Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 191: The Chu Family Can’t Afford to Lose This Face!
Ning Xuan paid no mind to who had leaked the news. It seems I need to hurry, or the Heavenly Crystals will become harder and harder to obtain!
Murmuring to himself, Ning Xuan urged the moving villa toward a specific destination: the Cloud Summit Heavenly Palace. The Ten Clans’ competition would be held there soon, so the path was bound to be lively. More importantly, anyone attending the competition was certain to be wealthy.
As for Chu Tian, having acquired a Movable Apartment, he had no plans to return to his family. Instead, he leisurely rode his old bull toward the Heavenly Palace.
Suddenly, for some unknown reason, the old bull went into a frenzy and began to sprint wildly. Chu Tian, caught completely off guard, was nearly thrown off.
Damn it! Another reason to get rid of this thing!
"MOO—MOO—MOO—"
The old bull bellowed joyously.
Chu Tian’s face lit up with delight. "Faster!"
He understood all too well what its bellowing meant. The girl he adored was just a short distance ahead!
After two hours of the old bull’s frenzied sprint, the man and his bull stood atop a mountain peak. From afar, they could see a huge Flying Ship approaching, currently skimming through the clouds.
"Well done! I’ll remember this great service!" Chu Tian patted the bull’s head. He had planned to release the Movable Apartment, but after a moment’s thought, he simply let out a long cry and waved his hand.
The Flying Ship in the clouds paused for a moment before descending.
Soon, the large character for "Qian" on the Flying Ship came into view.
Before the vessel had even leveled with the peak, Chu Tian was already waving impatiently at a bright-eyed, radiant young woman on board. "Miss Qian, what a coincidence."
At the same time, he looked at the chubby young boy beside her, another young man, and a stunningly beautiful young matron, asking, "And they are...?"
"My aunt, Qian Yourong; my younger brother, Qian Manman; and my cousin, Qian Duoduo." The young woman Chu Tian had called Miss Qian was named Qian Fanfan.
Qian Fanfan introduced her family to Chu Tian before turning to them and saying simply, "Chu Tian."
As a flicker of disappointment crossed Chu Tian’s eyes, Qian Manman, who stood to Qian Fanfan’s left, sized him up. "Young Master Chu, are you from the Chu Family?"
Chu Tian nodded.
Qian Manman pressed, "The direct lineage?"
Chu Tian nodded again.
Qian Manman’s eyes lit up as he asked probingly, "May I ask what your rank is among the younger generation of the Chu Family?"
He knew of the Chu Family’s Young Master, Chu Yang, but he had never heard the name Chu Tian, which was why he asked.
Chu Tian shook his head. "My aptitude is poor, so I am not a prominent figure in the Chu Family." As he spoke, he glanced uneasily at Qian Fanfan.
Beside Qian Fanfan, Qian Manman curled his lip, losing all interest in even looking at Chu Tian again. As the grandson of the Qian Family’s current leader, Qian Manman was the very definition of tall, rich, and handsome. Constantly surrounded by sycophants, he had developed an arrogant personality and looked down on everyone. If Chu Tian held some standing in his family, he wouldn’t mind getting to know him. But if he has no status, it’s a waste of time!
Qian Fanfan tugged at Qian Manman’s sleeve, but he didn’t react. Helplessness flashed in her beautiful eyes before she turned her attention to Chu Tian. Covering her mouth to hide a laugh, she asked, "Young Master Chu, this getup of yours is...?"
"Ah... I’m out experiencing life!" A flustered Chu Tian felt a flash of inspiration and blurted out the first excuse that came to mind.
I can’t let her know this getup is to save on Heavenly Crystals. Otherwise, she’ll definitely think I’m stingy. In front of the Qian Family, that would be fatal!
This time, Qian Manman didn’t need any prompting from his sister. He jumped in with a sneer, "How very cultured, Young Master Chu. If my sister hadn’t told me your surname was Chu, I would have mistaken you for a cowherd."
Qian Fanfan’s face turned frosty. "Manman, if you keep speaking so recklessly, I will send you back home!"
"Sis, don’t! I was wrong," Qian Manman pleaded, his face a mask of appeasement. He feared nothing and no one, except for this sister of his.
"Why are you apologizing to me? Apologize to Young Master Chu!"
Now Qian Manman was displeased. "But I was just telling the truth!" he retorted. "If you don’t believe me, ask Auntie... ask Qian Duoduo! Right, Duoduo?" He shot Qian Duoduo a look, a subtle threat in his eyes.
His aunt was his father’s sister. She had recently had a falling out with the family, and upon her return, he had heard tales of her incredible feats. To be honest, he was a little afraid of her. Qian Duoduo, however, was a different story. He was just like his father: weak-willed and easily pushed around. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been forced to leave and build Qianling City on the perilous fringes of the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.
Qian Duoduo was busy munching on his "candies." Hearing his name, he offered a fawning smile and a polite response. "Right here, Cousin Manman." Then he blinked and asked in confusion, "What did you say?"
"Duoduo, ignore him!" Qian Yourong interjected, giving Qian Manman a clear warning glance.
Qian Manman gave a sheepish smile and fell silent.
Qian Fanfan knew her brother well enough to realize an apology was out of the question. She could only offer Chu Tian an apologetic smile before asking, "Young Master Chu, where are you headed? Perhaps we could travel together?"
Chu Tian was overjoyed. "Thank you, Miss Qian! I’m going to the Heavenly Palace. If it’s on the way..." In his heart, his annoyance toward Qian Manman turned into gratitude.
But before he could finish, Qian Manman caught his hopeful expression and flatly refused. "It’s not on our way!"
Seeing his sister’s gaze on him, he quickly lowered his voice. "No way, Sis! We might not care, but our aunt is a noblewoman, and these are dangerous times! Why don’t we just give him a Flying Boat?"
For once, Qian Manman had said something clever. As he expected, Qian Fanfan hesitated.
Triumphantly, Qian Manman glanced at Chu Tian and sneered inwardly. Heh, little punk. A toad lusting after a swan’s flesh. Wishful thinking!
At the same time, with a grand wave of his hand, a Flying Boat materialized in the air. "It’s yours!" he declared with the arrogance of the wealthy.
Chu Tian was inwardly ecstatic. He had been looking for an excuse to show off his Movable Apartment, and this guy had just served one up on a platter. It was like someone offering you a pillow just as you were getting sleepy!
He immediately shook his head and declined. "No need, I have my own ride."
"You do? Don’t tell me you plan on riding that bull all the way to the Heavenly Palace?" Qian Manman’s expression was mocking. Without waiting for a reply, he added with a smirk, "Take my advice and accept the Flying Boat. Otherwise, arriving at the Heavenly Palace like that will only make you a laughingstock. Who knows, the Chu Family might even disown you! After all, the Chu Family can’t afford such a loss of face!"
"Young Master Qian’s advice is sound," Chu Tian nodded in deep agreement. "That’s why I plan on using this."
As he finished speaking, the Movable Apartment appeared, hovering low in the air.
"What in the world is that?" Qian Manman looked completely puzzled.
Qian Duoduo’s small eyes also darted around, his expression full of curiosity.
In contrast, both Qian Yourong and Qian Fanfan’s expressions changed dramatically. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
Qian Fanfan was the first to speak. "Young Master Chu, is that the new Flying Treasure from the Bi Luo Palace?"
"Miss Qian is as knowledgeable as they say. That’s the one," Chu Tian confirmed. "It’s called the Movable Apartment. Not only does it have all the functions of a Flying Boat, but it can also withstand attacks from a martial artist at the peak of the King Realm."
Qian Manman and Qian Duoduo stared, their eyes wide with shock.
