Chapter 74: The Commander’s Threat, Master’s Wife Arrives

Qin Xiao had suddenly changed his attitude because he now had someone to back him up.

Just before he entered, a voice had come from the Great Elder Token Ye Qiuyue had given him.

After a brief, hushed exchange, Qin Xiao learned that Ye Qiuyue, his master’s wife, had made a breakthrough. She wanted to know where he was, so he gave her a quick account of the situation before pushing the door open.

Private rooms like these usually had soundproofing Formations, so those inside had not heard Qin Xiao’s conversation. The Formations were only basic ones, however. A surge of Spiritual Qi during the argument in Private Room One had partially damaged its Formation, allowing Qin Xiao to hear what was happening inside.

“The Great Elder Token? Why is it in your hands? Where is the Great Elder?”

Seeing Qin Xiao bring out the token, Ye Tianyi hastily stood up to ask.

She had just returned from visiting the shops in other cities. With no time to go back to the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion before the prearranged banquet, she had come straight here, unaware that Ye Qiuyue had returned.

“My master’s wife gave it to me, of course. She’s on her way here now.”

Qin Xiao quickly explained.

“Ye Qiuyue is coming too?”

Chen Lou asked with a hint of apprehension.

“It does not matter. Ye Qiuyue is merely at the peak of the Soul Formation stage. I have already broken through; what can she do even if she comes?”

Chen Shunyi spoke with an expression of complete indifference.

Ye Qiuyue was part of the reason he had not dared to force Ye Tianyi’s hand before. Prior to his breakthrough, they had both been at Soul Formation. He had been at its peak and Ye Qiuyue at the late stage, but they were still in the same major realm. In a fight to the death, he could not be certain of victory.

But things were different now. Even if Ye Qiuyue had reached the peak of Soul Formation, he was already at Body Integration. They were still only one level apart, but now that level crossed the boundary between major realms. He no longer feared her at all, which was why he dared to pressure Ye Tianyi now.

“Who says my master’s wife is still at the peak of Soul Formation? You can break through, but she can’t?”

Since Chen Shunyi had only recently reached Body Integration, Qin Xiao did not think much of the threat.

As for whether Chen Shunyi would suddenly fly into a rage and try to kill him, he did not consider the possibility at all.

“One more insolent word, brat, and I won’t mind striking you down, mortal or not.”

Chen Shunyi was beginning to get angry. He might disdain attacking a mortal, but he was hardly a patient man.

“Surely a distinguished Body Integration expert—and a Grand Commander of the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty—wouldn’t attack an ordinary person like me? If the dynasty heard about it, I fear it would suffer a loss of prestige.”

Qin Xiao had already asked about this, and Ye Jiarong had explained it to him. The Supreme Heavenly Dynasty enjoyed the support of the mortal world because of its strict rules. Its officials could punish ordinary people under those rules, but could not kill them at will.

“Don’t worry, Uncle. If you can’t act, let me. He is in my city, so I have the authority to deal with him. As for a charge, I’ll have someone find one.”

Chen Lou also knew that the heavenly dynasty’s rules were extremely strict. His uncle was a Grand Commander and therefore could not lay hands on a mortal. But he was different; he was the City Lord. As long as there was a formal charge, he could deal with Qin Xiao however he pleased, provided he did not beat the man to death. This was precisely why he had held back the full force of his palm strike earlier.

Of course, that was only how things worked on the surface. Without Ye Tianyi present, he could kill Qin Xiao outright. If he covered his tracks, no one would know, and the dynasty certainly could not hold him responsible.

“That is more like it. A Grand Commander cannot just casually strike people. Let your nephew handle it.” Read this novel at NovelPing for the best experience.

Qin Xiao promptly agreed with Chen Lou.

If the Grand Commander ignored the rules and killed him, the man would probably get off with a light punishment. Better not provoke him any further. Qin Xiao would wait for his master’s wife to arrive.

“You have some nerve, brat, treating me as if I don’t matter. Disrespecting the City Lord means disrespecting the dynasty. I’m taking you into custody!”

Seeing Qin Xiao still acting so brazenly, Chen Lou could bear it no longer. He rose and attacked him.

Yet before Chen Lou’s palm could even reach Qin Xiao, it was deflected by a sword strike from the arriving Yun Man.

Lin Shimeng also drew her sword. The two of them fully unleashed their Spiritual Qi, instantly radiating the auras of early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

“Two Nascent Soul cultivators? Not bad, not bad. As it happens, I could use two more concubines. If you beauties agree to become my concubines, I might be willing to let this brat go.”

Chen Lou spoke as Yun Man and Lin Shimeng arrived.

“Old geezer, who the hell do you think you are? You dare set your sights on my disciples?”

Qin Xiao continued to speak without restraint. His disciples were his one inviolable boundary; no one was allowed to touch them.

“Enough. What kind of disgraceful behavior is this?”

Watching his nephew, Chen Shunyi found his behavior embarrassing. This was a public place.

“Forgive me, Uncle. I spoke without thinking.”

Lust had blinded Chen Lou, making him forget that his uncle was still there. The reprimand quickly brought him to his senses.

“Brat, if I were you, I would run as far away as possible right now rather than wait here to die. If you are counting on the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion to protect you, then let me be the one to tell you: the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion can no longer even protect itself.”

As a Grand Commander of the dynasty, Chen Shunyi still had his reputation to consider.

“Who says my Heavenly Clothes Pavilion cannot protect itself?”

Before Qin Xiao could reply, Ye Qiuyue had arrived on the third floor.

“Master’s Wife.”

“Aunt.”

“Great-Grandaunt.”

Qin Xiao and the others immediately called out their greetings upon seeing Ye Qiuyue.

The one calling out “Great-Grandaunt” was, naturally, the boy Ye Jiarong.

“What? You also broke through to the Body Integration stage?”

Chen Shunyi sensed Ye Qiuyue’s aura and was shocked to find that she, too, had reached the Body Integration stage.

“That’s right. Leave now, if you know what’s good for you. If you want a fight, the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion will see it through to the end.”

Ye Qiuyue had always had a fiery temper. He wanted to threaten her pavilion? If he wanted a fight, he could have one. You are reading on NovelPing, the official source.

“Hmph. Very well, Heavenly Clothes Pavilion. I will remember this.”

Now that Ye Qiuyue had also broken through, Chen Shunyi knew there was no hope today. He stayed no longer, rising and leaving after those parting words.

“Hmph, every convenience and privilege your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion currently enjoys in Tianyi City is hereby revoked.”

Seeing his uncle leave, Chen Lou made his parting declaration and followed him out.

“Why are all of you gathered here?”

Ye Qiuyue asked in confusion.

“Master’s Wife, let’s go back to our room and discuss it properly.”

With everyone standing there, Qin Xiao suggested returning to Private Room Two to talk.

“Let us go. There is no need to stand around out here.”

Ye Qiuyue agreed that they should not remain there.

The group subsequently moved back into Private Room Two.

“I can roughly guess why Tianyi is here, and I can understand Xiao’er’s presence as well. But why on earth are you here?”

Ye Qiuyue asked, directing her gaze toward Ye Jiarong.

“Great-Grandaunt, it’s all a misunderstanding! I invited this senior to dinner. I had no idea you all knew each other. Please don’t be angry with me.”

Ye Jiarong was still bewildered. What was going on? His great-aunt had fallen out with the City Lord, his great-grandaunt had exchanged threats with the Grand Commander, and the senior he had invited to dinner knew his great-grandaunt. What exactly had he been doing today?

“It’s fine. This is Xiao’er’s first visit to Tianyi City. Our Ye Family ought to show him some hospitality. You did well, boy.”

Ye Qiuyue had only asked out of curiosity, with no intention of blaming him. She was pleased to learn what had happened.

“Thank you for the praise, Great-Grandaunt.”

Ye Jiarong hurriedly wiped away sweat that was not there. Fortunately, everything was all right.

“Aunt, how did you break through? Didn’t you say before that you would be unable to break through in the short term?”

Ye Tianyi wondered how Ye Qiuyue had broken through so suddenly. Strengthening the Primordial Spirit took time—how could she have done it so quickly?

“I was ready to break through, but my Primordial Spirit was just short of what I needed. This time I found something to replenish it, so I could advance.”

Ye Qiuyue explained truthfully.

She had hoped to break through during her last period of Secluded Cultivation, but her Primordial Spirit had fallen just short of the required strength. Unable to advance, she had emerged from seclusion. With the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit, she only had to refine and absorb it to break through; nothing else stood in her way.

Refining the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit had taken a little over two hours; otherwise, she could have arrived even sooner.

“Where is that unfilial son? Where is my unfilial son?”

While the group was conversing, a voice suddenly echoed from the direction of the stairwell.