Chapter 73: Kid, you've got good taste. That girl...!
In the cultivation chamber of the Yun Lan Sect's main hall, Yun Yun, who was meditating with her eyes closed, suddenly felt a tug in her heart. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
"Xiao Bu... has arrived in the imperial capital?" A faint hint of joy flashed across her usually calm and composed face. With a slight tap of her toes, she rose gracefully. The loose training robe she wore was replaced by a snow white cloud robe, elegant and ethereal.
Her long, waterfall like black hair was gently gathered and styled into an elegant bun, making her appear dignified and noble, like a celestial maiden.
With a soft flutter of her Dou Qi wings, she soared into the air and sped toward the imperial capital.
Outside the Elders' Hall, Yun Leng stood on the platform, gently stroking his beard. His brows furrowed slightly as he watched Yun Yun disappear into the distance. "Why is the Sect Leader heading to the imperial capital at this hour? Could it be about the Nalan family? The capital has been quite restless lately…"
His eyes gleamed thoughtfully. The person above had tasked him with locating a strong ice element cultivator, and they finally had a lead Mittel Family's Ice Emperor Hai Bodong!
However, Yun Leng wasn't entirely certain. Hai Bodong had been a renowned and formidable figure for years, and not someone easy to provoke.
As for the mysterious young man they were also looking for... there was no clue. No trace of him near the imperial capital or in the eastern provinces.
"Sigh… if worse comes to worst, I'll have to present Hai Bodong as the substitute," Yun Leng sighed lightly, already thinking about how to craft a convincing excuse. After all, Hai Bodong's whereabouts in the eastern provinces were unknown.
…
Outside the Nalan Family Estate in the southern part of the imperial capital.
The sound of urgent galloping echoed like a torrential downpour. Three figures rode in swiftly on horseback, their auras fierce and unrestrained.
"Whoa!"
The three horses screeched to a halt in front of the Nalan Family gates, their front hooves raised high. The sight startled the guards, making their eyelids twitch in alarm.
If the riders weren't familiar faces, those guards would've already drawn their weapons in defense.
"Haha! Take care of my horse!" Mu Zhan casually tossed his whip at one of the guards, laughing boisterously as he and his two lackeys strolled inside.
The guards gritted their teeth but dared not speak up. The young master of the Mu Family was insufferably arrogant.
However, the moment Mu Zhan crossed the threshold, his expression darkened considerably. The scar running across his face twisted into a ferocious snarl.
The guards exchanged puzzled glances, wondering if this troublemaker was about to stir up something again. But when they recalled Mu Zhan's feelings for Ya Fei and the rumors that she had arrived with a man in the same carriage...
The guards smirked mockingly. It seemed the young master of the Mu Family, known for his mastery of wood element Dou Qi, had just been thoroughly "outshined."
…
Elsewhere, Lü Bu wandered aimlessly, following Ya Fei as she skillfully mingled with the guests. Her charisma in business was undeniable she could effortlessly draw people in with just a few words and naturally steer conversations in her favor.
"Understanding the ways of the world is knowledge; mastering human interactions is an art," Lü Bu thought, impressed.
However, his musings were interrupted when he suddenly felt a surge of hostility directed at him. It wasn't concealed at all, but rather weak almost laughably so.
Quickly piecing the situation together, Lü Bu deduced the source. It was likely that man named Mu Zhan.
"What's wrong?" Ya Fei asked softly, noticing the slight change in Lü Bu's demeanor.
"Oh, nothing," Lü Bu replied casually, taking a subtle step away from Ya Fei. A sly smile crept across his face. Teasing this Mu Zhan character... could be fun.
…
Meanwhile, some sharp eyed individuals immediately noticed Mu Zhan's entrance and his seething expression.
"Hey, hey! Looks like someone's about to teach that kid a lesson!"
"Quick, bring the wine! A good show like this needs a proper drink to go with it!"
"Haha… finally, something exciting!"
…
In a corner of the courtyard, Yun Yun landed quietly, observing the lively scene with mild confusion. However, her expression soon turned peculiar. She recognized Lü Bu's aura almost instantly.
But… why was Xiao Bu hiding his appearance?
"Teacher, why are you here?" Nalan Yanran's surprised voice brought Yun Yun's attention back. She hadn't expected to see her mentor at the family estate.
And… Nalan Yanran's gaze swept over Yun Yun, noticing her newly styled hair and light makeup. She looked even more stunning than usual!
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm here to meet a friend," Yun Yun said with a faint smile, her eyes discreetly scanning in Lü Bu's direction.
Not far away, Xiao Yan sipped his wine quietly. Like many others, he thought this drama would pair nicely with a drink.
On the other side of the courtyard, Mu Zhan's fury reached its peak as he saw how close Lü Bu and Ya Fei seemed to be. His killing intent flared, filling the air with oppressive energy.
"Damn it!" Nalan Yanran's face paled. "Mu Zhan's going to kill him!"
"Don't panic. It's fine," Yun Yun said with a calm smile, gesturing for Nalan Yanran to stay put. "I know Lü Bu's strength. Even if I intervened, I wouldn't last more than a few rounds against him."
The sharp sound of Mu Zhan's Dou Qi tearing through the air drew everyone's attention. Even those who had been preoccupied with their own conversations turned to look.
Mu Zhan was infamous in the imperial capital for his reckless behavior. He wasn't afraid of anyone and cared little for consequences.
"Boom!"
Mu Zhan stomped the ground, cracks spiderwebbing beneath his feet as he shot toward Lü Bu like a green blur. His fists, now coated in a rough, bark like layer of Dou Qi, were aimed directly at Lü Bu's head.
In the blink of an eye, Lü Bu spun around and caught Mu Zhan's attack with a single hand.
"What?!" Mu Zhan's eyes widened in disbelief. How could this pale, delicate looking alchemist block his full strength strike so effortlessly?
"Pfft, just a seven or eight star Dou Shi," Xiao Yan muttered with a smirk. Lü Bu's Dou Qi alone was at the level of a Da Dou Shi. Someone like Mu Zhan was no match.
"Mu Zhan?" Ya Fei exclaimed in shock.
Lü Bu flicked his wrist, releasing a wave of energy that sent Mu Zhan stumbling backward.
"You've got some skill, kid!" Mu Zhan said, licking his lips as a bloodthirsty gleam appeared in his eyes. "You seem tough better than that coward Liu Ling!"
In a corner, Liu Ling's face twitched. Let them fight! If they both go down, even better.
"You lunatic! What do you want?!" Ya Fei shouted.
"Haha, Ya Fei, my future wife! You're looking prettier than ever," Mu Zhan said with a laugh, feeling quite pleased with his taste in women.
"Your future wife?" Lü Bu looked at him with an odd expression.
"That's right, kid. You new here?" Mu Zhan's expression turned cold as his killing intent surged. "You've got some nerve touching my woman!"
Lü Bu raised an eyebrow. "You've got good taste, kid. Your future wife... she's quite... refined."
The women nearby blushed, covering their ears as they quickly walked away. Well… not too far. Though Lü Bu's words were vulgar, they couldn't help but listen.
In the corner, Yun Yun remained calm, her expression unchanged. However, the wineglass in her hand cracked slightly.
"Teacher…" Nalan Yanran whispered nervously. "Are you angry? But why…?"
"You're asking for it, kid!" Mu Zhan roared as his Dou Qi exploded, turning him… even greener.
(To be continued)