Chapter 557 Summer Storm
Chapter 557 Summer Storm
He still spoke in a calm voice, but now with a troubled tone, as it seemed that hm being recognized by Feng Yi was a problem.
But as soon as he raised his hand, still in slight hesitation over whether to act, he froze in place as a sharp sense enveloped him, as if a sword was pointed in between his eyebrows.
His head turned slightly to the distant Fantian Kingdom's capital, in the direction Feng Yi recognized as the mansion, and her lips slightly curled up.
'Heh, I guess Sister Ling didn't joke around when she said that as long as I am within visible distance of the city her sword would reach anyone who tries to harm me'
She slightly wryly chuckled, as her laughter at the time Ye Ling told her that came to her mind.
She truly did not think that Ye Ling was speaking very literally, instead taking her words as simple encouragement and meaning that she would be able to arrive if she was in trouble.
Now she understood, that Ye Ling's sword in a very straightforward sense reached this place while the sword master sat in the mansion.
"Tch, I thought there wasn't supposed to be anyone capable of handling me here at this moment..."
The Azure Eagle's voice changed as now there was both a hint of urgency and frustration in it as a cloud covered the sun above, shadow enveloping the green plains as the subtle wind became a bit stronger, the grass swaying a bit more intensely.
"Hahaha, you thought you lured the Tiger away from the Mountain and can roam around it freely? Hahaha, it seems your lesson in the immensity of Heaven and Earth failed...
Or, should I say you gave it to yourself?"
General Feng laughed loudly as the man in white froze, not taking any chances.
The feeling he got from that distant threat was simply far too dangerous and palpable.
His superior instincts as a genuine Spiritual Beast screamed at him that any move toward the red-haired woman, or rather any of the people before him, would mean his immediate and certain death.
The pressure he exuded gradually subsided until the army of the Feng House stood straight again, their faces full of defiance.
The temperature in the shadow slightly dropped, relieving the insufferable heat from before, and the winds blew even faster.
"You should count your blessings at being protected at this moment. But mark my words, you will regret mocking me one day"
The Azure Eagle's tone was calm again, but his words expressed his mood, as General Feng's last phrase seemed to have cut deep.
"Counting blessings, huh? I suppose I should, but then again, shouldn't you do the same?
Though, I suppose there's no blessings for you since it is only a matter of time now.
Your luck is only temporary, and mine is permanent, and it all revolves around one man"
General Feng chuckled, his words somehow sounding eerie to the Azure Eagle as the weather seemingly mirrored that eerie feeling, stormy clouds appearing on the very edge of the Northern sky and very rapidly approaching as the wind coming from that direction picked up, bringing in colder air.
"Elder Zhao is a reasonable man, and wouldn't go to war with us because of this small squabble, especially before the matter with Alchemy Tower is over"
He seemingly made his conclusions, speaking with a clear derision to the vague threat in General Feng's words, and trying to shake off the slightly sinister feeling, no doubt caused by the sudden change in the weather, however...
"Hahaha! Sometimes ignorance is a bliss, and sometimes it is a curse! Did you really think I spoke about Elder Zhao?"
General Feng's genuine laughter full of amusement unnerved the veiled Azure Eagle, the latter slightly clenching his fist.
More clouds formed in the skies above, slowly turning the sunny day into a gloomy one even before the clouds came from the North.
"G-Grand Ancestor..."
Meanwhile, Song Guanyu started to smell something burning, and it sure felt to him like it was his own flesh. The sudden change from the shiny brightness to the gloom shadow of the growing clouds affecting the general atmosphere.
Feng Yi seemed to notice something, as her face first expressed surprise, and then a glimmer of joy appeared in her eyes, unnoticed to any of the people around.
*Crackle* *Rumble, rumble*
A flash of lightning up in the skies lit the plains with a pale, cold light instead of the warm and gentle sunlight, only adding to the gloom of the atmosphere rather than relieving it, the thunder coming after it reverberating through the plains.
"Heh, a Summer Storm huh?"
General Feng raised his eyebrows in surprise, looking up at the sky. It wasn't a particularly unusual phenomenon, rather, the particular weather conditions of the region made it quite a common one a bit further South, but it seemed particularly sudden this day, especially in this part of this continent in which it was usually less spontaneous.
Though it reflected the situation of the other side quite accurately, so he simply chuckled while Feng Yi's lips curled up at his words.
Song Guanyu also threw a quick look at the sky.
The situation progressed far too differently from what he anticipated.
The fact this whole delegation, sent out in secrecy and despite any probable opposition, was possible in the first place was only due to the backing of the Azure Eagle ancestor who stood beside him.
It was also due to his presence concealed within the delegation that gave Song Guanyu the confidence to approach Song Lingfei again, as he knew that he could not oppose Wu Long with his own strength, or even with the strength of the Empire.
However, the current behavior of the veiled man sent off huge alarm bells in the Imperial Prince's mind.
"We cannot win here, we should retreat"
The Grand Ancestor turned to Song Guanyu with a serious tone of voice, as the latter gulped.
They looked ridiculous now, but he understood that the way this was going appearances and pride were the least of his worries.
Since there could be later repercussions of this failed visit, which would have been bearable had they succeeded, but were quite troublesome now.
'Damn it!'
His teeth clenched as he turned one last desperate look toward the city which held his coveted goal.
He was so close, far closer than he ever was.
'This is all wrong! How is this all so wrong?!'
*Crackle!* *Boom!* *Rumble, rumble*
He screamed inside as another bolt of lightning flashed, this time striking somewhere in the distance instead of staying in the sky.
He then turned his gaze to Song Duo, who was supposed to be Wu Long's victim, thus giving the Azure Eagle the just cause to kill him.
He correctly predicted that the lustful young Prince picked trouble with Wu Long's woman, but now his plans were crumbling, not reaching that crucial one step away from success.
The fact General Feng was threatening the Azure Eagle with an unknown man was also unnerving, as he could not fathom who could be another backer behind Wu Long.
"Turn around, we're leaving"
Song Guanyu finally signaled to the convoy, swallowing the desire to curse out loud.
At the same time, Song Duo was grinding his teeth looking at the heartily laughing General Feng. He understood that he was no match for him. Though for him the only reason was difference in their cultivation.
"Remember me, old man! Once I reach Core Formation, I-..."
He spat through clenched teeth, but was interrupted midway by another burst of laughter, this time coming from Feng Huan.
"Hahaha! You're still speaking as if you have future?!
Don't you get it? Your life's over now, and there's no one who can save you.
The moment you spoke disrespectfully... no, the moment you even looked at my Sister that way you became a dead man, let alone the words you spoke"
*Patap* *unnn~*
A droplet of water fell onto the tip of General Feng's spear, making the metal produce a slight humming sound.
*Shhh~*
And then a light rain followed, showering the green plains, the wind still picking up and the temperature rapidly dropping.
'What is this eerie feeling?'
The Azure Eagle raised his head covered by a white cloth up, as a sense of unease grew within him. Even though the sword he felt earlier seemed to have faded, the feeling of danger remained.
'No... it grows...'
He noted with growing worry as he observed the skies turning darker and darker, with flashes of lightning appearing here and there in the distant skies.
"Huh? Do you intend to turn the entire Azure Eagle Empire against you?"
Song Duo, at this time spoke with ridicule as he took Feng Huan's words as a personal threat, the now moderate rain that grew from he mild one before drenching him as he gripped his halberd, still sour about his loss.
"Come on, Duo'er, we should go"
His uncle, spoke as now even people with less sharp senses than the Azure Eagle started feeling the growing unease, pulling his nephew by the forearm while the latter pushed forward with a menacing face.
"Duo'er!"
His grandfather spoke as well, taking his forearm from the other side.
"But Grandpa! That worm is trying to intimidate me!
He wasn't even the one to defeat me! And what if I said something about that hoe! She'll be-..."
His hurt pride and competitive nature were clouding his senses, as he failed to notice the feeling of dread welling within himself.
And then...
The Northern skies rapidly lit up with lightnings which seemingly struck closer and closer in close succession, new ones appearing almost at the same time as the ones further away.
*Crackle!!!* ***BOOOM!!!!*** *RUMBLE!!!!* *RUMBLE!!!!*
A bright light as if thousands of suns exploded in the skies with a deafening crackling of myriads of lightning bolts, and earth-
shuddering roars of thunder came from the North and enveloped the surroundings.
A darkness, one akin to night came down after the flashes of light subsided, as ear-splitting high-pitched sound rang in the hearing of everyone around, their vision hazy and blurry, a heavy downpour of rain pummeling their clothes and armor.
Song Guanyu sat on the ground, thrown off the carriage as the horses pulling it seemingly completely lost their minds. His clothes were covered in mud, as his hazy eyesight was struggling to focus.
The feeling of shock, not being able to hear anything, being cold, and the rain a bit painfully hitting his head until he covered it with Spiritual Qi mixing in completely disorienting combination as he struggled to comprehend what was going on.
His forearm was then pulled and upon turning his head he saw a blurry white figure with several alter-images that swayed in a dizzying mirage.
"G-grand... Ancestor..."
He spoke, not hearing his own words while the figure seemed to look somewhere, and as he turned his gaze, his eyes widened.
There was a man standing next to Feng Yi, his both hands covering her ears, while his figure was enveloped in thick arcs of lightning.