Legend Management Bureau Chapter 91

[ … words ]

White jade dragon horses pulling a jade carriage slowly descended upon the Altar of Conferring Gods.

A small, thin figure vaulted down, then quickly turned back to help a man dressed in golden clothes descend.

Once the two steadied themselves and took a closer look, they realized there were actually two people waiting at the altar. They wore identical clothes, had identical hairstyles, and both had their faces covered with black veils, making their identities indistinguishable.

“Jade Emperor, are those two the ones you mentioned… the hometown friends you absolutely had to descend to the mortal realm to meet?”

Zhang Youren frowned, actually unsure himself.

Why were there two people at the same time?

Du Yu and Zhang Jian were also somewhat bewildered. Zhang Jian naturally recognized who this thin young boy in front of them was. Back on the battlefield when King Wu overthrew Zhou, this figure had shined brilliantly with his diverse array of magical treasures, crushing countless enemy forces. He was the disciple of Perfected Taiyi under the Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning—the Third Prince Nezha.

But why had the Third Prince Nezha followed him here?

Du Yu pondered for a moment. Although the plot had changed slightly, it shouldn’t be a major problem.

Zhang Jian nodded, took a step forward, and declared, “Youren, you really came. It seems you haven’t forgotten the ‘sparring match’ I mentioned to you before. I am very pleased.”

“A sparring match?” Zhang Youren raised an eyebrow. He clearly recognized this person’s voice as Zhang Jian’s, but why had their previously agreed upon identity exchange now become a ‘sparring match’? However, he understood Zhang Jian; unless there was a specific reason, he wouldn’t act so bizarrely.

Zhang Youren thought about it for a moment, then also took a step forward and replied, “Zhang Jian, of course I remember the matter of our ‘sparring match.’ That is why I hurried to keep the appointment.”

“A sparring match?!” Nezha was stunned upon hearing this. “How can that be?! Didn’t you say you were just gathering with an old friend? Hey, you big brute, do you have any idea about the identity of the person standing before you? How can he spar with you?”

“Nezha, do not be rude,” Zhang Youren waved his hand and explained. “Sparring with this man was my sole remaining wish before becoming the Jade Emperor. The sooner I fulfill it, the sooner I can sever my ties with the mortal realm.”

Hearing this, Du Yu almost stumbled backward. ‘So this short kid is actually Nezha?’

‘Nezha isn’t a seven- or eight-year-old child like in the cartoons, but a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old teenager?’

“Jade Emperor, I really don’t know what to say to you anymore…” Nezha muttered. “I absolutely cannot agree to this. You are now the esteemed Lord of All Gods, yet you secretly descended to the mortal realm to spar with a mere mortal… I…”

“Hey! You little shortie!” Du Yu shouted. “This is something the two of them agreed upon. Why are you getting in the middle and causing trouble?”

Hearing these words, Nezha revealed an expression of sheer disbelief.

“What did you just call me?”

“I called you a little shortie!” Du Yu retorted in annoyance. “If you have the guts, come and fight me.”

“Are you courting death?!” Nezha roared. “If you want a fight, you’ll get a fight!”

Seeing that things were taking a bad turn, Du Yu turned his head and fled. Without another word, Nezha immediately stepped onto his Wind and Fire Wheels, leaving a trail of roaring flames as he chased after him.

Zhang Youren was taken aback, unsure of what was happening right in front of him. The next second, Zhang Jian drew his saber and attacked.

Zhang Youren immediately raised his hand to block. Just as he was about to say something, Zhang Jian spoke up, “Brother, the plan has changed. Just play along with me.”

…

“Halt!” Nezha advanced at breakneck speed, visibly closing the distance between himself and Du Yu.

Du Yu glanced back. He was already far enough away from Zhang Youren and Zhang Jian, so he slowly ground to a halt and turned around.

“Hmph.” Seeing Du Yu stop in his tracks, Nezha also came to a halt. “Done running?”

“Why would I keep running? If I had skates on my feet, I reckon I could run a bit further, but right now there’s no way I can outrun you.”

“Skates?” Nezha paused. “What are those?”

“Heh, skates are great things. They are much more impressive than that pair of wheels under your feet. They look better and work better, too.”

“Nonsense!” Nezha shouted. “How could there possibly be a foot-bound magical treasure in this world that is more powerful and beautiful than my Wind and Fire Wheels?”

“If you don’t believe me, forget it,” Du Yu shook his head. “I didn’t expect you to understand anyway.”

“Hmph, acting all mysterious.” Nezha pulled out his Fire-Tipped Spear, igniting a raging blaze upon it. “Since you dared to call me a little shortie, today I will show you exactly how fierce this shortie can be.”

‘This is bad,’ Du Yu thought to himself. Even if Nezha had only recently been conferred as a god, he was still a renowned immortal cultivator. Just one moment of carelessness, and Du Yu would end up dead right here.

“Hey! Why are you wearing a veil? Take it off immediately! Let me see what you look like,” Nezha demanded.

“Take it off? That’s impossible,” Du Yu replied without a second thought.

“Why is it impossible?”

“Well…” Du Yu really hadn’t expected that Nezha, who looked like a teenager, would actually have the mind of a child. “This is called the tide of fashion! What the hell would you know? Just hurry up and fight!”

“The tide?” Nezha lowered his Fire-Tipped Spear and asked, “Isn’t a tide just an undercurrent in the sea? What does that have to do with your veil?”

“My god, are you a curious toddler?” Du Yu said in exasperation. “The tide of fashion has nothing to do with the sea! It means being handsome! Being cool! It’s a special term reserved for an incredibly dashing, suave, and romantic handsome man like myself, understand?!”

Nezha thoughtfully opened his mouth, seemingly grasping the concept.

“If you’re going to fight, then hurry up and fight. Why are you dawdling?” Du Yu urged. “Just beat me up quickly so I can admit defeat and we can be done with it.”

“Hmph! You’re so weird!” Nezha gripped his Fire-Tipped Spear and thrust it forward directly. “Let’s see if you can still talk tough after I stab you three times!”

“Yingning… help me out!”

Du Yu cried out, and a green pen at his waist instantly flew out.

“Huh?” Nezha paused in surprise. He reached out to parry the green pen and stumbled back a few steps.

“You really are a strange person!” Nezha asked in confusion. “How are you able to activate a magical treasure without forming hand seals or chanting incantations?”

“Didn’t I already tell you? It’s called being fashionable,” Du Yu replied. “Question after question, it’s so annoying. Would you believe me if I told you that my magical treasure and I can split up and act independently?”

“Split up?”

Nezha was a bit puzzled, but before he could ask for clarification, he saw Du Yu turn and run. Just as he was about to give chase, the green pen relentlessly struck at him again.

Nezha truly couldn’t understand it. Why was the master of the magical treasure already running away, yet the treasure itself was still endlessly attacking him?

“What a formidable divine ability!” Nezha exchanged a few more blows with the green pen. Knowing he couldn’t afford to be tangled up any longer, he shifted his form and flew toward the distant Du Yu.

As soon as he landed, Nezha put away his weapon and grabbed hold of Du Yu.

“What are you doing?!” Du Yu yelled. “Go back and keep fighting that magical treasure! Why are you coming after me?!”

“I’m not fighting anymore, I’m not fighting!” Nezha exclaimed with a look of pure excitement. “Quick, teach me! What kind of divine ability is that ‘splitting up’ technique you just used with your magical treasure?”

“I can’t teach you!” Du Yu snapped.

“Why can’t you teach it?” Nezha pressed. “I’m very smart. I learn things as soon as I see them.”

“Uh…” Du Yu really didn’t know how to handle this teenager. He could only look him up and down before saying, “Look at you. You’re a teenager, yet you run around barefoot, carrying lotus flowers, and wearing a baby’s bib. You are simply too ‘earthy’ and uncool. You could never learn this kind of fashionable divine ability.”

“Earth?” Nezha waved his hand dismissively upon hearing this. “No, no, Perfected Taiyi said that I am ‘Fire,’ not ‘Earth’.”

“Who is talking to you about the Five Elements? Besides, the Five Elements state that Fire generates Earth!” Du Yu shouted. “Don’t you know the principle of mutual generation? The more ‘fire’ you have, the more ‘earthy’ and uncool you’ll naturally become.”

“Is that how it works…?” Nezha pondered it again and asked, “Are you saying there’s a problem with the ‘lotus flowers’ too? But I am the ‘Incarnation of the Lotus.’ It’s only natural that I carry lotus flowers on my person…”

“Sigh.” Du Yu really didn’t want to keep going in circles with him, so he just said, “To sum it up, you aren’t ‘fashionable’ enough, so you can’t learn my ‘splitting up’ divine ability. Whenever you become ridiculously cool and badass, you’ll naturally comprehend it.”

“Fascinating… This is truly fascinating!” Nezha beamed. “I’ve really learned something good this time. As long as I cover my face like you, will I also become fashionable and learn such a powerful divine ability?”

“Do you think just hanging a piece of cloth over your face is enough?” Du Yu shook his head. “Wouldn’t that mean everyone could be as amazing as me? ‘Fashion’ is a profound field of study. You still have a lot to learn. Calm your mind and take it slowly.”

Du Yu patted Nezha on the shoulder and instructed, “If you want to know what true fashion is, just sit here and meditate for a while. I’ll come back to find you later.”

Back at the Altar of Conferring Gods, Zhang Youren and Zhang Jian were locked in a fierce brawl.

“Chief, what exactly happened?” Zhang Youren parried Zhang Jian’s blade once again and asked in a low voice.

“I will intentionally reveal a flaw. Just strike me down, and you will naturally find out,” Zhang Jian whispered back.

Zhang Youren gave a slight nod. Seeing Zhang Jian’s stance falter, nearly causing him to trip, Zhang Youren remembered what he had just said. He immediately surged forward, his hands overflowing with metal-attribute spiritual energy, and gently struck Zhang Jian in the lower abdomen.

Zhang Jian let out a loud cry and was sent flying backward. He collapsed on the ground, putting on a convincing act of being on the brink of death.

“Zhang Youren… to think you actually intend to kill me, Zhang Jian…” Zhang Jian shouted weakly from the ground.

Zhang Youren was a little dazed, unsure of what scheme the Chief was trying to pull.

A moment later, the sound of wind being sliced echoed from all directions. A horde of wild mountain demons and wandering immortals suddenly revealed themselves.

“It really is Zhang Youren and Zhang Jian! One of them is already injured. Brothers, attack!”

The large crowd immediately channeled their magic. Five-colored lights flashed wildly as they launched their attacks at the standing Zhang Youren.

“So that’s how it is!” Zhang Youren nodded in realization. Having noticed Zhang Jian’s earlier apprehensions, he had kept his spiritual energy fully circulating the entire time. Now, he reacted instantly. With a wave of his hand, several iron throwing knives flew out from his sleeves, piercing straight through several attackers.

“Careful! This guy’s cultivation base isn’t low!”

The mob gradually advanced, surrounding Zhang Youren while calculating how to take his life. But suddenly, they noticed that the blood pooling from the men who had just been pierced was actually beginning to move.

The blood moved as if it had a life of its own, gradually converging on the ground. Suddenly, it transformed into a blood dragon. Before the bystanders could even cry out in alarm, it lunged forward and slaughtered several more of them.

Zhang Jian slowly stood up, dusting off his clothes. “If the mister hadn’t instructed me beforehand, the two of us brothers would have lost our lives right here and now.”