Chapter 107 - 106: Young Master, Come In and Have a Seat
Chapter 107: Chapter 106: Young Master, Come In and Have a Seat
The father and son exchanged words, and neither looked pleased.
Wu Chen wasn’t sure what kind of drama the pair was putting on, but he wasn’t worried.
They were no match for him before, and with a new Jade Bone Realm Martial Art currently being upgraded, they stood even less of a chance now.
After the middle-aged man finished speaking, Wu Chen watched him step outside and drag someone back in. The person’s head was completely wrapped in gauze, with only two eyes visible.
From the hateful glare piercing through the gauze, Wu Chen knew this was the young lady he had beaten down earlier.
What surprised Wu Chen was that he had expected her to be unconscious for at least three to five days and bedridden for a month or so.
Yet here she was, able to get up and move around. Aside from her bandaged head, she looked completely fine.
’Does the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall have some rare medicinal pill? How else could her injuries have healed so quickly?’
’Or maybe some other treasure?’
Wu Chen was inwardly astonished and grew curious about the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall’s true resources. As his mind wandered, a loud shout suddenly rang out:
"You blind fool! How dare you offend our honored guest."
"You’re always causing trouble and never learn your lesson. Today, I’ll make sure you remember this!"
ZING!
Before his words had even faded, Yao Hua drew his blade on the spot. "Today, I’ll sever one of your arms! Let’s see if you dare to act so recklessly and stir up trouble again!"
Wu Chen was still pondering what miraculous item the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall had used for such a quick recovery when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the flash of a blade several paces away, followed by a blood-curdling scream that echoed through the room.
THUD! THUD!
The sounds of two heavy objects hitting the floor followed.
Yao Hua was panting heavily, his eyes weary as he looked at Wu Chen. "Sir, are you satisfied with this?"
Wu Chen: "???"
Wu Chen stared at the severed arm and then at Yao Jing, who had fainted from the pain. A thousand questions popped into his head. He felt like there was something seriously wrong with this family.
One minute they were attacking outsiders without a word, the next they were attacking their own family.
And every move they made was a lethal strike, meant to kill or maim!
’He chopped off his own granddaughter’s arm and then asked me if I’m satisfied? He’s acting like a complete maniac!’
Wu Chen didn’t know how to respond, so he just said, "I’m here to learn Martial Arts. As for everything else, I’ll let bygones be bygones."
Hearing this, Yao Hua finally let out a sigh of relief. "Then please, sir, take back this thousand silver!"
Wu Chen replied, "This thousand silver... leave it for this young lady’s treatment."
At this, Yao Hua’s heart was finally put at ease. He figured that since Wu Chen mentioned his granddaughter’s injury, he must be satisfied with how things were handled.
Seeing the father and son’s neurotic behavior, Wu Chen—having gotten the Martial Arts he came for—couldn’t be bothered to stay any longer. He cupped his hands in a farewell gesture and left.
The middle-aged man didn’t even glance at his daughter with her severed arm on the floor. Instead, he smiled the whole way as he escorted Wu Chen out of the Martial Arts Hall.
It gave Wu Chen goosebumps.
Only after the sound of their footsteps faded did Yao Hua bend down and crouch before his unconscious granddaughter, his face showing not a hint of pity.
He had already struck several of her acupoints during the attack. Although her arm was severed, no blood gushed out, and her life was not in danger.
Yao Hua pressed a few more vital points, and Yao Jing, who had fainted from the pain, slowly regained consciousness.
Feeling the excruciating pain radiating from her right arm, the eyes behind the gauze revealed a venomous glare.
But before she could voice her grievance, her grandfather’s icy warning reached her ears:
"This matter is over. From now on, you will stay quietly at home!"
"Don’t think you’re so special just because your brother is at the Green Mountain Martial Academy."
"And another thing..."
"If I ever find out you wrote to your brother asking him to avenge you..."
"Hmph! Unless you want to lose your left arm too!"
After saying his piece, Yao Hua walked away without a second glance.
Compared to his granddaughter, his grandson—valued by the Green Mountain Martial Academy and taken as a Direct Disciple by an Elder—was the family’s future.
If this granddaughter hadn’t been his own flesh and blood, she certainly wouldn’t have survived the day after this incident.
GRIND! GRIND!
Hearing her grandfather’s words, followed by the sound of his retreating footsteps, Yao Jing ground her teeth. Tears streamed down her face but couldn’t hide the venom in her eyes.
"What did I do wrong?! I did nothing wrong!" she shrieked hysterically, but no one answered.
She thought about how this all started because of the young man who came to learn Martial Arts.
And she had only done what she did for the sake of her family!
The more Yao Jing thought about it, the more indignant she became.
Feeling the heart-piercing pain from her arm, her face contorted in agony. Fresh blood began to seep from her bandaged head, staining the gauze red.
HISS!
How could she not take revenge for her severed arm! How could she not take revenge for her disfigurement!
With great difficulty, she pushed herself up with her one remaining arm. Clutching her shoulder, she limped back to her boudoir under the terrified gazes of the servants and snatched up a brush and paper from the desk.
She was going to write to her brother at the Green Mountain Martial Academy, the one who doted on her most, and have him get revenge for her!
But not long after, her brush froze. She stood stunned on the spot.
While waiting outside the guest room earlier, she had learned that Wu Chen was from Refining Valley, but he had never once mentioned his name!
However, this wasn’t a difficult problem for her. After a flurry of writing, a gray sparrow took flight from her window.
Yao Jing activated her network of spies. She ordered them to find the name of the disciple connected to Refining Valley who had also dealt with the Songtao Martial Arts Hall.
...
Of course, Wu Chen had no idea what happened at the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall after he left, much less that someone was digging up information on him, planning revenge.
He toyed with the Refining Valley Jade Pendant, his mood quite pleasant. With a spring in his step, he ambled leisurely toward the next Martial Arts Hall.
’I can’t believe this Refining Valley Jade Pendant is so effective!’
’The complete change in the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall members’ attitudes was beyond my expectations...’
’It seems those demon heads weren’t just for Contribution Points. Because of the sheer number, the Jade Pendant that Refining Valley gave me is probably on par with a Direct Disciple’s!’
After a moment’s thought, Wu Chen figured out the connection.
Although Zhuang Bo hadn’t mentioned it at the time, it seemed these Jade Pendants were also ranked. Even though his was engraved with ’Friend’ instead of ’Disciple’, let alone ’Direct Disciple’...
...it still wasn’t something the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall could trifle with.
Crossing a few streets, Wu Chen arrived at the last Martial Arts Hall on his list.
This time, after explaining his purpose to the Guard at the entrance, he directly showed them his Refining Valley Jade Pendant. The effect was excellent, as expected.
He was received with great ceremony by the Martial Arts Hall.
Waving off the tedious formalities, Wu Chen got straight to the point. He emerged from the last Martial Arts Hall just half an hour later.
Lost on this trip: one thousand silver banknotes.
Gained on this trip: A Jade Bone Realm Martial Art.
"I still have over three thousand silver..."
"As for Martial Arts, there are still two escort agencies in the city."
"The inn I’m staying at is ridiculously large. I wonder if there’s anything special going on upstairs or downstairs..."
As Wu Chen pondered this, he headed toward the nearest escort agency.
...
"What unfortunate timing, sir. My elders are away on an escort mission. There’s no one home who can make a decision about a Jade Bone Realm Martial Art."
"Sorry to have bothered you."
"Why don’t you come in and sit for a while, sir!"
"There’s no need."
"Will you be back in a few days, sir?"
"We’ll see."
...
Both escort agencies were just as inconveniently unavailable, leaving Wu Chen in the awkward situation of having money but nowhere to spend it.
He glanced up at the darkening sky, then at the dwindling number of people on the street. Wu Chen decided to stop wandering and returned to the inn.
After eating and washing up, Wu Chen went to bed.
The next day, he opened his eyes and stared at the panel:
[Deep Red Host] Wu Chen
[Martial Arts Realm] Jade Bone Realm, Fourth Level
(Qi Power: Wild Bull Shakes the Earth) (Stamina: Enduring Qi Power)
[Martial Arts & Cultivation Techniques] ’Bone-Eroding Wind Blade - Aura’, ’Swift Swallow Leaf-Plucking Step - Aura’, ’Tiger Bone Body Forging Skill - Perfection’, ’Iron Shirt Bone Grinding Skill’...
"Jade Bone Realm, Fourth Level?"
Overnight, the two Jade Bone Realm Martial Arts he had acquired from the Martial Arts Halls had finished upgrading.
In a single night, Wu Chen had unknowingly broken through two minor realms, reaching the fourth level of the Jade Bone Realm.
Despite his realm increasing by a fair bit, Wu Chen had no intention of slacking off and lazing in bed.
He splashed his face with cold water to drive away the sleepiness.
After a simple breakfast of congee and steamed buns, Wu Chen began to wander around Mountain Mist City.
"Huh!"
About two hours later, in a small tavern, he caught sight of a familiar figure and exclaimed in surprise:
"Doesn’t that guy have to stand guard at the foot of the city wall anymore?"
"Or did he just give up and desert his post?"