Chapter 712: Confrontation

Jiang Fan’s mouth twitched. "What's wrong with all of you?"

"Didn't Elder Qin and the others tell you..."

Mid-sentence, Jiang Fan suddenly realized.

He had mastered the Cloud Shadow technique, which meant his speed might even surpass that of the Supreme Elders. He had arrived first despite setting out later.

"I survived a great calamity; I've truly been given a new lease on life," Jiang Fan said with a smile. "I had just returned to Boundary Mountain and found Senior Brother Ouyang and Chaoge patrolling here. I wanted to test their progress, but I didn't expect to alarm you all. My apologies."

Shangguan Sheng's beard trembled with excitement. "Master must have protected you from heaven! It's a miracle that you managed to return alive from the demon lands!"

Jiang Fan also felt incredibly fortunate to have returned this time. He had encountered too many dangers during his journey.

Demons, ancient giants, White Horse Temple monks, the Blood Robe, Venerable Azure Crane, Yan Dao'an, hellish desolate beasts. And finally, the pursuit by the Sky Demon Emperor.

Recalling it all made his scalp tingle. If he had to go through it again, he couldn't guarantee he would survive. Each of these dangers alone was extremely perilous.

Looking at Jiang Fan, who was travel-worn and appeared a little haggard, Xia Chaoge softly asked, "Uncle-Master must have suffered a lot, right?"

Jiang Fan snapped back to reality. He glared at her, his expression turning serious.

"Don't think that just because you're showing concern, Uncle-Master won't criticize you."

He said to Shangguan Sheng:

"Senior Brother Shangguan, you need to properly discipline Chaoge. After a month's absence, her strength has significantly declined! She's become reckless and disorganized, thinking of mutual destruction when facing a slightly stronger enemy, and completely losing the will to survive if captured. The decisive battle between humans and demons is imminent. If she continues like this, she'll die very quickly."

Xia Chaoge's pale, jade-like face gradually flushed. She lowered her head in shame. Then, a layer of mist welled up in her eyes.

Jiang Fan frowned. "Are you crying now? Did I wrong you? If I hadn't tested you, I wouldn't have known you've regressed so much."

Ouyang Jun raised a hand and quickly said, "Junior Brother Jiang, you've misunderstood."

Jiang Fan glared at him. "You too! If you're using hidden weapons, you must always have a backup plan. How can you just throw one and stand there motionless?"

After having sparred with disciples from the Outer Realm Divine Sect, and then comparing them to the disciples of the Nine Sects' lands, he deeply felt the enormous disparity between the two sides. It wasn't just a matter of strength. The difference in combat experience was even more vast. Jiang Fan had no doubt that, given equal strength, Nine Sects disciples would almost certainly suffer a complete defeat. They would be hard-pressed to win even one out of ten battles.

Ouyang Jun looked embarrassed and sullenly closed his mouth.

Shangguan Sheng was stunned. He could sense that Jiang Fan must have encountered some very powerful peers. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so strict with Xia Chaoge and the others.

After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Ouyang Jun is a disciple of the Thousand Refinement Sect, so it's not my place to comment. However, Chaoge... Junior Brother, you might have misunderstood her. She became this way because of you."

Jiang Fan raised an eyebrow. "Because of me?"

Shangguan Sheng sighed. "Ever since returning from the Consort Yunxia mission and confirming you were captured, she has harbored an intense hatred for the demon race, especially their elites. Normally, she's rational, but when she encounters demon elites, she acts recklessly. The reason, ultimately, is her exceptional hatred for them, because of you."

Ouyang Jun cautiously interjected. "Isn't that the truth? Junior Sister Xia's temper has been terrible lately. Can you believe she even started hitting people? Because of you, she's become unlike herself. After waiting so long for you to return alive, you still scold her. You're truly heartless."

A warmth flowed through Jiang Fan's heart. So, Xia Chaoge cared about him that much.

He apologized, "Chaoge, I'm sorry, Uncle-Master misunderstood you."

Xia Chaoge kept her head down, a slight sniffle in her voice. "No. Uncle-Master is so wise and mighty, how could he possibly wrong me?"

She was still pouting. With a helpless expression, he shot a pleading look at Shangguan Sheng.

Shangguan Sheng's beard bristled and his eyes widened. "You made her cry, why are you looking at me?" He put his hands behind his back, washing his hands of the matter.

Ouyang Jun also showed a look of schadenfreude. "Go on, take your time coaxing her!"

He couldn't recall Xia Chaoge ever crying or showing such a wronged expression. Yet today, Jiang Fan had made her cry. It was clear he had truly hurt her feelings.

Jiang Fan felt a massive headache coming on. He truly wasn't good at coaxing women.

After a moment's thought, he had no choice but to take out a Bodhi seed, imbued with a faint Buddhist glow. "Don't cry," Uncle-Master will compensate you with this."

Xia Chaoge glanced at it, her eyes still misty and her voice still a little nasally. "What is it?"

Jiang Fan replied, "A Bodhi seed. It can enhance one's comprehension. There are only ten of them, and this one is for you."

Xia Chaoge turned her head away. "So, it's for improving the brain. Uncle-Master, if you think I'm brainless, you can just say so; there's no need to beat around the bush. Thanks, but no thanks!"

Jiang Fan stared dumbfounded at the incredibly precious Bodhi seed in his hand. How did she connect it to improving the brain? No wonder they say an angry woman is impossible to reason with! This was just too difficult to coax!

"Hehe, if no one wants it, then can I have it?"

A girl's voice, like a silver bell, suddenly drifted over. It was Yue Mingzhu, in a pink dress, stepping lightly over the snow. She held a knowing smile, her gaze flickering between Xia Chaoge and Jiang Fan. With a stretch of her delicate hand, she reached for the Bodhi seed.

Xia Chaoge, startled, quickly snatched the Bodhi seed away, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is Uncle-Master's gift to me!"

Jiang Fan subtly let out a breath. Yue Mingzhu truly understood women; she had easily helped Jiang Fan manage Xia Chaoge.

He smiled helplessly and took out another Bodhi seed. "This one's for you too."

Yue Mingzhu giggled, cupping it in both hands. The faint Buddhist light illuminated her delicate face, making it appear exquisitely beautiful, whether she was pouting or smiling.

"Anything else?" She gave a mischievous smile and leaned her face closer. "I cried my heart out for you. Surely it's not just one Bodhi seed?"

Jiang Fan had long understood Yue Mingzhu's character. Many times, what she said with a smile was actually true. During the month he was missing, she had been quite distressed.

Jiang Fan lowered his head and aimed for her cheek.

Yue Mingzhu was startled. She quickly pulled back, stammering, "You... you're actually going through with it?" She glanced at Xia Chaoge, who was wide-eyed nearby, and stamped her foot in playful embarrassment.

She was just teasing Jiang Fan! Based on her understanding of him, he would never kiss her in public. But he had actually leaned in without hesitation. This completely flustered her. Her heart thumped wildly like a startled deer.

Jiang Fan teased, "You want to play, but you can't handle it."

Yue Mingzhu bit her silver teeth lightly, enraged, and waved her tiny fists. "Who are you calling 'bad'?" Darn it. She had unexpectedly been outmaneuvered by Jiang Fan!

Just then, two young women, one slightly ahead of the other, quickly walked over, surrounded by a crowd.

The woman leading wore a moon-white long dress and possessed breathtaking beauty, making her one of the most stunning women among the Nine Sects. Her steps were steady, and her demeanor graceful. Though her strength wasn't top-tier, she exuded an extraordinary aura. Half a step behind her was a tall woman with a serene demeanor. Her makeup was also exquisite. Occasionally, a flicker of wisdom shone in her eyes. She too was a rare beauty, both in temperament and appearance.

Both women walked directly towards Jiang Fan.

The graceful young woman briefly glanced at Yue Mingzhu and calmly said, "Move aside."

Yue Mingzhu scoffed, amused yet annoyed. Where did this woman come from, not only heading straight for Jiang Fan, but telling her to move aside? How arrogant! Who did she think she was?

"Who are you?" She crossed her arms over her chest, slightly raising her fair chin. It was a provocative stance.

The graceful young woman stated calmly, "Xu Youran, Jiang Fan's fiancée."