Chapter Thirty-Eight: Unexpected

Everywhere was suffused with the aura of Heavenly Divine Artifacts. Qin Si gazed around in a daze, everything so achingly familiar. The Purple Profound Mansion had been prepared by his father, Qin Yu, back when he participated in his mother’s bridal contest. He had poured immense effort into it, so much so that even after it was destroyed by the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Lord, he later restored it exactly as it had been.

“Purple Profound Mansion? I... have I returned to the Divine Realm?” Qin Si was utterly stunned, staring blankly at the scene before him.

“An illusion?” The term flashed through Qin Si’s mind.

“No, that can’t be!” Even the statue in the center of the flower garden radiated the aura of a Heavenly Divine Artifact, everything around him seemed so real.

“Si, you’re back?” Jiang Lan appeared out of nowhere, gently stroking Qin Si’s hair with affection, his tone indulgent.

“Mm…” Qin Si was still immersed in shock. “Grandpa Lan, I remember I was just taking on the trial in the Mountain and Sea Heaven.”

“Mountain and Sea Heaven? What kind of place is that?” Jiang Lan frowned. “Were you just dreaming? Come inside, your Grandma Zuo Qiu and Grandpa Yi Feng are in the backyard, and your mother is there too.”

“Oh, alright.” Qin Si couldn’t tell if what he was seeing was real or not, so he could only follow Jiang Lan into the rear garden.

In the rear garden of Purple Profound Mansion, Jiang Li was chatting with Zuo Qiu Lin and Yi Feng.

“Li, Zuo Qiu, Yi Feng, look who’s back!” Jiang Lan led Qin Si into the backyard, instantly interrupting their conversation.

“Si?” Jiang Li was the first to react, rushing forward and hugging Qin Si tightly. “Si, you’re back. Do you know how much your mother has missed you these days?” As she spoke, tears welled uncontrollably in her eyes.

“You little rascal, you’re finally willing to come home.” Even Zuo Qiu Lin, known as the Death God King, couldn’t help but dote on Qin Si.

“Don’t run off recklessly in the future. Look how worried everyone has been.” Yi Feng also advised from the side.

“Oh… I’m sorry, Mother, Grandma Zuo Qiu, Grandpa Yi Feng. Has Shuang come back? Is there any news of him?” Qin Si suddenly remembered his younger brother, feeling a pang of guilt—he had returned, but not brought his brother back with him.

“Shuang?” Everyone was taken aback. Jiang Lan said, “Don’t worry about him, Si. With your father around, you have a chance to become a Heavenly Lord. Shuang? I’m afraid he may not even survive the Divine Tribulation.”

“That’s right. I really don’t know how someone as heroic as Xiao Yu could have such an unpromising younger son. It’s better he left, so he doesn’t embarrass you and your father.” Zuo Qiu Lin didn’t like Qin Shuang much, and interjected with a mocking remark.

“I… I’m tired. I’ll go rest for a while.” Qin Si suddenly realized he could understand why his brother had run away from home. Among these God Kings, not a single one thought highly of Qin Shuang.

“Big brother!” Just as Qin Si was about to leave to rest, a voice suddenly rang in his ears.

“Shuang? You… you’re back?” Seeing Qin Shuang, Qin Si was overjoyed. In a flash, he appeared before his brother, looking him over to confirm it was really him.

“Hmph!” Zuo Qiu Lin was the first to stand up and leave, followed closely by Yi Feng and Jiang Lan.

“Uncle Lan…” Jiang Li wanted to stop Jiang Lan, but was powerless to do so. Awkwardly, she glanced at Qin Si and Qin Shuang. “Si, Shuang, you two brothers have a talk. I’ll go find your Grandpa Lan.”

“Shuang, how did you get back? Don’t tell me… the final reward of the Ten Thousand Lords Mountain was to send us home? Haha, it must be that.” Qin Si was thrilled to see his brother. “Shuang, Father’s cultivation method has already reached perfection. He can definitely help you advance quickly in the future, so don’t leave again.”

“Is that so?” Qin Shuang remained unmoved, his voice cold. “But, it seems… none of them like me.” The departures of Zuo Qiu Lin, Jiang Lan, Yi Feng, and even Jiang Li said it all.

“Shuang… don’t mind them. Once Father remodels your body, you’ll definitely be no worse than me,” Qin Si comforted him.

“Boom!” Suddenly, a violent force blasted Qin Si away, sending him flying. “I was never worse than you. Look, I’ve already reached the Upper Heavenly God level. And I obtained a top-grade Hongmeng spiritual treasure with my own strength.” As Qin Shuang spoke, a long staff appeared in his hand. “And you? Weren’t you supposed to be so talented? Yet you’re only an Upper Heavenly God, and even your spiritual treasure was given to you by someone else. What right do you have to say you’re better than me?”

A full-force strike with a top-grade Hongmeng spiritual treasure from an Upper Heavenly God—if not for the Fire Source Pearl’s automatic protective function, Qin Si would have been even more gravely injured.

“Why…?” Blood covered Qin Si from the blow, but the real pain was in his heart.

A sinister smile twisted Qin Shuang’s face as the long staff in his hand blazed with golden light, making him look every bit the embodiment of a war god—a few streaks of blood still clinging to the staff’s tip.

“Why?” Qin Shuang sneered, “You saw how they treated me. Even Mother ignored me. Whose fault is that? Yours. My so-called genius elder brother’s!”

“Heh, is that so…” Qin Si smiled indifferently, his wounds still bleeding. He made no effort to heal them.

“Of course. As you can see, I’ve reached Upper Heavenly God and obtained a top-grade Hongmeng spiritual treasure—all by myself. That alone proves I’m stronger than you, much stronger…” Qin Shuang roared. “But what’s the use? They still think you’re the genius. I still have to live in your shadow. I want to kill you. I want to be known as Qin Yu’s outstanding son.”

Blood continued to drip from his wounds as the light of death gradually filled Qin Si’s eyes. “If you kill me, will you really get what you want?

Heh, Shuang, I once swore never to compete with you for anything. Everything, I would yield to you. If killing me can give you everything, as your brother, how could I not grant you that?”

“Are you pitying me?” Qin Shuang sneered. “I don’t need your pity. Pick up your weapon. I want a fair duel. Of course, if you lose, you die.”

“Heh, very well.” Qin Si gave a bleak laugh. A golden spear appeared in his hand as he silently mused, “Shuang, if this is how it must be, then I’ll use the last of my life to open a new path for you…”

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“I wonder what the last trial will be? I’m already at the end of the maze—looks like I’ll meet the final guardian soon!” Qin Shuang’s figure swirled forward and abruptly stopped to one side.

“Huh? I can use immortal sense here!” He swept his immortal sense out like a tide, amazed to discover this was another independent space.

The space was vast and empty except for a single burly figure standing in the center. After a moment’s thought, a smile played on Qin Shuang’s lips as he walked forward.

“Qin Shuang? Good, you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting a long time!” The burly figure spun around, a pair of crimson eyes fixing on Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang’s eyes flew wide in shock. He stared at the man, hurriedly bowed, and exclaimed, “Second Uncle, what are you doing here?” As soon as he spoke, a bad premonition flashed through his mind.

“Uncle Hou Fei, don’t tell me you’re the final guardian?” Qin Shuang asked, wide-eyed. If so, he was in trouble.

Seeing Hou Fei’s confirming expression, Qin Shuang groaned inwardly, “This… this is just too much.”

What was Hou Fei’s cultivation? A peak Upper Heavenly God. Perhaps with his astonishing staff technique and understanding of space, Qin Shuang could be invincible in the first layer of the Immortal, Demon, and Devil Realms, but against an Upper Heavenly God, he was no more than an ant.

“What’s the matter? Are you scared to see me guarding here?” Hou Fei sneered. “Back in the day, your father, the feathered brat, and I roamed everywhere, from the Mortal Realm to the Immortal, Demon, and Devil Realms, and then the Divine Realm. What kind of enemies haven’t we faced? You really haven’t inherited your father’s courage.”

Qin Shuang could only force a bitter smile. An Eighth Level Immortal Emperor against an Upper Heavenly God—this wasn’t about courage, it was suicide.

“Look at you, you’re not even half as good as Qin Si! At least he knows how to fight to the death, but you? All you do is shrink back.” Hou Fei’s sarcasm grew sharper, his tone harsher.

“Big brother?” Qin Shuang’s face flushed red as hot blood surged. Qin Si had always been doted on by the God Kings of Purple Profound Mansion, and his own running away from home was largely because of that.

Thinking of this, Qin Shuang said, “Alright, Uncle Hou Fei, in that case, I’ll do my best and give it a try!”

Hou Fei was slightly startled, then his eyes gleamed with approval. He shouted, “Good! That’s the spirit of a Qin family man! Back in the day, your father fought his way forward, never retreating. You must not disgrace your father’s name!

But I can’t bully the young as the old, so I’ll suppress my cultivation to the Eighth Level Immortal Emperor like you. As long as you can defeat me, you pass.”

“Alright!” Qin Shuang shouted, “Uncle Hou Fei, in that case, I won’t hold back. I’ll definitely defeat you.”

“Defeat me? Hahaha…” Hou Fei burst into laughter. “Your strongest attack is still my Heaven-shaking Staff Technique. Are you better than me?”

“Hmph, I have to try to find out.” Qin Shuang’s expression grew solemn and cold. “Take this—Heaven-shaking Triple Staff!”

P.S.: Highly recommend a great book: “Bodyguard at Close Range” by Liu Xia Hui.

Synopsis: A country youth named Ye Qiu, who can see into others’ hearts, comes to the bustling city and, through the introduction of a lecherous old man, becomes the bodyguard of a wealthy heiress and moves into the legendary beautiful women’s apartment—the Blue Apartment. Without the essential skills of flirting and bravado, Ye Qiu is constantly despised and teased by the beauties. If he’s not beaten every three days, the house is in chaos! Watch as this rogue bodyguard matches wits with the heroine! Despicableness is the passport to success. Amidst the financial crisis, a small-time bodyguard gets rich and ultimately wins the beauty’s heart!