Chapter 412: Guests arrive, friends prepare to depart

"Han Zhan is paying a visit to the sect?"

Inside the Grade-A Three Cave Abode, Luo Chen asked with a puzzled expression.

Standing opposite him was a rugged man—Xing Zonghan.

Once the head of the Xing family, he was now the leader of the Luo Net, the intelligence branch of the Luo Tian Society.

He said respectfully, "The visitor claims to be Han Zhan, and his identity should be genuine. After all, no one would dare impersonate the grandson of a Nascent Soul True Person."

Luo Chen frowned, "Why so abrupt? I didn't see any advance notice or calling card."

Exchanges and visits between cultivators usually require prior appointments.

Otherwise, if someone happens to be in seclusion, a rash visit would either result in a wasted trip or disturb the other party's cultivation, which is highly impolite.

For Han Zhan to show up so suddenly was no different from visiting relatives and friends in the secular world.

It was no wonder Luo Chen was so taken aback.

However, after Xing Zonghan offered an explanation, he understood the reason for the other party's casual behavior.

"Qin Yuanjiang has arrived!"

Qin Yuanjiang's arrival explained why Han Zhan would visit so casually.

Because, in truth, he really was back to visit relatives!

Han Zhan was likely just bored and decided to stop by on the way.

"Did he specifically mention wanting to see me?"

Luo Chen pressed for more information.

Whether the visit had a specific purpose depended on the answer to this question.

If he had specifically asked to see Luo Chen, then this visit would be quite intriguing.

Xing Zonghan replied, "He did mention wanting to witness your demeanor, President, but upon hearing you were in seclusion, he did not insist."

Luo Chen furrowed his brows slightly.

For a moment, he truly could not discern Han Zhan's intentions.

Was he accompanying his junior brother and sightseeing along the way?

Or did he suspect that Luo Chen was the mysterious person who saved him in the Soul Transformation ruins?

Or perhaps, did he have other needs?

"Oh, right. Actually, those who came to Tianlan Xiancheng this time are not just Han Zhan and Qin Yuanjiang. There are also over a dozen Foundation Establishment disciples from the Luo Yun Sect, many of whom are true disciples."

After saying this, Xing Zonghan looked at Luo Chen.

"President, do you intend to come out of seclusion to meet Han Zhan?"

Faced with this question.

Luo Chen walked to the entrance of the cave abode, hands behind his back, gazing into the distance, overlooking the entire Tianlan Xiancheng.

After pondering for a long while, he nodded slowly and said:

"Coming out of seclusion is a must."

"However, meeting Han Zhan is secondary; the situation with Qin Yuanjiang is what matters most."

Xing Zonghan was puzzled.

Qin Yuanjiang was merely an ordinary inner sect disciple of the Luo Yun Sect.

Compared to Han Zhan, the grandson of a Nascent Soul True Person, their statuses were worlds apart.

Was it necessary for the President to attach such importance to him?

Looking at Luo Chen's slightly lonely figure, he suddenly thought of some people and events he was not very familiar with.

Qin Yuanjiang was not only the son of Murong Qinglian, the Hall Master of the Merit Hall.

He was also the son of the former outer sect elder, Qin Liangchen.

Both of these people had had a deep relationship with the President before he rose to prominence.

And now, Qin Liangchen was dead!

"President, do you need me to make arrangements?"

"No need, go back to your own affairs!"

Luo Chen waved his hand, feeling a moment of hesitation in his heart.

The last time he felt this way was when Zeng Yilong died, and he went to face Xiu Gu.

Danxia Peak.

In a large, flat spirit field.

A little girl squatted on the ground, looking curiously at something in front of her.

"Big yam, what a big yam!"

"Daddy, aren't we going to eat this yam?"

"Why do we have to cut it?"

Yuan Dongsheng looked at her with affection and said in a magnetic voice, "This is a new type of spirit yam developed by the Five Elements Divine Sect. Its yield is extremely high, and it can even replace spirit rice. To plant it on a large scale, it must be cut into small pieces and buried in the soil."

"Wait until next year, and it will grow big. Little Xijun can come and dig up even bigger yams than this one then!"

The little girl opened her big eyes, listening to these words in a daze.

She didn't quite understand the first part.

But she understood the latter part very well.

In a moment of joy, she hugged a large purple yam and stumbled toward the pit dug in the spirit field.

"Bury it!"

"Dig up big yams next year!"

However, when she reached the small pit, the huge yam wouldn't fit inside.

"Daddy, Little Xijun can't bury it, why?"

Yuan Dongsheng smiled gently, "Because it needs to be cut into pieces!"

"But if we do that, won't the big yam hurt?" Yuan Xijun didn't care about the mud and hugged the big yam tightly.

Yuan Dongsheng shook his head, "The big yam won't hurt, and even if it did, a temporary separation is for the sake of growing bigger and more numerous later. Xijun, growth is always accompanied by separation and pain."

When he said this, there was an irrepressible sadness in his weathered eyes.

The little girl gave an "oh" in a daze.

She stumbled back to bring the big yam, letting her father use a specially made wooden knife to cut it into small, uniform pieces.

Above the spirit field.

An incredibly handsome young man, whose eyes seemed to contain the stars, squatted on a ridge in the distance, watching this scene with interest.

It wasn't until clear footsteps sounded behind him that he straightened up.

"Danchenzi?"

"Daoist Han, hello." Luo Chen cupped his hands in a Daoist salute.

Han Zhan tidied his clothes and returned the solemn Daoist salute.

Luo Chen walked to his side, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, looking at the vast, flat spirit fields below the mountain.

Some of these spirit fields were cultivated extremely well, already showing the embryonic form of a second-tier field.

It was evident that the Farming Hall had accomplished much under Yuan Dongsheng's leadership over these years.

"Daoist, you are quite unique. Others who come to my Danxia Peak usually stroll through the mountains to browse the scenery. You alone, turning down exchanges with your peers, come to wander in these wild fields."

Han Zhan smiled freely, "Beautiful scenery can be seen everywhere in the cultivation world. But the fun of these fields has a different flavor."

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow and shook his head, "You see the fun, but for low-level rogue cultivators, it is hard labor."

Han Zhan shrugged slightly.

"Since you are so considerate of your subordinates, why not reduce their workload and give them more time for cultivation?"

Luo Chen said calmly, "It is already not easy for me to provide them with a livelihood. Reducing their workload would instead affect their own income."

What he said was the truth.

It was truly not easy for the Luo Tian Society to have its current status in this small corner of Tianlan.

On a grand scale, it was the result of battle after battle of blood and fire.

On a smaller scale, it could not be separated from the struggle and hard work of the low-level cultivators.

As of now, he, Luo Chen, could not yet do what the large sects did—let some disciples detach from labor, not engage in production, and focus solely on cultivation.

Even he, Luo Chen, still had to personally refine elixirs from time to time to stabilize the relationship with the Ice Fortress.

Han Zhan, however, had a different opinion.

"My Luo Yun Sect has recently developed a type of small puppet that can be used to replace cultivators in labor. Even if they cannot do fine work, they can manage rough plowing."

"One or two spirit fields might not show much effect, but with a larger quantity, it could greatly reduce the burden on low-level cultivators."

"If you are interested, Daoist, I can act as an intermediary and order a batch for you."

Luo Chen was startled.

He did not expect that this famous true disciple of the Luo Yun Sect, besides cultivation and fighting, would actually be concerned with promoting his own puppets.

He laughed dumbly and waved his hand.

"Forget it, my Luo Tian Society doesn't have many spirit fields, and it hasn't reached the point where puppets are needed to help."

Han Zhan did not insist; he had just mentioned it casually.

However, after this bit of idle chatter.

The two of them no longer felt the awkwardness of their first meeting.

The subsequent conversation flowed quite easily.

"I heard that Daoist Luo once saved three of my Luo Yun Sect junior brothers on the Jilei Mountain battlefield?"

"It was just a small effort."

"Although it was a small effort, you killed Zheng Tianfang, thereby offending the Zheng family of Gunlong Ridge and provoking a fierce battle."

"The Zheng family's aggression was not primarily because of that; you need not worry about it."

Han Zhan frowned.

His gaze kept scanning Luo Chen, trying to find a hint of familiarity.

Combining the information he had gathered, Luo Chen was the person most likely to have saved him in the Soul Transformation ruins, inside the Bai Ye cave abode.

However, some things still needed to be confirmed.

"Rumor has it that Daoist Luo personally opened the Soul Transformation ruins and was the first to enter..."

Luo Chen nodded calmly, "That is indeed true, but I was seriously injured at the time and did not explore the ruins, seeking only to heal my wounds."

He had to stick firmly to this story.

Otherwise, others would come to ask in the future.

Moreover, he truly hadn't explored the Soul Transformation ruins much.

That was simply not a fortune that someone at his realm could touch.

Han Zhan didn't care and asked pointedly, "When did you leave the cave abode, Daoist?"

"Probably half a year after the ruins opened!"

Half a year?

Han Zhan frowned; the timing didn't match!

He asked, unwilling to give up, "On the way out, did you participate in any battles?"

"That I did not; I have always been low-key in my actions and dislike fighting and killing the most."

Another denial.

Han Zhan felt a bit of confusion in his heart.

However!

After a brief moment of confusion, he discovered that Luo Chen seemed to be consciously distancing himself from the Luo Yun Sect?

Or perhaps, not distancing himself from the Luo Yun Sect, but from him?

If he really had saved him back then, he would inevitably have to bear the karma of killing Xuan Yu of Taoshan.

And behind Xuan Yu was the Old Ancestor Peach Blossom of the Hundred Flowers Palace...

Gradually, Han Zhan understood Luo Chen's thoughts.

He stopped asking and said with a smile, "Regardless, I still want to thank you, Daoist, for the kindness of rescuing my Luo Yun Sect disciples."

This was ambiguous!

Was it for saving Qin Yuanjiang and the others, or for saving him, Han Zhan?

They were all Luo Yun Sect disciples, after all!

Luo Chen looked deeply at the other party and said no more.

He knew that some of his methods could not be hidden from others.

The battle with Xuan Yu in the Soul Transformation ruins, although hasty, had exposed his three characteristics: super-high escape speed, extremely strong physique, and the Lieyun Wings.

And in the Luo Tian battle outside Danxia Peak, these three points were also exposed.

Otherwise, the outside world wouldn't be widely spreading his brilliant record of instantly killing several Great Cultivators.

If Han Zhan had the heart, he only needed a little deduction to know that he was the one who saved him.

But some things are better left understood between each other.

If he were to make Luo Chen admit it personally, he would absolutely refuse to say it.

"Since Daoist Han has rarely come to Tianlan, why not stay for a few more days and let me host a banquet to welcome you."

"That won't be necessary."

Faced with Luo Chen's invitation, Han Zhan refused as if he had already planned it.

"There are still some sect missions waiting for me to do, so I won't be staying in Tianlan for too long."

Sect missions?

Luo Chen frowned, his gaze scanning the surroundings.

"What about Qin Yuanjiang?"

Han Zhan sighed, "Junior brother, I'm afraid he's still at the back mountain! I can't bear to see others sad, which is why I came here to wait for him."

Back mountain... the cemetery.

Luo Chen nodded.

"Sorry, I have to excuse myself for a moment."

Han Zhan smiled, "No matter, let's go together."

Luo Chen looked at him in surprise; didn't he just say he couldn't bear to see others sad?

Green mountains and incense that never ends.

In a cemetery, a young man knelt on the ground.

His face was numb, and no tears were visible.

But the sadness in his eyes could not be suppressed.

"Father, your child has returned late."

"You worked hard to raise me and sent me thousands of miles into the Immortal Sect, yet I didn't even get to see you one last time..."

"It is Yuanjiang's unfilial act!"

He left home at twelve and returned at thirty-eight.

The boy of the past was now a generation of Foundation Establishment True Cultivators.

But the family happiness of the past was now separated by life and death.

How much pride, how much cultivation experience, there was no one to tell, only a trace of regret remained in his heart.

A gentle voice came from behind.

"Xiaohu."

"Mother." Qin Yuanjiang lowered his head, suddenly afraid to face his mother's earnest gaze, "Before Father left, did he leave any last words?"

Murong Qinglian stood behind, tears streaming down her face.

"No, he left in such a hurry, he didn't explain anything."

Qin Yuanjiang opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

He once thought he still had plenty of time to be filial to his parents.

He once secretly rejoiced that his parents hadn't gone to the Jilei Mountain battlefield and were not in danger.

He thought that his early promotion to true disciple based on his merits at Jilei Mountain would make his parents very happy.

But everything had changed.

The emotions that should have surged, the tears that should have welled up, were, for some reason, tightly suppressed within him.

He forced himself to stand up and face his mother.

"Mother, come back to the Luo Yun Sect with me!"

"This time you don't have to settle in Qianye Xiancheng; I am already a true disciple and can take my family to live in the Luo Yun Sect."

Murong Qinglian's sad emotions paused.

She reached out and stroked the face of her son, who was a head taller than her.

"Old Qin, did you hear that?"

"Your son is not only Foundation Establishment, but now also a true disciple of a Nascent Soul upper sect, with limitless future prospects."

"If you know this from beneath the spring, you should be very happy, right!"

Qin Yuanjiang listened quietly to his mother's chatter.

He found it annoying when he was a child.

At this moment, he felt it wasn't troublesome at all.

Perhaps, only when one loses do they learn to cherish.

After a long while, he said seriously again: "Come back to the Luo Yun Sect with me!"

"But, the Luo Tian Society here is still..." Murong Qinglian hesitated.

Qin Yuanjiang said eagerly, "After we go back, I can ask the sect elders to personally take action to treat your broken hand."

The woman lowered her head and muttered, "Elder Sun and the President are also collecting materials to treat my hand."

"That's different!" Qin Yuanjiang said confidently, "In our Luo Yun Sect, there is the famous Yan Sheng technique. In treating broken limbs, the effect is even better than the six sects of Yuding. Once cured, it will not affect subsequent cultivation at all. Mother, you are not old, and your realm is still okay; in the future, it is possible to impact the Golden Core stage."

Murong Qinglian was still a bit hesitant.

Qin Yuanjiang thought for a moment and suddenly said, "Actually, in the sect, there is a junior sister who has feelings for me. Mother, don't you want to see that junior sister?"

This time, Murong Qinglian was moved.

However, she still said, "I have to ask the President about this matter."

Qin Yuanjiang frowned, "Uncle Luo?"

If it were before, he wouldn't care about a figure who came out of a pile of rogue cultivators.

But, Luo Chen had saved his life!

He had to respect Luo Chen's thoughts.

Just as the mother and son were talking about future matters in front of their deceased relative's grave.

Two figures in the distance were watching this scene quietly.

"Daoist Luo, are you willing to let go of such a capable assistant?"

Luo Chen replied calmly, "There is no such thing as willing or unwilling. Sister-in-law has paid too much for the Luo Tian Society over the years. If she wants to rest and enjoy family happiness, I will naturally fulfill her wish."

"Daoist, you are quite reasonable!" Han Zhan said with great admiration.

Luo Chen shook his head, "For the Luo Tian Society, the Qin family has already paid with one person's life; how could I force them to stay?"

Speaking of this.

A flash of ferocity crossed his face.

Han Zhan raised his eyebrows; he noticed that fleeting expression.

"Actually, you have already avenged the Qin family. I heard that the Zheng family of Gunlong Ridge died miserably, and not even a single Qi Refining cultivator survived."

Luo Chen did not speak.

He knew very well that the real enemies were not the Zheng family or the scum of the Iron Sword Hall.

Han Zhan said leisurely, "Daoist, don't worry too much. The Yan Alliance is a behemoth to the Luo Tian Society, and it's not something you can provoke for the time being."

Luo Chen looked at him in surprise; he was quite clear-minded and saw things clearly.

However!

Luo Chen said confidently, "Just because it's not possible now doesn't mean it won't be in the future. One day, I will return the humiliation of the Luo Tian Society being blocked at the door and beaten, tenfold and hundredfold to the Yan Alliance!"

"Daoist, what a great ambition!" Han Zhan praised, then said, "It's just that sometimes, the higher the expectation, the greater the disappointment!"

Luo Chen frowned.

Was this looking down on him?

The arrogance of the upper sect disciples, even if he had seen it many times, was still unpleasant every time. Even if Han Zhan appeared sufficiently refined and easygoing, it was still the case.

He did not argue.

Those words just now were already a rare slip of the tongue for him.

Saying more would just be a war of words.

Han Zhan didn't say much more, chatted briefly, and after reiterating that he would remember Luo Chen's kindness in rescuing the Luo Yun Sect disciples, he left Danxia Peak.

Luo Chen did not try to keep him.

Because there were people more important than him who were about to leave.

(End of chapter)