CHAPTER 114: CHAPTER 99: THE SWEET TREAT_2

After both Chen Ku and the Flower Fox Mink grew stronger, he had experimented and found that the Flower Fox Mink could stay outside for up to seven days. Now, he would let it recover to its peak state, only then would he be confident about going to Yuan Country Ximu Prefecture to hunt the Volcanic Crow on Fire Beak Mountain.

While the Flower Fox Mink was recuperating inside his body, Chen Ku went to Master Yang’s place to practice martial arts as usual. However, he only met his senior brother, Yang Shaoqi, and did not see his master.

"I heard that some experts from the Prefecture City have come to the county town, and Master was invited to attend a banquet," Yang Shaoqi said, his voice tinged with longing. "Hongyan Tower! Junior Brother, when will you have another happy occasion and invite me for a meal there?"

"Master is dining with people from the Prefecture City at Hongyan Tower?" Chen Ku’s heart stirred, recalling what Sui Qingfang had said. It’s not even the New Year yet, and people are already here?

Upon reflection, those who could dine with Master probably weren’t young people.

"So, are we still practicing today?" Chen Ku looked at his senior brother, quite eager to try. He had not had a formal spar with his senior brother since his breakthrough to the mid-stage of Inner Qi.

After all, Senior Brother Yang, who practiced the Furious Ape Mighty Staff and possessed a strong Root Bone, was surely much more powerful than those Demon People who only appeared to be at the Peak of Inner Qi.

Chen Ku really wanted to know: having killed those at the Peak of Inner Qi with his Ultimate Skill and Root Bone, could he defeat his senior brother, who was only at the late stage of Inner Qi?

"No, no, no, no!"

Seeing the fighting spirit on Chen Ku’s face, Yang Shaoqi hurriedly shook his head and said, "No fighting! No fighting! Even if I could withstand that Qi Power of yours, it wouldn’t be pleasant. Besides, what’s the point of us brothers fighting?"

His eyes shifted slightly as he continued, "Why don’t I take you to spar with some experts from the Guardian Hall? How about that? They have people who practice all kinds of Weapons there; it could help you gain more experience."

"Guardian Hall."

Chen Ku’s interest was piqued. He was still thinking about the Bow Technique, one of the Guardian Hall’s Ultimate Skills. Since he had nothing better to do, why not go and give it a shot?

「In Hongyan Tower.」

Many guests were curiously looking towards the square table by the window.

There sat Yang Luochen, the toughest old man in the county, possessing the strength of ten thousand jun. In terms of seniority, few in the entire county could rank higher than him.

Now, he was actually scooping up soup, actively serving a bowl to the person sitting across from him.

"Have a taste. This is the most characteristic Snake Soup of Baojiao County. Only Master Chef Li Fugui of Hongyan Tower can achieve such exquisite control over its preparation—it’s not fishy or gamey, but sweet and fresh," he said.

Everyone looked on with great interest. Yang Luochen, Master Yang, was known in Baojiao County for his temper; there were hardly any people he respected, let alone someone he would personally serve soup to.

The person opposite him wore black clothes, his hand wrapped with chains that also bound a prisoner in a cangue behind him.

"Zuo, let’s be clear. It’s almost New Year. Just for escorting this person to be exiled with the Border Army, why make a trip to Baojiao County?" Yang Luochen said, passing over the Snake Soup.

"If it were an ordinary criminal, of course, I wouldn’t need to escort him personally... but he’s not ordinary..."

Zuo Zongquan, the Five Realms Commander from Qiu Dragon Mansion, held the Snake Soup with one hand and tasted it. His eyes lit up; the broth was indeed delicious and flavorful. After drinking, he glanced back with a smile and pointed, saying,

"However, it’s truly not just because of him. It’s also because Grandmaster Jin Chui, Qin Sect Master, will soon be here to serve as protector for Lord Tan Chongrui. By then, your little Baojiao County will become a Martial Arts Conference! The waters here will be murky, so naturally, I have to come and test their depth, see if I can find an opportunity to break through to the Sixth Realm."

Yang Luochen pondered.

This Left Commander, known as the ’Sky Killing Star’, had a fierce and murderous nature. His twin iron whips each weighed ten thousand catties. As he traveled from prefecture to prefecture, his presence alone could make local experts in any area tremble with fear.

Years ago, when Zuo Zongquan was still a young man passing through Baojiao County, he had been pursued by over fifty experts for eight hundred miles. Not only did he avoid falling into a desperate situation, but he also managed to use various methods to counter-kill more than thirty experts of similar rank along the way. Yang Luochen had admired him deeply back then, considering him a heroic and ruthless figure.

Yang Luochen had secretly aided him, which was how their friendship began. Now, more than thirty years later, Zuo Zongquan had clearly not squandered his natural talent. He had entered the Five Realms years ago and was now the Deputy Commander of Infantry in Qiu Dragon Mansion, leading a thousand soldiers of the Divine Force Army, each possessing the strength of a thousand catties.

In terms of strength, influence, and age, the Zuo Zongquan of today was no longer the youth of the past but a great expert who had reached a state of great achievement in his life.

Even Yang Luochen, before he himself had entered the Five Realms, was not confident he could have handled Zuo Zongquan’s twin iron whips.

Grandmaster Jin Chui? He had heard of Qin Yuxian, the President of the Qiu Dragon Martial Meeting, since his youth but had never had the chance to meet him.

"That’s right. I heard you took in another Disciple this year? Only at the realm of Inner Qi, yet he possesses a Root Bone with the Irresistible Power of Four Elephants..." Zuo Zongquan said, sipping his Snake Soup as if asking casually.

Yang Luochen narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. "What are you planning?"

Zuo Zongquan sighed. "You also know, old friend, that this Overlord Whip technique of mine, passed down from my esteemed master, is one few are capable of learning. Why not... let your Disciple also acknowledge me as his master? After all, your iron staff and my steel whips are both heavy Weapons. Since he can learn your Stick Technique, he likely has the Qualifications to study my whip technique as well. Besides, I can later arrange for him to join the Qiu Dragon Mansion’s Divine Force Army. Wouldn’t that offer a much better future than following you in this small border county?"