Chapter 115: Kuang Zhen Offers a Strategy

"What confidential matter is so sensitive that it cannot be disclosed? Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You simply believe that I, Chu Yun, am not qualified—that I lack the standing to be privy to such information, isn't that right?" With a cold snort, Tianming pointed his hand forward and demanded in a deep voice.

"Very well! If that is how Young Master Chu wishes to view it, then I, Jiang Cheng, have nothing more to say. However, if the journey is delayed and the Protector or that Spirit Lord becomes displeased... I wonder who will bear the burden of that guilt?"

Jiang Cheng shook his head with a smile, showing no signs of anger. Instead, he affected an expression of helpless interest.

"Scoundrel, you dare threaten me? He is displeased? Have you considered what will happen if I am the one who is displeased?"

With a fierce shout, a long sword radiating a faint, pale moonlight manifested in Tianming's hand. His body surged with a dense, formidable aura of black energy from heaven and earth as he leveled the blade forward. Seeing this, the men in black immediately drew their own weapons, creating a tense standoff.

"This... Young Master Chu, you put me in a very difficult position. Why don't you allow me a moment to consider?"

Hearing this, Jiang Cheng immediately feigned distress. After waving his hand at the six men in black behind him, he looked up once more.

He had initially intended to use the prestige of the Protector and the Spirit Lord to intimidate him, but he never expected that this young master of the Chu family would be just as unyielding. Tianming had countered by asserting his own status, leaving Jiang Cheng stuck in the middle, unable to offend either party.

"Hmph! I hope you consider it carefully; otherwise, don't blame my sword for having no eyes." Tianming sheathed his blade and shot a cold glare at Jiang Cheng.

"Easily said, easily said."

Jiang Cheng nodded with a hurried smile and leaped down, disappearing behind the Fiery-Eyed Giant Tiger, seemingly preoccupied with some unknown task.

...

"Young Master!"

Seeing Jiang Cheng dismount from the beast, little Ying, who had been watching from the side, could no longer contain her worry as she looked toward Tianming.

"Don't worry about me, Ying. Go back to the manor first; I still have business to attend to with Brother Kuang Zhen here." Hearing her voice, Tianming turned with a gentle smile, patted her adorable, rounded head, and spoke softly.

"But..."

Not resisting Tianming's touch, little Ying slipped out from under his hand, looking at him with a hesitant expression.

"Alright, enough 'buts.' Listen to me and go back! Your brother knows how to weigh the importance of things. Besides, with my strength, who could possibly hurt me?" Shaking his head, Tianming patted his chest with great assurance and looked at her confidently.

"...Then, please take care, Young Master."

Her eyes filled with infatuation, little Ying glanced back three times at the young man in his fine silk robes before finally trotting away.

"The first battle against the Black Demon Clan starts here!"

Watching her figure fade into the distance, Tianming murmured to himself after a moment of contemplation.

"Ahem!"

Just as Jiang Cheng was caught in his dilemma, Kuang Zhen, wrapped in his black cloak, had been observing the ground from afar before stealthily returning to Tianming’s side.

"What is it?" Interrupted, Tianming turned around and asked in confusion.

"Brother Chu, please trouble yourself to lure him over here shortly."

"Lure him over? Does Brother Kuang have a brilliant strategy to rescue everyone in those cages?" Looking at Kuang Zhen with surprise, Tianming could not fathom his intent and could only ask.

"Time is short; I cannot explain further. I hope Brother Chu will trust me. Although he is concealing his aura, I can guess that he is definitely a Void Spirit Realm dark cultivator. We only need to lure him away first, and the rest will be manageable."

Kuang Zhen spoke in a hurried, hushed voice, as if the matter were urgent and fleeting. As he spoke, he kept a cautious eye on the Fiery-Eyed Giant Tiger nearby.

"Very well, I trust you! I cannot guarantee success, but I will do my best," Tianming replied in a low voice, observing Kuang Zhen’s reaction.

"Many thanks!" Without a shred of doubt, Kuang Zhen nodded again, his tone filled with profound gratitude.

"You are too kind, Brother Kuang. This is my duty, and it is truly regrettable that I must trouble you to resolve it." Though Kuang Zhen was shrouded in his cloak, Tianming could sense his intense agitation.

Nodding to him, Tianming turned his gaze back to Jiang Cheng, who was still mounted on the giant tiger. "Jiang Cheng, after all this time, surely you have an answer by now? Will you tell me about this confidential matter, or not? Make your choice!"

"..."

Seeing this, Kuang Zhen said no more; after all, at this moment, silence spoke louder than words. He, too, looked toward Jiang Cheng.

"Very well, excellent! I never expected Young Master Chu to be so full of surprises! Since that is the case, I, Jiang Cheng, have no need for further secrecy. In truth, Young Master Chu is fully entitled to know. I hope you will forgive my earlier disrespect."

Seeing the gazes of the two men fixed upon him, Jiang Cheng nodded with a sigh, though he was secretly harboring a trace of shock.

*Prestige +100!*

"..."

Hearing the notification of prestige points, Tianming glanced at Jiang Cheng with some surprise. It seemed this man had indeed contacted the Protector, and a Protector he likely knew—possibly that old acquaintance, Xie Xin, whom he had encountered back at the Li estate.

"Brother Jiang, what are you saying? As the saying goes, we would not have become acquainted without this conflict!" After a moment of silence, Tianming waved his hand with a laugh and added, "However, since this matter is so significant, why don't you step forward and explain it in detail? Let us consider this our introduction to one another, shall we?"

"Well said! To befriend a man like Young Master Chu is my good fortune! Since you call me Brother Jiang, I shall take the liberty of calling you Brother Chu."

As soon as the words left his lips, Jiang Cheng clapped his hands and walked over from the side of the Fiery-Eyed Giant Tiger. A gleam flashed in his eyes as he cast a subtle glance at Tianming, before his gaze shifted, hidden and sharp, toward the cloaked Kuang Zhen.

"..."

Having wandered the martial world for years, how could Kuang Zhen fail to notice that look? He guessed that Jiang Cheng did not want others to know of this matter, so without waiting for a prompt, he tactfully stepped away to a certain distance.

"...Who was that just now?" Jiang Cheng asked, casting a curious look at the departing Kuang Zhen.

"Oh, him? It is nothing, just a personal guard of mine. Brother Jiang need not be curious; he has always been a man of few words and will not reveal any information." Tianming shook his head with a smile, glanced at Kuang Zhen, and replied.

"Hahaha! Brother Chu, you are too modest! Very well, let us return to the matter at hand. This time..."