Chapter 686: Why

"What's happening?" Chu Youzhao's eyes widened. She had just seen the Qi King's heir unleash a powerful move, believing her brother-in-law was in mortal danger. Yet, in the very next second, it was the heir who was struck down?

Murong Qinghe was also dumbfounded. The sudden turn of events far exceeded her imagination. Subconsciously, she glanced around. "Is there some expert secretly helping?"

She had noticed that the large water ball appeared from the side. Could a water element master be hiding nearby?

In the distance, the gap-toothed coachman also looked around sharply, a hint of confusion on his face.

Zu An walked up to the Qi King's heir, watching him twitch uncontrollably. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking, "Mastering science, physics, and chemistry makes you fearless anywhere in the world. It truly lives up to its reputation."

The moment he saw lightning emanating from the heir, he immediately summoned his Blue Flute. He gathered water from nearby sources—such as a household pond and large water vats—and secretly condensed a massive water ball, waiting for the right opportunity.

He hadn't awakened any water element abilities, so he couldn't manipulate water in complex ways, like combining it with elemental energy for various flashy attack skills. However, using the Blue Flute simply to pour water was well within his capabilities.

He chose to douse the heir with a chilling splash just as the latter believed victory was assured, making him understand that even in the world of cultivation, the laws of physics still apply.

"Weren't you going to punish me with lightning? Why aren't you doing it?" Zu An mockingly asked, looking at the heir's entirely blackened body, which was emitting white smoke and a burnt smell.

The Qi King's heir twitched a finger, seemingly trying to summon lightning. Unfortunately, only a faint blue electric arc flickered from his finger before his entire body was wracked by another spasm of paralysis.

"Oh, still trying to shock me?" Zu An was amused. He stepped directly onto the heir's chest. "Who was it just now who said that in the face of absolute power, everything else is meaningless?"

Having someone step on his chest was a humiliation the Qi King's heir had never experienced. He struggled desperately, but his entire body was paralyzed by the electricity. What should have been violent struggles ultimately devolved into mere unconscious twitching.

Rage from Zhao Zhi +999+999+999...

In truth, if he hadn't been a lightning element user himself, being struck by so much lightning would have cooked anyone else thoroughly.

It was already remarkable that he had survived, but the cost would likely be several months of recovery.

Zu An looked down and couldn't help but laugh. The Qi King's heir's once flowing long hair now stood on end, and his luxurious clothes had been incinerated by the lightning. At first, they had vaguely retained their shape, but as he twisted, the charred fabric completely disintegrated, revealing his blackened, electrocuted body underneath.

"Ah!"

Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe, who had been watching, were startled and quickly turned their heads away, their hearts pounding.

Murong Qinghe cast a curious glance at the person beside her, thinking, "I'm a woman, so I'm embarrassed to look, but what are you afraid of?"

Chu Youzhao's face was flushed, and there was a hint of confusion in her brows. She was currently pondering a question: why was the Qi King's heir's... different from her brother-in-law's?

So small...

Whose was the problem?

Zu An lowered his gaze to three inches below the Qi King's heir's abdomen, a flicker of contempt in his eyes. "That's it?"

However, in front of a few young women, it was inconvenient for him to compare sizes, so he gestured with the tip of his sword nearby. "It's all charred. How about I cut it off for you?"

The Qi King's heir was scared out of his wits. Other injuries could slowly heal, but losing *that* would be incredibly difficult to fix.

As the saying goes, flowers may bloom again, but a chicken is never young twice.

He, who had been so arrogant moments before, instantly softened his tone. "It's a bit crispy, but if I save my strength, it might still be usable."

Zu An chuckled. "It's like this, and you still want to use it? You should be thanking heaven if you can still pee with it."

The Qi King's heir forced a smile, but inwardly, he was seething with rage. *This scoundrel has humiliated me so much; I will tear him to shreds one day!*

Rage from Zhao Zhi +1024+1024+1024...

Seeing the continuous stream of rage points in the background, Zu An's expression turned cold. "Are you cursing me in your heart right now?"

"N-no..." The Qi King's heir's face changed. He wanted to say something flattering to ease the atmosphere, but given his status, he had been flattered by others his whole life. He had never flattered anyone before, so he couldn't bring himself to be obsequious even if he wanted to.

"Oh, that's right, I remember now," Zu An said with a look of sudden realization. "Someone just said I should break my own limbs and kowtow in apology, didn't they?"

"You misheard, that's not what I meant." The Qi King's heir quickly explained. He thought to himself that no matter what, he needed to get through this immediate crisis. Once the Qi King's manor heard the news and sent help, he would make this guy repay him tenfold, even a hundredfold!

"So, you're saying I'm deaf?" Zu An said coldly.

The Qi King's heir was speechless.

He hadn't expected the other person's logic to be so peculiar. However, he immediately understood that Zu An was deliberately looking for trouble, and no matter how he answered, he would be toyed with.

Taking a deep breath, his expression calmed after a brief moment of panic. "You don't have to put on a show here. Do you really dare to harm me? I am the Qi King's heir, and also a cavalry officer in the imperial court. If I suffer even the slightest injury, you will face tenfold, even a hundredfold retaliation."

Zu An frowned. "Your identity is indeed a bit troublesome, especially your father."

A sneer of contempt appeared on the Qi King's heir's charred face. "Precisely. You're quite sensible. Help me up and send me back to the Qi King's manor. I can let bygones be bygones regarding today's incident."

Inwardly, he sneered, "Let bygones be bygones? Impossible!"

Once back at the Qi King's manor, he would make Zu An wish he were dead.

Zu An sighed. "Your father is indeed a bit troublesome. But I'm someone who responds poorly to toughness and has a short fuse. Why did you have to provoke me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped directly on the heir's knee, and a crisp cracking sound instantly echoed.

Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe, who had been secretly observing the situation, were stunned. This guy actually dared to attack the Qi King's heir? Did he know the consequences?

Chu Youzhao awoke from her initial joy at her brother-in-law's turnaround, her heart now completely consumed by worry.

The gap-toothed coachman in the distance also frowned, muttering, "This young man is too reckless. If he completely enrages the Qi King, I'm afraid no one will be able to protect him."

Inside the carriage, it was silent. No one knew what the lady was thinking.

"Ahhh!" The Qi King's heir's screams filled the street. He was both in pain and enraged. "You dared to injure me! You dared to injure me!"

Rage from Zhao Zhi +1024+1024+1024...

Aside from the other party brandishing a sword below his abdomen, he hadn't been particularly panicked because he knew the guy wouldn't dare to truly harm him. But the excruciating pain in his knee made him question reality. Didn't this guy fear his father? Was he foolish or just plain stupid?

Zu An pursed his lips. "Did the lightning strike damage your brain? Haven't I already injured you? And you're still asking if I dare? Since you're unclear, let me make it even clearer for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, his foot landed on the heir's other knee.

"Stop!" Murong Qinghe cried out in alarm and rushed over to intervene.

Zu An gave her a cold glance. "Was the beating you got last time not enough?"

Murong Qinghe guiltily took a few steps back. The memory of the previous incident, where he had caught her weapon and the inexplicable warm current that subsequently coursed through her body, made her feel unnatural; she certainly didn't want to experience such a humiliating scene again.

However, considering the relationship between the Murong clan and the Qi King, she still mustered her courage and said, "You cannot harm him."

"Why not?" Zu An asked indifferently.

Murong Qinghe bit her moist lips and replied, "Because he is the Qi King's heir, of incredibly noble status. If something happens to him, the entire capital will be thrown into turmoil. Is that enough?"

"Not enough!" Zu An said expressionlessly. Just as he was about to press his foot down, a warning sign suddenly flared within him, and he looked up at the nearby street.

At the end of the street, an elder appeared. His hair was silver, but his face was remarkably unwrinkled. He slowly walked towards them, seeming to blend with the world around him. Though he had taken only a few steps, he instantly stopped several yards away. "I advise you to take your filthy foot off him."