Chapter 196 - 194: Courting Death

Chapter 196: Chapter 194: Courting Death

’Wu Daoquan felt like cursing someone out right about now.’

’Have those people from the Shenxiao Sect been struck by lightning? Not a single one of them thinks before they speak.’

’A loss is a loss. They should be grateful to have survived today, so why are they still making threats? Haven’t they been beaten enough?’

Even though this Zhang Zhilan was a prodigy from the previous generation’s Hidden Dragon Rankings and was now in his thirties, he acted with a paranoid immaturity that was simply baffling.

Wu Daoquan was just about to try and persuade Chen Yuan again, but it was already too late.

Chen Yuan suddenly took the stance of drawing a bow. The power throughout his body began to boil instantly.

As Chen Yuan pulled back the ’bowstring,’ a wave of utterly terrifying power surged forth, coalescing into an Arrow of Nonexistence in his hand.

Feeling this power, Wu Daoquan, who had been about to intervene, abruptly retreated to the side.

The next moment, as Chen Yuan released the ’bowstring,’ a sound like thunder from the nine heavens erupted—a deafening CRACK.

Using his body as the bow and his indomitable will as the arrow, he gathered a heaven-shaking power to pierce through the Ninefold Hell.

The moment this Mulan Continuous Jail-Piercing Arrow was unleashed, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically. Even Martial Artists dozens of yards away scrambled to retreat and flee.

Zhang Zhilan and the other two bore the brunt of it, their eyes filled with utter terror.

This arrow locked onto Zhang Zhilan through the void itself. From the heavens above to the earth below, he couldn’t escape it even if he hid in the Nine Nether Prison!

Zhang Zhilan let out a furious roar as his Qi Blood burned wildly, manifesting a boundless expanse of lightning to block in front of him.

The other two Shenxiao Sect disciples also burned their Qi Blood, but not to block the attack. Instead, they used all their strength to execute the Thunder Escape Technique and flee.

Zhang Zhilan was a prominent figure among the Shenxiao Sect’s younger generation. As ordinary disciples, their main duty when outside was indeed to ensure his safety.

But in the face of such terrifying life-or-death stakes, who could afford to care about such things?

’Besides, Zhang Zhilan brought this on himself. If he was going to flee, he should have just fled. Why did he have to spout those threats?’

As that terrifying, indomitable power pierced through, the Thunder Light Annihilation was extinguished, and the immense force instantly exploded.

But as the power dissipated, Zhang Zhilan’s figure was nowhere to be seen. Only a bloodstain remained on the ground.

Under the might of the Mulan Continuous Jail-Piercing Arrow, Zhang Zhilan had been blown to pieces, leaving not even a bone behind.

As for the other two Shenxiao Sect Martial Artists, one was a bit too slow. Half his body was grazed by the aftershock and instantly obliterated. He was as good as dead.

The last one hadn’t stopped fleeing when Zhang Zhilan was making his threats, so he was already some distance away.

He was now desperately burning his Qi Blood to execute the Thunder Escape Technique, which was the only reason he avoided the fate of being annihilated by the Mulan Continuous Jail-Piercing Arrow.

He didn’t even dare to pause for a second, vanishing in a flash amidst the swirling Qi Blood and lightning.

"Young Friend Chen... you..."

Wu Daoquan looked at Zhang Zhilan’s obliterated remains and the Shenxiao disciple with only half a body left, at a loss for words.

Chen Yuan cupped his fists and said directly, "Pavilion Master Wu, I certainly didn’t intend to cause trouble on the Heaven Returning Pavilion’s joyous day.

So many people here saw it. It was the men from the Shenxiao Sect who came looking for trouble with me first.

I was the one who killed Zhang Zhilan. If the Shenxiao Sect wants revenge, they’ll come for me. It has nothing to do with your Heaven Returning Pavilion."

Wu Daoquan sighed. "Young Friend Chen, the people from the Shenxiao Sect are already dead. Please sheath your killing intent and do not cause any more trouble."

"Don’t worry, Pavilion Master Wu. I’m not an unreasonable person."

After saying this, Wu Daoquan departed. As the Pavilion Master of Heaven Returning Pavilion, he still had guests to entertain and wedding arrangements to oversee.

"Brother Gu, what brings you here so suddenly?"

Gu Lichuan was wandering the Central Plains Martial Arts world without a fixed abode, so Chen Yuan had assumed he would be the one who couldn’t make it.

"It wasn’t sudden. It was a mad dash to get here."

Gu Lichuan chuckled. "Do you guys remember Xu Que, the branch master of the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower from the Furnace Opening Assembly?

That friend of mine lives in a small city not far from Danyang Prefecture. After receiving Brother Qin’s letter, he couldn’t find me right away, so he went to the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower for help.

The intelligence network of the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower is no joke. They actually managed to deliver the letter to me.

Once I got the letter, I rushed over to the Six Gates in Jieyang Prefecture. Then I heard you all had come here to the Heaven Returning Pavilion, so I immediately hurried over."

Qin Suguang was visibly moved by this and quickly cupped his fists in thanks. "Brother Gu, you traveled a thousand miles to help. I, Qin Suguang, am endlessly grateful!"

"Brother Qin, you’re being too formal. I’m just wandering the Central Plains Martial Arts world anyway. What difference does it make where I wander?

However, once this is all settled, Brother Qin, you’re the local host. You have to set me up with something good.

Line up the famous local restaurants and brothels for me. That’ll make it worth my while for helping you out."

Hearing this, Qin Suguang gave a wry smile. "I’d love to, but I’m not familiar with those kinds of places. I’ll have to ask around when I get back."

Gu Lichuan was taken aback, then patted Qin Suguang’s shoulder with a hint of sympathy.

"Brother Qin, don’t tell me you have some kind of ’illness’ too? If you’re sick, you need treatment. I’m an expert in this area. I can arrange something for you someday."

Qin Suguang was confused. Chen Yuan, slightly exasperated, said, "Stop joking. Brother Qin is simply a man of principle who maintains his integrity. He’s not like those Court officials who visit brothels and refuse to pay."

It was a real shame. The man was perfectly content in his own principled way, and here Gu Lichuan was, trying to lead him astray. Truly a disservice.

Gu Lichuan pursed his lips. "Those guys who visit brothels and don’t pay are the most shameless.

The girls in the brothels don’t ask you to buy them a house, nor do they need you to sweet-talk them. Instead, they’re all very understanding... of how to get your clothes off. They just want to keep you company when you’re lonely and have a deep and profound exchange.

Are a few silvers a night for a girl like that too much? Anyone who won’t even pay that is just human scum!"

Chen Yuan didn’t continue bantering with Gu Lichuan. Once that mouth of his got going, there was no telling where the conversation would end up.

"By the way, Brother Gu, did you run into some kind of fortuitous encounter again?"

Gu Lichuan patted the ice-blue scabbard of the Long Sword at his side and chuckled. "As expected of Brother Chen, you know me best.

I was out helping a friend with a small matter and ran into some unexpected trouble. It was dangerous, but I managed to get some benefits out of it.

I got a new sword and stepped into the Condensing Truth Realm. So, it wasn’t a loss."

After speaking, Gu Lichuan slapped his forehead and finally asked, "I almost forgot to ask. Aren’t you two investigating a case? How did you end up investigating at someone’s wedding banquet?"

Qin Suguang glanced around, then used True Qi to secretly transmit his voice, explaining the whole story to Gu Lichuan.

"So we still have to wait until we’re inside the banquet hall and then play it by ear?"

Chen Yuan nodded. "We’ll have to see about the specifics later. But right now, I have a feeling that Wu Daoquan is very suspicious."

"Why? I thought the Pavilion Master of Heaven Returning Pavilion seemed very amicable just now, just like the rumors say," Gu Lichuan said.

It was his son’s wedding day, yet Chen Yuan ended up fighting the people from the Shenxiao Sect right here. That was, to some extent, disrespectful to him as the host.

Furthermore, Chen Yuan ended up killing two Shenxiao Sect Martial Artists. Shedding blood at a wedding is even more inauspicious.

Even though the people from the Shenxiao Sect started it and Zhang Zhilan was courting death,

most people would still think that Chen Yuan was disrespecting the Heaven Returning Pavilion.

But in the end, Wu Daoquan didn’t say much, didn’t even scowl, and even invited Chen Yuan to continue attending his son’s wedding. That’s the textbook personality of a total pushover.

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes. "That’s precisely the problem. Wu Daoquan is a little too amicable. Excessively so.

Shedding blood at a wedding is inauspicious. Regardless of whether I was in the right or the Shenxiao Sect was, Wu Daoquan shouldn’t have been so calm.

It’s as if he doesn’t really care about his own son’s wedding. Isn’t that suspicious?"

Hearing Chen Yuan’s analysis, Qin Suguang and Gu Lichuan also felt that something was off.

If that were really the case, then Wu Daoquan’s temperament was a bit too good. It was like he was made of dough.

Although he is a master of the Medical Dao, he is also a Martial Arts Grandmaster Level existence.

Could someone who managed to become a Martial Arts Grandmaster really not have a temper at all?

The three of them exchanged a glance, all feeling that something was amiss.

Of course, this was all just speculation for now, without any proof. They would have to wait and see.

The three waited in a nearby courtyard for about an hour as more and more Jianghu People arrived to attend the ceremony.

When the auspicious hour arrived, disciples of the Heaven Returning Pavilion guided everyone into the Central Hall.

At this time, the Central Hall was adorned with lanterns and streamers, and red silk hung high, creating a festive atmosphere.

Chen Yuan and the other two followed the crowd into the hall, their eyes discreetly scanning their surroundings.

Nearly a hundred banquet tables were set up inside, and every seat was taken. Heroes from all corners of the Jianghu had gathered.

On the main dais, a smiling Wu Daoquan was greeting some of the more senior guests.

Chen Yuan, Qin Suguang, and Gu Lichuan sat in a corner, carefully observing the situation around them.

"Brother Qin, how strong is the Heaven Returning Pavilion’s fighting force?" Chen Yuan suddenly asked.

Qin Suguang thought for a moment and said, "In the Heaven Returning Pavilion, only Wu Daoquan is a Primordial Pill Realm Martial Arts Grandmaster. The rest are mostly Physicians, and it seems there aren’t many with combat ability.

They did recruit some Guests for self-protection before, but not many of them are powerful. I believe there are only a dozen or so, with two or three at the Condensing Truth Realm."

Chen Yuan closed his eyes slightly and said, "Although I can’t perceive the full extent of the Heaven Returning Pavilion’s fighting strength, I can sense quite a few powerful auras within the estate, and there’s a fair number of them.

I can’t sense the specific details, but it’s definitely more than the number of Guests you mentioned."

Gu Lichuan, who was beside them, also nodded. "My perception is similar to Brother Chen’s. These auras are condensed and focused. Their owners’ strength is definitely not ordinary.

However, there are many guests today. It’s possible these auras are coming from outside guests who were invited into the inner areas of the Heaven Returning Pavilion."

While the three of them were discussing this, the master of ceremonies had already begun the proceedings and called for the bride and groom.

At this moment, everyone in the Heaven Returning Pavilion was present. Chen Yuan directly took out the Primordial Stone containing the power of the Red Lotus Sect and crushed it in his hand.

In that instant, the red lotus shattered, and in the next moment, dozens of auras instantly revealed themselves.

And one of those auras was radiating from none other than the bride herself!