Chapter 147: Chen Shunyi Withdraws, The Hunt Begins

With Yao Tiansheng and Yao Yongzhi gone, Qin Xiao was all but certain to survive.

“Qin Xiao, since there’s nothing more here, I’ll return to the sect as well. Meng’er, let’s go.”

Seeing that the Great Elder and Second Elder had both left, Lin Tiancheng found it awkward to stay any longer and prepared to leave with Lin Shimeng.

“Father, I’ll return in a few days. I want to stay here for a little longer.”

Lin Shimeng had no desire to return right away. She had only just arrived and was now expected to turn back immediately.

“Fine, do as you please.”

Lin Tiancheng actually wanted to drag Lin Shimeng back by force, but with so many people watching, it was difficult to make a scene. Besides, even if he managed to drag her back, she would likely just run away again, so he let her be.

Lin Tiancheng left too. Three leading figures from the Tianyuan Sect had come, only to make an appearance and leave. What else could they do? There were three Body Integration cultivators here, and they were only at Soul Formation.

“The heavens are falling! Who can save me? Chen Shunyi, you old dog, you’ve ruined my Clear Wind Sect!”

The Clear Wind Ancestor cursed to himself. He had to swallow his bitterness; he could not say it aloud.

“Ancestor, I must take my leave. I have urgent matters at home.”

“Ancestor, I have guests arriving at my estate, so I must go.”

“Ancestor, my young son has fallen ill, I have to leave.”

“My sow is giving birth, I need to hurry back immediately.”

One after another, the leaders of the smaller factions scrambled to invent excuses and slip away.

“He has matters at home, he has guests, his Golden Core stage son is sick, and you-you actually claimed your sow is giving birth? Get lost! All of you, get lost! This old man will settle accounts with you later.”

Clear Wind Ancestor was utterly enraged. He had mocked the people of the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion moments ago, but now that the tables were turned, he could no longer manage a smile.

“Since Elder Han insists on protecting Qin Xiao, I’ll yield out of respect for you today. But you can’t protect him forever. Let’s go.”

Seeing the two Yao brothers leave, Chen Shunyi knew there was no point in staying. He left with Fang Xiuxian after speaking.

“Quickly retreat! Fall back to the sect at once!”

The Clear Wind Ancestor fled first after shouting the order. He had a Dharma Treasure that enhanced his speed; at full effort, he could escape. He could no longer spare any thought for his disciples.

Even Chen Shunyi had given up; was he supposed to stay here and wait for death? As long as he made it back to the Clear Wind Sect and activated the protective Formation, he could survive.

“Trying to leave?”

Ye Qiuyue had not expected Clear Wind Ancestor to be so utterly shameless, fleeing without the slightest hesitation. She immediately gave chase.

Seeing their Ancestor desert them, the remaining members of the Clear Wind Sect panicked and scattered in all directions to run for their lives.

“Heavenly Clothes Pavilion, all forces mobilize! Leave none alive!” New chapters come out on novelping . com first.

Seeing that the enemy’s main strength had broken and fled, Ye Tianyi issued an immediate order to slaughter them.

Instantly, every disciple of the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion surged forward, hunting down the fleeing Clear Wind Sect members.

Qin Xiao remained where he was, choosing not to join the fray.

It was not mercy. This was war, regardless of right or wrong. Had the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion lost, its people would probably have been slaughtered too.

He was simply lazy. The threat was gone, and hunting down small fry did not interest him.

“Haha, Young Miss, it seems you underestimated him after all. It looks like this old man won’t even need to lift a finger.”

Standing atop a high tower near the city gate, Ji Ci chuckled softly.

“I was merely concerned for Sister Man’er’s safety. What does Qin Xiao’s life or death have to do with me?”

Ling Ruoxue replied indifferently.

Earlier, after Yun Man insisted on leaving, Ji Ci had also persuaded Ling Ruoxue to go. Before they entered the merchant association, however, Ling Ruoxue asked him to save Qin Xiao and Yun Man if things became critical. If their superiors blamed them, she would take full responsibility.

Ji Ci could only agree. He did not want his old friend’s last descendant to die, either. Qin Xiao was an interesting person too; saving him might benefit Ji Ci.

They had watched from the tower until now, only to see the situation reverse. Qin Xiao had even brought Han Mingyuan here.

“Young Miss, could it be that you’ve taken a liking to that lad? He’s decent enough, though admittedly far too prone to stirring up trouble.”

Ji Ci teased.

“How could I? Him? Does he deserve it? There are so many geniuses in the Ling Family. Which of them isn’t better than him?”

Ling Ruoxue flatly denied it.

Qin Xiao clearly wasn’t a good person. She would never like him. And she still had to get Sister Man’er away from him.

“If not, then good. Consider this old man’s words idle chatter. Since the trouble has passed, we should head back as well.”

Ji Ci let the matter drop. Since the crisis was averted, it was time to return, as he had already lingered in Tianyi City for three days.

“Master, are we leaving so soon?”

Fearing that Chen Shunyi might attempt a retaliatory strike, Ling Ruoxue hoped to keep Ji Ci around for an extra day.

“Young Miss, I know what you’re worried about. I’ll leave tomorrow. But breaking the restrictions gave me some insights, and I need to go back to the merchant association to sort out my thoughts.”

Ji Ci had originally intended to leave immediately, but since the young Miss wished for him to stay a bit longer, he obliged. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.

Neither Zhang Zuo nor Li You joined the pursuit against the Clear Wind Sect, choosing instead to remain at Qin Xiao’s side as personal guards. The events of the day had left both of them deeply shaken.

“Second Brother, what on earth is the boss’s background? Isn’t he merely an expelled disciple of the Tianyuan Sect? How did he manage to invite the Second Elder of the Pure Yang Sect?”

Zhang Zuo quietly sent a voice transmission to Li You.

“Indeed… Big Brother, didn’t you know as well? When on earth did the boss hook up with the Pure Yang Sect?”

Li You was baffled too. The enormous wages and deals worth one or two hundred million had already shocked them. Now Qin Xiao had even brought in the Pure Yang Sect’s Second Elder.

“I thought we were in for a brutal battle today, yet it ended without us even having to lift a finger. Taking this salary makes me feel rather guilty.”

Zhang Zuo worried Qin Xiao would dismiss them if he realized they were not much help.

“Uh, Big Brother, don’t worry about it. The boss isn’t that petty, and we’re still useful.”

Though Li You said this to reassure him, he felt a similar prick of guilt. Five million Spirit Stones a month, yet they had done virtually nothing.

Unaware of the whispered conversation between his two bodyguards, Qin Xiao stepped up to Han Mingyuan to offer his thanks.

“Thank you for your assistance, Senior.”

Without Han Mingyuan’s timely arrival, the situation would have grown exceedingly troublesome.

“Kid, no need for formalities. This old man actually did nothing of consequence. However, rest assured-since I gave you my word, I will fulfill it. You can hand over the reward in three days.”

Qin Xiao had asked Han Mingyuan to protect him for three days. Afterward, he would give him an Immortal Fruit that could increase his chances of a breakthrough by thirty percent.

Three days in exchange for a thirty-percent improvement in his chances of breaking through naturally tempted Han Mingyuan. He had hurried to finish his work and then come over.

Han Mingyuan would not have believed anyone else. But he had investigated: Yun Man had been at Foundation Establishment when she became Qin Xiao’s disciple, and now she was at Nascent Soul. Qin Xiao must have something valuable. Now Han Mingyuan finally understood.

The fruit Qin Xiao had promised was the Immortal Comprehension Fruit. But Han Mingyuan was mistaken: Yun Man’s rapid progress did not come from that fruit. It had only been activated after Qin Xiao took Luo Yunbing as a disciple.

Not long after they began talking, Duan Mingfei brought someone to Qin Xiao.

“Young Master Qin, I beg of you, please save my elder brother!”

The man Duan Mingfei had brought forward was none other than Duan Mingda.

Duan Mingfei had stayed hidden because he did not want the Clear Wind Ancestor to discover he was alive. He planned to approach his brother when the fighting began, but the Clear Wind Sect’s people had scattered before there was any battle.

Following the direction of his brother’s retreat, Duan Mingfei had given chase. Fortunately, though his combat power was compromised, his movement speed remained unaffected, allowing him to catch up rapidly.

After his explanation, Duan Mingda chose to believe his younger brother. The fact that he was alive was the best proof.