Chapter 246 Attachments (1/2)
Xiao Chen and Murong Xian'er ambled around in the streets and returned to the compound of their lodgings when it was sundown. There were many people grouped around the entrance of the compound. But as they got closer, Xiao Chen realized that they were students of the Jade Qing Sect and quickened his pace.
When he got there, a few of the students greeted him. ”Junior Brother Xiao.” He smiled at them and went inside to find about forty people waiting at the courtyard. They were more students of the Jade Qing Sect joined by the disciples of the Xianyong Sect. Amongst them, he found Fengxi and Zi Mo.
”D*mned rascal, where have you been the whole day? Have you been off having fun on your own? And what is that you're wearing?!” Zi Mo glowered at him as soon as he saw Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen smiled weakly in response. Then he saw Luo Shangyan and Li Muxue, both of whom also noticed his return, and they came to him. They too were surprised when they saw his clothing. ”What in the world is this attire...”
Xiao Chen responded with a silly giggle and said nothing again. ”That's the most popular clothing in the West for respectable noblemen!” Murong Xian'er smiled and added, ”It's about two thousand taels of silver!”
”WHAT!? TWO THOUSAND!?” Zi Mo bellowed incredulously. Around them, curious and interested stares from the students of the Jade Qing Sect and the Xianyong Sect trained upon Xiao Chen.
”Whatever, whatever,” Zi Mo waved everyone away before he told his students, ”All of you, find somewhere here to sleep for now. Any corner you find will do. We need to go to the Daoist League of the Five Continents at the city center tomorrow morning.”
”Heavens, no... Sleeping on the cold, hard ground is nothing tonight. But we'll all have to cram into the storerooms of the Daoist League starting tomorrow... If only I knew... I would not have volunteered to come...”
The students began groaning at the expectation of the arduous and sleepless nights that would be awaiting them.
”What else can we do? Try speaking to the Leader yourself. It was he who did not allocate much money for us. That said, the costs for lodgings across the entire Tianyuan City has risen tenfold since we were last here! I sure hope that luxurious mansions or palaces were not on your minds before we came,” Zi Mo scowled at them.
”It's fortunate that the Xianyong Sect has allocated enough budget for this trip,” Fengxi teased and said, ”There's also the sum of money we've gotten from a bet with a certain someone. Heh heh heh!”
Zi Mo's expression turned ugly immediately at Fengxi's mention of ”a certain someone”.
The students of the Xianyong Sect all roared in celebration. Fengxi nudged Xiao Chen, grinning widely to himself, ”Little Xiao, you should come with us and join us! Look at us, we're having good food and comfortable lodgings! This is the benefit of joining us! But if you decide to follow that senile Xiaoyao, then you'll have to squeeze in the dusty and crammed storerooms of the League while you wait for the tournament.”
Xiao Chen merely gave a thin smile while not giving any remark. But the students of the Jade Qing Sect were still whimpering in dismay, much to Zi Mo's annoyance. ”Shut up you all! Quit whining and get to bed, otherwise, there will be no room for us at the storerooms if we're late tomorrow!”
”Heavens, no, please, Martial Uncle Xiaoyao... We'd rather spend our nights under the stars rather than staying in some dusty storehouse! The last time I slept there, I had red rashes on my face for an entire month that Junior Sister Qingyu dared not to approach me!”
”Indeed, indeed,” said another disciple, ”I have some equipment, and we can camp outside the city...”
Just then, ten young girls, all similarly clad in dark garb, filed in through the entrance. The remaining members of the Hidden Fragrance Wafting Under the Moon stood in a row to greet Xiao Chen, crying in unison, ”Young Master!”
Everyone in the courtyard was flabbergasted. ”What's this? An all-female personal guard consisting of beautiful young women!?” Amongst the students of the Jade Qing Sect who were present was the Mu Shaoai who was always jealous of Xiao Chen. He was crouching in a corner when the ten girls came in, watching them while salivating on his own.
”What's going on?” Li Muxue whispered to Xiao Chen as she drew near warily.
”I'll explain later.” Xiao Chen smiled then he turned to acknowledge his subordinates. ”You're here,” He nodded approvingly before he extracted a Tier-5 Spirit Stone and handed it to Qingluan. ”Take this and get some respectable lodgings for everyone.”
”Understood, Young Master!”
Qingluan took the Stone and led her sisters with her and vanished into the twilight.
”A Tier-5 Spirit Stone, that's about a hundred thousand taels of silver! And Xiao Chen even has his own bodyguard cadre of beautiful ladies!? Is this even true?!”
Xiao Chen faced his fellow students and addressed them, ”Senior brothers, I trust that you are all wearied and tired due to the long journey. Please bear with me a moment while I have some comfortable lodgings arranged.” He spoke to everyone as if he was a host showing his guests his hospitality.
Unable to contain their amazement anymore, a few of the other students who were close to him rushed at once to Xiao Chen.
”Junior Brother Xiao, what is going on? How is it that you have so much money?!”
”I heard you sacked the residence of the Zuoqiu Family! Did you fill your coffers with their money?!”
”And what of the twelve girls?! Did you hire them to protect you?”