Chapter 39: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

Although Cloud Crane's voice was soft, it resonated with undeniable weight. Wu Yazi's face revealed a satisfied smile; all regrets in his heart dissipated. His fingers fell lifelessly, and he closed his eyes forever.

Wang Yuyan could no longer restrain the sorrow in her heart and began to weep quietly.

Cloud Crane glanced at the departed Wu Yazi and bowed respectfully to him.

"Rest well, elder. I will take good care of Wang Yuyan."

Wang Yuyan's tears slightly eased the sadness in his heart; she rose and paid Wu Yazi a solemn tribute.

"Let’s go," she said, wiping the traces of tears from her face.

Hearing this, Cloud Crane looked at Wang Yuyan in surprise.

She continued, "Thank you for bringing me to see my grandfather one last time."

Cloud Crane was momentarily stunned; he could plainly feel that Wang Yuyan’s attitude toward him was no longer as repulsed as it had been at first.

This was good news for him—a significant step closer to success.

Though his heart was jubilant, Cloud Crane stubbornly replied, "No need to thank me; we each got what we wanted."

Watching Cloud Crane’s departing back, a trace of confusion flickered in Wang Yuyan’s eyes.

How did Cloud Crane come to know about her lineage?

After this encounter, she realized that Cloud Crane’s actions were not as despicable as the rumors outside claimed.

Was this all a façade orchestrated by Cloud Crane, or were the rumors themselves mistaken?

As these thoughts flashed through her mind, the scene before her shifted, and she once more appeared before the crowd.

The onlookers saw the two pressed closely together and their faces twisted in anger.

Especially when they noticed the traces of tears on Wang Yuyan’s face, their fury reached its peak.

Cloud Crane was nothing short of a beast, having ruined an innocent girl.

Wang Yuyan noticed the change in the crowd’s gaze and quickly broke free from Cloud Crane’s embrace, running to stand before Murong Fu.

She wanted to explain herself to her cousin, but Murong Fu’s face was dark throughout; he had no intention of listening.

Cloud Crane said nothing, merely watched the scene in silence, slowly shaking his head.

This silly girl—after all this, her heart still yearns for her cousin.

When will she realize he doesn’t care about her at all? What he cares about is the restoration of Great Yan.

As this thought crossed his mind, Cloud Crane turned his gaze to Azhi; she visibly relaxed upon seeing him unharmed, though her expression soon grew resentful as she turned away in a huff.

At this moment, Su Xinghe stepped forward and handed a jade-green ring to Cloud Crane.

"Junior Brother, since you have inherited Master’s legacy, you are now the leader of the Carefree Sect. You must strive to elevate our sect to new heights."

Cloud Crane stroked the ring in his hand, his gaze deep and contemplative. After a long while, he nodded slowly. "Rest assured, I will."

Seeing this, Su Xinghe said no more on the matter and looked to Ding Chunqiu at the side. "How should this traitor be dealt with?"

Cloud Crane glanced at Ding Chunqiu, the corners of his mouth twitching. He thought, I brought Ding Chunqiu here precisely so you could deal with this traitor.

Now you want me to handle Ding Chunqiu? Isn’t that redundant—a pointless gesture?

"Do as you see fit. I have other matters to attend to."

With that, Cloud Crane ignored Su Xinghe and approached Azhi with a flattering smile.

"Are you angry?" Cloud Crane looked at Azhi, smiling as he asked.

"No," Azhi turned away, her lips pouting proudly.

He chuckled inwardly.

This little goddess was clearly angry; if he didn’t appease her soon, the consequences would be dire.

"Don’t be mad, it’s all my fault."

"Then go kill that little vixen!" Azhi pointed toward Wang Yuyan.

Cloud Crane didn’t respond, merely smiled at Azhi. "Are you jealous?"

Azhi lifted her chin and pouted, refusing to speak, as if to say, "Of course not."

While the two whispered sweet nothings, the crowd’s gaze fixed on Cloud Crane, eyes filled with greed.

They all wanted to know what fortune Cloud Crane had gained in the cave and hoped to seize it for themselves.

Tempted by the lure of profit, someone finally could not hold back.

"Lecher, hand over the fortune you obtained from the cave, or today you shall die with no grave to your name!"

Cloud Crane had just managed to soothe Azhi, his heart still simmering with anger, needing an outlet.

Now that someone had stepped forward, he would use him as an example, to warn the others against acting rashly.

"What are you? The fortune is mine—if you want it, come and take it!"

Cloud Crane, now possessing Wu Yazi’s seventy years of cultivation, had confidence—his words carried undeniable force.

That man hadn’t expected Cloud Crane to be so unyielding; under the scrutiny of the crowd, he found himself unable to retreat.

As he hesitated, unsure whether to act, Cloud Crane moved first.

His figure became a blurred shadow, vanishing from his original spot.

Before the other man could react, Cloud Crane was already before him.

His face changed drastically, and in a moment of crisis, he summoned his inner energy to meet the attack.

Though Cloud Crane had not fully assimilated Wu Yazi’s power, his strength had already placed him among the top martial artists.

The opponent hastily gathered his energy—how could he withstand it?

Bang!

Their palms collided, and the man felt an unimaginable force flood over him.

His expression changed dramatically.

Before he could even cry out, his body flew several yards backward.

Crack!

The sound of bone breaking echoed in everyone’s ears.

The man’s eyes widened in disbelief, blood gushed freely, staining his face, as the last breath of life faded away.

Seeing Cloud Crane kill the man with a single palm strike, the crowd’s eyes flickered with a hint of fear.

Murong Fu looked at Cloud Crane, jealousy unfurling uncontrollably in his gaze.

Cloud Crane had gained this fortune; his martial arts had advanced by leaps and bounds in a short time.

If only he had solved the Chess Puzzle and gained that fortune, then at the martial arts assembly, he could outshine all others and become the leader of the martial world.

Then, with a single call to arms, the restoration of Great Yan would be within reach.

With this in mind, Murong Fu glanced at Wang Yuyan at his side, then at Cloud Crane, and began to scheme.

Cloud Crane stood with his palm withdrawn, his robe billowing without wind, the sound echoing sharply. His fierce gaze swept over the crowd, his powerful inner energy enveloping a cold voice that spread outward.

"If any other hero wishes to claim the fortune that is mine, step forward and teach me!"