Chapter 141: Crisis Approaches, Another Attempt at Recruitment

Chen Shunyi’s arrival changed the entire situation.

Inside the City Lord Manor, Chen Shunyi sat in the main seat.

“I have only three days here. This is a private matter, so I can’t stay away too long. How are the preparations?”

Chen Shunyi asked directly.

He was, after all, an official of the Celestial Dynasty, bound by its laws. Without a proper excuse, he could not be away for too long, especially for such an unseemly matter that he could hardly explain to his superiors.

Could he possibly tell them that he wanted to marry someone who refused, so he intended to exterminate them? If he confessed to that, he would be the first to be brought up on charges.

“Uncle, everything is ready. The Clear Wind Sect is also making preparations, and the residents near the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion have all been evacuated. I have already designated that area as a combat zone, just waiting for the Clear Wind Sect to arrive.”

Chen Lou hurriedly replied.

The Celestial Dynasty stipulated that weapons and fighting were forbidden within the city, but it was not impossible to exploit loopholes. As the City Lord, he naturally knew how to manipulate things.

Moreover, the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion belonged to a faction, and its territory was private property outside his direct jurisdiction. Thus, he only needed to relocate the residents from that area before designating it as a combat zone. As long as the eventual victor paid compensation for the repairs later, the residents would have no cause for complaint.

The Celestial Dynasty governed mortals; whether the various factions were satisfied was of no concern to them, provided the dynasty did not intervene directly.

“Good, very well done. Xian’er, I heard you were previously humiliated by Qin Xiao?”

Chen Shunyi expressed satisfaction with his nephew’s arrangements before turning his attention to Fang Xiuxian.

“Master, I will avenge this myself. When the time comes, please let me deal with him.”

Fang Xiuxian’s face darkened at the question, and he made his request.

“Very well. If you want to take revenge yourself, you have my permission. But you must not act as Tianyi City’s Deputy City Lord. That would give others grounds to accuse you.”

Chen Shunyi said with a nod of approval.

Having suffered such public humiliation, if he could not wash it away himself, it would inevitably leave a lingering knot in his heart and hinder his future cultivation.

“Master, rest assured, your disciple understands. When the time comes, I will make Qin Xiao pay back a hundredfold-no, ten thousandfold!”

Fang Xiuxian’s eyes grew harsher. It seemed the last incident had really hurt him.

Meanwhile, inside the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion, Ling Ruoxue had arrived at some point and was waiting with Qin Xiao for Ji Ci to conclude his work.

“It is already past the agreed time. Why has Master Ji Ci not come out yet?”

Ling Ruoxue asked with a hint of boredom.

She had come specifically to see Master Ji Ci, seeing as the three-day limit had already elapsed. This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.

“It should be nearly finished.”

Qin Xiao replied with a touch of uncertainty.

“Qin Xiao, won’t you reconsider? Join the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, and I can keep you safe this time.”

Having caught wind of the brewing storm, Ling Ruoxue knew the severity of the situation and pressed her invitation once more.

“You can guarantee my safety, but what of the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion? My master’s wife treats me like her own flesh and blood. How could I abandon them to seek refuge with the Immortal Dao Merchant Association out of fear? I cannot bring myself to do such a thing.”

Qin Xiao refused flatly.

Perhaps he could preserve his own skin by aligning with the merchant association, but what would become of the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion?

“I actually have a solution: have the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion merge directly into the Immortal Dao Merchant Association. That way, it becomes a branch of our association, and we will step forward to mediate this dispute. What do you think?”

Ling Ruoxue had already thought of a solution that would achieve two things at once.

She would secure Qin Xiao while swallowing up the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion, expanding the merchant association in a true win-win scenario.

“I thank Miss Ling for her kind intentions, but the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion has no desire to yield just yet.”

At that moment, Ye Qiuyue walked over.

“Master’s Wife, you’re out of seclusion! How did the three days go? Have you made progress?”

Seeing her approach, Qin Xiao hurried forward to inquire.

He had spared no expense: Spirit Stones, Spirit Liquid, and Saint Origin Spirit Fruits without limit, plus an Immortal Comprehension Fruit. He knew she could not break through, but they would still help strengthen her for battle.

“Naturally, there was progress, and it is all thanks to Xiao’er’s support. Although a true breakthrough remains some distance away, I can now exchange a few blows even against a mid-stage Body Integration cultivator. A mere Chen Shunyi is nothing to fear.”

Ye Qiuyue’s cultivation had increased greatly, and she was full of confidence.

If progress through each realm were divided into ten parts, she had gained three full parts in three days. Even she was startled by the speed.

Cultivation at the Body Integration stage was notoriously difficult. Since breaking through, her Primordial Spirit had expanded greatly, yet even with her deep reserves, she had only progressed half a part over the preceding months. For anyone else, even that half-part would have been out of reach.

Chen Shunyi had not broken through much earlier than she had, which gave her reason for confidence. At this realm, thirty percent more cultivation could improve her chances of victory by more than thirty percent. New chapters come out on novelping dot com first.

The High Grade Spirit Stones and Spirit Liquid had also purified her Spiritual Power, further strengthening her in battle.

“You’re too kind, Master’s Wife. The stronger you are, the more secure my backing is.”

Qin Xiao quickly replied with courtesy.

“Elder Ye, I mean no disrespect, but in the present situation, merging with the Immortal Dao Merchant Association truly is your only path to survival.”

Ling Ruoxue could feel that Ye Qiuyue’s aura had grown stronger, but one person could not change the situation, especially now that Chen Shunyi had reached Tianyi City.

“I know Miss Ling acts with good intentions, but the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion has stood for over two hundred years. It is my eldest brother’s life’s work, and I will not simply throw it away.”

Ye Qiuyue made her position clear.

“If that is your decision, I will say no more. However, Qin Xiao is not a member of your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion. Senior, you should persuade him to join the Immortal Dao Merchant Association so that I may protect him.”

Ling Ruoxue turned her gaze to Ye Qiuyue.

She wasn’t worried about Qin Xiao’s safety. She was worried about Man’er—and Qin Xiao’s Spirit Stones. She didn’t like Qin Xiao at all. Did she?

Ling Ruoxue was starting to doubt herself. This was the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion’s feud with the Clear Wind Sect. Why was she running around meddling in it? Right, it was for Man’er.

“Eldest Miss, you needn’t concern yourself further. I appreciate your good intentions, but as I said, I am not considering it.”

Seeing that Ling Ruoxue was attempting to recruit him through his master’s wife, Qin Xiao reiterated his refusal.

“If you are so determined to court death, then return Man’er to me first, and I will stop bothering you!”

Ling Ruoxue was speechless. She had come to help them, yet none of them appreciated it, least of all Qin Xiao. He ought to give Man’er back to her.

“Disciple, you may stay or leave. This time is different. I won’t blame you.”

Qin Xiao knew Ling Ruoxue and Yun Man were close, and Yun Man had many secrets of her own. With the danger ahead uncertain, perhaps it would be good for her to leave for a while.

“No need. Wherever Master is, I will be. Sister Ruoxue, thank you for your kindness, but I choose to stay with Master.”

Yun Man sided with Qin Xiao without the slightest hesitation.

“Hmph, I’m done with you! Man’er, I think he’s put you under a restriction. Look after yourself. If you can’t hold out, come to me. I’ll protect you.”

Though angry, Ling Ruoxue still told Yun Man to seek her out if things went wrong. She would find a way to protect her. Then she left in a huff.

Sister Ruoxue, I’m sorry. I must protect Master. He is my only family left.

Watching the angry figure depart, Yun Man murmured those words silently in her heart.