Qi's residence receive word and arrive, I'll make this guy pay back ten times, a hundred times over!*

"So you're saying I'm deaf?" Zu An said coolly.

The Prince of Qi was speechless.

He hadn't expected such a peculiar line of reasoning from the other party, but he quickly realized Zu An was deliberately provoking him, and any answer he gave would be twisted.

He took a deep breath. After a brief moment of panic, his expression calmed. "You don't need to posture here. Do you really dare to harm me? I am the Prince of Qi, and also an Imperial Guard Commander of the court. If I suffer even the slightest injury, you will face ten, even a hundred times the retaliation."

Zu An frowned. "Your identity is indeed troublesome, especially your father."

A sneer of contempt appeared on the Prince of Qi's charred face. "Good, you're sensible enough. Help me up and escort me back to the Prince of Qi's residence, and I can let bygones be bygones concerning today's events."

Yet, in his heart, he sneered, *Let bygones be bygones? Impossible!*

Once he returned to the Prince of Qi's residence, he would make Zu An suffer a fate worse than death.

Zu An sighed. "Your father is indeed a bit troublesome, but I'm someone who responds to kindness but not to threats. I have a short temper, so why provoke me?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he stepped directly onto the Prince's knee. A crisp, sickening crack instantly resounded.

Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe, who had been secretly watching the commotion, were dumbfounded. This guy actually dared to lay a hand on the Prince of Qi? Did he have any idea of the consequences?

Chu Youzhao was jolted from her initial joy at her brother-in-law's turnaround, her heart now completely consumed by worry.

The gap-toothed coachman in the distance also frowned, muttering, "This kid is too reckless. He's completely enraged the Prince of Qi; I'm afraid no one will be able to protect him now."

Silence fell inside the carriage; no one knew what the madam was thinking.

"Ahhh!" The street filled with the Prince of Qi's screams. He was a mix of pain and fury. "You dare to injure me, you dare to injure me!"

Rage value from Zhao Zhi: 1,024,102,410,24...

Aside from the man brandishing a sword near his lower abdomen, he hadn't been particularly alarmed, knowing Zu An wouldn't truly harm him. But the searing pain in his knee now made him question everything. *Does this guy not fear my father? Is he insane or just plain stupid?*

Zu An curled his lips. "Did the lightning just damage your brain? Haven't I already injured you? And you still ask if I dare? Since you're so unclear, I'll make it even more obvious."

No sooner had he finished speaking than his foot landed on the Prince's other knee.

"Stop!" Murong Qinghe cried out, greatly alarmed by the sight, and rushed over to intervene.

Zu An gave her a cold glance. "Was the beating you received last time not enough?"

Murong Qinghe instinctively recoiled a few steps, a blush creeping up. She remembered the last time he had pinned her spear, and the bizarre sensation of warm currents coursing through her body; she certainly didn't want to relive such a humiliating moment.

Nevertheless, remembering the Murong family's connection to the Prince of Qi, she mustered her courage and said, "You cannot harm him."

"Why not?" Zu An replied dismissively.

Murong Qinghe bit her moist lips. "Because he is the Prince of Qi, of incredibly noble status. If anything happens to him, the entire capital will be plunged into significant turmoil. Is that enough?"

"Not enough!" Zu An declared, his face expressionless. Just as he was about to press down, a sudden alarm flared within him, and he looked up towards the adjacent street.

At the end of the street, an old man appeared. His hair was completely silver, yet his face was remarkably smooth, devoid of wrinkles. He walked slowly towards them, his entire being seemingly integrated with the world around him. Though he had only taken a few steps, his figure instantly halted several yards away. "I advise you to remove your dirty foot," he said.