Waiting for you online - - - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

The black-clothed men attacked with sharp swords. Spiritual pressure soared around Song Zi Heng, his sleeves fluttered in the windless air and his pupils bloodshot. His spiritual power rushed into his hand that was holding the long sword. He made a move, and his spiritual pressure changed into a tangible sword arc that has the power of sweeping out a thousand armies, sharp and unstoppable.

All the men in black were knocked out by the force of a thousand pounds. Bricks on the ground flew away. The tables, chairs, and dishes were all shattered. Even cracks appeared on the two large wooden support beams in the lobby, which may break at any moment.

Song Zi Xiao was shocked and muttered, “Seventh Chongtian*…”

Song Zi Heng had just grasped the Seventh Chongtian of the Zongxuan Sword Technique and could not control it yet. This move was truly powerful, but it had overdrawn his spiritual power. He spat blood from his mouth and his body shook as he knelt down.

“Big brother!” Song Zi Xiao held Song Zi Heng and cried out helplessly.

“Run…quickly…” Song Zi Heng pushed Song Zi Xiao, “Run.”

“No, big brother, let’s go together, let’s go together!”

“Run!” Song Zi Heng pushed Song Zi Xiao out with all his strength.

The group of black men were all badly injured, but two were already struggling to get up.

Song Zi Xiao sat down on the ground and looked at his big brother with a face full of tears, but refused to go.

“Go ah!” Song Zi Heng was covered in blood, his expression grim and desperate, like a dying beast.

Song Zi Xiao bit his lips until blood oozed out. He wiped away his tears, got up from the ground, forced the door open and rushed out.

Song Zi Heng blocked the door and said viciously, “You want my golden core, then… let my younger brother go, or else…” he put his sword against his neck. “Your efforts will be wasted.”

The man in black paused in his footsteps: “Alright then. You shall dig out your golden core yourself. The Little Highness’s golden core, can’t be compared to Your Highness’s. I never expected such a young man to break through the Seventh Chongtian. I cannot keep you alive.”

Song Zi Heng felt the golden core in his body. When his spiritual energy is abundant, it is like a spiritual lake surging like a sea. From the formation of the core till now, it was not only the condensed crystal of his lifelong cultivation, but it is also like a life source. As a cultivator, there is no difference between death and losing one’s golden core.

Song Zi Heng closed his eyes, and covered his Dantian with bloody hands.

How can I let you fall into the wrong hands?

Suddenly, a sword flew in from outside the window, straight to the support beam.

The wooden beam, which was already damaged by Song Zi Heng’s sword energy, could no longer withstand the blow and broke with a loud bang.

Once it broke, the other one had even more difficulty bearing the weight alone also broke. The whole inn collapsed in a loud rumble.

Song Zi Heng was at the door and fought his way out, with several screams coming from behind him.

He rolled to the ground and saw the bricks and stones falling towards his head, and he was unable to dodge in time.

A small hand suddenly yanked him and dragged him out of the way.

Song Zi Heng looked up and saw that it was Song Zi Xiao.

“…It’s you?”

“Big brother, get up.” Song Zi Xiao tried to help him up, but he had also run out of strength.

Song Zi Heng’s spiritual energy was exhausted and he had lost too much blood. Hanging onto his last trace of sanity in order not to faint. He said weakly: “Didn’t I tell you to…run…”

“How can I leave you to run on my own, I want to go together with big brother.”

Song Zi Heng has no energy to answer. At this time, he was afraid they’re not out of danger yet. He only hopes that Song Zi Xiao leaves as soon as possible.

“Your Highness, Ninth Highness!”

Hearing Huang Hong and Huang Wu’s voice, the strained bowstring finally loosened. Song Zi Heng’s vision gradually blurred until it was pitch black.

—

In Song Zi Xiao’s memory, his big brother always smelled like orchids. His clothes were fragrant, his hair was fragrant, his quilt was fragrant. The whole person was fragrant.

But now, that light and refreshing orchid fragrance was gone. Only the bitterness of the medicine and stench of blood remained. His big brother who was soaked in this smell looked so pale that he was almost transparent, as if he would dissipate at any time.

Song Zi Heng was in a coma for two days, and Song Zi Xiao was at his bedside for the entire time waiting until he woke up. Suddenly waking up in a panic, as if in a nightmare, calling out “Xiao Jiu”.

“Big brother, big brother, I’m here.” Song Zi Xiao gently pressed his brother’s shoulder to prevent him from moving around and agitating the wound.

Song Zi Heng’s gaze gradually found focus. After seeing the person in front of him, his body went limp, and the pain spread throughout his body. He endured without uttering a word, and only stared blankly at the heavy curtain above his head: “You…I…”

“I’m fine. You’re injured, but your golden core is still here big brother. They didn’t get their way.” Song Zi Xiao held Song Zi Heng’s hand, and his eyes teared up again.

Song Zi Heng let out a long breath and gently squeezed Song Zi Xiao’s small and warm hand: “Where am I?”

“We are in Exian*. The Exian branch of the Chunyang Sect. Huang Hong and Huang Wu brought us here.”

“Are they okay?”

“They were also injured, but big brother was injured the most.” Song Zi Xiao said indignantly, “As guards, they are not good at protecting their master, so useless!”

“It happened suddenly, it’s not their fault.” Song Zi Heng remembered what happened at the inn, still feeling scared. “That Gong Shu Ju is so powerful… By the way, has the culprit been caught?”

Song Zi Xiao shook his head disappointedly: “At that time, we were afraid of being in danger, so we left first. After settling down, they brought the people from Chunyang Sect back to take a look. The inn was burnt down. Although they dug up a few bodies, none could be identified. The caster must have ran away.”

As they were talking, Huang Hong and Huang Wu knocked on the door and entered. Seeing that Song Zi Heng had woken up, it was like a weight off their shoulders. The two knelt in front of the bed, ashamed, and said, “This subordinate’s escorting is detrimental. I really have no face to see Your Highness.”

Song Zi Xiao said angrily, “Save this talk for the emperor.”

“The enemy was in the dark and came prepared, you guys don’t have to blame yourselves too much.” Song Zi Heng asked, “The emperor came?”

“The emperor arrived at Mount Shu yesterday. Mount Shu is not far from here, he should be here soon.”

“Mount Shu…” Song Zi Heng suddenly remembered something, “The Jiaolong assembly!”

Huang Hong couldn’t bear to say it, “Your Highness, the Jiaolong assembly has already started.”

Song Zi Heng’s mind went blank.

The Jiaolong assembly had already started, and he was still lying in bed.

Four years ago, he was only twelve years old. He could only try at the Jiaolong assembly, mainly just to see the world. But this year’s Jiaolong assembly was his last chance. Everyone had high hopes for him. He knew he would succeed without even starting, vowing to win the championship and bring back the Song clan’s past glory.

But now it was too late, he had missed such an important event. How would he face his father and mother?

Song Zi Xiao said comfortingly, “Big brother, don’t think about this, just take care of your injuries. Since you can comprehend the Seventh Chongtian of the Zongxuan Sword, there won’t be any rivals among your peers, so it doesn’t matter if you can’t win that false reputation.”

Song Zi Heng’s eyes were like extinguished lamps, looking extremely dull: “Father and mother will be very disappointed.”

“No, they won’t blame you. Father will definitely find all those demonic cultivators and avenge us!”

Song Zi Heng was silent, his heart hurts more than his body’s wound. From young till now, he had always regarded the Jiaolong assembly as his greatest goal because everyone said that as the eldest prince of the Song Clan, he must outperform the other sons of other families at the Jiaolong assembly.

It was unexpected that the heavens would play tricks on him like this, making his efforts all for nought.

Huang Wu said, “Your Highness, Ninth Highness is right, your superior talent and the diligence of your acquired talent simply does not need to be proven by others.”

“Then how should I prove it.” Song Zi Heng said quietly.

The room was silent for a moment.

Huang Hong coughed lightly, “Your Highness, the Grand Master of Chunyang Sect has arrived from Jingzhou to investigate the attack on our inn in Gutuo Town, do you want to see him?”

Song Zi Heng closed his eyes and shook his head, “I’m tired, you guys go out first.”

The two brothers, Huang Hong and Huang Wu, retreated.

Song Zi Xiao remained by the bedside, his eyes unblinkingly watching Song Zi Heng. Taking in his pain, his disillusionment, and his remorse one by one, his heart sinking unbearably. It was only after a long time that he mumbled out, “Big brother, do you feel pain?”

Song Zi Heng said softly, “No.”

“Liar.”

Song Zi Heng forced a smile: “Then why are you asking me?”

Song Zi Xiao held Song Zi Heng’s hand and gritted his teeth, “Big brother, it’s because I’m too useless and unable to help you.”

“You are not allowed to say that. In the end it was you who collapsed the inn with your sword and saved big brother’s life.”

“But when they were attacking you, I couldn’t do anything to help and instead dragged you down.”

“You didn’t drag me down. With or without you, we would have had a hard time escaping this disaster.” Song Zi Heng remembered what those few men in black said, and the wounds on his body once again throbbed fiercely, “These demonic cultivators are so arrogant. They even dare to crave our golden cores. Which cultivator in this world is safe?”

“When father catches them, he will definitely hack them into pieces!” Song Zi Xiao only felt his hatred rising up towards the sky. He had never seen Song Zi Heng look so fragile and downhearted before. That gentle and smiling big brother who seemed to be omnipotent had been hurt like this!

Song Zi Heng remembered his missed Jiaolong assembly. Even if he caught those men now, time could not be reversed.

Song Zi Xiao crawled onto the bed. He put his face gently against Song Zi Heng’s shoulder, sniffled and whispered, “Big brother, I will never skip class again, I’ll never be lazy again. From now on, I will listen to big brother. I will become very strong and powerful so no one can hurt big brother anymore.”

Song Zi Heng gently held his brother’s hand, thinking that at least both of them had survived death, which was already a miracle. His heart suddenly became comforted, he smiled lightly and said, “Alright, Xiao Jiu has become more understanding.”

—

Later in the evening, Song Zi Heng was barely able to get up. After dinner, Song Zi Xiao was feeding him medicine when he heard a rush of footsteps approaching from outside the house, followed by the door being roughly pushed open and banging against the wall.

“Father!”

Song Ming He looked at Song Zi Heng, his face was gloomy, his eyes were full of anger.

“Father, I ……”

“You stranded yourself in that poor countryside for a walking corpse with no name, exposed your identity, provoked the demonic cultivators, and caused your brother to get in danger with because of you, not to mention that you also missed the Jiaolong assembly, are you stupid?!”

There was dead silence in the room.

Song Ming He’s anger came straight at him, causing Song Zi Heng to feel a pain that burned his heart and lungs.

As the eldest son, he was forced to be intelligent and understanding at an early age, but after all, he was only sixteen years old. At this time, surviving after experiencing danger and bedridden due to injuries, he thought his father would at least comfort him, but he did not expect…

Song Zi Xiao was the first to come back to his senses: “Father, how can you blame big brother for this, he…”

“You shut up!” Song Ming He said sternly, “Do you know the importance of the Jiaolong assembly? Do you know that you can only win but not lose this battle? Do you know that as the eldest son, you shouldered the mission of reviving the Song clan? But you missed the Jiaolong assembly for some nonsense, what’s the use of having you?!”

Song Zi Heng’s eyes were red, he stiffly gripped the blanket with his fingers, and his lips were moving, unable to speak.

Song Zi Xiao stood up: “Father, why, why are you saying such things? We were attacked, and big brother almost died.”

“Then who should be blamed? Right now, both of you should be in Mount Shu’s Yunding, not here. Can’t you tell which is more important, the Jiaolong assembly or some walking corpse? Who told you to meddle? Who was it that wanted to investigate? Who was it that wanted to stay in that inn? Was it your younger brother? Was it Huang Hong and Huang Wu?!”

Song Zi Heng said in a trembling voice: “It was…me.”

“You not only missed the Jiaolong assembly but also let Zi Xiao follow you into danger. You’re the one who brought him out. If anything bad happens to him, what are you going to take into account?!”

“…… It’s my fault.” Song Zi Heng held back his tears and falteringly lifted the quilt, wanting to get out of bed.

“Big brother don’t move!”

Song Zi Xiao hurriedly assisted but was pushed away by Song Zi Heng. He endured the pain of his injuries and insisted on climbing out of bed.

With gold eyes, Song Ming He looked at his eldest son kneeling down in front of himself with difficulty.

Song Zi Heng kowtows deeply, his voice trembling beyond recognition, “I was wrong, I’ve let father down.”

Song Ming He, however, did not look at him again, “Zi Xiao, return to Daming with me.”

“But big brother…”

“Go.”

“No, I want to stay with big brother!”

“Huang Hong and Huang Wu.”

“Yes.”

Although Huang Hong was embarrassed, he still had to go over and pick up Song Zi Xiao in his arms.

Song Zi Xiao kicked and punched angrily, “Go away, don’t touch me, go away! Big brother–”

Song Ming He flicked his sleeves and left, Song Zi Xiao was also taken away. In an instant, only Song Zi Heng was left alone in the house. He still maintained in his kneeling position, his head lowered into the dust. A while later, his shoulders twitched slightly.

Chongtian* [重天] —There isn’t a good explanation on google. Usually, this term is used in Buddhism. In this novel, you can treat Chongtian like a level. The higher the Chongtian, the higher the level. In this novel, you will encounter not only the Seventh. Eighth and Ninth will be in this novel.

Exian* [鄂县] —the current Hubei province now