Chapter 73: Storm of Fates

Lightning tore through the night sky, its shimmering trails evoking the image of a deep-blue divine dragon tumbling behind dark clouds.

Columns of torrential rain hammered the earth, washing away both human traces and the stench of blood.

Jinhuang Pavilion.

Inside a private lounge, the graceful courtesan exuded elegance as the subtle aroma of sandalwood mingled with the soft strains of silk and bamboo music; every smile and frown dripped with allure.

A rich, heady scent of wine permeated the room.

Xu Beihu downed cup after cup, the liquor trailing along the corners of his mouth.

His chest heaved violently, and a ruddy glow surfaced in his eyes.

Beside him, Xu Helil sipped wine with refined ease while savoring tender meat, his prized sword resting quietly at his side.

His gaze lingered on the courtesan’s sinuous waist, his eyes roaming over her exposed, jade-like skin.

“Big Brother… did we really just send off the Divine Cultivation Institute?”

Xu Beihu slammed his wine cup onto the table with a resounding thud, his eyes flashing with discontent.

Xu Helil’s interest waned as he shot him a glance: “We merely saw off Li Che’s daughter and that big-headed Prodigy. They aren’t of the Xu Family anyway, so it makes no difference…”

“But the Yang Family is handling this – surely they won’t just take away two prodigies… And besides… letting them barge in so boldly—Granny Mu wouldn’t give up on these kids, would she? They’ll surely end up dead, right?”

Xu Beihu’s voice turned hoarse and low.

“Granny Mu…”

Xu Helil fell silent.

“Back when we were prodigies ourselves, it was Granny Mu who nurtured and guided our cultivation…” Xu Beihu continued pouring his wine.

“Old Master made the decision—our duty was to obey. Besides, losing a prodigy can always be remedied, but for us, the chance only comes once.”

“You know how arduous it is to forge a Divine Foundation, with odds stacked against success… I have no other choice.”

Xu Helil’s expression darkened steadily.

Xu Beihu, aware of the stakes, sighed deeply.

Xu Helil sneered, “Don’t play the saint here. You were there when Old Master decided it all. If you weren’t happy with it, why didn’t you speak up then?”

“If you’ve got the guts, go confront Old Master yourself.”

“Granny Mu really is a pity…”

“But she’s old now, and she paved the way for us to forge our Divine Foundation…”

“That would fill her with joy!”

……

……

Lu Chi led XiXi, along with a swarm of bewildered children from the Divine Cultivation Institute, deeper into the mansion.

Yet the increasingly ominous divine aura outside cast a shadow of worry across his eyes.

Could Granny Mu really withstand the formidable divine cultivators of the Yang Family?

Among them were many who practiced Yangxing Ruhe, and some even matched Si Mu Bai’s martial prowess at its peak.

Granny Mu was aging; her vital energy waned. Though her divine power remained profound, the decline in her mortal body meant she could never fully command it—overall, she was no match for peak cultivators like Si Mu Bai.

Thus, Lu Chi suspected that Granny Mu was stalling for time, covering the escape for these prodigies…

In truth, she was choosing death.

Lu Chi wasn’t naive. As a member of the Divine Sect, he saw through everything better than anyone else.

“The Xu Family really shares the same character as most aristocratic clans. That’s one of the major flaws of the Great Jing Court today. While the court empowers these families, they grow bloated and indifferent to human life…”

“Chasing profit and power at all costs, they’ll sacrifice anything…”

Lu Chi exhaled sharply.

Yet he didn’t turn back to help Granny Mu, even though she was an old friend of his master.

His immediate task was to protect his underage junior sister, who hadn’t yet been betrothed.

Her safety came first!

Suddenly,

Lu Chi sensed a subtle fluctuation in divine energy.

His face changed in an instant.

Squinting, he noticed a white Divine Chess Piece hurtling out from XiXi’s small frame.

In the blink of an eye, darkness enveloped his vision!

Burly, imposing, domineering, and fierce…

For the children, that towering, terrifying figure appeared like a mountain emerging out of nowhere.

Standing at two meters, his muscles bulged and every sinew quivered like a writhing serpent; the mere surge of blood and energy was almost suffocating.

Beneath a charming Cute Cow Mask, a pair of eyes blazed with unbridled brutality and lethal intent!

“What is this…”

“Che… Ogre!”

“Ogre!”

Lu Chi would never forget that mask or that colossal build.

He abruptly halted, his eyes lighting up with delight.

He clearly recognized Ogre’s true identity!

That was XiXi’s old man!

Moreover, his strength was formidable— even Lu Chi, without resorting to Furious Third Prince, would probably lose his head.

Why would Ogre appear here?

Divine Secret Technique?

None of that mattered now!

None of it mattered—Ogre was a brutal killer, a man who wouldn’t bat an eye before taking a life!

With Ogre around, XiXi’s safety was assured!

Li Che’s sudden appearance left all the children stunned, especially the Xu kids, who stared in a daze at Li Che wearing the Cute Cow Mask.

They couldn’t help but recall the terrifying tales their families told about Ogre.

After all, he was a notorious outlaw who even dared to kill constables and spirit-capturing agents, known for decapitating children to use as footballs!

At night, parents would use Ogre’s reputation to keep them awake.

They were warned that if they didn’t sleep, Ogre would come and tear their heads off and kick them away!

In an instant, fear spread among the Xu children; one by one, they collapsed onto the ground, sobbing uncontrollably—some even wet themselves in terror.

Li Che: “…”

Who would fear me? I’m wearing this adorable Cute Cow Mask—I don’t even harm children!

I don’t eat children!

XiXi blinked her sparkling eyes as she stared at Ogre, her gaze filled not with fear, but with pure excitement!

Seeing XiXi safe, Li Che exhaled in relief.

Then his eyes shifted to Lu Chi, and he nodded slightly.

With Lu Chi’s protection, he could finally feel at ease.

“Ogre! You truly are the heroic Ogre my mother always spoke of!” XiXi cheered, clenching her small fists with delight.

“I finally get to see you!”

Li Che was momentarily taken aback.

A tender warmth filled his eyes, and a soft smile curled beneath his mask.

He knew that while rumors had tainted Ogre’s reputation throughout Feilei City, his wife Zhang Ya constantly reassured XiXi that Ogre was nothing short of a hero.

After all, Zhang Ya knew Ogre’s true identity.

Zhang Ya never wanted XiXi to believe her father was a villain.

Besides, Zhang Ya knew that Ogre was a hero!

Protecting their little family in peace…

The greatest of heroes!

“Ogre, there are monsters and thugs outside bullying Granny! Will you take me to beat them to death?”

XiXi stood boldly before Li Che, who had activated the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit ‘Angry Vajra’ stance—towering at two meters with a mountainous build and blood surging like living armor.

She looked up at him as though admiring a majestic peak.

Yet, she felt no terror.

The Xu children around whispered that Li Nuǎnxi must have lost her mind completely.

“XiXi, run! He’s an Ogre monster—he’ll tear children’s heads off and kick them like balls!”

A timid little boy from the Xu Family Divine Cultivation Institute, who secretly adored XiXi, mustered the courage to call out towards her, even as he wet his pants; his voice trembled, but his bravery was commendable.

His cheeks flushed as if he believed this was the very power of love!

Li Che narrowed his eyes.

His masked gaze swept coldly over the little boy.

It was as though he could detect the sour stench of a secret crush…

Just one glance was enough…

And in that moment, the brave little boy’s courage shattered; he broke down in hysterical sobs.

Li Che dismissed him without a second thought.

Lowering his gaze, he looked down at XiXi.

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

XiXi pressed her lips together. “Mother says you’re a great hero—and she wouldn’t lie to me!”

Ogre smiled gently. “Alright…”

“I’ll take you to rescue Granny.”

Ogre said in a warm tone.

In the next moment, his massive hand descended like a folding fan as he gently scooped up XiXi and nestled her onto his broad shoulder.

XiXi, unafraid, broke into a wide grin and giggled.

Lu Chi, however, remained grim, his face etched with deep concern.

He produced a carved wooden statue of the Third Prince and gripped it tightly.

The Yang Family boasted many experts—how could a single Ogre possibly turn the tides of battle?

There were several peak-level cultivators skilled in Yangxing Ruhe…

Lu Chi felt an immense pressure weighing on him.

It was all so frustrating.

If it weren’t for the need to rescue his master’s old friend, he would have turned tail and left by now.

Lu Chi’s childhood had only just begun—he wasn’t ready to die.

“Let’s go! Ogre, take us to rescue Granny!”

XiXi, perched on Ogre’s shoulder, cried out joyfully.

With a swift, hooked motion, Ogre sliced through the air. In the next instant, a delicate oiled paper umbrella landed in his hand, which he passed to XiXi.

“It’s raining out there—open the umbrella so you don’t catch a chill.”

XiXi obediently accepted the umbrella.

“Ogre… it’s so tiny!”

In the very next moment, Ogre’s fingers reached out into empty space.

The intricately crafted mechanism known as Nanmu Gatling Muduya materialized in his hand as divine energy spread, commanding one wooden Muduya after another to soar around him.

Shouldering the Nanmu Gatling with XiXi seated beside him,

the duo, shielded by a swarm of wooden Muduya, strode purposefully out beyond the walls of the Divine Cultivation Institute.

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