Chapter 311.2: The World of Death Qi
Qi Yuan would remain in Tianyue City for about a week until the Martial Arts Tournament began. During that week, he intended to visit a few of the city's martial heritage sites. For example, the Wuyun Pavilion, where relics of ancient Martial Dao practices were carved into every surface.
When they'd parted last night, Han Xianyun had promised to accompany him to the Wuyun Pavilion and serve as his guide. There was no reason not to take him up on it.
About an hour later, Qi Yuan arrived outside the pavilion. After three months, his hair had grown quite long, giving him the appearance of a handsome man from a historical drama.
Upon spotting him, Han Xianyun broke into an excited wave, jogging over. "Mr. Qi!"
Last night, he had gone home with his head spinning and slept it off. When he woke up, he was clear-headed again. It had all clicked. Qi Yuan was the one who had wiped out Wugui Country’s military camp. He was the legendary immortal cultivator who could supposedly do anything.
No wonder Qi Yuan seemed unfazed when Han Xianyun’d worried aloud about the Immortal Dao’s resurgence making the Martial Dao obsolete. He cultivated the Immortal Dao! What did he have to worry about? Martial Dao was probably just a hobby for him; something to experience life through.
“So what do you do when faced with an immortal cultivator?” Han Xianyun had asked himself that very question this morning. The answer was obvious: grovel. And if he groveled well enough, who knows? Mr. Qi could wave a hand and give him an absolutely amazing wife. That would be a massive windfall.
Qi Yuan remarked offhandedly, "You've got quite a full pack there. Very well prepared."
"If I'm going to be Mr. Qi's guide, I have to be fully prepared!" Han Xianyun said warmly.
Qi Yuan scanned the area and took in the cordon of warning tape, with quite a few black-suited bodyguards stationed nearby. "Can we actually get into the Wuyun Pavilion? I see a perimeter out front."
Han Xianyun waved it off. "The Wuyun Pavilion is free and open to everyone. Someone probably just rented it out privately. No problem, I'm not short on money, this is a small matter."
Scenes like this were common in the Qin Yuan Kingdom. Ordinary people had long since stopped finding it strange, and raised no objection. The hard truth was that the rich got richer and the poor got poorer, and the gap could never be bridged.
Even if one did object, what would that accomplish? It wasn't as though anything of substance appeared on television, in textbooks, or even in the constitution. The Seven Martial Star families even had the authority to grant exemption from capital punishment.
Qi Yuan hesitated. "Isn't it a bit improper to use privilege like this?"
He himself never relied on privilege. For example, back in Canglan, he could’ve exercised his authority and ordered them to open the Hidden Library for him. Yet he never did. Instead, he relied on his exemplary charisma and the natural hospitality of his hosts, and they opened the library of their own accord.
Should I try winning them over with charisma instead? Qi Yuan mused, thinking of the Canglan approach.
"Leave this small matter to me!" Han Xianyun declared, patting his chest.
He was just about to look for whoever was in charge when a steward-like older man walked over with a beaming smile. "Young Master? You're here?"
Han Xianyun appeared baffled. "Uncle Wang, what are you doing here? Don't tell me the one who rented out the Wuyun Pavilion is my big brother? Even better, back door access for us. I've got a friend who wants to come in too."
Finding out it was family made things even simpler, he felt.
Just then, a large group of people came walking over in a cluster. At the head of them was a middle-aged man, accompanied by an attractive young woman with a distinctly exotic look about her.
The middle-aged man spotted Han Xianyun, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face. He turned to the young woman beside him. "Your Highness Huansha, this is my younger brother, Han Xianyun. He's a peak martial artist. You've expressed interest in Martial Dao, haven't you? My brother could serve as your guide and explain the Wuyun Pavilion."
The woman was a princess of the Liulis Kingdom who was visiting Longtai City. Han Xianyun's elder brother, Han Kang, had been assigned to escort her. Now that his younger brother was here, Han Kang simply decided to pass the role off to him.
"Big Brother, I'm here with a friend." Han Xianyun felt a trace of exasperation before turning to the princess. "My apologies, Your Highness. I'm not available today."
Between escorting a minor kingdom’s princess and an immortal cultivator, that was the easiest decision of his life. Could a princess give him an amazing wife? Obviously not.
Han Kang blinked, momentarily thrown off. His younger brother was carefree and nonchalant, but when it counted, he never dropped the ball. And he'd certainly never refused a direct request from Han Kang so openly, right in front of him.
With a flicker of displeasure, Han Kang glanced at Qi Yuan. "Why don't you come back to the Wuyun Pavilion tomorrow with your friend? I'll have my brother accompany you then."
The words carried a weight that didn't leave room for argument. It was clear he was someone used to being obeyed.
Qi Yuan refused to budge. "Well, I am already here now. Why should I come tomorrow? Is the Wuyun Pavilion your family's property? Why don't you come back tomorrow instead?"
Before Han Kang could respond, a secretary-like man with gold-rimmed glasses beside him said, "The Wuyun Pavilion is one of our holdings."
Qi Yuan paused. He'd walked right into that one. He was displeased. "This..."[1]
In this game, there were limitations everywhere he turned. He'd already decided that once he had enough money, he was going to buy Arch Star outright. That way, the next time something like this happened, he could fire back with full authority.
What, the Wuyun Pavilion is your family's property? My apologies, I own Arch Star.
Unfortunately, he was just a powerless nobody at the moment, standing there like a nameless extra.
Just then, Princess Huansha's eyes lit up with what seemed like genuine interest. "Are they both martial artists? I've long admired your country's Martial Dao. Why don't I simply join them and tour the Wuyun Pavilion together? We're all young. It would be more relaxed and lively that way. What does everyone think?"
Her proposal set off a small ripple.
Han Kang mulled it over. "That works."
The others had no objections either. The Wuyun Pavilion was already surrounded by their people. With security airtight on the outside, there was nothing to worry about.
Han Kang turned to Han Xianyun and Qi Yuan, his tone grave with a quiet edge of pressure. "Once you're inside the Wuyun Pavilion, make sure to protect Her Highness. Do not let anything happen to her."
Han Xianyun helplessly turned to Qi Yuan. "Mr. Qi, what do we do?"
Qi Yuan sighed, feeling his own smallness keenly. "It's fine. After all, it's their property." [2]
1. ”Qi Yuan will remember that.” ☜
2. ”Qi Yuan will remember that.” ☜
Comments