Chapter 103

After Yu Shan Tianyi left, the Ascending Immortal Society disciples in the inn's hall looked at Fang Xu and Huang Qingzhou with varied expressions.

"Senior Brother Huang..."

A bald man in brown rugged clothes, holding a pair of halberds, hesitated a moment, approached Huang Qingzhou, glanced at Fang Xu, and said softly to Huang Qingzhou: "This brat obviously offended Senior Sister Tianyi, Senior Brother you..."

Huang Qingzhou raised his hand to interrupt him, turned his head and looked at Fang Xu.

Fang Xu forced a smile and shook his head.

According to Huang Qingzhou's introduction just now, this bald man seems to be Luo Ming, one of the few people present among the many Ascending Immortal Society disciples who are relatively close to Huang Qingzhou.

He knew what Luo Ming wanted to say.

Yu Shan Tianyi is strong, the top inner sect disciple of the Ascending Immortal Society's Great Yu Branch, and is very likely to become a core disciple in the future.

Core disciples rank higher than ordinary stewards in the Ascendant Immortal Society, and Luo Ming thought Huang Qingzhou's feud with Yu Shan Tianyi for his sake wasn't worth it.

In martial cultivation, one must know how to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, and even more importantly, to assess the situation; Luo Ming was right about that.

"Luo Ming junior brother, no need for extra words; senior brother, you should know my temper." Huang Qingzhou gave a light smile, then glanced at Fang Xu and said: "As for me, I can plunge a dagger into a friend's ribs without batting an eye, but I would never stab a friend twice at a critical moment."

Fang Xu heard this, smiled gratefully, and said: "Senior Brother Huang, you overpraise me; it is I who have implicated you."

Huang Qingzhou's genuine nature is rare in this cruel martial world; he had once suspected that Huang Qingzhou's wholehearted help might conceal some ulterior motive.

Now it seems I was the one harboring a petty mind.

"Alright, no more extra words, Luo Ming junior brother, fellow junior brothers, we're leaving first." After greeting a few Ascendant Immortal Society disciples he was close with, Huang Qingzhou led Fang Xu directly out of the inn.

Inside the hall, watching their retreating backs, Su Cheng couldn't help but curl his lips—it was unexpected pleasure to find that Yu Shan Tianyi and Fang Xu were at odds.

Judging from the earlier situation, although Huang Qingzhou didn't know what he said, it caused Yu Shan Tianyi to feel a hint of caution, so she didn't choose to slay Fang Xu on the spot, but she had not abandoned the idea of killing him.

Tomorrow, when she goes to the Ti Lan Mountain ruins, she will surely find a way to kill Fang Xu within the ruins.

Once Fang Xu is dead, that girl with the Danxiang Sacred Body will be mine!

With the Danxiang Sacred Body…

Su Cheng's eyes gleamed with sharp light, as if he had already envisioned himself becoming an steward of the Ascendant Immortal Society.

On the street outside the inn.

Fang Xu followed behind Huang Qingzhou with heavy steps, his brows tightly furrowed.

Yu Shan Tianyi wants to kill me solely because of Zhang Mingyue.

That day, Yun Wan destroyed the Zhang family over Zhang Mingliang's affair, and I was the one who led the way; now Yun Wan has disappeared, so Zhang Mingyue must be taking out her anger on me, planning to use Yu Shan Tianyi's hand to kill me and vent her spite.

Tomorrow's expedition to the Ti Lan Mountain ruins could very well be my death.

"Fang Xu, run."

Huang Qingzhou, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped, turned, and with a solemn expression said: "Now, take Miss Chu and Miss Lu and the others, and flee quickly."

In his view, if Fang Xu were to follow Yu Shan Tianyi to the Ti Lan Mountain ruins, it would certainly be a deadly trap.

Escaping now still offers a slim chance of survival.

Fang Xu shook his head: "I can't get away."

Saying this, he turned his head, glanced behind, and whispered: "From the moment we left the inn, two people have been tailing us."

Upon hearing this, Huang Qingzhou frowned and looked toward the not‑far rear, indeed spotting two Ascendant Immortal Society disciples openly following them, unafraid of being noticed.

He immediately wanted to rush over and question them, but Fang Xu held him back.

The two were clearly acting under Yu Shan Tianyi's orders; they would not give Huang Qingzhou any face, so we might as well let them follow.

"Senior Brother Huang, is the ruins guide you bought at the entrance still with us?" Fang Xu suddenly asked.

Huang Qingzhou blinked slightly and replied: "It's at the Zhiyuan Hall; how…"

Fang Xu looked at him and smiled confidently: "My guess is correct; earlier you must have told Yu Shan Tianyi that she is at a critical juncture for promotion to core disciple, and openly slaying me now would cause her trouble."

Huang Qingzhou's expression showed some surprise.

He had indeed said that to Yu Shan Tianyi just now, and also told her that Fang Xu's sister had already been designated as his master's disciple.

Xu Changqing, as an alchemist, carries weight comparable to an elder in the Great Yu Ascendant Immortal Society; if Yu Shan Tianyi killed Fang Xu, she would offend Chu Mu, and should Chu Mu speak up before their master, it would inevitably create some obstacles for her promotion to core disciple.

Yu Shan Tianyi is unrestrained and reckless, but she is not foolish.

Only after weighing the pros and cons did she decide to temporarily spare Fang Xu.

Seeing that he did not deny it, Fang Xu continued: "Since Yu Shan Tianyi is thus wary, I suspect that even if she enters the ruins tomorrow, she will not openly strike to kill me."

"If she doesn't act herself but still wants me dead, she can only rely on the dangers inside the ruins."

"So, all I can do now is to become as familiar as possible with the ruins' mechanisms and hazards, and strive to survive inside them."

He wasn't sure whether surviving the ruins would force Yu Shan Tianyi to act regardless, but at least he could not fulfill her wish by dying ignominiously in the ruins' traps.

If fate truly works that way, I'd rather risk my life just to spite that despicable person!

This is his only means of resistance at present.

Seeing Fang Xu's unusually calm demeanor before him, Huang Qingzhou's expression flickered with slight astonishment.

Were it him facing this near‑deadly situation, the only countermeasure he could think of would be to flee.

Yet Fang Xu can calmly consider the odds of surviving in the cracks; such composure is truly rare.

"Then let's head back quickly!" Suppressing his surprise, Huang Qingzhou said.

Returning early to the Zhiyuan Hall would give Fang Xu more time to study the ruins' mechanisms and dangers.

"No rush; there's something I still need Senior Brother Huang to accompany me on." Fang Xu said.

……

Maple Forest Town Government Office.

Li Xingchao gazed solemnly at Fang Xu and Huang Qingzhou before him.

"Young Hero Huang's request poses some difficulties for me."

"Whether it's you or that Su Cheng, I, the Great Yu dynasty, do not wish to offend."

Seeing him say that, Huang Qingzhou gave a light smile and said, 'Miss Chu has an Ascension Immortal Society's Immortal Sect travel permit on her person, so Su Cheng and our Ascension Immortal Society disciples would never dare to act personally; Your Highness the Seventh Prince only needs to help block the martial artists Su Cheng has brought.'

The Seventh Prince and my master have some acquaintance; once he knows that my talent in the Dao of Alchemy is greater than Su Cheng's, and that I have a great chance to break through to fifth-rank alchemist, a favor from a future fifth-rank alchemist is not worth Your Highness taking this risk?

Fang Xu brought Huang Qingzhou to see Li Xingchao solely to ensure the safety of Chu Mu and Lu Qingluo.

Tomorrow I will go with Yu Shan Tianyi to the Ti Lan Shan Ruins; if nothing unexpected happens, Su Cheng will surely choose to act against Chu Mu while I and Huang Qingzhou are away.

At present, there are not many forces in Maple Forest Town capable of protecting Chu Mu; all things considered, Seventh Prince Li Xingchao is the best option.

Using Huang Qingzhou's favor and combining it with Li Xingchao's ambition, he is certain they will agree to this.

"In that case, I still need to make this clear to you two." After a moment's thought, Li Xingchao spoke solemnly: "As for martial artists outside the Ascension Immortal Society taking action, I can guarantee their safety; but if disciples of the Ascension Immortal Society act personally, I will not stop them."

Upon hearing that, Huang Qingzhou looked at Fang Xu, saw he was silent, and immediately said:

"Deal."

"Now that this is settled, I owe the Seventh Prince a favor."

With the matter settled, the two of them did not linger at all and directly returned to Chiyuan Hall.

(End of chapter)