by Translator: Pokka; Author: 我本纯洁 (I Am Pure); Licensed From: Migu
"Look at how swollen my face is. Do I look fine?" said Xia Liuhui while pointing at his fully wrapped face.
"Damn it! This must be the work of Ye Lingyun and his lackeys, right? I'll take revenge for you later. He thinks he can bully everyone just because his cousin is an inner disciple?" Wang Zhenchuan said furiously.
Wang Zhenchuan was already a peak ninth-stage Astral Realm cultivator. Transformation Realm was not far away. He had an ordinary aptitude, but he made it up by being insanely hard-working. Breaking through several stages in a row in a year and half was a pretty decent accomplishment. Of course, part of that was also due to the care Zi Changhe had given him.
"Senior Brother Wang, did you not hear that Ye Lingyun was nearly crippled when you were on your way here?" Xia Liuhui asked. He then pointed at the person beside him and said, "Look who's here."
Finally, Wang Zhenchuan's gaze landed on Xiang Shaoyun. His face was immediately filled with emotion as he quickly greeted deferentially, "Greetings, Martial Uncle Xiang."
"Haha, my martial nephew, it has been a while. Looks like you have been doing well," said Xiang Shaoyun with a hearty laugh. Back then, he assumed the identity of Zi Changhe's junior apprentice brother. With Wang Zhenchuan being accepted as Zi Changhe's disciple, he naturally became Xiang Shaoyun's martial nephew.
"Everyone thought you were...never mind that. Master will be very happy to know this, the same goes to Elder Zhen Peng as well!" said Wang Zhenchuan happily. He was a person of few words, but he was too excited to see Xiang Shaoyun and couldn't stop talking.
He still remembered the help Xiang Shaoyun had given him in the past. Xiang Shaoyun had recommended him to become Zi Changhe's disciple and had even given him a portion of the Earth Star Spring liquid. Those two favors were enough to make him stay grateful to Xiang Shaoyun.
"Alright, let's find a place we can chat over a drink," said Xiang Shaoyun, who was also in a fabulous mood.
"Sure, let's go to the restaurant," said Xia Liuhui.
Thus, the three headed to a restaurant in the outer pavilion.
...
Within a certain courtyard in the inner pavilion, a good-looking woman had just received news that caused her to be furious. She said, "Audacious! That person dares to hit him even after knowing he is the cousin of me, Wang Jiaohua? That person is completely looking down on me!"
Beside the woman was a young man. He had his arm gently wrapped around the woman's waist as he asked, "Jiaohua, what happened to make you so angry?"
"A blind fool has injured my cousin. I need payback for it," answered the woman.
"Some outer disciples? I'll come as well and help cripple all of them for you," said the young man.
"Sure, come with me then. We will show them how insignificant non inner disciples are," declared the woman dauntlessly. And thus, the pair rushed out of the inner pavilion.
At this time, Xiang Shaoyun, Xia Liuhui, and Wang Zhenchuan were happily drinking and chatting in the restaurant. Xiang Shaoyun had given them a simplified explanation as to what he had experienced over the past year. Of course, he still withheld information that shouldn't be released.
Even so, both Xia Liuhui and Wang Zhenchuan still sighed endlessly as they listened to the story. But they were still confused as to how Xiang Shaoyun had managed to enter the Cloud Margin Pavilion.
"Oh, about that, I got to know a high-level elder through coincidence. He was dead set on making me his disciple, but I refused so he forced me to come here instead," said Xiang Shaoyun jokingly.
But Xia Liuhui and Wang Zhenchuan did not find it funny at all. Xiang Shaoyun was someone who was already capable of battling Transformation Realm cultivators when he was an Astral Realm cultivator. This ability to punch above his weight was something rare even in the Cloud Margin Pavilion. It was completely unsurprising that a King was trying to take Xiang Shaoyun as a disciple.
"Looks like my boss is already a Transformation Realm expert. Why don't you agree to that elder's request? You can become an inner disciple here and can take care of us in the future. In fact, we will be able to do as we like from then on," said Xia Liuhui with excitement.
"That's right. You should join the Cloud Margin Pavilion. I trust you will be able to shine brightly here," said Wang Zhenchuan. The persuasions caused Xiang Shaoyun to actually start considering joining.
He had been thinking about his next steps, thinking about what to do to grow quickly. The Cloud Margin Pavilion would most likely be a decent place for him to cultivate and grow for a bit. Moreover, his enemies wouldn't be able to find him immediately anyway. Staying here would be a good choice.
"I'll think about it," Xiang Shaoyun hesitated. He did not agree right away as he did not want to tie himself up. He would make his decision after he discussed it with Long Hui.
"Boss, what do you need to think about? Do you have a better cultivation spot? Or you don't want to stay at Cloud Margin City anymore?" Xia Liuhui asked.
"It's not a good thing to know too much," Xiang Shaoyun grumbled before shifting the topic and asking about Lu Xiaoqing.
Lu Xiaoqing was doing well and was much more hardworking in cultivating nowadays. She was currently trying to break through into the Transformation Realm to meet the requirements of becoming an inner disciple.
And now that they were speaking about Lu Xiaoqing, Xia Liuhui started lamenting her loyalty to Xiang Shaoyun.
"My sister-in-law has been missing you all the while. Each time we're together, she would be asking about you. She has been repeating that you are definitely alive and will appear before us again. Looks like her intuition was right all along!" said Xia Liuhui.
Xia Liuhui admired Lu Xiaoqing's loyalty to Xiang Shaoyun. In his heart, she was already his sister-in-law. That was also why he had been willingly guarding her from other men.
"Don't simply call her what she is not. I don't want to ruin her life," said Xiang Shaoyun with a sigh. He had never considered furthering his relationship with Lu Xiaoqing. It was not that he didn't find her pretty enough, but for now, he had no time for romance.
"In any case, I already consider her my sister-in-law. If you are going to find me other sister-in-laws, you first have to acknowledge my current sister-in-law!" Xia Liuhui persevered.
"Sure, sure, as long as you're happy," said Xiang Shaoyun, who couldn't be bothered to continue the argument. He would just let nature take its course.
At this time, Xiang Shaoyun suddenly sensed fast footsteps outside the restaurant. A vision appeared in his Nether Soul Domain, and he sneered, "Looks like our little gathering is going to be interrupted soon."
Right after he said that, a young man and a woman entered the restaurant. A small crowd was following behind them as well.
Chapter 217: Swatting Two Houseflies
The two newcomers were inner disciples of the Cloud Margin Pavilion, both Transformation Realm cultivators. The woman was Wang Jiaohua, Ye Lingyun's cousin. As for the man, he was Wang Jiaohua's lover, Wen Jinrui.
Some curious disciples had noticed the two and had followed them to see what was happening. They were able to guess that Wang Jiaohua was most likely here to take revenge for Ye Lingyun.
"Who's Xia Liuhui? Get your ass over here!" shouted Wang Jiaohua the moment she entered the restaurant.
When Xia Liuhui heard her, he shivered and whispered to Xiang Shaoyun, "Boss, trouble has arrived!"
Wang Zhenchuan had a solemn look on his face as well. "Worse comes to worst, we'll just fight it out with them."
Someone pointed at Xia Liuhui, immediately causing all gazes to focus on them. Wang Jiaohua and Wen Jinrui also looked over before walking over.
"Boss, what should we do now?" Xia Liuhui grew anxious.
"Calm down. Nothing will happen. Your boss is here," Xiang Shaoyun said calmly.
He then glanced over at Wen Jinrui before sneering, "I did not expect to see him again this quickly. Looks like it's time for me to get some payback."
The Wen Clan had move
d against him numerous times. In fact, he had been suspecting that the sudden appearance of a King at the Flame Mountain also had something to do with Wen Jinrui. He would need some payback for that.
Wen Jinrui saw Xiang Shaoyun, but he was unaware that Xiang Shaoyun and Overlord Xiang were the same person. He only remembered Xiang Shaoyun as the kid who had played some tricks on him during their time at Wu Town.
That is quite a surprise. You're in Cloud Margin Pavilion as well, kid? Good, we can settle debts old and new together! thought Wen Jinrui with a sneer.
"You're Xia Liuhui? And these two must be your accomplices? Get your asses over here! You dare to harm my cousin? Nobody can save you today!" said Wang Jiaohua overbearingly.
When a pretty woman talked so overbearingly in public, she did look rather tyrannical. Wang Jiaohua was only 20 years old and was already a fifth-stage Transformation Realm cultivator. With her talent, she had the qualifications to be arrogant. Even so, she still knew the restaurant wasn't a place she could act wantonly. Thus, she held her hands and did not do anything within the restaurant.
Xiang Shaoyun spoke before Xia Liuhui could, "Where did this noisy old lady come from? Is she not aware that the sight of her is enough to cause someone to lose their appetite?"
His words sank everyone into silence. Old lady! That was an absolute insult for any beautiful young woman.
At those words, Wang Jiaohua's face twisted and an imposing aura surged out of her as she bellowed, "I'll kill you!"
Ever since Wang Jiaohua had joined the Cloud Margin Pavilion, nobody had ever spoken to her like that. Xiang Shaoyun was the first. Just as she was on the brink of losing her temper and was about to attack in the restaurant itself, Wen Jinrui pulled her hand and said, "Jiaohua, don't let that get to you. He is purposely trying to anger you so you will attack and break the rules. Let me deal with this."
Wang Jiaohua suppressed her fury and said, "Ok, love. Make sure he suffers."
Wen Jinrui nodded and stared at Xiang Shaoyun with a sharp gaze before saying, "Kid, we meet again."
Xiang Shaoyun grabbed a handful of peanuts from the table before asking, "And who in the world are you? Do I know you?"
When the crowd saw the contempt Xiang Shaoyun was showing Wen Jinrui, they couldn't help but give him an inner thumbs up. They had never seen Xiang Shaoyun before, but the guts he had in order to show inner disciples such scorn was something worthy of admiration. Of course, they were also wondering what would happen to Xiang Shaoyun.
"You are very good at talking, but it's all pointless. If you know what's good for you, come out with me right now and stop hiding here like a coward," said Wen Jinrui after he forced himself to calm down.
"Eh, what's so bad about being a coward? At least one can avoid a beating being a coward," said Xiang Shaoyun shamelessly.
Those words changed the inner thumbs up the crowd was giving him into an inner middle finger. Earlier, they had all thought that the kid was a capable person himself and that that was why he had dared to offend two inner disciples. But it turned out he was just a coward!
Wen Jinrui viewed it as a sign of Xiang Shaoyun shrinking from the fight. He thus roared with laughter and said, "Haha, yes, you are right. But you can't hide forever. You will have to face the music eventually."
He then said to Wang Jiaohua, "Jiaohua, why don't we order some food here as well? We'll take our time waiting for these three cowards to leave before crushing each one of them."
Wang Jiaohua nodded. "Ok, let's wait then. We have plenty of time."
"You might have a lot of free time, but I'm a busy man. Let's go out and settle this right now. The sight of an adulterous couple like you two is making me lose my appetite," Xiang Shaoyun said with disdain as he stood up.
"Boss, it's better if we wait for a bit more," Xia Liuhui advised. He knew Xiang Shaoyun had an impressive combat power, but he did not think Xiang Shaoyun was strong enough to face the likes of Wen Jinrui and Wang Jiaohua.
"I'll go get my master," Wang Zhenchuan decided.
"Don't worry. Just swatting two houseflies." Xiang Shaoyun waved his hand. He then looked at Wang Jiaohua, "I am the one who beat your cousin up. You want payback? Then, come with me, old lady."
He then strode out the restaurant. His heroic bearing caused a number of young women in the vicinity to be smitten. What a resolute and handsome man!
"Senior Brother Wen, I want him to suffer a fate worse than death!" demanded the furious Wang Jiaohua.
Wen Jinrui nodded as a sharp glint crossed his eyes. "Don't worry. He is only a bug from a small town. I will teach him a lesson for offending you."
And thus, the people in the restaurant all left, awaiting the coming "show" to unfold.
The moment Wen Jinrui arrived outside, he prepared to attack, "Die, bug!"
"HOLD ON!" Xiang Shaoyun cried out.
"Hmph. It is too late for regret," Wen Jinrui snorted.
"Do I look like I am begging for mercy? Please, stop imagining things. I only want to ask if there is a good location for a spar here. I'm tired of getting harassed by your enforcers," said Xiang Shaoyun with a shrug.
"Well. Very well. Let's go to the arena then. There, even killing is fine," said Wen Jinrui with a twisted expression.
"Sure. To the arena, then," Xiang Shaoyun agreed indifferently.
Soon, they arrived at an arena. Wen Jinrui was in too much of a hurry to showcase his strength, so he immediately leaped onto the arena before taunting Xiang Shaoyun with his finger. "Come up here to your death."
"Hehe, ignorance does breed bravery it seems," said Xiang Shaoyun with a nonchalant smile. He then said to Wang Jiaohua, "Old lady, you want to come up as well? We can save some time that way."
"Let me deal with the old lady instead," a melodic voice suddenly rang out in the air.
Chapter 218: Man's Affair
The sudden voice attracted the attention of many people there. And when they looked toward the direction the voice came from, their eyes lit up with infatuation.
"I-it's Senior Sister Gong Qinyin! Is she protecting this young man? Or does she merely have a grudge against Wang Jiaohua?"
"It really is Senior Sister Gong Qinyin! She has been accepted as a personal disciple of the Zither Empress and is recently a rising figure in the inner pavilion. She is also one of the pavilion's top five beauties!"
"Wait, this kid knows Senior Sister Gong? I can't believe his luck!"
"Look who's beside her! It's Lu Xiaoqing! Maybe she was brought here by Lu Xiaoqing?"
"It doesn't matter. Things are going to get interesting."
...
Xiang Shaoyun was also blanking out. He had not expected Gong Qinyin and Lu Xiaoqing to appear suddenly like this.
After a year, Gong Qinyin had become even more enchanting. She had a face beautiful enough to destroy kingdoms, a source of infatuation for many young men; and her curves, which had only grown more alluring as she aged, made the men not be able to take their eyes off her.
She was not wearing the usual martial outfit she used to wear. Instead, she was wearing a thin light muslin outfit. The outfit accentuated her perfect figure, her beauty so flawless one could die just staring at her in a trance. Hanging on her back was a zither, and the combination of her and the zither emanated absolute grace and elegance.
Xiang Shaoyun couldn't help but sigh, "This girl sure has changed a lot."
As for Lu Xiaoqing, she hadn't changed as much as Gong Qinyin, but she had definitely grown prettier as well. Her long hair cascaded down her back, radiating endless gentleness, and her delicate face was incredibly lovable, giving one an urge to pamper her endlessly the moment one laid eyes on her.
At present, a layer of sparkling mist covered her eyes. She stared unblinkingly at Xiang Shaoyun, rich emotions in her eyes. It had been a year and a half, and she had thought that Xiang Shaoyun had died at the Golden River Valley.
She would often recall the time they first met, recall her anger over his shameless
ness, and recall how she fell for him more and more. His shamelessness, his unconventional ways, his overbearingness...she loved all of it.
His ultimate disappearance had placed her in a figurative space of ice, making her feel completely at a loss. She could only keep cultivating madly so as to keep her emotions numb with hard work. Now that she was looking at him once again, her frozen heart was slowly thawing.
Before even seeing who the newcomer was, Wang Jiaohua turned while scolding, "Which slut is it? You dare shout at this young lady? Are you tired of living?"
Only after she said those words did she realize that Gong Qinyin was the newcomer. Her face instantly sank.
This woman was not an ordinary inner disciple. Rather, she was a personal disciple of an Emperor, and the number of Emperors the Cloud Margin Pavilion had could be counted on one's fingers. That alone gave her an extraordinary status in the pavilion.
"S-sorry, J-Junior Sister Gong. I did not realize it was you," Wang Jiaohua quickly explained herself. Inwardly however, she was cursing, What a b*tch. If it wasn't for the Emperor, I would have ripped you apart.
"Touching him is equivalent to touching me. Come, let's battle!" Gong Qinyin tossed Xiang Shaoyun a glance before declaring solemnly to Wang Jiaohua. She paused slightly before adding, "Don't worry that my master will trouble you for this. She is unlikely to lower herself to interfere in the affairs of juniors like us."
Before Wang Jiaohua could reply, Xiang Shaoyun spoke, "This is the affair of a man. You have no business interfering. Just stand aside and watch."
The crowd grew resentful when they heard how Xiang Shaoyun was speaking to Gong Qinyin.
"What an ungrateful bastard. Senior Sister Gong, just let him charge to his death."
"Yeah, Senior Sister Gong, he is unworthy of your concern. There's nothing special about him at all."
"Senior Brother Wen, Senior Sister Wang, beat this guy up! Don't spare him!"
...