Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Four Resentful Kings, Caught Between Fear and Caution

Han Chong cradled the lotus stalk in his arms, attempting to store it in his pouch, but nothing happened! Upon closer inspection, he discovered that the roots were still writhing, alive even after being uprooted! If he destroyed this lotus stalk, who knew what would become of Duan Wenxuan. After all, the two were one; without the stalk, the black lotus would become a rootless floating weed!

Han Chong was just about to snap it apart.

“Don’t! Don’t kill me!”

A sudden surge of consciousness flooded his mind, the voice of a young child!

“What!” Han Chong’s expression froze. Could one lotus truly give birth to two spirits? Or perhaps the black lotus and the stalk were not one after all?

“Who are you!” Han Chong withdrew his hand and questioned the presence.

“I don’t know. I was peacefully growing in a mountain spring, where I awakened my spirit. There were a few companions just like me in the spring, and we played happily every day. Suddenly, a man in black robes sent a soul into my body. I was then tainted by demonic energy, forced back into the lotus root, and the flower was plucked by that black-robed man. After he refined it, he took the root and molded the soul into a person. Then I was transplanted here, to this lotus pond. Wuu, wuu...”

At the end, the child’s voice broke into miserable sobs.

Han Chong was torn with compassion; the lotus stalk was so pitiful! Corrupted by demonic energy, robbed of its body, cruelly tormented—he found it impossible to act.

“Not good, he’s coming!” the child cried in terror.

Sure enough, looking back, Duan Wenxuan was speeding through the water toward them.

Han Chong’s heart tightened; the two were connected by invisible threads, sensing each other! And in water, his swimming speed couldn’t match Duan Wenxuan’s—sooner or later, he would be caught!

With no alternative, Han Chong hurriedly climbed ashore, with Duan Wenxuan following close behind.

“Stop right there, boy!” Duan Wenxuan yelled.

Han Chong, resigned, turned slowly with the lotus stalk in his arms.

“It’s you! So you dare covet my true form? Put it down now and I might spare your life, otherwise I will burn you to ashes!” Duan Wenxuan’s face contorted, gone was any trace of scholarly elegance.

“I am a Monster-Slaying Captain. Who are you, to hide your demonic aura? Why did you found the Black Lotus Sect—what is your purpose?” Han Chong’s face was grave as he questioned.

---

“Hmph! Boy, I advise you not to meddle. The more you know, the shorter your life will be!”

“Oh? You think you can kill me?”

“Ha! You are quite arrogant, aren’t you?” With a flick of his finger, a jet of black sword energy shot toward Han Chong!

But seeing Han Chong feign to shield himself with the lotus stalk, Duan Wenxuan’s expression turned furious and he hastily changed the angle.

“Damn brat, are you begging for death? What do you want?” he panted, face flushed with rage.

“I’ve already told you. Answer my questions and I’ll return the lotus stalk to you!”

“Oh? Really?” Duan Wenxuan raised his brows, distrustful.

“Of course. If your answers satisfy me.”

“Fine. I’ll tell you—I was once a scholar, but after being killed by a corrupt official, I ended up like this. I can use scholarly aura to mask my demonic energy, so you people can’t detect me. Now, Pei Jun Prefecture belongs to us, the Four Kings of Resentment. You are nothing but lambs awaiting slaughter.”

“Oh? Four Kings of Resentment? Besides you, the Black Tiger Demon King of Tiger Fang Mountain and the One-Horned Ghost Ape King, who else?”

“What! How do you know about the other two?”

“Answer!” Han Chong drew his black sword and pressed it against the lotus stalk.

“No, wait! I really only know those two. The fourth king is the most mysterious—even I don’t know who it is!” Duan Wenxuan quickly raised his hands to stop him.

[System: Host has discovered the existence of the fourth Resentment King of Pei Jun Prefecture. Investigation quest triggered. Uncover their identity, purpose, and actions to permanently gain ten points in Evasion attribute.]

Evasion attribute!

This was the most enigmatic of all defensive traits! If the opponent lacked precision, even a killing blow could be dodged entirely, granting immunity—at a critical moment, it could even save a life!

...

“Nonsense! Are the Four Kings of Resentment titles bestowed by others? Not even you know?”

“Heh, you’re right. We truly aren’t self-proclaimed. But even I have no idea who the fourth is. I just follow orders! I don’t even know what’s next—only await instructions. Is that answer good enough for you?”

Han Chong frowned and pondered. Judging from the true nature of the lotus stalk and Duan Wenxuan’s words, the real mastermind was that black-robed man! This person could transfer Duan Wenxuan’s soul into the spirit lotus, forge a body—his power was unfathomable!

But there was absolutely no way Han Chong would return the lotus stalk!

---

“Now, you can return my true form, yes?”

“Of course—but it won’t be me returning it. It will be you!”

“What? You know?” Duan Wenxuan was shocked, but suddenly realized why Han Chong hadn’t destroyed his true form: he must have felt pity for the lotus stalk’s spirit!

Before he could act, Han Chong pulled out a Cloud-Penetrating Arrow and fired it skyward—the Black-Light Tiger soared!

Immediately after, a three-foot-long blade of azure light shot toward him!

Duan Wenxuan cursed the boy’s cunning. By the time he reacted, the light blade was already less than ten feet away! He raised his hand, releasing sword energy, and dodged to the left.

But when the black sword energy collided with the light blade, the latter abruptly grew by thirty percent, with a thunderous crash. His sword energy was annihilated alongside it!

Han Chong had already unleashed a second Monster-Slaying Light Blade.

His eyes brightened—the first blade had triggered a critical effect, otherwise it wouldn’t have matched Duan Wenxuan’s sword energy!

Duan Wenxuan managed to dodge, but now couldn’t block with sword energy.

Even stranger, the light blade, which should have missed, suddenly curved slightly, slicing toward his left shoulder!

No! Duan Wenxuan’s eyes widened—if struck, half his body would be cleaved away!

Fortunately, he spat out a mouthful of black flames, burning away most of the blade’s power, but a portion still slashed into his left shoulder.

“Ah!” With a scream, Duan Wenxuan clutched his arm in pain. His left arm was nearly severed, leaving a terrifying three-inch-deep gash, spilling green blood!

When he looked for Han Chong again, the boy was gone—only the lotus stalk lay on the ground!

He fled? Duan Wenxuan was about to rejoice and rush to pick it up, but suddenly halted!

No—he remembered the earlier strange gray stone to the head, his feet being grabbed, and the mysterious blue flames!

Could this boy really have the power to become invisible and hide?

For a moment, the lotus stalk lay on the ground, but Duan Wenxuan dared not move. His right hand flickered with fierce sword energy, eyes darting around, desperately searching for Han Chong!

Han Chong was indeed hiding underground, waiting for Duan Wenxuan to grab the stalk, ready to strike! But this villain was as cunning as a fox, refusing to fall for the trap!

Finally, after a tense quarter-hour, Captain Ning, Peach Blossom Eyes, Ouyang Jingguan, Mingzhen, and Cold Moon arrived from the dense forest!

Duan Wenxuan’s heart sank, his gaze flickering. One troublesome boy was hard enough—now so many Monster-Slaying Captains had come, making it even harder to reclaim the lotus stalk.

He guessed Han Chong’s compassion would stop him from destroying the stalk, so Duan Wenxuan prepared to escape. But suddenly, his expression froze, his footsteps stalled.

He saw the lotus stalk, engulfed in black flames—about to burn itself to death!