novelraw Chapter 167 - 116: Life Is Full of Unexpected Encounters (Part 2)
Chapter 167 - 116: Life Is Full of Unexpected Encounters (Part 2)
The eldest lady of Luochun Manor, it just so happens that she became a disciple of the Taiyi Sect. This matter... Chu Qing hadn’t thought much of it before, but now it seemed somewhat off.
Wen Kaiyuan paused at these words, then chuckled lightly:
"I cannot tell you about this. It has nothing to do with trust, so I ask for your understanding, Third Young Master."
Chu Qing gave Wen Kaiyuan a thoughtful look and nodded;
"Alright, then I won’t ask anymore."
"Third Young Master, you can go anywhere within the seven levels of Luochun Manor, including the forbidden area in the back mountain.
"If you need anything, you can send someone to find me.
"If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave first. I have other matters to attend to, so please feel free."
As Wen Kaiyuan said this, the two of them had already reached the entrance of the courtyard where Bian City and the others were previously located.
Chu Qing nodded, letting Wen Kaiyuan take his leave, and then pushed the door to enter the courtyard.
The trust from everyone in Luochun Manor, is it merely because Wenru believes in me?
Chu Qing wasn’t certain, but no matter what, the reason likely stemmed from Wenru.
As for the reason Wenru became a disciple of the Taiyi Sect.
After much thought, Chu Qing felt that apart from the three volumes of the Unchanging Celestial Book, there wasn’t much in the Taiyi Sect for Luochun Manor to covet.
But if that were the case, the Celestial Secret Order and Celestial Secret Valley would attract Wen Fusheng even more than expected.
"It seems I can’t let down my guard regarding this matter."
Chu Qing muttered to himself, when he heard Bian City asking:
"What do you need to guard against?"
"Guard against vile people scheming in the dark."
Chu Qing asked casually:
"Where’s Hua Jinnian?"
...
...
When leaving the courtyard, Chu Qing’s system had already added a new commission.
The commission to assassinate the Old Immortal Yulong.
The reward negotiated with Hua Jinnian was for him to do three things for Chu Qing.
Of course, rewards have never been very important to Chu Qing.
But since there is something to be gained, Chu Qing wasn’t stingy about having him do something... So the first task given to him was to protect Xu Mao.
Before Chu Qing found Ling Beichen and rescued his sister, he had to ensure his safety.
Hua Jinnian agreed with delight.
Protecting an ordinary person to solve a major problem—why not?
Chu Qing then roughly recounted his meeting with Wen Fusheng to Bian City, leaving out many speculative details, mainly about helping Wen Fusheng host Wen Kerren’s martial arts competition for marriage.
Bian City listened in astonishment, somewhat sullen at the end, feeling that he should be the one Wenru relied on.
Having grown up together with Wenru... Why did Wen Fusheng place such importance on Chu Qing?
Before Chu Qing could respond, Mo Duxing interjected:
"Maybe it’s because of looks."
This left Bian City speechless, forcing him to squat angrily to one side.
The courtyard where Bian City and the others stayed was right on the lower three levels of Luochun Manor, and after bidding farewell to them, Chu Qing wandered leisurely around Luochun Manor.
Wen Fusheng’s orders, it was unclear how they were delivered, but it seemed that in this short period, every disciple of Luochun Manor recognized Chu Qing, greeting him wherever he went.
Most of them looked at Chu Qing with curiosity.
None of them were foolish enough to test his skills.
Among these lower three levels, there were many martial artists from all directions flocking to Luochun Manor, but due to the Manor’s reputation, no one dared to act recklessly.
As Chu Qing walked and observed, he didn’t notice anyone resembling Ling Beichen.
After killing the Old Immortal Yulong at the foot of the mountain, the Old Immortal Yulong hadn’t rushed to create trouble.
Thinking there was nothing amiss and considering heading back,
he saw two disciples of Luochun Manor rushing over hurriedly:
"Third Young Master, someone is causing trouble."
Chu Qing blinked, thinking to himself that this couldn’t be spoken into existence, as soon as he mentioned there was no trouble, there was trouble.
Immediately, he gestured:
"Lead the way."
Having promised Wen Fusheng, he had to do what needed to be done.
Whether it was a true disturbance or just Luochun Manor disciples trying to gauge this outsider’s abilities... he would know upon arrival.
The two disciples exchanged a glance and led the way.
After not long, they discovered a small courtyard overflowing with people.
People thronged in layers to watch the commotion, and the sounds of fighting emanated from within.
"Make way, make way!"
Several disciples of Luochun Manor, seeing Chu Qing approach, quickly cleared a path.
Following behind them, he squeezed into the crowd.
On the open ground in the courtyard, many were already lying on the ground, and a young man in brocade was fighting three others.
His techniques were extremely swift, one hand behind his back while the other switched between palm and claw, sometimes pushing and sometimes grabbing. Even though he was one against three, he drove the other three into a messy defense, leaving them only able to fend off but not counterattack.
Chu Qing crossed his arms in slight surprise, watching for a moment:
"Such slick martial arts... Do you know the origin of this brocade person?"
The two disciples of Luochun Manor beside him shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know.
One of them spoke up:
"There have been too many people coming to the manor recently, many hiding their identities or in disguise... It’s really hard to distinguish."
During a nod from Chu Qing, they saw that the brocade-dressed young man flicked away the opponent’s Single Saber and with his bare palm pierced straight into the Central Palace, landing a blow between the chest and abdomen.
A muffled sound followed, the person staggered back three to five steps, spat out a mouthful of blood, and collapsed on the ground.
At the same time, two people came at him from behind.
The person in brocade appeared almost prescient, as if rooted to the ground, body spinning with a kick dividing to strike both.
The two barely managed a block but couldn’t fend off his overwhelming kick.
Both figures were simultaneously sent flying backward, landing with a thud on the ground.
One of them still tried to rise but found a foot pressed against his chest, with the brocade person sneering coldly:
"With such inferior skills, you dare act insolently in front of me... this Young Master?
"Do you still want to chat nicely with the lady you were bothering?"
Chu Qing found the speech halt a bit odd, and his eyes narrowed with amusement:
"So it’s a young lady in disguise..."
Though there were no ear piercings, there was no Adam’s apple on the neck either.
However, without the same endowment as Wenru, the chest muscles weren’t particularly prominent.
This look may be somewhat discourteous, and Chu Qing intended to just glance over but was caught off guard by how sensitive the person’s gaze was.
Before Chu Qing could avert his eyes, this person had already traced them back to him.
"What are you looking at?"
The young lady disguised in brocade barked domineeringly.
Chu Qing shook his head:
"You’re causing trouble in Luochun Manor, with so many watching, and I can’t?"
The girl in brocade frowned slightly, sensing Chu Qing’s look seemed a bit disrespectful, but recalling her current guise, it didn’t seem right to blame Chu Qing.
With a snort, she asked:
"Are you from Luochun Manor?"
She saw the two disciples of Luochun Manor with Chu Qing.
"Consider me as such."
Chu Qing nodded:
"Could you tell me what happened here? What ignited your... anger?"
The girl in brocade didn’t catch anything amiss in Chu Qing’s words, simply pointing towards a direction within the crowd:
"Ask her, these scoundrels ogled the lady and harassed her.
"The lady didn’t want to engage with them, yet they still tried to force it! Outrageous!
"Just because I’m a woman, don’t think you can bully... And Luochun Manor, letting in these thieves and swindlers, isn’t it afraid of tainting the place?"
Following the direction pointed by the brocade-clad girl, Chu Qing met someone’s gaze.
At that instant, seeing her, Chu Qing’s heart skipped a beat.
Xia Wanshuang?
At this time, Xia Wanshuang’s eyes took a deep look at Chu Qing.
She had never seen Chu Qing in person before, only finding the voice of this Luochun Manor person somewhat reminiscent of that scoundrel Night Emperor who made her wait in vain at the inn for several days?