Chapter 833 - Fatherly Love
Chapter 833 - Fatherly Love
The next day, Han Wu and Qin Shuang headed to Lucky Cape Harbour in the Divine Civilization, where He Xu was already waiting.
“Junior Han Wu, over here,” He Xu called with a wave when he spotted them.
The two of them made their way over quickly.
“Greetings, Senior Brother He Xu,” Han Wu greeted.
He Xu raised an eyebrow at the title. Senior and senior brother were two different forms of address. The former merely meant they had studied at the same academy, while the latter denoted their having the same teacher and was thus far more intimate.
“Junior Brother Han Wu,” He Xu greeted, amending his address to match Han Wu’s.
Glancing at Qin Shuang, he added, “You must be Junior Qin Shuang. It seems rumors of your beauty were largely underplayed.”
“You flatter me, Senior He Xu,” Qin Shuang replied.
With introductions out of the way, He Xu went on to brief them about the mission. “You’ve both gone through the information that Sir Xu Hai sent you, right? Our task is to escort Prince Zhan Fanyin of the Battlecraze Empire back home so he can inherit the throne.
“We may face ambushes from the other princes of the Battlecraze Empire as well as assassination attempts from their main adversary, the Underlaw Empire, on this journey. It will be dangerous.”
Han Wu nodded. “We’ve read through everything, and we’re confident we can complete the mission.”
He Xu smiled. Having already learned of Han Wu’s true strength from Xu Hai, he found himself believing Han Wu’s words. Han Wu was a Subcosm rank fighter, making him an absolute powerhouse both within the Divine Civilization and without.
“It’s good that you’re confident, Han Wu, but stay cautious. Poison and long-range sniping are standard assassination methods for the Battleborn Civilization. We’ll need to stay vigilant,” He Xu warned.
Han Wu and Qin Shuang nodded. With that, they boarded the chartered ship. The ship looked small from the outside, but its interior space was surprisingly large. It was at least 10,000 sq km. A magnificent palace had even been built within.
In the palace, Han Wu and Qin Shuang found the individual they were there to protect, Zhan Fanyin, prince of the Battlecraze Empire. His exceptionally delicate features had Han Wu mistaking him for a woman at first glance.
His willow-leaf brows and cherry blossom lips resembled a beauty straight out of a painting. The only things that betrayed him as a man were his Adam’s apple and flat chest.
While Han Wu and Qin Shuang sized up Zhan Fanyin, the latter was doing the same to them. He didn’t even spare Han Wu a second glance, immediately judging him as an above-average-looking young man who was nowhere near his own standard.
When his gaze landed on Qin Shuang, however, Zhan Fanyin was visibly taken aback.
“My beautiful lady, forgive my boldness, but I fell deeply in love with you the moment I laid eyes on you. I have only one question for you: would you be willing to become my consort?” Zhan Fanyin dropped to one knee and reached out to take her hand.
Han Wu stepped in front of Qin Shuang to block the prince. “Consort? No need. Considering this is our first meeting, I’ll forgive you, but I’m telling you right now, she already has someone. I’m her boyfriend.”
Zhan Fanyin’s brows knitted, eyes darting between Han Wu and the flustered Qin Shuang. It seemed impossible to him that someone as unremarkable as Han Wu could be Qin Shuang’s boyfriend.
“Beautiful lady, if you’re being forced into this, just blink and I, Zhan Fanyin, will not allow anyone to bully a girl as gorgeous as you,” Zhan Fanyin declared, desperate for even the smallest sign of interest from Qin Shuang.
Qin Shuang pointedly didn’t blink her big eyes at all. “I’m Han Wu’s girlfriend. Prince Zhan Fanyin, please accept this reality and do not think of any further inappropriate thoughts.”
“No!” Zhan Fanyin gasped.
The news hit him like lightning. He had finally taken a liking to a girl, only to find she already had a boyfriend.
Is heaven punishing me for being too handsome? he wondered. But then, so what if Qin Shuang and Han Wu are dating? They aren’t married, and even if they were, divorce still exists. If divorce is off the table, I can always turn her into a widow.
Zhan Fanyin didn’t particularly care about how he got his hands on Qin Shuang, as long as she was his in the end. He turned a murderous glare upon Han Wu. If Han Wu died, Qin Shuang would surely come to him eventually.
Irritation welled up within Han Wu when he sensed the killing intent. Han Wu would’ve slapped Zhan Fanyin if he weren’t their escort target.
“I refuse to give up,” Zhan Fanyin announced in a clear challenge to Han Wu. “I want to compete for her fairly.”
This naturally pissed off Han Wu. “She’s my girlfriend. Why on earth should I compete with you? Is there something wrong with your head?”
“Common peasant.” Zhan Fanyin scoffed, eyes filled with lofty superiority.
The last thread of Han Wu’s tolerance snapped, and he stepped forward to slap Zhan Fanyin.
The sound rang out through the palace, loud enough to reverberate hundreds of meters. The strike left Zhan Fanyin stunned. For a moment, he could not process what had just happened.
Qin Shuang hastily pulled Han Wu back. Regardless of his attitude, Zhan Fanyin was still the target of their escort mission.
“How dare you hit me?” Zhan Fanyin cried angrily. “Even my father has never struck me!”
“Your father never hit you, so I did it for him. You’re welcome. If you’d like, I can give you a thorough firsthand understanding of what fatherly love feels like,” Han Wu said unapologetically.
Zhan Fanyin unsheathed a flexible sword from his waist and lunged at Han Wu. “I’ll fight you to the end!”
Han Wu guided Qin Shuang out of the way before calmly sidestepping every one of Zhan Fanyin’s slashes. When an opening appeared, he didn’t hesitate to give Zhan Fanyin another three weighty slaps.
Zhan Fanyin’s smooth, fair complexion swelled, and he only became more desperate to cut Han Wu down.
As Han Wu’s palm rose for another strike, He Xu stepped in and pulled Han Wu back, pushing Zhan Fanyin to the side with his other hand.
“Junior Brother, that’s enough. I think he’s learned his lesson,” He Xu said, glancing at Zhan Fanyin with a touch of pity.
Half his face had swollen up enormously. His own father probably would not have recognised him.
Han Wu lowered his hand a little reluctantly. “As you say, Senior Brother.”
He Xu smiled bitterly. From the resentful look in Zhan Fanyin’s eyes, he could already tell there would be more clashes ahead.
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