Chapter 292 - The Plot (1/2)
The captain of the Constables cast a scathing look at Xiao Chen and hissed venomously, “You’d do well to remember that you are still on probation, Xiao Chen. Any infriction now would see your qualifications to join the Sword Assembly revoked!”
A devilish sneer curled at Zhu Danfeng’s lips. “This man intrudes upon the peace of my estate, took the Immortal Lingzhi that was mine, and wounded my students! What say you, a captain of the Constables of the League?”
The captain turned his head to look around and studied the students of the Order of the Divine Fire still writhing in pain and moaning on the ground. He threw a salute to Zhu Danfeng and said, “We’ll provide a satisfactory resolution for your benefit, Master Zhu. But we’ll need you to come with us for a statement.” With that, he thrust a finger at Xiao Chen, barking to his men, “Arrest this man!”
Tens of Constables immediately enclosed around Xiao Chen, who swung his saber before jabbing it into the ground, much to the apprehension of the Constables who dared not approach him.
“What’s this, Xiao Chen?” The captain glared insidiously. “Do you wish to evade arrest?”
Xiao Chen scoffed. “Your timing seems rather too impeccable to be true, Captain, don’t you think? And here you are, conveniently appearing at the earliest hint of trouble and demanding to have me arrested for nothing?”
“Of course. We Constables merely enforce the law. We leave the sentencing to the Stewards at the citadel where you will be interrogated and tried,” he remarked brusquely. With a wave of his hand to his subordinates, he shouted, “Take him!”
“Sigh…”
An ancient voice reverberated from the horizons, echoing with such majesty that everyone froze. A bolt of purple light shot down from the sky and dissipated to reveal the form of a wizened man in rich silken robes of purple.
Zhu Danfeng’s look immediately turned ugly as soon as he recognized who it was. The captain of the Constables strode over to the old man and bowed, “Master Xiaoyao.”
Zi Mo gave Xiao Chen a curt look before his gaze clapped on Zhu Danfeng and the Captain. “Leave this boy to me, Captain, and I will see to it that he troubles you no more. I’m sure there’s no need for such red tape.”
“Very well, Master Xiaoyao, since you say so,” the captain remarked politely. He motioned to his men and commanded, “Let us leave!” But not before passing before Zhu Danfeng and muttered furtively, “I’d suggest that you let the matter go, Master Zhu, seeing as it is nothing but a trivial fracas.”
Zhu Danfeng’s eyes flared with hatred. But that was all he could do; he knew all too well about Xiaoyao Zi’s reputation as the most unfathomable of the Jade Qing Seven. Not even his senior, Wan Gufeng could defeat him, never mind himself.
Zi Mo gave him a disdainful look and tugged at Xiao Chen’s clothes, pulling him up with him as he began to take flight. “Enough gawking about, boy. Come with me!”
The crowd of onlookers immediately dispersed. “Watch yourself, d*mned boy! What were you thinking? Creating another ruckus as soon as you’ve returned? You’re lucky Xian’er got to me in time.”
“Sorry.”
Xiao Chen looked at the still unconscious Zhiluan hanging on for dear life, his face curdled into a worried frown. When they returned to the yard of their lodgings minutes later, Murong Xian’er burst into tears just as soon as she saw the bloodied and scrawny Zhiluan.
A couple of hours later, in a room dimly lighted by a single neglected and wavering candle, Zhiluan was still sprawled on its bed, in a deep coma. Murong Xian’er, looking pale and dirty, sat by the bed with her face washed with sweat and tears. “Wake up, greedy cat… Please wake up,” she wailed. She pulled at Xiao Chen’s sleeves, “Please Big Brother… Save him… I don’t want this greedy cat to die…”
Xiao Chen was badly distressed himself. “Seniors Zi Mo and Fengxi,” he turned to them and said, “Is there no other way to save him?”
Fengxi waved a hand grimly, “Something could still be done if he’s a human. But Immortal Lingzhis are but plants enriched by the natural Spiritual Qi from the earth. There’s nothing we can do but watch as his Spiritual Qi slowly ebbs away…”
“NO! GREEDY CAT CANNOT DIE!” Murong Xian’er howled with anguish.
Xiao Chen placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. He sighed. As a plant, Zhiluan would not be actually dying; instead, it would turn back into a plant from its present form. But it would be another hundreds or even thousands of years before it could once again muster enough Spiritual Qi to transform…
Given their recent experiences together, Xiao Chen had grown fond of him. But not for his sake so much as for Xian’er’s who missed him dearly, he knew he had to do something. “Senior Zi Mo, is there really nothing I can do?”
Zi Mo shook his head. “Perhaps a place where the Spiritual Qi is most rich and robust might help. The raw spiritual energies might be able to heal him,” Zi Mo muttered hopefully.
“Spiritual energies? I have a lot!” Murong Xian’er exclaimed. But before she could do anything, Xiao Chen stopped her.
Despite her immensely vast spiritual energy, Xian’er’s powers were nevertheless finite; there might come a day when her energies were terribly exhausted and she would disappear as well. It was a loss that Xiao Chen could never be able to bear.
“I think I know one such place. There’s a spring in the Violet Illusory Lands which might be able to serve this purpose adequately,” said Xiao Chen.
Zi Mo nodded. “Feel free to try. But I would not put my money on any chances of success…”
Xiao Chen looked outside and saw that it was already dark. He sighed. “Please let me see you out, Seniors,” he said to them.
“I’d be grateful enough if you can just keep yourself out of trouble.” Zi Mo waved him off. “Before I forget, remember that there are more than just students from the Five Continents joining this year’s Sword Assembly. Various schools and sects, especially those which have remained hidden in mystic domains have emerged. Do your best. Your name will win great respect and esteem if you can win this tournament.”
Xiao Chen watched the two old man out of the door before he retreated out to the yard with Murong Xian’er still sobbing inside. The courtyard was relatively quiet with the soft breaths of the night’s breezes adding to the chill.