Chapter 1099: 1099 The Whole City Knows
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“We can accept him being stronger than you,” she conceded. “But surpassing both your father and myself is a harder pill to swallow.”
Zhao Huaian echoed her skepticism, standing beside Huang Yueling. “Exactly. Wild claims don’t bode well for a first impression, especially towards your new teacher.”
Lu Yu, ever easygoing, simply smiled. “No worries; you two carry on with the lesson. I have something else to attend to.”Novel Fire - novelfire.net
“But Master, you should stay for her lecture,” Jiang Ling protested. “Maybe you can help check out her theories.”
Lu Yu waved a dismissive hand. “This is your training, not mine. My presence might disrupt things.”
Jiang Ling sighed, seemingly resigned.
Suddenly, Huang Yueling turned to Zhao Huaian, a question sparking in her eyes. “On my way here, I overheard whispers of the monstrous crocodile in the forest being slain.”
“Really? That forest harbors a wealth of resources but also a good number of dangerous beasts. Ever since that giant crocodile showed up, our Jiang family hasn’t dared set foot in there. It’s crippled several business ventures.”
“So it’s truly dead?” Huang Yueling pressed, her curiosity piqued.
Zhao Huaian nodded eagerly. “Indeed, it seems so. That forest holds a lot of potential, but that crocodile was a major deterrent. Taking it down would require a well-coordinated team, and even then, a week of preparation would be minimal.”
“I wasn’t informed of any official operation to address the threat,” he continued, a frown creasing his brow. “Someone in the city must have taken it upon themselves to handle the situation.”
Huang Yueling shrugged helplessly. “That detail escapes me as well. Rumors only mentioned a slain crocodile; there was no mention of the hero responsible.”
“Intriguing,” Zhao Huaian mused. “Such a formidable beast, with exceptional defense and attack power… Normally, clearing it out would necessitate a significant force. And yet, no official team was assembled.”
“That’s too strange,” he added. “Perhaps the giant crocodile succumbed to some unforeseen natural phenomenon.”
Huang Yueling shook her head, unconvinced. “Natural causes seem unlikely, and the possibility of another beast being the culprit is even lower. Take it from the person who discovered the body.”
“The giant crocodile was cleaved in two,” she explained, her voice laced with intrigue. “A clean, precise cut bisected it from the center. It’s almost unbelievable.”
“So, we have a giant crocodile, slain and left uneaten, with a mystery hunter,” Zhao Huaian summarized, confusion evident on his face. “Doesn’t a split corpse definitively point towards a deliberate act? What kind of wild beast could overpower the crocodile and then simply leave the carcass untouched? Even a natural disaster wouldn’t explain that.”
“It appears we’ve stumbled upon a genuine mystery,” Huang Yueling admitted with a helpless shrug. “The truth remains shrouded in secrecy. Nonetheless, the threat is neutralized, which benefits everyone.”
A wave of relief washed over Zhao Huaian. “A good thing indeed! Now my family can safely gather resources in the forest, and my business ventures can resume!”
“Always the businessman, aren’t you?” Huang Yueling teased with a smile. “Well, business is essential, wouldn’t you agree?” he countered with a playful jab.
“Alright then,” Huang Yueling conceded. “Why don’t you let me handle the initial lesson with Xiaoling? You can excuse yourself and return later to check on her progress.”
With that, Zhao Huaian turned to leave, a weight lifted from his shoulders.
“Don’t worry,” Huang Yueling called after him. “I’ll ensure she receives a thorough education.”
Her gaze then shifted to Jiang Ling. “Alright, Xiaoling, shall we begin?”
“Teacher Huang,” Jiang Ling blurted out, “we actually encountered the giant crocodile you mentioned on our way back.”
Huang Yueling’s eyes widened. “Encountered? You mean the corpse? Did you see much? Was there anything unusual?”
“Actually,” Jiang Ling fumbled, searching for the right words, “when we met the giant crocodile, it wasn’t… well, it wasn’t dead yet.”
Huang Yueling’s surprise was evident. “Not dead? But that’s incredibly dangerous! How did you manage to escape?”
“There’s more to it,” Jiang Ling explained sheepishly. “When we encountered the creature, it was alive. But… after we left, it died.’
“Ah?” Huang Yueling scratched her head, thoroughly bewildered.
Seeing the confusion, Jiang Ling continued, “Here’s the thing. My master, Lu Yu, here, killed the giant crocodile. That’s why I was able to escape the encounter unharmed.”
Lu Yu offered a casual smile. “That’s the gist of it. They say it’s bad luck to meet that giant crocodile, but I might say it’s even worse luck to meet me.”
Huang Yueling’s brow furrowed as she looked at Lu Yu. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. “You… killed the giant crocodile? By yourself?” “Of course,” Lu Yu replied with a shrug. “Is that so unbelievable?”
“How did you manage that?” Huang Yueling pressed, her curiosity piqued.
“Well,” Lu Yu said, spreading his hands, “you already know the crocodile ended up being cut in half, right?”
Huang Yueling still seemed unconvinced. “Is it really you? There’s no way!”
Lu Yu sighed. “Fine, if you don’t believe me, that’s your call. I’m not here to convince you. ”
Huang Yueling turned to Jiang Ling. “Jiang Ling, are you sure you’re not making this up?”
Jiang Ling shook her head vehemently. “Why would I lie, Teacher Huang? This is the first day I’ve even met him! What reason would I have to make something like this up? He was the one who sliced the giant crocodile clean in two. I saw it with my own eyes! The blood almost splattered on me!”
Huang Yueling’s gaze shifted back to Lu Yu, now filled with a newfound interest. “This can’t be true. You possess such immense strength?” “What brings such a powerful swordsman to Skyplume City?” She inquired further.
“I’m here for someone,” Lu Yu answered with a smile. “An old friend and my parents are both in the city.”
“Looking for someone… is that all?” Huang Yueling pressed.
“Well, there’s one more thing,” Lu Yu added. “I’m actually quite interested in learning more about dragons. I have a very strong connection to them.” Huang Yueling nodded thoughtfully, taking Lu Yu in from head to toe.
“May I test your skills a bit?” she asked eagerly.
The unexpected display of power had sparked a fire of curiosity within her, a yearning to witness his abilities firsthand.
“No problem at all,” Lu Yu readily agreed. “Let’s see what you’ve got. What discipline do you specialize in?”
“My primary profession is Dragon Trainer,” Huang Yueling explained, “but I’m also a mage.”
With a flourish, she produced her staff, a sapphire scepter that shimmered with magical energy.
“Let’s exchange a few moves,” she declared. “It would be fascinating to see the difference in strength between a master like yourself and me.”
A smile played on Lu Yu’s lips as he drew his Star Piercing Demonic Sword. The moment the blade materialized, the intricate cosmic scene etched upon its surface captivated Huang Yueling’s attention. In that instant, she realized the weapon in Lu Yu’s hand was far from ordinary.
“Wait a minute,” Huang Yueling blurted out, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“That sword… it’s extraordinary! Is it… a divine artifact?”
Her breath hitched as she stared at Lu Yu with a newfound seriousness. Lu Yu offered a slight nod. “You have a keen eye. It is indeed a divine artifact..”
