Rhubarb: Don't Stop Me, I'll Bite Him to Death

Silence!

An eerie silence!

Both Xuan Wudao and Da Huang had grown unusually quiet, as if someone had placed a seal over their mouths—not a word, not a sound.

"Hey, you two, say something."

"It’s getting boring."

"Don’t you think it’s too quiet with everyone keeping mum?"

Chen Chang'an glanced at them, but Xuan Wudao and Da Huang simply turned their heads away, ignoring him completely.

"Master Chen, I suspect they’re too ashamed to speak now—utterly mortified."

Chen Chang'an never expected Hua Wulei, someone so aloof, to have such a talent for delivering cutting remarks.

The reason Xuan Wudao and Da Huang stayed silent was simple: every time Chen Chang'an said something, Hua Wulei would follow up with a few stinging words. And they couldn’t even argue back. Da Huang had it slightly better—his strength spoke for itself—but Xuan Wudao had suffered immensely.

Over the course of their journey, Xuan Wudao had lost count of how many times he’d been kicked or sent crashing into mountains. Even if he didn’t care about himself, he had to think of the environment!

"By the way, Master Chen, aside from apprehending this scoundrel Xuan Wudao, I have another matter to attend to this time."

"It might delay us for a few days."

Hearing this, Chen Chang'an was taken aback. Another task?

"Another scoundrel?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"Not a scoundrel—a heartless, ungrateful wretch who toys with women’s affections. A man who deserves death!" Hua Wulei said coldly.

"Exactly!"

"Such people are despicable!"

"I, Xuan Wudao, despise them most of all!" Xuan Wudao declared solemnly.

Hua Wulei sneered. "Birds of a feather. You’re no better."

"Now that’s unfair."

"Though I frequent pleasure houses, I’ve never crossed the line."

"I’ve never broken a woman’s heart."

"I have principles," Xuan Wudao insisted, dead serious.

"Principles?"

"What a joke!"

"How high can the principles of a brothel-haunting wastrel really be?"

Xuan Wudao’s face flushed red with anger, but he was outmatched in both strength and wit. What could he do? Stay silent, as usual.

"Are you heading there now to deal with it?" Chen Chang'an asked Hua Wulei.

"Yes. It should take about two days."

"I can give you directions to the Numinous Goddess Palace. You go ahead, and I’ll catch up later."

"Hey, hey, hey!"

"Now I’ve got to call you out on this."

"Don’t hit me—I’m being serious."

"Is this how you handle things?"

"It’s like telling a prisoner to walk themselves to jail!"

"Do you really think they’d go willingly?"

"Aren’t you worried we’ll run?"

"This is downright disrespectful!"

Xuan Wudao was indignant. This was outright humiliation—expecting him to turn himself in?

"You might run, but I trust Master Chen’s integrity. He’ll keep you in line."

"He’s not that kind of man."

Hua Wulei’s words shattered Xuan Wudao’s composure.

Damn it!

Not that kind of man?

The most cunning one here is him! How did he suddenly become the paragon of virtue?

"Let’s go. Don’t bother with him—we’re not cut from the same cloth."

"Ah, yes. What is he? ‘Unsoiled by the mud, untainted by the waves.’"

"Our words alone would sully him."

Da Huang’s sarcastic remark dripped with mockery.

"Indeed, not the same. You’re a dog."

Grrrr!

Da Huang’s throat rumbled with a low growl, his eyes locked onto Chen Chang'an.

"Da Huang, calm down! Don’t act rashly!" Xuan Wudao hurriedly intervened.

"Don’t stop me! I’m going to bite him to death!" Da Huang snarled, claws bared.

"Easy, easy! Let’s cool off. How about I take you to a—"

BAM!

Before Xuan Wudao could finish, Hua Wulei sent him flying with a slap.

"Take him to a what?"

Her icy gaze followed Xuan Wudao’s trajectory as she demanded an answer.

"Scenic mountains and rivers!"

"I was going to take Da Huang to appreciate nature’s beauty and refine our spirits!"

Xuan Wudao scurried back, clutching his cheek, on the verge of tears.

"Hmph. Good. You two could use some refinement."

"‘Keep good men company, and you’ll be one of them.’ Yet despite being around Master Chen, you’ve learned none of his virtues."

"Such willful degradation."

She sighed in disappointment.

Virtues?

What virtues does Chen Chang'an have?

He’s the most scheming one here! And we’re the degraded ones?

Following his example would be true degradation!

"Deputy Palace Master Hua, you misunderstand."

"One’s nature cannot be forced."

"‘Fate dictates all; none can escape it.’"

"Some qualities are beyond their reach."

"It’s innate—a matter of essence."

Chen Chang'an sighed regretfully.

"Master Chen speaks wisely."

"Men of your unwavering integrity are rare in this world."

Hua Wulei nodded in solemn agreement.

"Ah, the loneliness of virtue."

Chen Chang'an sighed again.

"Master Chen, I won’t delay you further. I have urgent business."

"Please escort Xuan Wudao ahead. I’ll join you shortly."

"Actually… why not go together?"

"I’d like to see the spectacle."

"I’m curious—how does the Numinous Goddess Palace deal with such heartless men?"

Chen Chang'an was never one to pass up a good show. Plus, he genuinely wondered what methods the Numinous Goddess Palace employed.

"Yes, we must go!"

"My life might depend on it!"

Xuan Wudao was equally eager.

"Very well. Let’s proceed together."

"Though I trust Master Chen, this Xuan Wudao… his character is dubious. He might deceive even you."

What?!

Damn it!

How did this circle back to him again?

Xuan Wudao felt like dying. Yes, he’d sinned. Yes, he’d erred. But couldn’t they just punish him outright? Did they have to twist the knife over and over?

"By the way, where exactly are we going?" Chen Chang'an asked curiously.

"Demon Ridge. The Tu Family."

Demon Ridge? The Tu Family?

Chen Chang'an had never heard of them, nor had he been to Demon Ridge. But Xuan Wudao’s expression shifted to surprise.

"You’re going to the Tu Family of Demon Ridge?"

"You know of them?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"Of course. The Tu Family is the foremost power in Demon Ridge—far stronger than my Profound Sky Sect."

"They’re just a step below the Three Great Clans. Their ancestral patriarch is said to be one step away from the peak of the Emperor realm."

"But that single step makes all the difference."

Xuan Wudao’s shock stemmed from the Tu Family’s formidable strength.

Though Hua Wulei was the deputy palace master of the Numinous Goddess Palace, she wasn’t at the level of the palace master—a peak Emperor.

She just walked over like that—would the Tu Family really let him do as he pleases?

"Why does it feel like the factions in the Central Heaven Domain are such a mess?" Da Huang frowned and asked.

"A mess? Not really, is it?"

"The three great sects represent the strongest among the sect factions."

"The three great families represent the strongest among the clan factions."

"Then there’s a whole bunch of others, all representing various powers."

"In the Central Heaven Domain, no single faction has dared to claim they’re the undisputed top power yet," Xuan Wudao explained.

"Huh?"

"What’s going on?"

"Is this… someone breaking through?"