Chapter 234 Sage of Medicine (1/2)
An unnatural gust of wind blew suddenly. The onlookers cowered and retreated in fear of being caught in the blast of Xiao Chen's blow. Through the slits of their eyes, they saw with their own eyes that the man was about to be killed when he suddenly vanished at where he stood, only to reappear a split second later at several meters away.
No one had foreseen this would happen; everybody had thought that the man would be killed! But how could he have moved so quickly?!
Xiao Chen was wearing a thin smile. He withdrew his stroke and said coolly to the man, ”You said earlier that you are but a common man. Does a common man command the magic of the levels of the Foundation Building Realm?”
”XIAO CHEN! HOW DARE YOU!” But that was all the man could say. With just a glimpse of his ferocious aura and the man's own reflexes, Xiao Chen had exposed him as a charlatan who had tried to inflame the crowd against him.
”You would have already been dead if I really wished it so,” Xiao Chen said plainly and he addressed the crowd, ”I believe everyone can see that this man intends only to slander me.”
The dawning comprehension hit the crowd like an emotional wave. Realizing that they had been tricked, several members of the crowd looked at the young man and his sackcloth-clad cohorts with fuming glares. Even the few old wives had stowed away their handkerchieves and were boiling with fury.
”Let's go!” The young man growled, leading his cohorts away with him and disappeared into the crowd.
Xiao Chen snorted. At the top of his voice, he bellowed, ”Anyone from Clans Ling or Zuoqiu, hear me! I challenge you, all of you! I shall be waiting for you all upon the arena in the Immortal's Sword Assembly that will be held three months from now! Let us meet there and fight honorably instead! Enough with all the cloak and dagger lest you dishonor yourselves!”
Yu Yifeng gave a breath of relief; his back was already soaked with a sheen of cold sweat. ”I was so afraid that you would really...”
Xiao Chen smiled at him, ”Rest assured, Brother Yifeng. I've had enough of your ranting to last me a lifetime that I should be careful and prudent.”
With the brief episode on the street finally at an end, they moved on, finally arriving at their lodgings before the sun was fully gone. During the way, Xiao Chen did not fail to notice that there was something wrong about Qingluan. But she refused to admit anything no matter how he asked her.
Zi Mo was talking to another old man, whose long beard and hair were white as snow, when they reached their lodgings. They saw Xiao Chen walking into the courtyard of the compound and Zi Mo got up. ”How was it? Are you well?”
Xiao Chen smiled and shook his head. ”Great Immortal from Hell,” Xiao Chen teased playfully, ”Things would be unwell if you had really slain the two Envoys.”
”Shhhh!” Zi Mo threw his arms up and rushed forward in an attempt to stop him from saying more. There was no stopping his child-like shenanigans.
Perfected Immortal Qing Chen could only snigger at his junior's antics. He walked to the old man and beckoned at Xiao Chen, ”Come. Allow me to present to you, Perfected Immortal Tai Yi of the Order of the Countless Blades.”
The Jade Qing Seven enjoyed close friendships and connections with many across the Five Continents. Xiao Chen went to the old man and bowed to him, ”Greetings, Perfected Immortal Tai Yi. My name is Xiao Chen.”
Perfected Immortal Tai Yi nodded with a commending smile, ”This boy is not half bad.”
They began exchanging news and greetings while getting themselves comfortably settled into their lodgings. Xiao Chen waited until the sky was fully dark and said to his seniors, ”I'd take my leave for a moment, Seniors. I'll be back in a moment.”
Yu Yifeng stopped him just before he went out. He looked worried. ”It's already dark, Junior Brother Xiao. Where are you off to at this hour?”
”It'll just take a moment. I'm fine,” Xiao Chen replied, wearing a smile to console him. Before he went out, he looked briefly at Qingluan, indicating to her that he wished to be alone and no one should follow.
Once he was out of the compound, Xiao Chen walked and navigated through the streets with amazing ease. He entered a small, darkened alleyway and stopped face to face with a man.
”Master Gui Xian, what brings you here?” He had picked up Gui Xian's presence during the company's way to their lodgings.
Gui Xian threw his green hood and cape back to reveal himself. ”I came as soon as I got wind of your arrest by the League. How are you? I'm sorry that you have gotten in trouble for my sake...”