Chapter 00197: Simple and Direct
# Simple and Direct
Chapter 197
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 197: Simple and Direct
“Fellow Daoist Ding!”
“Big Brother!”
“Huan Ge!”
“Captain!”
…
In an instant, various titles filled Ding Huan's ears.
He had already spotted Liu Yinzhu and Guan Wu.
In his heart, he wondered why these two people had come here.
Nevertheless, he approached them one by one to pay his respects.
“I greet Elder Liu, I greet Fairy Wu. I never expected to see both of you here. Life truly brings unexpected encounters.”
Liu Yinzhu was quite surprised.
The last time she met Ding Huan, he seemed to be at the early stage of refining Qi.
Now, he appeared to be very ordinary.
Could his cultivation have regressed?
No, it felt as if something indescribable enveloped Ding Huan, emanating a vast presence.
How could this be? No matter how strong Ding Huan was, he was merely at the Qi Refining stage.
What she valued wasn't Ding Huan's level but his methods.
Liu Yinzhu forced herself to focus.
Upon a clearer look, Ding Huan seemed just an ordinary cultivator.
Alas, West Wind City resembled a mundane place.
Here, it was indeed too difficult for Ding Huan to improve his cultivation.
It seemed that Ding Huan had been out recently to seek a path to foundation establishment.
Without asking, it was clear he had failed.
“Fellow Daoist Ding, I've been waiting here for you, and today I finally get to see you,” Liu Yinzhu said with a smile.
Guan Wu, even more excited, stepped forward to pay his respects. “Guan Wu greets Big Brother Ding.”
Uh…
Ding Huan was even more astonished.
This woman usually held herself in high regard.
How could she be calling him Big Brother?
“Shan Peng and Qiu Xingyuan from the Zhaoxing Lord's Country greet Senior Ding.”
When the man and woman from the Zhaoxing Lord's Country saw Ding Huan's return, even the earlier True Dan Realm expert showed respect.
It was clear that Ding Huan was no ordinary person, and they did not dare be negligent, quickly coming to pay their respects.
Ding Huan's gaze fell upon the two.
“I heard you came to hold me accountable for killing the lord of West Wind City?”
“Dare not, Senior has misunderstood. It was Cui Hu'er from the Ten Thousand Beast Sect who forced us to come here. The reason is also due to him,” Shan Peng explained anxiously.
He knew that if Cui Hu'er lived today, theirs would not be a pleasant outcome.
It would likely lead to their demise.
He was aware that if he dared take on this responsibility, they might not survive this encounter with Ding Huan.
If Ding Huan could kill someone like Lord Xuebu, would he hesitate to kill two insignificant figures from Zhaoxing?
“Yes, some patrolling guards and this beast master were also killed or injured by Cui Hu'er,” Qiu Xingyuan quickly added.
Seeing Ding Huan’s gaze turn toward him, Cui Hu'er’s expression changed.
He hurriedly clasped his fists. “Greetings, Fellow Daoist Ding. This matter was my misunderstanding, and I am willing to offer reparations.”
With nearly all his teeth knocked out by Liu Yinzhu, Cui Hu'er spoke unclearly, with significant airflow escaping him.
“My beast pet was killed by you. You call it a misunderstanding? Should I kill you and say it’s a misunderstanding as well?” Ding Huan said while looking directly at Cui Hu'er, a hint of a smile on his lips.
Cui Hu'er scoffed internally.
Kill me? If not for the True Dan expert being present, this mere ant would be dead with a single slap.
“I’m willing to take on the error. If it will allow Fellow Daoist to feel better, I do not mind standing here to be struck by you,” Cui Hu'er said, his tone filled with regret and humility.
Everyone understood that he was forced by circumstances.
The bystander, Lao Liu, upon hearing that Ding Huan mentioned its death, immediately rolled its eyes and fell to the ground motionless.
If Huan Ge said it was dead, then if it still moved about, it would surely be scolded for being foolish—maybe even called a pig.
That was what it most despised.
Ding Huan turned to Liu Yinzhu. “Elder Liu, do you have a crystal image ball?”
Without hesitation, Liu Yinzhu took out a crystal ball and handed it to Ding Huan, unsure of his intent.
Ding Huan scanned it with his sense and understood how to use it.
He smiled at Cui Hu'er, “In that case, repeat what you just said. Be sure to include the reasons, and what if I were to kill you?”
Cui Hu'er didn't mind.
Even if Ding Huan struck him with everything he had, what difference would it make? Once he returned to his sect, he would settle the score with the woman.
In his eyes, Ding Huan was merely a dead man.
“You’re asking for a way out, right? I’ll provide it to you, and later, I’ll take back double.”
“I indiscriminately killed in West Wind City, and I killed Fellow Daoist Ding's beast pet. I am willing to take on the blame. If it gives Fellow Daoist relief, I do not mind standing here for you to strike me. If I cannot endure the blow and die at your hands, that is my misfortune and has nothing to do with anyone else.”
As soon as Cui Hu'er finished speaking, Ding Huan threw a punch.
Cui Hu'er sneered, just a mere…
Yet, just as he thought this, he felt a chilling sensation wash over his soul, a feeling of death enveloping him.
An immense fear gripped Cui Hu'er.
He could no longer dare to stand still, frantically channeling his true essence to break free from the impending death.
Yet he found all his efforts were in vain, and he could only watch as Ding Huan's fist arrived at his forehead.
Distantly, Liu Yinzhu sighed.
She too believed Ding Huan was just making some statements as the overseer of West Wind City, merely offering a way out.
This was unavoidable after all; Ding Huan hadn't yet joined the Purple Mist Valley and was still facing a foundation establishment expert from the Ten Thousand Beast Sect.
As Ding Huan's fist came out, she sensed something was off.
Her divine sense couldn't catch the imposing killing intent of this punch.
Facing it, she even felt an urge of helplessness.
What kind of fist was this?
“Puff!” It was as if a watermelon had burst open, dark red and colorful blood erupting everywhere.
With a flick of Ding Huan's hand, the blood was swept aside, splattering on the ground.
After Ding Huan agreed to Cui Hu'er's request, Shan Peng and Qiu Xingyuan felt they were waiting for death, knowing that if Cui Hu'er did not die, they would undoubtedly perish.
It was only when they saw Cui Hu'er's head explode that they realized just how ruthless Ding Huan could be.
“Everyone, do what you need to do. Nothing will change in West Wind City,” Ding Huan waved to the onlookers.
Though Ding Huan had not emerged before, who in West Wind City didn't know his name? Thus, once he spoke, everyone quickly departed.
After Ding Huan collected Cui Hu'er's storage bag, the bodies on the ground were automatically cleaned up by the patrolling guards.
“Yan Mei, take Old Liu's body back. Elder Liu, Fairy Wu, please return to the city to converse.”
Having dealt with matters swiftly and decisively, Ding Huan directly invited Liu Yinzhu and Guan Wu back to the city for a discussion.
Liu Yinzhu sighed in her heart, realizing she had not misjudged Ding Huan.
This method of dealing with things and speed was certainly beyond her capabilities.
It appeared simple and direct yet still left room for maneuvering.
If she were in Ding Huan's position, would she dare to kill Cui Hu'er? Surely not.
But if Ding Huan did everything according to her thoughts, why would she have sought him out?
She was even certain that if Ding Huan did not intend to stay in West Wind City, he would not have recorded Cui Hu'er’s image in the crystal ball.
Such were the helplessness of the weak.
…
Yan Mei followed behind Ding Huan with Old Liu’s body, and Liu Yinzhu and Guan Wu also trailed behind, all heading toward Ding Huan’s residence in the Great Crystal District.
Upon returning to the small courtyard, everyone took their seats in the meeting room.
Ding Huan asked, “Elder Liu and Fairy Wu must have come for a reason. Please speak, and as long as I can assist, I will not delay.”
Liu Yinzhu was fine with small matters; Ding Huan didn't mind lending a hand, and he couldn't help with big matters.
As for Guan Wu, after crossing the Lost Marsh, they had been even.
That said, if it weren't for her, he wouldn't have had the chance to enter the Dao cultivation world; he might still be in the mortal realm seeking opportunities.
Thus, he intended to help wherever possible.
“Fairy Wu, you go ahead and speak,” Liu Yinzhu said, knowing that her conversation with Ding Huan would take time.
Guan Wu quickly stood up and bowed to Ding Huan. “Big Brother Ding, after joining the Yan Yue Sect, my cultivation has been steadily improving. However, recently I’ve had this odd feeling that my body doesn’t belong to me. This sensation is quite strange. I’ve checked thoroughly and found nothing unusual. However, I vaguely feel that this is not a good sign. I have no friends in the Dao cultivation world. Among those I know, the most capable is only you, Big Brother Ding, so I mustered the courage to seek your guidance.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Yinzhu was taken aback.
Could Guan Wu have been possessed? But wait, wasn’t possession about consuming the soul first before taking over the body? How could it be the other way around?
Ding Huan's gaze was fixed on Guan Wu, who felt her face flush under his stare and hurriedly looked down.
She quickly realized that while Ding Huan was looking at her, there was nothing disrespectful in his demeanor; it seemed he was pondering something.
Ding Huan indeed was thinking.
He was calculating Guan Wu's future.
Upon doing this calculation, Ding Huan felt a surge of joy.
It appeared that ever since he forged his foundation and refined his star clouds, his ability to predict had become much clearer.
Strength changes everything.
Soon, Ding Huan’s brow furrowed.
It seemed Guan Wu was about to leave the Dao cultivation world and enter a higher realm.
However, as she prepared to leave, the vision of her future abruptly ended.
Could she be killed? That shouldn't be possible.
Wasn't she the wife of the Young Sect Master? Even when leaving the Dao cultivation world for the Ascension Realm, surely she would have protection, right?
For Ding Huan, if Guan Wu were to enter a realm higher than the Dao cultivation world, where else could it be besides the Ascension Realm?
Guan Wu anxiously gazed at Ding Huan, who had been similar, needing time to ponder before making decisions.
“Fairy Wu, show me your wrist,” Ding Huan suddenly said after some time.
(End of Chapter)