Chapter 470: Zhou Jinyun's Future |
"Don't worry too much."
Chen Yan shook his head.
"Those people probably won't be coming."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jinyun's face showed a hint of surprise, and she promptly retorted:
"Why not? Little Su has Innate Sword Intent—for talent like his, even the Five Great Sects would swarm to recruit him..."
Zhou Jinyun had been by Chen Yan and Su Hongzhen's side for some time now, so she had gotten used to calling Su Hongzhen "Little Su" just like Chen Yan did.
A calm and collected smile spread across Chen Yan's face as he slowly said:
"Do you truly believe that Huangfu Han and his people represent Mirage Palace?"
From just a moment ago, Zhou Jinyun had been having some trouble understanding exactly what Chen Yan was driving at.
Zhou Jinyun asked.
"If Mirage Palace had really obtained the Heavenly Summit Palace's scripture fragment, do you think they'd bring it out here to exchange with these cultivators of Moxu Mountain for a seven-thousand-year-old Rain-Lin Pearl Vine?"
Chen Yan said.
"Of course not."
Zhou Jinyun answered without a second thought.
She didn't even need to think about it. The Heavenly Summit Palace scripture fragment in Huangfu Han's hands had to be a fake.
Not to mention a seven-thousand-year-old Rain-Lin Pearl Vine—even if it were a thirty-thousand-year or fifty-thousand-year one, Mirage Palace would never agree to such a trade.
But then, what did that have to do with Little Su's situation?
"A dozen cultivators from Mirage Palace, carrying a forged 'Heavenly Summit Palace Scripture Fragment' to swindle people around Moxu Mountain—if word of this got out, what would happen to Mirage Palace?"
"...Total disgrace."
Zhou Jinyun said.
It would indeed be total disgrace.
And for immortal sects at the level of the Five Great Sects, reputation was especially crucial.
"Can you figure it out?"
Chen Yan asked with a smile.
Zhou Jinyun remained silent. She looked at the young man before her, who seemed to be around her own age—maybe fifteen or sixteen at most.
His true cultivation level could essentially be confirmed as above the Below Immortality realm.
He was even quite likely above the Ascending to Immortality realm.
And from the steadiness and shrewdness with which he handled matters, his experience and depth of mind were simply unfathomable.
He was absolutely an old monster.
"This junior is dull-witted."
Zhou Jinyun shook her head.
"No, you're already very smart. You're just still too young, lacking experience and opportunities to grow."
Chen Yan said softly.
He was telling the truth.
People might more easily focus their attention on the halo around Zhou Jinyun.
Chief disciple of Weaving Dreams Tower, talent for Ascending to Immortality, a prodigy of illusion arts.
But at the same time, she was just fourteen years old this year—only one year older than Little Su.
Remember, before Chen Yan had transmigrated to this world, when he was fourteen, he was still sitting in a middle school classroom, with nothing on his mind but how to conjure up a Rasengan in the real world.
And now, reborn on Chenping Continent, he really could conjure up a Rasengan with his bare hands.
He could even effortlessly use some more lethal techniques.
Like the Kongshan Finger, for instance.
With Zhou Jinyun's current fourteen-year-old perspective, there was no way she could measure up to Chen Yan, who had weathered countless storms.
All in all, this future Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace still had a very long road ahead of her...
Suddenly, Chen Yan recalled the ending of Zhou Jinyun as recorded in history.
Would her future road really be that long?
...
The next day, at the Hour of the Dragon (7-9 AM).
A cultivator who looked to be about thirty-something hastily packed up all his belongings, stepped out of his house, and made his way onto the streets of Wushi Town.
This person was none other than Zhao Haitao, the Qi Circulation Realm cultivator who had thrown Chu Fan off the cliff.
What a damned twist of fate.
Dropping that Chu guy, whose hands and feet he had broken, off a cliff—by all logic, he should have ended up dead no matter what.
But somehow, the bastard had managed to find that seven-thousand-year-old Rain-Lin Pearl Vine at the bottom of the cliff.
A single leap to the heavens!
Because of that Rain-Lin Pearl Vine, that Chu kid was absolutely going to catch Mirage Palace's eye. If he was determined to join Mirage Palace, then this time, it might even cause Mirage Palace to make an exception and accept him into their ranks.
And that meant he had gone from nearly killing a Body Forging Realm rogue cultivator two days ago, to nearly killing a Mirage Palace disciple.
What was there to hesitate about?
Time to cut and run!
And that was exactly what Zhao Haitao was doing right now.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao, where are you headed?"
Suddenly, a voice that sounded all too familiar came from behind Zhao Haitao.
Zhao Haitao shuddered slightly, then hurriedly stopped in his tracks, turning around with a flattering smile:
"Fellow Daoist Chu..."
Standing behind him was a handsome young man—none other than Chu Fan, the one he had broken and thrown off the cliff two days ago.
Only now, there wasn't a single trace of injury on Chu Fan's body.
"Thanks to you, Fellow Daoist Zhao, I was able to find that Rain-Lin Pearl Vine and seize this opportunity. Chu Fan offers his thanks here."
As he spoke, Chu Fan clasped his hands and bowed in Zhao Haitao's direction.
"...You're joking, Fellow Daoist Chu."
Zhao Haitao's mouth twitched slightly as cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck.
No matter how he looked at it, everything Chu Fan said to him sounded like sarcasm.
Probably, before long, he'd come looking to settle scores.
Zhao Haitao thought to himself.
"I have business to attend to, so I won't linger here. We'll meet again, Fellow Daoist Zhao."
Chu Fan said with a smile, then continued walking, closing the distance to Zhao Haitao in just a few steps.
"...We'll meet again."
Although he said that, what Zhao Haitao really hoped for was, of course, to never see him again.
Of course, Chu Fan now was no longer Chu Fan.
He was someone else.
Kang Zongdan.
This was his second possession.
The first time, he had possessed his youngest son, Kang Keyang.
Compared to Kang Keyang, this body, which originally belonged to that guy named Chu Fan, was younger.
Its talent was also somewhat better.
Now, he was heading to the tea house in the center of Wushi Town to collect his reward from Elder Huangfu of Mirage Palace. And then...
Kang Zongdan clenched his fist slightly.
"So we meet again."
Just after Kang Zongdan had parted ways with Zhao Haitao and was walking along the street toward the tea house, a voice suddenly came from beside him.
Who was that?
Kang Zongdan turned his head to look and saw a young cultivator standing there with plain features, dressed in light-colored daoist robes.
"Hmm."
Having no idea who the other person was, Kang Zongdan merely smiled and nodded.
Of course he didn't recognize him—after all, two days ago, the owner of this body was still Chu Fan.
"It seems you don't remember who I am?"
The plain-featured young cultivator said.
"...I really don't have any memory of it."
"Well, that's quite a case of a big-shot forgetting things. Still, congratulations—with that sheepskin parchment in hand, you're bound to have a bright future ahead."
Chen Yan's External Incarnation offered this congratulations with a smile.