The figure was extremely handsome, his chiselled features making him look threateningly dashing.
However, there was a certain look of laziness between his brows that made him appear lazy and lacking in energy. Even so, this lazy aura paired with his dashing good looks gave off a peculiar charm.
“Is that Chu Qing?”
Zhou Yuan rubbed his chin as he nodded. Handsome, definitely very handsome… however...
He exchanged a look with Shen Wanjin. Both of them raised their gazes, looking towards senior brother Chu Qing’s head as they fell into thought.
Senior brother Chu Qing’s head was smooth and shiny, not even a single strand of hair to be seen. It was basically a lightbulb that seemed to shine glaringly under the light from the hall.
Why...
Was senior brother Chu Qing a baldy?!
To make matters worse, when they took a closer look, they found that senior brother Chu Qing’s eyebrows were a little thicker than normal. His eyebrows were drawn!
An eyebrowless baldy!
This picture caused the corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips to twitch for a moment.
Shen Wanjin swiftly went around to gather information, before returning and quietly whispering to Zhou Yuan, “I’ve heard rumors that because of a technique senior brother Chu Qing is practicing… he doesn’t have a single hair on his body.”
“Not a single hair on his entire body?”
Zhou Yuan and Shen Wanjin exchanged another look as they fell silent. They then shifted their gazes back in unison to give senior brother Chu Qing a quick up and down scan, before swiftly withdrawing their eyes again.
Both of them shivered.
The famous leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosens seemed to be… quite an exceptional character.
Chapter 440 Chu Qing
Yaoyao stood at the center of the grand hall with a calm look on her beautiful face. She carried Tuntun in her arms as numerous awed gazes were continuously cast at her, unable to shift away.
She lowered her head and nudged Tuntun, somewhat longing for their tiny little cave dwelling while she wondered if he was back...
*Cough*
A soft cough was heard from the side as Ye Ge looked at Yaoyao and smiled, “It’s mostly thanks to junior sister Yaoyao this time. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to escape from the encirclement by the Chosens from the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect…”
“Ye Ge, has your head been knocked around too much…” Beside Ye Ge, the extremely handsome but shiningly bald as a light bulb youth swept a glance at the former, before looking towards Yaoyao as he listlessly said, “If she hadn’t secretly went off to steal the treasure while we were facing off against the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect Chosens, they wouldn’t have ganged up on us in the first place.”
“We could have properly talked things over, but we ended up fighting instead. *Sigh*. Fighting is so tiring, won’t things be so much better if everyone just sat down and discussed how we could divide the treasures?”
He rubbed his shiny head with a pained expression as he lamented, “So troublesome.”
“If they were willing to split the treasures with you, you wouldn't have sent out an aid request. Given your character, you’ll do anything extra if you don’t have to.”
Ye Ge chuckled. “Junior sister Yaoyao merely slipped away so she could secretly establish a Genesis Rune boundary. Moreover, didn’t all of us successfully return in the end?”
Chu Qing patted Ye Ge’s shoulders with sympathy. “You were almost finished off, and you call it a success? She was purely using us as bait!”
“Well there will always be risks no matter what you do, right?” Ye Ge shrugged, not seeming to mind it.
Even more pity filled Chu Qing’s eyes. “You’re done for Ye Ge. I already told you that this woman is a heartless witch! You’ll never be able to make her submit!”
By the side, Yaoyao’s pretty face remained as calm as water from start to end, basically ignoring the two of them. The mission had indeed been quite dangerous, because they had faced numerous Chosens from the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect, and even several ruthless unaffiliated cultivators of the Shengzhou Continent.
To resolve these annoyances, Yaoyao had secretly set-up a boundary while using Chu Qing and Ye Ge as bait. In the end, they managed to force all of these ruthless individuals to retreat, allowing the trio to escape in one piece.
Of course, Chu Qing and Ye Ge had to pay the price of fighting a bitter battle, while Ye Ge had even sustained some injuries.
However, Yaoyao did not feel apologetic. She was cold and distant by nature, and if she felt the need to, abandoning the two of them to secure her safe retreat was not out of the cards.
Furthermore, she could sense that Chu Qing was indeed very powerful, though he was excessively lazy and often did not use his full power in a fight. As such, Yaoyao had no qualms about using his skiving self as bait.
However, Chu Qing constantly called her a heartless witch, to which she felt was an unreasonable appraisal.
While Chu Qing was speaking, he looked towards the unmoved Yaoyao as he muttered in his heart, “I’ve only been away for half a year, how the hell did such a witch appear in the Cangxuan Sect?”
Not only did she possess astonishing strength, she was also astonishingly indifferent and cold!
In fact, she was even colder than Li Qingchan.
Although Li Qingchan was cold as ice on the outside, she hid a warm interior. Yaoyao on the other hand, though her tone did not have the same frostiness as the former, there was a certain indifference in her voice as if she viewed all things like the grass on the ground.
Such indifference seemed to originate from the soul and bloodline.
This girl was indeed outrageously pretty, but she was just far too indifferent. During the two months they had been on the mission together, Chu Qing had not seen her smile a single time.
“Maybe she doesn’t know how to?” Such was Chu Qing’s thinking.
However, just as this thought flashed past in his head, he saw something seem to awaken on Yaoyao’s calm face as tiny glimmer rose within those rippleless eyes.
Her red lips seemed to raise a teensy bit, as an almost undetectable angle appeared.
In that moment, even Chu Qing felt his breath being taken away.
He was somewhat shocked as he followed Yaoyao’s gaze, only to find a young man walking out from the crowd and waving towards her.
The changes in Yaoyao’s expression was clearly due to this young man.
The young man was naturally Zhou Yuan.
The calmness on Yaoyao’s face faded slightly at the sight of Zhou Yuan, ignoring Chu Qing and Ye Ge as she walked towards him with Tuntun.
When the two met, Chu Qing saw the lazy little creature in Yaoyao’s arms jump onto Zhou Yuan’s shoulder, a sign that it was quite intimate with him.
“Who is he? I can’t believe he made that witch smile?!” Blurted Chu Qing in shock.
Ye Ge felt somewhat complicated as he watched this scene. “He’s the new disciple called Zhou Yuan I told you about… in less than a year, he has already become a purple sash disciple, even faster than you were back then.”
Chu Qing stroked his bald head as he mumbled, “Amazing.”
Ye Ge nodded. “He is indeed very talented. In fact, he may even catch up to you in the future.”
Chu Qing said, “I’m saying he’s really amazing for subduing that witch!”
His tone was genuinely filled with admiration. In Chu Qing’s opinion, Yaoyao was an evil, heartless witch that no one could subdue, and yet, the impossible had happened. Someone who could make her less indifferent had appeared.
Ye Ge was stunned, before he unhappily said, “You’re the leader of our Cangxuan Sect Chosens, why are you so against her?”
Chu Qing rubbed his chin as he responded, “After so many years, she’s the first person that used me as bait. What I hate the most is being forced to
fight!”
Ye Ge laughed helplessly. It seemed that Chu Qing held quite the grudge.
On the other side, Zhou Yuan also cast his gaze over, before exchanging a smile and nod with Ye Ge.
However, Zhou Yuan was rather surprised when the equally eye catching Chu Qing also smiled at him in a rather casual manner. None of the pride shown by Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and the other Chosens could be seen.
What slighly puzzled Zhou Yuan was that Chu Qing’s smile seemed to say, ‘Brother, you’re goddamn awesome, I’m seriously in admiration of you.’
However, before he could go over to say hello, Yaoyao turned around to leave.
“Let’s go back to our cave dwelling.”
As such, Zhou Yuan hurriedly followed with Tuntun in his arms.
Chu Qing watched the duo leave, before shrugging at Ye Ge. “I feel that you have no chance…”
“Why not stop living in your delusions… it’s just a girl after all. Look at me, I no longer have any feeling towards pretty girls and my heart is as calm as water.” Chu Qing beamed.
Ye Ge softly snorted. He glanced at the former and indifferently said, “Do you think I don’t know the reason why?”
Chu Qing let out a hollow laugh as he guiltily robbed his shiny bald head.
Ye Ge watched Yaoyao’s figure disappear, before also withdrawing his gaze as he said in a disappointed voice, “I’m going back to recuperate. You should also return to the Cangxuan Peak. Since you’re constantly missing all year long, I’m sure sect master has prepared some punishment for you when you return.”
As he spoke, he waved and turned around to leave.
A look of agony rose on Chu Qing’s handsome face. In the end, he let out a long sigh.
“What a bother!”
Chapter 441 Lively Cave Dwelling
After leaving the Mission Hall, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao headed back to their cave dwelling.
As they stepped into the peaceful cave, Zhou Yuan could feel Yaoyao’s body quietly relax a little, while a trace of gentleness appeared in her bright, indifferent eyes.
Now that they were back, Yaoyao left Tuntun to Zhou Yuan, and walked into the little house.
Zhou Yuan sat down in the stone pavilion in front of the little house and placed Tuntun on the table. The latter dragged its body towards him and released a little whimper as it pointed towards its fatty tummy with a paw, before rubbing it with a sulky look.
Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle when he saw this. Looks like Tuntun had suffered quite a lot on the mission with Yaoyao. At the very least, its appetite had not been sated.
When he recalled how Tuntun had lost essence blood in order to help him suppress the Dragon’s Resent Poison previously, Zhou Yuan grandly gestured with his hand as he generously declared, “I’ll get the Hundred Fragrances House to send you an entire table of food later so you can eat your fill.”
Tuntun’s eyes immediately glowed brightly as it stretched out a pink tongue towards Zhou Yuan in a fawning manner.
While Zhou Yuan was playing with Tuntun, Yaoyao unhurriedly walked out from the house. She had evidently taken a bath, her soft black hair still glistening under the light, while a healthy and clow exuded from her beautiful face. Long, slender legs, a slim, tiny waist, a full, ample bosom, plus that misty, ethereal aura. For a time, even Zhou Yuan’s eyes were nearly about to pop out from their sockets.
It truly felt as if all the blessings and fortunes of the world had been gathered in a single person.
Yaoyao was long used to such a gaze from Zhou Yuan. She entered the stone pavilion and sat down, propping one cheek with a hand as she lazily said, “You didn’t make me lose face on the mission, right?”
Zhou Yuan grinned and replied, “How could I. In fact, I was even awarded the chief credit.”
Surprise flitted across Yaoyao’s eyes. She retrieved a jade bottle and poured herself a small cup of wine, before she asked with interest, “Tell me about it.”
Thus, Zhou Yuan began to recount the tale of his mission in the Black Flame Province. When he reached the point where he had encountered Zuoqiu Qingyu, Yaoyao gave a faint nod and said, “It seems that she and Luluo are doing quite well in the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.”
After listening to the entire story, a very faint smile rose on her lips. “Your performance was pretty good. It’s good that you didn’t make me lose face in front of Li Qingchan.”
She was after all the one who had forced Li Qingchan to give Zhou Yuan a spot on the team. If Zhou Yuan performed terribly, it would undoubtedly make Yaoyao look bad too.
“What about you?” Asked Zhou Yuan as he chuckled.
Yaoyao gently patted her Universe bag, causing a bundle of light to rise from it and hover in front of her. Inside, one could see a foot long piece of brown wood. There were extremely profound and mysterious patterns on the wood that resembled a giant coiling dragon, while a faint dragon roar seemed to echo from it.
“This is the Dragon Suppressing Wood, one of the main ingredients needed to draw your Dragon Subduing Rune.”
Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart. The fact that someone as cold and distant as Yaoyao would specially take on a mission for him was already enough proof that his status in her heart was different from others.
“Was the mission dangerous?” Asked Zhou Yuan with concern.
Yaoyao nonchalantly replied, “It wasn’t too bad. There were several Chosens from the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect, and even more unaffiliated practitioners, none of which were pushovers. In the end, quite a grand battle broke out.”
“While Chu Qing and Ye Ge were confronting the others, I took the opportunity to secretly retrieve the Dragon Suppressing Wood. Next, I used them as bait to lure everyone into a boundary, which allowed us to successfully escape.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned. Soon after, he let out a helpless chuckle. The matter was obviously not as simple as she had described. Chu Qing and Ye Ge had likely been tricked by Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “What do you think of Chu Qing?”
He was quite interested in the one who was called the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosens.
Yaoyao cocked her head and pondered for a moment, before she said, “He’s very strong, but he’s too mischievous and lazy. He often thinks about how to minimise his efforts in battle, if he can get away with using thirty percent of his battle power, he will absolutely refuse to use forty percent…”
“In fact, he may have even completed this mission alone, but it would force him to pay quite a substantial price. Thus, he chose to call for help instead of relying on himself.”
Zhou Yuan was speechless. To think that Senior brother Chu Qing was such a peculiar person.
“He’s the complete opposite of you…”
“When you’re in battle, you always force yourself to the limit. If you can give your hundred percent, you will never hold back ten percent…” Said Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan released a bitter laugh. “It’s likely due to the environment I grew up in. I was born in the Great Zhou Empire that was plagued by internal problems while also under great external pressure. If I did not use everything I had to grasp at that tiny chance to live, how could I possibly have arrived here today?”
Chu Qing could be mischievously lazy because he had the qualifications to be so. In comparison, when had Zhou Yuan ever been in a situation where he did not have to struggle with everything he had? If he had entertained any thoughts of preserving his strength, he would not be standing here today.
Yaoyao nodded. The two of them had been born into different environments, and naturally exhibited different behaviours. Chu Qing’s methods did not suit Zhou Yuan, because the things he carried on his shoulders were far heavier than Chu Qing’s.
Zhou Yuan raised his head to look at Yaoyao as he said, “You must bring me along if you go on such missions again. I worry when you go alone.”
“What use will bringing you be?” Yaoyao appeared to smi
le in amusement.
Zhou Yuan softly said, “I promised master Cang Yuan… that even if I’m unable to protect you, at the very least… those who want to hurt you will have to first walk over my dead corpse.”
Yaoyao was taken aback. Her gaze lowered slightly, causing her long black hair to cover half her face, creating a soul stirringly beautiful silhouette.
“Okay.”
In the end, she gave a faint nod, the usually aphetic eyes filling with vibrant life and emotion for a moment.
After finishing her wine, Yaoyao pulled back her hair and unhurriedly went to her most beloved garden where she began to tend to the plants she had left behind for the past two months.
Zhou Yuan smiled slightly as he watched her figure amongst the flowers.
Only after Yaoyao’s return did the cave dwelling become full of life once more.
…
Zhou Yuan was in no hurry to meet old Xuan again during the next two days. Instead, he focused on absorbing the few remaining tree scales.
Now that his Taiyi mark had already taken shape, the Yimu Qi absorbed by it would finally be condensed into the Tiayi Green Wood Mark that Zhou Yuan had constantly dreamt of.
Deep inside the cave dwelling.
Zhou Yuan happily lifted his hand. He could sense dark green light blossoming from his flesh and blood as a faint, ancient mark slowly emerged.
This mark seemed as if it had grown naturally from his flesh. Perfect, flawless and filled with rich life energy.
“The first Taiyi Green Wood Mark has finally been created…”
Although there was currently only one Taiyi Green Wood Mark, it continuously gave off rich life energy that soaked into Zhou Yuan’s blood, flesh and bones.
With this Taiyi Green Wood Mark, Zhou Yuan’s arm could be regrown even if it was cut off, saving him the painstaking effort of finding some rare Genesis resource that could produce the same effect.
In addition, the Taiyi Green Wood Mark also caused Zhou Yuan’s vital energy to grow increasingly abundant.
Dragon Prince Yuan c1-1251 Page 239