Demonic King of the Metropolis - Chapter 109 - Wounded Descent

“So, you’ve been here all along,” Tang Jie murmured under his breath, gnashing his teeth as he saw Wang Qianya injured. He dared not act recklessly, fearing that Chen Nan might harm her further.

“Hmph! Of course, but you were just too oblivious to notice. Now, hand over the item obediently and let us take it back, or your beloved will die here, buried alongside that big snake.”

“Tang Jie, don’t give it to them!” Wang Qianya suddenly cried out. She began mobilizing qi within her body, ready to fight back. But the elder standing behind Chen Nan had been keeping an eye on her movements. Sensing her intent, he struck her back with a powerful palm. Wang Qianya let out a muffled groan, her body almost slipping from Chen Nan’s grip. Chen Nan tightened his hold, preventing her from collapsing, but Tang Jie saw the trace of blood at the corner of her lips. Unable to bear it any longer, he hesitated no more and withdrew the ancient coin from his pocket.

“I’ll give it to you, but we exchange at the same time,” Tang Jie said, desperately trying to suppress his anxiety as he raised the ancient coin in his hand toward Chen Nan and his companions.

“Fine! I’ll count to three, and we’ll hand over our things simultaneously,” Chen Nan replied in a chilling tone.

“Tang Jie, no!” Wang Qianya shook her head vehemently, pleading with her eyes. But Tang Jie had already made up his mind. He couldn’t let anything happen to her.

“One, two, three!” As Chen Nan counted to three, Tang Jie tossed the ancient coin into the air. At the same time, Chen Nan pushed Wang Qianya toward Tang Jie and leaped skyward to grab the coin. Tang Jie rushed to catch Wang Qianya, holding her tightly.

But just as Chen Nan and the elder reached out to catch the coin, a deep, earth-shattering growl suddenly echoed through the air. The ground seemed to tremble as everyone froze in shock. In the blink of an eye, a massive shadow surged forward, and with an audible snap of its jaw, it swallowed the ancient coin whole.

Tang Jie looked up and realized in astonishment-it was the giant python! It hadn’t been killed earlier but merely knocked unconscious.

After consuming the ancient coin, the python opened its massive blood-red maw, roaring menacingly at Chen Nan and the elder. Its fiery eyes glared at them with unrestrained rage. Tang Jie clenched his jaw as he noted that the ancient coin had already disappeared into the python’s belly. With Wang Qianya injured, he decided to leave the rest to Chen Nan and the elder-let them deal with the beast if they wanted that coin so badly.

With this thought, Tang Jie supported Wang Qianya as they moved toward the edge of the cliff. The rope from their ascent earlier was still hanging there. Mobilizing qi to steady himself, he grabbed the rope and held Wang Qianya tightly. With a firm grip, they began their descent down the cliff.

“Tang Jie, don’t worry about me! Hurry up and go get the ancient coin back!” Wang Qianya, now weak and pale after reaching the base of the cliff, urged Tang Jie to return and retrieve the lost item.

“Stop saying that. We need to head back. You’re hurt and can’t stay here,” Tang Jie said firmly, disregarding Wang Qianya’s objections. Supporting her with one arm, he began leading her down the mountain. Sounds of fighting echoed from above, and when Tang Jie glanced back, he saw Chen Nan, the elder, and three of their subordinates locked in a brutal battle with the giant python.

After a quick glance, he turned back and focused on moving downhill. The path was treacherous, and every step demanded caution.

The ancient coin had already been swallowed by the giant python. Tang Jie recalled how much effort it had taken him just to temporarily subdue the massive creature earlier. Even with Chen Nan and his group attacking it now, there was no guarantee they would triumph anytime soon. Tang Jie knew that if he stayed, Chen Nan wouldn’t hesitate to make trouble for him again, possibly even sabotaging his chances of participating in the upcoming ancient martial arts tournament. With the python keeping Chen Nan occupied, this was Tang Jie’s best opportunity to leave.

“Didn’t we come here for nothing, then?” Wang Qianya said, disappointment evident in her voice as she carefully followed Tang Jie down the mountain path.

“Who said that? That item may not even be the treasure the legends speak of-it might be of no use to us at all. Finding it or not won’t make much of a difference. Let’s go back first, and maybe Third Granduncle has already come up with another solution,” Tang Jie replied, trying to ease her disappointment. His primary concern was treating her injuries as soon as possible.

Hearing Tang Jie’s reasoning, Wang Qianya fell silent, though she still seemed a little dejected. The sound of fighting continued echoing from above as they cautiously descended the mountain. After nearly an hour, they had made it halfway down. The steepest section of the trail was finally behind them, and the remaining path was much easier to navigate.

Wang Qianya had recovered enough to walk on her own, though Tang Jie still offered her support as they continued down the trail. After another half hour, the pair finally reached the foot of the mountain.

Looking back, the view of the mountain was obscured by distance, and even the sounds of the battle were no longer audible. Fearing that Chen Nan and his group might eventually chase after them, Tang Jie didn’t dare linger. He led Wang Qianya quickly toward a nearby highway.

Once they caught a ride back to H City, Tang Jie escorted Wang Qianya to her family’s villa. Upon seeing their injured daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Wang were alarmed to learn about her dangerous trip to Lifedeath Cliff with Tang Jie. Tang Jie, in turn, was surprised to find out that Wang Qianya had never told her parents about their plan-she had snuck off with him in secret.

This realization filled Tang Jie with guilt. His self-reproach grew heavier, though Mr. and Mrs. Wang showed no sign of blaming him. Instead, they immediately sought out Third Granduncle to treat Wang Qianya’s injuries. They also urged Tang Jie to rest for a while.

Tang Jie returned to his room and started replaying everything that had happened at Lifedeath Cliff. Something didn’t quite add up. How had Chen Nan and his group known that he and Wang Qianya were going there? Tang Jie hadn’t told anyone apart from Wang Qianya. If that were true, then there could only be one explanation-Chen Nan and his team had already arrived at Lifedeath Cliff before them. They must have been hunting for the treasure as well but couldn’t locate it. When they saw Tang Jie and Wang Qianya arrive, they likely hid and waited in ambush, hoping to snatch the treasure once Tang Jie and Qianya defeated the giant python and discovered it. That was both shameless and cunning.

Still, he couldn’t help but wonder-were they able to defeat the giant python in the end? Did they manage to retrieve the ancient coin from its stomach? Thinking about that peculiar, coin-like object, Tang Jie opened his palm and stared at it. He could almost feel the residual warmth from the coin lingering on his skin. What exactly was that thing, and what was its purpose?

Tang Jie thought about this for a long time but couldn’t make sense of it. Just then, a servant from the Wang family knocked on his door.

“Young Master Tang, the master has asked to see you,” the servant called out from the doorway.

Tang Jie froze for a moment. Young Master? Since when did I become a young master?

He smirked at the thought but quickly composed himself and stood up. He wondered if Third Granduncle had arrived yet, and more importantly, how Wang Qianya was doing.

Following the servant, Tang Jie made his way to the study. Mr. and Mrs. Wang were there alongside Third Granduncle. When they saw him enter, they motioned for him to sit on the sofa across from them.

“Tang Jie,” Third Granduncle, his face kind and benevolent, began, “I’ve been told about your trip to Lifedeath Cliff with Qianya. Did you find anything?”

“Yes, we did.” Tang Jie proceeded to recount everything that had happened between him and Wang Qianya at Lifedeath Cliff. Third Granduncle listened intently, a trace of confusion flickering in his eyes as Tang Jie finished.

“By the way, Uncle Wang, how is Qianya? Is she alright?” Tang Jie couldn’t hold back his concern any longer and quickly asked the question that had been weighing on his mind.

“She’s fine, just needs some time to recover. But unfortunately, she won’t be able to participate in the ancient martial arts tournament this time,” Qianya’s father said, his tone calm but reassuring. Despite the news, Tang Jie felt another wave of guilt wash over him. However, Mr. and Mrs. Wang didn’t seem overly worried.

“Tang Jie,” Mrs. Wang spoke next, her voice gentle but serious, “This year, we weren’t planning for Qianya to compete in the tournament anyway. We actually want you to represent the Wang family. I assume you know that by now.”

Tang Jie nodded silently. He had no intention of refusing, though he couldn’t help but feel inadequate. He doubted his current skills would be enough to secure victory.

This thought left him with a faint sense of unease, which showed on his face. Third Granduncle noticed and, after a moment of pondering, asked, “You said the coin-like object gave off heat, correct?”

“That’s right,” Tang Jie answered honestly. “When I placed it in my pocket, it even emitted a flash of white light.”

“How peculiar,” Third Granduncle murmured, his brow furrowing deeply. “What sort of item could exhibit such astonishing behavior?” His gaze settled on Tang Jie, his face full of curiosity and intrigue.

“Third Granduncle, could it be the legendary treasure?” Wang Qianya’s father asked cautiously, his tone laced with curiosity.

“I’m not sure,” Third Granduncle replied, shaking his head. “Back then, the people who ventured to Lifedeath Cliff in search of the treasure ultimately fell into chaos. Consumed by greed, they turned on each other. None of them ever found the treasure they sought, and in the end, all that remained was devastation and bitter defeat.”

He sighed deeply, the weight of that memory visible in his eyes. It was clear that even recounting the events of the past brought him melancholy.

“Third Granduncle, were you there back then?” Tang Jie couldn’t help but ask, his curiosity piqued by the grim tale.

“At the time, I had planned on joining the expedition. But as luck would have it, the family encountered an internal upheaval, and I was caught up in managing the crisis. I wasn’t able to go in the end,” Third Granduncle replied, his voice tinged with both relief and regret. “Looking back, though, missing that journey shielded me from the bloodshed that unfolded among those treasure hunters.”

His weathered face carried a sense of weariness as he reflected on how circumstances had spared him from that dark chapter in history.

“By the way, Third Granduncle,” Tang Jie interjected, recalling the matter foremost on his mind, “have you found a way to help me recover my inner strength?”

The question held a sense of urgency. After their three-day venture to Lifedeath Cliff, only four days remained until the ancient martial arts tournament. With Wang Qianya injured because of him, the responsibility of representing the Wang family now fell solely on his shoulders. However, if his inner strength and true qi remained stagnant, victory would be nothing more than a fantasy.

Third Granduncle’s expression grew somber as he responded, “Unfortunately, no. Over the past few days, I’ve sought advice from the elders of various families, but none of them could provide a solution. Even if there was a way, it’s unlikely it could be achieved within just a few days.”

A sense of helplessness and regret shadowed his words, their truth cutting deeply into Tang Jie’s heart.

Tang Jie felt a suffocating weight press against him. If he couldn’t help the Wang family win the competition, what was the point of even participating?

“Third Granduncle, Uncle Wang, I think I’ll go check on Qianya,” Tang Jie said after a moment, his voice subdued. He needed to clear his mind and get some air.

“Alright, she should be awake by now. Go ahead and see her,” Mr. and Mrs. Wang said with warm smiles. Their calm and unconcerned attitude toward the tournament only deepened Tang Jie’s guilt. The less pressure they seemed to impose, the heavier the burden he felt.

When he arrived outside Wang Qianya’s room, Tang Jie knocked gently on the door. From within, he heard her faint voice. Although her tone was soft and weak, it was comforting to hear that she was awake.