Chapter 174 - 171: Such Profound ’Inner Strength
"That’s right! How many other Huangfu Jianchens could there be?"
"That’s not right. Fu Yifan was killed by Hu Yinjiu, so the Thunder Heart Spring Wood should be in Hu Yinjiu’s hands. How did Huangfu Jianchen end up with it?"
"Because Huangfu Jianchen is hunting down Hu Yinjiu! Hu Yinjiu is no match for him!"
"I wouldn’t be so sure. Hu Yinjiu is nicknamed the ’Thousand-faced Man,’ and his concealment skills are incredible. It won’t be that easy for Huangfu Jianchen to kill him!"
... ...
The inn was bustling with activity. Martial Artists drank heartily and feasted on meat, chatting idly about everything under the sun and swapping gossip.
Ye Xing, Qiao’er, and Aunt Qiao walked into the inn, found an empty table in a corner, and sat down.
"What can I get for you three?"
The waiter enthusiastically bustled over, took the white cloth from his shoulder, and began wiping their table as he asked.
"Three bowls of rice, a dish of green vegetables, a dish of stir-fried bamboo shoots, and a plate of beef. And bring me a small pot of clear wine," Ye Xing ordered.
"Right away! Please wait a moment." The waiter jotted down the order and immediately scurried off to the kitchen.
The inn’s service was surprisingly fast. As the three of them ate, they listened to the old veterans of the martial world around them swapping gossip—
"Did you hear? The Celestial Snow Saintess was nearly killed by Hu Yinjiu."
"I’m not sure. But damn, if that’s true, that old bastard Hu Yinjiu is despicable. How could he bring himself to harm a celestial beauty like her?"
"So why did Hu Yinjiu want to kill the Celestial Snow Saintess, anyway?"
"What else could it be? The old grudge with Cold Moon Palace, of course. Legend says that in his youth, Hu Yinjiu fell for a female disciple from the palace. They were in love, but Lady Youyue, the Palace Master, refused to approve. So, they secretly eloped, hoping to run far away together."
"And then what? Did they make it?"
"You think they could’ve made it? You’ve got to consider what kind of power Cold Moon Palace wields. In less than three days, the female disciple was dragged back to Celestial Snow Mountain and executed that very day according to palace rules. Hu Yinjiu only managed to escape thanks to his Thousand-Faced Disguise Skill. He’s hated Cold Moon Palace ever since."
Two elderly Martial Artists at the next table were deep in conversation.
’Executed on the spot?’ Ye Xing’s heart clenched. He quickly walked over to the two elderly Martial Artists, cupped his hands in a fist, and asked, "Seniors, forgive my impertinence, but I’m curious—does Cold Moon Palace forbid its disciples from marrying?"
The two elderly Martial Artists at the next table glanced at Ye Xing before one said, "It’s not that marriage is completely forbidden, but that Lady Youyue has a peculiar temperament. Any disciple who wishes to marry must have her approval, and the chances of her granting it are less than one in ten. If a disciple dares to defy her will, they will be executed according to palace rules."
’Executed on the spot?’ Ye Xing was stunned, his brows knitting tightly. ’But they’re her own disciples... Isn’t Lady Youyue a bit too cold and heartless?’
"Haha, that Lady Youyue has always been—"
"Hey, Old Lin, watch your mouth! Walls have ears!" the other old man hurriedly warned.
The man called Old Lin instantly shot a panicked look around the inn and clamped his mouth shut.
When Ye Xing returned to his seat, he was fraught with worry, his mind uncontrollably spiraling into wild speculation.
’It’ll be okay. Mengxue will be okay. For now, no one knows about our relationship. It should be fine.’ Ye Xing’s brow was furrowed, his heart filled with dread. He stared at the food on the table but had lost his appetite completely.
"Big Brother, why aren’t you eating?" the little girl, Qiao’er, asked.
"You go ahead and eat, Qiao’er. Big Brother isn’t hungry."
Ye Xing forced a smile, then picked up the pot of wine and started drinking straight from the spout.
As it was noon and the weather was hot, the three rested in the inn for over an hour before continuing their journey.
After traveling for nearly another two hours, they finally arrived at the Ye Mansion on White Cloud Mountain in Phoenix Town.
Returning to their home at the Ye Mansion after several days away, the little girl was overjoyed. Aunt Qiao immediately set about tidying up the residence.
As for Ye Xing, the moment he arrived, he went straight to the Training Room to begin Secluded Cultivation.
Ye Xing now had no distracting thoughts. His only goal was to cultivate and break through to the Martial Arts Fourth Realm as quickly as possible.
He breathed in slowly, then exhaled just as gradually, practicing the Innate Skill. With each breath, the True Qi within his body steadily grew.
Time trickled by, and he lost track of how long he had been in cultivation. Suddenly, the Little Purple Eagle on his shoulder let out a sharp cry.
"SKREEE! SKREEE!"
The Little Purple Eagle cried out incessantly, its voice filled with anxiety, as it frantically beat its small, pale purple wings against Ye Xing’s neck.
"Little Zhi, what is it?"
Ye Xing, who was sitting cross-legged, quickly opened his eyes. He looked at the Little Purple Eagle on his shoulder, having never seen the little creature so agitated.
"SKREEE! SKREEE!"
The Little Purple Eagle screeched, its small, pale purple wings pointing insistently at one of the monitor screens inside the Training Room.
Ye Xing quickly followed the direction Little Zhi’s wings were pointing. The moment he saw it, his expression changed dramatically.
The screen showed a section of the mountain path on White Cloud Mountain. On it, an elderly man in black robes, his body surging with a powerful Qi Force, was using a Lightweight Skill to race up the mountain at high speed.
’Hu Yinjiu!’ A cold glint flashed in Ye Xing’s eyes. ’Damn that old bastard! He actually dares to come to my White Cloud Mountain again? Does he really think I’m some kind of pushover? I wasn’t ready for you last time, but today, I’m taking your life!’
Ye Xing shot to his feet and stormed out of the Training Room.
...
On a White Cloud Mountain path, the black-robed old man radiated a murderous aura. Wind swirled around him as he sped up the mountain toward the Ye Mansion.
As an Innate Realm expert, Hu Yinjiu’s speed was unquestionable. In just a few minutes, he arrived before the Ye Mansion.
The two vermilion gates of the Ye Mansion stood wide open. Inside, the residence was utterly silent, without a single sound.
’Strange. Why are the gates wide open with no one on guard? Could that cunning brat have already sensed my approach?’ A flicker of doubt crossed the black-robed Hu Yinjiu’s eyes, followed by a cold snort. ’Hmph. Trying to act mysterious. In the face of an absolute disparity in strength, what good is an ambush against me?’
With a look of contemptuous disdain, the black-robed Hu Yinjiu strode directly through the gates of the Ye Mansion.
He had just stepped into the front courtyard when a booming voice suddenly echoed—
"Heh heh, Elder Hu, for you to grace my humble home with your presence... it is truly an honor!"
The voice was incredibly loud, reverberating through the entire mansion like a roll of muffled thunder.
’Who’s there? Such profound Inner Strength in that voice! Judging by the sound, their Inner Strength is likely on par with my own!’ The black-robed Hu Yinjiu was startled, momentarily stunned. His gaze grew heavy as he stared straight ahead.
He heard footsteps approaching, and a young man in green robes with a Treasure Sword at his waist appeared in the front courtyard.
(Just one Chapter today, two tomorrow!)