Wang Sandong noticed Wang Jinghong’s neck and was about to let him carry her on his back.
Suddenly, her heart jolted.
She remembered something and quickly let go of his arm, even stepping back two paces.
“What’s wrong?”
Wang Jinghong asked suspiciously, turning his head.
“Cough, carrying me on your back… that won’t do.”
Wang Sandong remembered that cucumber.
If he carried her like that, her eldest brother might overthink things.
“If you hook your hands around my legs, how will you climb up?”
Before Wang Jinghong could reply, she hurriedly added, “Even if we can get up the mountain, what if an accident happens? Thunderbolts often strike the peak. What if we’re unlucky and get struck by lightning?”
Wang Jinghong laughed.
“You’re too worried. Don’t you know my temperament? I wouldn’t take a risk unless I was absolutely certain. Especially with you and Yunteng along. Rest assured, I’ll safely bring you to the top of Qingyun Peak.”
Wang Yunteng also smiled.
“Third Brother, don’t worry. If it comes to it, Brother Hong will take you back down.”
‘Wang Sandong wanted to persist. After all, she had already “seen” the Time Flower and had no interest in seeing it again, nor was there any need to risk climbing the peak. However, she also understood her two elder brothers’ good intentions. If she flatly refused, it might hurt their feelings. Besides, since they were already here, backing out at the last moment would be a real downer.’
‘But… what about the cucumber? She couldn’t let her eldest brother misunderstand, so she had to take out the cucumber. It wouldn’t be appropriate to do it in front of them. Even if she tried to do it behind Wang Jinghong and Wang Yunteng’s backs, it was still inconvenient. After all, the area was wide open; who knew if someone was spying on them? Having been spied on by Yuan Di for sixteen years, Wang Sandong had psychological trauma. Only by hiding in the carriage and taking precautions could she safely retrieve the cucumber. But what excuse could she use to get into the carriage reasonably? So…’
‘After a moment’s thought, an idea came to her. Only by hiding in the carriage to take out the cucumber was the safest.’
“Oh… I feel a bit dizzy.”
Wang Sandong pressed a hand to her forehead.
“No, no, maybe I’m too nervous. I need to rest first.”
With that, she walked toward the carriage.
Seeing this, Wang Jinghong and Wang Yunteng didn’t dare insist.
Their faces were full of concern, and they immediately offered to take Wang Sandong home to rest.
“No need.”
Wang Sandong didn’t want to dampen her two brothers’ spirits.
“Just let me rest a bit. Actually, I really want to see ‘Serene Time.’ Don’t worry, brothers. I’ve been ill so long that I know the remedies. In this situation, I just need to lie down alone for a quarter of an hour.”
“Alone” was the key.
Worried about disturbing Wang Sandong, Wang Jinghong and Wang Yunteng called Wang Tong and moved a bit further away.
But they didn’t dare go too far, afraid something might happen to Wang Sandong.
In fact, as long as they didn’t suddenly burst into the carriage, nothing would go wrong.
Wang Sandong smoothly took out the cucumber.
‘She was about to quickly throw it out the other window, but then worried that someone might really be watching—throwing a cucumber out for no reason would certainly arouse suspicion.’
Fortunately, there was a cloth pouch next to the curtain at the front of the carriage.
She put the cucumber inside, and only then felt relieved.
She pretended to rest a little longer, then got out of the carriage.
Seeing that Wang Sandong had recovered quickly and was even more energetic than before, Wang Jinghong and Wang Yunteng finally felt at ease.
Then Wang Jinghong carried Wang Sandong on his back and headed up the mountain with Wang Yunteng.
At first, the slope was not too steep and could be easily climbed.
Soon, the three disappeared into the forest.
The servant Wang Tong stayed at the foot of the mountain to watch the carriage.
Bored, he sat on the shaft to rest and accidentally spotted the cucumber in the cloth pouch by the carriage door.
If it were a servant from another household, they wouldn’t dare touch their master’s food.
But Wang Sandong was kind-hearted and never minded about food, so Wang Tong hadn’t developed such good manners.
Besides, it was just a cucumber.
So Wang Tong picked up the cucumber and took a crunching bite.
“Huh?”
He looked at the cucumber in his hand, a puzzled expression on his face.
‘Why was this cucumber a bit warm? Maybe it was because of the high temperature.’
At that moment, halfway up Qingyun Peak.
The cliff suddenly became very steep.
Wang Yunteng started using both hands and feet.
Wang Jinghong, however, still used only his feet.
Spiritual energy gathered at his toes, like gripping claws, always firmly grabbing the cliff.
While climbing, he still cared about Wang Sandong’s mood.
“Third Brother, don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”
“You focus on climbing.”
Wang Sandong tightened her arms around Wang Jinghong’s neck, feeling quite regretful.
Wang Jinghong clearly sensed Wang Sandong’s worry.
He, who was originally full of confidence, began to worry as well.
However, to fulfill his younger brother’s wish, he managed to adjust his emotions and concentrate on climbing, determined to let his brother see “Serene Time.”
If he backed out today and failed to satisfy his brother’s wish…
He would regret it for the rest of his life.
Wang Yunteng replied, “Brother Hong, don’t worry about me.”
“Yunteng, be careful.”
Wang Jinghong warned him.
“Okay!”
Wang Jinghong took a deep breath and suddenly exerted force.
The cliff grew steeper, but his climbing speed increased.
The spiritual energy under his feet grew stronger.
Every time his feet touched the cliff, it was like a chisel, knocking off some small rocks.
Wang Yunteng climbed alongside, using both hands and feet, but his speed wasn’t much slower than Wang Jinghong’s.
In his haste, he caught a glimpse of the spiritual energy under Wang Jinghong’s feet and couldn’t help but feel envious.
‘Wang Jinghong was stronger. Unfortunately, his own aptitude was poor. If he had Brother Hong’s strength, why would he be scorned by his father every day?’
Further up, the cliff became even steeper.
Even worse, not far ahead, there was a large overhang, with no footholds at all.
“Yunteng, watch out!”
Wang Jinghong warned again.
Then, the tips of his feet actually left the cliff, stepping on thin air.
At the same time, spiritual energy under his feet condensed and exploded instantly, producing a sound of breaking air.
With a bang, Wang Jinghong, carrying Wang Sandong on his back, shot straight into the sky.
Wang Yunteng watched, stunned.
‘Impressive! It was actually “Void Walk”! So Brother Hong had already reached the sixth rank. To achieve such a feat at such a young age was truly enviable… Even a little jealous. Truly a genius! But… I, Wang Yunteng, may not have extraordinary talent, but I don’t want to fall too far behind!’
Wang Yunteng’s spirits soared instantly, his fighting spirit blazing.
He couldn’t help but let out a long shout, then grabbed the vines on the cliff and climbed swiftly.
Lying on Wang Jinghong’s back, Wang Sandong felt the wind whistling past her ears and heard Wang Yunteng’s shout.
She couldn’t help but laugh, and said to Wang Jinghong, “Brother Teng must be feeling especially chuunibyou right now.”
Wang Jinghong smiled and asked, “What is ‘chuunibyou’?”
“A naive youth with lofty ambitions.”
Wang Jinghong laughed silently.
A man in his twenties being called a “naive youth” spoke for itself.
“No respect for elders.”
Wang Jinghong scolded Wang Sandong with a smile.
Then he sighed, “I know what Yunteng is thinking. But his talent is limited; there’s nothing I can do to help.”
“Heh, no worries.”
Wang Sandong smiled, looking down at Wang Yunteng struggling to catch up.
“I’ll give him some pointers later.”
Wang Jinghong smiled without a word, taking it as a joke.
In fact, Wang Sandong was serious.
She felt that her own understanding of “King Under Law” might surpass Wang Yunteng’s.
Suddenly, the wind in her ears grew more urgent.
The air felt damp, and there was a faint, strange fragrance.
Wang Sandong knew they were almost at the top of Qingyun Peak.
Clouds began to surround them.
Visibility was limited.
The howling wind seemed like it would blow them away.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Wang Jinghong comforted her.
“Big brother is here.”
“Mm.”
Wang Sandong replied softly.
Her voice was swallowed by the wind.
The clouds descended layer by layer.
Visibility fluctuated between bright and dark.
Until Wang Jinghong used “Void Walk” once more, carrying Wang Sandong out of the last layer of clouds.
Suddenly, the sunlight was dazzling, and the view opened up.
Beneath them was a sea of flowers.
Brilliant and dazzling, with a strange fragrance.
Amidst the wind and clouds, time stood still in peace.
Controlling the spiritual energy under his feet, Wang Jinghong slowly descended with Wang Sandong on his back.
Letting out a breath, Wang Jinghong suddenly shouted:
“Live long! One day, big brother will use ‘Sky Flight’ to take you to see the flowers!”
“Void Walk” required sixth-rank cultivation.
But “Sky Flight” required at least seventh-rank.
Sixth to seventh rank, though only one level apart, was extremely difficult to cross.
That was the difference between a strong person and a king.
Some people spent their entire lives unable to reach seventh rank.
Even Wang Jinghong, with his supreme talent, couldn’t guarantee he could reach it.
‘Even if he could… Could his younger brother live long enough to see that day? Wang Jinghong felt a pang of sorrow.’
Soon they landed in the flower sea.
Wang Jinghong set Wang Sandong down and turned to look at her.
He saw a smile blooming on Wang Sandong’s pretty face, outshining even the Time Flowers.
Wang Sandong noticed his gaze and asked with a pursed smile:
“What are you looking at me for?”
Wang Jinghong smiled.
“My younger brother is truly the most beautiful person in the world.”
Wang Sandong rolled her eyes.
A figure broke through the clouds.
Wang Yunteng laughed loudly.
“Brother Hong is right. Third Brother’s appearance is peerless beauty.”
As he spoke, he landed.
He looked around, his face full of excitement.
“Timeless peace! Good! So good!”
Under the dazzling sunlight, the wind was strong and the clouds surged, but the colorful Time Flowers stood still.
The petals were translucent like flowing jade, layered in a carpet stretching to the edge of the flower sea.
The fragrance was pure and lingering, soaking into clothes and hair, calming the mind and soothing the breath.
It was as if all the noise and troubles of the world were cut off outside the flower sea.
Time was peaceful, serene and long.
The three brothers silently admired the beauty of the flower sea, as if intoxicated.
“So beautiful.”
At a loss for words, Wang Sandong copied Wang Yunteng.
“Yeah.”
Wang Jinghong and Wang Yunteng agreed simultaneously.
After a long while, Wang Sandong let out a soft breath.
She smiled, then suddenly had a thought and stood stupefied.
“If Third Brother likes it, big brother will bring you often.”
Wang Jinghong said.
He noticed Wang Sandong didn’t respond, looked at her, thought she was still lost in the scenery, and fell silent.
After a long time, Wang Sandong suddenly spoke, asking softly:
“Brothers, what do you think ‘King Under Law’ would be like if perfected?”
The two were puzzled, not understanding why Wang Sandong, who couldn’t cultivate, would ask such a question.
Wang Yunteng opened his mouth to voice his opinion, but seeing Wang Jinghong there, he didn’t dare show off.
“I’ve thought about this question.”
Wang Jinghong replied seriously.
“It would be overwhelming sharpness, then dignified and steady—like Grandfather.”
Overwhelming sharpness?
Dignified and steady?
Wang Sandong shook her head with a smile, looking at the Time Flowers standing still in the strong wind, and said softly:
“In my humble opinion, it should be the serenity of time.”
Wang Jinghong and Wang Yunteng looked at each other and laughed involuntarily.
How could the domineering ‘King Under Law’ be the serenity of time?
Third Brother didn’t understand cultivation, let alone ‘King Under Law.’
“Third Brother’s words…”
Wang Jinghong hesitated slightly, then smiled.
“That makes some sense.”
“Makes some sense.”
Wang Yunteng and Wang Jinghong said in unison.
Wang Sandong heard the perfunctory tone in their words, but didn’t mind and didn’t explain.
She even joked:
“More than just some sense? It’s a golden saying.”
From the sky, faint thunder rumbled.
“Haha!”
The three burst out laughing.
From the sky, faint thunder rumbled.
The joking three brothers’ faces suddenly changed.
“Is our luck that bad?”
Wang Sandong said.
Wang Jinghong smiled bitterly and made a quick decision: “Run!”
With that, he grabbed Wang Sandong around the waist and dashed toward the cliff.
The thunderbolts on Qingyun Peak would kill every living thing on the peak—except the Time Flowers.
Crack!
Three thunderbolts merged into one sound, striking down at their heads.
Wang Jinghong and Wang Yunteng dodged to either side.
The thunderbolts hit the Time Flowers but didn’t harm them at all.
In the chaos, the three didn’t notice that it wasn’t three thunderbolts, but four.
Because the sounds overlapped, it was hard to tell.
On the other side of Qingyun Peak, Yuan Di sidestepped a thunderbolt, cursing her bad luck in her heart.
‘Jinghong and Yunteng—even though Wang Jinghong had a supreme spiritual root, no one would find it strange if he died under a thunderbolt. Two elder brothers, to fulfill their dying brother’s wish, risked the peak and desperately protected him… What a touching story. Such a pity.’
‘If she couldn’t kill Wang Jinghong here, it was better not to act. Wang Jinghong was the hope of the Wang family, after all, and Wang Fa was one of the Nine Surnamed Kings. If he became suspicious, it might cause trouble. As for Wang Yunteng…’
‘Yuan Di didn’t want to take the heavenly punishment thunderbolts head-on. It wasn’t that she couldn’t withstand them. It was mainly that doing so would consume a huge amount of energy. She had already killed that demon follower A-Gui… If what A-Gui said was true, that the Demon Sovereign was not dead and was hiding in the shadows… Any expenditure of energy could put her in danger.’