Chapter Forty-One: The Nine Provinces!

By the time the banquet ended, night had already fallen. The palace was draped in a layer of silvery moonlight, as if dusted with fine silver sand. Zhou Tian ate until he was full to bursting, and when he took the slightly tipsy Tian Ling from Liu Yan’s hands, he looked at Liu Yan wordlessly and said, “Big sister, how could Ling’er be the same as you? Why did you let her drink so much?”

The wine served at the banquet was infused with abundant energy, not easily digested. Liu Yan wore an awkward expression, fumbling for words, “We just got carried away. It was spur of the moment.” Then she raised her voice, adding, “Well, isn’t it your luck…”

“All right, all right, let’s go home,” Zhou Tian waved his hand dismissively, unwilling to argue with her. He bade farewell to Zhou Xun, Zhou Zui, and the others, then helped Tian Ling to the carriage.

Zhou Zui looked utterly miserable, as if he knew he’d be scolded harshly upon returning home.

Tian Ling’s cheeks were bright red, her body reeking of alcohol, but she could still control herself, lingering in a half-drunken, half-awake state. Once inside the carriage, Zhou Tian pulled Tian Ling into his embrace and sat down with her, not out of any untoward intentions—he was hardly so desperate—but simply to prevent her from falling over.

Tian Ling struggled symbolically for a moment, then nestled quietly in his arms.

With Tian Ling unmoving, Zhou Tian began to shift, repositioning himself, his hand resting on Tian Ling’s waist, his face the very picture of propriety, gaze fixed ahead…

They sat like this for a while before Zhou Tian couldn’t resist moving again, his hand quietly, slowly wandering, daring to test the boundaries.

At that very moment, Tian Ling raised her head from his arms. Her eyes glistened, cheeks flushed, hair disheveled, and she softly asked, “Zhou Tian, do you like me?”

Looking at Tian Ling’s dewy eyes and rosy lips, how could he resist?

“What do you think, silly girl?” With that, he leaned in and kissed her.

Cool and soft, tender and delicate.

Tian Ling’s eyes flashed with surprise, but soon she surrendered, closing her eyes and responding eagerly to Zhou Tian’s teasing, a tingling sensation rippling through her heart.

Suddenly, Tian Ling’s brows knitted, letting out a soft whimper—Zhou Tian’s hand had wandered somewhere it shouldn’t be.

At length, their lips parted, a shimmering thread stretching between them. Seeing Tian Ling’s hazy, entranced expression, Zhou Tian felt as if an engine roared within him. To hell with ceremony—if this carriage didn’t get moving soon, he was about to explode!

“Zhou Tian, I like you too. I like you very much. Promise you won’t abandon me, ever…”

Tian Ling lay against Zhou Tian’s chest, her voice barely more than a whisper, hands wrapped tightly around him like a wounded creature seeking solace.

Her murmured words doused Zhou Tian like a bucket of cold water.

Life, damn it, always needs a touch of damn ceremony!

Zhou Tian took a deep breath, mind reigning over body, silently reciting a mantra to steady himself. Gently stroking Tian Ling’s hair, he whispered, “Silly girl, I’d sooner abandon myself than ever abandon you.”

Tian Ling’s arms tightened around him…

They rode in silence. By the time they reached the Prince of Qin’s residence, Tian Ling had fallen asleep in his arms. Carrying her to the Clover Garden, Zhou Tian paused, remembering only an old caretaker resided within, whose surname he’d forgotten. What if that old man took advantage of Ling’er? Zhou Tian never minded suspecting others of the worst.

He summoned a maid, carefully instructed her to look after Tian Ling, and entrusted her to the maid. Then he made his way to the main hall—Zhou Yi had told him earlier that he should drop by tonight, since his two brothers were visiting and they hadn’t had a proper conversation yet.

By the time he arrived, Zhou Yi, Zhou Yu, and Zhou Ying were already present. As he entered, Zhou Ying laughed, “Third brother, you’re willing to send your fiancée home already?”

“Second brother, don’t tease me…” Zhou Tian replied with a wry smile.

“We asked you here tonight to show off your abilities. Your brothers have tried many methods over the years, so let them be reassured,” Zhou Yi said from the side.

“Oh,” Zhou Tian had no objection. He casually picked a spot, his figure blurring as he teleported instantly.

It’s worth mentioning that, having accumulated two more deaths, his [Teleportation] now spanned three hundred meters.

“Even Old Master Zhan can’t stop his power,” Zhou Yi added.

“What!” Zhou Yu exclaimed, his brows furrowing deeply.

Seeing his son’s reaction, Zhou Yi understood what he was thinking. “He’s passed the soul lamp test—no possession involved.”

“That’s good…” Zhou Yu breathed a sigh of relief; his first thought had been that Zhou Tian was possessed.

“Third brother, you must perform well in the Youth Tournament. Let those who think you’re just an ordinary mortal be stunned…” Zhou Ying laughed.

“What was that called…? The worlds we once conquered had similar stories. Trash… Trash turning the tables! Yes, that’s it!”

Conquered worlds?

Zhou Tian made a mental note of the term and asked, “I don’t want to join that nonsense. Such a hassle!”

He had no intention of participating in the so-called Youth Tournament. A leisurely life suited him well, and with his cheat, he’d be invincible sooner or later. Even if he attended, though life and death could be decided in the arena, his status meant he wouldn’t be killed. Since he couldn’t accumulate death counts, what was the point?

“No ambition!” Zhou Yi scolded, clearly frustrated.

“Blah blah blah…” Zhou Tian swirled his tongue in his mouth, making odd noises, provoking Zhou Yi further.

“Since you don’t want to participate this time, so be it. But next time, at the Eight Provinces Grand Competition, you must go—it’s a clan rule,” Zhou Yu interjected.

“Mm, I’ll go next time!” he replied. If anyone tried to stop him next time, he’d fight them. The Grand Competition meant no one would protect him; he could finally die. Here, with constant protection, he couldn’t even die if he tried.

Once a day, ten times in ten days… By the end of the competition, he’d be invincible, Zhou Tian fantasized privately.

Seeing Zhou Tian’s newfound resolve, Zhou Yi said nothing more.

“By the way, big brother, second brother, can you tell me where you battle? And what does ‘conquered worlds’ mean?”

“Well…” Zhou Ying glanced at Zhou Yu, then at Zhou Yi, hesitating.

“There’s no harm in telling you. You’ll know eventually. Since you ask, we’ll explain,” Zhou Yu spoke after a moment’s thought.

“To know where we fight, you must understand the Nine Provinces.”

Zhou Yu was a decisive man, not one for suspense, and began his explanation directly.

“In ancient times, the Nine Provinces were not nine continents as they are today, but nine vast worlds, each incomparably powerful, teeming with countless strong warriors.”