Chapter 292: The Troublemaker
"Cousin?!"
"Third Brother?!"
Bai Chenxiang and Ma Hongjun exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
They were certain they couldn't be mistaken.
After all, Tang San's appearance was too 'unique'—once seen, it was almost impossible to forget.
"How did Cousin end up like this?" Bai Chenxiang's pretty face turned pale.
Ma Hongjun's face also darkened, "I heard Third Brother went to the Star Dou Forest alone to find heavenly materials and earthly treasures to help Senior Yang Wudi heal his dantian."
"But…"
Ma Hongjun couldn't finish his sentence.
He couldn't fathom how Tang San, who had ventured into the Star Dou Forest, ended up naked in a cage, paraded around by a non-soul master.
Ma Hongjun was stunned.
Does that mean the person the people of the Heaven Dou Empire had been mocking for months was his Third Brother?
"No matter what, we need to save Cousin first!" Bai Chenxiang whispered.
Although she didn't have strong feelings for Tang San or Ma Hongjun, Tang San was still her cousin by blood.
Moreover, Tang San had done a lot to fight against the Spirit Empire.
Emotionally and logically, she should save him from this humiliation.
"Our identities are too conspicuous. If we act and people recognize Third Brother's face, what then?"
Ma Hongjun stopped Bai Chenxiang from acting, "Many people in the imperial city know Third Brother's face."
Bai Chenxiang hesitated, furrowing her brows. She realized Ma Hongjun had a point, so she asked, "What do you suggest?"
As Ma Hongjun and Bai Chenxiang discussed their plan, the cage on the cart stirred.
Tang San, who had been unconscious like a dead pig, suddenly opened his eyes.
How long have I been out?
Huh?
Where are my clothes?
As soon as he woke up, before he could figure out how long he'd been asleep, Tang San felt a chill all over his body.
Damn it!
Su Yun, you bastard!
You actually stripped me naked!
As Tang San fumed, his keen senses picked up the surrounding noise and the countless gazes fixed on him.
What's going on?
Where am I?
Why is it so noisy?
And… am I in a cage?
Tang San had regained his ability to move but instinctively refrained from acting rashly.
He remembered what Su Yun had told him—
Public humiliation!
Tang San instantly realized that Su Yun had indeed followed through!
His entire body trembled with rage!
Simultaneously, he heard the voices of the people around him.
"Hehe, judging by this kid's looks, he probably got drained by some noblewoman in bed."
"Tch, how do you know it wasn't some nobleman with peculiar tastes?"
"With such a good body, he could make a lot of money in certain places."
"Tsk tsk... having a good body isn't enough; you need a pretty face too."
"By the way, I heard this guy isn't good-looking. Anyone brave enough to see his face?"
"What's there to be afraid of…"
Damn it!
Tang San's face, hidden under his messy hair, turned pale!
He could vaguely recognize that he was in the Heaven Dou Imperial City.
Many people in the imperial city knew him.
If he were recognized while being paraded around in a cage, it wouldn't just be his reputation on the line—it would disgrace the entire Clear Sky Sect, the three upper sects, and even the Heaven Dou Empire!
This must not happen!
"Hey, look, that guy seems to be waking up?" Someone sharp-eyed noticed Tang San's trembling body and shouted.
Instantly, the people who had found the scene boring refocused their attention on Tang San.
Frank, who had been preoccupied with collecting money while driving the cart, turned pale when he heard someone say that Tang San had woken up.
He had been so busy collecting money that he had forgotten to administer the drug on time.
Damn it!
Frank frantically searched for the medicine the Spirit Hall official had given him, only to find it had run out!
While Frank was in shock, Ma Hongjun and Bai Chenxiang also heard the shout and turned their attention to the cage.
Sure enough, they saw Tang San's body trembling.
"Cousin is awake?!" Bai Chenxiang's heart leapt with anxiety.
If Cousin suddenly acted out, everyone would surely recognize his true identity!
The reputation of the Clear Sky Sect would be utterly ruined!
"We can't communicate directly. We have to wait for Third Brother to notice us!" Ma Hongjun whispered.
He then subtly extended his soul power towards the cage.
As expected, Tang San immediately sensed a familiar soul power.
"This is… Fatty!"
Recognizing Ma Hongjun's soul power, Tang San quickly locked onto his position.
He also saw Bai Chenxiang and the members of the Agility Clan.
Realizing that his cousin and her friends had seen him in this state, Tang San felt humiliated and cursed Su Yun repeatedly in his heart.
Given the chance, he would repay Su Yun in kind!
Su Yun, just you wait!
"Fatty, find a way to get me out of here. I can't use my soul power here," Tang San conveyed mentally. His soul power was too distinctive, and many people in the imperial city knew him.
If recognized, it would be a disaster.
Thus, Tang San refrained from using his soul power, relying instead on his spiritual power to survey the area. He noticed that the entire Heaven Dou City was packed with people.
"Are all these people here to see me?" Tang San thought, astonished.
After receiving Tang San's message, Ma Hongjun immediately discussed a plan with Bai Chenxiang.
After some deliberation, they decided that Bai Chenxiang would approach first.
Amidst the crowd's curious gazes, Bai Chenxiang walked towards the cart.
"Look, that girl is so pretty."
"Tch, don't you recognize her? New here?"
"Who is she?"
"She's Bai Chenxiang, the eldest daughter of the Agility Clan, one of the four single-attribute clans of the Clear Sky Sect in the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Few in the younger generation can match her speed!"
"More importantly, she's the cousin of Tang San, our dual god inheritor!"
"Whoever marries her is destined for greatness!"
Those who recognized Bai Chenxiang immediately revealed her identity.
"Miss Bai is here. What is she going to do?"
"I heard she's known for her sense of justice. Maybe she disapproves of how this noble is treating the servant."
"If that's the case, this guy is lucky. He might get saved by Miss Bai."
The crowd chattered as Bai Chenxiang reached Frank.
"How much to take him away?" Bai Chenxiang asked coldly, glaring at Frank.
Seeing Bai Chenxiang and sensing her powerful aura, Frank dared not offend her.
He smiled obsequiously and explained, "Miss, I was tasked with parading this man around the country. Please don't make things difficult for me."
Bai Chenxiang snorted, "Then tell me, who gave you this task?!"
Her sharp gaze made Frank's legs tremble.
The person who gave him the task was masked, and he dared not ask too many questions.
Listening to Frank's explanation, Bai Chenxiang surmised that the Spirit Empire was behind this.
But if it was indeed the Spirit Empire, why not just kill him?
Tang San was the Heaven Dou Empire's hope. Killing him and spreading the news and his body would devastate the Heaven Dou Empire, forcing them to surrender.
Could there be a new force at play?
Bai Chenxiang frowned, puzzled.
Regardless, she needed to get her cousin Tang San out of there without revealing his identity.
"I'll give you a chance. If you cooperate, you can come work for the Clear Sky Sect, and I can guarantee your safety," Bai Chenxiang said.
Frank's eyes lit up at Bai Chenxiang's words.
He had heard of the Clear Sky Sect.
The leader of the three upper sects!
The strongest sect in the world!
As an ordinary person without soul power, he would never have the chance to enter a sect with such powerful soul masters.
But today, he was unexpectedly given this opportunity.
With this in mind, Frank was about to agree.
But just then, another voice interrupted.
"Wait, leave the person behind!"
The sudden voice startled everyone around.
Someone dared to confront Bai Chenxiang, the eldest daughter of the Agility Clan, were they seeking death?
Bai Chenxiang frowned at the sleazy voice and looked towards its source.
Tang San, inside the cage, also felt a surge of anger.
Someone was daring enough to disrupt his escape at this critical moment.
Who was seeking death?!
When the newcomer showed his face, everyone immediately recognized him and was shocked.
"It's them?!"
"Those three?!"
"Who are they?"
"They're a trio who recently arrived in the imperial city. The sleazy one in the middle is called Bule, the other two are Tianya and Lao'e."
"These guys are notorious for their shady deeds, but there's never been concrete evidence against them. They also frequently kill Spirit Empire soldiers at the border for military merits, so the empire can't touch them."
"Moreover, these three are quite powerful, all at the Soul King level. One of them is even at rank 59, just a step away from becoming a Soul Emperor."
The citizens of the imperial city detested Bule and his companions the most.
They constantly engaged in despicable acts but relied on their strength to evade justice.
In the Heaven Dou Empire, Soul Kings and Soul Emperors were considered mid-tier powerhouses.
It took the empire at least twenty years to train a single Soul King.
Not to mention the resources required.
The cost was enormous.
Hence, many government officials in the imperial city turned a blind eye to their actions.
"It's you?!" Bai Chenxiang recognized Bule as well.
She despised them, but her sect had ordered her to temporarily utilize them against the Spirit Empire.
Once the war was over, they would settle accounts with these individuals.
Otherwise, she would have already joined forces with her sect to deal with Bule.
"Hehe, Miss Bai, don't worry. We're not good people, but we're not here to cause trouble." Bule grinned at Bai Chenxiang.
Lao'e, standing beside him, nodded, "Miss Bai, we mean no harm. We're just following orders from a certain noble who thinks this guy's skin and flesh are nice…"
Lao'e gestured to Tianya, who immediately took out a bag of gold soul coins and held it out to Frank, "Here's a bag of gold soul coins for this guy. Do you agree?"
The trio had been recruited by a noble in the imperial city.
This noble had a peculiar taste for young, delicate men.
Upon hearing that Tang San had entered the city, he immediately sent Bule and his companions to retrieve him.
If no one obstructed them, they would simply take him.
If someone did, they would negotiate first and then resort to force if necessary.
Looking at the heavy bag, Frank was sure it contained at least several hundred gold soul coins!
Though not as much as the thousands given by the Spirit Hall official, it was still a substantial amount.
And most importantly, he could spend it openly.
So he immediately forgot Bai Chenxiang's offer.
Joining the Clear Sky Sect was uncertain. Without soul power, he might be kicked out eventually.
But the gold soul coins were tangible.
Without hesitation, Frank reached for the money.
However, just as his hand extended halfway, he sensed an extreme heat from behind.
Instinctively, he dodged.
A flame shot from behind him towards Bule and his companions.
Seeing this, Bule's eyes turned cold, and he raised a protective barrier to shield his group.
The flame hit the barrier and dissipated, leaving little trace.
"Who is it? Show yourself!" Bule squinted, scanning the surroundings with a cold gaze.
Many commoners, feeling Bule's killing intent, instinctively lowered their heads.
After all, he was a Soul King.
They dared not provoke him.
"Hmph! It's your master, me!" The owner of the flame, Ma Hongjun, stepped forward, standing beside Bai Chenxiang. He glared at Bule with equal coldness. (End of chapter)