Chapter 34

Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi hurried back to their temporary lodging in Mengyi City, only to see Chen Qing standing in the courtyard, her snow-white face tightly tensed, and fierce flames burning in her beautiful eyes, radiating a bone-chilling aura from afar.

A Nianyue Spirit Sword, its blade as bright as a mirror, was suspended above Chen Qing’s head, trembling slightly and emitting a piercing spiritual light, as if it could burst out of the courtyard at any moment, soar through the sky, and decapitate Chen Hai, who was ten miles away.

Su Ziling stood to one side, her face pale, her eyes swollen from crying, looking pitiful and helpless, as if she had never suffered such humiliation in her life.

Seeing this scene, Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi were also terrified, truly afraid that Chen Qing would lose her temper and create an irreparable situation, which they would be unable to explain to the family head, Chen Lie.

"Jiaoxing, that scoundrel, what did he say to you?" Chen Qing, seeing Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi return, asked with a face full of anger.

She never expected that these two blind servants would actually listen to that rogue and stay in the armory to talk.

Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi naturally would not directly bring back the cold iron sword given by Chen Hai for Chen Qing to see, or they would be skinned alive.

Seeing that Chen Qing had caught them red-handed, Zhao Shan replied, "Young Master said that the family head’s fortieth birthday is approaching, and he cannot personally go to Jianyun Cliff to celebrate. He has prepared a gift and asked us to bring it back to present to the family head." He glanced at Qian Wenyi, who opened the brocade box containing the wooden figurine for Chen Qing to see.

What Chen Qing was most angry about today was that her heart was burning with rage, but she could not vent it. When she saw Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi open the brocade box and reveal the awkwardly shaped wooden figurine, she wanted to shatter it with one sword strike. However, doing so would only make her seem foolish and impulsive, and it would only show that she was in the wrong.

When did this rogue become so devious?

Chen Qing angrily put away the Nianyue Spirit Sword, and Su Ziling helped her hold the sword case. She did not even look at the wooden figurine in the brocade box, and said with a face full of disgust:

"Such a meager gift, this rogue must think it’s embarrassing to show it..."

"Miss, should we stay in Mengyi for a few more days before returning to Jianyun Cliff?" Qian Wenyi quickly closed the brocade box, afraid of further provoking Chen Qing, who might destroy the wooden figurine, leaving him and Zhao Shan in a difficult position.

"No need to stay. Just thinking about that rogue being in Mengyi City makes me furious. Let’s return to Jianyun Cliff today." Chen Qing, still seething with anger, ordered Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi to quickly prepare for the journey. She wanted to leave Mengyi City immediately and return to Jianyun Cliff.

Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly led out the two black-scaled horses from the stable, hitched them to the carriage, and, seeing that Chen Qing had lost face today, did not go to say goodbye to Jie Wenzhuo, Lu Hongqian, and others. They simply informed them and left Mengyi City, heading for Qingxi Peak and Jianyun Cliff via the southwestern canyon of Taowei Mountain...

***

The two black-scaled horses, which could traverse mountains as if they were flying, pulled a bronze carriage. Chen Qing and Su Ziling sat inside, while Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi, the family guards, drove the carriage. In two days, they crossed over a thousand miles of rugged mountains and valleys, returning to Jianyun Cliff.

In just two days, Chen Qing had not yet calmed down. When the carriage reached the foot of Jianyun Cliff, she and Su Ziling, still fuming, climbed the steps. They saw the green-scaled thunder eagle, which always followed her father, standing by the spirit pond, preening its green feathers, looking at them with a haughty expression.

"I’ll pluck this feathered beast and roast it one day!" Chen Qing thought viciously.

Although the green-scaled thunder eagle had not yet reached the stage of transformation, it had already developed intelligence and was a proud and dignified spirit bird at the middle stage of the Enlightenment Realm. Normally, no one except Chen Lie could ride it alone. Chen Qing, who had been teased by the thunder eagle in her childhood, was in a particularly bad mood today and vented her anger on the thunder eagle.

Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi left the carriage and horses at the village at the foot of the mountain. When they climbed up to Jianyun Cliff, they found that the family head, Chen Lie, and the young master, Chen Zhang, had already returned to the mountain gate.

The Chen family’s territory was in Yiyang, north of the Yijiang River. Chen Lie also had a residence in Weijiang City, but the city, located at the intersection of the desert and Taowei Mountain, was a strategic point for defending against the southern invasion of demons and barbarians, yet it was desolate and barren, unsuitable for cultivation.

As long as the defense was not too tense, Chen Lie spent more time at Jianyun Cliff for cultivation. Although the distance between the two places was over two thousand miles, it only took Chen Lie an hour to travel back and forth on the green-scaled thunder eagle.

At this moment, Chen Lie and his adopted son, Chen Zhang, were in the garden, admiring two newly blooming nine-leaf orchids. Seeing his daughter and her personal maid return to the mountain with sullen faces and full of resentment, he asked curiously, "You and the other disciples requested permission from the sect to investigate the enemy situation at Yulong Mountain and were supposed to participate in the pacification. Why are you back today?"

Chen Qing was unwilling to mention the incident in Mengyi City and the name Jiaoxing, so she remained silent and wanted to return to her courtyard.

At this moment, Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi climbed up the mountain, and Chen Lie, puzzled, looked at them and asked, "Why is Qing'er so sullen? What happened on this trip?"

Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi did not dare to hide anything from Chen Lie. They approached, bowed to Chen Lie and Chen Zhang, and presented the brocade box containing the wooden figurine, saying:

"Jiaoxing has been cultivating in Tieliu Ridge for over a year. Recently, he and three fellow disciples opened an armory in Mengyi City. We and Miss happened to pass through Mengyi City and met him. Jiaoxing said that the family head’s fortieth birthday is approaching, and he might not be able to return to Jianyun Cliff in time to celebrate, so he asked us to bring this brocade box back..."

Chen Qing had not left yet, so they did not dare to say anything good about Jiaoxing, and only briefly told Chen Lie the main events that happened in Mengyi City.

"Oh!"

Chen Lie knew that Jiaoxing had been sent to Tieliu Ridge Dao Academy half a year ago.

If he really wanted to recall his nephew to Jianyun Cliff, it was not impossible, but it would cause some disturbance. He also thought that the things Jiaoxing had done in Jianyun Cliff over the past year were indeed disappointing, so he intentionally let him suffer a bit outside, hoping he would reform.

Now, seeing that Jiaoxing still remembered his fortieth birthday and had sent a gift through Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi, Chen Lie was quite pleased and reached out to take the brocade box.

Seeing that her father still had expectations for Jiaoxing, Chen Qing became even more furious. She stood to one side, not leaving, and sneered, "He’s just using our Chen family’s name to invite a few disreputable friends to wreak havoc in Mengyi City, tarnishing your reputation. He calls it a gift, but it’s so meager, just to mock you for being harsh on him..."

Chen Lie would not easily believe that Jiaoxing had truly reformed, but he could not ignore his nephew. He took the brocade box, walked to a pavilion in the corner of the garden, and sat down, calling Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi over, and said with a smile, "You met Xing'er in Mengyi City. Tell me what happened..."

Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi were extremely embarrassed. They could not say in front of Chen Qing that Su Ziling had deliberately provoked trouble and was scolded by Jiaoxing, which made Chen Qing so angry that she returned to Jianyun Cliff early.

"What else could it be?" Chen Qing, seeing that her father did not believe her, angrily continued, "Jiaoxing and others opened an armory in Mengyi City, claiming it was a Chen family business, but they sold inferior weapons and armor, tarnishing our Chen family’s reputation. Ziling tried to expose him, but he publicly insulted her..."

Chen Lie’s face darkened.

Chen Zhang, standing to one side, also frowned and said, "Jiaoxing, in Tieliu Ridge, without support from here, might have been short of money and thought of a way to make a living, which is not a bad idea. But if he really used the Chen family’s name to sell inferior goods in Mengyi City, it would be inappropriate and detrimental to Father’s reputation..."

"Is that true?" Chen Lie stared at Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi, asking seriously.

Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi were extremely conflicted. The young master, Chen Zhang, and Chen Qing, were extremely hostile to Jiaoxing and did not want them to say anything good about him. However, seeing the family head’s expression, if he really believed that Jiaoxing was misbehaving outside, he might recall Jiaoxing to Jianyun Cliff for strict discipline. If the truth came out, they would have offended Jiaoxing by not speaking up now.

"Is there anything else you can’t say?" Chen Zhang looked at them sternly.

Chen Zhang was the son of Chen Lie’s late friend, who died in battle twenty years ago to save Chen Lie. At that time, Chen Lie had no children, so he adopted Chen Zhang and raised him.

In Jianyun Cliff, Chen Zhang was the young master, having cultivated to the late stage of the Spirit Opening Realm at a young age, making him one of the most promising candidates for the True Transmission among the fourth-generation inner disciples of Taowei Sect. He usually trained in Weijiang City, assisting Chen Lie with military affairs.

Seeing Chen Zhang’s sudden stern expression, Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi were startled, unsure whether to speak or not.

But thinking of Jiaoxing’s sharp and fierce demeanor in Mengyi City, Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi felt a pricking sensation on their backs. They exchanged a glance, gritted their teeth, and took out the cold iron sword from the package, handing it to Chen Lie, and said, "We can’t say for sure if it’s inferior, but this is the cold iron sword Jiaoxing gave us, which is sold for 600,000 coins in the armory..."

Chen Lie took the cold iron sword, drew it, and saw that although it was made of ordinary iron, it was very sharp. He tapped it lightly, and it produced a clear and bright sound, indicating that its quality was not bad. At least, among ordinary iron weapons, it was a top-quality blade. The blade’s color was smooth and the scabbard and hilt were exquisitely crafted. His serious expression relaxed, and he handed the cold iron sword to his adopted son, Chen Zhang, and said with a smile:

"This sword might not be worth that much, but there are people who would be willing to pay generously for it."

Chen Lie’s words clearly indicated that Jiaoxing’s actions in Mengyi City were not malicious, and he seemed to think that Qing'er was biased against Jiaoxing.

Chen Zhang’s eyes flashed with a cold light, glancing at Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyi. He did not expect these two to be so shallow, being bought off by the two broken swords given by Jiaoxing. However, seeing his adoptive father’s relaxed expression, he could only follow his lead:

"If that’s the case, it can’t be considered selling inferior goods. However, Jiaoxing using the Chen family’s name outside still needs to be handled with caution."

Chen Lie found his adopted son’s words reasonable and nodded, saying:

"Right. Xing'er’s mischief in the courtyard is no big deal, but if he causes trouble outside, it could be problematic..."

Chen Lie said this, but he was also at a loss on how to handle the situation.

After all, it was Qing'er who had driven Jiaoxing away, and he had known about it half a year ago. At that time, he did not bring Jiaoxing back. Now, Jiaoxing had not committed any major offenses, and his character seemed to have improved, so it would be inappropriate to directly order him to shut down the armory. Chen Lie hesitated, opened the brocade box, and wanted to see what gift Jiaoxing had sent.