Chapter 329: Meeting Qin Yao
Chapter 329: Meeting Qin Yao
’Oh? Looks like the funds from the Imperial Palace have finally arrived,’ Yi Chen thought with a sense of admiration while looking at the walls and buildings of the sect he was passing through.
Most of them had been refurbished, and the others seemed to be in the process of being refurbished. It was obvious that in the months Yi Chen was gone, a lot of changes had taken place inside the clan.
’Seeing that the old decrepit buildings and walls are finally being taken care of feels so satisfying...’
Yi Chen thought with a smile, as this process was a sign of the clan finally starting to regain its previous glory.
’Oh? They are even making a bronze statue?’ Yi Chen thought with intrigue as the carriage was moving through the clan square.
In the centre, a ten-foot-high bronze statue of a cultivator was in the middle of being created up to the torso. Dressed in flowing robes, even though it wasn’t yet completed, the statue emitted a fiery aura as it was in a fighting pose.
"Pretty good..."
He couldn’t help but nod, seeing the statue. Even though it wasn’t yet completed, the statue depicted a form of battle intent that naturally made one eager to duel with someone to test one’s skills.
’The sculptor is definitely not an ordinary person...’ Yi Chen thought as he sensed this strange battle-hungry sensation he felt just after glancing at the statue for a second.
Curious to know who this sculptor might be, he casually checked the statue’s status panel, hoping that the remark would help him find him.
====== STATUS =======
Name: Yi Chen’s Statue
Remark: Being created by a Master Sculptor [Regenerate: 10,000 EXP]
====================
’...What the hell,’ Yi Chen’s eyes couldn’t help but widen when he realised that it wasn’t just any statue but the statue of him.
Because it still didn’t have a head, he had no way of telling it before. As a result, he was naturally taken by surprise.
However, that surprise lasted for only a second and was immediately taken over by embarrassment.
’Gosh... once it’s completed, won’t everyone in the clan know my face...’ Yi Chen thought with a bitter smile as the carriage soon took a turn and the statue disappeared from Yi Chen’s sight, and so did the status panel.
’Ah...I didn’t get to check the other remarks,’ Yi Chen thought in realisation and could only shake his head for being slow, ’Whatever, I’ll just check it next time while going towards the market area...’
With that thought, he once again focused his attention on the moving buildings as the carriage finally stopped in front of a familiar manor situated at the easternmost part of the clan.
"Here."
Yi Chen paid the carriage driver before turning his head towards the familiar yet unfamiliar gate.
The wooden gate that was previously on the verge of breaking down had been replaced with a metallic one.
The stone walls that were previously covered in cracks and mosses were also looking completely new, clearly indicating the changes that had taken place while he was gone.
From the gap between the gate, a continuous wind-tearing sound was incessantly being emitted, hearing which a curl formed on Yi Chen’s lips.
Making his way towards the gate, he gently pushed it open as the sight of a twelve-year-old kid with a muscular physique appeared in front of his eyes.
With a white top tightly wrapped around his waist, Qin Yao was practising next to the banyan tree and was completely immersed in his spearmanship training.
His upper body glistened from the sweat, and the moist, stony tiles underneath him clearly conveyed that he had been at this for a while now.
WOOSH!
ZOOM!
Seeing Qin Yao’s dance-like actions as his spear cleaved through the air, Yi Chen’s smirk only widened.
Leaning his shoulder against the door frame with his hands folded, he observed his spearmanship for almost a couple of minutes before saying, "Looks like you haven’t been slacking off while I was gone."
"!!!"
Taken aback by the familiar sound, Qin Yao’s neck immediately snapped towards the entrance as his eyes widened the next instant.
"Brother Chen!"
Qin Yao exclaimed in excitement and rushed towards Yi Chen at that very moment.
Seeing the excitement on his face, Yi Chen couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth inside him as he naturally opened his arms to welcome his embrace.
"I knew you would definitely arrive by this week!" Qin Yao exclaimed with a grin while tightly wrapping his arms around Yi Chen’s stomach.
"Haha, aren’t you way too excited to see me? Tell me, did you end up making some enemies while I was away?" Yi Chen chuckled, sensing his excitement while asking with a teasing tone.
"Enemies? No way!" Qin Yao immediately pulled back his head to meet Yi Chen’s eyes and said, "With Brother Chen’s fame, almost no one dares to make an enemy out of me. Even Feng Li, who used to bully me earlier, had come to the manor along with his lackeys to sincerely apologise to me.
Even though I told them that I had forgiven them, they still insisted and kowtowed almost ten times before leaving."
Although he didn’t directly say it, Yi Chen could clearly see the glee that was present on Qin Yao’s face as he said that.
"It looks like you’ve been enjoying yourself a little too much, don’t you?" Yi Chen tussled his head playfully.
"Hehe...It’s all thanks to Brother Chen..." Qin Yao replied while smiling with glee.
The next second, Yi Chen checked his status panel for a moment before commenting, "Hm? What is this? Are you still stuck at the Third Meridian Refinement Stage? Moreover, I was somewhat expecting that your height would increase a little...at this rate, won’t you always remain shorter than Feng Min?"
"..."
The smile on Qin Yao’s face fell the moment he heard those words.
"...Brother Chen jests. It’s only been three months since you left. Just how would my height increase in such a short time?" he asked with a frown.
Hearing his reply, which addressed only the part of the question he was most bothered by, Yi Chen let out a soft chuckle and said, "Just height? So you agree that you’ve been slacking off on your cultivation these days, huh?"
"...No! I meant it for both of them, it’s just..."
Hearing Qin Yao trying to justify himself only made things more entertaining for Yi Chen as he soon cut him off midway, "Alright, I understand..."
As Yi Chen said those words, he spread his spiritual sense around the manor and asked the next moment, "Where’s Elder Lei?"
"Master..." The expression on Qin Yao’s face subtly dulled the moment he heard those words.
’Don’t tell me...’ Yi Chen furrowed his eyes and asked, "Why do you look so worried? Has he still not returned?"
"N-No...that’s not the case," Qin Yao shook his head while saying, "Though Master did come a week later than he had promised, that isn’t the reason for my worry..."
Qin Yao paused for a second and continued, his brows knitting while at it.
"He...since the moment Master came back, he’s been acting strangely."
"Strange in what manner?" Yi Chen asked with confusion and concern evident in his eyes.
"He’s become very irritable...during lessons, although Master had always been strict, he had never lost his composure. But during the daily lessons nowadays...he scolds me several times if I’m unable to give a satisfactory answer to his questions.
Moreover...his eyes...they are almost always red as if he never sleeps at all. It’s to the point that I’ve started feeling scared around him..."
Qin Yao answered with a hesitant tone while staring towards the ground.
Noticing his body language, Yi Chen knew that he had been greatly affected by these changes.
’Just why would he do something like that...?’ Yi Chen thought while resting his hand on Qin Yao’s shoulders.
"When will Elder Lei return then?" Yi Chen asked with a comforting smile.
"H-He should be back by late evening or night...like usual." Qin Yao answered.
"I see." Yi Chen nodded his head and stated, "Don’t worry. When I meet him tonight, I’ll get to the bottom of this matter...Meanwhile, if there’s something to eat, can you help prepare it for me? I’ve been craving some home-cooked food for a while now."
Qin Yao’s eyes brightened after hearing those words as he exclaimed the next instant. "Of course! Leave it all to me, Brother Chen. I’ll prepare it as fast as possible."
Seeing the sudden change, Yi Chen lightly smiled and said, "There’s no need to hurry. Let’s take a bath first since we both are now covered in sweat..."
As Yi Chen said those words, he pointed at his robe, which, thanks to Qin Yao’s sweat-soaked hug, was also covered in sweat.
"Ah...Yes, let’s take a bath first." Qin Yao scratched the back of his head upon realising this, and a few moments later, they went to the bathhouse to freshen up.