Chapter 60: Senior!
Chen Yan narrowed his eyes as he studied the woman before him. Atop her head, strands of vital energy coalesced—a grayish mist interwoven with the faintest traces of silver.
Just like himself, she was still within the realm of mortal cultivation.
Judging by the intensity of the silver glow… she was also at the Returning to Origin Realm, though perhaps slightly weaker than he was.
—
The woman, Chu Ke Qing, was clearly momentarily stunned by Chen Yan’s nonchalant demeanor. But she was well-traveled and experienced; a deep breath later, she steadied herself.
“Master Chen, I assume you know why I’ve come to find you.”
Chen Yan picked up a slice of snail meat, popping it into his mouth before replying, “Hmm. Why don’t you tell me first?”
Chu Ke Qing’s tone was indifferent: “My senior brother, Luo Qing.”
“Oh.” Chen Yan nodded. Since she had come knocking, there was no need to hide it. “The rune traps outside the shop that lured the rats? That was me. As for demolishing his house—both times—also me.”
(You tore down his house twice.) Chu Ke Qing made a mental note but chose not to dwell on it. The fact that he admitted to it so readily was enough.
“In that case, Master Chen, don’t you think you owe an explanation?” Her voice, though naturally cool, carried a hint of an endearing nasal tone.
Chen Yan responded without hesitation, “Luo Qing is not a good person. If he dares to do evil and harm others, shouldn’t he be punished?”
Chu Ke Qing fell silent for a moment before speaking again, her voice calm: “My senior brother’s actions have indeed been reckless. He has offended many and made many mistakes. Punishment is warranted.
“However, before taking action, shouldn’t you have at least talked it out first? I have some standing in our shared path, and if you had approached me, we could have discussed a resolution. But instead, you acted directly… isn’t that a bit—”
Chen Yan chuckled. “Luo Qing’s been up to these dirty deeds for quite some time now, hasn’t he?” He stared at her, sharp as a blade. “And I doubt this is your first time cleaning up after him. You speak of punishment—but tell me, have you ever truly held him accountable?
“He’s not a young man anymore. How many misdeeds do you think he’s accumulated by now? Surely you’ve known about them. And yet—did you stop him?”
A tinge of red crept up Chu Ke Qing’s face. Gritting her teeth, she replied, “Cloud Sect has its own rules. When one of our disciples errs—”
“Then take it up with the police,” Chen Yan cut her off with a shake of his head. “It’s a new era, and yet you’re still talking about ‘sects’ and ‘clans’? Today, I punished Luo Qing. But what if I hadn’t? What if he got caught by the police instead? Would you march into the police station and say, ‘No, you can’t arrest him! Our Cloud Sect has its own rules’?
“What do you think this is, a fantasy drama? Are you kidding me?”
A flicker of anger flashed in Chu Ke Qing’s eyes. “The Xuan Sect has its own ways of handling internal matters, Master Chen. You are being unreasonable.”
Her tone softened slightly. “I came here in peace. My senior brother was disciplined by you, and I did not come here seeking blood. I only wished to talk.
“Perhaps you are too young, and your teachers have yet to teach you the rules of the martial world.
“Do you really believe that mastering a few impressive talisman arts allows you to act without restraint?”
—
(Teachers?)
A thought stirred in Chen Yan’s mind.
So that was it.
This woman had assumed, from his youth, that he was merely a junior disciple of some larger sect?
Another one of those greasy, old-school martial world games.
[The martial world isn’t about fighting—it’s about social obligations?]
[Tch!]
—
Chu Ke Qing sighed lightly. “Fine. I had initially thought you promising and wished to treat you with courtesy. But since this is how you choose to conduct yourself, when I meet your sect elders, don’t blame me for using my status to suppress you.”
Chen Yan scoffed inwardly.
(You think you’re so ‘big,’ but I’m not ‘small’ either! )
—
Suddenly, Chu Ke Qing raised two fingers. With a subtle flick, a yellow talisman appeared between them, igniting in flame despite the absence of fire. Her voice turned cold: “Junior, what sect do you hail from?”
As the talisman fire flared, a wave of vital energy surged forth, wrapping around Chen Yan. For a fleeting moment, he felt his mind loosen, his thoughts about to spill forth involuntarily.
But in the blink of an eye, he inhaled deeply, circulating his vital energy throughout his body. His mind sharpened into clarity once more.
Eyes gleaming, he sneered at her. “True Speech Talisman? With a flame that tiny? Who are you trying to scare?”
Chu Ke Qing’s brow furrowed slightly. “Your cultivation is impressive. To resist a True Speech Talisman’s power at your age… no wonder you’re so bold.”
She paused, shaking her head. “Since that is the case, I’ll have to capture you first, then bring this matter to your elders.”
—
“Capture me?”
Chen Yan’s gaze flicked toward her slender fingers. Her hands were delicate, with pale, flawless skin—hands that had never done hard labor. Clearly, they belonged to someone who had been well cared for.
Chu Ke Qing’s fingers danced once more, summoning another yellow talisman that ignited in an instant. She pointed at him as she spoke in a commanding tone:
“Talisman Command: Unmovable as the Mountain!”
At once, the air around Chen Yan thickened, countless invisible forces pressing down upon him. The overwhelming energy pinned him to his seat, locking him in place.
Chu Ke Qing rose gracefully, her robes whispering against the wooden floor as she approached Chen Yan. With a flick of her wrist, she pressed a talisman onto his shoulder, its golden script glowing faintly upon contact.
“Talisman Command: Guiding Hand,” she intoned, exhaling softly as she met his gaze. “Now, be good and follow me.”
Chen Yan’s body stiffened, his limbs moving with an unnatural rigidity as he strode to her side, like a marionette dancing to unseen strings.
“Come with me,” she ordered, turning toward the door. Yet after two measured steps, she paused, frowning.
Silence.
She turned sharply—Chen Yan had not moved. He stood rooted in place, an amused smile tugging at his lips, eyes gleaming with quiet mockery.
“Leaving already? But the bill remains unsettled. Surely, the esteemed Cloud Sect doesn’t dine and dash?”
As he spoke, he inhaled lightly, his breath carrying a ripple of arcane power. Then, with a casual chuckle, he uttered, “Decree Command: Dispel. Laws bow before higher truths.”
The words struck like a temple bell, resonating through Chu Ke Qing’s core. Her body trembled as though struck by thunder. Before she could react, Chen Yan stretched lazily, shaking off the stiffness with an air of complete nonchalance.
“You—?!”
Her voice quavered, her usually steady hands clenching involuntarily. “Spellcraft? You cast spells without talismans?!”
Three talismans—each nullified. He had spoken a decree into reality, unbound by symbols or external aids. Such a feat existed only in the realm of legend.
Chen Yan clicked his tongue, plucking the discarded talisman from his shoulder and inspecting it with faint amusement. “It resembles the techniques recorded in my Decree Codex—but crude, unfinished. That so-called Immovable as the Mountain command? Hah, it barely matches my own Decree: Stillness, and its force is leagues apart.”
He let the talisman slip from his fingers, contempt lacing his voice. “Mere parlor tricks.”
Stepping forward, he exhaled once more, his fingers forming a rapid seal. A sharp motion, a commanding point—
“Decree: Halt.”
A wave of chilling stillness surged through Chu Ke Qing’s body. A vast emptiness swallowed her mind, her limbs frozen like stone. She could neither move nor resist.
Chen Yan studied her impassively.
[One mustn’t be like the foolish monkey who, having captured a celestial maiden, focuses only on stealing peaches.]
But then again…
[I’m a decent man, not a scoundrel. And it’s broad daylight—]
His gaze flicked to the nearby servers, who were casting wary glances his way.
Decisive, he reached out and flicked her forehead with a crisp thunk. The impact bloomed into a rosy imprint upon her fair skin.
“You disrupted my meal. Consider us even.”
He waved a hand dismissively. “As for Luo Qing—it’s settled. If you keep out of my affairs, I won’t trouble Cloud Sect further. And since you’ve been watching me, I assume you know where I reside.”
He smirked, stepping past her rigid form. “A word of caution—stay away from my home. My family is… ferocious.”
Chu Ke Qing’s face burned, half with indignation, half with awe.
Many cultivators she had encountered wielded talismanic arts. But to summon spellcraft without a medium? To shape law with sheer will?
A talent whispered only in ancient scrolls.
She snapped to attention as Chen Yan retrieved his phone, casually scanning the table’s payment code. Just as he turned to leave—
“Wait!” she called, her voice breaking slightly. “Respected one, a moment, please!”
Chen Yan paused, raising a brow. “Ah, is this where you vow vengeance?”
“No,” she hurriedly denied, her eyes flickering with a trace of nervousness. “With such mastery over spellcraft, I dare not provoke you. I acted in overconfidence today. However—your technique… it defies reason. It surpasses anything I have known. You… you cannot be so young.”
She took a breath, suppressing her disbelief. “Might I ask your honored title? If you would be willing to instruct us, Cloud Sect would throw open its doors in welcome.”
Title?
Chen Yan hesitated, realization dawning.
[She thinks I’m some ancient monster who has taken a youthful guise?]
Well… that worked in his favor.
Adopting an air of venerable wisdom, he chuckled, speaking with deliberate gravity. “My name—you already know it.”
Chu Ke Qing’s heart pounded.
[A true elder. Perhaps even one who has mastered rejuvenation or the fabled Return to Youth arts…!]
Swallowing, she whispered, “Then… might I ask your venerable age?”
Chen Yan stroked his chin thoughtfully. “A fleeting existence… I have seen ninety-one summers.”
Ninety-one?!
Stunned, she barely registered his swift departure. By the time her wits returned, he had vanished through the doorway.
From beyond, his parting words echoed—
“The bill is yours to pay!”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation