CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: WANG TIAN RAGE

The afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky, its golden light spilling across the bustling streets of the capital marketplace. The air was alive with chatter, the rustle of silks, the aroma of roasted chestnuts and sweet candied fruits blending with the sharp scent of spices. Stalls stretched endlessly along both sides of the wide street, their awnings painted in bright hues that flapped gently in the breeze. Merchants called out for customers, haggling voices rising above the din, while noble ladies in embroidered dresses moved from stall to stall, followed by their companions burdened with shopping bags.

Amidst the lively chaos, three familiar figures stood apart. Wang Tian, Luo Chen, and Lu Fang were weighed down with armfuls of bags, their expressions torn between exhaustion and helpless amusement. Each carried bundles of clothing, trinkets, and delicacies—spoils of their companions’ endless shopping spree. Just a short distance away, their girls were still busily selecting more items, their laughter drifting through the crowd like silver bells.

The three men exchanged glances, sighing inwardly at their shared fate of mule-duty.

Then, without warning, a shadow descended from above.

A sudden rush of wind brushed across the market square as a figure dropped from the sky and landed right before them with a dull thud.

Startled, Wang Tian, Luo Chen, and Lu Fang flinched so violently that the bags slipped from their hands. The thundering sound of goods tumbling drew curious stares from the nearby crowd. With sharp reflexes, all three immediately scrambled to catch the falling bags again, fumbling but managing to save their precious burdens at the last second.

The figure before them was none other than Sheng Lu. His eyes widened in awe at their speed, and he began clapping his hands together with genuine admiration.

The three froze in disbelief.

Wang Tian snapped first, his voice sharp with irritation.

"Do you want to give us a heart attack?!"

Sheng Lu bowed quickly, his expression both sheepish and earnest.

"Sorry, my Emperor, but it’s very urgent. Specially for you."

Wang Tian raised an eyebrow, his irritation softening into wary confusion.

"Urgent? For me? What is it?"

Sheng Lu’s expression turned grave, his tone lowering into urgency.

"Just a moment ago, we encountered two mysterious men. They were dressed in grey cloaks... and they showed us a portrait."

Luo Chen tilted his head, unimpressed.

"So what?"

But Sheng Lu’s eyes hardened, his words sharp as steel.

"It was Muo Qian’s portrait. They were looking for her."

The air seemed to freeze. Everyone’s expressions shifted into shock.

The piece of cloth Muo Qian had been holding slipped from her hands, fluttering soundlessly to the ground. Her face drained of color, eyes shadowed with sudden dread.

Wang Tian’s heart tightened. He shoved the shopping bags into Sheng Lu’s arms with a swift motion and immediately strode towards Muo Qian. Sheng Lu staggered under the weight, catching them with a helpless sigh.

"Muo Qian?" Wang Tian’s voice was low, tinged with alarm as he knelt before her. "What happened? Do you know them?"

Her knees buckled beneath her, trembling uncontrollably, and she collapsed to the ground. Wang Tian caught her before she could fall completely, supporting her frail frame. His brows knitted in worry.

Su Quan and Jun Hua rushed to her side, kneeling close with concern blazing in their eyes.

Su Quan asked gently, "Are you alright? If there’s something, you can share it with us."

Wang Tian glanced sharply at Sheng Lu, his voice edged with command.

"Tell me exactly what happened."

Sheng Lu hesitated, a shiver running down his spine.

"Those men... they said Muo Qian is a criminal. They want to find her. They want to take her—and kill her."

The words fell like thunder.

Then suddenly, Sheng Lu’s eyes widened in horror, his throat tightening. He wasn’t the only one—the others stiffened too, for they all felt it.

A suffocating wave of killing intent filled the air. It pressed down on them like an invisible storm, the weight enough to make weaker souls collapse.

Wang Tian’s head was lowered, his teeth gritted so tightly that his jaw trembled. The aura radiating from him was cold, merciless, and utterly deadly. Sheng Lu swallowed hard, his mouth dry.

Muo Qian blinked, shaken out of her fear. Her gaze shifted toward Wang Tian, who sat beside her. His face was still lowered, his expression hidden in shadow. She wanted to speak, to calm him, but her voice caught in her throat.

Su Quan wrapped her arms protectively around Muo Qian.

"Don’t worry. We are with you."

Then, Wang Tian spoke, his voice like ice cracking in winter.

"Where are they?"

Sheng Lu stammered.

"X-Xiao Rui tricked them... sent them towards the capital city."

But before relief could come, mocking laughter cut through the air.

The group turned, eyes narrowing.

From the edge of the square, two cloaked figures emerged from the crowd. The same men Sheng Lu had spoken of.

Sheng Lu froze, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"They... they’re the ones. But how—? We fooled you!"

One of the cloaked men shook his head slowly, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Do you brats really think you can fool us? But I should thank you... for bringing us to this criminal."

Muo Qian trembled violently, her body stiff with terror. Su Quan and Jun Hua immediately tightened their hold around her, stepping forward protectively.

The second cloaked man let out a cruel laugh.

"Seriously? You brats think you can stop us?"

As his words fell, more cloaked figures appeared from the shadows—descending from rooftops, slipping from alleyways, surrounding them in every direction like wolves closing in on prey.

The square’s noise had died. Onlookers backed away, whispering in fear, giving the confrontation space.

Wang Tian remained seated, face still lowered.

One of the men spoke arrogantly.

"We don’t want to kill you. Just hand over that criminal to us, and we will forgive you."

Silence.

Then Wang Tian rose slowly to his feet. His voice, cold and sharp, cut through the still air.

"What did you just say... about my Muo Qian?"

The cloaked man tilted his head mockingly. But the moment Wang Tian lifted his eyes, the man’s confidence faltered.

The killing intent burst forth again, sharper, heavier than before. It coiled around them like chains of death, sinking claws into their spines. Their bodies stiffened under its weight.

The man’s inner thoughts screamed in alarm. What a monstrous killing intent...! This won’t be easy.

Wang Tian took a single step forward, the earth beneath his heel cracking.

"We rarely get a holiday," he muttered darkly, "so let’s finish this quickly."

Luo Chen clenched his fists in excitement, a feral grin flashing across his face.

Before the enemies could react, Wang Tian vanished. His figure blurred, reappearing instantly in front of the second cloaked man. With a cold glare, Wang Tian thrust his right hand straight through the man’s chest.

Blood sprayed into the air. The man’s eyes widened, mouth opening in a choking gasp. Wang Tian pulled his heart free, crimson dripping from his palm, and crushed it mercilessly. The body collapsed lifelessly onto the stones.

The first cloaked man staggered backward, horror plastered across his face as he scrambled to maintain distance.

But before Wang Tian could pursue, a sudden tremor rippled through the ground. He sensed danger and leapt back just as another figure descended, slamming a fist into the earth. The cobblestones shattered, the ground splitting into a crater of spiderweb cracks.

An old man rose from the debris. His bald head gleamed under the sun, his long white beard fluttering in the breeze. His pupils were milky-white, his robe black and styled like ancient kung fu masters.

Behind him, more cloaks fell away. Among them, a scarred middle-aged man with fiery red hair and burning eyes stepped forward, his muscular frame radiating bloodlust.

He spoke deferentially.

"Elder Han, you finally arrived."

The old man’s voice rumbled, deep and stern.

"If I had been any later, you would be dead. When we return to the sect, I will double your training."

But another voice cut through the tense silence.

"No one is going anywhere."

Confusion flickered across their faces.

They turned—and there stood Shaurya, sipping from a chocolate milkshake.

[Narrator: Where the hell did he get that?]

[System: Of course, from me.]

Beside Muo Qian, Lin Shu appeared, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Her warm smile was like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

"Leave the rest to us."

Elder Han stiffened. He hadn’t sensed their arrival at all. His heart tightened in unease, though his lips curled in mocking confidence. I cannot sense his aura. That must mean... he is weak.

[Narrator: Or maybe he’s too strong. Why the hell do you side villains never use your brain?]

Elder Han sneered.

"Do you really think you can stop us?"

Shaurya tilted his head, smiling playfully.

"Us? But you’re alone."

Elder Han barked a laugh.

"Alone? Aren’t you seeing my team?"

But in the next heartbeat, screams tore through the air.

The cloaked men surrounding them convulsed. Blood spurted violently from their throats and chests before their bodies fell lifeless, painting the stones red.

Elder Han’s jaw dropped in shock.

Xiao Rui, Lee Bie, Zong Bu, Cheng Fang, and Xu Ran descended gracefully, their blades dripping crimson. Another figure, Elder Wan, appeared with a wink, strolling casually towards Shaurya. The two bumped fists with grins.

Elder Han’s body trembled, blood splattering his robe as one of his trusted disciples exploded into gore beside him.

"My... my trained disciples... dead? Just like that?"

Shaurya smirked, mocking.

"I’m really not seeing any of your team members alive."

Wang Tian’s gaze sharpened. He stepped forward, his killing aura slicing like knives. Elder Han roared, rushing to meet him with a fist to his cheek.

The impact sent shockwaves bursting outward, cracking the ground in a web of destruction. Yet Wang Tian didn’t flinch.

Instead, his fist drove brutally into Elder Han’s abdomen. Then came a barrage of punches—relentless, merciless, bones cracking beneath each strike. Finally, Wang Tian grabbed the elder’s head, slamming him into the earth. The ground caved inward, forming a crater as dust spiraled into the air.

And he didn’t stop.

Fist after fist rained down, the sound of flesh and bone breaking echoing through the silent crowd.

Shaurya grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck.

"He’s really mad..."

Luo Chen muttered to him, eyes wide.

"Very, very mad. He even said, what you said about my Muo Qian, when that elder threatened her."

Shaurya pressed his palms together in mock prayer.

"God save these guys."

Lu Fang swallowed hard.

"Don’t you all think... we should stop him?"

Their eyes turned to Wang Tian. He was still pounding away mercilessly, though Elder Han was long dead.

Xiao Rui let out a nervous laugh, tinged with fear.

"Well... who’s going to stop him?"

Muo Qian’s trembling voice suddenly rang out, desperate and filled with emotion.

"Wang Tian, please stop! He’s already dead... calm down, please!"

Her cry pierced through the haze. Wang Tian’s fist halted inches above the elder’s mangled face. Slowly, he lifted his gaze toward Muo Qian. Silence fell, heavy and absolute.

Then Shaurya’s voice cut in firmly.

"Get back here in five seconds. It’s my order."

In an instant, Wang Tian appeared back at his side. Luo Chen and the others were left stunned, mouths agape.

Shaurya sighed, patting Wang Tian’s shoulder.

"You really went overboard. Next time, stay calm."

Wang Tian nodded silently.

From behind, Elder Liya’s voice chimed in with curiosity.

"By the way... who are those people, and why were they calling Muo Qian a criminal?"

Everyone’s eyes shifted to Muo Qian. Her gaze dropped, her shoulders trembling.

Wang Tian stepped forward, standing firmly in front of her. His voice softened, his smile warm.

"I am with you. Don’t worry."

Then he turned, his eyes flashing dangerously at Elder Liya.

"Stop scaring her. Otherwise..."

Elder Liya puffed her cheeks, folding her arms with a pout.

"Tsch. This is how you treat your sister after getting a girlfriend? Fine."

Wang Tian flushed, barking back.

"Shut up, you dumb Empress!"

Elder Liya cracked her knuckles.

"Oh, you want to pick a fight, you dumb Emperor?"

Shaurya hurriedly stepped between them, waving his hands awkwardly.

"Okay, okay, calm down. We have more important matters."

The two glared at each other before reluctantly looking away.

Meanwhile, Lin Shu gently rubbed Muo Qian’s shoulder.

"You can rely on us."

Shaurya’s smile brightened like the morning sun.

"Why are you worrying? Did you forget? For my disciples, I can do anything. Just tell us—who are they?"

Muo Qian drew a deep, shaky breath. Her lips trembled before finally parting.

"They are from Cloud Spring Sect... my previous sect... the one I was expelled from."

Everyone froze in shock.

To be continued...