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Chapter 112
🕑 Added 2023-05-13 10:45:27 +0000 UTCThat got attention. The air shifted with the sudden flaring of qi as the warriors pulled out their weapons. The black-eyed warrior locked onto Chen Haoran and finally revealed his cultivation level. Liquid Meridian Realm Third-Layer. Just as suddenly as it shifted, the air unnaturally stilled. A deadly tension hung over their heads.
“Please stay calm,” Jiang Lei said to the warriors, as he raised his hands placatingly. He and Wang Xiao took several steps back. “Chen Haoran, what are you saying?”
He could hear the faint outrage in Jiang Lei’s voice. Chen Haoran had to admire Jiang Lei’s composure. It was what made him reliable in times of danger and, at the same time, so difficult to read. Wang Xiao was far beneath his Senior Brother in this regard, visibly purpling with anger. He had enough sense not to speak, at least. Had their positions been reversed, Wang Xiao would have no doubt let the situation come to blows immediately. Though, violence wasn’t completely out of the equation just yet.
“Chen Haoran,” Jiang Lei said. “I’m not sure what you’re misunderstanding here, but it’s not helping.”
“Misunderstand what? That you wanted me to bring you to the Basin and use my friendship with Xie Jin to bring you inside?”
“That’s not—”
“I’m sure you would have convinced me to come here eventually after you lowered my guard,” Chen Haoran interrupted. He sighed. “If you didn’t get greedy and rush me here, I might have even believed in you.”
Jiang Lei pursed his lips and fell silent. It was all the confirmation Chen Haoran needed. He sighed again. He didn’t even have the heart to enjoy being right.
Jiang Lei’s talk of wanting to study his Harmonization had always been a crock of shit. A powerful Harmonization alone wasn’t enough to want to become friends with someone you just met. It didn’t warrant giving them valuable spirit stones on their first meeting. It wasn’t more valuable than the wealth Chen Haoran carried on his body and openly showed. It certainly wasn’t enough to make a Liquid Meridian Realm want to ingratiate a Qi Realm to them. Chen Haoran had done nothing and shown nothing to Jiang Lei during their first meeting to warrant a reaction like that. Jiang Lei didn’t do it because of the Chen Family either. It was clear that Jiang Lei knew nothing about Chen Haoran, yet he wanted to be connected to him. There was only one possible answer.
Xie Jin.
Chen Haoran wasn’t special, but he was traveling with someone who was. Shamans were a special existence in Zumulu, both valued and treated warily by the locals and the Empire. The abilities their Gu possessed made them dangerous and hard to deal with for the average cultivator. Xie Jin was not just a shaman; however, he was a Black Bone Shaman. Chen Haoran still wasn’t sure what that distinction meant, but it was clear that the label was a significant one. If it was for his friendship with Xie Jin, then Jiang Lei’s actions began to make sense.
Still, all that had just been a suspicion until Jiang Lei and Wang Xiao convinced him to seek safety in the Basin. Chen Haoran could recognize a good cop bad cop routine when he saw it. Jiang Lei and Wang Xiao wanted an in with the Black Bone tribe. They wanted Xie Jin to be that in, and Chen Haoran would be the bridge that connected them.
“Bastards,” Xie Jin growled. His Gu dripped purple miasma that withered the ground where it fell. The Black Bone warriors were poised with promised violence
“We do not mean any harm,” Jiang Lei said. “I assure you we did not come here with ill intent.”
“They’re Peach River Swordsmen, apparently,” Chen Haoran said.
It was like he threw a boulder into still water. The Black Bone warriors carefully controlled qi fluctuated in surprise. The black-eyed warrior stepped around Xie Jin and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Chen Haoran.
“Impossible,” Xie Jin whispered, wide-eyed.
Wang Xiao could hold it in no more. “Chen Haoran, you dare!” He pulled out his sword.
There was a screeching of steel as the warriors drew their weapons as one. The black-eyed warrior unsheathed a wicked-looking obsidian blade. Xie Jin’s sleeves glowed purple. Phelps hissed.
Jiang reacted instantly and firmly pressed Wang Xiao’s hand down. “Stop, you fool. You’ll only make this worse.”
“Don’t stop me,” Wang Xiao roared. “This bastard doesn’t know the meaning of gratitude.” He glared murder at Chen Haoran. “How dare you. How many times has my Senior Brother saved your life? Is this how you repay him, Chen Haoran!?”
Xie Jin lunged forward. “Bastard! See if I don’t rip your mouth off!”
Chen Haoran’s arm came up and blocked Xie Jin short at the same time Jiang Lei pulled Wang Xiao further back.
“Answer me! Chen Haoran!”
“Jiang Lei saved my life. I owe him,” Chen Haoran answered. It was the simple truth. No matter what, without Jiang Lei he would have died when the Shaman ambushed them. Maybe even died in the auction hall before that. Even so. He locked eyes with Jiang Lei.“It’s a debt that I will repay, but it’s mine alone. It’s not for Xie Jin to be involved with. I won’t let you do that.”
Jiang Lei somberly stared back. “Chen Haoran, are we not friends? Will you not trust me?”
Connection: Negative
Chen Haoran slowly shook his head. “We were friends when I was weak. We’re equals now. Don’t speak of things that were never there.”
Jiang Le’s face fell, and a long, sad sigh escaped him. “Alas.”
“I owe you a debt, Jiang Lei,” Chen Haoran said. “Whatever it is you want to do here. Please turn back. I don’t want to fight.”
“That is not your decision to make, outsider,” the black-eyed warrior spoke. “They bear the name of a dead sect and come with suspicious intentions. They must be detained.”
“Let them leave, please. Fighting here will do no one good.”
“This is our territory. Respectfully, we will be the one’s deciding.”
“Cousin Ren—” Xie Jin started to speak but hesitated.
Chen Haoran frowned. He didn’t want to fight, in all honesty. Jiang Lei’s peach blossom storm was still vivid in his mind. Should it come to a battle, then even nine against one Chen Haoran wouldn’t expect it to be easy. Not just that… even if it was specifically to ingratiate himself to him, Jiang Lei still helped Chen Haoran quite a bit. Training with him, saving him from the Empire’s sneak attack, putting out the fire burning him even while he was fighting. Chen Haoran hadn’t been lying earlier when he said he would have believed in Jiang Lei if he just waited.
…no. He was already burned once being friends with a Liquid Meridian Realm. No reason to repeat that mistake. He pulled out a sliver of his sword, and white energy began to scratch the earth. Jiang Lei placed a hand on the pommel of his sword. Wang Xiao pulled out his own sword with a shriek of qi on metal.
“Let this matter end here,” spoke a voice that came from every direction at once.
Chen Haoran felt his skin crawl as he wildly cast his sense out to find the source of the voice. Nothing. From where then?
Phelps squealed.
Slowly, he raised his head and looked up. A man stood there, standing in the air unsupported as if it were ground. He was tanned, with short black hair and a large beard streaked with white and braided with small black bone ornaments. Over his black robes was a mantle of colorful bird feathers that shifted colors like a dozen chameleons. On both arms were black bone rings.
“Grandfather,” Xie Jin called out in surprise.
Xie Jin’s cousin Ren and the other warriors bowed their heads. “Grand Elder.”
Chen Haoran reached out with his sense and couldn’t feel any qi from the man. Despite that, by his casual appearance in the air, his realm was obvious.
Crystal Transformation.
Xie Jin’s grandfather nodded at them and looked at Jiang Lei and Wang Xiao. “Peach River Swordsmen. To think it’s been 400 years since I last saw your kind.” He stroked his beard as he mused. “That old bat Xi Wangmu has worked hard, it seems.”
Jiang Lei’s composure slipped, and Chen Haoran, for once, saw him genuinely flustered. He and Wang Xiao quickly clasped their hands and bowed to Xie Jin’s Grandfather. “I have seen Senior Xie Ling. Disciple Jiang Lei pays his respects.”
“Disciple Wang Xiao pays his respects.”
Chen Haoran quickly found himself to be the odd one out. Did he bow as well? Would it be awkward if he did? Xie Jin’s grandfather was floating directly above him. Would it be a bad look if he got into a better position to bow?
“I wonder what brings you little ones to this old man’s home.”
Jiang Lei hesitated. “This… Senior….”
Xie Ling sighed. “Well, since it’s been so long since an honorable sword of the river has visited, I will hear you out.”
Jiang Lei immediately brightened. “Thank you, Senior,” he excitedly said.
“Not today, however,” Xie Ling said. “Ren’er. Take these two and give them lodgings for the night.”
“Yes, Grand Elder.”
Chen Haoran relaxed now that the situation seemed to be settled. Whatever happened from this point on was out of his hands. His relaxation was short-lived, however, when Xie Ling’s eyes drifted over to him.
Chen Haoran floundered for a moment before clasping his hands together and bowing. “Hello—” He quickly coughed. “This… Junior has seen the Senior.”
Xie Ling observed Chen Haoran for a single uncomfortable moment that felt like an eternity. Chen Haoran shivered. It was not pleasant to know you were under the eyes of someone stronger than you.
Finally satisfied with whatever he’d seen. Xie Ling nodded.
“You, come with me.”
Comments
Kraxus
or I could be completely wrong and it requires no level of reciprocity whatsoever.
Kraxus
So basically, Haoran attempted to make the connection to see if Lei really considered him a friend, and it appeared to be a no.
Kraxus
The connection appears to require some form of consent and reciprocation; it’s focused on generosity via social links, you can be generous to a stranger, but you only get the bonus for someone who considers you a friend, husband, companion, or in Phelp’s case owner. I don’t think slapping a collar on any old animal would do, it worked because Phelps wanted to be our companion and travel with us, but ‘ friend ‘ wasn’t an option for … well, an animal.
Nina
True, but I feel like this whole standoff is proof that Chen wants to trust him after all Jiang helped him with. But I still might be wrong
lenkite
It could be negative simply because Chen doesn't actually trust Jiang Lei. In fact that makes more sense rather than Jiang being sincere or not. Jiang could be honest and sincere and the connection will be negative as long as Chen doesn't trust him. Jiang could be an evil backstabber and the connection will be positive as long as Chen trusts him as a friend.
Nina
I think that’s his way of checking if Jiang was being sincere about being friends. Since it was negative it’s clear he wasn’t being honest
Darkarma
Was he trying to force a connection? Or did he honestly suspect something?
