Chapter 171 - Antidote (1/2)
“Congratulations, Grandmaster Zhuo, for your recovery and improvement!” Liu Yizhen gave a gesture of respect along with a smile.
Zhuo Fan shot him a glance, “Skip the small-talk and say what you want.”
Liu Yizhen’s face froze for a second, then bloomed into a broad smile, “Grandmaster Zhuo is a man of true talent. I will no longer hide it from you.”
“Humph, that’s all thanks to knowing there is no one in this world helping a stranger without getting something in return! There’s no free lunch in this world. You must be after something big to give away a 6th-grade pill.”
Zhuo Fan’s piercing gaze saw right through him. Liu Yizhen muttered something under his breath then threw himself at Zhuo Fan’s feet, kowtowing three times, “Disciple Liu Yizhen admires Grandmaster Zhuo’s endless talent. I beseech Grandmaster to accept me!”
Dumbstruck, not even in Zhuo Fan’s wildest dreams did he consider the old guy’s request being this. Scowling for a second, he said, “Give me an empty jade slip!”
Liu Yizhen’s eyes sparkled and handed it over with glee, “Yes, master!”
Not even he expected his request to go through so smoothly.
However, Zhuo Fan closed his eyes for a brief moment then gave the jade slip back, “Grandmaster Liu, this jade slip contains three alchemy secret skills, my debt to you. We are now even. Don’t mention apprenticeship again. I do not take disciples!”
[Why the hell would I take another when the first and last one almost got me killed? Humph, teaching a disciple starves the master. This saying couldn’t be more right. I will abide by it all my life!]
Zhuo Fan sighed, recalling that traitorous disciple of his.
Liu Yizhen wanted to plead his case, but Zhuo Fan cut him off with a wave.
Zhuo Fan then turned to Xiao Dandan, throwing her a pitch-black ring. Xiao Dandan was startled. Wasn’t it the same storage ring Chu Qingcheng gave her?
“Take this back to Edifice Lord Chu. Tell her that I have paid the favor for the medicine. She and I are now even!”
“W-what about me?” Xiao Dandan was panicking, her heart in turmoil.
Zhuo Fan perked an eyebrow and watched her funny, “It has nothing to do with me. Do whatever.”
He took a single step and shot high into the sky, disappearing in a flash. Liu Yizhen watched the jade slip downcast then sighed as he put it in his ring.
Xiao Dandan looked at the sky and cried, “Waaah, darling doesn’t want me~!”
Dong Xiaowan saw the heartbroken Xiao Dandan and lowered her head in desolation. At least Zhuo Fan explained himself to Xiao Dandan, while not sparing her so much as a glance.
[Am I of no value in his heart?]
Dong Tianba saw through his sister’s distress and patted her shoulder, “Wan’er, that guy is bound to cause great chaos. There’s nothing in common between him and us.”
Dong Xiaowan nodded, her heart clear. How could a girl from a second rate clan deserve a hero who fought back the seven houses?
But that didn’t mean she could accept it. She looked up at the wailing Xiao Dandan and felt envious.
He did spare this lady a glance at the least…
…
In the hazy night, among the broken-down houses of the slum, Chu Qingcheng’s lovely figure struck a touching image standing there in the moonlight.
She had behind her Iris Overseer and Long Jiu’s group while Drifting Flowers Edifice’s disciples scoured the place for any sign of Zhuo Fan.
“Edifice Lord Chu, it’s been four days already. Are you sure he’d return here?” Xie Tianyang shook off a yawn.
Chu Qingcheng was still as she watched Zhuo Fan’s fleeing direction, but her eyes flickered with resolve, “This is where we lived together. I know he will come here once he is safe.”
“Sigh, that only means you don’t know him. That brat is a ruthless and stone-cold killer. When he was docile to you in that idyllic period, it was just him playing his role as Song Yu. That wasn’t the real him!” Xie Tianyang sighed.
Chu Qingcheng smiled, but her mind was set, “I believe in the feelings from that time. He will not abandon me!”
[We can only hope.]
Xie Tianyang sighed, not believing in the slightest…
Tap, tap!
Suddenly, a horse’s trotting was heard and everyone looked to see a worn-out carriage drawing near. Chu Qingcheng’s eyes shined, her heart in bliss.
She recognized this carriage, it was Song-, uh, Zhuo Fan’s.
“He’s back!” Chu Qingcheng cried, rushing over with the others in tow.
But the people to come out were just Dong Tianba, Dong Xiaowan, and the crying Xiao Dandan.
Chu Qingcheng realized they were the only one insie and asked, “You came back without finding him?”
Dong Xiaowan and Xiao Dandan were downhearted and in no mood to speak. Dong Tianba bowed, “Edifice Lord Chu, we did find him, but… he left once he recovered. We didn’t follow…”