CHAPTER 278: MEETING UNCLE!

"It’s the cave on that mountain!" Shang Jiao announced, her finger pointing toward the tallest of the colossal peaks, the one that stood above all others like a sovereign among mountains.

This was the mountain range located just outside the territory of the Shang Clan to their west. It was known as the Shang Mountain Range, named after their clan.

Shang Jiao and Ashen were still far away from the mountain range, standing on a flying ship of the Shang Clan; however, the mountains, being the colossal monuments of nature, were still visible from that distance.

Ashen followed Shang Jiao’s finger as his gaze fell on the mountain Shang Jiao talked about.

"Huh?" Ashen was surprised to see the spectacle in front of him.

In his view appeared the mountain range in which all the mountains were covered in snow, except for one—the one Shang Jiao pointed to.

It was the tallest, yet the warmest among them. Just below its peak was a cave as if carved artificially—it wasn’t too close to the peak, yet not too far, just the optimal distance as if someone had planned for it.

"No need to act surprised." Shang Jiao said before explaining. "That is Shang Wu’s way of marking his territory. He occasionally uses his lightning to melt the ice on his mountain."

"No wonder..." Ashen mumbled, nodding in realization.

At this moment, as their ship was about to enter a mountain range —

Rumble!

Boom!

Boom!

Two black-colored lightning strikes fell to the sides of the flying ship, missing the ship by a hand’s distance.

Just the sound of them was enough to instill fear, leaving them shuddering on their feet.

Following the lightning strikes, a deep, rumbling voice, as if a higher being was speaking to the mortals, resounded in the surroundings:

"Shang Jiao... return to your clan..." The voice was calm, yet it could instill nightmares in the one hearing it.

Shang Jiao cupped his hands, bowing as he spoke; however, he had clearly lost his usual composure as his voice stuttered a bit: "B-Brother Shang Wu, I—"

"Don’t call me Brother!!" The Voice rumbled in anger. "I don’t acknowledge a weakling like you as my sibling!!"

"I have only one sibling..." Pausing, the voice continued. "My sister, Shang Celine!"

"Only she is talented enough to call me, Brother!" The voice then grumbled. "No one else can call me, Brother!"

Shang Jiao listened silently, not daring to interrupt.

It was only after the voice stopped speaking that he spoke: "I-I haven’t come for myself. It’s because of Celine’s son. He wanted to meet you."

"What?" The voice blurted in surprise before disappearing.

As the voice disappeared, a man suddenly appeared on the ship, almost as if he had appeared out of thin air.

A tall man and of a muscular build. His long, open hair was maroon and appeared more wild than a tiger. However, what really caught the onlooker’s eyes were his signature spiky eyebrows along with his willful, determined eyes to match.

His eyes, reddish brown in color, had a rebellious and wild gaze.

He was more than 210 cm and appeared huge compared to both Ashen and Shang Jiao, almost making them look like children.

His hands are almost twice the size of a normal man’s.

He wore a long, open robe of black and gold tied with a white sash around his waist.

His face, sharp and chiseled, matching his muscular physique.

He had the most masculine appearance out of everyone Ashen had seen till now. Just glancing at him would make a male want to become a man like him. He had an aura that was difficult to define in words.

He raised his leg as if to take a step, and as he brought it down, he vanished and appeared in front of Ashen, standing just a hand away from him.

He then looked down, gazing at Ashen.

Ashen saw his expression, resembling a warrior, crumble into one that someone would make to an infant.

"So cute..." he muttered under his breath as he raised his hand to touch him; however, he stopped in between before asking for permission. "Can I touch you?"

Ashen looked at his giant hand, almost feeling a shudder in his body.

He shook his head, denying his request.

"Huh?" Shang Wu was a bit taken aback, not expecting a rejection even from his nephew. "I’ll be gentle, I promise!"

His voice was still deep and manly; however, there was a gentleness to it.

Ashen, however, didn’t relent, shaking his head again without uttering a word.

The size of that hand didn’t make Shang Wu’s words that trustworthy.

In response to this, Shang Wu laughed: "Hahaha, I’m also foolish..."

Ashen let out a sigh of relief; however, the attack happened suddenly, as he felt his cheeks pinched and stretched.

"Why do I need to ask to touch my family?? Moreover, you are not even a woman, hahaha!"

Shang Wu laughed in joy, pinching, stretching, and cupping Ashen’s cheeks much to his resistance.

He then licked his cheeks and ruffled his hair, speaking loudly from his diaphragm:

"You are such a sweet, soft, and handsome lad!" He patted his back, almost forcing him to take one or two steps. "As expected of Celine’s son!"

He then rubbed his chin as he muttered in a low voice, "But aren’t you too handsome? Your face is even more beautiful than most heavenly beauties..."

He then looked down at Ashen’s crotch and chest before muttering in low voice, "Hmm... You don’t appear to be a female in disguise..." Then, remembering suddenly, he facepalmed himself: "Ah, I didn’t even ask for my nephew’s name." He smiled and asked, "Tell me, my dear nephew."

"It’s Ash—" Shang Jiao tried to answer to get in the conversation; however, as soon as he opened his mouth, Shang Wu shot him a glare and yelled, "Did I ask you?!"

Shang Jiao was instantly turned silent and lowered his head, taking a step back to not offend Shang Wu.

Shang Wu then turned his gaze to Ashen as his angered expression melted into a loving smile.

"Then now, tell me your name, my dear nephew."

"It’s Fang Ashen!" Ashen spoke confidently, matching Shang Wu’s gaze. He wasn’t afraid of Shang Wu, just afraid of his cheek-pulling shenanigans.

He was confident he could escape anytime with the cards he had in the systems, which he obtained after killing protagonists in the south.

He could at least teleport to a different location and then ask his grandfather for help.

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(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)