Chapter 87

Chen Xun never expected to run into Cai'er at Huayang Lane and greeted her with delight:

"Cai'er, how could it be you?"

"Ah, it's Young Master Xun. I thought your voice sounded so familiar," Cai'er said. After more than a month apart, seeing Chen Xun again, she was so excited that she almost jumped out from behind the counter, no longer the shy girl she was when they first met. She chattered, "Young Master Xun, why are you still in the city? I haven't seen you for days, and I thought you had returned to Python Tooth Ridge. Where are Brother Gu, A Ling, A Ya, Nan Xi, and the others? Aren't they with you?"

"We haven't returned to Python Tooth Ridge. We found a place to stay in the eastern part of the city," Chen Xun said happily, thinking that after leaving the Disciple Courtyard, he would never have the chance to see Cai'er again, but he didn't expect to run into her at Huayang Lane.

"Father, this is Young Master Xun," Cai'er pulled the shopkeeper's arm and introduced Chen Xun to him with delight, "Young Master Xun, this is my father, the shopkeeper of Lianxian Studio. I never thought Young Master Xun would come to Lianxian Studio today!"

The shopkeeper then realized that the unremarkable young man in front of him was the young man from the North Mountain who had caused a stir in the city a few days ago.

Cai'er couldn't casually talk about whom she had served at the Suxu Martial Captain's residence, but as her father, he naturally knew that the young man she had served was the one in front of him.

Regardless of his relationship with Su Tang, even just as Cai'er's former employer, the shopkeeper knew he had been too indifferent just now. He ran out from behind the counter and said nervously, "I didn't know Young Master Xun was here. I apologize for any offense. Please don't be angry, Young Master Xun..."

"Uncle Zhao, you're too polite," Chen Xun smiled, "I didn't expect to see Cai'er here either."

After the initial pleasantries, Chen Xun learned that Cai'er's father, though seemingly without cultivation, was experienced and had worked at Lianxian Studio for many years, recently being promoted from a clerk to the shopkeeper.

As a commoner, the cost of entering a regular sect to learn cultivation and become a disciple was exorbitant, far beyond what an ordinary family could afford.

However, besides formal apprenticeship, some talented commoner children were sent to serve in clans from a young age, which was also a way to learn mystic arts.

The Su Clan had been established for a thousand years, and the city of Canglan had been built for a thousand years. Many commoners who had prospered through this path eventually founded their own sects in Canglan City and developed clan forces.

Cai'er was also in the Disciple Courtyard of the Suxu Martial Captain's residence for this reason.

"Are you helping your father today because you're off duty?" Chen Xun asked.

Chen Xun's question made Cai'er's youthful and beautiful face turn red.

The shopkeeper coughed a few times and smiled awkwardly, "A servant doesn't serve two masters. After Young Master Xun left the academy, Cai'er returned home from the Suxu Martial Captain's residence..."

Seeing Cai'er's expression, Chen Xun realized he had asked the wrong question and had been too naive.

When he first moved into the Disciple Courtyard, Cai'er had served his daily needs. As a maid, she would naturally become one of his concubines once he grew up.

Who would have thought she would end up with such an unlucky master?

As his maid, no one knew if Cai'er had been touched by him. After Chen Xun was expelled from the academy, it was inappropriate to arrange for her to serve other disciples, so she was sent home.

"Is that so..." Chen Xun sighed.

For a commoner girl, being able to enter the academy was already a good start, even if she didn't learn any mystic arts. Becoming a concubine of an academy disciple was also a good outcome. Now, being dismissed without a clear reason, it would be difficult for her to find a good husband in the future.

In the end, it was all his fault.

Chen Xun felt guilty but didn't know how to make it up to her.

"Is there anything Young Master Xun wants to buy? Where are you staying? Cai'er can deliver it to you," Cai'er didn't think too much. Seeing Chen Xun again, she was more delighted than shy.

Chen Xun awkwardly touched his nose. The only thing he could trade was fifty Black Python Pills, and there were few things in the shop he could afford.

The shopkeeper quickly said, "Young Master Xun, the silk book you're interested in can't be sold in parts, but there is a way around it. Do you know how to draw talismans? Or perhaps Uncle Zhao can invite a talisman master to copy the Wind Control Technique for you..."

Whether it was a martial technique or a mystic talisman, it wasn't something an ordinary person could copy, nor could it be casually written on ordinary silk paper.

It was easy to copy a technique, but difficult to draw a mystic talisman. Understanding a mystic talisman and comprehending a technique was the key to mastering a technique.

The Wind Control Mystic Talisman, though the lowest level, still required a talisman master at the peak of the True Yang realm to draw it with high-quality cinnabar and a special brush on specially made talisman paper. Only then would it manifest, allowing someone to comprehend and practice it.

Chen Xun didn't know how to draw talismans, so he couldn't copy the Wind Control Technique.

Of course, if Uncle Zhao was willing to help, inviting a talisman master to copy the Wind Control Technique would cost only a few dozen talisman coins, much cheaper than buying the entire book.

"Would it be too much trouble?" Learning the Wind Control Technique would be very convenient, but Chen Xun was also worried about causing trouble for Cai'er and her father.

"Not at all, not at all," Uncle Zhao said, "Drawing a mystic talisman is quite complicated, and even an experienced hand might need three to five attempts to succeed. If Young Master Xun isn't in a hurry, I'll have Cai'er deliver it to you in a few days..."

Chen Xun took out the leather pouch containing fifty Black Python Pills and handed it to Uncle Zhao, saying, "I only have these low-level spirit pills now. If there's any shortage, I'll make it up to Cai'er in a few days."

"Enough, enough," Uncle Zhao said, "The main issue is that good talisman masters are hard to find. Otherwise, we could afford the talisman paper and ink, and wouldn't need to trouble Young Master Xun..."

At that moment, a young man in brocade robes walked in, tall and imposing, with a distinguished air. Two burly attendants followed behind him, but their eyes were dark and had an indescribable softness, suggesting they practiced some evil techniques.

The young man in brocade robes, seeing the young Chen Xun in a fur coat, didn't know which tribe he was from, and ignored him coldly. When he saw Cai'er standing at the counter, his face lit up, and he smiled and asked:

"Cai'er, are you helping your father today? Have you thought about what I said the other day? Do you want to practice mystic arts with me?"

Seeing Cai'er hide behind Uncle Zhao, Chen Xun didn't know the young man's identity and didn't want to cause trouble, so he said goodbye to Uncle Zhao, "Uncle Zhao, thank you for your trouble. I'll be going now."

"Let me see you out, Young Master Xun," Cai'er wanted to come out from behind the counter to see Chen Xun off.

Seeing the shy Cai'er take the initiative to see off an unremarkable young man, the young man in brocade robes raised his eyebrows and looked at Chen Xun for a moment, then asked Uncle Zhao with a stern face, "What kind of business did this young man do with the shop?"

Chen Xun's bag of Black Python Pills was still on the counter, and Uncle Zhao couldn't hide it. He forced a smile and said, "Young Master, Young Master Xun asked the shop to copy the Wind Control Technique."

"Hah," the young man in brocade robes couldn't see through the young man's depth at first. The Frost Blade at Chen Xun's waist looked quite extraordinary, but when he heard that the young man was there to copy the Wind Control Technique, he thought he had figured him out. He sneered, picked up the leather pouch on the counter, opened it, and saw that it contained only low-level spirit pills. He scolded Uncle Zhao,

"Uncle Zhao, you're an old hand in the shop, but you're doing such a shoddy business. Don't you fear ruining the reputation of Lianxian Studio? Take it back, we won't do this business!"

"Then that's fine, thank you for your trouble, Uncle Zhao," Chen Xun didn't want to cause trouble for Uncle Zhao and Cai'er. If the business wasn't done, it wasn't done. There would be other opportunities to learn the Wind Control Technique. He reached out to take the leather pouch from the young man in brocade robes.

The young man in brocade robes let go, and the leather pouch fell to the ground. The opening was still open, and the fifty Black Python Pills rolled out, scattering all over the shop.

The young man in brocade robes sneered and said to Uncle Zhao, "Uncle Zhao, if you let such riffraff into the shop again, you'll go back to being a clerk. You're in your forties, and you're still like a dog..."

Seeing the scattered spirit pills, Chen Xun was so angry that he laughed. He took out the Frost Blade and held it in front of him, saying in a low voice, "Pick up these pills, and we'll call it even..."

"What?" The young man in brocade robes, seeing the young man in front of him dare to threaten him with a blade, couldn't help but laugh, "In Lianxian Studio, you have the nerve to draw your blade at me..."

The two burly attendants didn't wait for the shop's guards to rush out from the back room. They attacked Chen Xun from behind with their massive fists.

Hearing the wind behind him, Chen Xun was secretly annoyed. He didn't expect the two attendants to be so ruthless, aiming to kill him. He knew this matter wouldn't end well.

Chen Xun wasn't afraid of trouble. He didn't fear the hammer-like fists and drew the Frost Blade, slashing left and right.

The two attendants, at the peak of the True Yang realm, were shocked by the fierce killing intent and couldn't dodge in time. The two slashes cut through their elbows, and the next moment, their four arms fell to the ground, blood spurting out, making a sizzling sound in the air.

The young man in brocade robes had never seen such a fierce attack. Chen Xun didn't wait for him to react, shooting forward like a cannonball, his shoulder like a mountain, slamming into his chest.

The young man's mystic energy was concentrated in his chest, but he couldn't withstand the fierce impact. There was a "crack" sound, and a piece of his muscular chest was crushed in.

The mystic energy in his chest and abdomen scattered in his body, like shattered knives and blades, cutting his internal organs to pieces. He spat out a mouthful of blood...

Chen Xun left the young man in brocade robes with a dog's life, the Frost Blade at his neck, the cold mystic energy piercing his skin, making him unable to even cry for help.

Seeing the young man in brocade robes, at the seventh level of the True Yang realm, so easily defeated, Chen Xun held the Frost Blade to his neck and glared at the guards rushing out from the back room.

The guards, hearing the commotion, didn't react slowly, but when they rushed out, they saw the two attendants by the young master's side, their four arms cut off, lying in the corner of the shop, blood gushing out, and the young master spitting blood, lying on the ground with a bright Frost Blade at his neck.

The young man with the blade was full of killing intent, and though his cultivation didn't seem high, with the young master in his hands, the guards dared not move.

Uncle Zhao and Cai'er were completely stunned, not knowing what had happened, and stood there, not knowing what to say or do.

"Do you have the nerve to think you can escape after injuring someone in Huayang Lane?" A short, fat middle-aged man, looking like the shop owner, rushed out from the back room, moving as fast as a meteor, stopping just in front of the counter, holding a string of glowing prayer beads.

Yue Lun's cheeks trembled with anger, never expecting a young man in his teens from a tribe to dare to come alone and put a knife to his son's neck.