The Venerable Monster Tamer – Chapter 423

Chapter 43: Explosion in Silence

By: Gu Zhenren
2013-02-09

The circumstances changed rapidly, and the situation became extremely perilous. Chu Yun sat silently, as unmoving as a mountain. Zen Lord’s questioning words echoed in his ears, yet he seemed not to hear them, his face calm as he surveyed the people in the hall.

The Nine-tailed Demon Lord’s face was flushed with excitement, his breath heavy as he clamored to challenge Wushuang. Black Mountain Barbarian Lord watched Chu Yun with a bloodthirsty grin. Feiyu Sword Lord, with a slight smile, sat in his seat and called out for Master Yu Ya, intending to disrupt Chu Yun’s composure. Zi Xiao, holding a scroll, lowered his eyelids; beneath his tranquil exterior lay the most dangerous killing intent.

Chu Yun’s heart sank as he suddenly understood. “Zi Xiao’s assassination attempt this time is presented as a gift of painting from Jianghan Kingdom. This shows, on one hand, Jianghan Kingdom Lord’s confidence in Zi Xiao, believing he will succeed. On the other hand, it also signifies that Jianghan Kingdom will launch military action after the assassination.”

“Because once the assassination is attempted, if Zi Xiao, as Jianghan Kingdom’s representative, is exposed, Jianghan Kingdom’s hostility will be evident. If the assassination succeeds, Jianghan Kingdom will seize the opportunity to launch a full-scale invasion. If it fails, Jianghan Kingdom will still be exposed and will undoubtedly launch an attack. At that time, my Shu Family will be caught between two enemies!”

His gaze swept the room again. The Wine King and Immortal Pouch King were no longer in their seats. Marquis Wu Chang stood in the hall, arms crossed, while Zen Lord arrogantly held up the True Heart Exquisite Stone, shouting at Chu Yun and attempting to corner him. The Mengyuan Kingdom, his former allies, now sat silently in a corner. Meng Fei’s expression was resentful, as if he wanted to rise, but an elder beside him held him firmly in his seat. The only true support, Dunhuang Country, was a hundred thousand miles away, held back by the military forces secretly mobilized by Jianghan Kingdom.

Further ahead, the vast Land Whale drifted like a continent. On its back, countless figures and banners fluttered. The East Sea Faction was prepared for battle, their battle intent soaring to the heavens. With a destructive momentum, they were advancing directly on Huode City.

Before him, a tiger lunged; around him, wolves encircled. Ambushed from all sides, trapped in a no-win situation! There was no escape, neither to the heavens nor the earth! A dead end!

Yet, the more desperate the situation, the calmer Chu Yun became. His breathing grew longer and more peaceful. His gaze was deep, his eyes like an ancient, clear pool. He remained seated, his expression growing colder, making him, in his black hair and white clothes, resemble a piece of cold jade.

“Make a move, make a move. As soon as someone makes a move, I will riot!”
“The Shu Family is finished for sure, but there must be plenty of good things. Looting in times of chaos is my favorite.”
“Kill, kill that brat Chu Yun. He actually cultivated to Marquis level, such a genius should be eliminated!”

The Six Desires Scorpion was secretly activated, and the thoughts and emotions of everyone in the hall poured into Chu Yun’s mind. Countless individuals’ eyes turned red, their breaths heavy, roaring and shouting in their hearts. These inner voices, filled with boundless bloodlust and violence, instantly formed a surging wave of sound, engulfing Chu Yun’s mind. Chu Yun felt like he was facing a crimson tsunami alone, helpless, as the end of the world approached. However, all of this only seemed to inflate his fighting spirit infinitely! The more he faced hardship, the more his fighting spirit soared. At this moment, his mind was as calm as an iceberg, but the blood within his body boiled like flowing lava! A voice echoed in his heart: “Come, enemies! Come, destiny! If I don’t explode in silence, I will perish in silence!” He suddenly threw his head back and laughed heartily.

“Hmm, why are you laughing?”
“Hmph, a mere pretense. Chu Yun is already driven to desperation!”
“Laugh, laugh as much as you want before you die, or you won’t have another chance.”

In his mind, the buzzing emotions of the crowd immediately returned, filled with mockery, triumph, and disdain. “First come, first served. No need to rush, I will handle all these matters one by one. Come on, present the painting, I wish to accept Jianghan Kingdom’s kind gesture!” Chu Yun said loudly.

“At a time like this, he still has the mood to appreciate a painting?!”
“This is a dead end, Chu Yun has gone mad!” Black Mountain Barbarian Lord laughed in his heart.
“He’s still pretending, acting as if everything is under his control, strategizing everything. Does he really think he can fool me? He’s being too naive.” Nine-tailed Demon Lord squinted his eyes.
“However, Land Whale King has issued a challenge to the world; the Shu Family cannot possibly be unprepared. Now, besides Chu Yun and Hua Ying, no other Shu Family high-ranking members are seen. Well, I’ll wait and see what trick he’s playing,” Zen Lord’s eyes flickered.
“I thought there would be no opportunity this time, but unexpectedly, you’ve come to my doorstep,” Zi Xiao said, lowering his head and subtly pinching the scroll in his hand.

With the help of the Six Desires Scorpion, everyone’s thoughts were accurately conveyed to Chu Yun. Chu Yun sneered inwardly, all of this was within his expectations. “It is an supreme honor for the Young Lord to view my ‘Rivers and Mountains Painting’,” Zi Xiao said respectfully, stepping forward and slowly unrolling the scroll.

“Oh…” The onlookers couldn’t help but exclaim. The scroll was indeed a masterpiece, the work of a master. The beginning of the painting exuded spring, with the rising sun, making one feel as if they were there, deeply moved. As the scroll unfurled, rolling mountains and lush trees appeared, with birds flying across. It was a display of masterful ink wash, with powerful strokes, capturing both form and spirit, possessing a unique charm that stirred the viewer’s emotions. “A good painting. No wonder even King Ning Tian fell for it back then,” Chu Yun marveled inwardly.

At this moment, the scroll paused, and Zi Xiao’s eyes gleamed. He pointed to a scene in the painting and explained, “This is Tiger Crouching Mountain in Tang Jin Country!” The mountain was steep and imposing, soaring into the clouds. But within its verdant lushness lay the ruins of Tiger Crouching Pass, evoking a sense of passing time and the poignant sadness of fleeting prosperity amidst its grandeur. In Chu Yun’s previous life, Zi Xiao had used this scene to express his lament of ‘the country is gone, but mountains and rivers remain, and spring grass grows deep…’, thus finding a crack in King Ning Tian’s state of mind.

At this moment, Zi Xiao suppressed his killing intent to the extreme. Glancing around, he saw that many people had gathered, their faces showing a faint sadness and emotion as they looked at the painting. His target, Chu Yun, appeared to be gazing intently into the painting, his eyes deep. Zi Xiao felt smug and sneered inwardly. However, just as he was about to speak, aiming to break Chu Yun’s mental state with words, Chu Yun suddenly let out a light chuckle and recited, “Wind, tigers, clouds, and dragons, laughing at the rise and fall of dynasties. Wins and losses in the grand World are but dust in the wind, yet the sea remains vast and the sky boundless.”

Zi Xiao’s heart trembled. The onlookers’ eyes lit up, their sorrow vanishing as if a dark cloud had cleared to reveal a pristine sky. The affairs of the world change like wind and clouds, like dragons and tigers battling, making prediction difficult. Many blows come suddenly and one after another, capable of plunging one into the abyss, never to recover. But what of it? Failure is not to be feared, nor is annihilation to be regretted. I will laugh at the rise and fall of dynasties, point to the map, and speak of all successes and failures. The World is too vast, too expansive. One is but a speck of dust, insignificant. The fame one builds can only last for a time, and years later, like the Tiger Crouching Pass of Tang Jin, it will become ruins, turning to dust. Yet, the sky remains the sky, the mountains remain the mountains. Why dwell on this, feeling self-pity? It is better to learn from Heaven and Earth, to adopt their detached mindset, and rise above it all to see the boundless sky!

The more Zi Xiao pondered Chu Yun’s words, the more his heart was shaken. Looking again at Tiger Crouching Mountain in the painting, the former sorrow and lament were swept away, replaced by a sense of a vast, far-reaching sky and the grandeur of endless mountain ranges! “Chu Yun’s words speak of this painting, and also allude to his current desperate situation. I never expected this man before me to possess such magnanimity and broad-mindedness!” At that moment, Zi Xiao felt his mood become agitated and unstable. His hand holding the scroll began to tremble. He forcefully suppressed his emotions and slowly advanced the scroll.

As the scroll reached the middle section, he paused again, pointing to the Luoshui River in the painting and explaining, “This was once the main peak of the Vast Mountain Range, standing three thousand feet tall. However, it was destroyed in one strike by Sword King Yan, who unleashed his Divine Path Technique, the ‘Great Sword Waterfall.’ As a result, the mountain was obliterated, forming a river channel, creating today’s great river. Alas, the mountains cannot conceal it; it flows eastward. The Sword King of bygone days has also been washed away by the long river of history.”

The crowd sighed in unison. Chu Yun, however, laughed heartily and sang: “The great river flows east, its waves washing away countless heroes and valiant figures. For ten thousand years, the sound of the waves remains, sweeping Xingzhou with blood and fire!” His voice was filled with the boundless, surging emotion in his heart at that moment. It was heroic and spirited! A courage that feared nothing, daring to disregard time and face sorrow and desolation. It was also filled with intense battle intent, like blazing flames, like a wild song. Even if the great river flows east and countless heroes perish, I will sweep Xingzhou and ignite blood and fire!

“Not good, Chu Yun grows stronger with each setback, his spine unyielding even under the pressure of Heaven and Earth. He is using this painting to express his true feelings.”
“Chu Yun intends to ignite blood and fire, he’s going all out. He’s a genius, a Marquis-level powerhouse. Once he goes all out, only Kings will be safe.”
“We cannot push him too hard, or he might retaliate and strike me first. How can I withstand that?”

Hearing Chu Yun’s words, everyone was inwardly alarmed. Their initial killing intent and impulses were doused with ice water, immediately chilling them. *Gurgle, gurgle!* Listening to Chu Yun’s voice, Zi Xiao looked at the scroll in his hand and suddenly had an illusion—as if he were standing by the river, his ears filled with the roaring of the surging water. The vast river, stirring up immense waves, mighty and grand, was rushing forward, about to engulf him. Faced with this torrential river, he felt the boundless and magnificent spiritual will of Chu Yun, as vast as the river itself. That fearless courage, disregarding the darkness of time, determined to sweep the land of Xingzhou and ignite boundless blood and fire!