Why Are People from the Tianxia Pavilion Here Too?

"How lively." The young master of Jiangnan's Stove Fire Sect had ordered a table full of braised meat and fine wine. Sitting by the teahouse window, he scanned the street below with eager anticipation, searching for Chen Fan's figure. He had originally been asleep in his room. But the moment he heard there was a show to watch, he rushed over immediately. He had no taste for tea or sweet pastries; only braised meat washed down with strong wine truly satisfied him. Burly, thickset, and sporting a full beard, he looked exceptionally rugged. "Is this really appropriate?" By another window of the teahouse, Gongyang Yue leaned in close to Old Demon Jiangbei's ear and whispered hesitantly, "Isn't Chen Fan our friend? Sitting here watching the show like this... isn't it a bit disrespectful to him?" "*Ahem.*" Old Demon Jiangbei stared intently at the Jiangbei Chen family compound, his eyes brimming with excitement. "We are here to back him up. Even though I have already lived through this very scenario once before, I still find it thrilling. As long as Chen Fan can bring himself to strike, he will be my one and only kindred spirit from now on!" The reason he had shown mercy a month ago when passing by Jiangbei Chen Family Outpost No. 37 was precisely because his background was identical to Chen Fan's. He, too, had been cast aside by his family from a young age. After completing his cultivation and returning home, he slaughtered his entire family. Young and old, none were spared. And now, Chen Fan had likewise returned in triumph. If Chen Fan could bring himself to do the same, it would mean Old Demon Jiangbei had found someone whose soul resonated with his own—that Chen Fan was just like him. "Oh..." Gongyang Yue looked at Old Demon Jiangbei, utterly bewildered. She had never seen this kind of expression on his face before. Though she didn't fully grasp the details, she began to feel happily expectant as well. If Old Demon Jiangbei looked forward to it, then so did she. "Why are people from the Tianxia Pavilion here too?" Inside the teahouse, Qi Feng glanced toward the table of white-robed figures in the corner and whispered, "I didn't see them when everyone went to offer congratulations at the Fan Domain the day before yesterday." A trace of wariness lingered in his tone. The Tianxia Pavilion. A faction from Jiangnan with immense foundations. Within their ranks were twelve architects, the highest being a rank-9 architect. Everyone suspected the Tianxia Pavilion might possess the capability to mass-produce architects. Every faction had its own advantage. The Tianxia Pavilion's advantage was an impregnable stronghold—virtually no faction could breach their headquarters. Elder Xu glanced in their direction and said calmly, "Rumor has it that Chen Fan is an exceptionally high-ranked architect, yet prior to the rainy season, he was merely an ordinary cultivator. Perhaps they caught wind of something and sent people over to investigate." "Could there really be a method to turn an ordinary cultivator into an architect?" Qi Feng frowned, sounding skeptical. "Hard to say." "The Eternal Night Continent is vast, and we dwell in a modest corner, unable to see the whole picture. Even if such a method exists, it wouldn't be surprising. When we returned from Nameless Mountain last time, I couldn't shake the feeling that the crater and canyon on Nameless Mountain looked like they had been smashed open by some powerhouse wielding a massive hammer." "That's completely impossible," Qi Feng replied with firm conviction, shaking his head. "What level would a cultivator need to achieve to possess such power? Rank 99?" "Hardly possible. A human lifespan isn't nearly long enough." "What if they had the top Training Chamber, endless ghost stones, and means of extending their lifespan?" "Still not enough." Qi Feng gave Elder Xu an odd look. "Elder Xu, why have you been constantly bringing up the idea of lifespan extension lately? There's no such thing. Besides, even if all three of your conditions were met, only 378 years have passed since the Eternal Night descended. Even if someone cultivated continuously from the descent until today, reaching rank 99 would still be impossible, wouldn't it?" Elder Xu fell silent and said no more, merely gazing out the window. When a man grew old, he didn't want to die. That was why he had been paying so much attention to the Fan Domain recently. If there was a single faction in all of Jiangnan and Jiangbei that might possess the means to prolong life, it could only be the Fan Domain. While the Fan Domain's overall standing was not yet at the absolute pinnacle, its rise had been meteoric; no faction had ever risen so quickly. He wanted to live a little longer, if only to see why the Eternal Night had descended in the first place. Right then— "Well, well." A voice of mild surprise suddenly resonated through the teahouse. "Everyone is here. What grand affairs are you all discussing?" Instinctively, everyone turned to look. A young man clad in green robes stood at the top of the stairs on the second floor, leaning on an emerald cane as he looked at them. Behind him followed an attendant—it was none other than the Lord of the Fan Domain! The people who had been conversing in hushed tones all froze in place. Hastily rising to their feet, they bowed respectfully with clasped fists. "Greetings, Domain Lord Chen!" In terms of status, Domain Lord Chen stood highest among everyone present. They were merely the outstanding talents or heirs of the younger generation from various factions, whereas Chen Fan was the master of the Fan Domain. They were not on the same generational footing. Their expressions were somewhat stiff, none of them knowing how to answer. Could they really admit they were here to watch a spectacle? To watch Chen Fan make a scene? "Sit, everyone, please sit." Chen Fan smiled genially, leaning on his cane as he swept his gaze across the room. His eyes finally came to rest on the group in white robes sitting in the corner. "You folks look unfamiliar. Which faction do you hail from?" There were five of them in total—three men and two women. All were young, having only recently shed their youthful innocence. "Greetings, Domain Lord Chen." A young man took a step forward, clasping his hands together and speaking with deliberate gravity. "We hail from Jiangnan's Tianxia Pavilion. My name is Tianqi, a direct disciple among the pavilion's ranks, and the leader of this excursion." "Tianqi." Chen Fan nodded, murmuring the name to himself. *Damn, that's quite an arrogant name to carry.* "When did you arrive in Jiangbei?" "We arrived in Jiangbei after the rainy season came to an end." "Oh? I don't recall seeing you at the Fan Domain the day before yesterday." A woman in a white dress behind Tianqi chimed in before he could answer, her voice tinged with faint hostility. "According to the customs of the pugilistic world, upon arriving in Jiangbei, one must pay respects to the local dominant power. Therefore, our first stop was the Jiangbei Chamber of Commerce. We hope Domain Lord Chen will take no offense." The moment the words left her mouth, the teahouse fell dead silent. Everyone turned to stare at the woman with bizarre expressions. Did this woman have a grudge against the Jiangbei Chamber of Commerce or something? Setting aside who was truly stronger between the Fan Domain and the Jiangbei Chamber of Commerce, phrasing it that way was practically begging to offend someone. "Step back." Tianqi's face flushed with irritation as he shoved the woman behind him. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Chen Fan again, his voice laced with an apologetic tone. "She is an inner disciple of the Tianxia Pavilion, young and inexperienced. Please forgive her, Domain Lord Chen." "Our departure from Jiangnan was hasty, so we were unaware that the Fan Domain had slain the ghost king. We only learned of it after reaching Jiangbei. Having brought no congratulatory gifts, we felt too embarrassed to pay our respects. Once we return to Jiangnan, we will certainly present generous gifts." "No need." Chen Fan's gaze swept across the group before he waved his hand dismissively. "You make it sound as if I'm starved for your little gifts." "Being young and inexperienced is fine." "Completely normal." "Entirely understandable." "I'm young and inexperienced too. We can all be inexperienced together." With that, he walked over to Old Demon Jiangbei's table, took a seat, and smiled. "I usually prefer sitting by the window, but you've taken up all the window seats today. You don't mind sharing, do you?" "It is an honor." Old Demon Jiangbei looked at Chen Fan with subtle excitement. "Please!" The rest of the room gave the Tianxia Pavilion group strange looks. What Tianqi said was technically standard etiquette; whenever a subordinate unintentionally crossed a senior, people would customarily excuse them as 'young and inexperienced' and beg for leniency. It was a well-worn polite phrase. Yet while Chen Fan held a generational status equivalent to sect masters, in terms of actual age, he was hardly older than them. You could be young and inexperienced, but Chen Fan couldn't? The day before yesterday, he was 'young and inexperienced' when he slaughtered the Dan Sect's young master. Yesterday, he was 'young and inexperienced' when he annihilated the Dan Sect. And today, you dare preach 'young and inexperienced' right in Chen Fan's face? Aren't you afraid he'll get 'young and inexperienced' all over you right this second? "Sit down." Tianqi could naturally feel the peculiar stares directed at them from all around. Clenching his fists in suppressed anger, he signaled for the woman to sit, hissing in an undertone, "What are you doing? We came here to conduct business, not to make enemies!" "Who told him to ruin our deal?" the woman in the white dress pouted, looking resentful. The day before yesterday, they had visited the Jiangbei Chamber of Commerce to seek an audience with the guild master. They had negotiated business for a long time and were on the verge of closing the deal. But when the messenger sent by the guild master to deliver gifts to the Fan Domain returned, he brought news that the Fan Domain would hold an auction in a month's time, featuring various auction items, including architectural structures. The guild master had promptly declined their deal, stating he needed to consolidate funds for the Fan Domain's upcoming auction. He had added that since Chen Fan was capable of constructing the Fan Domain during the rainy season, Chen Fan might very well possess superior architectural creations. Because of this, she harbored deep resentment toward Chen Fan. "Don't say another word," Tianqi muttered. He dearly wanted to stand up and leave, but leaving right now would look like he was storming off in a huff. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and keep drinking tea. "The Tianxia Pavilion's reserves of ghost stones are nearly depleted. Our trip out here was to secure ghost stones for the pavilion, not to make enemies!" Gradually, murmurs of conversation resumed in the teahouse, returning things to an apparent normalcy. Yet everyone's eyes kept drifting toward Chen Fan. They had gathered here to watch Chen Fan stir up trouble, but now Chen Fan had come right up to join them. What show was left to watch? Now they couldn't comfortably sit, nor could they easily leave. They felt as though they were sitting on pins and needles. Right then— Outside the window, a firework flashed across the sky and vanished. Chen Fan set down his teacup, summoned the waiter, and tossed over a ghost stone. "Deliver a letter to the Chen family manor across the street." "Right away, honored guest!" Overjoyed, the waiter pocketed the ghost stone and letter, hurrying downstairs in high spirits. A waiter's monthly wage was only three ghost stones; a tip of an entire ghost stone was substantial. Though he didn't know the exact identities of the people on the second floor today, it was obvious none of them were ordinary. Their generosity certainly lived up to their presence! Before long, the gates of the Jiangbei Chen family manor were pushed open. An elderly man with a ramrod-straight posture and immaculately combed silver hair strode upstairs into the teahouse alone. He came to a halt not far from Chen Fan, his face an unreadable mask. "Chen Fan." "To carve a path for yourself through the rainy season—I am proud of you." "However, the blood of the Chen family flows through your veins. I read your letter. I did not quite grasp your meaning, but I sincerely invite you to set aside past grievances and return to the embrace of the Jiangbei Chen family." "Of course." "This does not mean you must relinquish the Fan Domain. You only need to rename the Fan Domain to the Jiangbei Chen family. I am willing to abdicate my position and dedicate myself to assisting you." The teahouse fell utterly silent. Only the voice of the Chen Family Head resonated. The surrounding onlookers sipped their tea in silence with heads bowed, but their ears were pricked sharply. Every family had its share of ugly drama; dealing with it yourself was agonizing, but witnessing it as a bystander was immensely exhilarating. "Hmm..." Chen Fan set down his teacup, looked up at the unfamiliar yet familiar old man before him, and tilted his head with a smile. "And if I refuse?" "This brings you no harm whatsoever. The Fan Domain remains yours; it is merely a change of name. Since you have already changed the name from Fan Gate to Fan Domain, what significant difference does changing it once more to the Jiangbei Chen family make?" "None." "Does that mean you agree?" "I just don't feel like changing it." The Chen Family Head stood in silence for a long time before continuing, "Everything I have done in my life was for the sake of the family. You are still young, so you might not understand many of my actions, but you will come to comprehend them in time." "Once more, I sincerely invite you: return to the embrace of the Jiangbei Chen family." "Not interested." The Chen Family Head met Chen Fan's gaze. After a long moment, a sudden look of release washed over him, and he chuckled. "An untamable wolf cub. Since that's the case, there is nothing left to discuss. You are still too young, after all." "From the moment you stepped into Jiangbei City, you no longer had the right to refuse." "Perhaps you thought I would show mercy for the bond between father and son." "Today, I will teach you a lesson." "A man must be ruthless to achieve greatness." The next instant— The ghost blood in the drainage ditches throughout Jiangbei City ignited all at once! Pillars of scarlet light shot straight into the sky, the sudden eruption instantly terrifying the onlookers. "Not good!" Beside Qi Feng, Elder Xu's expression changed drastically. Grabbing Qi Feng, he bolted for the teahouse exit. Someone had laid out a massive formation across Jiangbei City. Though he didn't know what kind of array it was, it certainly boded nothing good! "Too late." The Chen Family Head remained standing in place, glancing at the two figures rapidly fleeing the teahouse, madness and exhilaration glinting in his eyes. "Once the Myriad Spirits Blood Transformation Array takes form, no one can escape! The array has already begun!" "No one in this city will live." "After all these years, I have finally arrived at this moment!" "The Jiangbei Chen family will inherit all the resources of the Fan Domain! As for the rest of you, even if you die here today, the factions backing you cannot cross over to avenge you. By the time the rainy season ends in Jiangnan, I will have already left Jiangbei City to establish the Chen family elsewhere and bring it to glory!" *Clang!* A white-robed youth leapt into the air with a grim expression, swinging a heavy measuring ruler down violently toward the Chen Family Head's skull. It was a strike of tremendous momentum and crushing weight, yet upon impact, only a metallic clang rang out. The Chen Family Head did not budge an inch. The crimson membrane of light enveloping him flawlessly blocked the strike. He turned his gaze toward the youth with a sneer. "This array took the Jiangbei Chen family over a decade to assemble." "Until the array is broken, no one can harm me." Seeing this, the white-robed youth gritted his teeth and abandoned further attacks. Slinging the heavy ruler over his back, he leapt out the window, sprinting desperately toward the city gates. The occupants of the teahouse had already scattered in every direction. Only Old Demon Jiangbei and Chen Fan's group remained behind.