Chapter 547: The Tragic Death of Yao Qingteng
With a calm expression, Tang Xiu watched Cheng Yannan's disbelieving expression before replying indifferently, "My identity is very special, and explaining it in one or two sentences won't be sufficient. Since we've already met, there will be a lot of time for us to get along, and I'll tell you some things that are very difficult for ordinary people to know. But until then, you still have to answer my question!"
Cheng Yannan's agitated mood finally calmed down. She took a few steps toward the island before stopping by a big tree, and then said with a bitter expression, "Tang Xiu, I'm sure you already figured out that I'm a member of the Cheng House of Beijing. My big sis and I have been literally pushed aside by our own family. After returning to the capital, I should have continued enjoying life and had a fulfilling and relaxing time during my university years.
"Just half a month ago, however, my big sis went missing when handling a criminal case, and I haven't heard news about her until now. She's the only backer I have, and with her went missing, those clansmen who dislike us sisters began to shift their eyes and forced me to marry the notoriously ill-reputed Chu Xiang of Beijing's Chu Family. You know? This Chu Xiang is notoriously well-known as one of the four scourges of Beijing, and he had done countless idiotic things and wrecked more than a dozen girls. Marrying me to him so that I can climb up to a high branch of the Chu Family, how could I agree with that?"
Seeing that Cheng Yannan stopped narrating, Tang Xiu lightly asked, "Don't you still have your uncle? The Cheng Family is closely related with the Yao Family, how can the elders of the Cheng Family dare to force you?"
"That's right, Yao Qingteng is indeed my uncle, but he doesn't have any affection towards us whatsoever. If not for the relationship with my aunt, there's no way he would even put me in his eyes," Cheng Yannan self-deprecatingly replied. "Fortunately, though… Yao Qingteng's wife is my aunt, and she likes me very much. If it wasn't for her, how could he bring me here? How could there be a place for me, to serve as a maid to pour water?"
Tang Xiu fell into silence.
With a bitter face, Cheng Yannan continued, "I cannot stay any longer in Beijing. If not for chancing upon a coincidence in inadvertently learning that Uncle Qingteng would bring people to the South China Sea, I'm afraid I'd have escaped from Beijing and ran elsewhere. Although I don't know what are they gonna do on this island, I have already made up my mind that, even if there's only a minute of opportunity of staying here, then I'll stay here or seize the chance to live alone in Jingmen Island."
"What about Yao Qingteng?" Tang Xiu sighed inwardly and asked.
Cheng Yannan pointed to the depths of the island and said, "He took a few people and has already gone inside. He should be back in the evening."
Tang Xiu nodded, "The Yao Family won't be able to acquire this island. Since you don't want to go back, you can stay here later!"
Cheng Yannan's eyes lit up, "What do you mean?"
"This island will be mine later." Tang Xiu confidently said. "Even if the Yao Family spends all of their strength, they will never be able to snatch it from me. I'm going to set up a medicinal herb plantation here. Since we're acquaintances, you can stay and help me. I'll also give you a satisfactory salary, too."
"I really hope you can succeed." Cheng Yannan pondered for a moment before nodding. "However, you just killed so many people of the Yao Family. They won't let this go! Tang Xiu, you probably don't know how powerful the Yao Family is. Let me tell you, the Yao Family…"
Tang Xiu raised his hand to interrupt her and replied with a tranquil expression, "I've already seen and experienced what they are capable of. Maybe you don't know, my surname is Tang, and I'm a member of the Tang Family from Beijing."
"That Tang Family?" Cheng Yannan's eyes focused as she called out in alarm.
"Yes, that Tang Family." Tang Xiu nodded.
With disbelief all over her face, Cheng Yannan said, "I didn't expect you to be a member of the Tang Family from Beijing, Tang Xiu! The Tang Family and the Yao Family… I understand. No wonder you're so merciless toward the Yao Family's people. I know some of the animosity and hatred between your two families."
Tang Xiu smiled indifferently and said, "Let's go! You'll stay aboard our liner for now and wait for us to finish dealing with Yao Qingteng and his men until there's no one of their people left on this island. You'll stay on this island later, and I'll also provide you with food, clothing, and shelter; as well as some people to protect you."
Staring blankly and looking vacant, Cheng Yannan hesitated for a moment before asking, "Tang Xiu, are you going to kill Un- Yao Qingteng?"
"Do you think he can still leave?" Asked Tang Xiu.
Cheng Yannan gritted her teeth and said, "Can you accept a request of mine, Tang Xiu?"
"If you want to plead for his life, then forget it!" Answered Tang Xiu.
"I'm not asking you to have mercy on him." Cheng Yannan shook her head. "He doesn't have any affection for me whatsoever. What I want to ask you is that, if the Tang and Yao Families were to lose all decorum in the future, and both parties have life and death battles, can you spare my aunt?"
"I promise." Tang Xiu was silent for a short while before nodding.
Cheng Yannan shot Tang Xiu a grateful look. Just as she was about to walk alongside him toward the passenger liner, she suddenly recalled something and quickly asked, "You haven't told me something. How are you able to fly?"
"Don't ask if you want to stay on this Clam Island." Tang Xiu faintly smiled. "There are some things that I won't tell you for now. But if you work for me in the future and your performance makes me satisfied, you'll know loads of things later."
Cheng Yannan was silent for a while, as she then suddenly smiled and asked, "Then I won't ask. But, can you answer another question? It's the last one!"
"Ask!" Said Tang Xiu with a smile.
"Do you have a girlfriend at Shanghai University, by any chance?" Asked Cheng Yannan.
Tang Xiu laughed, "We'll talk about sentimental things later, alright? One must study hard and learn many things for more than four years at university. Besides, I still have tons of things to do, how could I have so much spare time to be concerned with things about love and romance?"
A brilliant splendor flashed in Cheng Yannan's eyes as she smilingly said, "I really like what you just said! Young people must focus on their careers. Let's go!"
Leading Cheng Yannan back to the coast, Tang Xiu saw that the small liner was sinking on the sea in the distance. Whereas the liner he used to arrive here was returning to the coast. After the ship approached the shore, Tang Xiu took Cheng Yannan on board and said, "She's my high school classmate. Let her stay on the liner! Also, if there still are Yao Family men on this island, kill them directly once you see them. Xiaoxue, come with me to have a look at the island."
"All right!"
Gu Xiaoxue smilingly replied. Nodding toward Cheng Yannan, she then floated and followed Tang Xiu to disembark, as their figures gradually disappeared into the woods on the island.
The woods was still in its primeval state and full of lush trees and vegetation.
The two seem to stroll in a leisurely manner. But in actuality, their pace was extremely fast as each and every step they took traversed seven plus meters of distance. As the two of them continued trekking deeper, they could see a lot of medicinal herbs. Many of them were common, though rare and precious ones could also be occasionally seen. The island also boasted a lot of wild animals.
Ten minutes later, when Tang Xiu and Gu Xiaoxue set their feet on the center of the highest point of the island, a scream passed to their ears, followed by stormy and dense gunfire as well as panicked shouts:
"QUICKLY RUN AND SPREAD OUT! GO BACK TO THE SHORE WHERE WE ANCHORED THE SHIP AND ASSEMBLE THERE!"
"CURSE YOU MONSTERS! GET THE FUCKING AWAY…"
Bang, bang, bang…
Tang Xiu and Gu Xiaoxue exchanged looks. With tacit understanding, the duo quickly rushed toward the source of the sounds. On the way there, they stepped on tens of meters' tall branches and continued flying over the trees.
More than ten seconds later, the duo halted their pace and stood on the branches of a big tree and watched two rhino-like fierce beasts below. Their eyes stared wide upon seeing the vengeful large beasts that hunted down six men who were fleeing in desperation. Behind them were two broken, dead bodies that had been bitten.
"The beasts' skins are very tough, bullets can't penetrate it. Also, their speed is very fast, those people won't be able to outrun them at all. Grand Master, they are all as good as dead already." There was no pity or mercy at all in Gu Xiaoxue's eyes as she watched the six people being hunted down.
"Though bullets can create some obstructions to these two fierce beasts and slow down their speed, they are as good as dead already like you said. If my guess is correct, the middle-aged man who is being protected by that two men should be Yao Qingteng. Also, there's something I suddenly figured out, Xiaoxue."
"What is it?" Asked Gu Xiaoxue curiously.
"The Yao Family sending Yao Xinhua to Jingmen Island should only be a smoke screen; a diversion," said Tang Xiu. "The one who was really in touch with the government and signing the lease of the island's MoU should be Yao Qingteng. If my inference is correct, there should be a contract prepared to be signed on that ship we just sank."
"You really have great wisdom, Grand Master," said Gu Xiaoxue with a smile. "I think so, too. After all, Yao Xinhua is too young and only has shallow knowledge in dealing with the government's officials. Whereas Yao Qingteng is a very important figure in the Yao Family. For him to personally come here, perhaps it is in order to inspect Clam Island and make the decision whether to carry on the leasing negotiation with the government."
"Bring some of our men here. We'll wait for all these Yao Family's men to die and then dispose of their corpses," said Tang Xiu. "Also, remember to send some people to that sunken ship, to see if they can find the contract."
"Grand Master, are you by chance using that as an excuse to make me leave, while you act to kill these two beasts by yourself?" Asked Gu Xiaoxue smilingly. "Anyhow, we've taken everything that can be taken from that ship before we sank it. I think it's better for me to say and help you."
Tang Xiu couldn't help laughing, "Seems like I can't hide from you, eh? Do you think I don't have the ability to kill these two savage beasts? Fine. If you want to stay, then stay and watch!"
In less than a minute, the rhino-like fierce beasts had already slain all the six people, including Yao Qingteng. They even devoured all their carcasses completely, not even sparing their bones.
"Well, this saves us the trouble of disposing the corpses, eh?"
Tang Xiu, who was standing atop a tree branch, had a smile arched on the corner of his mouth as he spoke in a low voice. He then floated down and appeared in front of the two rhino-like fierce beasts.
ROAR…
Chapter 548: Oppressing the Fierce Beasts
Amid the gently blowing sea breeze, Gu Xiaoxue was standing on the tree branch with her fluttering white dress. A smile outlined on her face as she looked at the scene below. Despite knowing that her Grand Master's cultivation progressed rapidly in recent months, she still didn't believe that he could easily defeat the two rhino-like fierce beasts.
"Grand Master, be careful."
Gu Xiaoxue twitched her hand and two lightning talismans appeared between her fingers. She would immediately act once her Grand Master was in danger.
Tang Xiu turned his head and showed a faint smile. When his eyes went back on the two rhino-like savage beasts, he smiled and said loudly, "I don't lack materials from fierce beasts, hence you guys can be exempted from being slain, though you may have to suffer since the neighboring island will be the site for rearing fierce beasts in the future. Therefore, I'll subdue and bring the two of you over to the neighboring island."
Evidently, the two rhinos had gained a bit of spiritual wisdom. They could sense something bad from Tang Xiu, though they couldn't understand his words. Hence, one of the rhino-like fierce beasts' big, red eyes flared up. It jumped up high and slashed its claws toward Tang Xiu's head.
Its speed was incredibly fast! If there were ordinary people here, they probably would only see flashing afterimages even if they kept their eyes wide open.
Tang Xiu flicked the tip of his toe and his body was flung backwards instantly. If his cultivation had not progressed so rapidly and reached the Viscera Transformation stage, he may really be unable to face this fierce beast. Now, however, he was confident that he could easily slay it.
"Array of weapons, oppressing blades."
A dagger instantly flew out from the center of Tang Xiu's palm. As he kept forming hand seals, the dagger divided into two, then four, and then kept doubling. In a few short seconds, thousands of daggers had already appeared in front of him.
Slash… A low voice came out from him.
The numerous daggers swirled like a spiral as they went toward the fierce beast and had it tightly surrounded in an instant.
ROAR…
A furious roar came out from the rhino. Its sharp teeth, claws and the layered scales on its body were all immediately erected, while a faint blue ring came out from its mouth along with its roar. Instantly, smoke exploded like a mist.
Crack, crack, crack…
Cracks appeared on the overlapping layers of daggers. The chilling blue smoke instantly reduced the surrounding temperature to the freezing point, and the leaves that moved around in the wind seemed to freeze in an instant.
"Petty skill!"
A look of contempt flashed in Tang Xiu's eyes. With a wave of his arm a blade flashed and instantly swept away the rhino's claw strike. Ten claws instantly fell and Tang Xiu's figure flashed a moment after. His finger moved toward a clear boundless sky as a bolt of lightning flashed down from above the firmament without any previous sign.
Thunder Spell! A magical spell he was now able to release. The tempestuous thunderstorm bolted from the vault of heaven as thick lightning bolts the size of a baby's arm directly blasted on the back of the rhino-like fierce beast. The blow did not kill it, but it was still smashed onto the ground and splashed a layer of dust to the air.
Atop the tree branch, Gu Xiaoxue stared dumbfoundedly at Tang Xiu's mighty display of power. The imposing display made her pupils shrink and brought an aura that made her want to kneel.
She had imagined numerous scenes of a fierce fight between her Grand Master and the rhino-like fierce beast, but little did she expect that her Grand Master was now able to cast spells, more so that its might was actually strong enough to this extent. It must be noted that the present her was still unable to display such a feat!
Could it be… Grand Master's strength has already surpassed mine? How is this possible? Wasn't his cultivation only a few months ago…
Gu Xiaoxue gasped, and the thumping of her heartbeat was several times stronger than before.
ROAR…
The other rhino-like fierce beast looked frightened. But after seeing that its companion's fate was unknown, it went into a frenzy and violently rushed out. Its IQ was low, thus it didn't escape and flashed toward Tang Xiu instead.
Tang Xiu nodded and praised, "You didn't run and abandon your companion, eh? Contrary to my expectation, you're a pretty good spirit beast. Since this is the case, then I'll help you."
Tang Xiu's body floated. As his feet rose in the air he formed hand seals, and a few big trees around him were immediately uprooted and pulled upward. The jumping rhino-like fierce beast was lifted up by an earth pillar that had risen under it out of nowhere, whereas several big trees then heavily pounded its body.
Bam, bam, bam…
The trunks of several big trees were broken, but every orifice of the smashed fierce beast was also bleeding, as it heavily fell beside the other rhino-like fierce beast.
At this moment, Tang Xiu's body was like an artillery shell. After he fell atop the back of the bleeding rhino-like fierce beast, a barrage of fists fell on it. The rhino-like fierce beast pitifully growled and desperately struggled to get up time and time again.
ROAR…
The other rhino wanted to get up, but Tang Xiu kicked its abdomen, causing it to sweep the ground for tens of meters. After smashing and breaking seven plus big trees in succession, only then did it fall to the ground and fainted.
The brutality lasted for half a minute before Tang Xiu finally stopped. He then grabbed the suffocated fierce beast he had just beaten, punched it heavily, and threw it toward the other fainted beast. The fainted rhino-like fierce beast was suddenly awakened due to the tremendous pressure.
Whoosh!
Tang Xiu's ghostly figure instantly caught up with it, and when his feet landed before the two fierce beasts, he let out a faint smile and shouted in a heavy voice, "Do you guys still want to fight?"
The two rhino-like fierce beasts were truly frightened by Tang Xiu at this time, as they struggled hard to get up to run due to the intense fear. Yet, their badly beaten bodies were unable to support them.
Tang Xiu then turned to the dumbfounded Gu Xiaoxue atop the tree branch and smilingly said, "So, what do you think? Packing up these two beasts is easy, don't you think? In fact, slaying these two beasts would've been easier, for I'm able to kill them in a matter of seconds."
Gu Xiaoxue heaved a deep breath while suppressing her shock. Her fluttering white skirt made her look like a fairy as she floated down and landed beside Tang Xiu, after which, she spoke respectfully, "Your cultivation is really formidable, Grand Master. The way you cleaned up these two beasts was indeed very relaxed. I really didn't expect that your cultivation had progressed this much. I don't think I can contend with you even if I were to give everything I have."
"Even though I did chance upon a big fortuitous encounter, yet experience matters more than luck." Tang Xiu chuckled. "Anyways, this Clam Island is very suitable to grow medicinal herbs, Xiaoxue. However, we need to cut the forest quite a lot. We can leave some trees in the surrounding, but the plan to set up the medicinal herbs garden in the inner parts must be done well since we need to plant a lot of herbs. Even though this island is large in size, we must use as much land as possible if we want to cultivate medicinal herbs on a large scale."
"I understand, Grand Master," said Gu Xiaoxue respectfully. "I'll look for the best planners in the country and personally bring them here to check this place and make them design a blueprint for us."
"We don't need such a hassle." Tang Xiu waved his hand. "I'll handle the blueprint, whereas you only need to bring people here to help me survey and measure the total area for the garden. All right, let's have a look from above. If there's no other problem, we'll head to the neighboring island to have a look."
"All right!" Gu Xiaoxue replied and grabbed the legs of the two savage beasts. In the next moment, they floated up to the sky. After flying for over ten minutes and observing the entirety of Clam Island until Tang Xiu was satisfied, the duo then flew back to the south coast where the liner was anchored.
On the deck of the liner, Cheng Yannan was sitting on a recliner sunbathing while leafing through a book. She suddenly looked up when she noticed two shadows falling from the sky and landing in front of her.
"You guys…"
Her pupils contracted and she bounced up from the recliner out of fright. She was 100% certain that Tang Xiu and Gu Xiaoxue had just fallen from the sky. What did this mean? That explained that both of them were just flying. Furthermore, the most inconceivable thing was that Gu Xiaoxue, whose figure was small, was actually carrying two beasts that were twice as big as her.
Gu Xiaoxue threw the two fainted beasts onto the deck, and then looked at the stalwart men around and said, "Stay guard and watch them. If they dare to crawl up and struggle, you can kill them directly."
"Roger!" Replied the several stalwart men respectfully.
Gu Xiaoxue turned around. As she looked at Cheng Yannan, she let out a faint smile and said, "Ms. Cheng, since Grand Master has rescued you, and given that you were his classmate as well, then we're not outsiders at all. I'm Gu Xiaoxue, you call me Big Sis Xiaoxue. Anyways, we're going to the neighboring island shortly. Do you want to stay on the boat and go with us or stay here? You can rest assured, I'll assign some people to protect you if you want to stay here."
"I'll go with you," answered Cheng Yannan without hesitation.
Nodding and smiling at her in response, Gu Xiaoxue then spoke to the four men, "Tell the rest to set sail to the neighboring island. Also, assign four men to stay behind to guard this Clam Island. If any outsiders dare to forcibly land on this island, kill them directly. However, if the other party have overwhelming force and numbers and you feel that you can't face them, promptly hide and do not fight them."
"Understood!" The four stalwart men replied and cupped their fists.
The passenger ship set sail and headed to the neighboring island without spending much time. Tang Xiu and Gu Xiaoxue flew toward the island and entered the wooded mountain without bringing anyone with them. What was somewhat inconceivable for them was that many beasts were spotted on this island. After having carefully counted the numbers, there were 70 plus of them.
"Grand Master, there's something amiss with this island!" Gu Xiaoxue slightly furrowed her brows and spoke to Tang Xiu.
"I noticed it, too." Tang Xiu nodded. "We also ran into two savage beasts on Clam Island. Given the very close distance between Clam Island and this island, and with so many beasts here, I'm afraid that there's a very unusual reason…"
His words came to an abrupt halt as they reached the edge of the island. He couldn't believe the scene below on the sea surface.