Volume One: Storms in the Small Town Chapter 30: Fierce Rebuke to the Mighty

When Zhang Heng claimed ignorance of the secret of the Dragon Burial Abyss, no one believed him; they all flew into a rage.

“You little bastard, don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!” the Crown Prince of Yuan cursed.

“Boy, your grandfather has no patience left. Speak now and I’ll spare your life!”

“So young and already a liar. Bring your parents here—I must give them a stern lesson.”

A barrage of insults rained down without end.

Yet, standing at the center of the storm, Zhang Heng neither spoke nor acted. He made no attempt to argue his case; he simply stood in silence, as though he were nothing more than a detached spectator.

Zhang Qingtian gazed at Zhang Heng in the crowd, his heart aching. He wanted to pull him back, but Zhang Lie, now awake, gripped his arm and shook his head with all the strength he could muster.

Catching his father’s gaze, Zhang Qingtian seemed to understand and refrained from further action, though the spiritual energy coursing through him did not abate for a moment.

Finally, as the uproar gradually subsided, Zhang Heng extended a finger and pointed at Liu Tianqing, speaking coolly: “Liu Tianqing, you are the mightiest warrior of the Liu Kingdom. The Liu Emperor named you Guardian of the South to protect the people of the southern provinces. Yet you collude with outsiders to oppress your own citizens. Have you not betrayed the trust of the Liu Emperor? Have you not shamed every subject who ever believed in you?”

Liu Tianqing’s face darkened. Already displeased at not having learned of the Dragon Burial Abyss in his own territory, he was now publicly rebuked by a mere youth. If not for Zhang Heng’s connection to the secret of the Abyss, Liu Tianqing would have struck him down on the spot.

Before Liu Tianqing could respond, Zhang Heng turned his finger to Wang Zewei and said, “Wang Zewei, you call yourself an Elder of a great sect, and yet you are nothing but a sanctimonious hypocrite. As the master of my cousin Zhang Yu, you cowered and betrayed us at the moment of crisis, as our family was besieged. You are a disgrace to the Sunfire Palace.”

Wang Zewei, lurking to the side, was furious at being singled out and snapped in desperation, “You little beast, your Zhang family is guilty of terrible crimes. I act only for justice!”

Zhang Heng ignored him, his finger shifting again: “Lin Ye, you possess the power of the sixth rank of the Returning Void Realm and have lived for more than a century, yet it’s as if all those years were wasted on a dog. You let the words of petty men deceive you and have become their unwitting pawn. It is utter ignorance. To think someone with your intellect could become an elder—clearly, the Celestial Jade Sect is not as great as it claims.”

At this, the disciples of the Celestial Jade Sect bristled with indignation. They took pride in their status and basked in the envy of others wherever they went. Now, having heard Zhang Heng disparage their sect, their anger flared.

“You wretch, a mere first-stage Body Refiner—what right have you to judge the Celestial Jade Sect?”

“How dare you slander our elder! Wait until Elder Lin tears out your tongue and see if you can still talk!”

The disciples hurled their threats, but Zhang Heng paid them no mind; his finger turned again, this time to the Prince of Yuan.

“Oh, how interesting,” said the prince, amused to find himself the next target of Zhang Heng’s accusations.

“Prince Yuan Yi, eighteenth son of the Yuan Empire, is that right?” Zhang Heng asked.

“That’s me—what advice do you have?” Yuan Yi’s tone was thick with irony; this little bastard seemed to know more than he ought.

Zhang Heng collected himself, then launched into a furious tirade: “Yuan Yi, the actions of those others may be despicable, but they are at least somewhat understandable. But you—your conduct is beneath that of a beast. You are nothing but garbage, a waste of air.”

Yuan Yi’s face twisted in fury. “You little bastard! If you don’t give me an explanation today, I will wipe out your entire clan!”

Those who had hoped to profit from the Zhang family’s misfortune were stunned. This little fool can die if he wants, but must he drag us down with him? To curse a prince of the Yuan Empire—Zhang Heng must be the first to dare it.

Zhang Heng met Yuan Yi’s gaze without the slightest trace of fear. “What, you do things worse than animals, and I’m not allowed to say so?” He spoke as if he hadn’t noticed Yuan Yi’s rage.

“You were born of a serving maid, shunned and abused behind those icy palace walls. If not for my mother, Yuan Qiuling, who saved you, your wretched life would have long since ended as fodder for wild beasts. Instead of gratitude, when my mother was branded a traitor and hunted by the Yuan Empire, you volunteered to lead the pursuit and drove my parents into the Dragon Burial Abyss. Was that not the reason the Emperor began to favor you?”

Raising his voice, Zhang Heng called out to all present: “Let me ask you—what do you call someone who, for the sake of their own advancement, drives their benefactor into the jaws of death? Is that not worse than a beast?”

Yuan Yi roared, “You little bastard, spouting lies and slander! I’ll cut out your tongue for this!”

He prepared to attack. Inwardly, Yuan Yi was shaken—how did this brat know these things?

Noting that the moment was ripe, Zhang Heng realized that if he pressed further, the situation might spiral out of control. So he faced the crowd and called loudly, “Wait! I have one more thing to say.”

Yuan Yi halted, thinking perhaps this brat was finally about to reveal the secret of the Dragon Burial Abyss. He had neither power nor influence, and must seize any opportunity for advancement—compared to the secret of the Abyss, his pride was a trivial thing.

Sensing Zhang Heng was about to speak, the crowd fell silent, channeling spiritual energy to their ears lest they miss a single word.

When the noise died down, Zhang Heng simply said, “Greetings to you all.”

The crowd erupted in fury—this brat dared mock them! Many could no longer restrain themselves and moved to strike.

Seeing this, Zhang Heng waved his hand and shouted, “Wait! I’ll tell you right now.”

They settled, if reluctantly.

After a brief pause, Zhang Heng spoke quickly: “Today, you surround my Zhang family, intent on our destruction. I have nothing more to say, nor any wish to argue who is right or wrong—such debates are meaningless. In this world, might makes right. You are stronger than us, so you can oppress us at will. But remember: the Immortal Realm is vast and endless; there are countless powers far greater than yours.”

Before Zhang Heng could finish, Yuan Yi sneered, “Let me guess, you mean that today you are stronger than us and so you may slaughter us, and if someone stronger comes along tomorrow, you’ll meekly submit? Ha! Don’t dream—you won’t live to see that day.”

His rage had reached its peak; nothing could anger him further. He wanted to see what tricks this brat still had.

He wanted Zhang Heng to die in despair.

Zhang Heng shook his head as if resigned to utter idiocy. “You fool, you piece of trash, what I mean is—today, I have brought people more powerful than you. With them at my side, I can do as I please to you.”