Chapter 690: Heaven and Earth Can Be Deceived

Zu'an looked at him, his brows unconsciously furrowing. He couldn't discern the man's cultivation level, which indicated the man's rank was significantly higher than his own.

In fact, there was no need to check his rank; the mere aura he exuded as he approached was extraordinary. Each step he took felt as if he was treading on one's heart, synchronizing with one's heartbeat, involuntarily eliciting a feeling of intense revulsion.

Zu'an had no doubt that if a low-level cultivator were targeted by this old man, he wouldn't even need to strike; those few steps alone would be enough to shatter their heart meridians.

"Who are you?" Zu'an asked, his body on full alert, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

"Han Fengqiu," the old man replied calmly, standing still as if his name alone sufficed and no further action was needed.

In the distance, the gap-toothed coachman frowned. "This is going to be a bit difficult."

"Is he very powerful?" the Madam's pleasant voice asked from inside the carriage.

"He's one of the four chief enforcers of the Prince of Qi's manor, a peak ninth-rank master," the gap-toothed coachman explained. "It's normal for the Madam not to know these things, as she's not part of the cultivation world."

One should know that Grandmaster-level cultivators are typically either princes or first-rank officials in the imperial court. A peak ninth-rank expert is generally the highest level a family can hope to secure as a guest elder.

Only the Prince of Qi's manor could afford such luxury. In other families, who would be qualified to have a peak ninth-rank master as a subordinate?

Wouldn't it be far more appealing for such masters to become officials and assert their dominance over a region?

Silence fell once more inside the carriage.

Just then, Zu'an's voice rang out, "Han Feng… what?"

"Han Fengqiu," the old man repeated, thinking Zu'an must have realized something and was confirming it.

"Fengqiu what?" Zu'an asked again.

The silver-haired old man's brow furrowed slightly, but he patiently repeated, "Han Fengqiu!"

However, his tone had involuntarily risen.

"Han what Qiu?" Zu'an asked, looking utterly confused, as if genuinely suffering from amnesia.

The silver-haired old man was speechless.

"You brat, are you trying to make a fool of me?!"

Rage points from Han Fengqiu +315315315...

He didn't believe a cultivator's memory could be that poor; Zu'an was clearly playing games.

Zu'an grinned, a disarmingly simple smile on his face. "You just figured that out? Your intelligence isn't much to boast about, is it?"

The silver-haired old man was utterly bewildered.

Rage points from Han Fengqiu +999999999...

A chuckle escaped from the distant carriage, but it seemed to be quickly stifled by a hand.

Earlier, when Zu'an and the Prince of Qi's heir were fighting, the commotion was so immense that no one would have noticed the Madam and coachman chatting in the carriage.

However, in the current silence, her suppressed laughter was quite noticeable.

Hearing the abrupt end to the laughter, everyone present instinctively looked in its direction.

Could there truly be such a pleasant voice in the world?

But this thought was only fleeting, quickly replaced by their individual concerns.

Zu'an thought, "Hmm, that voice is quite nice. I wonder what she looks like… But it's honorable of her to stay here; my earlier rescue wasn't in vain."

The silver-haired old man mused, "That coachman seems to be hiding his true strength. Is he an ordinary person or a master? An ordinary person wouldn't dare to stay in this dangerous place just to watch, would they?"

Murong Qinghe quietly whispered to Chu Youzhao, "Brother Chu, your brother-in-law is far too impulsive. He lacks the strength but insists on provoking a top-tier expert with his sharp tongue. That's hardly the act of a wise man."

As a young lady of the Murong family, she naturally knew Han Fengqiu's identity and was well aware of his cultivation level. A peak ninth-rank expert could virtually crush anyone below the Grandmaster level.

In truth, she didn't care whether Zu'an was smart or foolish; her main concern was that he might implicate her own Brother Chu.

The memory of Chu Youzhao recklessly rushing out earlier still filled her with lingering fear, and she absolutely did not want to experience it again.

Chu Youzhao, however, replied, "My sister once told me that Brother-in-law appears crude and reckless, but he's actually very clever. Each time, he manages to infuriate his enemies to no end while remaining completely unharmed himself. Although it doesn't quite align with the moral standards I was raised with, sometimes it's quite amusing to watch."

When her sister had first said this, her eyes seemed to sparkle. At the time, Chu Youzhao had been quite dismissive, thinking her sister was describing nothing short of a despicable hooligan.

However, after interacting with him recently, she gradually began to understand her sister's words.

This brother-in-law really had a knack for enraging people to death without suffering any consequences. Just as he did with the Prince of Qi's heir, this old man would likely follow suit.

Having witnessed the dramatic reversal moments ago, her eyes were now full of admiration, and she had complete confidence in her brother-in-law.

Han Fengqiu withdrew his gaze from the carriage. It was too ordinary; even if it held some secret, it likely wouldn't be a significant figure. The most crucial matter now was to rescue the heir.

He looked coldly at Zu'an. "Young man, you have successfully provoked my wrath."

Zu'an sighed. "Why do you and your master speak with the same haughty tone? Do you think you're some overbearing CEO?"

The Prince of Qi's heir was in so much pain that tears nearly streamed down his face. Although he had a torrent of curses he wanted to unleash upon hearing those words, he ultimately dared not speak.

He thought: *This guy is a madman, so a wise man doesn't suffer immediate losses. I'll deal with him slowly after Uncle Han rescues me!*

Han Fengqiu narrowed his eyes. Although he didn't quite understand the term "overbearing CEO," he clearly discerned the mockery in Zu'an's tone. "Young man, a moment of sharp-tongued pleasure will cost you a price you cannot afford."

"Did you just tell me to take my foot off him?" Zu'an asked coldly.

Han Fengqiu nodded slightly. "Indeed, otherwise, this old man would…"

Before he could finish, Zu'an stomped his foot down. The sound of bones shattering, mixed with the Prince of Qi's heir's pig-like shriek, utterly stunned everyone present.

Chu Youzhao looked bewildered. Even though she had confidence in her brother-in-law, the trouble he had caused this time was simply too great.

Murong Qinghe, meanwhile, looked at Zu'an as if he were already dead. Deliberately breaking the Prince of Qi's heir's knee in front of a peak ninth-rank expert? There was no hope; he was as good as dead.

The gap-toothed old man in the distance gasped. "I thought he was the type to be cunning and provocative, but I never expected him to be so unyielding. This young man is terrifying!"

The woman in the carriage frowned slightly, but ultimately said nothing.

Han Fengqiu trembled with rage. "You insolent wretch, how dare you!"

Rage points from Han Fengqiu +998998998...

Zu'an looked at him calmly. "A moment of sharp-tongued pleasure comes at a price. I'm returning those words to you. If you had spoken politely, I might have let him go. But you insisted on speaking to me in that tone, as if you were afraid I wouldn't harm him. Sometimes, I even have to wonder if you're a spy from another faction, planted in the Prince of Qi's manor, deliberately trying to get the heir killed."

Han Fengqiu's breath hitched. For a fleeting moment, he truly felt a pang of panic, fearing that the Prince of Qi might actually misunderstand.

However, he quickly composed himself. "What a glib tongue. But in this world, mere words are useless!"

The instant he finished speaking, the long sword at his waist automatically unsheathed, and an incomparably sharp sword qi locked directly onto Zu'an.

In that moment, Zu'an felt goosebumps rise all over his body from the piercing sword qi. He hastily raised the Tai'a Sword to block in front of him.

With a loud clang, he was thrown back several yards, and blood faintly seeped from the web of his hand.

Han Fengqiu was already standing beside the Prince of Qi's heir, half-crouching as he checked his condition. "Are you alright, heir?"

The Prince of Qi's heir painfully raised a finger, pointing at Zu'an, and gritted out, "I won't die. First, break every bone in that brat's body! Don't leave a single one intact!"

When had he ever suffered such severe injuries or such humiliation in his life? Now, he had only one thought: to exact revenge and make Zu'an regret ever being born.

"Alright!" Han Fengqiu stood up, his aura immediately locking onto Zu'an, who was several yards away.

Zu'an chuckled. "Heir, have you forgotten the Heavenly Dao Oath you made? We had a fair duel. If you try to retaliate using your family's power, be careful of divine retribution by lightning."

Han Fengqiu's brows furrowed slightly. If such an oath had indeed been sworn, it would be genuinely difficult for him to intervene.

Just then, the Prince of Qi's heir pointed at the scattered ice sculptures nearby and said, "Who said I'm using the Prince of Qi's power to retaliate against you? It's simply because you just killed so many imperial officers. That's a monstrous capital crime! Uncle Han is merely apprehending you according to the law."