Heir of the Supreme Sky Throne

CHAPTER 4 THE PRICE OF BLOOD

Tian Chen narrowed his eyes. His gaze sharpened, scrutinizing the four middle-aged men standing rigidly in his yard. They were no ordinary men. The way they stood, their confident demeanor, and the aura of pressure they exuded all indicated they were seasoned warriors.

One of them stepped forward, his voice cold and laced with pressure. "What are you looking for me for?" Tian Chen asked, his voice flat but sharp.

The man grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth. "Boy, you have to come with us to see His Majesty!”

Tian Chen remained silent, his expression unchanging. But his gaze grew sharper. "What if I refuse?"

The man's grin widened, but his eyes glinted cruelly. "If you refuse, then we'll have to bring your body!"

His words were met with nods from the other three men. They didn't hesitate in the slightest, as if Tian Chen's death was already a certainty.

Tian Chen didn't respond with words. He simply stood his ground, his body relaxed but his eyes alert. These four men were sixth-class warriors, not mere low-ranking fighters. They had faced danger for years, and life and death had become part of their journey.

One of them, a burly man with a long scar on his cheek, began to move. With one swift motion, he drew his sword.

CLANG!

The gleam of metal shone as the sword was drawn from its scabbard. Internal energy surged from his body, flowing into the blade of his sword. In an instant, blue energy enveloped the weapon, glittering like the sharp light of the moon.

SLASH!

Without warning, the man swung his sword. A wave of blue energy shot out, cutting through the air with terrifying speed, heading straight for Tian Chen.

But just before the attack hit him—WHOOSH!

Tian Chen leaped high. His body shot through the air, exceeding everyone's expectations.

The four men were stunned. Their eyes widened, watching the boy soar six meters in the air, easily dodging the attack.

BAANG!

The sword energy hit the large tree behind him, cutting it down instantly. The sturdy trunk split apart, then fell with a booming sound, creating a cloud of dust that covered the ground.

The attacking man clicked his tongue, his hand ready to draw a new movement to slash again. But Tian Chen was already right in front of him.

"What?!"

The man was surprised, but his fighting instincts took over immediately. With extraordinary speed, he swung his sword.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

His sword slashed through the air repeatedly, creating a shadow of attacks that were difficult to follow with the naked eye.

But Tian Chen moved like a shadow. He avoided each attack with light steps, tilting his body to the right, then to the left, stepping back, then leaping sideways. The opponent's sword couldn't even touch the edge of his clothes.

The man's face changed. "Impossible...!"

Just as the man was about to slash his sword again, Tian Chen suddenly grabbed his wrist.

CRACK!

The man groaned in pain, but before he could react further, Tian Chen snatched his sword with lightning-fast movements.

Then, without hesitation—BAANG!

A powerful kick hit his stomach.

The man's body was thrown far back, crashing hard into the ground. Dust and soil flew up in the air, creating a long trail from his dragged body.

But before he could stabilize himself, Tian Chen was already moving.

With one swift slash—FLOP!

The man's head separated from his body. Rolling on the ground, his eyes were still wide open as if in disbelief.

Blood spurted from his neck, drenching the ground like a red fountain.

***

The Terror That Came Too Late

The remaining three men looked at each other. They were silent for a moment, processing the horrifying scene in front of them.

They had underestimated this boy. Initially, they thought Tian Chen was just a nine-year-old who happened to have a little internal energy.

But now? They had seen for themselves how the boy killed one of them in a matter of seconds.

Tian Chen lifted his head, his gaze as cold as piercing ice. "Initially, I didn't want to kill you." His voice was low but firm. "But because you dared to threaten my mother... I will never forgive you!"

A Fight Ending in Blood

Without warning, Tian Chen dashed forward. His movement was so fast that it only left a shadow in his opponent's eyes.

He swung the sword he had just snatched deftly, creating unpredictable attacks. From vertical to horizontal slashes, he combined his movements with incredible agility.

The three men tried to defend themselves. They poured all their internal energy, trying to encircle him from all directions.

But Tian Chen seemed to be able to read their minds. Every attack they launched seemed to have been predicted beforehand. He parried everything easily, making them more and more frustrated.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Every time their swords clashed, their hands went numb.

But there was one problem. The sword Tian Chen was using wasn't of high quality. After several clashes, cracks began to appear on its blade.

The three men realized this. They exchanged glances, then attacked with even more ferocity, hoping to destroy his weapon.

But Tian Chen was undeterred.

As one of them thrust his sword toward his chest, Tian Chen twisted his body slightly, just enough to make the attack miss.

But the sword still hit something.

CHLUK!

The man standing beside him froze. His eyes widened as he saw his own sword stuck in his chest.

"B-brother, I'm sorry—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Tian Chen kicked the man's hand, sending his sword flying.

SWOOSH!

He caught the sword in the air, then threw it with full force.

FLOP!

The sword pierced perfectly through the neck of the man who was stabbed.

Blood flowed profusely from the wound on his neck. His body fell to the ground, lifeless.

Now only one man remained.

The man trembled. His confidence had vanished, replaced by suffocating fear.

With shaky steps, he tried to flee.

But just a few steps—SWOOSH!

A sword shot out, piercing his back.

The man fell forward, but before he could speak further—BAANG!

Tian Chen had already killed him.

"Dead people like you aren't allowed to threaten me."

Blood still warmed the tips of Tian Chen's fingers as he stood among the lifeless bodies. The pungent scent of blood stung his nose, mixed with the smell of damp soil. His eyes stared unblinkingly at the corpses, making sure that none of them were still breathing.

But his thoughts didn't linger there. His heart pounded fast, not because of the battle he had just won, but because of his worry for someone far more important—his mother.

Without hesitation, Tian Chen turned and ran to his house.

TAP! TAP! TAP!

His footsteps hit the ground hard. Anxiety shook him more than the battle just now. He didn't even care about the bloodstains on his clothes or the red trail left behind on the ground.

When he reached the front door of his house, he knocked on it quickly.

TOK! TOK! TOK!

"Mother, it's me. Please open the door."

His voice trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the uneasy feeling gnawing at his heart.

A few seconds that felt like forever passed before the sound of footsteps came from within. Then, the door slowly opened, revealing the figure of a middle-aged woman still dressed in simple clothes, but her eyes were full of warmth and worry.

"Chen'er, are you alright?"

Healer Siyo immediately pulled Tian Chen inside and closed the door behind them.

Without waiting for an answer, her gentle but nimble hands began to examine Tian Chen's body from head to toe. She rubbed his shoulders, touched his arms, checking for any unseen wounds. Her eyes scanned every inch of her son's body, making sure that he was truly unharmed.

Tian Chen didn't move. He let his mother do what she had to do.

After a while, he finally spoke in a gentle tone. "Mother, I'm fine."

But his eyes looked at his mother with anxious concern. "What about Mother?"

Healer Siyo smiled with relief, although her face still radiated a little anxiety. "Thank goodness, Mother is fine."

But her smile quickly faded. Slowly, she turned her gaze towards the door that was still slightly open.

There, under the dim moonlight, four corpses lay motionless.

Tian Chen followed the direction of his mother's gaze, but his expression remained cold.

Healer Siyo took a deep breath, then looked back at her son. Her eyes were full of unspoken questions.

Tian Chen straightened his body. His sharp eyes radiated an unshakable determination.

"Mother, they deserved it."

The boy's voice sounded more mature than his age. He clenched his fist. In his heart, anger and determination were intertwined.

"If anyone dares to threaten Mother, I don't care if I become a devil. I'll kill whoever it is!"

Those words came out so firmly, without the slightest hesitation.

Healer Siyo was silent. She looked at her son with a mixture of emotions that were difficult to explain—sadness, pride, and worry.

She wanted to say something, but seeing her son's eyes so strong, she realized that no words could change what had already been planted in her son's heart.

Five days had passed since Tian Chen's battle with the four middle-aged men sent by the Sampong Kingdom. But none of them returned.

Inside the magnificent palace of the Sampong Kingdom, the King of Sampong sat on his golden throne, his expression dark and filled with anger. The grandeur of the room, with its tall pillars adorned with dragon carvings and vast red carpets, couldn't ease the turmoil in his chest.

He clenched his fist, his eyes burning with anger. "Trash! Even to bring a small boy, they're incompetent!"

The atmosphere inside the palace hall became even more tense. The officials standing to the left and right didn't dare to raise their heads, afraid of being hit by the impact of their king's anger.

Before the King of Sampong, a tall man with a determined face bowed respectfully. He was Wuke, the King of Sampong's trusted aide and one of the strongest experts in the kingdom.

The King of Sampong moved his hand, pointing at Wuke with a determined look. "Wuke, lead some eighth-class warriors and bring that boy before me! If anyone hinders you, kill them on the spot!"

The order came down like a sledgehammer hitting the ground, making the air inside the hall feel heavier.

But even though he was ordered directly by his king, Wuke still considered the situation. He wasn't just an executioner, but also a strategist who always thought before acting.

He raised his head slightly and spoke in a calm voice. "Your Majesty, would this be wise? Although several witnesses saw Young Master Wuya clash with Tian Chen, is it confirmed that the boy was the one who killed him?"

The atmosphere of the palace became even more tense.

The King of Sampong narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp like a knife ready to pierce anyone who dared to disagree with him. "Wuke, do you want to defy my orders?"

His tone was dangerous, making the officials around him hold their breath.

Wuke remained bowing respectfully, but his words still flowed with caution. "I dare not think so, Your Majesty. I just wanted to remind you that we all know how great Healer Siyo is. In fact, it's not once or twice that she was summoned to the Tang Empire to treat high-ranking officials. With the connections she has, if we bring her son forcefully, it might add trouble for the Sampong Kingdom."

The King of Sampong tapped the back of his throne with his finger, his expression remaining cold. Then, he chuckled—a laugh that sounded more like a sneer.

"Hmm, Wuke... do you think my status is lower than a healer? Do you think my network is worse than hers?"

His high-pitched tone reflected his superiority as a ruler.

Wuke immediately bowed his head lower. "I dare not think so, Your Majesty."

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke again, "I will bring ten eighth-class warriors and capture Tian Chen as soon as possible."

The King of Sampong nodded, his eyes still betraying impatience. "Go. If you also fail, I won't hesitate to kill you!"

Wuke didn't say anything else. He just bowed again before turning and walking out of the palace hall with steady steps.

After Wuke's departure, King Sampong clenched his fist tightly again.

"I don't care who that person is. Because he dared to kill my son, he is ready to face the consequences of a more painful death!"

That vengeful voice echoed throughout the hall, confirming the king's determination to seek revenge.