I Have A Sword

Chapter 863: Clad In A Plain Skirt

Zhou Fan's heart began to race at Ye Guan's words. Was he confessing?

She glanced at him and saw him staring at her with an emotion that she couldn't quite decipher. Quickly, she averted her gaze as her heart pounded like a drum.

As the most outstanding princess of the Great Zhou, Zhou Fan had many exceptional suitors, but she had always remained indifferent toward them. She had never met anyone who had truly managed to move her heart.

She thought that she would never be like ordinary women; she'd never be bound by her emotions, but now, she realized that no one could stay indifferent when faced with someone capable of making their heart race.

Feeling awkward, Zhou Fan shook her head with a smile. She disliked this feeling, so she looked directly at Ye Guan and asked, "Are you confessing to me?"

She spoke seriously and straightforwardly with her hands unconsciously clenched tightly.

Ye Guan was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure and nodded. "Yes."

His response was equally direct. When it comes to feelings, hesitation is the worst. If you like someone, be straightforward to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and drama.

Zhou Fan stared at Ye Guan, and their eyes met in midair.

Just then, Ye Guan stepped forward and kissed Zhou Fan on the lips. She stiffened, and her eyes widened in surprise. She wanted to resist, but for some reason, she found herself without the strength to resist and could only let him kiss her.

After a long time, their lips finally parted, leaving a trail of glistening liquid between them.

Zhou Fan glared at Ye Guan.

Ye Guan smiled and took Zhou Fan out of the tiny pagoda. He held her hand, and she didn't refuse.

After what had just happened, holding hands was nothing.

Zhou Fan's face turned red just then.

Ye Guan suddenly took out a Dao Fruit and handed it to Zhou Fan. "For you."

Surprised, Zhou Fan muttered, "This..."

"It's called a Dao Fruit; it's from the Shui Civilization."

"Your recent breakthrough was because of this fruit?" Zhou Fan asked.

Ye Guan nodded. "Yes."

Zhou Fan examined the Dao Fruit, and her expression became serious. "This thing contains such a massive amount of spiritual energy."

"Yeah, that's right," Ye Guan replied.

"Is the Shui Civilization really a Tier Five civilization?" Zhou Fan knew a bit about the Shui Civilization, but she wasn't sure whether they were Tier Four or Tier Five.

"They were once a Tier Five civilization, but they fought the Tianxing Civilization and lost too many experts, which led to their decline," Ye Guan explained.

"The Tianxing Civilization!" Zhou Fan exclaimed. "I never had a chance to ask you about that Tianxing Flame..."

Ye Guan opened his palm, revealing the Tianxing Flame.

Seeing it, Zhou Fan's expression became extremely serious.

A divine item of a Tier Five civilization. It was said that whenever this flame appeared, a civilization would fall.

Over the years, the Great Zhou had been avoiding the Tianxing Civilization as if it were the plague.

No one wanted to provoke such a legendary terrifying existence.

Zhou Fan returned to her senses and stared at the Tianxing Flame.

"Can I touch it?" Zhou Fan asked.

"Of course." Ye Guan handed the flame to Zhou Fan, who hesitated.

Ye Guan saw that and reassured her, "Don't worry, I've already subdued it."

The Tianxing Flame was speechless.

Little Pagoda couldn't help but chime in, "Hello? Are you sure it was you who subdued it?"

Ye Guan replied, "We're family. My aunt has subdued it, so it's the same as me subduing it."

Little Pagoda fell silent. This punk appears to be honest, but deep down, he has inherited his father's cunningness. He truly is his father's son.

Zhou Fan made a sidelong glance at Ye Guan. She didn't believe that Ye Guan had subdued the flame. Otherwise, he would have already wiped out the Evil Dao Alliance with a single slap.

Zhou Fan carefully took the Tianxing Flame. The flame matched the descriptions in ancient texts perfectly, dark red with what seemed like flowing blood inside but without any energy, just like an ordinary flame.

It was perfectly subdued. Zhou Fan was shocked. She looked at Ye Guan and asked seriously, "Was it difficult to subdue the Tianxing Flame?"

Ye Guan laughed and gently pinched her cheek. "You're teasing me."

Zhou Fan grinned.

Ye Guan looked at the Tianxing Flame and said, "My aunt subdued it."

Zhou Fan hesitated, wanting to say something.

"There's no need to hide anything between us. You can ask anything."

Zhou Fan looked at Ye Guan with deep affection. "All right."

Ye Guan said, "You're curious about my aunt's strength, right?"

Zhou Fan nodded. To subdue the Tianxing Flame... she couldn't even imagine it.

Ye Guan shook his head with a smile. "I can't answer that because I don't know the answer, either."

Zhou Fan was puzzled. "You don't know?"

Ye Guan nodded. "So far, none of the enemies I've encountered could withstand even one of her strikes."

Ye Guan gestured at the Tianxing Flame and said, "This flame couldn't do it, too. When it descended on that day, my aunt gave it a light squeeze, and it obeyed."

Zhou Fan's expression changed. A light squeeze to subdue the Tianxing Flame?

The more she thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed!

Zhou Fan's expression grew serious, feeling complicated. As a Tier Four civilization, the Great Zhou was quite powerful, but she realized that in the vast expanse, the Great Zhou was still like an ant to some beings.

Ye Guan held Zhou Fan's hand and smiled. "Don't be shocked. For our aunt, it's basic."

"Our aunt?" Zhou Fan looked at Ye Guan in surprise.

Ye Guan replied, "Isn't my aunt your aunt, too?"

Zhou Fan blinked, and then she remarked, "I used to think you were honest. Now, I can see that I was wrong. Be honest, how many girls have fallen for your words so far?"

Ye Guan's expression froze.

Zhou Fan didn't continue the topic and pulled Ye Guan away. "I can't marry you."

"My father is considering abdication, which means that I will become the Empress of the Great Zhou. The Empress cannot marry according to the laws of the Great Zhou."

Ye Guan asked, "The Empress has to remain single?"

"Not exactly. She cannot marry, but she can take consorts, male concubines, and lovers."

Ye Guan was dumbfounded.

Zhou Fan glanced at Ye Guan and chuckled. "I may not be able to marry you, but you can marry me."

Ye Guan shook his head and laughed.

Zhou Fan said, "I'm serious."

"I know. You're a strong, independent individual. You don't want to be just a figurehead; you want to have your own career... I support you, and I will do my best to help you."

Zhou Fan looked at Ye Guan for a long time, and then she gave him a hug.

"I knew it," she muttered.

Ye Guan held Zhou Fan's waist and asked, "So, shall we... just become pure friends?"

Zhou Fan glared at Ye Guan.

Ye Guan laughed heartily and said, "Let's go."

With that, he pulled Zhou Fan and hopped onto his sword before disappearing into the starry sky.

After a while, Ye Guan brought Zhou Fan into outer space. Thousands of kilometers away, the sounds of fighting could be heard.

Ye Qingqing was still fighting Cang Wu and Ji Xiaojian.

Ye Qingqing suddenly stopped and stared at Ye Guan with a frown. "What are you doing here?"

Ye Guan's eyelids twitched, and he hurriedly said, "I'm leaving right away!"

With that, he pulled Zhou Fan away and ran.

Ye Qingqing snorted coldly, and then she turned to look at Cang Wu and Ji Xiaojian in the distance.

"What are you looking at?!" she snapped.

Ji Xiaojian was speechless.

Cang Wu said in a deep voice, "I just received news that the Tenth Hall Master is going to take action personally. He wants us to be present.”

"He's back?" questioned Ji Xiaojian.

Cang Wu nodded. Ji Xiaojian was silent for a moment before saying, "Is ganging up on someone the act of a true warrior? Let’s go!"

With that, Ji Xiaojian looked at Ye Qingqing and said, "I'll find you another day."

She then turned into a beam of sword light that disappeared into the sky.

Cang Wu thought for a moment before muttering, "That's right."

Cang Wu also turned around and disappeared into the sky.

Strictly speaking, they weren't part of the Evil Dao Alliance. They were like mercenaries.

For minor matters, they'd fight, but they'd run away when it came to something major.

The two of them were quite strong, and they found it a bit excessive to gang up on someone as weak as Ye Guan.

If it weren't for the fact that they were curious about the lady in a black skirt's strength, they would have stopped fighting long ago.

Ye Guan was so weak, but the Tenth Hall Master actually wanted them to gang up on him.

Left all alone, Ye Qingqing frowned. She looked around for a while before turning into a beam of sword light and disappearing into the horizon.

***

Ye Guan was still a bit afraid from the earlier encounter. Aunt Qingqing's temper is becoming increasingly volatile. This is too much.

Zhou Fan suddenly asked, "Was she your aunt, too?"

"Yes, Aunt Qingqing, but her temper—"

Little Pagoda suddenly trembled and said, "Watch your mouth!"

Ye Guan was dumbfounded.

"Ahem!"

A light cough echoed behind them.

Ye Guan and Zhou Fan turned to see the Great Zhou Emperor standing not too far away from them.

Zhou Fan's face immediately flushed, and she quickly stepped away from Ye Guan while still holding his hand.

Ye Guan smiled and greeted, "Senior."

The Great Zhou Emperor nodded. "The Evil Dao Alliance has arrived."

Ye Guan's brow furrowed.

"Follow me." With that, the Great Zhou Emperor turned around and disappeared.

Ye Guan and Zhou Fan exchanged glances and chased after him.

Soon, they arrived in a void where some of the top elites of the Great Zhou were gathered.

Dao Jun and the others were stunned to see that Ye Guan had already reached ninety percent divinity.

What? How is he making such quick breakthroughs?

Dao Jun and the others exchanged glances, and they all thought of one word, "monster."

They also noticed an important detail.

Ye Guan was holding Zhou Fan's hand.

The sight made the Great Zhou elites smile.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhou Fan's face flushed with embarrassment. She tried to pull her hand away, but Ye Guan held it tightly.

Zhou Fan glared at Ye Guan but didn't continue to struggle and simply allowed him to hold her hand.

Ye Guan looked up at the distant horizon and saw six supreme elites led by Master Yue.

All six were at the Path Creation Realm, and they were the most powerful figures in the Tenth Hall of the Evil Dao Alliance.

Master Yue also saw Ye Guan and his expression changed drastically upon noticing Ye Guan's breakthrough.

His breakthroughs are so fast! Master Yue's face was extremely gloomy.

Ye Guan suddenly asked, "Senior, why aren't they making a move?"

The Great Zhou Emperor remarked, "They should be waiting for someone!"

Ye Guan narrowed his eyes. "Someone stronger?"

The Great Zhou Emperor nodded, and his eyes showed a hint of worry. "I guess so."

Just as Ye Guan was about to speak, the distant spacetime trembled. The next moment, a spacetime rift manifested, and a middle-aged man in a dark robe walked out of it.

As soon as the middle-aged man appeared, the spacetime of the Great Zhou started boiling and dissipating.

Everyone's expressions changed drastically at the sight.

Master Yue and the others bowed respectfully and greeted, "Greetings, Tenth Hall Master!”

Standing next to Ye Guan, the Great Zhou Emperor stared intently at the Tenth Hall Master, and his expression was unprecedentedly solemn as he remarked, "He must be stronger than Ji Xiaojian and that big guy."

Ye Guan stared at the Tenth Hall Master. He had truly underestimated the Evil Dao Alliance.

The Tenth Hall Master appeared a few dozen meters away from Ye Guan and the others. His gaze settled on Ye Guan, and he smiled. "I've heard that there's an exceptionally powerful lady in a plain skirt standing behind you. Is it true?"

Ye Guan nodded. "Yes."

"Forgive me for being blunt, but none of you here are my match, so let's not waste time. How about you call her here?"

Ye Guan was silent.

"I heard that she never attacks twice... Coincidentally, I don't do that, too. Come on, summon her. I'm really excited to see her head explode from my punch right in front of you.

"I really, really enjoy seeing my enemy's shock turn into despair. That feeling is truly exhilarating," the Tenth Hall Master remarked with his face flushed.

Ye Guan stared deeply at the Tenth Hall Master and was about to speak when—

Crack!

—A spacetime rift manifested next to Ye Guan, and a lady in a plain skirt walked out of it.

Ye Guan was stupefied to see her.