Fallout

Everyone followed Tian Cai in silence. Several questions and thoughts pervaded their minds.

Gu Jin trembled.

They must be escorting me to some secret killing place to easily get rid of my body.

Bai Guang was carefully examining her basket of honey cakes.

Are my sweets safe?

Whereas, the Shadows were all shooting looks at Tian Cai.

Zhao Clan Guardian Beast...we have one? Godkiller!?

Partially down the road, they found Chief Lu and some men. They were busy hiding away bodies.

"Uncle, what's this?" asked Tian Cai.

"Ah that. Last night we took over three secret outposts that City Lord had hidden on the road. Although he planned well, it wasn't enough."

Chief Lu came running up. Cupping his hands, he said, "Chief greets Youngest Master and Lord Fat Shadow."

Motioning with his nose, Tian Cai asked, "Do we know who they were?"

"Hmph, they were City Lord's 5th Company. They had disguised themselves as ordinary citizens. Little did they know we were waiting for them."

Fat Shadow slapped Chief Lu's shoulder. "Good work man! In fact you deserve a vacation."

"Lord, this? This Chief will finally be allowed to go on vacation?"

Fat Shadow chuckled, his eyes twitching. "Our Zhao Clan thanks you so much we'll even pay for an all expense trip."

Unbeknownst to Chief Lu, Fat Shadow didn't know how to inform him that Gu Jin was his new boss.

Eventually, after slowly returning to the Zhao Clan manor, all the Zhao Clan Guards re-grouped with Zhao Tian. Like this, Zhao Clan's Youngest Master quietly returned home.

In front of the main gate, they found Zhao Qiang ordering servants about. As though they were well practiced, the servants were efficiently bringing out bodies by the cart load.

Behind Tian Cai, several guards clamored in discussion.

"Humph! You dare attack with our Battle God Zhao Qiang here. Ha! You kicked the King of Iron Plates himself and willingly met your deaths."

"Battle God!!!"

"Brother you see that? Nobody cleans a battle scene better than our Zhao Clan servants."

"Battle God brings boundless glory to Zhao Clan!"

Mu Huizhong, Bai Guang and the Five Shadows shot strange looks at the guards.

King of Iron Plates?

Battle God?

Does even compare to our Zhao Clan's Guardian Beast, Godkiller!?

Gu Jin stared at the Zhao Clan manor's gate like it was the path to hell.

Why couldn't they just end him quickly. Wasn't all this waiting the worst of any kind torture?

Zhao Qiang, upon seeing Tian Cai, sighed in deep relief.

"Super Punk! It's good you return home safely," he said.

Still bristling, Tian Cai nodded but continued walking forward.

Seeing his reaction, Zhao Qiang motioned Fat Shadow over.

"Did things not go well? You all appear alive and you have Gu Jin. Shouldn't this be a victory," asked Zhao Qiang.

"Young Master, it's like this..." started explaining Fat Shadow.

As they entered the manor, Alchemist Gu was nervously pacing about. Seeing his son, he ran forward.

"Father, is it really you? Did they capture you too?"

Alchemist Gu however smacked him. "Who asked you to cause so much trouble. Quickly thank Youngest Master for saving you."

Stumped in shock, Gu Jin hardly noticed being hit by his father.

"Did you say save me!?"

"Son, it's like this..."

Before the main hall, Zhao Wen and Zhao Jia stood waiting. Reaching them, Tian Cai bowed. "Mother, Granny, we have returned."

"Are you not victorious? Why so somber?" asked Zhao Wen.

"Are there still enemies about? Granny will go erase them," said Zhao Jia.

Looking about at the faces of Mu Huizhong, Bai Guang and the Five Shadows, Tian Cai said, "Apparently some people believe this Young Master to be a brick for brains. Not only did Son unknowingly volunteer himself to be arrested, Son is also #1 on Savant City's Most Wanted list."

Pausing, Tian Cai raised an eyebrow at Mu Huizhong. "Just now we were in a dire situation. According to all the numbers, we were outmatched near 25 to 1. Sister-in-law who promised to protect me disappeared while her charge was almost killed by Empyrean Zhang An. Well isn't the goal to be low profile? Son was forced to reveal two trump cards. As a result, Little Brother suffered a near fatal setback."

To a person, the Five Shadows stiffened at Tian Cai's berating. Bai Guang choked, moist tears bubbling from her red eyes. Mu Huizhong, clutched her heart and felt like her heart suffered the greatest of wounds.

Master...Master hates Huizhong!

Zhao Qiang was about to speak, when Zhao Wen cut him off with a piercing glare.

Solemnly, she said, "Everyone go have a rest. Matriarch will discuss things with Youngest Master privately."

Quietly, everyone cupped their hands and left except for Mu Huizhong. After being admonished by Tian Cai, she incapacitated by the shock. Gray and Small Shadow actually were forced to return and carry her out.

Straining their muscles, they could barely carry her out.

Apparently, the psycho was heavier than anyone thought.

In the City Lord's Manor, City Lord Zhang was rubbing his glabella. Before him, Temple Vice Master Jun along with assistants, was doing his best to treat Zhang An.

To the side, the steward was reviewing a field report and was sighing with each word he read.

Grimly, the City Lord asked, "How bad is it?"

The Steward replied, "Early estimations are at 22 Billion. This is largely due to the destruction of the prison. Not only did we lose 5th Company, but also our Secret Forces and the Five Tiger Mercenaries. This doesn't include the 50 percent loss of prison guards nor does it take into account the prisoners that escape."

City Lord Zhang trembled clutching his heart.

"Lord, the situation is actually worse. Li Jian escaped with his Vice Chiefs."

City Lord Zhang stood up at the news, the blood draining from his face.

This?

Under his watch, one of the Empire's most notorious criminals escaped?

Temple Vice Master Jun sighed as he stood up. Turning about, he said, "Lord, its bad. Master Zhang An has only survived this long due to his Empyrean cultivation. Most likely, he will pass during the night. At most, we can only make him comfortable."

Hearing this news, chilling fear swept over the City Lord.

Wouldn't Lord Uncle come visit himself? Zhang An happened to be the youngest son of the Zhang Clan Patriarch.

A guard came running in. "Lord, a message has been sent from the Capital. Lord Imperial Censor Ao will be arriving himself in one month's time."

City Lord Zhang shuddered. Imperial Censor Ao? Wasn't he Ao Donghai's older brother whom he just imprisoned?

He stumbled back into his chair. Wasn't this too much of a loss?

Tian Cai sat with Zhao Wen in her courtyard.

"What happened to your little brother?" asked Zhao Wen.

Tian Cai sighed. "We owe everything to him. He's the one that saved us all."

"How so?"

"Mom, Little Brother is actually very powerful. You know he has the ability to search and recall the memories of my Masters. This actually requires a vast amount of spiritual power. Being the amalgamation of the soul wisps of three Grand Empyreans, he in fact has a large amount of spiritual power?

This?

Tian Cai nodded and continued, "Recently to prove himself a filial son, not only did he focus on his studies but also on researching techniques. Early on, he learned an illusion puppet art. Later on, he found a technique called Reality Portal. If one has sufficient spiritual power, they can open a window into alternate reality."

Tian Cai sighed. "Brother, he created a giant monster inspired by my past life memories. Using Reality Portal, he opened a window into my mind and this way I was able to call out the monster. His name is Little Zilla, however how can a name like that scare anyone? I immediately gave him the name Godkiller and claimed him to be our Zhao Clan's Guardian Beast."

Zhao Wen unknowingly gripped Tian Cai's tightly. "This-This came at a cost didn't it. Your brother?"

"Mom, Godkiller's head alone is like the size of five mountains. He could barely stick his head out of the portal. But what really cost Little Brother was calling upon Godkiller's attack. Unleashing it, he instantly incinerated three Peak Empyreans and some mountain in the horizon."

Tian Cai started sobbing. "When I found Little Brother he was the size of large a egg. Now-Now he's only the size of a flickering speck of light. Mom, he spent five long years trapped in the darkness of my mind. He didn't see light until my memories awakened. Shouldn't I as his Older Brother be the one to protect him?"

"Child, it's Mother's fault. Don't blame yourself, it's my duty to protect you both."

"Mhm.mmmmmm...Mhmmmmm."

"For now, we'll concentrate on how to heal your younger brother. That will be our priority."

Later in the evening, after Zhao Wen put Tian Cai to bed, she appeared before Mu Huizhong. She was already on her knees trembling in trepidation.

"Noble Brother-in-law, how-how is he?"

Smack!

Zhao Wen slapped her so heard, Mu Huizhong was thrown back into the wall.

Gritting her teeth, she fully accepted the pain.

"In-law I don't know what to say to your Older Sister. Nor to Yun Clan's Patriarch. If you are going to treat your duty not like the heavy obligation it is, our Zhao Clan doesn't require nor desire your assistance. Pack up your things, leave here immediately."

"Noooo! Mu Huiqing was wrong! Mu Huiqing was wrong! In-law promises it will never happen again."

Zhao Jia stepped out. Patting Zhao Wen's arm, she said, "Perhaps we should wait for grandson to decide her fate himself? Chen'er has yet to come home. Also, do you not want to visit the City Lord and end this farce of justice once and for all?"

"Father hasn't returned?"

"No."