Chapter 28: This Young Master Was Waiting

Chapter 28: This Young Master Was Waiting

It had been surprisingly peaceful ever since his confrontation with Lan Yao. For a given definition at least. He still had multiple Swords of Damocles hanging above his head at any given moment, but the one he most expected to cut him immediately hadnt. He wondered if it had to do with how their meeting ended. While Lan Yao skillfully defused any potential rumor about her cultivation they still had a large audience. For someone with so many secrets to hide and so many people to hide them from, Lan Yao probably wasnt willing to move until she was sure she didnt have any eyes on her. Chen Haoran was thus left with copious free time he used to worry about the rest of his problems.

Like how Song Yuelin kept plastering him across the training field. Chen Haoran had been caught off-guard by yet another vicious backhand that knocked him so hard into the earth he left behind a trench.

We should end it here today, Young Master Chen. Song Yuelin casually brushed nonexistent dust from his hand.

Got tired of slapping me?

Never, was the immediate response. However, I believe your Lady Wife is about to exit her seclusion training.

Song Yuelin had scarcely finished speaking when Chen Haoran shot up and raced off.

The bastard laughed. You certainly seem eager.

Of course he was. Lan Fen represented a layer of safety he desperately needed right now. Not to mention the fact that she was the only person who knew the politics of Clearsprings City well enough to navigate the tangle he found himself wrapped in.

As they approached the isolation room Chen Haoran sensed what Song Yuelin did; a rising mass of qi spearing into the air. Suddenly the qi shuddered and vanished and Chen Haoran was left blindly reaching for any indication it existed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Song Yuelin frown.

Did something happen? He had confidence in Lan Fen but he couldnt help but get nervous whenever Song Yuelin stopped smiling.

Song Yuelin hesitated before speaking. It should be fine. It would be best to wait for your Lady Wife to come out on her own.

Chen Haoran stopped a few paces before the door and quickly dusted himself off. Song Yuelin on the other hand stuffed a bouquet of Moonflowers in his arms.

Best of luck, Young Master Chen. Song Yuelin saluted before disappearing.

What? Chen Haoran looked at the deep blue hue of the Moonflowers. Arent these from the qi pool?Song Yuelin didnt answer him. When did he even have the time? Was he really that bored fighting the bear?

Chen Haoran discarded his speculations as the door opened and revealed Lan Fen. She strode out to meet him with her head held high. Seeing her confidence he couldnt help but reach out with his sense. No cultivation.

He knew better, but he still couldnt help but feel disappointed. There was no need to show it though. He handed Lan Fen the Moonflower bouquet. Congratulations on finishing your training.

Lan Fen gracefully received the flowers. Thank you, she said. I will treasure them.

She said that and yet the reward he was expecting never came. He guessed Lan Fen wasnt in the mood to be accepting gifts.

She reached into her robes and handed him a gold tael. I have failed to meet your expectations. Thank you for the blessing.

Chen Haoran stared at the tael. He reached his hand out and placed it in Lan Fens, wrapping the tael between their palms. A single gold tael. To others, it might look like a lucky charm. To Chen Haoran, in front of the isolation room, it signified a threat. Her meaning was clear. He felt relieved that Lan Fen was aware of Song Yuelins presence. Any worries he had about the man being undetectable even for her incredible senses were laid to rest.

You mean you have been warned.

Chen Haoran narrowed his eyes in thought. You think the City Lord wont do anything if he knows its your plan?

I know he will be more than willing to look the other way once he sees the Lan family being targeted.

Politics. Lethal politics. The one thing he wished he left behind on Earth. It was good to know an angry City Lord wouldnt come crashing down on his head though. Speaking of the Lan family, I had a little scuffle with Lan Yao. Are you aware that her cultivation is better than Profound-rank?

Are you alright?

Dont worry, I wasnt hurt. Besides his pride.

Lan Fen arched an eyebrow. Clearly, she didnt believe him.

To answer your question, yes. I am aware she possesses an Earth-rank method. My fall, combined with her rise, gave her the influence she needed to have me sold off.

Lan Fen knew, she had known it for a while too. Which meant she had taken Lan Yaos superior cultivation into account when making her plans. Chen Haoran felt all the pieces hed been acquiring since he met Lan Fen slowly slot into place.

Lan Yao wants me to hand you over, he said. I think the reason she sold you off was so she could get her hands on you without the Lan family knowing.

Lan Fen rested her head on her hand in thought. That confirms some of my own suspicions, she murmured. Suspicions she seemed to be in no hurry to tell him about.

Did something go wrong while you were training? He couldnt hold in the question anymore.

I was unsure what the situation with the Liquid Meridian realm was, so I decided it would be better to hide it. Lan Fen showed him a small smile. I have successfully reached the Fifth-Layer.

Chen Haoran felt the subtle grip of tension holding him fall loose. He wasnt foolish enough to believe it would be enough to protect him from Song Yuelin, but just the thought of Lan Fen restoring some of her power instilled confidence. At the very least even if all she had was a Mortal rank cultivation, a Fifth-Layer Lan Fen was still far more dangerous than he was. Case in point she could completely hide her cultivation from both him and Song Yuelin.

I guess youre going to start attacking the Lan family now.

Lan Fen nodded in agreement. I am.

How do you plan to expose the Patriarch then?

Lan Fen froze. Burning golden eyes pinned his gaze like a hawk. What makes you say that?

To Chen Haoran it sounded more like: How did you know that? He couldnt help the smirk that crossed his face. It was bad, but he really did take too much joy in being proven right.

Thats your plan after all. Youre going to be exposing the fact that the Lan family Patriarch isnt a peak Liquid Meridian realm.