Chapter 78: A Prank
Chapter 78: A Prank
“Run!”
As the last Spirit Stone clicked into place, Tang Jinbiao didn’t waste a word. He turned and sprinted, soon reaching Tang Hu and the others. He then turned around, quietly observing the changes occurring in the Qingyang Eight Trigrams Formation.
Buzzzzzz!
The moment the final Spirit Stone was embedded, the Qingyang Eight Trigrams Formation instantly reacted. Centered around the Qingyang Eight Trigrams plate, the six corner points serving as edges, it began slowly emitting waves of white light.
From each of the six corners, a beam of light as thick as a wrist shot skyward. However, the moment these beams of light erupted, the Qingyang Eight Trigrams Formation at the center unleashed a tremendous suction force that immediately pulled all six beams towards it.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Once these beams were sucked in, it was like water splashing onto something hot; they instantly rebounded and sprayed outwards. In that instant, starting from the formation, a light barrier surged upwards from the ground — about ten feet tall, resembling a huge bowl inverted over the space.
“Oh Heavens!”
“What’s that?”
Seeing such a miraculous sight, Tang Hu and the others all wore expressions of shock on their faces. Even Tang Jinbiao hadn’t expected the Qingyang Eight Trigrams Formation to create such a grand spectacle.
Fzzzt!
But just as shock registered on their faces, a soft tearing sound came. The Light Barrier seemed unable to withstand the pressure and abruptly ignited!
“Oh no!”
“Look out!”
The moment they saw the Light Barrier catch fire, their expressions shifted drastically. They threw themselves onto the ground.
BOOM!
The moment they hit the ground, the blazing Light Barrier exploded outwards instantly. The impact shook the earth beneath them slightly.
Whoosh! Crash!
The powerful blast wave even shook loose many leaves from the surrounding trees, sending them rustling down.
Puff!
However, just as the explosion subsided and the group tried to lift their heads to look, another soft puff sounded. A plume of black smoke burst in the air, coalescing into a distinct human form.
“What?”
“It’s her!”
When Tang Jinbiao and the others saw the figure materializing in the air, their faces went pale with alarm.
It was a petite figure, clad in white Palace Attire, looking like a fresh-faced fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl. A sly, mischievous smile played on her lips. Spying the group, her eyes locked onto them with a playful grin. Without waiting for any reaction from Tang Jinbiao and his companions, she began chattering rapidly:
“Heheh, rotten kid, got a taste of your own medicine, didn’t ya? Serves you right for having improper thoughts about Auntie! Serves you right for not learning properly! Serves you right always thinking such filthy thoughts! Be nicer to Yilin next time, she’s pitiful too, you know? Alright, Auntie has important business now, gotta go, kiddo! Hope to see you at the Academy next time! Take that Nirvana Pill if you get the chance. Relax, it’ll only do you good, no harm at all. As for the Qingyang Eight Trigrams Formation, you can use it freely now, but your Cultivation Level’s still too low! Stick to Low-grade Spirit Stones! If the Spiritual Energy’s too potent, it won’t temper your Body Tempering; it’ll just injure you instead! Bye now, rotten kid! Can’t even be bothered to call me Auntie! Hmph! And don’t you go missing Auntie!”
Puff!
The petite, innocent-looking girl was none other than Tang Jinbiao’s Auntie, Wang Hanyu. However, she seemed devoid of independent thought, rattling off her message in one breath. Before Tang Jinbiao could utter a single word in response, another soft puff sounded. She dissolved back into a dense plume of black smoke and vanished without a trace.
…
Swoosh
A gentle breeze swept in, scattering the lingering black smoke and rousing Tang Jinbiao and his companions from their stupor.
“Pah! Miss you, my ass! Good thing I reacted fast, or your sister would have turned into roast pig!”
Thankfully I reacted swiftly before, remembering this item came from that Wang Hanyu—otherwise if I’d barged in recklessly, I’d likely be bedridden for another ten or fifteen days. At this thought, Tang Jinbiao couldn’t help cursing aloud.
“Hoo, Brother Biao, that was close!”
“Brother Biao, good thing you reacted fast!”
Tang Hu and the others offered reassurances with complex expressions, though their thoughts told a different story.
Though Tang Hu comforted Tang Jinbiao verbally, internally he muttered quietly: What did Vice President Wang mean earlier? Was she referring to Brother Biao? No way—Brother Biao isn’t that depraved! Vice President Wang looks petite and innocent, but she’s a two-hundred-year-old sorceress! Besides, Vice President Wang is Brother Biao’s auntie! Could she have meant Tang Yilin? Hmm, absolutely—Tang Yilin acts like she hates Brother Biao, but secretly she’s fallen for him. Why else would Vice President Wang tell Brother Biao to treat Tang Yilin better? Yes, that’s definitely it!
Tang Hu wasn’t alone in this thought. Tang Bi also wore a suspicious look, staring at Tang Jinbiao while inwardly wondering: Brother Biao, have you fallen under that old witch’s spell? Wait… didn’t she tell you to take care of Tang Yilin? Right, he must be involved with Tang Yilin! Brother Biao, what about your pledge—look into my eyes, God-Slaying Gaze! What about ‘who else but me’? How could you abandon us so heartlessly?
Tang Xing’s expression turned peculiar too. Watching Tang Jinbiao, he mused silently: In these zero-point-zero-one seconds, I’ve reached this century’s greatest conclusion: Brother Biao’s definitely entangled with Vice President Wang—no, tangled with both Vice President Wang AND Tang Yilin! Hah… hahaha! I’m a genius! Haha… haha…
Little Tang Bu observed silently with worldly understanding, thinking: Brother Biao, if you like her, go for it. Vice President Wang truly is captivating—unfathomable cultivation level, petite and pure, skilled at everything. Ah Bu supports you! What’s better than dumplings? What’s more fun than your sister-in-law! Brother Biao, I’ve got your back! As for Tang Yilin… well, she’s alright, decent cultivation, but a bit haughty. But no matter—what’s more delicious than seafood? What’s more fun than your cousin! Brother Biao, rooting for you!
Unaware of these twisted speculations, Tang Jinbiao continued cursing the unscrupulous Wang Hanyu: “Dammit! Don’t think beauty excuses recklessness! Don’t think innocence excuses recklessness! Don’t think high cultivation excuses recklessness! Don’t think being my auntie excuses recklessness! And especially—don’t think just ’cause I’ve flirted with you excuses recklessness!”
…
Hoo!
Another gust of wind swept past, making Tang Jinbiao shudder involuntarily.
“Huh? What’s wrong? Why are you all staring at me? Spots on my face?”
Though confused, Tang Jinbiao felt a prickle of unease, like a viper had fixed its gaze on him.
“Heh heh, Brother Biao… hiding something from us?”
Tang Hu’s lecherous grin unnerved Tang Jinbiao as he questioned.
“What could I possibly hide?”
Seeing Tang Hu’s expression, Tang Jinbiao felt both perplexed and unsettled.
“Heh heh, Brother Biao—LOOK INTO MY EYES! God-Slaying Gaze! Spill it! Are you sneaking around with women?”
Tang Bi blinked incessantly, wearing a ’confess now’ expression.
“When have I EVER snuck around with women?”
Tang Jinbiao was baffled; in his nearly one year here, he’d barely encountered any women.
“Haha… haha… ha! Brother Biao, I get you! I totally get you!”
Tang Xing burst into laughter, nodding with exaggerated understanding.
“Get what exactly?”
The unnatural gleam in their eyes deepened Tang Jinbiao’s unease by the second.
“Brother Biao, it’s fine. Love needs courage—true love faces rumors head-on! If it feels right, go for it! I’ll support you!”
Little Tang Bu declared earnestly, radiating vigorous encouragement.
“I need your sister’s courage! Hey! What’s WRONG with you all? You were fine moments ago—how’d you turn weird so fast? Poisoned? Did SHE do this?”
Their frenzied state startled Tang Jinbiao, instantly recalling Wang Hanyu’s lingering shadow.
Exchanging knowing glances, Tang Hu’s group seethed inwardly: Keep faking it, you liar!
Thump!
The thought that it might have been Wang Hanyu’s doing startled Tang Jinbiao once more.
“Ahem, Brother Biao, I ask you—as your sworn brother—answer honestly!”
After a moment, Tang Hu sighed faintly and shook his head as he spoke.
“Huh? Ah Hu, what’s gotten into you all? It was fine earlier, but now you’re acting all strange!”
Tang Jinbiao’s brow furrowed slightly. Even though his companions seemed fine on the surface, the look in their eyes was making his hair stand on end.
Ignoring Tang Jinbiao’s confusion, Tang Hu asked, “Brother Biao, what do you think of Vice President Wang?”
“She’s great! Young, adorable, and with such a high Cultivation Level. A really excellent person. Pity she likes to play pranks though. Heh, a little troublesome—that’s a fitting nickname!” Not fully understanding Tang Hu’s question, Tang Jinbiao paused briefly to think before answering, stating what he saw as obvious truths. Unwittingly, he exposed himself entirely.
“Hehe!”
“Hehe!”
Hearing Tang Jinbiao’s words, Tang Hu and the others exchanged glances and snickered.
“Brother Biao, then what do you think about that Tang Yilin?”
Tang Bi seized the moment and asked quickly.
“Huh? Why mention that crazy woman? Tang Yilin’s only got her looks and figure going for her. The rest is garbage! Terrible personality, foul temper, and always bullying juniors. Just wait till my Cultivation Level surpasses hers—she’ll get hers then!” Even mentioning Tang Yilin made Tang Jinbiao’s skin crawl; he practically gnashed his teeth with hatred. In the short space of a year, she’d beaten him three times, twice so badly he couldn’t take care of himself.
“Hehe, and what exactly would Brother Biao do once your Cultivation Level exceeds hers? Whipping? Wax play? Or maybe…” Tang Bi leered as he pressed on.
“Wait… wait, what did you just say?” Tang Jinbiao blinked, struck by sudden realization.
“Hehe, Brother Biao, were you planning wax play, or…” Tang Bi leaned in closer, his face a mask of lecherousness. But before he could finish—
Tang Jinbiao snapped. “I Bought a Watch Last Year! You damn kids! Daring to mess with me! Have you lost your minds?”
“Ha! Brother Biao, just confess!”
“Haha, Brother Biao, Vice President Wang looked pretty furious earlier!”
“Haha… haha… haha…”
“Brother Biao, there’s nothing better than dumplings to eat, and nothing more fun than fooling around with a sister-in-law!”
“Damn it! Where’s my Watermelon Cleaver?” Tang Jinbiao wanted to grab them and pummel them, but they darted away like slippery catfish the moment he reacted, scrambling off into the distance…