Chapter 8: The Unlucky Chen Guangling

After the people from Tianbao Pavilion left, the scene fell quiet.

Everyone turned to look at Qin Guan with complicated expressions. No one had expected that the unremarkable Qin Guan was actually a third-gate Martial Artist!

Nan Yunqi's face was equally filled with disbelief. He had always assumed Qin Guan was a weak second-gate Martial Artist — he never imagined this fellow had been hiding his true strength all along!

After a moment, Grand Elder Nan Shunda suddenly spoke:

"Qin Guan, a third-gate Martial Artist is indeed quite formidable, but do you know that Tianbao Pavilion has a Profound Mastery Realm Retainer stationed here? If you have any gratitude for the Nan Family taking you in, you should hurry to Tianbao Pavilion and confess your crimes!"

Second Elder Nan Yuantong nodded. "Exactly. A Profound Mastery Realm expert is not someone a third-gate Martial Artist can contend with. You should sever your ties with the Nan Family right now and go apologize to Tianbao Pavilion!"

"Leave! You are not welcome in our Nan Family!"

"That's right — you are not welcome in our Nan Family!"

Once Nan Shunda and Nan Yuantong had spoken, the Nan Family members behind them immediately began clamoring. If Chen Guangling brought that Profound Mastery Realm Retainer over later, they would all be in trouble.

Seeing so many people trying to drive Qin Guan away, Nan Rou hurried to his side and grabbed his hand tightly.

"Enough!"

Nan Yunqi suddenly roared in fury. He looked at Nan Shunda and Nan Yuantong. "I am the head of the Nan Family. It is not your place to make decisions here."

He then glanced at Qin Guan. "Qin Guan is my Nan Family's son-in-law. Once he stepped through our doors, he became one of us. Should we not stand united against our common enemy at a time like this?"

Upon hearing this, Grand Elder Nan Shunda let out a cold laugh.

"Stand united? Nan Yunqi, spare me your grand words. It's plain to see you want to use us as cannon fodder to protect your son-in-law!"

Nan Yunqi said in a low, stern voice, "Nan Shunda, you are sowing discord in the face of a common threat. What are your intentions?"

At this point, Second Elder Nan Yuantong spoke up:

"Nan Yunqi, stop pretending to be righteous. Qin Guan has caused the Nan Family to offend Tianbao Pavilion. From now on, our Nan Family will struggle to get by in Luyun City. If we don't hand over this troublemaker, the Nan Family will never see the light of day!"

After saying this, Nan Yuantong looked at the assembled Nan Family members and added, "In any case, I will not sacrifice myself for an outsider with a different surname. When Tianbao Pavilion's people arrive, I will absolutely not lift a finger to help."

Nan Yuantong stepped aside as he spoke, and seeing this, a group of Nan Family members behind him followed.

"I won't act either!" Nan Shunda declared, then walked to the other side. At the same time, the people behind him followed suit.

In an instant, the dozens of Nan Family members on the scene had split into three factions.

The portion of people who had been standing behind Nan Yunqi began looking around nervously. Soon, some ran toward Nan Shunda's side, and others toward Nan Yuantong's. Their opponent was Tianbao Pavilion — they had no desire to be cannon fodder for Qin Guan's sake.

In just a short while, only a dozen or so people remained behind Nan Yunqi. The head of the family had been stripped of his authority in an instant.

Seeing this scene, Qin Guan couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seemed his father-in-law's position as family head was far from secure.

"Ha ha!"

Nan Yunqi suddenly threw his head back and laughed. He had known this day would come sooner or later — Qin Guan was merely the spark that ignited it.

Seeing her father laugh with a hint of sorrow, and so many people unwilling to help, Nan Rou looked at Qin Guan helplessly and murmured softly, "Brother Guan."

Qin Guan smiled and ruffled Nan Rou's hair. "Don't be afraid. This is actually a good thing."

And so the scene fell quiet again, as though everyone was waiting for Tianbao Pavilion's people to arrive — one side ready to fight, the other two sides ready to surrender.

* * *

At the same time, Chen Guangling had just led a group of people to the entrance of Tianbao Pavilion when he ran into two individuals.

Upon spotting the Blue-robed Elder among them, Chen Guangling's eyes immediately lit up. He rushed forward and dropped to his knees with a thud:

"Elder Xu, you've come at just the right time! Our Tianbao Pavilion has been attacked — you must stand up for us!"

Elder Xu frowned slightly. "Someone in Luyun City dares to disrespect my Tianbao Pavilion?"

"Elder Xu, the other party is a third-gate Martial Artist — utterly arrogant! He called everyone in our Tianbao Pavilion worthless lowlifes, said we were nothing but common rabble unfit to be taken seriously. He declared he would beat Tianbao Pavilion until we were crawling on the ground looking for our teeth!"

Chen Guangling embellished the story wildly. Although both were Profound Mastery Realm experts, Elder Xu's strength was incomparable to Tianbao Pavilion's Retainer. If he could bring Elder Xu along, a third-gate Martial Artist would be slapped dead with a single palm!

Hearing that it was a third-gate Martial Artist, Elder Xu was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected this small place like Luyun City to have produced a third-gate Martial Artist. But he quickly grew furious:

"A mere third-gate Martial Artist dares to speak so boldly? Take me there!"

He then turned to look at the White-Robed Young Lady behind him. "Young Miss, allow me to deal with this matter first. I'll be right back!"

Hearing Elder Xu respectfully address the White-Robed Young Lady as "Young Miss," Chen Guangling's pupils contracted sharply. He immediately spun around and kowtowed to the White-Robed Young Lady, saying, "This lowly one had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai — greetings, Young Miss!"

The White-Robed Young Lady paid Chen Guangling no mind and said indifferently, "I'm bored anyway. I'll come along for the excitement."

Chen Guangling was overjoyed and quickly led Elder Xu and the White-Robed Young Lady toward the Nan Family estate. Before long, the group arrived at the Nan Family courtyard.

Seeing Chen Guangling return with reinforcements, Nan Shunda and Nan Yuantong almost simultaneously rushed forward to flatter and beg for mercy.

"Get out of the way!"

Chen Guangling shoved the two aside without bothering with them, and led his group straight toward Nan Yunqi's side.

Chen Guangling stepped aside, then pointed directly at Qin Guan, who stood at the front, and cursed:

"Elder Xu, it's this little wretch! He's the one who called everyone in our Tianbao Pavilion worthless lowlifes!"

Following the direction of Chen Guangling's pointing finger, Elder Xu was instantly startled when he saw who was being indicated. The White-Robed Young Lady's beautiful eyes also widened in an instant.

When Qin Guan saw Elder Xu and the White-Robed Young Lady, he frowned slightly. "It's them."

These two were the very people he had encountered when crossing the river a couple of days ago.

"You little wretch, why aren't you saying anything? Weren't you so arrogant before, boasting that you'd beat Tianbao Pavilion until we couldn't take care of ourselves…"

"Urk!"

Before Chen Guangling could finish his sentence, he suddenly spat blood and went flying.

Everyone was startled and stunned. What was going on — why had Pavilion Master Chen gone flying and spitting blood again?!

From a distance, Chen Guangling, who had been sent flying while spitting blood, felt a thousand horses stampeding through his mind. He looked back at Elder Xu with a dumbfounded expression.

He was just about to say it was a case of mistaken identity, but when he saw the grim expression on Elder Xu's face, his heart lurched and he swallowed his words before they could leave his mouth.

While everyone was still in disbelief, Elder Xu stepped forward, looked at Qin Guan, and said with a smile:

"Young friend, I believe there must be some misunderstanding here!"

A misunderstanding?

Hearing Elder Xu's words, everyone present felt a jolt of shock!

Although no one knew who this Elder Xu was, judging by Chen Guangling's attitude toward him, he was clearly an extraordinary figure. How could such a powerful person take the initiative to say it was a misunderstanding to Qin Guan?

Qin Guan looked at Elder Xu and said nothing.

Seeing Qin Guan remain silent, Elder Xu felt somewhat awkward. He and his Young Miss had originally planned to visit and win over Qin Guan, but before they could do so, Chen Guangling had already managed to offend him first. What a useless good-for-nothing who ruined everything he touched!

"Yes, yes — this was all a misunderstanding to begin with!"

At this point, Nan Yunqi hurried forward and smiled at Elder Xu.

The old man before him had unfathomable strength. Although he didn't understand why the other party would take the initiative to show goodwill, since they were offering a way out, it would be truly ungrateful not to accept the gesture.

Just as Nan Yunqi finished speaking, Qin Guan suddenly said, "I have two conditions. First: Chen Guangling and Chen Shaojie, father and son, die — and tonight's matter is settled. Second: Tianbao Pavilion compensates my father-in-law with one hundred bottles of Qi Refinement Powder in exchange for the lives of the father and son — and this matter can be put to rest."

Hearing the conditions Qin Guan laid out, everyone present drew a sharp breath. He actually dared to negotiate terms with Tianbao Pavilion?

Where did he get the audacity to make such demands of Tianbao Pavilion?!

Elder Xu frowned slightly, a flash of displeasure crossing the depths of his eyes. He hadn't expected Qin Guan to not only refuse to give him face, but also to slap Tianbao Pavilion's dignity.

No matter how strong Qin Guan was, Tianbao Pavilion's prestige was not something he could simply trample upon.

With that thought, Elder Xu looked at Qin Guan and said in a low voice, "And if I refuse?"

Seeing that Elder Xu was clearly angered, Nan Yunqi was so frightened his calves began to tremble. He quickly waved his hands. "Elder Xu, the young man has a hot temper — please don't take it seriously. We wouldn't dare…"

While Nan Yunqi was still trying to placate him, Qin Guan suddenly said coldly, "If you refuse, that's fine too. We can settle this with a fight — just me from the Nan Family's side, and everyone here from yours can come at me all at once."

"Insolence!"

Hearing Qin Guan's contemptuous words, Elder Xu roared in fury, and a terrifying wave of pressure instantly swept outward.

"Elder Xu."

Just as Elder Xu was about to make his move, the White-Robed Young Lady, who had not spoken until now, suddenly spoke up.

"Young Miss." Elder Xu reined in his aura and turned to look at the White-Robed Young Lady.

"Agree to his terms," the White-Robed Young Lady said indifferently.

Elder Xu's gaze flickered with restrained emotion. After a moment, he looked at Qin Guan. "Young friend, Tianbao Pavilion will satisfy both of your conditions. The choice is yours."

Hearing Elder Xu's words, Chen Guangling was so terrified he collapsed to the ground, immediately kneeling and crying out:

"Elder Xu, I have served Tianbao Pavilion for so many years — even if I have no great merit, I have worked hard! Tianbao Pavilion cannot treat me this way!"

Chen Shaojie also scrambled forward on his knees, trembling all over in fright. He couldn't understand why Tianbao Pavilion would be afraid of a third-gate Martial Artist.

That question in Chen Shaojie's mind was the same question everyone present had. Tianbao Pavilion had actually agreed to Qin Guan's conditions — it was truly baffling to them all.

"Father-in-law, do you want the one hundred bottles of Qi Refinement Powder, or do you want the lives of this father and son?" Qin Guan looked at Nan Yunqi.

Nan Yunqi was nearly scared out of his wits. He stammered in a small voice, "One hundred — one hundred bottles of Qi Refinement Powder."

Killing the Pavilion Master of Tianbao Pavilion? He wouldn't even dare think it — just the thought felt like a crime. The gap in their standings was simply too vast.

On the other hand, if they could truly obtain one hundred bottles of Qi Refinement Powder, that would be an overwhelming windfall for the Nan Family!

Hearing that Nan Yunqi wanted the one hundred bottles of Qi Refinement Powder, the Chen Guangling father and son pair both let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness it was just money.

"Pay up," Qin Guan suddenly said, extending his hand.

"I — I don't have that much." Chen Guangling said, then looked toward Elder Xu.

"Why are you looking at me?!" Elder Xu snapped furiously.

Chen Guangling was so startled he quickly looked at the others around him. "Everyone chip in — I'll pay you back when we get back."

Soon, Chen Guangling began scraping together contributions using a Storage Ring.

Before long, one hundred bottles of Qi Refinement Powder were assembled. Chen Guangling handed the Storage Ring to Qin Guan.

Qin Guan didn't even glance at it and tossed it directly to Nan Yunqi.

Nan Yunqi caught the Storage Ring, feeling as though he were in a dream. Such an enormous cache of resources had just fallen into his hands like that?

Seeing the Storage Ring filled with Qi Refinement Powder in Nan Yunqi's hands, the greedy and fervent gazes of the Nan Family disciples were laid completely bare.

Under normal circumstances, an ordinary disciple could receive one bottle of Qi Refinement Powder every two months. Those with better aptitude could claim one bottle per month. Even Nan Qiao only received three bottles per month.

One hundred bottles of Qi Refinement Powder!

Regret!

At this moment, many people were truly filled with regret — especially those disciples who had defected from Nan Yunqi's side earlier. They were so remorseful they could have wept.

No one had expected that not only would Qin Guan come out unscathed, but the other party had actually been made to compensate with one hundred bottles of Qi Refinement Powder!

Nan Shunda and Nan Yuantong also wore dark expressions. The two had originally hoped that Tianbao Pavilion would eliminate Nan Yunqi, but the outcome had far exceeded their expectations.

At this moment, the White-Robed Young Lady suddenly stepped forward and smiled at Qin Guan. "Young Master Qin, may I have a word with you in private?"

Qin Guan hesitated for a moment, then followed the White-Robed Young Lady as she walked toward a more secluded spot.