Chapter 32: The Fury of Years Past

Chapter 32: The Wrath of Years Past

"I merely had the good fortune to be protected by the Coffin of Longevity..." Chen Ping'an sighed. He only had a lifespan of ten thousand years; how could that be considered true immortality? True immortality meant living forever, never to die.

Upon receiving Chen Ping'an's confirmation, a look of sudden realization crossed the green-robed woman's face. She murmured to herself, "So that is it. Now, everything makes sense."

"What exactly do you understand?" Chen Ping'an asked.

"Benefactor, you must also be a member of the Hall of Longevity, right?" the green-robed woman asked with a smile.

"How should I put this? In my early years, I did join an organization called the Hall of Longevity. Back then, it was just a group of mortals. I don't know if it’s the same one you are referring to..." Chen Ping'an replied ambiguously. Could an organization built by a group of mortals truly make the Dragon Clan so fearful? In his view, it seemed highly improbable.

The green-robed woman grew excited. She spoke rapidly, "Benefactor, it must be the same one. The Hall of Longevity is the most mysterious and powerful organization in the entire Canglan Continent. Its founders were all immortals protected by the Coffin of Longevity. The Hall has always maintained a low profile and rarely appears in the world, which is why many factions are unaware of its existence!"

"Is it that strong?" Chen Ping'an blinked. Could those six fellows have actually made a name for themselves later on? He found it hard to believe.

"Strong, incredibly strong," the green-robed woman nodded heavily.

"Fine, if you say they’re strong, then they’re strong..." Chen Ping'an spread his hands, his expression tinged with helplessness. There must be two Halls of Longevity in the Canglan Continent: one being the civilian organization he joined, and the other being this cultivation sect. He remained convinced that the one he joined was insignificant. After all, in the thousands of years since, he had never seen those six people again, nor had he ever heard anyone mention the Hall of Longevity.

"Benefactor, actually, what I’ve told you is not the main point..." The green-robed woman’s tears suddenly began to flow again, her expression filled with profound sorrow.

Chen Ping'an was baffled. If this wasn't the point, what was? Could she have taken a liking to him? Was she hoping to make him the father of that Poison Dragon Prince?

Chen Ping'an’s expression shifted, and he immediately stood tall with righteous indignation. If this woman were to confess her feelings next, he would firmly refuse; he would never be led astray by beauty.

The woman looked at Chen Ping'an, her lips trembling, before she finally spoke. "Benefactor, I come from the Underworld Blood Green Wood Dragon clan. Do you have any recollection of that?"

Hearing this, Chen Ping'an froze. A long-buried memory suddenly struck his mind like a thunderclap. Xiao Qing, one of his former lovers, had belonged to the Underworld Blood Green Wood Dragon clan. This bloodline was highly noble, belonging to the ranks of the superior divine dragons.

"I remember. You are of the same clan as Xiao Qing." Chen Ping'an nodded, a flicker of anger deep in his eyes. Having lived as a mortal for ten thousand years, despite his peerless, enchanting appearance, his life had often been far from easy. In fact, his circumstances had occasionally been dire.

Years ago, he had been tricked by Xiao Qing into meeting her parents within the Underworld Blood Green Wood Dragon clan. Just as he confessed their love, the patriarch of the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon clan suddenly arrived with his son to propose a marriage alliance. The two clans had been allies for generations and shared a tradition of intermarriage. Xiao Qing’s father, the patriarch, naturally refused to let his daughter marry a mortal human and cast Chen Ping'an out. When Xiao Qing resisted, she was suppressed on the spot by her father.

As a mere mortal, Chen Ping'an could only accept his tragic fate. The territory of the Underworld Blood Green Wood Dragon clan was nestled in the mountains along the Lancang River. Before he could even reach the riverbank, he was assassinated by an unknown force. This had left him brimming with suppressed fury. After his death, the power of immortality took hold; his resurrection was always random. Yet, after that death, he had miraculously resurrected back on the banks of the Lancang. It was then that he met the old fisherman and, out of pity, bought a small green snake with ten copper coins, setting it free.

"Benefactor, Xiao Qing is my cousin." The green-robed woman removed her veil, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. Seeing features so similar to Xiao Qing’s stirred up even more painful memories. Chen Ping'an turned away, his face darkening.

Damn it. After all this time, this girl turned out to be Xiao Qing’s cousin! The association alone made Chen Ping'an lose any remaining goodwill toward her.

"Benefactor, I know you suffered many grievances back then, but do you know that Cousin Xiao Qing suffered even more?" The green-robed woman looked sorrowful, her tears falling like shattered pearls. She said softly, "Because she refused to marry into the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon clan, she was stripped of her title as the Holy Maiden by the patriarch and imprisoned in a dungeon of eternal darkness, never to emerge again..."

Xiao Qing was imprisoned? Chen Ping'an’s heart skipped a beat, and a complex array of emotions surged within him. Time was the best healer. Three thousand years had passed, and the bitterness of his own murder had faded significantly. If not for this reminder, he might have forgotten the incident entirely. Having lived two lifetimes and possessing a modern mindset, he realized upon reflection that Xiao Qing had done nothing wrong. Back then, he was only a mortal, and in this world of martial power, he had no voice and no ability to protect the woman he loved.

Chen Ping'an turned back around. His expression had calmed. "It won't be long before I return to the Canglan Continent..." He looked at the green-robed woman, his eyes deep and his tone resolute. The one who had killed him back then was likely from the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon clan. This was a debt he would surely collect.

Hearing his words, the woman grew excited. Trembling, she asked, "Benefactor, since you are a member of the Hall of Longevity, can you take me with you when you leave?"

"This..." Chen Ping'an hesitated. He still struggled to believe that the Hall of Longevity he had joined was the same powerful organization she spoke of. He feared that if he brought her along, he might put her in danger if the Hall’s members decided to kill her.

As if guessing his thoughts, the green-robed woman smiled slightly. "Benefactor, I will simply stay by your side. Surely the people of the Hall of Longevity will show you enough respect to spare me..."

"Fine!" Chen Ping'an agreed reluctantly. According to her, the powerful figures of the Hall of Longevity had easily granted him favors before, likely out of respect for his status as an immortal.

"Hehehe..." A series of strange, eerie laughs suddenly echoed in the surroundings. Chen Ping'an’s expression shifted. The laughter was sinister, piercing through the layers of the void and infiltrating this small space. Could it be that a Transcendent Realm expert had arrived?