Dual Cultivation God Returns

Chapter 254 Unexpected Reunion

As Wu Long left Nie Xiwang's office and went through the halls of the Imperial Palace, at some point along the way he heard a commotion.

"Where is he? Where is that damn bastard!!!"

A deep sounding voice of a man shouted, demanding the location of someone.

"Your Highness! You cannot, Her Majesty-..."

"I don't care what that stuck-up bitch says! My son is being punished because of some bastard?!?! Unacceptable!!!"

The commotion came closer and Wu Long saw a tall man with a rather muscular build, wearing luxurious robes that made him look like a rich bandit more than a person of the royal palace. 

"This is the father of the prince who hired me. The man who was once closest to the throne until the Blade Empress snatched it away, Nie Guanting. He was the favorite candidate among the legitimate successors to the throne"

Old Yen whispered into Wu Long's ear and he raised his eyebrow.

"You! You damn bastard, come here!!!"

At this moment, Nie Guanting noticed Wu Long, and came forward, pushing the Imperial Guards and palace officials that were trying to pacify him earlier to the sides with just the forward movement. It looked like a large boulder was moving, effortlessly breaking waves of water.

"Heh, I can see why the ministers liked him for the throne"

Wu Long chuckled since if this man ascended the throne they would have complete reign over the empire unlike now when Nie Xiwang is still making them look over their shoulders.

"What are you laughing at?! Let's see how you laugh when I crush you-..."

Nie Guanting's eyebrow twitched at seeing Wu Long chuckle and he lunged forward with his fists coming up. The Imperial Guards who once more gathered in front of him to try and stop him were once again thrown away. Though Wu Long noted and inwardly commended one devoted guard who hang on his arm like a piece of cloth on a coat hanger while trying to hold him back.

As the fist of the man approached, Wu Long lightly raised his palm and a loud sound resounded as the air waves spread in all directions. The fist was larger than Wu Long's palm but it was stopped precisely at the point of contact, not being able to shake the palm or its owner even the tiniest bit. The only thing that moved were the hems of his robes as they lightly flapped from the wind that was generated by the momentum and the impact.

"Not bad"

Wu Long nodded at the astonished man who seemed to have lost all his vigor from before and looked with wide eyes at the seemingly scholarly looking young man stopping his fist in its tracks without any visible effort.

---

Nie Guanting was sitting on the floor, tucking his legs under his thighs and his hands flatly on top in a traditional pose, his face a beautiful palette of colors. There was pink, red, lilac, purple, blue and almost black, and the various shapes and forms that were deforming it turned it into a piece of avant-garde painting.

"So, you were saying that your son being punished is unacceptable?"

Wu Long said with a smile while dusting off his hands and then wiping them with a piece of cloth handed to him by Old Yen as the Imperial Guards around him looked at the scene with astonishment.

"N-no"

Nie Guanting was talking with a muffled sound as his mouth half-opened, and he was missing teeth, but Wu Long did not have trouble understanding what he was saying.*

"Hmm? You did not?"

"I... I am sorry"

"Hahaha, you don't need to lie now do you? Tell me, what about your son being punished is unacceptable?"

"That... he is being punished because he pursued a girl he liked..."

"And that was the only thing you know?"

The man nodded with a disgruntled but scared look.

"What about what he did to pursue the girl?"

"... what did he do?"

Wu Long shook his head with a wry smile as Old Yen proceeded to explain to the man what his son was being punished for. Gradually the fear, shock and defeat in the man's eyes subsided as fires of rage started to burn again, this time even more intense.

"I will kill him with my own hands-...!!!"

"Sit down"

Nie Guanting started to rise with a shout of fury but a quiet and calm phrase from Wu Long made him obediently plop his ass back down.

"Hmm, I am interested, if you were so enraged by your son being punished because of an outsider, what about Nie Changsheng?"

Wu Long then asked as he was genuinely curious.

"Oh, that unlucky star? Hmm, I don't care about him"

"Unlucky star?"

"His parents both died, as well as his direct siblings, all meeting misfortune, no one bothers with him. Though he seemed to have gained some influence over the years. I just don't like him"

Nie Guanting said as he grimaced, from which Wu Long discerned an expression of scorn while Old Yen only saw a slightly different painting.

'Hmm, it seems all traces of his origin disappeared, if I am not wrong his family had a similar fate in the past as well'

Wu Long looked on with a pondering expression.

"Um..."

After some time of him simply silently standing there Nie Guanting timidly called out and Wu Long looked at him, seemingly coming out of deep thought.

"Hm? Oh, you may go"

He waved his hand as he turned to leave but as he took a few steps there was still no movement from the kneeling man. Wu Long's steps came to a halt and he turned at the man who was seemingly hesitating over something.

"B-Benefactor!"

Suddenly, a cry of joy resounded from another part of the hall as a young man, whose face was lighting up with surprise and delight looked at Wu Long. Wu Long raised his eyebrow at being called "Benefactor" by someone he did not recognize.

"...!!!"

As the young man started to approach his gaze casually went over Nie Guanting and he froze, seemingly in a daze as his eyes lit up.

"Heavens... you are too kind to me!!!"

The young man said with a worshipful expression as he looked at the scene and Wu Long suddenly recognized that look of inspiration and enlightenment in the eyes of this young man.

"Heh, it seems that your career took off"

Wu Long chuckled as he remembered that when he saw him in the yet to be separated Peacock Feather Trading Company the young man had a modest appearance.

"... !!! Ah, sorry, yes, that day changed my life. I was invited to paint the portrait of Minister Du's wife, all thanks to the benefactor... and now..."

The young artist first could not take his eyes off of the face of Nie Guanting, and then gasped at his rudeness, bowing to Wu Long with a sincere look of gratitude. However, as if enchanted his gaze went back to the kneeling man as his words trailed off at the end.

"I... I am sorry, I will have to paint the portrait on another occasion, I have to go"

"What? But-..."

He then turned to the man who was seemingly guiding him who instantly became flabbergasted.

"B-Benefactor, I..."

"Hahah, go"

Wu Long chuckled as the man desperately wanted to run away this instant to express the sudden inspiration he just got, the only reason he still was here was because he could not express his gratitude to Wu Long enough.

"Thank you! Please, if you ever need anything my humble self can help with..."

"I understand, go already"

Wu Long smiled and waved his hand at the man and while bowing and thanking him, the young artist started leaving, and as soon as he was far enough, ran away like someone possessed, leaving the attendant who guided him almost in tears as he would now need to tell his master that the artist "just left".