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Chapter 659: Disfigured
Chapter 659: Disfigured
The next day, during Xia Xingchen's millennium celebration, the festivities began early. In the morning, the disciples of all twelve peaks of the Yuqing holy land arrived to congratulate him and help out—there would be plenty of guests affiliated with the Yuqing holy land streaming in throughout the day.
Xia Xingchen greeted the most important guests himself, accompanied by several of the twelve Mountain Lords.
His three wives were particularly busy themselves. After all, those guests had come with their families in tow, and the women were largely responsible for greeting and accommodating them. Fortunately, they could split up the work among the three of them.
Xia Lan was likewise assigned to greet ordinary guests, but he had plenty of senior and junior brothers to help him out, and he wasn't too busy. He glanced at Xiao Nanfeng, who was hovering close by.
Over the last few days, Xiao Nanfeng had gained significant popularity within the Yuqing holy land. The moment he showed up, he was swarmed with a large group of Yuqing disciples.
"Senior Brother Xiao, the method you taught me was really effective! My spiritual cultivation is a lot faster now."
"Same, same! My older brother always beat me when it came to our fist techniques, but I was able to beat him after your pointers!"
"Senior Brother Xiao, thank you for guiding us!"
The Yuqing disciples bowed in gratitude.
"Hardly, Senior Brothers, Junior Brothers. We've all benefited from each other's expertise. That said, today's Mountain Lord Xia's millennial celebration, so let's focus on celebrating him rather than talking about cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.
The Yuqing disciples nodded fervently.
Xiao Nanfeng shot Xia Lan a glance. Xia Lan stiffened, but was forced to act. He had already cast his lot with Xiao Nanfeng, after all.
Xia Lan walked toward a throng of people, including Long Si, who had just arrived.
Long Si's delegation had just flown toward Chiyang Peak and was in search of Sage Green Lotus when Xia Lan approached them.
"I greet you, Lord Si," Xia Lan said, bowing.
"Greetings, Young Master Xia," Long Si replied.
"My father is engaged in conversation with his honored guests, and I've been entrusted with leading the most esteemed guests toward him. Please follow me, Lord Si." Xia Lan gestured.
Long Si nodded with a smile. "Very well."
His delegation scattered and began to mingle with the other guests while he followed Xia Lan through a patch of white fog. He suddenly frowned. Why was there fog around here?
Just then, within the fog, a sword thrust toward him from the back in a burst of killing intent.
"Who's there? Die!" Long Si's eyes flashed with rage as he swiped at his back with a hand.
The white fog exploded around him as Xia Lan was sent flying from a shockwave of energy. A black figure was sent flying back. Blood splattered all over.
The disturbance immediately drew everyone's attention.
"What's going on? Who's fighting here?!" someone exclaimed.
Golden Immortals were hardly known for their subtlety, after all.
Xia Xingchen's three wives, and even Xia Xingchen himself, hurriedly rushed toward the source of the commotion, only to see a black figure strike the ground.
That black figure was none other than Zhao Yuanjiao. He spat out a mouthful of blood, a crystal sculpture falling from his hands and shattering as it struck the ground.
"Senior Brother, are you alright? How did you end up fighting?!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, rushing forward.
"I don't know myself. I was preparing my gift for Mountain Lord Xia when Long Si suddenly attacked me." Zhao Yuanjiao choked on a mouthful of blood, clearly badly injured.
His face was a mess of blood; it seemed that he had been struck by Long Si's attack, then hurt by the crystal sculpture shattering by his face.
"Long Si, how dare you? I know you bear me a grudge after the fight that day, but how could you attack my senior brother instead of me? Do you want to die?!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.
Long Si glared. "He tried to strike me with a sword first!"
Long Si grimaced. He was sure this was part of a scheme, but what could he do? How could he leave now? He hadn't managed to kidnap Xia Yu'er yet!
Sage Green Lotus had to step forward. "As I see it, all this is a mere misunderstanding. Considering what a grand occasion it is, why don't we put aside all grudges for the moment?"
Everyone turned to Sage Green Lotus in surprise. This was a 'mere misunderstanding'?
Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Very well. I won't cause more trouble on such a festive occasion. Three days later, I'll meet you over the sea 150 miles south of the Yuqing holy land. Do you dare to duel me then?"
"Very well. Three days later, I'll settle this score," Long Si spat out.
He was incensed about having been manipulated to this extent.
"Senior Brother, we'll take revenge in three days' time. Let's treat your injuries now before they end up scarring," Xiao Nanfeng said.
"Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.
The commotion ceased in the blink of an eye. Everyone was secretly gesturing at Long Si while simultaneously praising Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao's magnanimity.
Xia Xingchen frowned as if he were unhappy with Long Si's behavior, but Long Si was a Golden Immortal and a representative of the Southeastern Aquatic Palace beside. He could only suppress his anger for the time being. "Please follow me, Lord Si."
Long Si glanced at Xiao Nanfeng and the others now walking away. He couldn't help but feel as if something were amiss, but he couldn't pinpoint precisely what. He turned and stalked off after Xia Xingchen.
Meanwhile, Han Bingdie headed toward Zhao Yuanjiao. "Yuanjiao, are you alright?"
"Don't worry about me, Senior. It's just a few superficial wounds. I'll be fine once Senior Brother Xia Lan guides me to get myself cleaned up," Zhao Yuanjiao replied.
"Senior, there are too many guests around for you to be worrying about us. We can speak later if necessary. With Senior Brother Xia Lan around, we'll be alright," Xiao Nanfeng added.
"Very well. I'll have my husband deal with Long Si the very next day," Han Bingdie said. She turned toward Xia Lan. "Guard them well. If anything else goes wrong, I won't spare you!"
Xia Lan grimaced. Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao were the ones who had set everything up; why was he getting blamed?
Xia Lan brought the two cultivators toward a rather secluded yard, where Zhao Yuanjiao finished dealing with the blood on his face. He changed his clothes and put on a bamboo hat to hide his wounded face from public view.
Quite a few disciples had gathered around them by then, grumbling about how unfair it was for Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao.
"Senior Brother Xia Lan, word of what happened might have already spread to Yu'er. We'll let her know not to worry," Xiao Nanfeng said.
"Very well," Xia Lan replied, an odd look on his face.
The three of them walked up to the hall in which Yu'er was currently located.
The doors to the hall were shut, with a dome-shaped barrier on the outside. A revolving glass ball was located right above the dome—the Eight-Treasure Glass Lock that had attuned to Yu'er.
There were a few Yuqing disciples around them manipulating the formation. Upon learning that the three cultivators were about to visit her, they created an opening to allow them in.
The three cultivators walked into the hall, then let the doors swing shut to reveal Yu'er within.
She was dressed in robes precisely like Zhao Yuanjiao's, with a bamboo hat over her face. She smiled in excitement. "I've been waiting for far too long!"
"We had to manufacture a reason for Senior Brother to hide his face, after all. Senior Brother disfigured himself for you, you know," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.
"Well done, Zhao Yuanjiao. I'll forgive you everything you've done wrong in the past." Yu'er smiled.
Zhao Yuanjiao rolled his eyes. "You brat, you're still keeping track of those past matters? Nanfeng and I flew thousands of kilometers to see you—and you treat me like this? You're heartless, you are."
"I'll thank you properly once I'm free. Have a look at my outfit. Will this do?" Yu'er immediately put on her hat, as did Zhao Yuanjiao. Indeed, the two cultivators looked identical from far. Yu'er had even padded her robes to ensure that her stature looked like Zhao Yuanjiao's.
"Take a few steps and let's see," Xiao Nanfeng said.
Yu'er walked around in a circle.
Xiao Nanfeng frowned instantly. "You walk in too feminine a fashion. You'll have to change things around. We're going to be leaving right away, so make sure no one notices."
1. Long Si (龙四) means dragon-four; hence the fourth lord of the Southeastern (Draconic) Palace. ☜