CHAPTER 211: CHAPTER 171 RETURN

The forest flanked both sides, lush and vibrant.

In this evergreen forest, there was a road wide enough for two carriages to pass each other.

On one side of the road were several families from Jiangzhou City.

These families were originally collaborators with Zhou Xinnian from Clothing Town.

Yuchi had never paid attention to this matter, never thinking they would be waiting for him here?

Looking at their aggressive demeanor, are they up to no good?

Without speaking directly, Yuchi watched them, wanting to hear their thoughts.

One can’t simply conclude that they aren’t here to collaborate; these are matters that defy easy judgment.

Then a young man pulled out a short sword from his waist, holding it in his hand with overwhelming excitement.

"Patriarch, is he Yuchi! Let me kill him now!"

"He’s just a mere mortal."

"Daring to leave Jiangzhou City alone and return on horseback, he truly doesn’t know the meaning of death!"

Yuchi: "..."

Goodness, seeing his excited look, it’s obvious this is his first time doing such a thing.

His right hand, holding the short sword, was trembling with excitement. What’s the point?

Yuchi looked at them, taking the initiative to speak: "What do you want?"

We want you dead!

Wanting is one thing, but the family members didn’t dare speak so directly to Yuchi.

Then an elder stepped forward.

"President Wei, they say to leave room and meet again someday."

"You’re directly cutting off our leg, leaving us unable to cooperate with Jiangzhou City in the future."

"Do you seem to entirely disregard our feelings?"

His words were sarcastic, and Yuchi watched him curiously: "So?"

So what exactly do you want to do, just say it directly. If we can collaborate, we will; if not, I need to head back.

It’s been a while since I last returned to Xufu Town, and there’s a lot to be done once I get back.

The few people looked at each other, nodding in agreement, showing their seriousness.

The man spoke directly: "We wish to continue our collaboration with Zhou Xinnian, and hope the commerce association voluntarily withdraws from this matter."

"Otherwise, if it really involves the Cloud Mountain Sect, we don’t want to truly antagonize the association."

"We’ll visit to express our gratitude later, with future opportunities for some collaboration."

The townspeople are still unaware of the situation regarding the Cloud Mountain Sect.

They stayed in Jiangzhou City during Yuchi’s days there, observing secretly.

They discovered Yuchi seemed close to people from the Four Major Institutions?

But can’t understand the exact nature of his relationship with the Four Major Institutions.

This leaves them with no choice but to be somewhat cautious.

A woman spoke directly: "President, I hope you consider the long term."

"Even if you had dinner with people from the Four Major Institutions, it doesn’t mean anything."

"If we reveal Jiangzhou City’s matters to Cloud Mountain Sect, once they investigate..."

"Heh."

"Do you think Jiangzhou City will still choose you over the association and factions?"

"You have no idea how good our relationship with them truly is."

Yuchi could hear her pride.

Seeing their appearance, the reason this town can operate in Jiangzhou City must be due to the Cloud Mountain Sect behind the Zhou Family?

Perhaps some distant relatives of the Cloud Mountain Sect?

Thus, Yuchi smiled and briskly replied with two words: "No way."

...

The few people’s breaths halted for a moment on site; they never expected his answer to be so decisive.

Saying no means no!

Don’t you even think it over!

We have great relations with Cloud Mountain Sect, and this friction with us would surely harm you in the end.

By then, your supposed commerce association would be deeply entangled in unfortunate affairs, too late for regrets!

The young man, already excited with the short sword, now appeared even more eager.

His gaze at Yuchi was filled with aversion but driven by impulsion.

"Patriarch, let me kill him, let me kill him, so he knows who he has offended!"

"He’s just one person, just barely related to the Four Major Institutions."

"Once we kill him, we might dominate Xufu Town’s business."

"We might expand the business even grander, challenging this reckless youth!"

"He brought it upon himself!"

Faced with the young man’s words, they all remained silent.

Then the slightly older middle-aged man frowned looking at him: "Can you calm down?"

"Alright, I’ll calm down!" The young man nodded immediately, sometimes thrusting the short sword forward, sometimes pulling it back.

Such obedience...

And for Yuchi, just as well they came this time.

Saves me the trip back to Xufu Town to seek them out one by one.

"I have a suggestion; cooperate with the commerce association and join Xufu Town United Commerce Association."

"Afterward, you may share our commerce association’s channels."

"Calculating it this way, you can retain some share in Jiangzhou City."

"For details, we need to discuss them back home, as this wilderness isn’t suitable for negotiation."

"Everyone, return home, and a few days later, come to Xufu Town for discussion. I hope we can reach a satisfactory collaboration."

Having said this.

Seeing no response from the other side, seeming to agree by default, Yuchi rode his horse casually away.

On the spot.

The young man with the short sword had trembling hands.

"Patriarch, why did we just let him leave without stopping him? We could have killed him directly!"

In the young man’s eyes, after Yuchi issued this invitation, they hadn’t given any response.

The other person didn’t seem to have any intention of staying in such a place.

After saying, "I’ll be waiting for you in Xufu Town," they mounted their horse and left immediately.

This left them feeling quite embarrassed.

Especially me, holding a short sword, at least I was armed, and they had Cultivators guarding them.

Even though their cultivation level wasn’t particularly extraordinary, it was at least in the second or third Qi Cultivation Realm.

To handle a regular president of the United Commerce Association should be very simple!

Yet with so many of us, we didn’t manage to clearly address the situation and let them get away.

"Patriarch, with just one word from you, we can catch up immediately."

"Before the next station, we could eliminate him directly."

"At that point, we wouldn’t be concerned about any commerce association or anything else!"

He muttered to himself, while a few people nearby couldn’t hold back anymore and angrily shouted, "Can you shut up!"

The young man immediately fell silent, quietly putting away his short sword.

"Patriarch, what do you think?" the woman asked.

"He was too composed, from when we appeared to his final departure, there wasn’t even a hint of fear on his face."

"His entire demeanor was just relaxed!"

"It was as if he had happened to encounter a nest of unafraid fledglings by the roadside."

"There was even a trace of pity in his eyes as he looked at us."

What the young man couldn’t perceive, someone with a bit of worldly experience could discern after all.

However, people like this Patriarch are few—only a nearby servant could see more or less what was happening.

"And this Yuchi, as a mortal, unexpectedly returned to Xufu Town alone?"

"With his status, he could very well have deployed many to protect himself, but he didn’t."

"In matters of life and death, there’s no such thing as taking advantage of someone else’s authority."

"We’ve all seen people from the Imperial Decree Department that even require the Defense Department’s Government Officials by their side for protection."

"That’s because they have ulterior motives, otherwise, if they were truly upright and loved the people, what would there be to fear?"

"Not to mention, surely Yuchi knows we are also his enemies?"

"Can’t he see?"

"If he didn’t even know of our hostility towards him, how could he possibly manage the other families in Xufu Town?"

"So, he definitely sees all of this, possibly even anticipating our appearance before him, yet he didn’t seek help!"

"He must be quite frightening, indeed."

After hearing this, the crowd started to comprehend, even feeling an illusion that if they had attacked Yuchi earlier, they might have ended as dead men.

Except this is not an illusion. Though these brothers talked about it, if it came to action, lives would assuredly be lost.

Moreover, Yuchi himself never expected they would dare to block him.

Lastly, the reason he was alone was because he wanted to take a walk.

These days in Jiangzhou City, he was tired of eating too much meat and needed something green to cleanse his eyes.

Lately, everything he saw appeared pale and dull.

Those fair courtesans, some fiercer than tigers.

...

Sitting on a stone, her delicate arms, like lotus stems, tossed a stone far into the distance.

The stone, carrying some Spiritual Qi, flew through the air and quickly disappeared over the cliff.

A monkey below clutched its head with both hands, with a large bump on its forehead.

Blushing on the cheeks, the lovely Shen Qinghan gazed at the sky longingly:

"How long until the New Year, I miss Sect Leader Senior Brother so much, hasn’t he been away from the Ascension Gate for almost half a month now?"

"I guess he’s very busy... yes, he must be very busy, otherwise, Sect Leader Senior Brother would definitely come to Ascension Gate to see me."

"Busy..."

"Everyone’s busy."

"Busy is good."

With a hint of resentment on her face, Shen Qinghan, the senior sister of the Ascension Gate, sighed repeatedly, displaying a such cute expression.

She glanced over her shoulder.

Under the clear sky, the Ascension Gate looked especially clean, with a large flat area at the mountainside, of decent size.

The flat area was entirely paved with bluestone slabs, looking quite pleasing, and at the edge of the slabs, there was a path outlined by streetlights.

The path led to some buildings of varying heights, including the elegant and splendid Hexagonal Immortal Tower.

Her few junior sisters were all in their respective rooms in the buildings training.

Apart from the sound of bird calls, the entire Ascension Gate was silent.

"I wish the New Year would come sooner."

"I wish the Sect Leader Senior Brother would come to the sect to see me."

"Oh!"

"Everyone around me has extremely high talent, while I’m falling behind."

"Especially Dongran Junior Sister..."

"With her terrifying Ninth-Grade Talent, she might surpass me in just two or three months, making me the worst in Ascension Gate..."

Thinking about it.

Shen Qinghan’s little heart felt a tug.

Today marks the 365th day of missing the Sect Leader Senior Brother.

...

Seven days later.

At the Wei Mansion of the Wei Family, horses were parked at the stables, backing into their slots.

Yuchi had just left the stables when he saw a little girl running towards him.

His face instantly filled with a broad smile as he approached, scooping up little Ximo.

"Isn’t this my niece, little Ximo? How did you drift over here?"

"Uncle! I missed you so much!!"

Little Ximo gave Yuchi’s old face a wild smooch attack.

Leaving his face damp and sticky, it made the maid chasing from behind smile broadly.

This uncle and niece have a really good relationship.

And then Sanlang, can your arms hold another, would you look at me, can I be the one?