Chapter 72 [Is it a Coincidence?]
Early the next morning, Chen Yan got up early, packed the necessities in the practice room, and prepared a suitcase and a backpack.
Gu Qingyi was sitting in the courtyard, basking in the sun.
After many days of Primordial Qi nourishment, the once withered grass in the courtyard had turned lush and green again, even in the midst of winter.
At nine o’clock, the doorbell of the courtyard rang.
Chen Yan dragged his suitcase out and saw Chu Keqing standing respectfully at the door. Seeing Chen Yan open the door, Chu Keqing slightly bowed: "Senior!"
Chen Yan handed the suitcase to the approaching female assistant. Chu Keqing pointed to a business car parked at the door: "Senior, please get in the car."
Chen Yan nodded, glanced back before bending down to get in the car, and saw Gu Qingyi standing at the courtyard gate.
Young Lady Gu said in a sweet voice: "Come back soon."
"Got it." Chen Yan nodded. "It won’t take much time."
With that, Chen Yan waved and got in the car.
Chu Keqing politely nodded to Gu Qingyi and then bent down to get in the car. The business car slowly drove away.
Boss He’s hometown is in a small county under Huizhou, next to Jinling Prefecture, so there’s no need to take a plane or high-speed rail.
If you drive, it takes about three or four hours on the highway.
The driver was the female assistant next to Chu Keqing — this woman, looking about the same age as Chu Keqing, seemed like a close confidant. She probably served as an assistant, driver, and even possibly a bodyguard. Chen Yan noticed that the female assistant had bright eyes, swift movements, and a steady gait, suggesting she might have some skills.
"Senior, have some water."
In the business car, Chu Keqing sat next to Chen Yan, holding a bottle of mineral water with both hands.
Chen Yan glanced at it; it was a brand he didn’t recognize, not the usual one he drank. But given this woman’s demeanor, it should be quite expensive.
She eagerly opened the bottle cap before handing it to Chen Yan.
"It’s an honor to have the opportunity to learn by your side, Senior. Please don’t hesitate to teach me this time."
This woman adopted a very humble posture, slightly leaning forward as she spoke — a gesture that made Chen Yan sigh inwardly, forcing him to look out the window as much as possible.
Hmm... At this moment, my blood and Qi are too abundant; this scene is really hard to bear.
"Senior, can you tell me about the incident with the Mountain Puppet?"
Seeing Chu Keqing adopt a serious learning attitude, Chen Yan thought for a moment and then slowly said: "There’s not much to say. That night, I was observing the celestial signs and felt the surge of Evil Qi in the direction of Zijin Mountain, surely a Spirit Monster awakening. So, I went to investigate.
Indeed, I encountered two Mountain Puppets and suppressed them. These Spirit Monsters, tainted by Evil Qi, lose their intellect and only know bloodshed, treating all creatures they see as blood food. If they escaped the mountain, it might cause great disaster."
Chu Keqing nodded sincerely, displaying the appropriate admiring expression: "Senior, you truly have a compassionate heart!" She then cautiously asked: "How did you suppress the Spirit Monster in the mountain, Senior?"
Chen Yan looked at Chu Keqing — this was what she was most interested in.
"It was merely some techniques of slaughter. For us cultivators, we should follow the natural order and respond to nature. The way of slaughter goes against natural harmony, better not to speak of it."
Don’t not speak of it, it’s exactly what I want to ask about... Chu Keqing felt stifled, instinctively took a deep breath, her well-proportioned chest heaving, and then said in a low voice: "Senior’s methods are divine, unprecedented in my life. But isn’t Senior willing to teach because of Luo Qing’s matter, still blaming my Cloud Sect?"
Hmm? Chen Yan glanced at her.
Oh, Elder Zi, your few words sound a bit... manipulative.
Chen Yan’s heart moved: "I see you are meticulous and comprehensive in your actions, never leaving any loose ends.
Your fellow disciple Luo Qing had committed many misdeeds — with your status and temperament as Elder Zi, how could you neglect to discipline him?"
Chu Keqing sighed: "Indeed, Senior still blames me."
She thought for a moment and said: "Senior, you don’t know, I have my difficulties.
My sect is called Cloud Sect, and the former Sect Leader was my mentor.
Among my master’s disciples, I am the youngest, the little junior sister of everyone. Luo Qing is my senior brother, with more experience and seniority.
As a junior sister, although I took the position of Sect Leader, it’s unrealistic to manage my senior brother in everything.
Moreover, my mentor has passed away, and though I bear the title of Sect Leader, I merely manage some enterprises. My senior brothers only respect me in words. When it comes to core interests, they may not listen to me.
Furthermore, being from the same sect, there are many things I cannot be too harsh on."
Chen Yan sneered: "Can’t be too harsh? For something like harming others with spells, if you’re not strict, are you waiting for him to do something worse?"
Chu Keqing looked helpless: "Other senior brothers are somewhat capable, enough to make a living with their master’s skills.
Luo Qing, however, has no talent, unable to cultivate even a bit. In his eagerness to make money, he often doesn’t listen to me.