Chapter 25: Yu Shanshan’s Dominance

…

A few days later, with Zuo Qianqian’s care and the help of the Jade Pendant, which possessed impressive healing abilities, combined with Lei Qing’s own use of Fighting Qi to heal himself, his injuries were mostly healed. Even his several broken ribs healed extremely quickly after Zuo Qianqian helped set them.

For a High-stage Bronze expert, various physical qualities had long surpassed those of ordinary people. Not only did strength, agility, and senses become stronger with the improvement of one’s realm, but self-healing abilities also became increasingly exaggerated.

Recalling the battle with the One-Horned Tiger, Lei Qing still felt a lingering fear even now. That tiger’s cunning and cruelty had exceeded original estimates. Moreover, it was a One-Horned Tiger that had already advanced to High-stage Bronze.

If their luck hadn’t been decent, and if Zuo Qianqian hadn’t provided timely support at critical moments, Lei Qing, his companion, and the dog would likely have all died under the tiger’s claws.

But fortunately, although the process was dangerous and difficult, the harvest was good. A Thunder Element Crystal Core from a High-stage Bronze Demonic Beast emitted a faint sky-blue color. Through the semi-transparent crystal wall, one could faintly see electric light moving inside, just like a perfect work of art, extremely beautiful.

Lei Qing had used various Thunder Element Crystal Cores before, but they were mostly Entry-rank Bronze Crystal Cores. Although they were also very beautiful, they were far inferior to this one.

Demonic Beast Crystal Cores were not as easy to obtain as one might imagine. Every Demonic Beast that could survive and grow had experienced many difficulties. Thus, Demonic Beasts not only had strong combat power but were also all very cunning and cruel. For example, this One-Horned Tiger, even if a few Silver-rank experts formed a team to hunt it, success would not be easy. With the One-Horned Tiger’s cunning, if it sensed the aura of experts, it would have hidden far away long ago. Even if one could defeat it, it would be extremely difficult to find it.

The situation was indeed so. If Demonic Beasts were easy to kill, and one could go up the mountain casually and return with a full harvest, then Demonic Beasts would have long been extinct in this world. Of course, as humans became more powerful and prosperous, the living space of Demonic Beasts was indeed suppressed to the extreme, especially within the controlled territories of human nations, where the number of Demonic Beasts had decreased to a rare level.

It was precisely for this reason that Demonic Beast Crystal Cores were so rare.

In the education Lei Qing received, he also knew some history of the continent. It was said that tens of thousands of years ago, this entire continent was a world where Demonic Beasts ran rampant. Humans existed in the form of tribes on this world, struggling bitterly. Although there was no lack of brave people among humans, the overall survival situation was very worrying. While humans hunted beasts and Demonic Beasts for food, they were also treated as food by Demonic Beasts.

Until a man named Yan appeared. He learned the use of Fighting Qi from Demonic Beasts. He unified some scattered tribes and gradually formed a semi-unified human society. That was the prototype of the Great Yan Empire. Great Yan led humans to drive away wild beasts and Demonic Beasts, opening up territory and bringing safety and abundance to humans, gradually forming human nations. But Great Yan unfortunately fell during a decisive battle with a fierce ancient Demonic Beast.

His successor, Yi, was originally Yan’s most outstanding subordinate. Upholding Great Yan’s will, he continued to expand territory and protect humans, and he did no worse than Great Yan. He successfully drove most Demonic Beasts to desolate and remote places and established the Great Yan Empire.

Since then, the Great Yan Empire was passed down from generation to generation, with the strongest human as the Emperor. Until a Human Emperor named Huangfu, on the verge of death, killed the strongest and most prestigious successor of the time. He then passed the throne to his own son.

From that time on, the system of abdication was ended. Thus, for the next thousand years, historians called it the Huangfu Empire.

Of course, the Huangfu Empire was also very distant from the present. During that time, history experienced many changes. Only then did the current Tianlan Empire and the chaotic various nations come into being. And the Tianlan Empire had existed for nearly a thousand years.

Lei Qing put away the Thunder Element Crystal Core with satisfaction, preparing to slowly use this precious Crystal Core during rest periods while crossing the mountain range. In addition, there was a precious tiger skin; although it was damaged in many places, it could still be sold for a good price.

Tiger meat, especially the meat of a High-stage Bronze Demonic Beast, was also a great tonic, so naturally, it could not be discarded. Zuo Qianqian, being a hunter, was very skilled at handling prey, so Lei Qing did not need to worry about it. He just had to wait for the delicious roasted meat and meat soup.

“Brother Lei, while it’s hot, drink this pot of tiger whip soup that was just stewed.” Just as Lei Qing was sighing that his High-stage Bronze Fighting Qi had improved a bit after this battle and become more refined and thick, Zuo Qianqian carefully brought over a pot of steaming soup.

Lei Qing’s expression froze, and he said with some embarrassment, “Um, Qianqian, I don’t need to drink this, right?”

“How can that be? My grandpa said this is a great tonic and is most effective for men.” Zuo Qianqian said with a righteous look on her face, “Drink it quickly, don’t waste my good intentions.”

Lei Qing cried out in his heart, what kind of grandpa did Zuo Qianqian have? Why would he teach her about such things? He seemed to be still in his prime and was far from the point where he needed such tonics.

Seeing his reluctant look, Zuo Qianqian began to coax him with kind words, “Brother Lei, tiger whip soup will make a man stronger, so just drink it obediently.”

Uh, do you know what it means to make a man stronger? He guessed this little girl didn’t understand. Lei Qing started crying out to heaven in his heart. He had been holding it back for several months since Yu Shanshan ordered him to be hunted down. Although the danger and thrilling excitement of life-and-death escape would make him temporarily forget this primitive desire, temporarily forgetting did not mean the desire would not accumulate. He originally thought that after running to the Free Alliance, he would find a place to relax properly. For now, he could still endure, but who knew if drinking this tiger whip soup would be a form of torture for him?

However, under Zuo Qianqian’s half-coaxing and half-forcing, Lei Qing had to force himself to finish that pot of tiger whip soup. Poor guy, that night in the tent, he tossed and turned, feeling extremely stifled. Although there was a young girl beside him, Lei Qing felt he wasn’t beastly enough to violate a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl who hadn’t fully grown up yet.

He had no choice but to think more about Yu Shanshan’s perfect, goddess-like naked body in his mind.

After a sleepless night, Lei Qing hurriedly set off with Zuo Qianqian deep into the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range. The sooner they reached the Free Alliance, the better. He had long heard that the Free Alliance had several world-famous brothels, where the top courtesans were as beautiful as fairies, so he would inevitably have to spend some money there.

…

At the same time, in the Imperial Capital of the Tianlan Empire, at the residence of Grand Preceptor of the Cabinet Yu’s family. Yu Shanshan, dressed as a delicate noble lady, was sitting gracefully and elegantly on a sandalwood chair, listening to a hunter’s report, and asking questions about key points from time to time. Beside her slender hand lay a letter written by Lei Qing. After receiving the news of Lei Qing’s death, in just a dozen days, she seemed to have become much thinner and a bit more haggard.

After a long while, she said gently in a low voice, “Thank you, warrior, for delivering the letter. Xiao Huan, escort this warrior to the guest room to rest, and give him ten gold coins.” Her face was calm as usual, but from her slightly trembling eyelashes, one could see that her mood was definitely not calm.

After the maid Xiao Huan left to see the guest out, another pretty, lively personal maid sneered in annoyance, “Miss, this bastard surnamed Lei is too bold. He dares to send someone to deliver a letter to the Miss to help him with errands? Who does he think he is?”

“Xiao Cui, have someone prepare my Flying Snow, and also prepare my Cold Moon Armor and Shattered Star Spear.” A sharp gleam flashed in Yu Shanshan’s eyes, “Also, notify An Feifei to wait for me at the first pass of the Heavenly Ridge Corridor within ten days.”

“Miss, you are… the Palace Master gave you leave to visit your family…”

“Less nonsense, go do it immediately.” Yu Shanshan slowly stood up, her gentle temperament swept away, replaced by an incomparably sharp and powerful aura.

…