Chapter 116 Meeting Zheng Xuan Again

In the following days, three major events took place in Yuzhou.

The first was the return of Gu Changsheng from overseas and his secret meeting with Chen Shanhe, marking the encounter of China’s two Earth Immortals. In terms of seniority, Gu Changsheng should rightly address Chen Shanhe as his senior.

As for the outcome of their conversation, no one knew. Afterward, Chen Shanhe announced his retirement from the world, vowing no longer to casually meddle in secular affairs. Only the hundred-meter sword scar at Little Victoria Harbour, with river water reversing its flow, bore witness to the peerless bearing of Chen Shanhe of the Chen family.

With Shanhe in the Chen family, none failed to recognize me!

The name Chen Shanhe represented the pinnacle of the secular martial arts realm. Beyond the Earth Immortals, did there exist an even higher state of being? Perhaps only Gu Changsheng and he knew in their hearts.

The second event was that over a dozen listed companies in Yuzhou suddenly announced a change of ownership. Local news of all kinds flooded the media, and discussions about these family businesses faintly overshadowed popular celebrities.

This thoroughly piqued the curiosity of the Yuzhou people: how could so many listed companies, encompassing the industries of nearly eight families, change owners almost on the very same day?

Moreover, reports claimed that all these companies shared the exact same owner.

The Yuzhou television station broadcasted continuous reports on this matter for two days. However, as for the identity of that owner, the reports remained tight-lipped, making it an inevitable topic of conversation for the people of Yuzhou during their tea breaks and leisure time.

The third event was the online publication of the China Martial Gods Ranking. Those who made the list possessed cultivation levels at or above the Grandmaster realm of Internal Strength. Occupying the very first spot on the list was none of other than Jiang Yu, followed by Xu Daozhi in second place, while the third to sixth positions belonged to the Four Martial Gods of the Hidden Sects.

Ren Tianxiao, the true master of Mount Longhu; Du Shirong, the patriarch of the ancient Tai Chi sect; and Granny Miao, the shaman god of the Miao poison sect—such contemporary masters of the age also featured prominently on the Martial Gods Ranking.

Once the ranking was initially compiled, every netizen could cast a vote to elect their personal number one.

Jiang Yu received the most votes, with Xu Daozhi coming in second. Fans from both sides sparked fierce online flame wars over the ranking order. Some argued that Xu Daozhi was truly the foremost expert beneath the Earth Immortals.

The ranking took multiple factors into comprehensive consideration, categorized by cultivation level, strength, past deeds, renown, and so on. Upon its release, it created a massive uproar across the internet.

Jiang Yu, the central protagonist of all these events, was currently at the Yuzhou First People's Hospital.

In the ward, Gu Feiwei was devoid of all color, her aura exceptionally weak. Had Jiang Yu not forcefully sustained her final breath, she would have long since perished on the peak of Mount Yandang.

One could say that the very moment Jiang Yu found Gu Feiwei, she had already passed away like a withered flower.

If Jiang Yu had not broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, awakened divine abilities, and forged a Dao physique, he would have been utterly helpless in the face of such a situation. Having integrated numerous divine physiques, one of them was the Azure Wood Longevity Physique.

Under the Azure Wood Vital Breath, he could bring the dead back to life and regenerate flesh, surpassing all miraculous pills and medicines. Bathed in immense vital essence, Gu Feiwei was forcibly hauled back from the gates of hell by Jiang Yu.

This was an act defying the heavens, intolerable to the myriad Daos. For this reason, Jiang Yu's hair turned completely white. It would take him at least half a year to recover from this depletion.

To Jiang Yu's surprise, Zheng Xuan was also in the hospital room, leading to an inevitable encounter between the two. Facing Jiang Yu now, Zheng Xuan's gaze darted away; she would never forget the scenes she had witnessed last night for as long as she lived.

"I'm here, you can leave."

After checking Gu Feiwei's injuries, Jiang Yu issued an eviction notice to Zheng Xuan.

Zheng Xuan bit her red lips, finally raising her head to look at Jiang Yu: "Jiang Yu, am I really that repulsive to you?"

With those words, her eye rims turned red, and her small hands nervously gripped each other, her heart filled with trepidation. After unraveling the questions in her heart, even more questions arose within her.

Who on earth was Jiang Yu?

Where did he come from?

The once-abandoned scion of the Jiang family now stood high above, practically an immortal—how could she possibly ignore such a reality?

Jiang Yu lit a cigarette, standing before the window with a tone devoid of sorrow or joy: "Does it still matter whether I find you repulsive or not? Ever since you chose to break off our engagement and got engaged to young master Jiang Shaoqi right in front of my face, we were destined to have nothing more to do with each other in this lifetime."

"Now that you're saying these things to me, what is this supposed to mean?"

Every single word pierced her heart like a sharp sword. Zheng Xuan could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face as her voice grew somewhat hoarse: "Jiang Yu, I regret it."

"I'm sorry, I truly regret it."

Sun Wanyue had said the exact same words upon discovering Jiang Yu's true identity.

Their so-called regret was merely a desperate remedy born from the sudden realization of Jiang Yu's immense power and their unwillingness to let go. Ultimately, what attracted them was not Jiang Yu himself, but his status that overshadowed the wealthy of Jiangbei, alongside his boundless erudition and the power to command life and death.

Strip away these identities layer by layer, and Jiang Yu's appeal to them would vanish instantly.

gazing out at the streetscape, Jiang Yu said indifferently: "Everything you wanted to know, you know now. Is there anything else you wish to ask? Zheng Xuan, I told you long ago, your assumptions about me were merely wishful thinking."

"Unfortunately, in your arrogance, you failed to realize this."

Zheng Xuan clenched her fists tightly, wanting to say something, but when the words reached her lips, she realized she had no qualification whatsoever to blame Jiang Yu. Every choice back then had been her own decision; now that she regretted it, what use was it?

Jiang Yu was right. The day Zheng Xuan came to his door to call off the engagement, she had lost all her chances.

What kind of women couldn't he have now? With a mere wave of his hand, countless beautiful women with alluring figures would willingly crawl into his bed.

Once upon a time, Zheng Xuan, who had always walked proudly in front of Jiang Yu, now stood in the hospital room, desolate and shedding silent tears.

If she hadn't called off the engagement back then, would Jiang Yu have protected her just as he was protecting Gu Feiwei? Would he have flown into a rage for a beauty, washed Yuzhou in blood, suppressed the hidden sects, and slain the contemporary grandmasters?

Zheng Xuan suddenly found herself envying Gu Feiwei. If she could still change Jiang Yu's mind, why wouldn't she be willing to swap places with Gu Feiwei? So what if her arms were severed? So what if she were on the brink of death?

"Jiang Yu, I'm so sorry."

A thousand words converged into a single short sentence. With that, she turned and made to leave.

Just as she reached the door, Jiang Yu sighed: "For the sake of my parents, if the Zheng family encounters any difficulties in the future, you may go find Li Hao. That is the only promise I can give you."

Zheng Xuan's body trembled. She said nothing, stood frozen for a few seconds, and quietly walked away.

Was this what she had wanted?

She didn't know either.

Stepping out of the hospital, Zhou Ting stood beside an Audi coupe. Seeing Zheng Xuan's desolate figure, she walked over, pulled her into a tight embrace, and said, "What's missed is missed. No matter how extraordinary Jiang Yu is, he has nothing to do with you in this lifetime."

She held Zheng Xuan with a heart full of ache. This girl had truly been ruined by Jiang Yu.

"Zhou Ting, I regret it."

Two streams of clear tears slid down her cheeks as Zheng Xuan gripped Zhou Ting's clothes tightly, weeping unceasingly.

Zhou Ting closed her eyes, gently patting Zheng Xuan's back. Indeed, Jiang Yu was far too exceptional; even she couldn't help feeling her heart flutter. Yet this youth who shocked all of China had once been Zheng Xuan's fiancé.

"Do you know? Even I envy your luck now, yet you pushed him away with your own hands."

Bitterness lingered on Zhou Ting's lips. She could finally empathize with Zheng Xuan's state of mind. Her original intention in coming to Yuzhou had been to unwind, but she never expected to encounter Jiang Yu here, causing the emotions buried deep within Zheng Xuan's heart to erupt completely.

...

Inside the ward, Jiang Yu gazed through the window at Zheng Xuan getting into the car.

The path was one she had chosen herself; she could blame no one else. If Zheng Xuan had not chosen to break off their engagement with him in the past, given his personality, even if he didn't harbor romantic feelings for her, he would still have protected her peace for a lifetime, never sparing anything she desired.

Deep within, Jiang Yu was accustomed to solitude, making it difficult for outsiders to walk in. But once someone entered, he would willingly hand over the entire world to them.

Turning around, Jiang Yu found that Gu Feiwei had opened her eyes at some point.

"You're awake."

Jiang Yu gently stroked her face.

Gu Feiwei bit her lip hard: "Jiang Yu, looking like this now, am I terribly ugly?"

Jiang Yu smiled faintly: "Rest assured, I have my own ways of dealing with your arms. Growing flesh and bones from nothing is nothing out of the ordinary for me."

She shook her head: "If losing both my hands was the only way to make you look at me properly, then I'd rather never have hands again for all eternity. Jiang Yu, do you know what my greatest wish was right before I died?"

Jiang Yu fell silent.

She continued: "How I wished you would appear before me, so I could touch your face just one more time."

Jiang Yu's gaze flickered. He took her empty sleeve and placed it against his own face.

Opening her eyes once more, Gu Feiwei was already bathed in tears.

"I'm sorry, I made you lose face."

Jiang Yu brushed her long hair back: "One day, I will make everyone kneel before you and tremble in submission."

He raised his head and spoke slowly:

"In this world, no one has ever been able to offend me and continue to live at ease and unrestrained."