Immortal Martial Emperor

"The... the young miss is dying!"

A maid, about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a delicate face and large, black pearl-like eyes, burst out from the door, sobbing her heart out.

"Huan’Er, what’s wrong with my sister?" Xu Wudi asked the maid anxiously.

The maid, Huan’Er, choked back sobs as large tears rolled down her cheeks. "The... the young miss just coughed up blood. The whole quilt is stained red. Sh-she kept calling that person’s name, then she passed out. Master Luoo and Master Hu have already rushed over. From... from what they were saying, it sounds like the young miss isn’t going to make it through this."

"Boo-hoo... Second Miss, the young miss is going to die, what do we do? Boo-hoo..."

Huan’Er cried wretchedly.

Xu Wudi’s entire body trembled. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and her steps faltered, nearly sending her stumbling to the ground.

Fortunately, Hong Yu was quick to react and steadied her.

Xu Wudi paid him no mind. Biting her lip, she looked at Huan’Er. "Quickly, take me to my sister."

As she spoke, she tried to walk on her own.

But her legs were still weak and unsteady.

She took a single step and staggered.

Hong Yu gave a wry smile. "Let me take you!"

"No! I don’t want any of you stinking men and your fake concern..." Xu Wudi snarled, flailing her arms angrily.

Hong Yu frowned and snapped, "What are you shouting for? Is cursing me out more important, or is seeing your sister more important?"

Without another word, Hong Yu grabbed Xu Wudi by her slender waist, hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and headed for the rear courtyard.

"Put me down! Put me down right now..."

Xu Wudi struggled ceaselessly.

"Shut the hell up!"

Hong Yu smacked her on her shapely rear.

"Ah?!"

Xu Wudi froze, completely stunned. A moment later, she came to her senses, gritted her teeth, and bit down hard on Hong Yu’s shoulder.

But how could she harm Hong Yu, who possessed the Eight Desolates Dominating Body?

Not only did her bite fail to injure Hong Yu, but the impact made her teeth go numb. Unsatisfied, Xu Wudi resorted to biting his clothes instead, tearing a large rip in the fabric.

Hong Yu was exasperated. "Damn, are you part dog or something?"

Xu Wudi just grunted without a word.

...

Halfway there, Huan’Er caught up and guided Hong Yu to the room of Xu Wudi’s sister.

Along the way, everyone in the Xu Family looked at the stranger, Hong Yu, with vigilance. But when they saw him forcefully carrying Xu Wudi, they were all dumbfounded!

Xu Wudi’s invincible attitude, domineering ways, and fiery personality were famous throughout Icebound City!

In the past, who had ever managed to subdue this female Violent Dragon?

But today...

Faced with the suggestive gazes of the crowd, the thick-skinned Hong Yu couldn’t care less. Xu Wudi, however, was blushing furiously, only able to shake her fist resentfully at her clansmen and their knowing looks.

"This is it, right?" Hong Yu asked, stopping in a quiet, secluded courtyard.

"Mhm!"

Xu Wudi nodded.

"Oh!"

Hong Yu replied and was about to head inside instinctively.

This time, Xu Wudi panicked. "Y-you, hurry up and put me down!"

’My father, the Patriarch, and several of the clan Elders are inside! How humiliating would it be if they saw me like this?’

"Alright!"

Hong Yu set her down.

Xu Wudi shot Hong Yu a fierce glare before rushing straight inside. "Sister, Sister..."

"Quiet down!"

A deep, soft rebuke came from within the room.

Xu Wudi blinked, not at all angry, but looked anxiously at the imposing middle-aged man before her. "Father, how is Sister?"

This was Xu Rongchang, Patriarch of the Xu Family and the father of Xu Wudi and her sister.

His naturally imposing gaze first swept over Hong Yu. The profound pressure in his eyes was every bit as strong as Liang Hunran’s, if not stronger.

Hong Yu was taken aback for a moment, then cupped his fists. "This junior, Hong Yu, greets Patriarch Xu!"

Xu Rongchang nodded, then his gaze fell upon Xu Wudi. He sighed. "Master Luoo and Master Hu are inside, but from what they’re saying, I’m afraid your sister won’t make it through this."

"What? How could this be..."

Xu Wudi looked utterly devastated, her pretty face pale.

Hong Yu watched from the side without speaking. It wasn’t his place to interfere in another family’s affairs.

Half an hour passed in silent waiting.

Just as everyone was growing anxious, the closed door finally opened. The first to emerge was a stooped old woman.

She shuffled out of the room, glanced at Xu Rongchang and Xu Wudi, then shook her head with a sigh.

The expressions of both Xu Rongchang and his daughter fell.

They turned their gazes, filled with hope and longing, to the white-bearded old man who followed. A handsome youth trailed beside the old man, his face full of arrogance, as if he looked down on everyone.

Only when he saw Xu Wudi did a flicker of irrepressible heat and desire flash through his eyes.

Xu Wudi, however, completely ignored the young man and looked at the white-bearded elder. "Master Hu, how is my sister?"

"Sigh!"

Master Hu shook his head. Just as he was about to speak, the young man cut in, "Master, allow me!"

"Hm?"

Master Hu paused, then seeing the young man’s eager expression, he smiled slightly. "Very well. I am a bit tired. You can explain the young miss’s condition to Patriarch Xu and the others."

"Rest assured, Master!"

The young man nodded excitedly, his burning gaze fixed on Xu Wudi. Only when the corner of her eye began to twitch with anger did he finally speak. "The young miss’s illness has already penetrated to the bone; she is beyond cure. Previously, my Master and Master Luoo were using suppressive medicine to keep her condition in check, allowing her to remain in a deep sleep to prolong her life. But now..."

The young man paused deliberately.

Xu Rongchang frowned, clearly displeased with the young man, but he held his tongue out of respect for Master Hu.

Xu Wudi, on the other hand, exploded. "Spit it the hell out! If you keep dawdling, I’ll kick your balls into next week."

"..."

The young man felt a cold draft blow past his crotch and broke out in a sweat. He quickly continued, "N-now, the young miss has developed a resistance to the medicine. Even increasing the dosage isn’t enough to keep her asleep. Moreover, her physical condition is extremely poor. Her internal organs and Eight Extraordinary Meridians are all in a withered state."

"Unless we can find a Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence that can bolster the spirit and replenish her Life Force, I’m afraid the young miss won’t make it through the night."

The young man shrank back, looking at Xu Wudi cautiously.

His demeanor made Hong Yu crack a smile. ’Xu Wudi really is the bane of every pretentious prick.’

The young man was at his most embarrassed and frustrated from Xu Wudi’s tirade when he happened to see the hint of a smile on Hong Yu’s lips. He froze. ’Who is this guy? Dammit, is he laughing at me? That bastard! Who the hell does he think he is?’

At this thought, the young man snorted coldly. "Patriarch Xu, the young miss needs to rest. Letting any stray cat or dog in here could easily disturb her."

"Hm?"

Xu Rongchang was taken aback.

He glanced around. Everyone present was an Elder of the Xu Family. Where were these "stray cats and dogs"?

Involuntarily, everyone’s gaze fell on Hong Yu.

Hong Yu rubbed his nose, looking exasperated. ’...’ ’What did I do to deserve this?’

"You don’t appear to be a member of our Xu Family, do you?" an Xu Family Elder asked.

Hong Yu gave a wry smile. "My apologies, I’ll take my leave now."

Seeing that the Xu Family was buried in its own problems, it seemed unrealistic to expect them to help him get to the Profound Ice Secret Realm. Since that was the case, there was naturally no reason to stay.

The young man, however, refused to let it go. He took an Arrow Step forward to block Hong Yu’s path, looking down his nose at him. "You come and go as you please? What do you take the Xu Family for? Your own private garden?"

Hong Yu looked at the young man, annoyed. "Who are you?"

"Me? You don’t even know who I am?"

The young man looked at Hong Yu with contempt, puffed out his chest, and declared proudly, "My name is Hu Jun, and I am the closed-door disciple of Master Hu, the Tier Four Spiritual Craftsman of the Ice Kingdom! I’m twenty-two this year, and I’m already a dignified Tier Two Spiritual Craftsman. Heh, kid, you scared now?"

Hu Jun stood with his chest puffed out, an arrogant expression on his face, awaiting Hong Yu’s shocked reaction.

But...

Hong Yu merely nodded and let out a soft "oh" before saying, "Right, whatever-your-name-is, can I go now?"

"Hm?"

Hu Jun’s expression changed. ’Dammit, this bastard is definitely doing this on purpose! In the entire Ice Kingdom, who doesn’t know that I am the most talented Spiritual Craftsman, hailed as a genius most likely to reach the rank of Tier Four Spiritual Craftsman in the next few decades? And he dares to look so dismissive?’

At this thought, Hu Jun snorted coldly. "Who the hell do you think you are? Do you really think you can just come and go from the Xu estate as if it were your own backyard?"

Hong Yu couldn’t help but frown. ’This Hu Jun is really pushing his luck.’

’I was trying to leave peacefully, and you’re still being so aggressive?’

This finally got on Hong Yu’s nerves. He snorted. "The sun is shining so brightly, so why is there a toad jumping out and croaking, making a fool of itself?"

"A toad?"

Hu Jun froze, looked around, and subconsciously asked in confusion, "Where’s a toad?"

PFFT!

Xu Wudi burst out laughing.

Xu Rongchang and the other Xu Family experts couldn’t help but shake their heads with wry smiles. ’This Hu Jun is almost adorably stupid, isn’t he?’

Hu Jun finally realized what was happening and glared at Hong Yu. "Bastard, you dare to curse me?"

"I was just talking about a toad. What? Are you admitting that you are one?" Hong Yu asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I... I... I..."

Hu Jun was too furious to speak.

Just then, a weak moan came from inside the room. Xu Wudi froze, then immediately dashed inside.

Her alarmed cry followed. "Father, come quickly! Sister... Sister is fading!"

Everyone hurried in.

Hong Yu hesitated for a moment before following them into the room.

Xu Wudi’s sister bore some resemblance to her, but her face was pale and sickly. If Xu Wudi was a blazing fire, her sister was a gentle stream.

There was blood at the corners of her lips, and she was too weak to even open her eyes.

Hong Yu frowned. Under his precise control, his Spiritual Power scanned the young miss’s body as he searched his mind for relevant information in the Divine Medicine Scripture, looking for a cure.

Hu Jun’s eyes lit up, and he urged, "Patriarch Xu, the only way now is to have my master take out his ultimate treasure, the ’Fourth Grade Life-extending Pill.’ Otherwise, the young miss won’t make it."

"Master Hu..."

Xu Rongchang looked at Master Hu.

Master Hu glanced at Hu Jun and let out a soft sigh. "Patriarch Xu, using the Life-extending Pill to prolong the young miss’s life is indeed possible. However, this old man has one condition!"

"Please state it, Master Hu!"

Xu Wudi said.

Master Hu said nonchalantly, "My disciple here is quite taken with your second daughter. As long as Patriarch Xu agrees to marry the Second Miss to my Jun’er, this old man will give the Life-extending Pill to your eldest daughter."

"What?"

Everyone from the Xu Family was stunned.

Hu Jun, however, was beaming, excitedly wringing his hands.

A flicker of rage appeared in Xu Wudi’s eyes, but as she looked at her weak, dying sister, she gritted her teeth. Just as she was about to agree, a calm voice came from the back of the crowd...

"Um, how about you let me give it a try?"