It didn"t take long for Qingluan and the rest to return. Xiao Chen looked at them and asked, "Are you all alright?"
Qingluan joined his side and leaned into his ear to whisper, "There"s a place called Landscape Park in the west district. It has something to do with the attack this time. I think it"s where the Fallen Immortals Sect temporarily is."
Xiao Chen nodded. "I understand. Let it be for now. Don"t take any reckless actions."
Ziyun"er said, "But are we leaving it just like that?"
Xiao Chen shook his head. "It"s fortune that everyone is fine. Leave it be. Don"t move recklessly."
"But they really overdid it this time," Ziyun"er said in anger as she scanned the ruined courtyard.
He didn"t reply. Qingluan shot Ziyun"er a look. "Enough. Don"t keep harping on it." Ziyun"er looked away, but her fists were clenched so hard that her bones creaked.
Xiao Chen took a deep breath. "Enough. It"s alright now. Let"s go to the main district now and wait, and tomorrow we"ll go to the Daoist League of the Five Continents. Throw this to the back of your mind."
It wasn"t that he didn"t want to seek revenge from the Fallen Immortals Sect. They were just too strong for him. He couldn"t ensure the safety of his people in an actual battle. He wasn"t alone now; he couldn"t be as fearless as he had been when storming the Zuoqiu family estate. Now, he must consider the big picture.
A Jade Qing Sect disciple stepped forward and said, "Are you kidding me, Junior Brother Xiao? They walked all over us! Are we supposed to take this lying down? There are so many of us here. Why do we have to fear them?"
Luo Shangyan glared at him. "Junior Brother Xiao said to let it be. Why do you have so much to say? The registration test for the Immortal"s Sword a.s.sembly will begin in a few days. It"s best to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Luo Shangyan, Li Muxue, and Murong Xian"er agreed with Xiao Chen because their worst-case scenario was him picking a fight with the Fallen Immortals Sect. In a battle, one party would surely be injured. They didn"t want anything to happen to him.
"Alright. Let"s do as Junior Brother Xiao says," the disciple said dispiritedly.
The rest had no objections either. Even though they called Xiao Chen their Junior Brother, they knew what he was capable of after witnessing his battle with Patriarch Guanshan. When Yu Yifeng wasn"t around, he was their de facto leader.
Xiao Chen nodded. "Where"s Senior Brother Yifeng?" The disciple answered, "He followed our Master and the other Elders to the Daoist League of the Five Continents last night."
"That"s good, too. Our journey will be a long one; let us make haste."
After ordering a few ladies of the Hidden Fragrance Wafting Under the Moon to stay behind and tie up the loose ends, he led the rest to the central district of the city in horse carriages.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Chen leaned against his seat in silence. Li Muxue noticed how deep in thought he was and said, "That"s enough thinking. Don"t dwell on it. We"re all safe, aren"t we?"
Xiao Chen nodded. He asked Qingluan, "Have you ever heard of the Fallen Immortals Sect?"
Qingluan shook her head. "Never. Neither do I know where their sect is or what their current goal is. I can investigate them immediately if you need me to."
"It"s fine. I don"t want to alarm them." Xiao Chen raised a hand. He then turned to look at the stream of people outside the window. This time, the Fallen Immortals Sect sent ten people and went around challenging cultivators from all sects. They tasted no defeat so far, making most disciples from the main sects cower in fear.
This sect must not be underestimated.
With the number of visitors to Tianyuan City doubling this time of the year, moving around in horse carriages became c.u.mbersome. By the time they arrived at the central district, the sky was already dark. They got off the carriage and checked into a tavern nearby. They would head to the Daoist League of the Five Continents tomorrow.
The twelve ladies of the Hidden Fragrance Wafting Under the Moon took turns to guard the group throughout the night. Xiao Chen sat cross-legged inside the tavern, circulating his force and taking in energy as he stimulated all of his Spiritual Meridians. However, he couldn"t help thinking about the Fallen Immortals Sect.
The next morning, everyone washed up and had their breakfast. Once he was ready, Xiao Chen walked downstairs and did a headcount. It was then that he noticed that Ziyun"er was nowhere to be found.
"Where"s Ziyun"er? Why isn"t she here?" asked a female disciple standing behind Qingluan.
"She told me she was too tired last night and changed shifts with me then. Is she still asleep?"
The ladies of the Hidden Fragrance Wafting Under the Moon had always been well-trained. Something like this would never happen. Qingluan sensed that something was wrong. Frowning, Xiao Chen exchanged glances with her. The two of them thought in unison, "Oh no! She must have gone to the west district and investigate the Fallen Immortals Sect by herself last night!"
Noticing their sudden solemn expressions, Luo Shangyan walked over to them and asked quietly, "What"s wrong?"
Xiao Chen had long learned to keep a cool head. He explained, "It"s nothing. Senior Sister Luo, can you take them to the Daoist League of the Five Continents first? I"ll join you in a while."
Li Muxue joined them and asked with a frown, "Where are you going? I"m coming with you." Murong Xian"er also came over. "Me too! Me too!"
"Be obedient, Xian"er." Xiao Chen"s brows furrowed. He said to Li Muxue and Luo Shangyan, "Listen to me and head to the Daoist League of the Five Continents first. I"ll join you later, alright?" He then turned to salute the other Jade Qing Sect disciples. "Apologies, everyone. I have something urgent to attend to. You"ll have to head to the Daoist League of the Five Continents before me."
Some of them had a basic idea of what was going on. They stepped forward and said, "We"ll come with you."
Xiao Chen raised his hand. "Please listen to me. Leave first. I"ll be fine."
"Then be careful," Luo Shangyan said softly. She turned to the other disciples. "Junior Brother Xiao will be fine. Let"s go to the Daoist League of the Five Continents first."
When everyone left, Xiao Chen and Qingluan exchanged looks. Immediately, they hopped onto their flying swords and flew toward the west district. Even though the city banned the use of flying swords during this time, they couldn"t be bothered at such an urgent time.
Meanwhile, over at a place called Landscape Park in the west district, the park was filled with lush greenery, blooming flowers, and a towering rock garden. Every building inside was inter-connected, with a guard patrolling every 100 feet apart.
Seven frivolous-looking men dressed in different attire sat scattered inside the main hall. The one sitting in the central spot was a red-clothed man with a red speck resting between his brows. He propped his chin with his hand as he looked at a purple-clothed lady suspended from the beam with a flippant smile.
"You"re quite brave to trespa.s.s into the Fallen Immortals Sect by yourself. Speak. Who sent you?"
The lady suspended from the beam was a pale-faced Ziyun"er. She glared at the red-clothed man in the central seat and scoffed.
"Tsk, how stubborn." The red-clothed man smiled frivolously. He flicked a white radiance at her, causing her to scream.
"One-dot Red, forget it. Do we even need an answer? Who is she if not Xiao Chen"s subordinate?" said a black-clothed man with the tattoo of a crane"s tail feathers on his neck. He couldn"t take his eyes off Ziyun"er"s face when he spoke.
"Oh?" One-dot Red straightened his back and laughed. "That"s exactly what I wanted. I want to see if Xiao Chen lives up to the rumors or if he"s a fake."
"Hehe. How do you plan to deal with this woman?" The black-clothed man smiled lasciviously.
One-dot Red glanced at him and said with a chuckle, "Second Brother, when will you learn? The charm of a beautiful woman is like a blade. Take care not to die under a woman"s skirt one day."
"Hehe. If I die under such circ.u.mstances, I"ll keep my carnal ways as a ghost."
The man with the tattoo of a crane"s tail feathers was the second oldest of the ten men, Double-tailed Crane. He was infamous for being l.u.s.tful. He patted his thigh, about to get up and make his way to Ziyun"er with a perverted smirk. Suddenly, a burst of wind whizzed past his ears as a steel nail flew at him.
Double-feathered Crane turned his head sideways and used his mouth to catch the steel nail. He spat it out and smiled wickedly. "Pretty lady, both of your hands are tied. Where are you hiding your weapon? Don"t tell me it"s that place?"
"Bah! You shameless, crude man!" Ziyun"er scolded, annoyed that her attack failed.
Double-feathered Crane raised his head and laughed. "I love the way you scold me! It"s been a long time since I had a pretty lady scold me! Very well. Let me taste the woman belonging to the strongest youngster of the Five Continents!"
Ziyun"er"s heart tightened with alarm as she watched him come closer and closer. She began to struggle. "What are you doing? If you dare touch me, I swear I"ll give you an ugly death!"
Out of the blue, the sound of an explosion erupted from outside the hall. The explosion shook the hall so much that the acc.u.mulated dust was falling off the beams. One-dot Red glanced outside with disinterest and said to a white-clothed man sitting near the door. "Tenth Brother, go and see what"s going on."
Before his voice fell, the white-clothed man was already nowhere to be seen.
The front courtyard was a complete mess. The smaller pavilions were ruined and the rock garden had collapsed. Some ten guards were lying on the ground, coughing up blood. A man with potent murderous aura stood at the entrance of the courtyard. It was none other than Xiao Chen. Qingluan stood next to him, holding her breath and focusing on the stream of guards converging in front of them.
"Where is she?" Xiao Chen asked coldly.
"You"re Xiao Chen?" one of the guards worked up the courage to ask.
"Correct." Xiao Chen detected someone rapidly making his way over with his Divine Sense. That person was so fast that he could be described as shadowless. He immediately circulated his Qi all over his body and made a palm attack. A loud explosion resounded, causing the raging of vital force. The greenery around them was instantly reduced to dust.
"Name yourself!" Xiao Chen said coldly.
"I"m Traceless for Ten Miles from the Fallen Immortals Sect." Before his voice reached Xiao Chen"s ears, a white-clothed man was already ten feet away from him. "I have named myself. What are you going to do about it?"