LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 274: Is It Too Late to Switch Sides?
Chapter 274: Is It Too Late to Switch Sides?
Although Lin Fengmian held some anticipation for the encounter, he realistically knew that the odds of running into Jun Fengya—Jun Yunshang’s ninth sister—were slim.
After all, Jun Fengya had reportedly arrived in Chongming City days ago and had probably left by now. At most, she might have left some subordinates behind to delay them.
In order to strategize effectively, Lin Fengmian decided to gather information.
“Yunshang, what’s the situation with your ninth sister?” he asked.
Jun Yunshang snapped out of her daze and quickly answered, “My ninth sister, Fengya, is the daughter of my father and Lady Zhao. She’s quite a bit older than me.”
“Lady Zhao’s family is a great power within the Junyan Empire, and they have a Void Realm expert. Therefore, the Ninth Sister is one of the leading contenders for the throne.”
Lin Fengmian frowned slightly. “A Void Realm expert? I hope she didn’t leave one behind to deal with us.”
As confident as he was, Lin Fengmian had no illusions about taking on someone from the Void Realm. The gap between Soul Severing, Unity, and the Void Realm was far too great.
Jun Yunshang waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry, Young Master Ye. The Zhao family’s Void Realm expert is currently in Linyuan City, blocking Fourth Brother. They won’t have any time to spare.”
Relieved, Lin Fengmian asked, “What about the Unity Realm experts under her command?”
Jun Yunshang’s expression grew more serious as she nodded her head. “Yes, and quite a few. From what I know, she has nearly ten Unity Realm experts on the surface. There might be more hidden in the shadows.”
Lin Fengmian was startled, his jaw dropping slightly. “That many?”
Jun Yunshang gave him an embarrassed smile. “My elder siblings have a deep foundation. Of course, they can’t be compared to me. The Ninth Sister isn’t even the strongest.”
Lin Fengmian chuckled ironically. “Then why not tell me directly? How many experts does the strongest prince have?”
Jun Yunshang’s expression turned solemn. “The strongest is Fourth Brother. The Ding Family under his command includes two Void Realm experts and over twenty Unity Realm experts.”
Exasperated, Lin Fengmian massaged his temples. “Is it too late for me to switch sides now?”
Jun Yunshang took him seriously and replied, “It should still be possible. With your talent, Young Master Ye, any prince would welcome you with open arms.”
“If you wish to leave, you only need to escort me to Chongming City first,” she added sincerely.
Lin Fengmian couldn’t help but laugh. “I might as well tie you up and hand you over to my new master as a gift.”
Jun Yunshang’s face fell and she asked hesitantly, “Young Master Ye, are you serious?”
“Absolutely,” Lin Fengmian said with a deadpan expression.
Jun Yunshang lowered her voice, looking down at her hands. “Then send me to Ninth Sister. At least she’s a woman…”
Seeing her obediently extend her hands as if ready to be bound, Lin Fengmian lightly smacked her on the wrist.
“Show some backbone, will you? Your father would roll over in his grave if he saw this!”
Jun Yunshang winced, pulling back her hand and rubbing it as she pouted.
She knew that he was joking, so she stuck out her tongue mischievously. “Hehe, no wonder Father always says I’m hopeless.”
Lin Fengmian helplessly shook his head, unsure of what to do with this princess.
After a brief silence, Jun Yunshang hesitantly asked, “Young Master Ye, I’ve already run out of Spirit Fusion Pills. Are you really going to stay with me?”
Lin Fengmian chuckled. “Don’t you still have the Void Breaking Pill? In the worst case, I’ll take you as collateral. You can pay off your debt by becoming my wife.”
“Again with the jokes!” Jun Yunshang pouted, her cheeks slightly puffing up. “I’m serious here.”
Jun Yunshang’s warning didn’t faze Lin Fengmian as he nonchalantly retorted, “Unless a Void Realm expert shows up, the rest are just chickens and dogs. This Void Breaking Pill is mine.”
Looking at his confident and smug demeanor, Jun Yunshang couldn’t help but admire him. Her eyes sparkled with admiration, and she flashed a bright smile.
“Mm, I believe in you, Young Master Ye.”
Lin Fengmian accepted her praise with a faint smirk, adopting the air of a solitary master even though his mind churned with deeper thoughts.
The Junyan Empire was truly a land of stark extremes, where some heirs like Jun Fengya had vast resources at their disposal, while others like Jun Yunshang struggled to even gather support.
With such a disparity in power, it was no wonder that most people did not dare to ally themselves with the weaker princes and princesses. To do so was to sign their own death warrant.
“Given how strong the opposition is,” Lin Fengmian mused inwardly, “it’s no surprise that Jun Jueli was too intimidated to face Jun Fengya head on. But has she already left?”
As they spoke, Chongming City loomed before them.
As expected, the city gates were heavily guarded.
Although Chongming City was officially a neutral zone where no violence was permitted within its walls, gaining entry was another matter entirely.
Lin Fengmian looked at the gate with a faint smile. A burly commander stood at its entrance, exuding the unmistakable aura of a Unity Realm expert.
The man barked loudly, “Chongming City is closed! Travelers, please turn back!”
Lin Fengmian replied with a hearty laugh. “Turn back? You dare to tell me to turn back?”
As he spoke, his sword, Zhenyuan, shimmered with a dazzling light. The sky above them darkened ominously as an overwhelming force began to gather.
“Enemy attack! Formation, now!” the commander roared.
Lin Fengmian’s voice rang out coldly. “One Sword to Define the Heavens!”
In a flash, Zhenyuan unleashed a brilliant arc of energy. At the same time, Lin Fengmian wrapped his arm around Jun Yunshang’s slender waist and transformed into a bolt of crackling lightning, following closely behind his sword.
A deafening explosion rang out as Zhenyuan annihilated the formation, the resulting shockwave scattering lightning bolts in all directions. The area became a field of crackling energy, leaving most of the guards incapacitated and paralyzed, save for the Unity Realm Commander.
Effortlessly, Lin Fengmian dashed past them, rendering all attempts to intercept him futile.
At the city gates, he extended his hand, and Zhenyuan obediently flew back to him, settling firmly in his grasp.
“Stop me? You couldn’t stop me if you tried,” Lin Fengmian said coolly.
The burly commander, seething with rage, charged toward the gates with a thunderous roar. But Lin Fengmian, still holding Jun Yunshang’s waist, didn’t even look back.
Jun Yunshang turned her head and called out sharply, “This is Chongming City’s jurisdiction! Do you want to die?”
The commander’s massive fist stopped mere inches away from the pair, the force of his strike ruffling their clothing.
Lin Fengmian, still calm, said contemptuously, “Why waste words on him? He couldn’t harm me even if he tried to.”
His indifferent tone left the commander red-faced with frustration. Although the man could likely injure Lin Fengmian with a powerful blow, he knew that doing so would result in his immediate execution by the city’s enforcers.
Resigned, the commander clenched his fists but dared not act.
Seeing Lin Fengmian’s hand still resting on her waist, Jun Yunshang hesitated briefly but decided against mentioning it.
“Maybe Young Master Ye has forgotten,” she thought. “I shouldn’t ruin his moment.”
Just as Lin Fengmian, reveling in his triumph, prepared to stride into Chongming City with Jun Yunshang, a round of slow, deliberate applause echoed.
“Well done,” a cool, slightly mocking female voice said.
“Young Master Ye, defeating Unity Realm experts with your soul-severing cultivation is truly fitting for the number one prodigy of the Northern Abyss.”
The voice came from a tall, striking woman with a curvaceous figure. She approached leisurely, leading a massive, fiery red beast. Behind her, an entourage followed in formation.