Chapter Thirty-Five: Coming to the Door

Lu Qingyun looked at him with a faint smile and spoke slowly after hearing his words.

"Is there anything simple in this world? It seems that nothing is simple, isn't it? If it were a problem that could be solved with ease, how could it possibly fall to me?"

"I seem to have become your tool long ago, and I seem to have grown accustomed to helping you solve these problems. As for whether they can be resolved in the end, I suppose I must leave it to fate."

"Whether I can help you or not, I do not know, and I cannot give you a definitive answer as to what the final result will be..."

Lu Qingyun maintained the same attitude no matter who he faced. He always acted this way, never showing any inconsistency between his thoughts and his actions. To make him act against his will was truly not that simple.

The manager of Feiyan Pavilion, whose name was Qian Yuhai, looked at Lu Qingyun with a smile, his eyes filled with joy. He chuckled and said, "It is no wonder he chose you; you truly possess extraordinary qualities. I had assumed you were merely talented, which is why he selected you. I never imagined that your wisdom would far exceed my expectations."

"Perhaps I am just ill-informed. Although I see all kinds of people every day while guarding Feiyan Pavilion, I have never seen someone like you..."

Lu Qingyun knew that he was still laying the groundwork for his request, but the more he did so, the more it proved that this matter would be difficult to resolve. However, Lu Qingyun felt that even if it were difficult, he had to at least try before knowing for sure. If he did not act, he would naturally be unable to guess the consequences.

This time, Lu Qingyun did not speak, waiting for what Qian Yuhai would say next. Qian Yuhai observed his earnest expression and spoke slowly.

"Very well. The City Lord may ask you to head to Hanhai City next. It is completely different from here; one could say they are worlds apart."

"Hanhai City is considered one of the four great cities of the continent. While Bixiao City is the trade center of the continent, that place is a realm of pure martial arts exchange."

"There, strength is supreme. Only those with true power are qualified to appear there. A moment of carelessness could mean death, as private duels are permitted within the city!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingyun raised his eyebrows slightly, becoming even more interested in the place. Having heard enough of the preamble, he said coolly, "Fine. It seems you are very well-informed about my upcoming movements. Just tell me directly what you want me to do."

Lu Qingyun was not being aggressive; he simply felt that the man had been beating around the bush for too long.

A ring on Qian Yuhai's finger glowed, and a golden box wrapped in silk appeared before Lu Qingyun. Qian Yuhai then produced another ring and said slowly, "For the sake of safety, this box is sealed. I think there is no need to say more, right? You should understand my intentions."

"This is a brand-new storage ring. You can bind it with a drop of your blood; it is better than the one you currently have. Inside, there is a map and a secret letter. Just deliver the box to that person."

"Once you arrive, that person will give you a generous reward. As for what you want, you can propose it to him; he will certainly not be stingy!"

Lu Qingyun nodded earnestly, picked up the ring from the table, placed the box into it, and said slowly, "Is there anything else to be交代 (instructed)?"

Qian Yuhai felt a bit confused and asked slowly, "You agreed so easily?"

Lu Qingyun looked at his bewildered expression and said calmly, "What else? You have already called me here—do I even have the qualification to refuse? You have already made all the preparations; how could I not agree?"

"I am going there anyway. As for whether I can do it well or complete your instructions, I cannot guarantee, but I will certainly do my utmost!"

Lu Qingyun’s attitude was very carefree, but that did not mean he was not serious. Qian Yuhai was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! I have seen many people before, and everyone is thinking about how to gain more benefits from me or take something of higher value from my hands. The state you have displayed is something I have never seen in all these years. Wonderful! If you have the chance to return in the future, I guarantee I will host a grand banquet for you!"

To put it bluntly, he was just a restaurant manager; his way of handling problems naturally revolved around his own interests, and his method of offering rewards was the same. Lu Qingyun smiled slightly at his words and nodded.

"Very well. If I can truly return in the future, I will certainly make you spend a fortune. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave. Until we meet again!"

After saying this, Lu Qingyun left the place quickly. This place always made him feel a little uncomfortable.

***

After he left, the space beside Qian Yuhai suddenly became distorted. A golden-haired old man appeared beside him, and Qian Yuhai asked with a smile, "What do you think?"

The golden-haired old man slowly sat down opposite him and said, "There is a strange aura about this young man. It does not feel like it belongs to this continent. I cannot quite put my finger on what it is."

"However, I feel this young man is trustworthy. Judging by his words and demeanor, he is indeed quite impressive..."

Qian Yuhai smiled, saying with great pride, "Heh heh, I discovered his existence the moment he arrived here, but the City Lord got to him first. I just don't know what kind of plans the City Lord has for him."

"We all came from that place and were once considered friends, but that fellow's ambition is far greater than ours..."

The old man poured himself a cup of tea and smiled. "Who knows what you people are thinking? To have survived is already quite enough—what else is there to struggle for?"

"Forget it. That is your business, it has nothing to do with me. Hanhai City is vastly different from here; whether that boy can return alive remains to be seen..."

Everything the two said seemed mundane, yet it concealed countless secrets. Although Lu Qingyun could not hear their conversation, he walked back to the private room. After all, his real purpose for coming here was to enjoy himself, not to accept these boring missions.

However, just as he arrived, he witnessed a scene that filled him with rage.

Shortly after he had left, members of the Chu family had appeared, and they had come prepared. After entering, they had set up a sound-shielding barrier. Chu Feiyang stood with his subordinates and demanded angrily, "Where is Lu Qingyun? Where is he? Tell him to get out here immediately!"

Li Changfeng was the oldest among them, and he could not let the juniors face such a crisis. He stepped forward and said earnestly, "What is the meaning of this? What are you doing? Aren't you being a bit too overbearing?"

Chu Feiyang had brought three people with him. Two of the young men seemed stronger than him, but beside him was a sturdy, middle-aged man. This man’s strength was extraordinary; from his aura, one could sense he was at the tenth level of the Body Tempering Realm. He only needed an opportunity to break through the Body Tempering Realm. However, breaking through was not that simple; otherwise, everyone could dominate the continent.

With this backing, Chu Feiyang said with an angry look in his eyes, "Li Changfeng, are you planning to show off? Does a tiny Tianling Sect intend to oppose our Chu family? I know your disciple has a good relationship with him."

"But I advise you: if you want your sect to remain, it is best to be honest. Otherwise, I will make you wish you were dead!"

Li Changfeng indeed had many concerns. As the sect master, he had to consider the entire sect. Hearing Chu Feiyang’s provocation, Li Changfeng hesitated for a moment. He furrowed his brows tightly, not knowing what to do.

Meng Li, who had been sitting there silently, sneered. "Heh, I was also born into a great family, and I have never seen someone as pathetic as you, acting as if you are backed by power. You are a young master of a great family, yet you behave like this. Ridiculous!"

The family Meng Li once belonged to was absolutely the top existence on this continent. As a family capable of creating divine artifacts, there were probably only a few such families on the entire continent. Meng Li had witnessed the glory of her family and naturally knew better than anyone how the Meng family used to conduct themselves.

Chu Feiyang looked at Meng Li angrily and said through gritted teeth, "Meng Li, do you still think you are the person you once were? You are no longer that person. Stop meddling in other people's business. Don't you know your own worth?"

"Don't think that just because you are following that brat and working for the City Lord, you can act arrogantly toward me. Hand that brat over to me immediately, or none of you will leave!"

Chu Feiyang had been so frightened earlier that he had wet his pants; he had lost all face. If he did not regain some of his dignity, he would likely have no face to continue living in Bixiao City.

Chu Feiyang was truly shameless and always picked the most hurtful things to say. Meng Li was clearly provoked and said fiercely, "Chu Feiyang, if it weren't for the people beside you, what would you even be?"

Although Meng Li had gone through many things, facing such a shameless person was still difficult. That she could say such things was already quite an effort.

Chu Feiyang displayed his shamelessness once again; he was even more annoying than Zhao Tuo. He wore a lewd grin and said, "I heard Zhao Tuo intended to make you his concubine, but I don't think he suits you. I think we are a match made in heaven."

"I didn't intend to speak to you, but you took the initiative to speak to me. What else can I do? Aren't you deliberately seducing me?"

Meng Li frowned tightly as she looked at his face, her fair cheeks flushed red with extreme anger. "What did you say? Say that again!"

It must be said that Meng Li was a true beauty; there were few in the entire continent who could compare to her. It was a pity that fate was cruel, leaving her in such a state. If the Meng family were still in their prime, how could they allow such humiliation? They might be considered a great family in Bixiao City, but on the continent as a whole, the Chu family could not even be ranked. In front of the former Meng family, the Chu family was like an ant!

"A tiger falling to the plains is bullied by dogs!"

Fury filled Meng Li's eyes. Just as she was about to draw her sword, a cold voice came from the doorway.

"Isn't this the young master of the Chu family? Have you changed into clean clothes? Why is there still such a disgusting stench on you?"

Everyone turned to look. Lu Qingyun appeared with a cold face, the murderous intent in his eyes making people shiver. Although his strength was not the highest present, his aura was the most powerful. Upon appearing, Lu Qingyun even released his Green Dragon Martial Soul. The lifelike phantom of the martial soul brought a tremendous sense of oppression!

The moment Chu Feiyang saw Lu Qingyun, he recalled everything that had happened before. His eyes widened, and he said, "Fine, fine, fine! Let's see how long you can remain arrogant!"

"I admit I am not your match, but I have brought my second uncle. Have you heard of the strength of Second Master Chu?"

The Chu family was also a family with heritage, and their strength was not to be underestimated. Most people could not compare to them. This Second Master Chu, named Chu Xiong, had once won first place at a martial arts tournament held on the continent. Although he had been severely injured in a hunt later on and retired from the ranks of top-tier experts, he still held a great reputation.

However, Lu Qingyun slowly shook his head. "I have never heard of him. I suppose I am just ill-informed."

"You are such a grown man, yet when you are bullied, you go back to your family to complain. Does your whole family know? Will your grandparents be coming over in a while too?"

Lu Qingyun’s words were filled with mockery, and the smile on his lips made the Chu family members present extremely furious.

Chu Xiong gnashed his teeth and said, "You wet-behind-the-ears brat! I heard you were very arrogant, but I didn't expect you to be this brazen. Are you provoking me with your words just now?"

"I did not want to make things difficult for you, young man, but since you have no intention of repenting, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Take this!"