40: Jealous Su Tianqi!

Chapter 40: The Jealous Su Tianqi!

Chen Shi looked at Lu Xuan with astonishment, even feeling a sense of absurdity. He wondered if he was getting old and senile, starting to hallucinate.

He never expected to run into the Young Master of the Lu Family Pharmacy in a place like this.

Wasn't it said that this Young Master of the Lu family rarely ventured out?

It was one thing for him to appear alone in the Junling Mountain Range, but this was the lair of the Black Wind Stronghold's leader. That was rather strange.

The other person who exclaimed in surprise was Ye Xuan.

She also wore an expression of surprise, her beautiful eyes appraising Lu Xuan up and down, as if confirming whether he was the wealthy Young Master she had met before.

She hadn't expected that the wealthy Young Master she encountered at the Drunken Immortal Inn in Shili Town would appear before her again.

And to meet him in this deep, remote mountain forest.

"Hmph, someone appearing in this deep, remote forest, right at the foot of a bandit stronghold... who knows if he's secretly colluding with the bandits?"

"In my opinion, we should apprehend him. Perhaps we can extract information about the Black Wind Stronghold leader from him."

At this moment, Su Tianqi stepped forward from behind, his eyes fixed intently on Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan wore black brocade robes, a sash of fine silk tied at his waist. His neat, jet-black short hair swayed in the wind. His face was handsome, his gaze as calm as still water, exuding an innate aura of authority.

The fire of jealousy in Su Tianqi's eyes was nearly overflowing, wishing he could devour Lu Xuan whole.

Especially after seeing Ye Xuan's expression, Su Tianqi inwardly cursed, his anger burning fiercely.

Wretched wench!

Sensing someone's malicious gaze upon him and the accusation of being a bandit accomplice, Lu Xuan looked at Su Tianqi with some confusion.

He didn't seem to know this person, did he?

Why did it seem like they had some deep-seated grudge, with the other looking as if he wanted him dead?

However, Lu Xuan didn't dwell on it. He had already sensed that the other party was merely an ant in the Bone Refinement Realm.

If the other truly intended him harm, then Lu Xuan wouldn't mind crushing him.

Seeing Su Tianqi falsely accuse Lu Xuan of being a bandit, Chen Shi hurriedly stepped in to mediate, forcing a smile as he spoke.

"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, Lord Su. This young man is a junior I know. He absolutely cannot be a remnant of the bandits."

The Lu family's patriarch had once treated his illness, so Chen Shi certainly wouldn't stand by and let Su Tianqi slander Lu Xuan.

Though he, too, didn't know why Lu Xuan was here.

Seeing Su Tianqi open his mouth to slander someone, Ye Xuan, standing nearby, couldn't bear it either and angrily rebuked, "Su Tianqi, stop spouting nonsense here!"

Chen Shi quickly walked towards Lu Xuan. Only after getting close did he speak with a puzzled tone, "Young man of the Lu family, what are you doing here?"

"This place is infested with vicious bandits, full of dangers. We are here today to eradicate the bandits on the mountain. You should leave quickly."

"Bandits?"

Hearing their purpose for being here, Lu Xuan was momentarily taken aback internally, but his expression remained unchanged as he spoke, "I see. Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Chen. I'll take my leave now."

Seeing that Lu Xuan was someone known to Constable Chen, Li Yanran paid him no further mind.

Eradicating Stronghold Lord Fang Sheng of the Black Wind Stronghold was the priority. Li Yanran said to Constable Chen, "Alright, Constable Chen, continue leading the way."

Lu Xuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, silently watching Chen Shi and the others ascend the mountain. A faint glimmer shone in his dark, profound eyes, his thoughts unknown.

So they were here to eradicate bandits. And the direction they were heading was precisely the location the bandit had mentioned to Lu Xuan earlier.

In that case, Lu Xuan wouldn't need to intervene.

Because Lu Xuan had already discovered that among their group, there was actually a Martial Artist in the Blood Refinement Realm.

Even though the other party had suppressed all their aura, the powerful life force unique to a Martial Artist in the Blood Refinement Realm couldn't escape Lu Xuan's perception.

A Martial Artist in the Blood Refinement Realm?

It seemed the bandit hadn't lied; they truly had a Revered Master in the Blood Refinement Realm.

Otherwise, how could a Martial Arts expert in the Blood Refinement Realm appear in a small place like Qingyun County?

A Blood Refinement Realm Martial Artist Lu Xuan had never seen before had likely come for that Blood Refinement Realm bandit.

Only after the people ahead disappeared from Lu Xuan's sight did he stir his consciousness, channeling the Inner Energy within his body.

His form shifted. After a few flickers, he vanished from his original spot like a ghost, leaving behind a phantom shadow that lasted only a moment before dissipating.

On the mountainside.

Chen Shi skillfully led Li Yanran and the others forward until a massive stronghold appeared ahead.

However, at this moment, Chen Shi suddenly halted, looking around with great caution.

Strange. How come we haven't seen a single bandit along the entire way?

Logically, there should be many scouts stationed below a bandit stronghold.

Last time, when he was ordered by the County Magistrate to patrol the mountains and eradicate bandits, he encountered numerous traps and many bandits.

Now, not only were there no bandits in sight, but there weren't even any traps.

Thinking of this, Chen Shi's expression turned serious. He looked at Li Yanran and spoke.

"Lord Li, be careful. I find this place rather odd. We haven't encountered a single bandit along the way. There's likely a trap!"

Li Yanran paid no heed to Chen Shi's words. They were just ordinary bandits, insignificant ants in her eyes.

In the entire stronghold, only Stronghold Lord Fang Sheng of the Black Wind Stronghold was worthy of her attention.

So, after leaving a light, dismissive remark, she headed towards the stronghold ahead with the two people behind her.

"No need. The two of you stay here. Let's go."

"This..."

Seeing Li Yanran charge forward so recklessly, Chen Shi was about to try and dissuade her when Ye Xuan beside him stopped him.

"Uncle Chen, there's no need for you to worry about Sister Yanran."

"Have you forgotten? Sister Yanran is a Martial Arts powerhouse in the Blood Refinement Realm."

"How could some petty thieves hiding in the deep mountains possibly harm Sister Yanran?"

"That's true."

Li Yanran didn't pause for a moment. In less than a moment, she had already reached the main gate of the stronghold.

Su Tianqi and the burly man Chen Lingfeng, who had remained silent all along, followed closely behind her.

Li Yanran glanced at the two watchtowers inside the stronghold gate and found them empty.

This strange situation caused Li Yanran's brow to furrow slightly, but only for an instant.

Then, Li Yanran spoke calmly, "Tianqi, Lingfeng, if you see any bandits later, deal with them. I'll handle Fang Sheng!"

"Yes, Lord Li!"

Chen Lingfeng, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke in unison with Su Tianqi upon hearing Li Yanran's command.

Boom!

A loud sound rang out.

In the next moment, the stronghold gate was blasted open by a single palm strike from Li Yanran. The gate instantly shattered into pieces, scattering and crashing down in all directions through the air.