"I got the ginseng root from Fu Lai Medicine Hall, as you might have heard. Together with the Dragon Beard Gra.s.s that I had just used. They were older than any of the medicinal herbs that I had come across before, so I had to get them."His explanation was, as usual, calm and collected. Which was rather rare, especially for a man in his early thirties, and still shrugging into his undershirt after being surprised in his bath.
Then again, he was the Second Ducal Prince, and he had more experience with such reports than ordinary young men. Besides, this was his mother"s father, and her closest kin. So how could he not be completely open about the whole thing.
"I have heard. And I also heard that you traded Goldfeather"s Essence Blood for these two items. A heavy price to pay."
Li Sanlang smiled as he finally stepped out from behind the screen, draping a long blue robe over his shoulders as he did so. From the look on the old man"s face, it was clear that he was not blaming the Second Ducal Prince for making such an exchange.
"Goldfeather will recover his essence blood in another two, three years. And I had extracted it from my precious ride five years ago, after he had burst through to his present rank. Besides, it is well-worth the price. The ginseng root, I mean. Cousin Meng tried to strong-arm the one who was selling, and got his face smacked for his troubles.
"So it was almost worth that price, to be able to have been a witness to that! The price of a grandstand view, you might say!"
The Old Marquis had a slight smile on his face then, as he turned to look at his grandson. "I have heard ... an abridged version of the tale. But I think I would prefer an eyewitness account. Especially the part about how he sent that young fool"s bodyguards flying. I trust there is some truth in what I have heard?"
"If what you heard had Protector Quan Wanli forced back, and the front of his robe torn to shreds, then there is truth in it. Eunuch Yi from the Osmanthus Palace didn"t dare to make a move, after he saw that."
The Old Marquis sucked in a breath, the smile that had been on his face fading away at once. It was clear just what he thought about that singular ... demonstration. "So, it was not an exaggeration then? The two of them were ... at least a little injured?"
Li Sanlang could sense the agitation in his uncle, and nodded back gravely. "All three of them were injured. Including Cousin Meng. And not ... just a little either. Protector Quan was spitting out blood as he fled down the stairs," he pointed out carefully.
"That powerful?"
Li Sanlang shrugged. "I don"t know the exact level of his cultivation, since I have just touched the Initial Realm myself. Just now, in fact. But I think it must be at least around the Completion Realm."
"At least. If he is able to make Quan Wanli spit out blood, he must be at least Middle Completion! Quan Wanli is already Lower Completion Realm himself!"
"What?! Then ... No wonder they backed away quickly! Middle Completion Realm? What a monster!" Li Sanlang cried out, half in shock already.
But the Old Marquis shook his head at him. Which was enough to make Li Sanlang begin to feel his knees going soft. "What do you mean? You don"t think he is just Middle Completion Realm? This stranger in the green robe, I mean."
"To make him and Eunuch Yi run like they did? I am thinking that it is likely that he is of the Higher Completion Realm. Or Peak Completion Realm. Otherwise, why would those two have given up like they did? Eunuch Yi concentrates on the physical body, while Quan Wanli deals mainly with qi and internal strength. If they combined their abilities ..."
Li Sanlang understood what his maternal uncle was trying to say. Which was enough to make him gulp in fear. To think that he had been so pleased with himself early, for simply breaking through to the Initial Realm. What a joke! That was nothing compared to these Completion Realm b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.
And to think that the stranger in green had been a Peak Completion Realm expert!
Little wonder then, that both of them scurried off like they did!
However, it did give him an uneasy feeling. Just who was that stranger in the green robe? And was he really there for nothing more than those precious herbs that he wanted? Or did he have another purpose in mind?
"My only worry is that we don"t know anything about this stranger, or what his true purpose was, coming to Changqing City. I doubt that he wishes to cause any trouble. Not with the Heaven Sword Martial Arts School so close at hand. But ... it is troubling, all the same."
Li Sanlang had to agree with that. Another powerful martial artist this close by was a cause for concern. Especially since no one has any inkling who he was, or which organisation he belonged to. If indeed he belonged to one at all!
Then another thought arose in the Second Ducal Prince"s head. "Do you think that Cousin Meng would be ... so stupid as to provoke him further? I mean, Protector Quan is one of the more powerful Protectors he has under his command, but he is not the most powerful. What if he sends ... that one here, to cause trouble?"
"Situ Baiming? Is that who you are afraid of? Let him come if he dares! I haven"t fought that cursed b.a.s.t.a.r.d for more than ten years! Who is afraid of him?"
Second Ducal Prince Li Changhai reached out his hand to pat his maternal grandfather on the arm. "There, there, grandfather. No need to get so agitated. I am just pointing out a possibility. Besides, he might not dare to come this way. Not when he knows that you are here.
"But if he does, I think we can wait to watch a remarkable show. After all, that person is at least a peak Completion grade expert himself!
"So Situ Baiming may end up being the one who gets his face smacked instead!"
* * *