Chapter 228: Chapter 226: Elder Qi’s Anger

Jiang Chen didn’t understand why the man had suddenly lost his hostility toward him.

He exchanged a glance with Murong Xiangming, and the two of them stepped over the shattered wooden door into the courtyard.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds.

"CRUNCH..."

As they both stepped onto the weeds, their footsteps made a crunching sound.

It sounded piercingly loud in the quiet courtyard.

Yet, there were five separate houses inside the courtyard.

But Jiang Chen and Murong Xiangming had no idea which house the man was in.

"Senior..."

Just as Jiang Chen was about to ask a question.

"There’s no need to search."

Suddenly, the aged voice spoke again.

Jiang Chen and Murong Xiangming looked over. At some point, an old man with a weathered face and graying hair had appeared, sitting outside the house on the west side of the courtyard.

The old man’s gaze was sharp, and he stared intently at Jiang Chen and Murong Xiangming.

"You must be Elder Qi?"

Jiang Chen asked. Seeing the man nod...

...he quickly added, "Greetings, Senior."

Jiang Chen cupped his fists in salute to the old man.

Murong Xiangming also gave a bow.

The old man was quite surprised to find that both Jiang Chen and Murong Xiangming were remarkably polite.

His impression of them improved greatly at once.

This was despite the fact that Jiang Chen had indeed shattered his wooden door earlier.

After observing the two of them, the old man’s gaze fell on Murong Xiangming first.

He asked, "You must be the young lady from the Treasure Elephant Pavilion, Miss Murong?"

Murong Xiangming nodded.

"I am."

Elder Qi was very pleased, and a rare smile appeared on his weathered face.

"Your Treasure Elephant Pavilion’s Pavilion Master, Master Tian Mu, and I are old friends. He already informed me that you would be coming."

"My home is rather bleak, and I have nothing to offer you, but please, come inside."

With that, Elder Qi moved, and to their surprise, he began to float.

Beneath him was a thin, fine thread—the very same Cyan Silk that had just attacked Murong Xiangming.

His body settled onto the Cyan Silk, and he floated into the house.

Jiang Chen was extremely astonished.

The man clearly didn’t have Martial King Cultivation, yet he possessed a Martial King’s ability to fly.

Of course, it seemed to be related to the Cyan Silk.

But what shocked Jiang Chen even more was that Elder Qi had no legs, just as Master Tian Mu had said.

Only his somewhat worn long robe hung down, concealing his body.

He had been wondering why no one tended to the courtyard. Now he understood—Elder Qi was physically unable.

They followed Elder Qi into the house.

The room was rather dim.

Elder Qi was already seated on a stone bed inside the room.

His arms hung at his sides as he scrutinized Jiang Chen and Murong Xiangming.

He first spoke to Murong Xiangming. "I didn’t expect you to have already broken through to Martial King Cultivation at such a young age."

He was very envious of Murong Xiangming.

After all, he had never managed to break through. If he could, he would be able to fly through the air on his own.

"You flatter me, Elder Qi. I only achieved this with the help of a noble benefactor."

Elder Qi’s eyes visibly lit up.

But being old and shrewd, he knew this wasn’t the right time to pry.

Jiang Chen, however, took the initiative to ask, "You can fly thanks to this Cyan Silk, can’t you, Senior?"

Elder Qi turned to Jiang Chen, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"That’s right. You certainly know a great deal."

"I lost my legs a long time ago and have never had the chance to heal them."

"So I use Cyan Silk to get around."

"There’s nothing to hide."

’Jiang Chen had figured as much.’

Elder Qi then asked, "You said your master taught you these things. He must be an extraordinary expert, mustn’t he?"

"No one in all of Hanwu City knows about my Cyan Silk."

Based on this, he concluded that Jiang Chen’s master must be a reclusive expert.

Jiang Chen smiled. "My master forbids me from speaking of him to outsiders, so I am not at liberty to say more."

Elder Qi didn’t press the matter. He then asked, "So, tell me your purpose for coming here."

He knew that people don’t show up without a reason. Jiang Chen and Murong Xiangming had come, and he had even received a message from Master Tian Mu about their visit.

He just didn’t know what their purpose was.

Jiang Chen didn’t beat around the bush and stated frankly, "It’s like this: I need a Hundred-Year-Old Cyan Silkworm. I was wondering if you might have one, Senior?"

"Or if you have any leads, I will be sure to reward you generously."

Elder Qi said dismissively, "You can spare me the generous reward."

"Let me ask you, what do you want a Hundred-Year-Old Cyan Silkworm for?"

He stared at Jiang Chen, his gaze sharp and piercing.

The fact that he possessed Cyan Silk, even if he didn’t say it aloud, meant Jiang Chen should understand that he at least had leads on the whereabouts of Cyan Silkworms.

Jiang Chen’s mind raced. ’This man not only uses Cyan Silk as a Magical Treasure, but he also relies on it to move around. His connection to Cyan Silkworms must be incredibly deep.’

’If he said he wanted it for Alchemy, he was worried he would be committing a great taboo in the old man’s eyes.’

He hesitated for a moment, but then decided to throw caution to the wind.

He said frankly, "Senior, I’m looking for a Cyan Silkworm over a hundred years old to use for Alchemy."

"I beseech you, Senior, to grant my request."

What?

In that instant, Elder Qi’s eyes flew wide open.

A wave of killing intent erupted from him.

It was as if Jiang Chen’s words had sent him into a rage.

Immediately, Elder Qi roared, "You bastard! You actually want to use my Cyan Silkworm for Alchemy?!"

"Get out! Get the hell out of my sight, now!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

With that, his entire being radiated a seething killing intent.

He gave Jiang Chen no chance to explain.

It seemed the Cyan Silkworm held a very deep significance for him.

Jiang Chen’s expression changed.

Even Murong Xiangming hadn’t expected that Jiang Chen could enrage the man with a single sentence.

She quickly stepped forward, saying, "Senior, please calm down."

However, Elder Qi was completely unmoved.

He glared at Jiang Chen with undisguised hatred.

"Are you still here? If it weren’t for my friendship with Master Tian Mu, I would have already killed you today."

No one knew the reason for his violent outburst.

In truth, Elder Qi had a deep love for all types of silkworms. In fact, his legs had been poisoned while researching them, forcing him to sacrifice them. He had been disabled ever since.

Even though there were Elixirs in the world that could restore his legs, he had never been able to find one.

A trace of resentment festered in his heart.

And in all the years since losing his legs, he had been raising a Cyan Silkworm.

It was a three-hundred-year-old Cyan Silkworm.

This type of Cyan Silkworm was exceedingly rare.

Moreover, the Cyan Silkworm had been his companion for many years, and he had long since grown deeply attached to it.

Now, Jiang Chen had opened his mouth and actually asked to use his Cyan Silkworm for Alchemy. He was absolutely livid.

Naturally, he wanted to drive Jiang Chen away.

He had only refrained from attacking out of consideration for Master Tian Mu. If it had been anyone else, he would have already struck.

Jiang Chen smiled wryly. ’Looks like my guess was right.’

’Elder Qi has a Cyan Silkworm, and it’s so important to him that he regards it as his own life.’

’And I want to take it just for Alchemy. Of course he’s furious.’

But how could he possibly give up now?

Instead, his tone became sincere. "Senior, if I had a way to restore your legs and help your Cultivation break through to the Martial King realm, would you be willing to part with what you hold dear and give me the Cyan Silkworm?"

He could now see the old man’s deepest desires: to have his legs again and to break through to the Martial King realm.

Such a temptation would absolutely move Elder Qi.

However, he had underestimated Elder Qi’s pride.

Although Elder Qi was indeed stunned for a moment, as Jiang Chen’s words had struck a chord deep within him.

In the end, he still said angrily, "Get out! I don’t need it."

The Cyan Silkworm’s place in his heart was simply far too important.