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Chapter 82: They're Back
🕑 Added 2025-04-30 13:26:57 +0000 UTC“What? Seeking a child?” Chen Xiao asked in surprise. If it weren’t for the complex, hard-to-explain expressions on Du Rong and Wu Qing’s faces, and the equally astonished look on Tong Nuonuo’s face confirming his ears were working fine, he would’ve thought he’d misheard.
Du Rong sat wearily down on the shared bedding and said, “Exactly. Han Yuanchun and Han Yuanzhi are the only two direct descendants of the main Han family line. Han Yuanchun has remained unmarried and has no heirs. He once hoped to pass the position of City Lord to his brother’s child. Han Yuanzhi did have a son after getting married, but sadly, the child died young. Since then, no matter how hard he and his wife tried, they were unable to have another child. Both are now in the Out-of-Body stage of cultivation. At that level, having children is even more difficult. So Han Yuanchun started grasping at straws, scouring the realms for rare prescriptions. While this isn’t exactly public knowledge in Hanshan City, most older cultivators are aware of it.”
Chen Xiao’s expression immediately turned odd, and Tong Nuonuo mirrored it. The two of them clearly remembered what Ah Shou had said back in the Chang family village, about how, over a hundred years ago, the Chang clan lost control during a schoolyard brawl and accidentally killed the Han family’s only direct heir. That tragedy had forced the entire family to flee. Now, it seemed that the child who died in that incident was none other than Han Yuanzhi’s ill-fated son.
No wonder Han Yuanchun had erupted in fury and wanted the whole Chang clan to perish with his kin. That really had been the last precious seedling in a thousand-mu field, plucked out just like that. How could he not be devastated?
Chen Xiao forcefully suppressed his curiosity. He refrained from asking why cultivators in the cultivation world had trouble bearing children, or how they dealt with infertility. Instead, he focused on the main point. “So neither the City Lord nor the head of the Zhishi Hall is around. Is there anyone in the Han family who can make decisions in their absence?”
Wu Qing shook his head. “All Han family affairs are handled by those two. The others are just distant relatives, they can’t make the calls.”
So, because of the lingering grudge between the Chang village and the Han clan, they were now stuck at a critical moment with no one to turn to. The karma of this world was truly mysterious and hard to fathom.
Chen Xiao turned to another question. “Then did you hear anything about what happened at the Han estate yesterday? Any news of Brother Xi?”
Du Rong replied, “Unless it’s something major, like the City Lord and the Zhishi Hall head traveling together, there’s no way to get detailed intel. As for exactly what happened, no one’s talking.” Seeing Chen Xiao’s disappointed look, Du Rong quickly added, “But don’t worry too much, Master Chen. Wu Immortal Master and I both believe that Immortal Master Xi likely crossed the vortex portal and followed them to another Heavenly Realm.”
Chen Xiao blinked. “You mean he was able to catch up?”
Wu Qing explained, “You misunderstand, Brother Chen. Even if Immortal Master Xi wanted to chase them, he wouldn’t be able to reach them directly. All he could do was cross realms, then go to the local Zhishi Hall, post a high-paying bounty, and hire a Nascent Soul stage or higher cultivator to pass along a message.”
Chen Xiao mulled it over. Given how wealthy Xi Yunqing was, that scenario was actually very plausible.
Knowing Xi Yunqing was likely safe brought Chen Xiao some relief. He brightened up and said, “Then our best option is to lay low for now. Once Brother Xi returns, we might see a breakthrough.”
Wu Qing stood up. “You all stay hidden here. I won’t be sticking with you these next few days.” Then he looked at Tong Nuonuo and said, “Thank you for your help. If anything happens to me, the compensation the Zhishi Hall will seek in the future, it’ll all fall to you.”
Startled, Chen Xiao and Tong Nuonuo both jumped to their feet. Chen Xiao quickly asked, “Immortal Master Wu, where are you going?”
“I’m going to find a friend,” Wu Qing replied calmly.
Chen Xiao glanced at Du Rong in confusion. Du Rong explained, “We had just finished gathering intel on the Han family and were about to head back. But Immortal Master Wu said he wanted to check out a spot that the Zhishi Hall’s manager frequents. While we were there, we happened to spot a distress signal, one that his old sect uses.”
Chen Xiao shot Du Rong a subtle glare. Why hadn’t he stopped Wu Qing? Letting him wander around near the Zhishi Hall’s personnel?
All Du Rong could do was grimace helplessly. Wu Qing, even injured, still outmatched him. And besides, they barely knew each other, he didn’t dare forcibly stop him.
Tong Nuonuo stepped forward and asked, “Could it be the old acquaintance you gave your name token to, Brother Wu?”
Wu Qing nodded. “In a situation like this, he’s the only one I can think of. Even if it’s not him, it could be a fellow disciple caught up because of him.”
Chen Xiao frowned. “But we don’t even know if the signal’s real. If it’s a trap and you walk right into it, the chances of survival…”
“I’ve considered that,” Wu Qing interrupted. “That’s why I’m going alone, for your sake. If I get caught, at least I won’t drag you all down with me.” He was fully aware of the danger, yet his determination didn’t waver. Chen Xiao wanted to talk him out of it but didn’t know how.
Sensing Chen Xiao’s concern, Wu Qing smiled and added, “Our two sects have been allies for many years. We’ve always looked out for each other...”
It was practically an alliance. Since the distress signal had already been sent, ignoring it would be one thing if we hadn’t seen it, but now that we had, we couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Besides, it might not even be a trap.”
Chen Xiao fell silent for a moment, then looked at Wu Qing and said, “Can’t we at least wait a little longer? Until Brother Xi returns? At least then we’d have someone to back us up.”
Wu Qing shook her head. “The message he sent was marked as extremely urgent. Every moment we delay could change the outcome. We can’t afford to wait.”
In a world where cultivation was the norm and lifespans stretched long, bonds between disciples and sect members were far stronger than those in Chen Xiao’s past life. Friendships between disciples of allied sects were just as deep. So when Wu Qing saw the distress signal, she was willing to set aside her desire for revenge and risk danger to help.
Seeing this, Chen Xiao could no longer argue. He turned to glance at Tong Nuonuo, who immediately understood his meaning. She took a carefully crafted hidden weapon from the mechanism box and handed it to Wu Qing. After explaining how to use it in detail, Wu Qing looked visibly more confident. Compared to the earlier tragic air of “the wind howls cold at Yi River,” she now felt more assured.
Wu Qing carefully stowed away the small purple orb, then said to them, “Wait here for one day. If I’m not back by then, don’t wait any longer.”
Xi Yunqing had not yet returned, and now Wu Qing was leaving too. One thing after another, it was exhausting just keeping up.
None of the three were in the mood for conversation. They hastily ate a simple meal and laid down to rest. Du Rong, worn out from the day, began snoring as soon as his head hit the pillow. Beside him were two items Tong Nuonuo had given him. Meanwhile, Chen Xiao couldn’t fall asleep. He tossed and turned, only drifting off in a haze as dawn approached.
Du Rong was the first to wake in the morning. Tong Nuonuo sat up right after, and seeing that, Chen Xiao got out of bed too. Since he couldn't sleep anymore, he decided to wash up. Tong Nuonuo stayed in the room while Chen Xiao and Du Rong went out to buy breakfast.
Just as the two reached the inn’s main hall, a cultivator came rushing in from the street and dashed up to a table where people were eating. His voice was raised in alarm as he said, “Something big happened! Last night, there was a fight between unknown cultivators near the docks, massive destruction! A whole section of buildings was wiped out! The area is now sealed off for cleanup. They just posted a notice, flights are suspended starting today, and will resume in three days. Hurry up, finish eating so we can reschedule our tickets! If we’re late, there won’t be any cabins left!”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, his two companions began chattering in surprise while speeding up their meal.
Chen Xiao and Du Rong exchanged a glance. Du Rong gave a small nod, then walked up pretending to be curious and began asking questions. Others who had overheard joined in, eager to learn more. Once Du Rong had gathered enough information, he quietly slipped back.
He leaned in close to Chen Xiao and said in a low voice, “Only one person was seen fighting. And someone near the docks last night said they heard a huge explosion.”
Chen Xiao’s heart sank. His expression turned solemn. “Grab Tong Nuonuo, we need to leave. Now!”
One person, a massive explosion, and widespread destruction, it all pointed to one conclusion. One of the fighters was almost certainly Wu Qing. Now, there was no room left for wishful thinking. That so-called distress signal had been a trap. And since they’d discovered that only one person had fallen into it, they would definitely double their efforts to find the remaining targets, Tong Nuonuo and Xi Yunqing. As for Chen Xiao and Du Rong, it was unclear if they’d been seen meeting at the inn, but chances were, they wouldn’t escape notice either.
The three of them quickly checked out and left the inn discreetly.
Although they hadn’t known Wu Qing for long or become particularly close, it still hit hard, someone they’d come to know had vanished in such a violent, tragic way. Tong Nuonuo, who had spent the most time with her, held back his grief and asked Chen Xiao, “Where do we go now?”
Though Chen Xiao’s face remained calm, his nerves were taut. What weighed most heavily on him was the fact that they had no clues, while their enemies were lurking in the shadows, closing in step by step. After a moment of thought, he said, “I want to take a look at the courtyard we were renting before.”
Tong Nuonuo and Du Rong didn’t have any better ideas, so they agreed.
They circled around and returned to the place where Chen Xiao and Du Rong had previously been staying. The residential area here was already sparsely populated, and the streets were usually quiet. They moved quickly while staying alert. When they opened the courtyard gate, everything looked just as they had left it, unchanged.
Just as a wave of disappointment rose in Chen Xiao’s chest, he suddenly felt a shift in the surrounding energy. His body reacted before his mind caught up, he spun around instinctively, and there stood Xi Yunqing, appearing out of nowhere.
The man looked windblown and weary, his face still marked by urgency and tension. His sharp gaze swept over Chen Xiao, and only after confirming he was unharmed did his expression relax.
“You’re back! Where were you?” they both asked at the same time.
