Devouring Soul Emperor

Outside.

Liu Canghai, Sun Daxiong, and the others had been kicked out.

But without an order from the Grand Commander, they didn’t dare leave and were all waiting outside.

Liu Canghai was chatting with the three newly arrived Guard Generals, but from the look on his face, it seemed he was being ridiculed.

Xia He was leaning against a pillar by himself, bored, resting with his eyes closed.

Sun Daxiong pulled Zhao Jing aside and asked in a low voice, "Zhao Jing, were you the one who told Liu Hujun about what happened with Chu in the valley?"

Only four people made it out of the valley alive.

Sun Daxiong himself hadn’t said anything. Chu Qingyun certainly wouldn’t have. Xia He and Liu Canghai were also at odds, which left only Zhao Jing.

"That’s right. I told him."

"Sun, as your friend, I have to advise you: stay away from that Chu Qingyun and Xia He. Don’t forget, they’ve offended Liu Hujun to the point of no return."

"Liu Hujun may have been a bit unlucky this time, running right into the Martial Soul Hall’s line of fire, but he is a Martial Spirit Level expert, after all. Besides, Liu Hujun has a Grand Commander backing him."

"Even if he receives some punishment this time, with a Grand Commander’s support, he’ll make a comeback sooner or later."

"As for that Chu Qingyun, not only did he foolishly offend Liu Hujun, but he also dared to offend the two special envoys. Now he’s just spouting nonsense. Sooner or later, he won’t even know what hit him."

Zhao Jing made no effort to hide it, nodding as he spoke.

Hearing this, Sun Daxiong couldn’t help but sigh. His gaze toward Zhao Jing was complicated.

His relationship with Zhao Jing was pretty good; otherwise, they wouldn’t have cooperated in the valley.

But now, their perspectives had diverged.

Zhao Jing had chosen to bet on Liu Canghai and the power behind him, trying to curry favor with him by practically selling out Chu Qingyun.

Sun Daxiong, on the other hand, saw potential in Chu Qingyun and chose to befriend him.

’Zhao Jing, I have to say, you’re being shortsighted this time...’ Sun Daxiong sighed internally and spoke slowly.

"Shortsighted?" Zhao Jing shook his head. "Hmph. Sun Daxiong, I’m afraid you don’t know, do you? Liu Hujun already hates you."

As they were talking, the door opened.

Chu Qingyun walked out of the room. Grand Commander Chu Yu and the other two men saw him out with smiles on their faces. The four of them looked as if they’d had a very pleasant conversation.

Instantly, the seven people outside were stunned. ’Could it be that Chu Qingyun wasn’t just spouting nonsense before? Does he really have a solution?’

Since Chu Qingyun wasn’t staying at the City Lord’s Mansion, he bid farewell to Grand Commander Chu Yu and the other two, then headed out.

Sun Daxiong hesitated for a moment before hurrying after him.

"Chu, about what happened before... I asked Zhao Jing. He said Liu Canghai pressured him, and he was just confused for a moment, that’s why he told him everything. Please, Chu, don’t take it to heart."

Although he and Zhao Jing had their differences, they were still friends.

Sun Daxiong was very loyal to his friends and wanted to help explain the situation to salvage things a bit.

Chu Qingyun smiled and said, "I’m not taking it to heart. Even if he hadn’t said anything, Liu Canghai would have found some other reason to target me. Besides, if Liu Canghai hadn’t targeted me, I wouldn’t have known how to propose my plan." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Haha, that’s good, that’s good. Chu, I’ll walk you to the gate..."

After Chu Qingyun left, back outside the room, one of the special envoys looked at Liu Canghai and said sternly, "Liu Canghai, in light of your incompetence and the great disaster you’ve caused, which has brought shame upon the Great Xia Dragon Guard, you are to be placed in confinement pending your formal punishment upon return to the County City! From this moment until we leave Flame City, you will stay in your room. You are not to go out, and you are not to have contact with anyone!"

Confinement!

Instantly, the other three Guard Generals couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

As for Liu Canghai, his face turned completely black. He was so shocked he was speechless.

Confinement wasn’t a severe punishment; it was a common disciplinary method within the Great Xia Dragon Guard.

However, those placed in confinement were usually ordinary members of the Great Xia Dragon Guard. Even captains were rarely subjected to it.

If word of this got back, he would become an absolute laughingstock!

Liu Canghai would rather have taken a beating than be put in confinement!

"Grand Commander Yu, I..."

Liu Canghai looked to Grand Commander Chu Yu, hoping to plead his case.

But Grand Commander Chu Yu’s face was cold. "Did you not hear Lord Pei? Get your ass to confinement!"

"Yes... yes..."

Liu Canghai didn’t dare say another word. Dejected and humiliated, he slunk back to his room for his confinement.

At that moment, however, his hatred for Chu Qingyun reached its peak.

’It must be that little bastard’s doing again! Ever since I met him, not a single good thing has happened to me!’

And watching the disgraced Liu Canghai, the ever-confident Zhao Jing couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt and hesitation.

’Was I... really shortsighted...?’

After returning to the Golden Lion Martial Arts Hall, Chu Qingyun went straight to see You Yun.

"That plan... did you discuss it with the Grand Commander of the Great Xia Dragon Guard?" You Yun asked, looking at Chu Qingyun.

Chu Qingyun nodded. "It’s all been arranged. They’re being very cooperative. We’ve set the time for three days from now, during the funeral the Zhao Family is holding for Zhao’s Three Heroes."

Hearing this, You Yun seemed to space out, staring blankly at Chu Qingyun without moving.

"You Yun, what’s wrong?"

Chu Qingyun reached out and waved his hand in front of her eyes.

"N-Nothing..." Snapping out of it, You Yun seemed a little flustered.

She lightly touched a ring on her finger, and a metal box engraved with exquisite patterns instantly appeared in her hand.

Between the intricate patterns on the box, there were faint fluctuations of Primordial Power, as if from some kind of seal or array.

"Here, take this. Open it before you go to the Zhao Family estate. You’ll be coated in a very distinct aura of the Vermilion Bird," You Yun said, handing the box to Chu Qingyun.

"You Yun, I didn’t expect you to have a Storage Ring," Chu Qingyun said with a smile. Everything was arranged, and he was in high spirits.

But You Yun merely twitched the corner of her mouth, seeming to lack enthusiasm.

"HISS... It’s hot!"

Taking the metal box, Chu Qingyun instantly sucked in a sharp breath. He was nearly burned badly enough to drop it and quickly used his Primordial Power to insulate his hand from the heat.

He had assumed the metal box would be cold, but he never expected it to be so hot that even his body, at the eighth-level Martial Artist realm, could barely stand it.

"You Yun, what’s in this box? Why is it so hot?" Chu Qingyun couldn’t help but ask curiously.

"You’ll know when you open it. You should go now. I’m a little tired and need to rest," You Yun said, starting to usher him out.

Standing at the door, watching Chu Qingyun’s departing figure, You Yun once again stared blankly into space.

’You big idiot... After I help you this one last time, I have to go. Actually, I should have left a long time ago...’

’I really don’t want to go... but if I stay any longer, I’ll definitely bring you harm...’