parentshiftbook Chapter 173: Invitation
Chapter 173: Invitation
"Zhang Ping!"
Chu Hanwei's expression was complicated, and the others also had different expressions.
Most of them had never met Zhang Ping, only heard of his name six months ago.
But now, times have changed. Half a year has passed, and everyone present has fought their way out of life and death. Their strength has greatly increased, and their perspectives are naturally different.
Looking at Zhang Ping now, the previous amazement is gone, replaced by scrutiny and doubt.
If Director Chu's observation was correct, someone is fighting the Demon Lord here, and Zhang Ping is currently here.
So, the person who just fought the Demon Lord was Zhang Ping?
Dao Yuanzi gently stroked his white beard; his complexion was somewhat withered, unlike the rosy glow of a normal martial artist.
He took two steps forward, his not-so-tall figure standing tall in the wind, and said:
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, I have long heard of your name. Now that you have returned, did you encounter the Demon Lord here?"
Zhang Ping was also sizing up this former head of the Demon Extermination Bureau, and replied:
"My name is Zhang Ping. I did encounter the Demon Lord just now and we exchanged a few blows."
"In my opinion, the battle is likely to be evenly matched! Fellow Daoist Zhang's strength is terrifyingly powerful; I am far from being able to match it!"
Dao Yuanzi's cloudy eyes silently scanned the surrounding traces. Although they were blurry, he could still discern some clues.
While marveling at Zhang Ping's strength, he disregarded everything else and immediately spoke:
"Fellow Daoist, I am Dao Yuanzi, the former Director of the Demon Extermination Bureau. I humbly request that you join forces with me to fight the Demon Lord and bring hope to the people of Great Wei!"
"If we successfully repel the demonic tide, the entire Great Wei will surely enshrine you in the temples, for eternity!"
"Throughout the Great Wei, you, fellow Daoist, will become a powerful overlord ruling over a region. You may freely take any of the secret treasures of my Demon Extermination Division. Is that acceptable?"
Upon hearing this, everyone around was visibly surprised!
He looked up at Dao Yuanzi in astonishment.
The words that were clearly inside their ears were misheard by them!
"Senior Dao Yuanzi, these conditions are also..."
Behind Dao Yuanzi stood a burly man in red robes, wielding a black-gold iron rod. His muscles bulged abnormally. Standing there, wisps of vital energy constantly seeped from his body—a sign that he had already cultivated his vital energy to its peak. Next, if he could compress and condense his vital energy, he would reach the pinnacle of the Marrow Refinement Realm.
It can be said that he was already a top figure in the former territory of Wei and Zhao.
Li Long's eyes, as large as copper bells, scrutinized Zhang Ping.
He didn't sense any aura of a powerful figure from Zhang Ping. Although he didn't doubt Chu Hanwei's senses, he was somewhat skeptical that Zhang Ping had just been fighting the Demon Lord.
Dao Yuanzi ignored Li Long and kept his eyes fixed on Zhang Ping.
Zhang Ping immediately replied, standing quietly on the boulder.
Chu Hanwei spoke up at this moment. She pursed her thin lips, and her stunningly beautiful face showed a maturity beyond her years.
"Zhang Ping, when we escaped from Lingchuan County, was it you who helped? And when we crossed the Ghost River, it was you who saved me."
The first sentence still carries a hint of uncertainty, but the second sentence is certain.
Zhang Ping did not deny it; he nodded.
He knew that Chu Hanwei would figure it out when he was already famous in Wei, but he didn't care now.
Just then, Chu Hanwei did something that no one expected.
She slung her longsword over her shoulder and leaped straight toward Zhang Ping, landing on the boulder opposite him.
The two stood facing each other, with less than ten centimeters between them.
Zhang Ping hadn't expected this sudden rapprochement.
There wasn't any particular reason why he stood still; he simply didn't want to move.
On one hand, he was still reminiscing about the battle with the Demon Lord, and on the other hand, he was simply tired from fighting for so long.
Stand still and rest for a while.
"Lord Chu!"
"Lord Chu, please be careful!"
The others who followed were alarmed to see that Chu Hanwei was unguarded with Zhang Ping and had suddenly gotten so close.
Some of the people mixed in even looked at Zhang Ping with a hint of hostility in their eyes.
Mo Tianhe and Xu Rulin exchanged a glance but remained silent.
But no matter how they feel inside, it probably won't be any better.
"I'm fine, you all stay where you are."
Chu Hanwei said something without turning her head, and then a light blue aura emanated from her body, enveloping her and Zhang Ping.
From the outside, only the blurry figures of the two people could be seen, and no sound could be heard from inside.
Even Dao Yuanzi could only wait patiently at this moment. His strength was not much higher than Chu Hanwei's in essence; the difference lay only in the quality of his qi and blood, not in the fundamental difference in power.
inside,
Zhang Ping sniffed, and from the pale blue aura, he could smell a faint, delicate fragrance of a woman.
"Director Chu, it's been a long time." He smiled, as if he had returned to the time when he was in Songping County.
However, there was an added sense of composure.
"Hmm, I didn't expect you to have kept this hidden all this time. Thank you for what happened back then." Chu Han nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on the man's brows, a mixture of emotions—gratitude and nostalgia.
"Director Chu, you're too kind. You've helped me a lot, and my two wives and I have always been taken care of by your family. In fact, I should be the one thanking you."
Looking back, Zhang Ping was actually more helped by the Chu family than by the Chu family.
Therefore, he still treated Chu Hanwei with the same attitude as a friend. That attitude hadn't changed.
Upon hearing the name of her father, Chu Hanwei paused for a moment, then a look of guilt flashed in her eyes: "How are my father and mother?"
"They're doing quite well in Fallen City. Fallen Valley has plenty of resources, so they have enough to cultivate there. If you're worried, you can go find them."
Zhang Ping shook his head and gave a general account of the situation in Fallen City.
Chu Hanwei listened attentively.
She has ways of getting information, especially from the Fallen City, where someone sends news back every few days.
However, many of the things Zhang Ping mentioned were things she didn't know in the letters.
"As long as it's safe, as for going to Fallen City..." Chu Han paused slightly, then suddenly stopped talking.
"Zhang Ping, now that you're back, join us! Let's fight together, kill the Demon Lord, and quell the demon tide!"
A light suddenly shone in her eyes, a kind of hope Zhang Ping had never seen before, etched on her exquisitely beautiful face, captivating all who saw it.
Zhang Ping couldn't help but marvel. Among all the people he had ever seen, Chu Hanwei might not be the most beautiful overall, but in terms of the exquisite detail of her features alone, even among the renowned beauties of the demon race...
She was also slightly inferior to Chu Hanwei.
His features and face shape were exquisitely beautiful, a masterpiece of nature. Especially now, he exuded an air of authority befitting someone in a superior position.
However, while it's fine to look and think, one should still be careful what one says.
Zhang Ping's expression turned serious, and he said, "The Demon Lord's power is probably even more bizarre than you think."
Chu Han was slightly taken aback.
Zhang Ping continued, "He shouldn't be Wang Tian, but he has Wang Tian's memories; moreover, he seems to have a deep understanding of the ancient demon in the Heaven and Earth Seal, and may even possess some of the ancient demon's inheritance or memories."