Chen Yan squinted at this woman: The primordial Qi was gathering above her head, the faint silver threads flowed intermittently within the grey primordial Qi.
That meant she was still at the mortal cultivator level like him.
From the intensity of the silver glow... this woman was most likely at the same Guiyuan realm as him, and perhaps... slightly lower in cultivation?
This woman named Chu Keqing was clearly a bit taken aback by Chen Yan, but being experienced and knowledgeable, she calmed herself after taking a deep breath. "Master Chen should know why I’m here to find you."
"Hmm, why don’t you tell me first?" Chen Yan picked up a piece of snail meat and put it into his mouth.
Chu Keqing said calmly, "My senior brother Luo Qing!"
"Oh." Chen Yan nodded. Since she came to him, he had no intention of hiding anything. "I was the one who planted the talismans to attract rats outside the shop earlier and later demolished his house."
(You demolished the house twice.) Chu Keqing mentally added.
Still, there was no need to delve into specifics since the other party had admitted it.
"So, Master Chen doesn’t think you owe an explanation?" Chu Keqing stared into Chen Yan’s eyes and slowly asked.
This woman’s voice was somewhat unusual; her voice was originally a bit cold, but it had a natural nasal tone.
"Luo Qing is not a good person. Shouldn’t he be punished for doing evil and harming others?" Chen Yan straightforwardly countered.
Chu Keqing fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "My senior brother has indeed offended many people and done many wrong things that deserve punishment.
But, Master Chen, don’t you think you should have reasoned with him before acting? I have some reputation among fellow practitioners. If there’s an issue, you could have come to me, and we could discuss it. For you to act without speaking first seems a bit much, doesn’t it?"
"This isn’t the first time Luo Qing has done such dirty deeds, has it?" Chen Yan smiled and then looked at the woman. "It’s definitely not the first time you’ve cleaned up his mess. Whether it’s punishment or something else.
He’s so old that he’s surely done many bad things—You aren’t unaware of them, are you? Have you kept him in check?"
Chu Keqing’s face turned slightly red from these rebukes, and she gritted her teeth, "Our Cloud Sect has its own rules, the disciples who have done bad things..."
"Go and tell the police that." Chen Yan interrupted directly, shaking his head. "I already said, what age is this? Still talking about sect rules. Today, I punished Luo Qing. If it weren’t me, what if he were caught by the police for doing bad things?
Would you tell the police not to arrest him because the Cloud Sect has its own rules?
Do you think you’re in a fantasy film? Are you kidding me?"
A trace of anger gradually appeared in Chu Keqing’s eyes. "Our Mystical Sect has its own rules for dealing with trouble. Master Chen, your words are too unreasonable."
Her tone softened. "I believe I have been very reasonable. My senior brother Luo Qing was disciplined by you, Master Chen. I didn’t come here to fight but to have a proper talk.
Or is it that you’re too young, and no one from your sect has taught you the ways of the martial world? Do you really think that just because you’ve learned some powerful talisman arts, you can act recklessly?"
Chen Yan’s heart moved, and he understood. This woman thought he was some young disciple of a sect?
So, it’s still that greasy martial world playbook?
The martial world is not about fighting and killing; it’s about human relations?
"My senior brother Luo Qing’s actions, I will take full responsibility.
I will transfer the compensation to President Fang’s losses today. Not a penny will be missing.
However, as you’ve acted against someone from my Cloud Sect, more than once, how can I go to your sect’s elders and speak properly without leaving a name?"
As she spoke, Chu Keqing sighed lightly, "Alright, I initially thought you were young and promising and wanted to speak respectfully. But since it is , don’t blame me for bullying the small when I meet your sect’s elders."
Chen Yan wasn’t happy.
You’re big, but damn it, I’m not small!
Chu Keqing suddenly extended her two fingers, lightly flicking them. A yellow talisman emerged at her fingertips and ignited without fire. Slowly, she said, "Junior, which sect are you from?"
As the talisman burned rapidly, Chen Yan felt a wave of primordial Qi rushing towards him. In an instant, his mind wavered as if he unconsciously wanted to speak his true thoughts.
But in just a blink, Chen Yan took a slight breath, the primordial Qi coursed through his body, and his mind cleared.
Looking at Chu Keqing, Chen Yan sneered, "A truth talisman? With such a tiny flame, who are you trying to scare?"
Chu Keqing slightly frowned, "Not bad cultivation, blocking the power of a truth talisman. It’s no wonder you’re so bold at such an age."
After a pause, she shook her head. "Since that’s the case, I’ll have to capture you first and then reason with your sect’s elders."
"Capture me?" Chen Yan glanced at Elder Zi’s hand... the fingers were slender and delicate, white and fine, appearing weak and boneless. Clearly, these were hands that had never done hard labor.
Chu Keqing’s fingers conjured another yellow talisman, which quickly ignited as she pointed it at Chen Yan. "Talisman Order·Immovable as a Mountain!"
Chen Yan immediately felt the surrounding Qi mechanism freeze, countless Qi mechanisms pressed down, instantly pinning his body to the chair.
Chu Keqing stood up, slowly walked to Chen Yan’s side, and placed another talisman on his shoulder.
"Talisman Command·Traction Technique!" Chu Keqing exhaled, glanced at Chen Yan, "Now, obediently follow me."
Chen Yan’s body immediately stood up, moving with a slight stiffness towards Chu Keqing.
After Chu Keqing took two steps forward, she suddenly frowned—no footsteps followed behind.
Looking back, she saw Chen Yan standing in place, looking at her with a faint smile.
"Leaving already? I haven’t paid yet. Your Cloud Sect’s rules don’t include leaving without paying, do they?"
After saying that, Chen Yan suddenly took a light breath.
With his mouth containing primordial Qi, he chuckled, "Law Order·Breaking Rune Technique! Law Breaks All Laws."
This sound fell into Chu Keqing’s ears like a great bell, resonating deeply. She instantly trembled!
Then she saw Chen Yan slowly stretch, his body no longer stiff.
Chu Keqing’s eyes widened, and her voice trembled, "Casting? You can actually cast spells?!"
She had used three talismans in total, none of which had any effect?
The other party could cast spells without assistance?!
Chen Yan pouted, gently removed the yellow talisman on his shoulder, and examined it.
It was somewhat similar to the magic recorded in his own book "Law Order", but the runes looked far too crude.
As for the Talisman Order·Immovable as a Mountain from earlier, it was probably similar to the Law Order·Body Stabilization Technique recorded in his book. Though, the effect was far inferior.
"Mere parlor tricks." Chen Yan intentionally sneered.
He slowly walked to Chu Keqing, exhaled lightly, channeled the primordial Qi, quickly formed a hand seal, then made a finger sword and pointed at Chu Keqing.
Chu Keqing immediately felt as if she was struck by an icy wave, her mind went blank, and she froze on the spot.
Chen Yan looked satisfyingly at the immobilized woman.
Hmm, one should not emulate the monkey, freezing the Seven Fairies only to pick peaches.
Mr. Chen the Benefactor is not a rogue; it’s broad daylight...
No, the waiter over there has already glanced over twice with suspicion.
After a moment of thought, Chen Yan extended his finger and snapped it sharply against Chu Keqing’s forehead.
With a pop, a red mark slowly appeared on the woman’s originally fair skin.
"You disrupted my meal, so I flick you once, and we’re even." Chen Yan waved his hand. "The matter with Luo Qing is over. If you don’t provoke me in the future, I won’t trouble you. Plus, since you can watch over me here, you must know where I live.
I advise you, don’t come to my home; my family is fierce."
Chu Keqing’s face turned red, glaring at Chen Yan.
Half was from shame and anger.
The other half was from shock!
With her level of cultivation, among the high-level practitioners she had encountered, very few could use talisman arts.
But...casting spells out of thin air?
Using spiritual power to cast spells without relying on talisman power?
This was a realm Chu Keqing had only dreamed of and heard of only in legends!!
Watching Chen Yan picking up his phone to scan and pay the bill, about to leave...
"Wait!" Chu Keqing suddenly called out: "Please wait!"
"Hmm? Is it time for the clichéd threat part?" Chen Yan stopped and looked back at Chu Keqing.
"No, I dare not." Chu Keqing’s eyes slightly dodged, her voice faintly trembling, "Since you can cast spells out of thin air without external aid, this level of cultivation is beyond me. Today’s matter was my overreach; I beg your pardon... no, wait!
With your cultivation, can you really be so young?
May I humbly ask for your name, senior? If you could give guidance, our Cloud Sect would undoubtedly and respectfully welcome you with due ceremony!"
Chen Yan was momentarily stunned but understood immediately.
Did this Team Leader Jin believe him to be some old monster who had altered his appearance?
Clearing his throat, Chen Yan looked at Chu Keqing, smiled, and spoke in a pretentious tone: "Isn’t my name already known to you?"
Truly, an elder, who knows how he managed to look so young. Is it an art of preserving youth? Or the legendary return to youth... Chu Keqing’s mind was in turmoil. It was probably an alias... she gently asked, "May I ask your honored age, senior?"
"I have wasted my years; I am ninety-one."
Before Chu Keqing could process, Chen Yan had already quickly exited the store and disappeared.
Chen Yan’s voice echoed from outside.