Chapter 54: The Absurd Chosen One

The surrounding colleagues wore faces full of mockery upon witnessing this scene.

As for offering help?

That, of course, was completely out of the question.

"Humph!"

Lei Zheng let out a cold snort, causing Wan Feiliang's body to involuntarily tremble.

Fortunately, Lei Zheng did not actually make a move, turning instead to address everyone present.

"This afternoon, everyone will scatter and search separately. Whoever finds anything will certainly be generously rewarded by me. If they are willing, I can even personally recommend them for an audience with the General!"

The general Lei Zheng referred to was naturally the Grand General of the Frontier.

These words caused the eyes of many people to light up.

The backing of many among them could not possibly compare to the towering tree that was the Grand General of the Frontier. If one could truly attach themselves to the Grand General's faction, they would likely be able to walk sideways unhindered through the imperial city from then on.

"We will obey your command!"

Though martial officers were straightforward in temperament, they were not entirely devoid of wits.

Just like Lei Zheng at this moment; without a bit of cleverness, he could never have uttered such words.

Ye Liuyun followed suit and acknowledged the order earnestly. Beside him, Wan Feiliang wore a look of reluctant dissatisfaction, frustrated that this attempt to trap Ye Liuyun had failed.

He had already begun plotting what kind of method to use against Ye Liuyun next time.

...

"My lord, I've already inquired beforehand; that Zhao Tian frequently hunts right around here."

In the afternoon, Ye Liuyun led Si Nan and Shi Sheng toward another section of the forest.

With Si Nan acting as the guide, they soon located the area where Zhao Tian often hunted.

Just as they were about to walk through,

"Snap!"

A faint, crisp sound caused Ye Liuyun to halt his steps.

He immediately raised his hand and yanked Si Nan, who was walking at the very front, back toward him.

The next instant!

"Boom!"

A towering ancient tree suddenly toppled over, and its precise target was none other than the exact spot Si Nan had occupied just a moment before.

The moment the trunk collapsed, it kicked up a considerable cloud of dust.

When he had first been yanked back, Si Nan was still somewhat bewildered, but now, looking at the fallen tree, his face was filled with lingering fear. If Ye Liuyun had not intervened, with that kind of weight and momentum, he probably would have been crushed to death on the spot.

"Thank you, my lord, for saving my life!"

Ye Liuyun said nothing, merely waving his hand to indicate it was nothing.

He frowned as he stared at the fractured base of the fallen tree.

At that moment, Shi Sheng also stepped forward to inspect the broken part of the tree.

"It looks like it was chewed through by some animals, not done by human hands."

If it had been done by human beings, the fractured surface could not possibly have been that ragged.

As he spoke, Shi Sheng cast a very strange look in Si Nan's direction.

It seemed he had not expected Si Nan to be so profoundly unlucky as to run into this kind of bizarre occurrence.

...

Ye Liuyun remained silent, offering no response. Unlucky? This was far more than just simple bad luck.

Could the fortune of a favored son of destiny truly be this overbearing?

Even before any move was made, would it simply attract misfortune to one's surroundings? Yet, having already reached this point, turning back now would be far too courteous.

Moreover, precisely because the golden trait of being a favored son of destiny was so immensely useful, Ye Liuyun desired it all the more.

"The two of you stay here and keep watch. Do not allow anyone else to approach, understand?"

Ye Liuyun did not let Si Nan and Shi Sheng continue following him.

"Understood, my lord!"

Both of them responded in unison, taking up positions right where they stood to guard the perimeter.

As for Ye Liuyun himself, he leaped lightly over the fallen tree trunk, advancing rapidly by means of his lightness skill.

"Tell me, what on earth do you think the lord is trying to do?"

After Ye Liuyun had departed, Shi Sheng looked at Si Nan, who had seated himself directly on the tree trunk, and asked out of curiosity.

"I have no idea!"

Si Nan shrugged.

He couldn't possibly guess every single thing the lord intended.

"However, it doesn't matter. When we head back, we can just ask the lord directly. If it's something he can talk about, he will certainly tell us."

And if it was something he couldn't discuss, knowing about it wouldn't serve any meaningful purpose anyway.

"That's true!"

Shi Sheng thought about it and realized this made complete sense.

Nodding, he sat down alongside Si Nan, faithfully carrying out Ye Liuyun's command to hold the post.

However, after a short while,

"When we get back this time, accompany me to burn some incense and pay my respects at a temple!"

Si Nan had originally never believed in deities or ghosts, but his run of bad luck today was genuinely a bit abnormal.

He felt that if he didn't go offer incense and seek a blessing, his heart would simply remain uneasy.

"Tsk!"

...

"What's going on here?"

Meanwhile, over on Zhao Tian's side.

He had just hunted a wild hare and originally intended to gather two bundles of firewood before heading straight back home.

Yet for some reason, he suddenly felt a creeping sense of unease, as if some ill omen was about to befall him.

However, the surrounding forest was entirely quiet, bearing no resemblance to a place fraught with danger.

"Forget it. The firewood at home is enough for now; I'll chop some more next time."

Ever since he was a child, Zhao Tian had always placed great trust in his own intuition. Whenever he had this particular feeling in the past, hazardous events would invariably follow, and Zhao Tian had often relied on this very instinct to evade danger.

With this thought in mind, Zhao Tian decided to leave immediately.

However,

"As expected of a favored son of destiny, your intuition is indeed remarkably sharp."

He had sensed the danger in advance and therefore decided to leave, hadn't he?

"???"

The sudden, unexpected voice caused Zhao Tian to freeze in place, wondering momentarily what the phrase "favored son of destiny" could possibly mean.

The very next instant, however, Ye Liuyun's figure came into his field of vision.

Though he did not recognize Ye Liuyun personally, Zhao Tian recognized the clothing he wore—it was precisely the same as that of the men from earlier in the day.

His pupils constricted slightly as if he had realized something, but he quickly composed himself, hurriedly bowing as he spoke.

"Esteemed lord, I am merely an ordinary villager. Is there something you need?"

"Stop pretending!"

Youth was youth, after all.

No matter how much one might attempt to mask their depth, it would inevitably show on their face to some degree.

With careful observation, it was still entirely possible to read through it.

"You should know what I'm looking for. Hand the item over."

With that, Ye Liuyun raised his hand toward Zhao Tian.

His posture clearly projected the attitude of someone who knew everything and expected the charade to end.

...

He had actually been discovered.

Yet Zhao Tian still refused to admit it, forcing a strained smile as he replied,

"What are you talking about, my lord? I don't understand at all."

"I will say this one last time: hand the item over."

Ye Liuyun's expression remained calm, completely unaffected by Zhao Tian's words.

"I—"

Zhao Tian still wanted to deny it.

The next moment, however, Ye Liuyun's palm strike had already slammed directly into Zhao Tian's chest.

"Bang!"

Seemingly caught off guard by Ye Liuyun's sudden attack without further warning, Zhao Tian was sent flying backward, a look of utter bewilderment still frozen on his face.

His body crashed heavily against a thick tree trunk.

Yet within moments, Zhao Tian managed to stand back up on his feet, glaring angrily at Ye Liuyun.

"Esteemed lord, you have attacked me without cause! Is there no longer any law or justice in this land?"

...

Ye Liuyun fell silent, though not because of Zhao Tian's words.

Even though he hadn't used his full strength with that strike, the fact that Zhao Tian clearly possessed no cultivation base whatsoever, yet was able to stand right back up completely unscathed a mere moment later—was that something a normal human being could possibly achieve?

Could a favored son of destiny truly be this absurdly resilient?