167: Chapter 167 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (115)

Chu Shi couldn't be bothered to waste words on him; he shook off his grip and walked straight toward Chen Lingxi and the other two.

Ling Chen gave a chuckle and trotted along behind him.

"Senior Brother Chu!"

From far away, Chen Lingxi waved her hand and shouted, her face beaming with a bright smile.

"Junior Sister Lingxi." Chu Shi nodded slightly, his tone calm.

Their acquaintance began two and a half years ago at Chu Shi's Apprenticeship Ceremony.

At that time, Chen Lingxi had come to observe the ceremony as a Disciple accompanying the Four Seasons Holy Land. Because he had been the head of the Chen family in his third Reincarnation, Chu Shi naturally felt a sense of closeness to her.

Additionally, in order to understand the changes that had occurred in the Chen family after his death, he often chatted with Chen Lingxi during that period. Over time, they became "confidants" with a very good relationship in the eyes of others.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Lingxi pulled the two young girls beside her and introduced them with a smile:

"Senior Brother Chu, Senior Brother Ling, let me introduce you. This is Princess Xiao Weizhao of the Tianhuang Princes Mansion, and this is Princess Xiao Yunyao of the Yun Princes Mansion."

She then pointed at Chu Shi and Ling Chen and said to the two girls:

"These two are Senior Brother Chu Shi of Lieyang Peak and Senior Brother Ling Chen of Qingyang Peak from the Great Sun Holy Land. They are both super amazing Prodigies!"

"Tianhuang Princes Mansion?"

Hearing these four words, Chu Shi's voice paused slightly, and his eyes had a momentary trance.

It was as if dusty memories had been suddenly uncovered; the grim years of that short life from his previous Reincarnation surged into his mind like a tide.

He remembered that young man with whom he had fought side-by-side and shared drinks.

He remembered Xiao Heng, who, with his assistance, had stepped by step gone from an unfavored Third Prince to finally ascending the throne as the Tianhuang Prince.

That was one of the few lives in his five Reincarnations where he had truly poured out his emotions.

Xiao Heng was his sovereign, and even more so, his confidant and brother.

Chu Shi steadied himself and asked, seemingly nonchalantly:

"Princess Weizhao, may I ask who your father is?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Lingxi pulled Xiao Weizhao's arm and laughed preemptively:

"Senior Brother Chu, you're so strange today! Zhaozhao is a Princess of the Tianhuang Princes Mansion, so of course her father is the current Tianhuang Prince!"

Hearing this, Chu Shi fell into a daze once again.

That made sense.

It had only been forty or fifty years since he was assassinated in his previous life.

Back then, the newly enthroned Xiao Heng was just twenty years old; calculating it, having a daughter this old was perfectly normal.

Xiao Weizhao...

Chu Shi silently repeated the name in his heart, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

As expected of his good brother; even when naming his daughter, he carried such a subtle Concept.

It was worth all the heart's blood he had spent back then, clearing away all obstacles for him and pushing him onto that supreme throne.

"Senior Brother Chu? Senior Brother Chu?"

Seeing him daze off again, Chen Lingxi quickly extended her small hand and waved it in front of his eyes.

Chu Shi snapped back to reality, only to see Chen Lingxi blinking her large eyes, looking at him teasingly, and saying with a grin:

"Senior Brother Chu, you haven't taken a liking to our Zhaozhao, have you?"

She deliberately drew out her voice and teased:

"Let me tell you, our Zhaozhao is the apple of the eye of the Tianhuang Princes Mansion, and she's so beautiful that the people pursuing her could line up from Huangyan Prefecture all the way to the Imperial Capital! Senior Brother Chu, you'll have to keep working hard, otherwise you won't even pass the test from Yaoyao and me!"

As she spoke, she waved her small fist, putting on a fierce look that appeared charming and cute.

"Xixi! If you keep spouting nonsense, I'm going to ignore you!"

Xiao Weizhao's cheeks flushed crimson in an instant, like they had been dyed by the sunset clouds on the horizon.

She glared at Chen Lingxi reproachfully and reached out to tickle her.

"Ah! Yaoyao, save me!" Chen Lingxi laughed and hid behind Xiao Yunyao.

The three girls immediately laughed together, their silver-bell-like giggles echoing through the valley.

Chu Shi shook his head helplessly. This little girl's train of thought was truly uniquely bizarre.

How could he possibly have ideas about his brother's daughter?

"Not bad, Senior Brother Chu!" Ling Chen leaned in, bumped his shoulder against Chu Shi's, and winked. "You're hiding your skills well! Daring to stare so directly at a young lady the first time you meet her—I admire you, I really do!"

He stroked his chin, looked Xiao Weizhao up and down, and nodded:

"Your taste is indeed good. But I prefer that Princess Yunyao; she's lively and cheerful, and she gets along with me. It's perfect, we don't conflict."

Afterward, Ling Chen patted Chu Shi's shoulder with an expression that said "I believe in you":

"Senior Brother, keep it up, strive to win over Princess Zhao as soon as possible. When that time comes, don't forget to have her introduce Princess Yunyao to me. My lifelong happiness as your Junior Brother depends entirely on you!"

Hearing this, the black lines on Chu Shi's face deepened.

He raised his hand and slapped away Ling Chen's head that was leaning in, saying irritably:

"Get lost, I'm thinking about serious matters."

"Yes, yes, yes, thinking about 'serious matters'." Ling Chen covered his head and chuckled. "I understand, I understand. Don't worry, Senior Brother, I definitely won't disturb you while you're thinking about 'serious matters'. Just don't forget your Junior Brother!"

Chu Shi couldn't be bothered to waste more words on him; he turned his head, preparing to apologize to Xiao Weizhao to resolve the awkwardness from just now.

Just at this moment.

A biting, bone-chilling cold wind blew without warning, and even the mist swirling in the valley seemed to freeze, stagnating for an instant.

Everyone looked up in unison, gazing toward the distant horizon.

Deep within the clouds, a flying boat carved entirely from ten-thousand-year cold ice was slowly sailing over.

The flying boat was crystal clear and refracted seven-colored light under the sun, yet it emitted a heart-palpitating chill.

Wherever it passed, the air condensed into tiny ice particles, falling with a rustling sound.

The team from the Ice and Snow Holy Land had arrived.

The flying boat came to a steady stop, and the cabin door slid open silently.

Fifteen figures dressed in plain white outfits with ice patterns filed out, their steps light, making not a single sound when they landed.

Faint cold air lingered around their bodies, clashing with the atmosphere in front of the valley, drawing sideways glances from the Disciples of various factions nearby.

Chu Shi's gaze swept through the crowd and locked onto one of the young men.

Bing Hao.

He still wore that cold and aloof expression, with the unique detachment of the Ice and Snow Holy Land between his brows.

His aura was much more stable than when they last met, and his blood and Qi were condensed like ice, clearly having successfully achieved a Breakthrough to the Early Stage of the Copper Bone Realm.

Seeming to sense Chu Shi's gaze, Bing Hao turned his head slightly.

Their eyes met, both were slightly startled, then they nodded in unison, acknowledging each other.

There were no superfluous words, nor was there any drawn-sword hostility, only the unspoken tacit understanding and scrutiny between top Prodigies.

Chu Shi withdrew his gaze, his heart without ripples.

Seeing Bing Hao here was already within his expectations.

Last time when Aunt Xue brought the Ice and Snow Holy Land delegation to attend his Apprenticeship Ceremony, Bing Hao was the Core Disciple leading the team and had even had a sparring match with him.

Although he ultimately lost narrowly, that resilience, remaining calm even amidst raging fire, left a deep impression on Chu Shi.

Looking at the entire younger generation, there were very few people he could consider opponents of the same caliber. Bing Hao definitely counted as one.

Moreover, the surname "Bing" in itself explained everything.