Chapter 511 - 227: Change
Qin Fang’s first stop after entering Lanyang City was, naturally, to go see his Senior Sister.
...As the hands-off manager who had been gone for over a year, he had relied entirely on his Senior Sister to hold down the fort. Of course, he had to go see her first.
He arrived at the Outer City’s Sacrificial Hall in the blink of an eye and walked inside.
Qin Fang’s arrival immediately drew the attention of the disciples inside. Most of them were stunned for a moment upon seeing him, but they quickly recovered and greeted him respectfully in unison, "Greetings, Senior Brother."
"Greetings, Senior Brother!"
"Senior Brother, you’re back!"
Some of the disciples were even from the Guiyuan Lineage. They knew that Qin Fang had left the Sect, and seeing him now, they were all extremely excited and happy.
Qin Fang smiled and gave a slight nod...
...’After being away on my own for a year, I have to admit, I really missed my sectmates.’
He smiled, returned their greetings, and then asked, "Is Senior Sister upstairs?"
"She is."
After answering instinctively, they suddenly paused, their expressions turning a little strange.
Qin Fang didn’t notice. He just smiled and said, "Go on, back to your work."
He headed for the third floor, bundle in hand.
He had just reached the door, but before he could push it open, a man’s hearty laughter drifted out from inside.
"...Fairy Wen, this Fire-Departing Jade Marrow is a product of a hundred years of condensed Earth Fire Essence from the depths of my Nanming Li Fire Sect’s Flame Valley... Wearing it regularly is beneficial for harmonizing yin and yang. I have long heard that your Root Skill is pure and upright; wearing this long-term would surely be a great help to you."
Qin Fang blinked. He heard Wen Suxin’s voice, gentle yet cool. "Young Master Yan, you are too kind. This item is precious, a secret treasure of your esteemed Sect. Suxin dare not accept it. Please, take it back."
The man laughed. "Fairy Wen, I must disagree. The Nanming Li Fire Sect and the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect are allies; it is only natural for us to exchange gifts. This item may be insignificant, but it is a small token of my sincerity."
Wen Suxin replied, "I appreciate the sentiment, Young Master Yan. However, the Sect’s rules come first, and it would be inappropriate for me to accept such a valuable gift from an Outer Sect."
"Fairy Wen..."
The conversation inside made Qin Fang’s brow furrow. After a moment’s thought, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"Senior Sister, it’s me."
There was a moment of silence from within the room.
Then, the door opened.
Wen Suxin appeared in the doorway. A surprised and joyful smile lit up her eyes when she saw Qin Fang. "Junior Brother, you’re back?"
Seeing his Senior Sister’s expression, Qin Fang felt an inexplicable sense of reassurance. He then looked up into the room.
Inside, a young man in a crimson brocade robe, its cuffs embroidered with a flowing fire pattern, had also risen to his feet and was looking toward the door.
Their gazes met, and the other man’s eyes flickered for a moment.
"Senior Sister, who is this?"
Qin Fang strode into the room, casually shrugging the bundle off his shoulder.
His Senior Sister naturally took the bundle from his hands as she gently made the introduction. "Junior Brother, this is Young Master Yan Chen, from the Nanming Li Fire Sect in Yanfang Prefecture."
’Nanming Li Fire Sect?’
Qin Fang froze for a moment.
’...From Yanfang Prefecture?’
His eyes glinted.
’...The original owner of this body was a refugee from Yanfang Prefecture.’
The two prefectures were indeed neighbors.
As Qin Fang observed the man, the man’s gaze also landed on him. The sight of Wen Suxin so naturally taking the bundle from Qin Fang’s shoulder made the other man’s face stiffen. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Qin Fang.
"Fairy Wen, and this is?"
After Wen Suxin had finished introducing him, he asked with a note of confusion in his voice.
His Senior Sister introduced Qin Fang to him. "Young Master Yan, this is the Hall Master’s True Inheritance of our Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect’s Guiyuan Lineage... Qin Fang."
’The Hall Master’s True Inheritance of the Guiyuan Lineage?’
’Qin Fang?’
’...So he’s Qin Fang?’
Yan Chen’s pupils constricted slightly.
’Ever since he arrived at the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect with his elders, he had heard the name Qin Fang mentioned frequently.’
"So, you are Junior Brother Qin... During my stay at your esteemed Sect, I’ve often heard you mentioned as a rare, once-in-a-century genius of the Celestial Spirit Sect. I also heard you defeated Zhao Yuanling, one of the Golden Rainbow Seven Sons... It is a shame we never had the chance to meet. Now that I see you in person, you are indeed as impressive as they say. Your reputation is well-deserved."
Yan Chen said with a smile, clasping his hands in a salute.
Qin Fang looked at him, returned the salute, and replied mildly, "Senior Brother Yan, you flatter me. That duel was just a stroke of luck. If I may ask, did you come here looking for my Senior Sister for a specific reason?"
Yan Chen’s smile froze. He hadn’t expected Qin Fang to be so blunt.
He laughed. "The Three Religions are wreaking havoc across the Great Yu, and my Nanming Li Fire Sect and your esteemed Sect are allies in this fight. I accompanied my elders here, firstly, on official business. And secondly... I hoped to use this opportunity to interact with the talented younger generation of your Sect and foster a deeper understanding between us."
He smiled. "Fairy Wen is gentle and wise, and her Cultivation is profound. I was captivated the moment I saw her, so I took the liberty of visiting to ask for some cultivation advice and to chat about the local customs of our respective prefectures..."
As he spoke, he instinctively glanced at Wen Suxin, his eyes filled with unconcealed admiration.
Qin Fang’s eyelid twitched. He wanted to say something but didn’t know what.
He instinctively looked toward Senior Sister Wen.
Senior Sister Wen was already frowning, and her voice turned chilly. "Young Master Yan, watch your words."
She said expressionlessly, "In exchanges between Sects, righteousness and official duty must come first; personal matters are secondary. Suxin’s Cultivation is shallow; I am not worthy of such a word as ’captivated,’ nor would I dare delay you from your official business with your peers. If you wish to discuss official matters, please follow the proper channels. If you wish to discuss cultivation, our Sect’s Grandmasters and many disciples are available for discussion and sparring. As for anything else, let’s not speak of it... If there’s nothing else, Young Master Yan, please see yourself out."
The smile on Yan Chen’s face froze. He clearly hadn’t expected Wen Suxin to be so direct, her rejection so utterly merciless.