Chapter 85: Crisis Approaches

Chapter 85: Crisis Approaches

Inside Mist and Haze Heaven, a grey mist surged forth, instantly shaking open the Violet Gold Gourd and trapping it in place, preventing it from further absorbing cultivators.

A grey shadow quickly rushed over. It was an elderly man whose age was difficult to discern, with white hair and beard, but a very rosy complexion, truly appearing youthful despite his age. He said, “Please, everyone, calm your anger.” He directly pushed the Violet Gold Gourd back. Jiang Yichen scoffed and put away his treasure.

“Who are you?” Jiang Yifei asked.

“This old man is the Sect Master of Mist and Haze Heaven.”

“No wonder you possess such power to suppress the Violet Gold Gourd,” Jiang Yifei nodded, adding, “But I’m afraid you still won’t be able to stop us.”

“Yes, this old man understands,” the Sect Master of Mist and Haze Heaven admitted frankly. He then continued, “I am unaware of any offense Mist and Haze Heaven may have committed to warrant such a large mobilization of forces. If we have indeed committed a grave sin, I am willing to disband Mist and Haze Heaven and accept any consequences.”

The grey-robed old man was very candid. In truth, he had no choice; if Mist and Haze Heaven were to truly confront an Ancient Aristocratic Family, it would quickly be annihilated. The two were not on the same level, and there would be no suspense if they became enemies.

“Seeing how straightforward you are, I find it difficult to cause a scene.”

Jiang Yifei, who appeared to be only twenty-four or twenty-five, spoke to the Mist and Haze Heaven’s Sect Master in such a tone, yet the old man did not find it rude. It was all due to the power dynamics at play.

“Young Master is wise. Please enlighten me, what is the reason for this punitive expedition?”

“Did a disciple with the surname Jiang die in your Mist and Haze Heaven two years ago?”

The Sect Master of Mist and Haze Heaven nodded upon hearing this. He said, “If it were someone else, I might not remember, but that young man, with his extraordinary talent, left a deep impression on me.”

“He was a member of our Jiang family, but he was murdered by someone from your Mist and Haze Heaven,” Jiang Yifei stated calmly.

“What? He was murdered?” The Sect Master of Mist and Haze Heaven was astonished. He exclaimed, “Who would dare to do such a thing?!”

“Now you understand why I am here, don’t you?”

The Sect Master of Mist and Haze Heaven immediately felt a headache. How could a Jiang family descendant enter Mist and Haze Heaven and then be murdered? This was indeed a very troublesome matter for him.

“You don’t need to worry too much; I am not here to make trouble without reason.”

“Please rest assured, Young Master Jiang, I will severely punish the culprits and show no leniency!”

“The main perpetrators have already been dealt with, but I suspect their teachers were complicit, and those who provided them with the medicine must also be found…”

“Young Master Jiang, please come inside Mist and Haze Heaven. This old man will certainly give you a satisfactory explanation and will eliminate the evildoers.”

Jiang Yifei nodded. He said, “The most important thing is to satisfy this old man and this child.”

At this moment, Elder Jiang and little Tingting were already teary-eyed.

“I understand…”

Jiang Yifei ordered Jiang Yichen to take out the Violet Gold Gourd and release everyone who had been absorbed into it. Afterwards, he, Elder Jiang, and little Tingting entered Mist and Haze Heaven with the old Sect Master. The others did not follow, landing on the ground to wait outside.

Just then, Ye Fan again felt as if he was being spied upon, and realized it was still the arrogant young man, Jiang Yichen. What was going on? He was sure he hadn’t offended this descendant of the Ancient Aristocratic Family and couldn’t understand why the other party was targeting him.

Jiang Caixuan walked over, her steps graceful and elegant, and she smiled faintly. “Little Brother Ye, after this matter is resolved, Tingting will return to the Jiang family with us. If you wish, you may come along too.”

“This…” Initially, Ye Fan did have such a thought. The Jiang family was an extraordinary, ancient aristocratic clan, tracing its lineage back to the Ancient Era. Perhaps he could find secrets about the Sacred Body there. However, after careful consideration, he hesitated again. What if his secrets were discovered? The green copper block inside him had once caused great turmoil in the Eastern Wasteland. If discovered by the Jiang family's unparalleled experts, the consequences would be unimaginable. Furthermore, that scripture of the Dao was enough to cause significant trouble; if it were exposed, his situation would be precarious.

“What’s wrong? Are you still unwilling?” Jiang Caixuan was somewhat surprised. Many cultivators tried desperately to enter the Jiang family but couldn’t, yet here was a young man invited, still pondering and hesitating.

Ye Fan politely declined. He said, “Thank you for your kindness, Miss Jiang; I genuinely appreciate it. However, I am accustomed to a leisurely life, and I fear I might make mistakes if I enter the Jiang family. I think I’ll continue traveling outside. If one day I find myself in difficult circumstances and seek refuge with the Jiang family, I hope Miss Jiang will take me in.”

At this, Jiang Yichen, from the other side, sneered, “What do you take the Jiang family for? An inn? The Jiang family is not a place where anyone can just come and go as they please. If you want to join, stop talking nonsense now.”

“Jiang Yichen, shut up!” Jiang Caixuan scolded Jiang Yichen, then turned back and smiled. “Little Brother Ye, don’t mind him; he’s just like that, spoiled. Don’t worry, the Jiang family’s doors are always open for you. If you ever have any difficulties in the future, just come to the Jiang family and find me.”

“Thank you, Miss Jiang,” Ye Fan said gratefully. At the same time, he wondered why Jiang Yichen was acting this way; he hadn’t provoked the young master of the Jiang family. Ye Fan became even more convinced that he couldn’t enter the Jiang family now. The Sacred Body, the scripture of the Dao, and the mysterious green copper were all taboo. He didn’t want to take such a risk.

“Boy, you should know that those who wish to join our Jiang family are as numerous as carp crossing a river,” Jiang Yichen sneered, looking at him. “If you give up this opportunity, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Ye Fan’s heart tightened, and he was even more surprised. This young master of the Jiang family seemed to want him to join immediately. What was going on?

Jiang Caixuan scolded Jiang Yichen a few more times before he stopped talking, merely standing a short distance away, occasionally scrutinizing Ye Fan.

“This damned scoundrel, what is he up to? Damn it!” Ye Fan muttered to himself.

A moment later, Jiang Yichen finally stopped scrutinizing him and began wandering around Mist and Haze Heaven, which allowed Ye Fan to breathe a slight sigh of relief. Soon, he remembered his classmates; there should be two of them inside Mist and Haze Heaven, but he wasn’t sure who they were.

It was a full hour before Jiang Yifei emerged with Elder Jiang and little Tingting, personally seen off by the Sect Master of Mist and Haze Heaven and other important figures. Both the old man and the little girl had red, swollen eyes, clearly having cried a great deal.

“Old Sect Master, please return. There’s no need to see us off further. My Jiang family is not unreasonable; this matter is resolved, and you no longer need to worry.”

The old Sect Master of Mist and Haze Heaven finally breathed a sigh of relief. Otherwise, anyone facing a behemoth like the Jiang family would be terrified. Few major powers in the Eastern Wasteland dared to contend with them.

The people of Mist and Haze Heaven watched them depart until they disappeared from sight before returning to their sect.

Jiang Yifei and his group returned directly to Clear Wind Town, solely to fulfill the old man’s wish to see the town again. For little Tingting’s future, Elder Jiang decided to enter the Jiang family, not wanting his granddaughter to suffer any more grievances.

“Big Brother, please come with us,” little Tingting pleaded, looking up with her small face.

Ye Fan gently flicked her small nose and said, “Big Brother can’t help much anymore. The Jiang family has experts like clouds; I wouldn’t even be a minor soldier there. Tingting will live very well there.”

“Big Brother, I really don’t want to be separated from you. Please come with us, or Tingting will miss you every day,” little Tingting said, on the verge of tears.

“I have some other matters to attend to, and I truly cannot go now. I promise you, I will definitely visit you later,” Ye Fan gently comforted her.

“No, if Big Brother doesn’t go, I won’t leave either,” little Tingting surprisingly declared.

“You’re still young, and there are some things you don’t understand yet. You’ll naturally understand when you grow up. Go to the Jiang family happily, don’t be too playful there, and learn their methods of cultivation diligently. Maybe one day I’ll need Tingting’s help,” Ye Fan said.

Elder Jiang also couldn’t understand, though he very much hoped Ye Fan would go with them, but ultimately couldn’t force him.

As they parted ways outside Clear Wind Town, little Tingting burst into tears, clinging to Ye Fan’s leg and refusing to let go, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Ye Fan wiped away her tears and said, “Don’t cry, Tingting. Remember what I just said; we’ll meet again in the future.”

Finally, little Tingting reluctantly sobbed, “I’ll definitely learn cultivation and come find Big Brother in the future. If anyone bullies Big Brother, Tingting will chase them all away.”

Ye Fan immediately smiled and said, “Hurry along now, they’re all waiting for you.”

Just then, Ye Fan noticed a cold glint flash in Jiang Yichen’s eyes as the young master of the Jiang family looked at him, making his heart drop.

“Jiang Yichen, your gaze seems off…” Jiang Caixuan suddenly remarked.

“Sister Xuan, why would you say that?” Jiang Yichen’s heart skipped a beat.

“Stop doing wicked things and don’t harbor ill intentions. It seems Grandpa has truly spoiled you,” Jiang Caixuan said coldly. “I’ve noticed you for a while now. You seem to want to make a move on Little Brother Ye. Has he provoked you?”

Jiang Yifei looked back at the two of them and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Jiang Yichen said, feeling a bit guilty.

“Speak!” Although Jiang Yifei appeared refined, he seemed to command great prestige, and Jiang Yichen, his clansman, was quite afraid of him.

“I…”

“Speak quickly!”

Jiang Yichen had no choice but to reveal the truth. He said, “That kid has a significant treasure on him, and not just any ordinary one. You know, the most remarkable thing about my mount isn’t its combat power, but that it possesses a spiritual jade horn that can sense divine objects. Today, it has been continuously flashing with five-colored light, exceptionally bright and dazzling.”

His mount was a green exotic beast, resembling a lion-tiger, with long, very clean green fur. On its head grew a jade horn, crystalline and translucent, emitting five-colored divine light, capable of sensing the presence of rare treasures.

“I might be in trouble…” Ye Fan thought, seeing the three people in the distance looking towards him.

“What’s wrong, child?” Elder Jiang asked.

Little Tingting also wiped away her tears and said, “What trouble has Big Brother encountered? I’ll ask Sister Caixuan to help you.”

Ye Fan forced a bitter smile.

At this moment, Jiang Yichen was walking towards them with a sneer, followed by Jiang Yifei and Jiang Caixuan.

“I’m really curious, what great treasure do you have on you?”

Ye Fan’s heart jolted. He had never imagined Jiang Yichen would say such a thing. Had he really discovered something?

Jiang Yifei smiled. “Little Brother Ye, don’t worry, we mean no harm. The Jiang family has treasures as abundant as dust; we won’t covet your possession.”

Jiang Caixuan reminded him, “Little Brother Ye, since you carry a great treasure, you must be careful from now on…”

Only after hearing her explanation did Ye Fan understand the wondrous nature of the five-colored exotic beast, which could actually sense spirit treasures. This sent a cold sweat down his spine. If the green copper block and the scripture of the Dao were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Fortunately, I didn’t agree to enter the Jiang family…” he muttered to himself.

“Alright, let’s part ways here. Don’t worry, I’ve already warned Jiang Yichen; he won’t harbor any ill intentions anymore,” Jiang Caixuan said with a smile.

Finally, the group rode their exotic beasts into the sky. Little Tingting cried very sadly, continuously waving her small hand until they disappeared into the horizon.

Ye Fan felt a strong sense of crisis. Instead of returning to the town, he headed directly into the deep mountains, feeling he needed to get away from the area as quickly as possible.