Chapter 411 - 259: Middle Fifth Grade
Chapter 411: Chapter 259: Middle Fifth Grade
The sound of approaching footsteps was light as they circled the residence, closing in.
They moved in fits and starts.
As if trying to avoid detection while simultaneously tracking a trail.
If Chen Yi hadn’t left the quiet room, he might have already been discovered.
He listened for a moment.
Once he sensed the person had slipped into the front courtyard, Chen Yi motioned for Pei Guanli and Zhang Dabao to stay put.
But before he could even step out of the main hall, he heard Pei Guanli exclaim from behind him, "Little Flower?"
"Sis... My lord, Little Flower says it’s my big brother. He’s here."
Chen Yi stopped in his tracks. "Little Flower? Your brother?"
Pei Guanli nodded eagerly, patting her chest. "Little Flower is my Lifebound Gu. She smelled my brother’s scent."
With that, she rushed outside excitedly. "I’ll go tell my brother to keep his distance."
Seeing this, Chen Yi didn’t stop her.
Pei Guanli’s brother, Pei Qian, was also Granny Shan’s grandson.
Also a member of the Mountain Race, his Martial Arts Cultivation and Techniques were formidable, having already reached the Middle Three Grades Realm.
Furthermore, his mastery of the Witchcraft and Gu Dao, a legacy of the Mountain Race he cultivated, made him far more powerful than Pei Guanli.
’He must have used his Gu Insect to follow Tiger Girl’s trail.’
Chen Yi watched Pei Guanli’s retreating figure, lost in thought.
’Fortunately, Asutai and Lv Jiunan are both in the quiet room. Pei Qian shouldn’t have detected them yet.’
’Unfortunately... I have to figure out how to deceive Pei Qian...’
But before he could give it much thought, he heard Pei Qian’s voice from the front courtyard. "Little sister, why are you dressed like this?"
"I told you in my letter."
"A lord saved my life. I... I’m repaying him now."
"Is it that Spearman named Liu Wu?"
"Yes, yes, that’s him."
"Brother, he’s a really good person."
"He not only saved me, but he’s also teaching me Martial Arts. He was the one who helped me break through to the Eighth Grade Realm."
"Take me to see him."
"No, no, he... it’s not a good time... Hey, Brother? Wait for me!"
Soon, Pei Qian burst into the inner residence and immediately saw Chen Yi standing in the doorway.
However, Chen Yi was still clad in his black cloak, his face obscured by a black iron mask, revealing only his eyes.
Pei Qian paused, sized him up for a moment, then cupped his fists and bowed.
"I am Pei Qian of the Mountain Race. Greetings, Senior Liu Wu."
Just then, Pei Guanli caught up and tried to drag him back. "Brother, my lord has important business! You need to leave, now..."
Seeing this, Chen Yi spoke in an unrevealing tone, "Never mind, Miss Pei. Since he’s here, let’s go inside and talk."
"My lord?"
Pei Guanli saw the signal in his eyes and reluctantly let go.
She didn’t forget to glare at Pei Qian. "Brother, when we get back to the clan, I’m definitely telling Ah Ma you bullied me."
A wry smile appeared on Pei Qian’s face as he shook his head. "Little sister, I’m your real brother."
"I don’t care! It’s your fault for not listening to me..."
Bickering, the two of them followed Chen Yi into the main hall.
Before this, he had already instructed Zhang Dabao to stay out of sight.
’My body is well-covered and my face is disguised, so Pei Qian won’t discover my identity.’
’But Dabao isn’t.’
’Until I’m certain of Pei Qian’s intentions, I can’t let my guard down.’
The three of them took their seats.
Pei Qian glanced at Pei Guanli, who had removed her mask. Seeing her completely different face, he couldn’t help but be curious.
"Little sister, what’s with your face?"
"None of your business!"
Pei Guanli pouted, turned away, and ignored him.
Chen Yi chuckled, mediating the situation. "I imagine Brother Pei has heard about my activities in Shu State."
"To avoid implicating your sister, I had her disguise herself to evade prying eyes."
Pei Qian’s expression cleared with understanding. "I see."
"I have indeed heard that you, Senior, killed two horse bandits from Poshisu Country, and that one of them was King Landu’s own brother."
"Right now, the government offices in Shu State and various Jianghu people are all searching for you. You really should be careful."
Hearing this, Pei Guanli huffed, "If you knew that, Brother, why did you come looking for us so recklessly?"
Pei Qian gave an awkward laugh. "We hadn’t heard from you for days. Third Grand-Uncle and the others were worried, so they sent me to find you."
"I thought you were at the Xiao Family residence, but when I went over, Xiao Hei couldn’t find your scent. That’s why I ended up here."
Pei Guanli’s eyes glinted mischievously. "Are you blaming Xiao Hei for that?"
The expression on Pei Qian’s rough, dark-complexioned face changed instantly, and he waved his hands frantically. "I’m not blaming Xiao Hei!"
"Hmph! Xiao Hei, bite him!"
"No, no, no..."
Chen Yi watched them bicker with great interest. ’So the "Xiao Hei" they’re talking about is a Gu Insect,’ he realized.
’I didn’t expect Gu Insects could be so intelligent.’
A crystalline light then flashed in his eyes as he used his Qi Observation Skill on Pei Qian and Pei Guanli.
He discovered that inside each of them was a bizarrely-shaped Gu Insect.
It had the head of a bee with compound eyes, six spider-like legs, and a tail with a stinger like a scorpion’s.
It looked like a hybrid of several different insects.
But for all their bizarre appearances, the Gu Insects’ auras were not weak at all, only a sliver less powerful than their respective masters’.
After a bit more boisterous bickering, Pei Qian turned to Chen Yi. He didn’t seem to mind the disguise, smiling as he cupped his fists.
"My sister and I have been like this since we were children. We’re used to teasing each other. Please excuse our foolish display, Senior."
Chen Yi waved his hand. "It’s no trouble."
"Although that girl Guanli can be impulsive, she has a kind heart. She’s been a great help to me in Shu State."
Pei Guanli beamed. "Sis... Ahem, thank you for the praise, my lord. I’m not as good as you make me sound."
Pei Qian gave the two of them a strange look.
He knew his own sister best.
It was true that Pei Guanli was impulsive, but to say she had a kind heart was a bit of... an overstatement.
Fortunately, Pei Qian knew his sister’s temper well enough that he would only dare to think such a thing, never say it aloud.