Translator: Silavin
“This is impossible!” Lin Aoqing could not believe the facts reported by the skinny Elder. He exclaimed, “Jun’er brought two strong Martial Masters with him. How could anyone in that backwater Jade Creek City possibly threaten him!?”
(Silavin: Jun’er is Lin Aoqing’s Son, Lin Shijun)
Although his unease had been growing stronger during this time, he still could not accept the fact that Lin Shijun had met with a terrible fate.
“Master, after that, Lin Aotian and his group had vanished without a trace. We can no longer find them in Jade Creek City,” the skinny Elder said with his head lowered.
As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately felt a violent aura emanating from Lin Aoqing’s body. The Elder paused briefly before continuing, “According to my extensive inquiries, Lin Aotian seems to have allied with the Li Family. Moreover, some people in Jade Creek City have reportedly seen Li Yuanba there!”
After all, Li Yuanba was too conspicuous. His large hammer made it difficult for people not to notice him.
“Li Yuanba?!” Upon hearing this name, Lin Aoqing’s aura faltered. His brows furrowed as he muttered to himself, “How could Li Yuanba possibly appear in a place like Jade Creek City? What’s more, although my Lin Family has some disagreements with his Li Family, they shouldn’t be so brazen as to harm Jun’er like this, let alone send Li Yuanba to do it.”
[After all, even if the Li Family wanted to make a move against Jun’er, they had plenty of covert opportunities. Why would they send Li Yuanba out of all people? Does the Li Family want to declare war on me?] Lin Aoqing paced back and forth in the great hall, his brows tightly knitted.
“That bastard Li Yuanfei!” Finally, Lin Aoqing could no longer contain his rage. He slammed his fist on a wooden table, instantly shattering the sturdy table and scattering wooden splinters all around.
Seeing this rage, the skinny Elder lowered his head even further, not daring to breathe.
This was something no one had anticipated. Even the skinny Elder could not understand why the Li Family would protect Lin Aotian. Did Li Yuanfei not know that the Lin Family was now under Lin Aoqing’s control?
Of course, the Lin Family Elder still had some reservations. Otherwise, given Lin Aoqing’s character, how could he have allowed the Elder to remain here until now?
“Quickly send people to Jade Creek City. We need to thoroughly investigate this matter. We must find out whether Jun’er is alive or not. I want to see him if alive, and I want to see his body if dead!” After a long while, Lin Aoqing finally calmed down somewhat. However, there was a cold glint flickering in his eyes as he spoke in an icy voice, “If this truly is the Li Family’s doing, I will make them pay!”
“Secretly investigate who exactly Li Yuanba went to Jade Creek City to bring back,” he added another order as the skinny Elder was about to leave. He had a very strong feeling that Lin Aotian was already with the Li Family!
……
These days, Qin Yichen has almost always been in secluded cultivation.
“This should be about right,” Qin Yichen’s gaze suddenly focused as he looked at the churning sea of clouds in his Knowledge Sea.
He was truly impatient to get that special Pill Furnace in his hands. Only with it would he feel at ease.
Early in the morning, Qin Yichen set out with Li Yuanba, heading towards the Spreading Cloud City Alchemy Guild.
It was not that he wanted to always move around with Li Yuanba. It was just that he knew after so many days, Lin Aoqing’s side had probably thoroughly investigated the matter. Thus, he might encounter unexpected dangers if he went out alone.
The Alchemy Guild was located in the very centre of Spreading Cloud City. Although there were not many people in Spreading Cloud City who could be called Alchemy Masters, the Alchemy Guild was still built quite magnificently. After all, the profession of Alchemy Master was too rare, which highlighted the nobility of the profession!
Before even entering the Alchemy Guild, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted over, making anyone who caught a whiff of it to feel refreshed.
In the main hall of the Alchemy Guild, there were a few people. Most of them being Alchemist Assistants. Their Families had paid a hefty price to allow them to study in the Alchemy Guild.
From another perspective, those who could be in the Alchemy Guild were either people of noble status or those with extraordinary talent.
Hearing footsteps, some people raised their heads and looked towards the entrance.
When they saw Li Yuanba, many of their eyes revealed a trace of surprise, while others showed fear.
Li Yuanba’s reputation was ‘famous’ throughout Spreading Cloud City.
“Li Yuanba, what is that brute doing at the Alchemy Guild?”
“Don’t know, but I’ve never heard of him having any talent in Alchemy…”
“Could he be here to accept some tasks to find medicinal herbs?”
“Are you joking? Does the Li Family’s Second Young Master need to come here to accept tasks for money?”
Upon seeing him enter, whispers began to rise from various corners.
In their memories, Li Yuanba had never come to this Alchemy Guild before. His presence here today left them puzzled about his purpose.
“Hey, who’s that person? Why is Li Yuanba following behind him?”
Following exclamations of surprise, the crowd’s attention finally turned to Qin Yichen, who was standing in front of Li Yuanba.
He was just a teenager of about fifteen or sixteen years old. He was wearing very simple clothes. His slightly handsome face had a pair of clear eyes, but other than that, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him.
But all this ordinariness, with Li Yuanba standing behind him, made him seem extraordinary. It causes the people present to speculate about his true identity.
Faced with those puzzled and scrutinising gazes, Qin Yichen felt helpless.
The current Alchemy Guild did seem somewhat different from his memory though. Just as he was about to find someone to ask where to take the Alchemy Master qualification test, a woman wearing a light green dress walked out from not far away. She quickly approached where Qin Yichen and Li Yuanba were standing.
“Uncle Li.” Before the woman had reached them, her voice, as pleasant as silver bells, had already reached them.
Qin Yichen looked over as well. The woman appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen years old. When he saw her face, it brightened Qin Yichen’s eyes.
She wore a light green silk dress with a string of bright pearls around her neck. Her face was incredibly fair and delicate, as if it was made of white jade. Her eyes were bright, beautiful, and big. Her voice was soft and graceful, like her calming demeanour. With her bright eyes, white teeth, and fair skin, she was truly an outstanding beauty.
Qin Yichen clearly saw that after this woman appeared, many young men’s eyes revealed intense fervour.
She was Liu Qiong’er, the Granddaughter of Liu Wen, the Guildmaster of the Spreading Cloud City Alchemy Guild, and also Li Lingyan’s close friend, which was why she was so close to the Li Family.
These people adored her not only because of her Grandfather, the Guildmaster behind her, but a large part of the reason was that she held the title of the Most Beautiful Woman in Spreading Cloud City!
As soon as he saw her, a memory surfaced in Qin Yichen’s mind.