148: Chapter 148 Declaring Sovereignty

What was even more ridiculous...

Despite the arrival of three powerful saviors, Su Chen at this moment...

Did not have much joy on his face, but rather a faint sense of impending doom.

Countless gazes swept back and forth between the three peerless Transcendent Heroic Spirits and Su Chen, whose expression screamed "Who am I? Where am I? Am I about to die?", filled with an extreme sense of absurdity and dissonance.

A Rank Seven kid who was just accused of being the descendant of a traitor and a murderer had, in the blink of an eye, become the object of protection for three peerless beauties standing at the pinnacle of the human race—women countless people dreamed of—who even publicly declared their intent to become his Dao companions?

"F*ck... has the world gone mad?!"

Some martial artists present were so out of sorts they even slapped themselves several times, trying to wake themselves up.

The official martial artists from the Huaxi Hall of Heroic Spirits were even more dumbfounded.

The leading middle-aged man's face turned from blue to white, and cold sweat seeped from his temples.

No matter what, he never imagined things would develop to this point.

They had specifically investigated Su Chen's background.

How could something like this happen?

Three Transcendent Heroic Spirits appearing simultaneously to protect him—this weight was too heavy.

Heavy enough to overturn all their previous accusations and plans.

"My ladies!"

The middle-aged man steeled himself and bowed.

"This person is under heavy suspicion with conclusive evidence; he is the descendant of a criminal and bears a blood debt."

"According to the laws of Great Xia and the regulations of the Hall of Valor, he should be detained for investigation."

"You three possess noble status; please do not be deceived by this boy's appearance."

"What merit or ability does he have to deserve such favor from you?"

"I implore you to see clearly and not let personal feelings interfere with public duty!"

The middle-aged man knew that the true bodies of Zhuge Jinyu and the other two were still in the East Sea.

The three appearing now were merely their projections.

Their strength was certainly far inferior to their true bodies.

It was precisely because of this that even if he angered them, he shouldn't be completely without a chance to escape with his life.

His words were clever, pointing out Su Chen's "crimes."

While also labeling them with a heavy charge.

Hinting that the three Heroic Spirits might have been deceived by Su Chen, and even implying they were "neglecting public duty for private interests."

Hearing this, Zhuge Jinyu's gaze turned slightly cold, but before she could speak...

Su Chen recovered slightly from the massive shock. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his churning emotions and the urge to reunite.

The current situation was bizarre. Three old friends had suddenly appeared in this manner and all seemed "interested" in him, but whether this was a blessing or a curse was still hard to predict.

The urgent priority was to escape the impending imprisonment and even the threat of death.

He took a step forward and gave a deep bow toward the three peerless women in the air.

"Junior Su Chen greets the three seniors."

"I have suffered a wrongful accusation and implore the three seniors to uphold justice."

"As for the matter of being Dao companions that you mentioned, we can discuss that later. But right now, my life is at stake. Could I ask the seniors to save me first?"

His words were airtight, expressing a plea for help while temporarily setting aside the shocking "Dao companion" proposal and avoiding making a specific choice.

Instead, he pulled the focus back to the immediate crisis.

The gazes of the three Heroic Spirit phantoms fell on Su Chen simultaneously, the meaning within those looks complex and difficult to discern.

But Su Chen was right.

Whomever Su Chen chose was their private family matter.

If an outsider wanted to harm their Teacher/Husband/Young Master Su...

They would absolutely never allow it!

Zhuge Jinyu suppressed her emotions and turned to the official martial artists, her voice returning to its usual coldness and authority.

"This Hall will naturally verify the evidence of the crimes you mentioned."

"But until it is clarified, Su Chen will be taken into custody and protected by me, the Hall Master of the Huaxi Hall of Heroic Spirits."

"If he is guilty, I will personally 'punish' him according to the law."

"If he is innocent, I will not tolerate others framing him."

"Taken into custody?"

The middle-aged man's face changed, knowing that Hall Master zhuge intended to protect Su Chen to the end. He said unwillingly,

"Hall Master zhuge, this man is dangerous, how can..."

"Hmm?"

Zhuge Jinyu merely let out a soft hum, her phoenix eyes shifting slightly toward the middle-aged man.

In an instant.

Countless needle-like killing intents erupted from the peerless beauty like physical objects.

Every single one pierced into the leading middle-aged man.

The many martial artists present witnessed it.

That top-tier martial artist, whose cultivation was at Rank Eleven, without any external physical attack...

Developed tens of thousands of bloody holes all over his body.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

He soon fell silent.

"Since Teacher has already returned, do you think I am willing to continue this charade with you hypocrites?"

"The reason the former Zhuge Jinyu, a servant of the court, cared for the world was because of Teacher's entrustment."

"But now..."

"My Teacher has returned."

"My world..."

"Consists of only him alone."

Instantly, the entire field fell silent.

A slightly older martial artist nearby saw this and hurriedly pulled his overzealous companion's corpse away.

He took a deep breath.

He had no more choices; stepping forward might get him killed by Zhuge Jinyu, and stepping back would get him killed by the angry Great Families.

He could only hope Zhuge Jinyu was still reasonable, and he bowed to her.

"Hall Master, please calm your anger."

"Since the Hall Master is personally acting as a guarantor to take over this person, we naturally do not dare to obstruct you."

"However, the Hall Master said Su Chen is a candidate for your family, as well as for Hall Master Ye and Lady Cang Mingyue. This is a matter of great importance; without proof, it may be difficult to convince the public or silence the rumors."

"After all, you three possess exalted status. Being too deeply involved with a suspect might damage your reputations."

"I wonder if the Hall Master has any proof?"

This question was tricky. It gave Zhuge Jinyu a way out by agreeing to let her take Su Chen.

But it also put her on the spot.

You say he is the lover you have searched for for a thousand years—where is the evidence?

It can't be settled just because three big figures said so, right?

Especially since Su Chen was still under suspicion.

And he himself hadn't even admitted it yet.

Once this was said, everyone's eyes focused on Zhuge Jinyu, including Ye Jingjun and Cang Mingyue, who also looked at her.

They also didn't know what proof Zhuge Jinyu would produce.

Su Chen's heart tightened even more. Proof?

What proof could there be?

His relationship with them was a secret that spanned worlds and timelines; how could it be made public now?

Zhuge Jinyu remained silent for a moment. No emotion could be seen on her cold and beautiful face.

She slowly descended from the air, her phantom becoming a bit more solid as she walked toward Su Chen with light steps.

White clothes like snow, black hair like a waterfall, peerless elegance.

Like the Creator's most proud masterpiece.

Every step she took seemed to tread on everyone's heartstrings. The plaza was so silent that only the sound of the wind remained.

"Have you all heard..."

"Before a Heroic Spirit and a martial artist form a contract, they need to open their hearts to each other and understand each other's memories and pasts."

"And my cultivation is profound; I happen to have a method to project the shared memories that may exist between us for everyone to see."

As she said this, her phoenix eyes glanced at Ye Jingjun and Cang Mingyue.

She seemed intent on declaring her sovereignty.