Chapter 99: He Is Just a Frail Alchemist

Li Zhi'an didn't even want to talk to Jiang Zhongqiao; just listen to what he was saying—in a dozen years, even a pig could have been reincarnated a dozen times.

Perhaps Cheng Xi understood the deep meaning in Li Zhi'an's gaze, for she couldn't help but be amused.

Jiang Zhongqiao didn't feel awkward at all; for those who cultivate, a dozen years was nothing more than the blink of an eye—it would be gone in a single session of closed-door cultivation.

What was wrong with him sighing about it?

Ji Muzhi and Chi Laicheng both needed to recover from their injuries, and Jiang Zhongqiao had to discuss the recent events with the other Deans, so he turned and stepped onto the clouds to depart.

Li Zhi'an sent Cheng Xi back, while Baohua and Feng Huo stayed behind to watch over the injured duo.

Su Yan's old wounds had yet to heal, so now, among Li Zhi'an's subordinates, only Qin Yu was still in one piece.

"When do you plan to go to the City Lord's Mansion?" Li Zhi'an asked, looking at Cheng Xi.

Cheng Xi said, "It depends on the Dean; isn't the plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain?"

Li Zhi'an smiled faintly, "I will go with you when the time comes."

"Fine." Cheng Xi nodded. She was never one to be coy. After thinking for a moment, she looked at Li Zhi'an and said, "It would be best to have someone keep an eye on Ji Tang of Xuanyin Peak; she is also a member of the Ji Family."

Li Zhi'an nodded, "I will have someone watch her."

The two entered the courtyard, and Cheng Xi waved goodbye to Li Zhi'an, "Rest early; there's no telling what might happen tomorrow."

Li Zhi'an watched Cheng Xi stride into her room before he turned and returned to his own.

Cheng Xi fell straight into bed. She felt that getting a good night's sleep had become a luxury; she had originally thought about coming to the Academy to slack off, but it was actually less comfortable than when she was in Jindu.

Early the next morning, Cheng Xi got up and found a note on the stone table in the courtyard; Li Zhi'an had gone out to do things again—he really did get up earlier than a dog.

She went to inspect the Spirit Field, then went to visit the injured duo, took advantage of the opportunity to mooch a meal for the patients, and then took Feng Huo with her as she headed down the mountain; she wanted to go and scout the path again.

After descending the mountain and entering Wanxing City, it felt as if she had returned to the mundane world of mortals; the streets were filled with bustling crowds, the air was filled with various high-pitched hawking, and the snacks along the street were dazzling.

Cheng Xi thought to herself that she was indeed a worldly person after all; she just loved this mundane, worldly atmosphere and the hustle and bustle of life.

With a candied hawthorn skewer in one hand and a bowl of almond tea in the other, she strolled slowly through the crowd, eating her way down the street while also gathering information about the Ji Family from the people there.

The Ji Family had a high reputation in Wanxing City, and the evaluations of them were quite good, which was different from the Ji Family members Cheng Xi had seen.

She hadn't expected the Ji Family to have two faces; this made things even more interesting.

At noon, she went to a restaurant to eat. As soon as she entered, she saw two people in the corner, and she couldn't help but freeze at the sight.

Perhaps her gaze was too direct, for the people over there sensed something and looked up.

Upon seeing her, he stood up instantly, his face filled with a mix of astonishment and unease.

Cheng Xi sighed; since she had been seen, it wouldn't do to just turn and leave, so she lifted her feet and walked over.

When Cheng Yunjian saw Cheng Xi coming over, a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes, and he called out in a low voice, "Big Sister."

Cheng Xi neither answered nor refused; she looked at Cheng Yunjian and nodded, "Sit down and talk." Then she looked at Jiang Weiran, whose complexion was not very good, "I didn't expect you to actually keep your promise this time and bring him here."

Jiang Weiran was likely already accustomed to Cheng Xi's sharp tongue, so he didn't feel angry upon hearing this, only saying, "I was just thinking about going back to the Academy to find you after eating, but I didn't expect to run into you here."

"It must be fate," Cheng Xi said.

Upon hearing these two words, Jiang Weiran felt a sting in his heart. He truly had no face left in front of the Cheng Family. He took a deep breath, ordered two more dishes, and looked at Cheng Xi, "You must not have eaten yet; let's eat together."

Cheng Xi did not refuse, "Then many thanks to Jiang for the treat."

"What 'Jiang', I haven't been that for a long time," Jiang Weiran muttered.

Cheng Xi only smiled when she heard this, then turned to look at Cheng Yunjian, "How are things for you at Jindu Academy?"

Hearing Cheng Xi ask him a question, Cheng Yunjian replied earnestly, "It's alright."

Jiang Weiran scoffed, "What 'alright'? If I hadn't gone to find you, I'm afraid you'd still be working as a servant right now."

"A servant?" Cheng Xi frowned and looked at Cheng Yunjian, "Is Yan Qingli targeting you?"

Cheng Yunjian couldn't gauge what Cheng Xi really meant, so he pondered and said, "Perhaps, but it was only making me work as a servant in the Outer Sect for a few months; it wasn't very bitter."

Cheng Xi sneered, "You've become quite resigned to your fate now; you're really something."

Listening to Cheng Xi's mockery, Cheng Yunjian pursed his lips, not knowing what to say.

Seeing him like this, Cheng Xi felt very uncomfortable for some reason.

She hadn't been this angry when she saw Cheng Fenglan acting as a follower for Yan Qingli; in the end, it was probably because of how Cheng Yunjian had bid her farewell back then.

Seeing that Cheng Xi was in a bad mood, Jiang Weiran didn't dare to say much and buried his head in his food.

Cheng Xi couldn't eat much after one bowl of rice; she looked at Jiang Weiran and asked, "What are your plans now that you've brought him back?"

Jiang Weiran was stunned at the question, then said, "I am only an Outer Student of Danding Peak; I have no way to bring him into the Academy. You asked me to get him back, and I've done that now; everything else is up to you."

He wasn't the young master of Jindu anymore; he couldn't just do whatever he wanted. The status of a young master meant nothing once inside the Academy—here, you spoke with your fists and your strength.

He was just a frail Alchemist.

Cheng Xi looked at Jiang Weiran's spineless appearance and really couldn't bear to look.

Jiang Weiran was being looked down upon again, but his skin had already grown thick enough that he didn't care.

Cheng Xi's mouth twitched, and she looked at Cheng Yunjian, "What are your own plans?"

Cheng Yunjian's hand tightened around his chopsticks, and he said in a low voice, "Don't worry, I won't cause you any trouble; I will find a way to stay on my own."

Cheng Xi:...

"The Academy isn't enrolling students right now; it's impossible for you to enter as a student," Cheng Xi said.

Cheng Yunjian nodded, "I know. I plan to settle down in Wanxing City first, get a foothold, and then go take the exam when the Academy enrolls again. Besides, I want to rescue Feng Lan."

"Yan Qingli is currently an Array Master at Sixiang Peak, and she has her father from Jindu Academy backing her; trying to snatch someone from her hands is undoubtedly a pipe dream."

Cheng Yunjian naturally knew that what Cheng Xi said was correct, but he couldn't just ignore his sister, "I will find a way."

Cheng Xi looked at him, "You work for me, and I will get Cheng Fenglan out and hand her over to you. How about that?"

"Do what?" Cheng Yunjian looked up at Cheng Xi, "Even if it weren't for Feng Lan, I would still help you."

Cheng Xi:...

As a cunning and ruthless person, it was very difficult for her to describe her current feelings when faced with someone like Cheng Yunjian, who carried sincerity in his very bones.

It really wasn't very good.

Jiang Weiran watched from the side, unable to even finish eating, as Cheng Xi's gaze was simply terrifying.

Looking back on it now, he only felt that his life was spared by luck; back then, Cheng Xi had only cut off one of his arms.