Chapter 60 (1/2)

Everyone quieted down upon hearing this bright laughter. All of them turned to stare outside the square and the sound of discussions immediately exploded.

“What happened? Isn’t that Xiao Chen, the one who disappeared three months ago?”

“How did he come back? Isn’t he already dead?”

…

The expression of the Elders changed. Mo Yu, who stood atop the high platform, instantly turned pale. He looked at Chu Hanyan under the platform and saw that her face had long lost color.

“Hehe. Looks like some people aren’t very happy to see me back.” Chuckling, Xiao Chen looked at Mo Yu who stood atop the high platform.

Mo Yu’s pale face turned red. He bellowed at the Elder responsible for the ceremony, “Continue the ceremony! Why are you stopping?!”

“Wait a minute.” Right then, Bai Ying entered the square from a small path in the rear while holding Murong Xian’er’s hand.

Murong Xian’er appeared both excited and afraid to see so many people in such a short amount of time. She ran next to Xiao Chen and pointed at Mo Yu, who stood atop the high platform. In a loud voice, she said, “That’s the bad guy. He ordered people to kill Brother Xiao Chen…”

The moment these words left her mouth, everyone exchanged looks of dismay. The sound of discussions grew even louder as they looked at Mo Yu. Mo Yu’s face switched between white and red as he hastily retorted, “Why are you all looking at me? Are you going to believe a little girl’s nonsense?”

He was so frightened that his soul had basically left his body at this point. What did it mean that Xiao Chen returned alive while the two people he sent didn’t? If those two were interrogated and forced to rat him out, wouldn’t he lose his standing at once? There was that incident three months ago as well. Wouldn’t he be expelled from the sect at once? He could only depend on Chu Hanyan now.

However, he thought too much. If Xiao Chen wanted to win, he would do so openly and honorably on the platform. He had no need to use such strategies. Thus, he didn’t do anything like interrogate those two earlier.

By then, Li Muxue, Luo Shangyan, Xiao Wan’er, as well as the three princes had run over to him. Xiao Chen raised his hand, indicating that he would speak to them after everything was done. He couldn’t explain everything in such a short while.

Unlike others, Chu Hanyan was a lot calmer. She said placidly, “We’ll hold the decisive battle promised six months ago since you’re back, Junior Brother Xiao.”

Sweat drenched Mo Yu’s face as he hastily made his way to her. “Senior Sister Chu!”

It wasn’t until Chu Hanyan shot him a look that he finally recovered his senses. What was he afraid of? His cultivation was in Lv 5 Foundation Building Realm. Just what exactly was he afraid of?

This was the so-called guilt of a criminal. The things he did with Chu Hanyan had occupied his mind and he was afraid that they would be exposed that his mental state was in disorder. He only felt relief after recalling that he was already in Lv 5 Foundation Building Realm.

He chuckled. “Senior Sister Chu is right. Since you’re back, then we must have a fair duel. I think we don’t have to wait anymore. We’ll just do it tomorrow.”

Right then, the Elders finally spoke. First Elder was the first to ask, “Xiao Chen, what is going on?”

Xiao Chen had already thought of an explanation. It didn’t have to be complicated. Since this incident involved quite a few people, he was sure that the Elders were unwilling to trace the source either. “It’s nothing much. I accidentally entered a prohibitive formation that day and was confined in a valley. I only managed to break out of the formation today.”

It didn’t matter if his explanation was reasonable. If the persons involved weren’t willing to probe, there was no meaning for others to doubt him.

Thus, the ceremony for Mo Yu’s entry into the Violet Manor was stopped. Their fair duel would occur tomorrow. The winner would be qualified to enter the Violet Manor two months later.

Xiao Chen still had many things to deal with and had no time to linger. First, he gave his friends a brief explanation of his experience in the past three months. Of course, he omitted the part where Chu Hanyan sent assassins after his life as well as where he went to a place with an Earth Spiritual Meridian. He also basically invented a story about Xian’er.

He then returned to the Sunset Peak to visit Lil Ruo as well as to inform Evernight that he had returned safely. Finally, he had a “celebration” with his friends to wish for his victory tomorrow.

Many people gathered at the table. Xiao Chen knew that these happy times were limited. He decided that he would visit his parents at his family home before leaving. There was also something that he must ask his father how did the Samsara Jade become the Blood Jade passed through the generations in the Xiao family.

He would also definitely meet Huangfu Xin’er before leaving. He wanted to ask her if it was truly her wish to break off their engagement back then! If it was, he wouldn’t say a word about it and turn around to leave. If it wasn’t…

“Hey, little miser, don’t you forget about us after going to the Violet Manor. If you have the chance, bring us in as well.” Shangguan Yan suddenly interrupted his line of thoughts.

Xiao Chen chuckled. “Sure thing. The day I enter the Nascent Soul Realm, I’ll definitely unseal the path and let you all come over.”

“Go to hell!”

“I’m not joking. When the time comes that I don’t have demons like you with me, I think things would be a lot less interesting.”

All of them talked and laughed without holding back. Today happened to be the beginning of mid-December. The sky was clearing up to reveal a boundless vista. However, in the distant horizon, a cluster of wicked clouds was slowly approaching without anyone’s notice.

The cold wind swept the night without a sound. Xiao Chen was lying on a soft couch under a thick quilt. He found the comfort a little unfamiliar. Thoughts ran across his mind until he gradually fell asleep.