Chapter 323 - Rookies at Adventure
Chapters 323 Rookies at Adventure
Everything seemed fresh and new after the rain as the Sun peeked out cheerfully again.
Chu Xun decided that he should visit the Sanctuary of Tetrarchy and he began preparing.
With their progress lagging behind, it was imperative that Yan Chong and the others pick up their pace lest they end up as weaklings in a rapidly-changing world.
Leaving them an abundance of magical herbs and shrubs, Chu Xun left them to an ultimatum: anyone who barely made any progress shall be wantonly punished.
Yan Chong and the others nearly teared up at the mention of ‘punished’; having first-hand experienced Chu Xun’s brand of punishment, they would rather battle to their deaths.
With everything set and ready, Chu Xun departed, taking only Yan Wushuang with him.
But a minute before he left, he received a call from Qianlong Mountain.
When he finished the call, Chu Xun grimaced, “As if my day is not bad enough...”
As it turned out, Tang Rou and Jiu You had slipped out of Qianlong Mountain, leaving only a little note that said they had gone on a trip of pilgrimage.
Two young fledglings on an adventure alone. Ironically, Chu Xun received an ultimatum of his own from Liu Ran: find Tang Rou and Jiu You and bring them back, or he would be disowned.
“Gods in Heaven, Mother,” Chu Xun sighed morosely.
“Wait here, I’ll be back in a while.” On that curt note, Chu Xun left alone to look for the top official.
The chief official was an ordinary man in his late middle-age with fine white bristles of hair covering his wrinkled face which had only seemed to age him more noticeably thanks to the chaos and anomalies ravaging the lands.
Without hesitation, Chu Xun divulged to him the purpose of his visit and requested that he order his local garrisons to keep a lookout for Tang Rou and Jiu You. With the latter two’s conspicuous appearance, it shouldn’t be hard for anyone to notice them.
The top official quickly relayed his order.
“Truth be told, Chu Xun, I have always believed that there’s nothing wrong in being ordinary. I can still wield power and influence of my own and use it to help people,” said the top official as his wearied face cracked a smile, “But look, we’ve known each other for decades, and yet you look as young as the first day we met while I’m stepping into my twilight years.”
It was a sentiment that sounded just as sour and heart-wrenching to Chu Xun. He remembered when he first met the official, he was a man in his prime, with power and authority at his fingertips. A great man who strived to provide and give protection to his people. In the blink of an eye, decades blazed past and he was now an old gnarly man whose stature and vigor were now shrunken by age.
Between the anomalies happening everywhere, the incessant scourge of wild beasts and the chaotic age brought in by the rise of warriors, the once indomitable ruler of these lands began to feel his back bending to the pressure.
With a moment’s thought, Chu Xun decided to leave him some magical herbs and shrubs, some magical fruits, and two Level-improving Pills.
“Take these,” he said, “This might help you.”
“Nay,” the top official refused. “My entire life has been dedicated to the betterment of the people. It has been my calling, to fully accept what destiny has seen fit to rest on my shoulders and with that, I shall gladly welcome with open arms the day I breathe my last. I will not be afraid, nor will I expect to use anything to extend my life. I’m tired. Perhaps I should take a rest.”
That surprised Chu Xun and his admiration for the chief official’s candor and wisdom only grew more and more. A man who had maintained a clear conscience through his entire life; an honorable person who could do no wrong, and a fearless leader undaunted by the unknowns that awaited him.
“No,” Chu Xun said suddenly, pushing the items to him, “Order has yet to prevail and chaos still torments humanity. You cannot back down now. The people reach out for you, Sir. Take this item and use them well. My faculties shall also be at your disposal should you need me.”
“Sir, Senior Chu speaks truly.” The Chief Advisor, Zhong Ren who had been standing aside quietly spoke suddenly.
Chu Xun saw no more reason to offer more persuasion. He turned around and left, leaving the herbs and pills behind. If the top official was willing, no doubt Zhong Ren would be more than willing to instruct him on the study of magic and the secrets of extending his life.
Chu Xun returned back to the Fire Dragon Palace and had Yan Chong booked him a flight to Gujiang City. Jiu You and Tang Rou had only just left Qianlong Mountain, so they should still be somewhere around there.
As Chu Xun and Yan Wushuang boarded their plane, little did they realize that Tang Rou and Jiu You were in grave peril.
Unable to resist Jiu You’s incessant cajoling and corralling, Tang Rou finally agreed and the two slipped out of Qianlong Mountain to embark on a trip of pilgrimage together.
They did not dare to linger long in Gujiang City – not when the city remained under the authority of the Tianwu Sect, a cadet branch of the Chu Mansion.
In a stroke of haste and panic, they quickly hopped on to a flight and went to Xiacheng, another settlement more than 500 kilometers away.
Xiacheng – an ancient city with a long and illustrious history.
The pair of girls were excited when they finally reached their destination. Jiu You had been so deep in slumber and since her waking up not long ago, she had only just gone on a couple of trips with Chu Xun. But during those trips, she left all the decisions to him, and as for Tang Rou, this was her first time leaving home.
Suffice it to say, that the girls are both veritable rookies.
Since Tang Rou began her cultivation of magical powers, her skin grew whiter than snow and her appearance grew so dainty and sweet like a fairy from Heaven. Jiu You with her lush purple hair and fair white skin made her look like an adorable doll and was all the more gorgeous.
Reeling with burning excitement and the lack of experience and understanding of the world outside, little did they realize the havoc they were about to wreck.
Without Chu Xun to keep her on a leash, Jiu You trotted everywhere with Tang Rou in tow like a little wild pony, raring to see and try everything.
As a former celebrity, Tang Rou became the focus of everyone’s attention whenever she goes, although it hardly bothered her not one bit.
With tonnes of good time shared between them both, they did not know how Chu Xun was anxious to the point of going mad. He had too many enemies – countless of them, in fact.
He sent word to the Rock Sect and the Tianwu Sect, bidding them to search their domains quietly so as to prevent attracting the attention of their enemies.
He then called Yue Fandie, asking for his help, and the Lord of the Sanctuary of Tetrarchy sent forth his students and acolytes to help assist in the manhunt.
The same order was then relayed to all army garrisons all around the country.
Nevertheless, even after more than a dozen hours, Chu Xun got not so much as a handwriting on the wall about the girls’ whereabouts.
“Let’s find a hotel for the night, Tang Rou,” suggested Jiu You, seeing the sky turning dark.
“Should we conceal our faces?” Tang Rou wondered aloud. Only now did she finally realize this problem. “You look too gorgeous and this makes you awfully noticeable!”
“Gods, you’re right!” exclaimed Jiu You, “You too! And you’re dreadfully pretty yourself too! You’ll catch the eye of some bad people.”
Only now did the two young greenhorns realize that they should cover their faces.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe,” said Jiu You confidently.
“Me too,” agreed Tang Rou, “I’ll take care of you.”
But the notion of concealing their appearances quickly vanished like smoke when they got distracted and their conversation strayed off. Instead, they renewed their quest on looking for a hotel.
Hotel Titanic, one of the finest hotels in all of Xiacheng.
As a former celebrity, Tang Rou was proficient in separating wheat from chaff and finding starred hotels.
But they were about to book a room when they stumbled upon another predicament.
“Urm... Jiu You, did you bring any money?” asked Tang Rou furtively.
Jiu You stared at her blankly with the question “What’s money?” almost blurting through her lips. In all her trips with Chu Xun, she had never lacked good food and comfortable accommodations that she never once worried about expenses.
“Nope,” said Jiu You as a matter-of-factly, “I thought you said you brought some.”
“But I used them all to book our flight tickets,” said Tang Rou, who never had to carry cash with her in all her life as a celebrity.
Manning the receptionist’s desk was a pretty lady looking at Tang Rou with a pair of twinkling eyes.
“Am I right in guessing that you’re Miss Tang Rou?!”
“Don’t say yes,” urged Jiu You quietly, “We need to hide our identities outside.”
Nodding, Tang Rou replied, “I’m afraid you got the wrong person. I’m not Tang Rou.”
The young woman might have been a fan of Tang Rou’s. Upon hearing that she was not Tang Rou put a frown on the girl’s face.
“We have no money with us. Can this work instead?” Jiu You asked haughtily, slamming a low-tiered magical herb on the top of the counter.
The little shrub glowed with a mellow luminescence of green as a thick, soothing aroma wafted into the air, invigorating anyone who breathed in its scent.
The receptionist’s eyes shot wide. She was no stranger to seeing magical shrubs and herbs, but she needed permission from her superiors to approve the transaction.
“Please wait a moment,” said the young receptionist and she hurried away.
The young receptionist came back not long after with an old man with a sage outlook and a benevolent smile.
“I present to you our manager, Master Feng,” introduced the receptionist.
Feng Heng glanced at the magical herb on the counter, his expression barely stirring.
“I understand that you intend to use this herb in place of payment for the cost of lodgings here?” asked Feng Heng.
“Cut the crap,” muttered Jiu You impatiently, “Do you accept this or not?”
“Of course we do. Take our distinguished guests to their suite. Remember, it’s the presidential suite,” ordered Feng Heng.
The receptionist beckoned politely, “This way please, ladies.”
Feng Heng’s eyes flashed with nefarious thoughts as he watched the receptionist leading Tang Rou and Jiu You into an elevator, his lips twisting into a devilish grin as he quickly stowed away the herb.
“Men.”
At his word, a door to his side leading into an antechamber swung open and two tall, burly men came out, both of them Grandmasters.
“Keep a close eye on them and make sure they don’t leave,” he ordered.
The two henchmen nodded and went back into the room filled with a large bank of display monitors and one of them showed the receptionist leading Tang Rou and Jiu You upstairs.
“Damned, she’s fine!” gasped one of them, swallowing a huge mouthful of saliva.
“So she is, like a fairy. Too bad she’s bad luck. Of all places she chose here,” said the other with a tinge of envy and pity.
After a moment’s thought, Feng Heng called another one of his men. “You there. Find out what you can about these two girls.”
“Understood,” and the man trotted off.
Feng Heng grinned wickedly to himself. The benevolent face from before was no more, replaced with a grotesquely ugly smile. He walked to a quiet corner of the hall and placed a call, “Sir, we have something good for you. Yes, the very best quality, I’d say.”
“The very best, you say?” a silky male voice came from the other end of the line, “Bring her to me as quickly as possible. Remember, I don’t want any loose ends.”
“Understood, Sir,” replied Feng Heng, hanging up the phone with a strange, hungry look in his eyes.
The receptionist took Tang Rou and Jiu You to their suite before taking her leave courteously.
“Strange...” Tang Rou murmured suddenly, frowning.
“What’s wrong?” asked Jiu You as she took in the full view of the luxurious suite with a face full of excitement.
“This looks like a nice hotel, but they seem to have hardly any customers. We saw no other customers except for the staff here all the way up,” muttered Tang Rou.
An indifferent Jiu You quipped, “It’s because of the anomalies and tumults going on everywhere, I guess. Otherwise, I doubt we would have been allowed such an expensive suite for just the price of one magical herb.”
Herbs like what Jiu You used to pay for the suite earlier were ones she normally nibbled at leisure like snacks and she never once bothered to know that the true value of magical herbs could never be measured with silver or gold.
Similarly alike, Tang Rou too hardly comprehended the actual value of magical herbs since Chu Xun never failed to provide her with an infinite supply of them.
Without much thought into the matter, the girls began to play and in the end, they sat down with sweat all over them.
“I need a shower,” said Tang Rou who maintained a fixation towards cleanliness. Cultivators of the arcane magic of immortality, having nourished and lustrated by their spiritual energies hardly need baths every day, but to Tang Rou, bathing regularly was a habit that she was not quite ready to give up yet.
“Me too,” said Jiu You, hopping off the bed.
The girls entered the bathroom and Tang Rou said, “Let me turn on the water.”
Inside the security control room, the two men stared at Tang Rou and Jiu You in the screen with their throats rolling with saliva as their breathing raced rapidly.
Feng Heng too was watching the screen with an evil expression. “They’re going to be the Master’s toys after all. Might as well let me have a taste of their luscious body first.”
In the bathroom, Jiu You looked up and unwittingly saw a shining, flickering red dot standing out from the white glitters of the crystal chandelier above.
“What’s that?” she asked Tang Rou.