Chapter 131: Chapter 128: The Primordial Sect Pays a Visit

A bamboo hat, white robes, and a black parcel on his back.

His head was slightly lowered, obscuring his face.

Most cultivators who wandered the martial world dressed this way. But who could have imagined that this man was the monster who had slain his own family and master, cutting down hundreds of pursuers along the way:

Xiao Chan!

Of course, that was just the official story the Primordial Sect had announced to the public.

"Here are the Pills you wanted. I finished refining them several days ago and have been waiting for you to pick them up."

Chen Che placed the Jade Bottle on the counter.

Xiao Chan clasped his fists in a salute and said in a raspy voice,

"May I inspect the Pills?"

"Be my guest!"

Receiving permission, the man carefully opened the bottle. He didn’t bring it to his nose directly, but instead fanned the air with his hand, wafting the scent toward himself. After sensing nothing was amiss, he poured out a Pill and carefully scraped off a bit of powder to taste.

The two stood on opposite sides of the counter. Chen Che sized him up, his expression somewhat complicated.

Because...

Just a moment ago, Hu Yao had told him another rumor:

"His mother had an affair with his master and bore a child. When the scandal was exposed, the two of them conspired to kill her husband. Xiao Chan endured it for ten years before finally taking his revenge. He killed his mother, his master, and everyone else involved, leaving no one behind."

It was said that where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and that there’s a reason for everything.

But so what?

Don’t be fooled by the man’s polite demeanor. If there was a problem with the Pills, he would likely turn hostile in the next instant.

"Alchemist Chen is truly a man of high principle."

As the pill powder entered his mouth, Xiao Chan exhaled a turbid breath, took two steps back, and bowed deeply once more. He held the bow for a full five breaths before straightening up.

He had sought out two or three other Pill Masters on his journey, but all his attempts had ended in failure. He hadn’t expected to succeed in this Market.

"Mm."

Chen Che nodded slightly, accepting the bow.

Xiao Chan carefully put the Pills away, offered another salute, and walked out of the Pill Shop.

"He’s leaving just like that?"

Seeing him leave, Zhao Deyou muttered, "Last time he was full of pretty words, but this time all he said was ’a man of high principle’? Sigh, but the boss really is a man of high principle..."

He then turned to Zhao Changping and started talking about how the boss had taken pity on him and taken him in that day, how he had to study hard to learn alchemy and repay the boss’s kindness, and so on...

Chen Che toyed with his teacup, watching Xiao Chan’s retreating figure disappear down the street without comment.

The man was gone. The matter was finally settled.

Indeed.

Shortly after Hu Yao had delivered his news, Jinyun Valley also announced that the lockdown was lifted. For a moment, all the Cultivators in the Market cheered in celebration.

Everyone was saying how quickly Jinyun Valley had acted, dealing with the Demon Beast in the mountains so fast.

You see, most Loose Cultivators didn’t have a steady livelihood.

They usually had to rely on gathering herbs or hunting Demon Beasts to earn Cultivation Resources. Jinyun Valley had been sealed for half a month, and while they didn’t say it out loud, they were certainly grumbling inside. The moment the lockdown was lifted, many Loose Cultivators happily headed into the mountains that very day.

It seemed as if the whole affair was truly over. Even Chen Che thought so.

But then—

On the morning of the third day, just as he arrived at the Market like usual, Chen Che heard Hu Yao calling out to him.

"Brother, this new tofu pudding shop is really good. Come have a bite!"

He said, smiling as he offered a large bowl.

"Tofu pudding shop?"

Chen Che looked up.

The stall owner was a hunched-over old man in his fifties with a face full of wrinkles.

The stall was simple: two wooden cabinets with a plank laid across them to serve as a table, set up in a corner of the Market, its aroma wafting through the air. Leaning against the wall was a bamboo carrying pole with a flag for tofu pudding stuck in it.

But when Chen Che saw that carrying pole, his heart skipped a beat.

Because, under the sweep of his Divine Sense, he could see wisps of black mist constantly seeping out from within it.

Several Loose Cultivators were sitting there, eating from large bowls of tofu pudding, seemingly completely unaware.

The old man was hunched over, a satchel and towel slung over his shoulder, bustling about. When he saw Chen Che, he quickly called out a greeting.

"Sir, fresh tofu pudding straight from the pot. Would you like a bowl?"

’What the hell, he’s still here?’

Chen Che grumbled inwardly, but his face showed nothing as he waved a hand dismissively.

"I’m not a fan."

"That’s a shame. This shop’s tofu pudding is sweet and delicious, the flavor is really something else."

Hearing this, Hu Yao wiped his mouth and raised a hand to pay. The old man was overly deferential, repeatedly saying he couldn’t accept it. But Hu Yao just smiled, slapped the money on the table, and quickly joined Chen Che. The two of them then walked toward the Pill Shop together.

Chen Che glanced back just as the old man looked up.

Their eyes met for an instant before they both tacitly looked away, each returning to their own business.

"When did this tofu pudding shop open?"

Chen Che asked only after they had walked a few steps.

"Yesterday? Today? I don’t remember..."

Hu Yao was completely unconcerned. Instead, he grinned and said,

"Who cares about that? I’m just glad that with the Evil Cultivator gone, the skies above Jinyun Valley seem a bit brighter."

"Is that so?"

Chen Che’s brows twitched as he silently glanced back again.

A wanted fugitive from a major Sect... shouldn’t he have fled immediately after getting his Pills? Yet here he was, setting up a tofu pudding stall in the Market.

Just...

What was he after?

Over the next few days, Chen Che noticed Xiao Chan was there every time he passed by.

He had, however, switched to a different carrying pole.

One day, while leaving the Market, he even saw the man had built a shabby hut outside, where he was busy preparing tofu pudding. It seemed he really intended to settle down in the Market. Seeing Chen Che looking his way, the man gave a slight nod.

’I don’t know if this is a blessing or a curse...’

Chen Che sighed internally. It was truly one wave settling only for another to rise.

Chen Che, who only wanted to earn money and cultivate in peace, was getting annoyed. He had just been on guard against Ye Jingzhou, and now an Evil Cultivator had shown up right after.

’I hope he doesn’t cause trouble for himself!’

However, Chen Che wasn’t afraid.

With his increased Cultivation and having learned the Nine Shocking Ape Strikes, his confidence had grown.

Perhaps this was the so-called "when one carries a sharp weapon, killing intent naturally arises."

[Name: Chen Che]

[Realm: Qi Refining Seventh Layer (28.24%)]

[Qi and Blood: Qi Refining Eighth Layer (13.12%)]

[Divine Sense: Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer (19.68%)]

[Warning: True Essence reserves are 173.4% higher than cultivators of the Same Tier]

He glanced at the data from the Micro Crystal Brain, shook his head, and immediately cast these stray thoughts aside. Chen Che resumed his Cultivation, tempering his Qi and Blood and strengthening his Divine Sense, quickly becoming immersed.

Because...

...all the petty schemes and struggles were insignificant in the face of absolute power.

...

On this day, the results for the provincial combat and pill-refining competitions came out. To commend him for advancing in both categories, the school gathered all the students for an awards ceremony and asked him to go on stage to share his learning experience.

As a result, he arrived at the Market much later than usual.

However...

...when he stepped into the Market, he found the atmosphere was a bit strange, especially the way people were looking at him.

’What’s going on here?’

Chen Che was just wondering about it.

Then he saw Hu Yao looking around for something. Upon spotting him, Hu Yao rushed over. Before Chen Che could even ask, the other man spoke quickly,

"Brother, you’re finally here! Master told me to inform you—your shop has been smashed!"

"By whom?"

"The Primordial Sect!"

"!?"