22: Chapter 22 Next Steps

In Ye Chen's most critical moment, when he needed help the most, Lin Qingxue from afar...

Or rather, the mysterious connection established between them, once again played its part!

An indescribable mix of complex emotions surged in Ye Chen's heart.

He composed his mind and fully channeled this external assistance, coordinating it with the Medicinal Pills to accelerate his healing.

Time trickled by. Outside the dilapidated house, the wind wailed.

Inside the house, Ye Chen's body was enveloped in a faint blue halo; his pale complexion gradually regained a hint of color, and the blackness on his left arm began to slowly recede.

After an unknown amount of time, as he forced the last trace of lethal poison from his fingertips—dropping as a foul-smelling bead of black blood—the horizon was already turning the color of a fish's belly.

He let out a long breath of turbid air filled with ice shards and slowly opened his eyes.

Although his True Yuan had only recovered by thirty to forty percent and his injuries were not fully healed, the most fatal threat had been removed.

Immediately after, Ye Chen stood up and stretched his limbs, feeling the True Qi flowing through his body once again. He cast his gaze toward the faintly brightening sky outside the window.

Wang Teng, Grand Elder Ye Rushan, Shadow Fiend... and that mysterious Black-robed Man.

He had noted down this debt.

Now, he was going to pick up Xiaoyu.

Then, it would be time to make certain people pay the price.

The morning light grew faint, and the dawn shimmered through the broken window lattices, casting mottled shadows on the dust-covered floor.

Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

After a night of healing, the rampaging foreign True Qi and poison within his body were finally suppressed. His injuries were sixty to seventy percent healed, and about forty percent of his True Yuan had reconsolidated in his Dantian.

Though far from returning to his Peak, his movements were no longer hindered.

He stood up and stretched; the numbness in his left arm had mostly vanished, leaving only a bit of soreness and weakness.

He walked to the window and peered out cautiously through a hole in the window paper. The abandoned courtyard was silent, with only a few early-rising sparrows hopping among the weeds.

He had to leave this place as soon as possible. He tidied his somewhat disheveled clothes and confirmed he hadn't left any obvious traces.

Then, like a ghost, he slipped silently out of the dilapidated house, using the cover of the ruins to quickly leave the abandoned area.

There were already scattered pedestrians on the early morning streets, mostly vendors working early hours and farmers rushing to leave the city.

Ye Chen lowered his bamboo hat and blended into the crowd, walking toward the southern part of the city.

He deliberately took a few detours to ensure no one was following him before quickening his pace to return to the alley where Aunt Liu's house was located.

At the entrance of the alley, Old Zhang, who sold steamed cakes, had just set up his stall. He froze for a moment upon seeing Ye Chen, then, as if he hadn't seen anything, lowered his head and continued kneading dough.

Ye Chen understood in his heart; the commotion last night was not small, and the neighbors had likely heard rumors. Everyone was now fearing for their own safety.

He walked to Aunt Liu's back door and knocked three times—one long and two short.

This was the secret signal he and his sister had agreed upon with Aunt Liu when they were children.

Faint footsteps came from inside, followed by the sound of the door bolt being gently pulled back. Aunt Liu's pale face appeared through the crack in the door.

Relief washed over her when she saw it was Ye Chen, and she quickly let him in.

“Brother Chen, you... are you alright?”

Aunt Liu closed the door and nervously looked him up and down. Seeing that while his face was still somewhat pale, his breathing was steady, she finally felt at ease.

“I was scared to death; I didn't close my eyes all night!”

“I'm fine, Aunt Liu. Thank you for last night,” Ye Chen thanked her sincerely, his gaze moving toward the inner room.

“Where is Xiaoyu?”

“She just woke up and is in the room drinking porridge,” Aunt Liu lowered her voice.

“That group of people in your courtyard didn't leave until near dawn. They caused a ruckus for half the night, looking for something. When they didn't find it, they left over the wall, cursing all the while.”

Ye Chen's eyes turned cold. They were indeed coming for him.

He lifted the door curtain and entered the inner room. Xiaoyu was sitting on the edge of the kang bed, holding a coarse porcelain bowl and sipping porridge in small mouthfuls.

Her eyes lit up when she saw Ye Chen enter; she set down the bowl, jumped off the bed, and lunged toward him.

“Brother!”

Ye Chen caught his sister and stroked her head.

“It's alright, Brother is back.”

Xiaoyu buried her head in his chest, her small body trembling slightly as she spoke with a sob in her voice.

“Brother, I was so scared. Last night bad people came into our house, and Aunt Liu hid me in the cellar. I heard them flipping through things above, and... they even said they were going to catch you.”

“Don't be afraid, isn't Brother perfectly fine?”

Ye Chen comforted her softly, but killing intent surged in his heart.

Frightening Xiaoyu—this debt would also have to be settled.

“Brother Chen, what do you plan to do next?” Aunt Liu asked worriedly.

“That group of people doesn't look like they'll let this go.”

Ye Chen was silent for a moment before saying,

“Aunt Liu, I'll have to trouble you to look after Xiaoyu for one more day. I'm going out to take care of some business and will be back to get her before evening.”

“Are you going to...”

Aunt Liu hesitated to finish her sentence.

“There has to be an end to this,” Ye Chen's tone was calm, yet it carried a trace of unquestionable determination.

“I can't keep hiding forever.”

After settling Xiaoyu and leaving a few Spirit Stones for Aunt Liu, Ye Chen left once more.

He did not return to the small courtyard that was no longer safe, but instead headed straight toward the western part of the city.

...

Half an hour later, he appeared on a relatively prosperous street and walked into a medicine shop named "Hundred Herbs Hall."

This was one of the largest medicine shops in Qingyun City, with a deep background. It was said to have some connection with the City Lord's Manor, so ordinary people dared not cause trouble here.

The shop assistant saw Ye Chen enter; although he was dressed plainly, his extraordinary temperament led the assistant to greet him politely.

“Guest, what do you need?”

“To buy medicine.”

Ye Chen handed over a pre-written list containing several medicinal herbs for healing and recovering True Yuan, some of which were quite expensive.

The assistant's expression changed slightly upon seeing the list, and his attitude became even more respectful.

“Please wait a moment, Guest. This shop does have these herbs, but the price...”

“Price is not an issue,” Ye Chen said flatly, taking a small cloth bag from his robe and pouring it onto the counter. It contained twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

This was most of his current net worth.

Seeing the Spirit Stones, a smile immediately plastered across the assistant's face.

“Understood! Guest, please rest in the private room inside; I'll prepare the medicine for you right away!”

Ye Chen nodded and followed the assistant into a quiet small cubicle in the back.

He needed these herbs to recover his strength as quickly as possible, and he also needed a relatively safe place to clear his thoughts and wait for someone.

Not long after he sat down, the curtain of the cubicle was lifted, and a person dressed plainly with their head lowered slipped in—it was the Scar-faced Guard.

“Young Master Ye, are you alright?” Scarface saw Ye Chen, and a flash of surprise and concern crossed his eyes.

“The Young Miss sensed that you seemed to have used her Origin Cold Qi last night. This morning, she sensed your aura appearing in the west of the city and told me I must find you.”

Ye Chen's heart stirred. Lin Qingxue could actually sense it?

It seemed this 'Telepathy' bond was even more miraculous than he had imagined.

“I'm fine, thank Miss Lin for her concern.”

Ye Chen invited Scarface to sit and briefly recounted the events of last night: the assassination attempt, the courtyard being searched, and the appearance of Wang Teng and the Black-robed Man.

He omitted the details of the bond and the jade pendant, only saying he managed to escape by relying on the methods Lin Qingxue had previously taught him and a bit of luck.

Scarface's expression became increasingly grave as he listened, especially when he heard about the 'Shadow Fiend' Bronze-Rank Assassin and that mysterious Black-robed Man; his brow furrowed tightly.

“Wang Teng actually acted personally and even brought that old black-robed ghost!”

Scarface said in a heavy voice.

“That old ghost is a Guest Elder Wang Mang invited from who-knows-where, known as 'Ghost Old Man.' His cultivation is unfathomable, at least at the Middle Stage of the Wheel Sea Realm, and the Cultivation Technique he practices is extremely sinister and bizarre. The Young Miss once told us to avoid him as much as possible.”

Middle Stage of the Wheel Sea Realm!

Ye Chen's heart chilled. If he hadn't triggered the bond's protection in his desperation last night and borrowed Lin Qingxue's Origin Cold Qi...

He likely would have been killed instantly by that Ghost Old Man.

“For the Grand Elder of the Ye Family to actually collude with 'Shadow Fiend' to strike at his own clansman, he's truly becoming more and more despicable!”

Scarface's tone carried anger.

“Young Master Ye, you are in great danger now! 'Shadow Fiend' will never stop until the target is dead, Wang Teng and Ghost Old Man have their eyes on you, and Ye Rushan won't let you go either.”

“I know.”

Ye Chen nodded, his gaze sharp.

“That's why I can't keep hiding. Brother Scarface, is there any news from the Lin residence? About the Great Competition, or the recent movements of the Wang and Ye families?”

Scarface looked left and right, then lowered his voice.

“Yes. The City Lord's Manor has officially announced that in ten days, the Three Clans Grand Competition will be held in 'Trial Valley' on the outskirts of the city. This competition is not only about the exploration rights for the Black Iron Mining Area, but it's also rumored that those who perform exceptionally well might be noticed by an envoy from the 'Tianyun Sword Sect' and gain a chance for the entry examination!”

“Tianyun Sword Sect?”

Ye Chen was startled. This was one of the three major Sects ruling this territory; its power was far beyond what a small place like Qingyun City could compare to. It was a Holy Land of cultivation that countless Cultivators dreamed of.

“Yes! Although the news hasn't been made public yet, the high-level members of the three major families should all know. So this time, the competition will be more intense than any before! Wang Teng, Ye Hu, and the others will surely do whatever it takes to increase their strength and fight for a spot!”

Ye Chen understood instantly.

No wonder Wang Teng was so desperate to eliminate him, and Ye Rushan had even cast aside all pretenses!

He, an unexpected factor, had become a stumbling block in their plans!

“The Young Miss asked me to tell you,” Scarface continued.

“She wants you to be extremely careful lately. It's best... to temporarily leave Qingyun City to avoid the heat. Before the competition, the outskirts might actually be safer than the city. Once the competition begins, under the watchful eyes of the public, they won't dare to act so blatantly.”

Leave?

Ye Chen began to ponder.

This was indeed an option.

The area outside the city was vast with continuous mountain ranges, making it easier to hide.

Moreover, he needed a quiet place to recover from his injuries and increase his strength as quickly as possible.

Lin Qingxue's suggestion was very pertinent.

“The Young Miss also asked me to give you this.” Scarface took out a small jade bottle from his robe and handed it to Ye Chen.

“This is an 'disguise pill'; it can temporarily change your appearance and aura, and the effect lasts for twelve hours. It might be useful to you.”

Ye Chen took the jade bottle, a warm current flowing through his heart. Lin Qingxue had considered things so thoroughly for him.

“Thank Miss Lin for me.” Ye Chen solemnly put away the jade bottle.

“I will seriously consider her suggestion.”

“Mm. Additionally, the Young Miss said...” Scarface hesitated for a moment before whispering.

“If you decide to leave the city, you can head toward the 'Black Wind Mountain Range' to the north. There is a place on the outskirts of the range called 'Cold Pool Secluded Valley.' The cold energy there is quite heavy; perhaps... it will be beneficial to you.”

Cold Pool Secluded Valley?