Lord of the Universe

Ch.5 - Leaving Wangtu City

Qiao Yue had just returned from washing clothes. She was about to hang them out to dry in the front yard when Wang Chen hurried over to her.

“Xiao Yue, leave the clothes for now. Come with me!”

“Eh? Young master, where are we going? If these clothes aren’t hung up soon, they’ll start to smell,” Qiao Yue asked, puzzled by Wang Chen’s urgency.

“Just follow me. I’ll explain later!” Wang Chen grabbed Qiao Yue’s hand and pulled her along, heading straight out of the Wang Family residence.

Qiao Yue followed without resistance, adjusting her pace to match Wang Chen’s hurried steps.

“Young master, did something bad happen?” Qiao Yue asked when she noticed the sword neatly strapped to Wang Chen’s left waist.

“It’s only a possibility for now. That’s why we must prepare and escape!”

Qiao Yue was confused. What kind of danger could it be? Would Wang Zhu come to cause trouble again after being beaten earlier? Whatever it was, she didn’t ask and continued following Wang Chen.

Wangtu City had four main gates. Wang Chen headed toward the southern gate, following Ling Zhizun’s instructions.

Their journey was unobstructed, and they soon arrived at the southern gate. They stood beneath a tree near the gate, still within the city walls.

“We’ll wait until sunset. If the danger doesn’t appear, we’ll return,” Wang Chen said without offering any further explanation.

It was already late afternoon—there were about two hours left before sunset. Yet before the sun could set, and before they had even been there for ten minutes, the alarm bell rang violently from the northern direction.

Wang Chen tightened his grip on Qiao Yue’s hand and stared toward the north. Qiao Yue remained silent, though countless questions swirled in her mind.

“I told you there would be a large-scale beast attack. This city will not be able to withstand it. You should flee immediately before it’s too late, Wang Chen!” Ling Zhizun warned his disciple.

Wang Chen did not reply. Naturally, he wanted to see the situation for himself. However, his master’s words were already proving true—meaning there was a high chance that Wangtu City truly would be destroyed.

Then what about the Wang Family? They would surely be destroyed as well. Although the Wang Family had brought Wang Chen nothing but bitter experiences, they were still his family. He still possessed basic human compassion.

So what now? Should he help defend the city?

With no cultivation at all, could he possibly turn the tide? Impossible. Fighting would only mean throwing his life away. The only choice was to flee.

Even if Wangtu City were destroyed, Wang Chen had no intention of staying here anyway. This was the moment to leave.

“Xiao Yue!” Wang Chen placed both hands on Qiao Yue’s shoulders, his expression solemn.

“…” Qiao Yue silently met his gaze.

“I’ve actually wanted to leave the Wang Family for a long time—to leave Wangtu City with you, start a small family in the countryside, and live a peaceful life together. Are you willing to follow me?”

“Eh… ah…” Qiao Yue was stunned at first, but then she remembered how Wang Chen had placed a ring on her ring finger earlier. “Yes, young master. I’m willing!”

Wang Chen smiled upon hearing her answer. “Then let’s go together!”

Hand in hand, Wang Chen and Qiao Yue ran out of Wangtu City.

Unbeknownst to them, someone was watching from above the clouds, gazing at them with a faint smile.

“Ah, they’re running away. Should I stop them now? Hmm… better not. I’ll send a few beasts instead and see how they survive.”

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When the alarm bell rang from the north, the city guards and the Wang Family immediately mobilized their forces. Even the Wang Family Patriarch himself, Wang Zuhan, rushed toward the northern wall.

He had already received reports of a massive beast horde approaching—far larger than any beast tide that had occurred in previous years.

No one had expected this. It wasn’t even the season for beast tides. Moreover, the scouting forces had observed that the beasts had been behaving normally over the past few days. Yet suddenly, they all moved toward Wangtu City, as if they were being driven—or controlled—by someone.

Wang Zuhan was a late-stage Martial Master cultivator, the strongest cultivator in Wangtu City. The elders, meanwhile, were only at the early or middle stages.

They now stood atop the city wall, with neatly arranged troops deployed below.

“Patriarch!”

A man rushed over and immediately bowed.

“Wang Chu, how is your reconnaissance?”

“This is truly bad, Patriarch. The number of beasts approaching is far too great. It’s possible that… we won’t be able to hold them back.”

Wang Chu’s report left everyone who heard it completely stunned.