Chapter 106: Groping a Cactus?
Chapter 106: Groping a Cactus?
“The targets are all in that house.”
That’s what the furry black beast was trying to convey.
Sun Fei sneered inwardly.
He could feel it too. After sneaking into this hall, He Shengzhen had stopped fleeing. Raising his head, Sun Fei saw vague figures through the windows. The hall seemed to have many people inside. Judging by the auras leaking out, several were far stronger than the guards in the courtyard. Light spilled from within, figures moved beneath it, cups clinked, and loud, cheerful noises drifted out frequently. It sounded like a lively banquet was in progress.
“Hah! How brilliant I am! Caught these bastards completely off guard! Looks like they really had no defenses at all!”
Sun Fei decided to give them no time to prepare.
He leapt from Black Whirlwind’s back. Midair, turning into a blur, he charged forward. Certain this was the base for the thug who’d tried to kill him, he held back no politeness. With a thunderous kick, he smashed the two massive blackwood doors into splinters. Fragments of wood flew everywhere…
Bang!
The hall instantly fell silent.
Everyone there was stunned by the shock of the crash. After a brief, dead silence, screams and angry shouts erupted. The jangling sound of swords and weapons being drawn filled the air.
“Who dares to be so insolent?”
“Bold fool! Don’t you know His Highness the Prince is hosting guests?”
“Guards! Seize this imbecile!”
Amidst the flickering lights, the banquet attendees moved surprisingly fast. Eight scantily-clad maidservants, along with over a dozen warriors and guards, overturned the stone tables and chairs before them. Swiftly, they formed layer upon layer of protective walls in front of several figures seated in the main seating positions…
Woof! Woof! Woof!
The large black dog barged in, baring its teeth and barking furiously. A threatening, low growl rumbled from its throat, exuding an overwhelming presence. The group across the hall froze, startled by the massive dog-like beast. Is that a horse or a dog? It’s huge!
“Who are you?”
A fair-skinned, handsome young man with flaxen-colored long hair, draped in luxurious robes and surrounded by the guards, pointed at Sun Fei and demanded angrily.
Sun Fei only responded with a cold chuckle.
He was determined to catch both the criminal and the evidence.
Therefore, his very first action after bursting in wasn’t to figure out who exactly was in the hall. Instead, he pinpointed the hiding place of the burly assassin who had tried to kill him. He charged over menacingly, unleashing the wild fury of his Level 21 Barbarian might. A sudden fierce wind howled through the hall.
Boom!
A mighty fist smashed down.
The bluestone floor beneath cracked open, the force of the blow splitting the earth apart and leaving a fissure.
Sun Fei laughed heartily and reached down. Gripping the hair of He Shengzhen, who was half-dead from spitting blood after his desperate, injury-laden escape attempt, he yanked the man out of the soil like pulling a radish.
Clang!
The near-lifeless body of He Shengzhen crashed onto the center of the hall floor.
A flicker of orange Combat Energy Flames danced around the burly man’s body, his form blurring with a liquid tendency as he tried to escape once more. But Black Whirlwind gave him no chance. The dog lunged forward, baring gleaming white fangs and biting down hard on He Shengzhen’s ankle. The man screamed once and fell into complete unconsciousness.
This entire sequence happened in a flash.
The savagery of the big black dog and Sun Fei’s ferocity stunned everyone in the hall utterly.
Several guards who had been eager to show off in front of their masters now felt their legs go weak. They dared not take another step. The wild newcomer was terrifyingly forceful. They had no doubt that a single punch from him could reduce them to mincemeat.
“Talk! Who are you people? Why did you send an assassin after your king?”
Sun Fei stomped a foot down on He Shengzhen’s mud-and-blood-smeared face, planted his hands on his hips, and swept his gaze across everyone in the hall. His eyes paused on every face, but no one dared meet his stare for even an instant.
Meanwhile, guards from outside the courtyard began pouring into the hall.
Such tumultuous noise from the hall would have carried far. Footsteps multiplied rapidly; more and more soldiers flooded in like a tide, surrounding Sun Fei. Spears and swords formed dense thickets, their blades gleaming cold and snowy under the light, angled menacingly at Sun Fei, ready.
The entire formation resembled a blooming chrysanthemum.
Sun Fei and the big black dog were its tender center.
Yet, despite being encircled, no one in the hall felt the slightest sense of safety. Even the finely dressed, pale-faced young man protected in the center looked mortified. The overwhelming, unshackled wild energy emanating from Sun Fei made them realize one harsh truth: even if they all banded together, they couldn’t hope to defeat this man and his dog.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Black Whirlwind, emboldened by its master, barked arrogantly alongside Sun Fei. A low, rumbling growl vibrated in its throat, creating a strange illusion: as if the beast, upon opening its jaws next, would spew out world-incinerating dragon fire like a Sacred Dragon.
“Who’s in charge here? Step out!”
This time, Sun Fei savored the thrill of being the peerless master. With no ‘familiar faces’ in the crowd, he let go completely. His underlying roguish nature, remnants from his past life, surfaced fully. He utterly discarded the etiquette and grace expected of a noble king. Standing with his foot planted firmly on He Shengzhen’s face, his smug, swaggering posture made him look far more like a highway robber about to demand tolls than any civilized ruler. Only the classic demand ‘Toll or your life’ seemed missing from his lips.
“Ahem, ahem…” After a tense silence, someone finally spoke. “Your Majesty… you—”
“Stop trying to get chummy! Get lost! Since when am I your king?” Sun Fei immediately rebuffed him. How should I consider you kingly? When you just sent an assassin after me? Just as he was about to lash out in fury, Sun Fei suddenly froze. The voice… it seemed familiar.
An elegantly poised middle-aged man stepped from the crowd, looking utterly exasperated. “Your Majesty, what exactly are you doing?”
Whimper… whimper…
Seeing this man emerge, Black Whirlwind reacted first.
Instantly, the imposing facade disappeared. The mighty beast that had seemed ready to imitate a dragon moments ago transformed. Like flipping a switch, its ferocious barks became pathetic whimpers. Its big tail wagged frantically like a windmill. Panting eagerly, it approached the man with low, pleading sounds. Lowering its head meekly, it pressed itself flat on the floor, looked up with large watery eyes, and radiated pure, blissful joy, like a pup seeing its mother.
Sun Fei felt a waterfall of imaginary sweat pour down his forehead.
“Uh… well… that is… Uncle Best… Perplexed, Sun Fei quickly covered his face with a hand. The embarrassment felt overwhelming. He sensed they’d blundered into something terribly wrong.
The man who stepped out was indeed Sun Fei’s future father-in-law, the ‘old white-faced man’ known as Best. Dignified despite Sun Fei’s outburst, Prince Modric extended his authority to soothe the commotion. Calmly smoothing his expression, Best executed a flawless bow.
“Reporting to Your Majesty,” he stated, clear and measured, “I came here under your orders. I was to invite Prince Modric of Reke Kingdom to attend tomorrow’s feast at the Royal Palace…” He gestured towards the fair-skinned young gentleman surrounded by guards. “Permit me to introduce him. This esteemed guest is His Highness Prince Modric, one of the eminent ‘Ten Heroes’, a prince of great youth and potential.”
To Sun Fei, the world suddenly seemed to spin wildly: Holy hell! What a disastrous misunderstanding!
His knowledge told him Reke Kingdom and Shampoo City were long-standing allies—brothers bound by shared history, who’d rescued Shampoo City countless times. He recalled that during the Zenit Empire’s recent Martial Arts Tournament, Reke had secretly aided them significantly. Further, Prince Modric was known as Reke’s foremost ‘friendly to Shampoo’ prince… Such a nation, such a figure… they couldn’t possibly have sent an assassin.
Evidently… he’d gotten it completely wrong.
Following the trail hadn’t led to a sweet fruit; Sun Fei had groped right onto a sharp cactus instead.
Feeling sheer foolishness, Sun Fei wanted desperately to vanish—just like the near-dead warrior at his feet could have wished to sink into the floor.
Fortunately, his future father-in-law Best possessed a diplomat’s grace.
Best wore no expression of awkwardness. Skillfully, with just a few strategic words, he provided his impetuous future son-in-law an effortless way to step down from the ugly scene. Unblushingly, he brushed past the recent clash. He formally introduced Sun Fei to the fine-robed young gentleman ringed by protectors—Prince Modric, Third Prince of Reke Kingdom, a Fourth-Class Vassal State—who cherished amity with Shampoo.
As Best clearly offered this explanation, the atmosphere eased significantly.
The soldiers nearest, beads of sweat dripping down their temples, withdrew hesitantly from the hall, both relieved and deeply confused.
The banquet gradually resumed its smooth flow.
But the lingering gazes directed at Sun Fei by every guest held strange curiosity: incredible shock still etched onto their faces. Such a wild bear of a man? Accompanied by a terrifying giant dog? Wildly assaulting their hall? Yet this… was Shampoo City’s king? Wasn’t Alexander described as a simpleton with only a child’s intelligence? How had that fool transformed into such a terrifying powerhouse?
Prince Modric proved admirable. His handsome face retained a polite, calm smile throughout. His demeanor radiated scholarly elegance and unhurried poise—a refined prince perfectly embodying regal conduct, bearing, and inner confidence. To young observers, he embodied the standard against which royal conduct should be measured—a stark contrast to Sun Fei, raised amidst unruly forces and swinging between royal decorum and wild instincts.
Gradually, liveliness returned: the banquet’s sounds grew louder.
Finding courage himself, Sun Fei forced a sheepish look and offered an explanation about the chain of events leading to their violent entrance.
“Hmm… I recognize this man.”
As wine flowed more freely again, Prince Modric studied the prostrate figure on the floor. Suddenly, he pointed at the large warrior now securely trussed with strong steel chains piercing his limbs. “I think his name is He Shengzhen. He’s one of Obina’s—the Prince of Thrace Kingdom—personal guards. Moreover, he’s reputedly one of Thrace Kingdom’s handful of Four-Star Experts.”