Chapter 22: Through The Backdoor
Thud.
Bai Ye's descent from the air stirred the crowd.
Clap, clap...
A thunderous applause erupted from the crowd. Everyone stared at Bai Ye in amazement.
Most could tell that Bai Ye was not a Mystic Warrior—she looked to be 15 at most—but she was able to dodge an attack from a Mystic Warrior.
"Amazing! Is she planning to enter the Erudition Trials?"
"Spectacular indeed. Fending off an attack from a Mystic Warrior at such a young age! What more when she becomes a Mystic Warrior?"
"Such adaptability in battle. She would do well even in the courts... Another talent coming from the state of Qingyun!"
"..."
Commentaries were abound from the onlookers.
Due to the Erudition Trials, there were a number of notable practitioners gathered in Tong City. These people, alongside Ji Fu, knew Bai Ye was responsible for the initial attack on the four men.
After recovering from the surprise, Ji Fu went to Bai Ye and asked, "Little Ye, are you hurt?"
Bai Ye shook her head but Ji Fu remained concerned. He checked her pulse, worried the Mystic Warrior's attack might have damaged her internal organs.
"Elder Hong," Yun Mengmeng respectfully greeted the old man who had summoned the snake spirit.
"Elder Hong? As in the newly-hired second-ranked practitioner, Hong Qiguan?"
"It must be. I hear the lord has been hiring Mystic Warriors to protect Lady Yun."
"Oh my… I foresee some upcoming drama."
As the chatter continued among the crowd, the puzzle pieces fell into place. The background of the scraggly old man was brought to light.
"Who are you?" the man—who was revealed to be Hong Qiguan—asked after giving Yun Mengmeng a nod. He did not look happy.
Hong Qiguan was being paid good money to protect Yun Mengmeng. The street encounter was his first fight under the new employment and the end result was disappointing, to say the least.
A second-ranked Mystic Warrior outmaneuvered by a mere practitioner... It was humiliating. How could he continue living in Tong City with this smear on his reputation?
"Banruo Village's village chief." Ji Fu gave Hong Qiguan a cold, unflinching stare. Bai Ye was unharmed but the near hit was enough to evoke a feeling of hatred for Hong Qiguan.
Hearing the answer, Hong Qiguan let out a laugh. "Ha! A village chief! You pamper the young too much. How dare you raise a hand against Lady Yun. Guards, get the young one. I'll handle the old man myself."
Suddenly…
"Banruo Village?"
A young man dressed in an official robe hopped down from a nearby tavern. The official robe he wore featured animal prints. He spoke in an eager tone, "Are you Elder Ji Fu? Master Qin's granduncle?"
"And who might you be, good sir?" Ji Fu asked suspiciously. The young man gave off the aura of a third-ranked Mystic Warrior, and the official robe he was wearing suggested he was a fourth-ranked general of the empire!
"Mu Yunzhan speaking, a subordinate of Master Qin, and executive officer of the upcoming Erudition Trials. It is my pleasure to meet you, sir," the young man said earnestly. At the end of his introduction, he knelt before Ji Fu as a sign of respect.
The gesture was significant.
The fourth-ranked general of the Tianxuan Empire was kneeling before a village chief?!
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