Chapter 1157: Daring to do anything when things look bleak (1/2)

Late autumn.

The plants atop Clearbreeze Peak grew desolate as the northern wind chilled. Su Xiaoyu saw a tall man in the distance once she reached the summit. He was standing on a large boulder with his hands crossed behind his back. Dressed in white robes with flowing black hair, his back gave her an air of regal ice. If not for the different robes, Su Xiaoyu might have assumed he was His Highness instead.

Who is he?

Where’s that senior Han Chen?

Su Xiaoyu’s heart was full of doubts as she silently drew closer. Then she realized her mistake: this guy wasn’t like His Highness at all.

His Highness’s chill came from the domineering air of a monarch, while this man was pure ice that distanced himself from all mortals. Judging from his back, he was a merciless type who would be hard to provoke.

Anyone who can show up at Clearbreeze Peak has to be part of the Wolf Sect if they’re not our men. So this must be one of senior Han Chen’s disciples.

As she made to speak, the man suddenly turned around. It was obvious that he’d sensed her long ago. Tossing her a sword, he said, “Fight a round.”

Su Xiaoyu backed up a step and let the sword clatter to the ground. She was completely lost. “Who’re you? You’ve found the wrong girl.”

“Are you Su Xiaoyu?” he asked coldly.

“I’m Su Xiaoyu, but who are you? What do you want? Where’s your master? Have him come out! It’s not easy to get this girl to be his disciple!” Su Xiaoyu crossed her arms and arched a brow. She was nothing like a girl of 12 or 13, but more like a teen of 17 o 18.[1]

Han Chen’s icy face didn’t show any ripples. He knew the girl had misunderstood, so he asked coldly, “It’s been three days and you still haven’t decided whether you want to take a master?”

“I don’t even know what your family’s master looks like, what skills he has, or the depths of his sincerity. How could I choose?” Su Xiaoyu said, then added, “He wants me to accept him as master just by thowing me ‘Han Chen?’ Sorry, but I’ve never heard of him before!”

No one knew the name of Han Chen in Cloud Realm Continent, but it was a loud and sonorous name in the Mysterious Continent. Its presence sent shocking waves wherever it went! Children who wanted to take him as master could line up in a queue long enough to cross the entire Ice Sea! But to him, it didn’t matter whether people coveted him for his name, or were cluelessly ignorant than Su Xiaoyu. All he saw was the child’s temper and personality. If they caught his fancy, he’d take them in even if they were harboring ulterior motives.

Han Chen didn’t answer Su Xiaoyu, but summoned her sword from the ground. He casually cleaved to the side to send up a wave of sword qi that destroyed ten nearby trees.

Su Xiaoyu gaped. If Han Chen’s disciple could be so tough, would he be even stronger? Her heart wavered in that moment!

If I have power like that one day, I’ll have enough confidence to tell His Highness I can protect master and the little master!

Han Chen ignored Su Xiaoyu’s shock. With his right hand wielding the sword, his left hand slapped the blade until it cracked into pieces. Inside was hidden a very exquisite, sharp short sword. It glowed with a gloomy light, its hand encrusted with unknown gems. The blade itself cowed anyone from looking at it directly.

“This is Lanming.[2] It’s two levels below your masters’ Moye and Ganjiang swords, but it’ll be enough for you to use for now,” Han Chen said coldly.

Su Xiaoyu loved fine things, especially treasures. She had never heard of Lanming but couldn’t help swallowing her saliva at the sight of the blade’s gloomy blue glow. Still, her thoughts were preoccupied by something else.

“What do you mean, my masters?” she scolded unhappily. “My master is the daughter of your master. You have to call her ‘Young Miss!’ As for His Highness, you should call him ‘Sir Son-in-Law!’”

Once again, Han Chen ignored her words. But he did walk off the boulder and approach the girl. He was simply too tall, so Su Xiaoyu felt like a mountain was pressing down on her when he got close. The usually fealess girl unconsciously backed away.

“What do you want?” she demanded.

Han Chen loomed over her as he realized she was really too young. Since she only reached his waist, he was forced to crouch down. In a cold voice, he said, “This Honorable One is Han Chen, looks and all. You have the time it takes to brew a pot of tea to figure things out. Then tell this Honorable One whether you want to take me as your master.”

Su Xiaoyu grew alarmed. She looked back at the ten toppled trees, then at Han Chen’s Laming sword, before moving up to stare at his impeccably handsome face. At last….she realized how stupid she’d been!

The entire time, this fellow had been showing her his skills, sincerity, and looks. He was none other than the old senior, Han Chen! Master’s father, a high-level expert in the Mysterious Continent and the an His Highness called “senior,” had always been an “old senior” in her eyes! Isn’t he supposed to be very old?

She assumed Han Chen would be a sixty or seventy year old man with white hair and beard, like those old celestials. But…

But this guy doesn’t even have any facial hair!

Su Xiaoyu studied his face in depth. Leaving aside the flawless features, it was very cold and completely indifferent to desires of the world. Gods and Buddhas were like this too, but at least they had compassion, hearts, and pity for sentient beings.

This man simply looked heartless.