Chapter 99 - 96 Master Gu

Chapter 99: Chapter 96 Master Gu"So it seems, becoming a disciple of Heavenly Martial Hall isn’t easy..." Ye Xuan laughed at himself with a touch of self-mockery. "Of course, it’s not," Tang Xiaoyan’s pretty face revealed a look of longing. "Most of the young people in the Tiannan Region probably dream of becoming a disciple of Heavenly Martial Hall. Only those who are true geniuses would find it easy..." "Is Heavenly Martial Hall that good?" With a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, Ye Xuan watched the woman before him pine for Heavenly Martial Hall, to an almost excessive degree, and couldn’t help but shake his head. "As far as I know, in the Tiannan Region, there isn’t just one Third Grade Sect like Heavenly Martial Hall. The Wildfire Sect of the Great Yun Country is also Third Grade, but you never mention them." Heavenly Martial Hall and Wildfire Sect, the only remaining two Third Grade Sects in the Tiannan Region, had been the established hierarchy since the Black Demon Sect’s destruction hundreds of years ago. Below these were Xingyun Pavilion and Earth Evil Sect—at Second Grade—and Green Leaf Valley and Spring and Autumn Sword Sect—at First Grade—forming the complete sect hierarchy of the entire Tiannan Region. "We, the people of Great Hua Country, naturally venerate our Heavenly Martial Hall. Besides, Heavenly Martial Hall’s power is indeed formidable, undeniably so. The Grand Hall Master, Ling Jingtian, is a peak expert at the Seventh Grade Martial Sect Master Realm. Meanwhile, the Sect Leader of Wildfire Sect was once defeated by Ling Palace Master, a fact known to all," Tang Xiaoyan said with a hint of pride in her tone. "The four True Disciples of Heavenly Martial Hall are all Martial Sect Masters with renowned reputations. Even if Wildfire Sect wishes to contest for the top spot, it still falls short. Hence, the throne of the number one sect rightfully belongs to Heavenly Martial Hall. Who wouldn’t want to enter there? Wildfire Sect is only the second choice." "The four True Disciples?" A sparkle flickered in Ye Xuan’s eyes as he became intrigued. So every one of the four True Disciples was a Martial Sect Master? Such cultivation level, if placed in the Great Xia Kingdom, would surely be among the top echelon. Yet in Heavenly Martial Hall, they were merely disciples. Interesting. Heavenly Martial Hall had piqued his interest more and more. As the two chatted warmly along the way, soon, an astonishing silhouette gradually emerged up ahead. "We’ve arrived at Green Sun City." A voice filled with surprise came from outside, and Ye Xuan leaned out to gaze at the large city bathed in the sunset’s afterglow, a gleam surfacing in his eyes. The first stop upon entering Great Hua Country had finally been reached. "Your Tang family must be the leading clan in Green Sun County, right?" Ye Xuan suddenly turned to look at Tang Xiaoyan in front of him. He could tell that although the Tang family’s group was not large, each member was strong in their cultivation. Tang Xiaoyan herself, despite appearing as a frail woman barely in her twenties, also possessed the cultivation of a Fifth Grade Martial Master. Such cultivation, setting aside the true strength, was on par with his own. From this, Ye Xuan inferred that the Tang family must be influential in Green Sun County. "Yes, but..." Tang Xiaoyan hesitated as if there were some unspeakable hidden matter, ultimately swallowing the words she had wanted to say. Seeing this, Ye Xuan didn’t ask further, but instead continued to observe the streets within the city. From the respectful attitude of some people toward the caravan, he knew his initial guess was not mistaken. The caravan entered the city and traveled along the spacious streets for nearly ten minutes. A sprawling mansion then appeared in Ye Xuan’s field of vision. "The young Lady has returned!" At the mansion’s gates, many guards from the Tang family were clearly delighted upon seeing the returning caravan. It was obvious they had long been looking forward to the return of Tang Xiaoyan’s team from their medicinal herb gathering expedition. As the news of Tang Xiaoyan and the others’ return spread, several steward-like figures soon emerged from within the Tang Residence. "Young Lady, you’re finally back..." Those men who seemed like stewards rushed forward anxiously to greet her, speaking in a low, worried voice. "How is my father’s condition?" Tang Xiaoyan asked urgently. "The Family Head..." The men exchanged glances, and finally, one of them let out a sigh, "The Head’s injuries are too severe, he has been in an unconscious state... According to Master Gu who was consulted, it’s very unlikely that he will ever awaken..." One of them said with a troubled face. "Impossible! I’ve already brought back the Blood Bone Vine, there surely must be a way." Upon hearing such dire news, Tang Xiaoyan’s face turned deathly pale. Then she dashed into the mansion in utter despair, momentarily forgetting even Ye Xuan, her lifesaver, leaving him behind outside the gate. "Looks like I can leave now." Touching his nose, Ye Xuan felt that perhaps it was time for him to go. The Tang family was clearly in total chaos with no time to attend to him. He had just taken a step to leave when he turned back around and sighed softly, "It seems my heart is still too kind. Oh well, let’s consider this young lady lucky. I’ll lend a hand." With a thought, Ye Xuan made his way toward the large gates. "Halt, who are you?" The several stewards saw Ye Xuan attempting to enter the residence and immediately stopped him. A trace of wariness surfaced on their faces. The Tang family was in a sensitive period, and they had never seen Ye Xuan before. He could very well be some suspicious character trying to sneak in under the chaos. "Stewards, you’ve misunderstood. This is Brother Ye Xuan. In the Poison Miasma Forest, we owed it to his intervention, scaring off the Green-eyed Toad, that we were able to return safely." From the midst of the convoy, the leader of the small team came forward with a smile and made the introductions. "What, scared off the Green-eyed Toad?" The several stewards were greatly surprised, looking at Ye Xuan with some disbelief. Although they were older, their eyes weren’t failing them. Ye Xuan was barely in his twenties at the most; the Green-eyed Toad was a Second Rank peak Demon Beast, one that even the head of their Tang family might not be able to deal with. And this young man had scared it off? This was indeed a shocking piece of news. "So, it’s Mister Ye Xuan. We were rude just now, please, come in." One of the stewards, a senior one, immediately stepped aside, then straightened his demeanor and made a welcoming gesture toward Ye Xuan, even changing the way he addressed him. The others also quickly changed their expressions and made way, and Ye Xuan nodded slightly, showing a teachable smile to the senior steward before walking into the Tang Residence with his hands clasped behind his back. ... In the main hall at the center of the Tang Residence. Inside the room, several figures stood, and a middle-aged man in blue lay on a bed, his face as pale as paper, eyes tightly shut, obviously in a coma. "Lady Tang, I’ve done all I could, but I’m afraid there’s nothing more I can do for Master Tang’s injuries," said a fairly sleazy-looking old man standing beside the bed. He sighed and then looked towards Tang Xiaoyan, but the sly glint in his eyes occasionally swept over the sensitive areas of her delicate body with ill intent. "Master Gu, didn’t you say that if we had the Blood Bone Vine, you could awaken my father?" Tang Xiaoyan was holding the middle-aged man’s hand on the bed, crying with tears like rain. "Alas, had you found the Blood Bone Vine earlier, perhaps I could have been confident in treating Master Tang, but sadly, it’s too late now. Now, in order to wake Master Tang, a very great price must be paid, a price even I cannot afford," Master Gu feigned another sigh. "What price? As long as it can save my father, I am willing to pay any price," Tang Xiaoyan brightened up at the possibility of a solution and hurriedly asked. "The cultivation technique I practice is called the Yin Yang Mysterious Skill. To awaken Master Tang, I must consume a large amount of my cultivation energy. Therefore, in order to sustain the loss, I need a certain amount of pure yin energy to replenish it and keep going; otherwise, I would certainly waste all my previous efforts," Master Gu’s eyes flashed a cold sneer. "How can we get this pure yin energy?" Tang Xiaoyan was moved, truly believing there was a solution. "Ahem... This pure yin energy actually refers to the prime yin of a young woman, and it would be best if she were a martial artist... a female martial artist above the level of martial master..." Master Gu coughed lightly, then smirked and stared intently at Tang Xiaoyan. However, at this moment, an unexpected change occurred. With a loud "bang," the door was suddenly blown open as if by a fierce wind, and a figure swept in, heading straight towards Master Gu, locking his neck and pinning him against a beam, immobilizing him. "How dare you, you despicable old lecher, thinking of seducing a young girl? I’ve caught you red-handed; what do you have to say for yourself?" The intruder was Ye Xuan. He had been standing outside the doors for a while, about to knock, but he heard Master Gu’s obscene language and simply walked in, immediately subduing the old lecher. "How impudent! Who is this wild boy, spouting nonsense here? Release me at once! In Green Sun County, you dare to lay hands on me, are you seeking death?" Master Gu, held aloft by Ye Xuan like a chicken, had his face flushed red as if about to bleed. With his status and position, when had he ever been treated like this, especially by a green youth? This was simply outrageous. "Ye Xuan, let him go, this man is a pharmacist from the Spiritual Items Workshop; we can’t afford to offend him," Tang Xiaoyan’s face blushed, now aware of Master Gu’s nefarious intentions, but considering his significant influence and the Tang family’s precarious situation, they did not want to provoke him. "Oh? A person from the Spiritual Items Workshop, that’s indeed no small background." Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow, seemingly moved. "Hmph, you brat, now you realize you can’t afford to offend me? Release me now, and then kneel before me to kowtow and apologize, perhaps then I might consider sparing you." Master Gu sensed a change in Ye Xuan’s expression and assumed he was frightened, immediately becoming smug. However, before he could finish speaking, a "snap" cut through the air as the sound of bones cracking abruptly resounded. Master Gu’s arm had been twisted and broken by Ye Xuan... And so, a pig-like scream echoed throughout the room. "Oh dear, Master Gu, I am so sorry, you see, I’ve always been timid and can’t stand threats. Once threatened, I get nervous, and look, in my nervousness, I’ve broken your arm. I truly apologize. Please, don’t threaten me again." Ye Xuan’s mouth curved into a teasing smile, feigning an innocent and accidental expression, nearly causing Master Gu to faint from rage.