When Chen Fan opened his eyes, a throbbing headache greeted him, and the first sight that met his gaze was a white fabric roof.
Momentarily taken aback, he soon found himself engulfed in a wave of excruciating pain coursing through him, forcing him to draw sharp breaths. Sweat poured down his forehead, and his contorted face reflected the agony he felt.
Despite the unbearable pain, he felt an odd sense of relief. It appeared he had escaped drowning and survived Zhao Tianjue's haphazard bombardment.
Suddenly, a melodious voice, akin to a silver bell, reached his ears. Then, a tender face appeared in front of Chen Fan’s eyes.
“Sister, this mister has woken up.”
Chen Fan blinked a few times. He looked at the tender face above him, a pair of big eyes looking back at him with curiosity as he regained consciousness.
“Mister, you’re finally awake.”
The speaker was a little girl in her early teens. She was pretty, like a fair porcelain doll; her big eyes were bright and intelligent.
“You’re awake.” Another gentle voice rang out.
Chen Fan looked over to find a young woman of around seventeen or eighteen next to the teen.
She wore a long, light green dress, possessed waist-length hair, and boasted a lovely figure. Her oval face was pretty, and her facial features were rather similar to the teen's. They were probably blood-related sisters.
The young woman’s gaze fell on Chen Fan, and within her eyes was a hint of cautiousness.
Laying on the soft carpet, Chen Fan blinked his eyes and asked, “Where am I?”
“I am Yi Qiushui, and this is my little sister, Yi Ling'er. We're from the Yi Clan in Thousand Waters City. Ling'er spotted you unconscious by the riverbank, and we brought you into the carriage,” explained Yi Qiushui.
Her gaze wandered, and she addressed Chen Fan, “Right, why were you unconscious by the River of Rage? I examined you; you have severe internal and external injuries. Did you fall into the River of Rage after fighting someone and drifted downstream?”
Yi Qiushui asked a series of questions, giving Chen Fan a slight headache. He said weakly, "May I get up first?”
“Of course.” Yi Qiushui nodded, helping Chen Fan up from his prone position on the carpet.
“I’m Chen Fan. Indeed, I fell into the River of Rage during a battle," he admitted.
“Oh? So, you’re not a citizen of the Wuning Empire?” Yi Qiushui's brows relaxed slightly, but her eyes remained cautiously vigilant.
Chen Fan nodded and said, “I’m from the Great Chu Empire.”
A look of surprise flashed across Yi Qiushui’s face. “You’re really lucky. Although Thousand Waters City is close to the borders of the Wuning Empire and the Great Chu Empire, there's still a considerable distance. You managed not to drown, drifting downstream on the River of Rage. I must say, you're truly lucky."
Chen Fan smiled helplessly.
He was indeed very fortunate not to drown after falling unconscious and drifting downstream; he wasn’t even caught by some demon beasts. It was simply a miracle.
Yi Qiushui went on to ask Chen Fan some more questions. The caution in her eyes slightly lessened, and she said, “Your injuries are severe. Why don’t you recuperate at our Yi Clan first? It’ll be safer if you leave after your injuries heal. What do you think?”
Chen Fan did not refuse.
His injuries were really very serious.
Not only had his organs shifted, but some were even damaged from the impact of Zhao Tianjue’s attacks. Many of his bones were also broken.
His strong physique was the only reason he was still alive.
This time, my injuries are really severe... Chen Fan sighed in his heart.
His body was recast with dragon blood, giving him a freakish recovery speed. Still, his current injuries would not recover anytime soon. He needed to recuperate properly to prevent leaving any sequelae behind.
Thousand Waters City, nestled near the borders of the Great Chu Empire and the Wuning Empire, thrived as a bustling hub due to the constant trade between the two nations. Merchants frequently made pit stops in this lively city, contributing to its prosperity.
The Yi Clan was a large clan, ranked within the top ten of the Thousand Waters City, with two Qi Grandmaster experts.
Originating as a merchant family traversing both empires, the Yi Clan's ancestors recognized the strategic advantages of the city and decided to settle down.
More than a hundred years had passed since then, and the Yi Clan had developed to their current scale. They had some strength and were considered a large clan, having a large mansion that occupied a hundred mu of land in the city.
The Wuning Empire and the Great Chu Empire’s national strengths were similar. The Thousand Waters City was equivalent to a Grade-3 City like the Xuanyang City. Their overall strength wasn’t high, so mere Qi Grandmasters were considered the peak combat force here.
Stepping into Thousand Waters City, visitors were greeted by wide, clean streets resonating with the constant clamor of merchants hawking their wares.
The entrance of the Yi Clan mansion had two huge stone lion statues, looking mighty and domineering. They were rather prominent.
The guards saw Yi Qiushui and Yi Ling’er exiting the carriage and bowed slightly, greeting them.
“First Young Miss, Second Young Miss.”
Just beyond the mansion gates lay a vast martial arts arena, where members of the Yi Clan engaged in sparring and learned from one another.
Most participants appeared young, with cultivation levels hovering around the fourth or fifth level of the Qigong realm. Older individuals, reaching the sixth or seventh-level Qigong, assumed instructor roles.
The Yi Clan's strength predominantly resided in the Qigong realm, reminiscent of the early days of the now-powerful Chen Clan.
Even so, the large clan was filled with vigor.
“Sister Qiushui is back.”
“Ling’er has returned.”
Many people noticed Yi Qiushui and Qi Ling’er and came over, greeting them with warm smiles.
Since Chen Fan was walking together with the Yi Clan’s sisters, it was inevitable that he drew many of their gazes, sizing him up.
That was especially true for the Yi Clan juniors around Yi Qiushui’s age. Their gazes contained traces of jealousy.
In the Yi Clan, Yi Qiushui was the most beautiful woman. Even in Thousand Waters City, she was the number one young beauty, not to mention she had a modest and gentle nature. On top of that, she was also the daughter of the patriarch. It was inevitable that many of the young and vigorous youths adored her.
Seeing Yi Qiushui return with an unfamiliar young man, they immediately marked Chen Fan as their imagined romantic rival.
Chen Fan rubbed his brow. Yi Qiushui was beloved in the Yi Clan. He could tell from the gazes of these youths toward him.
Chen Fan did not mind the angry gazes of these young and vigorous youths. It was only natural.
Yi Qiushui was indeed very pretty. It was normal for people to admire her.
“Heehee, Mister Chen Fan, you have to be careful. It’s not only in the clan; Sister has many suitors in the whole of Thousand Waters City,” Yi Ling’er whispered to Chen Fan, blinking her bright and intelligent eyes.
Chen Fan smiled helplessly, harboring no romantic intentions toward Yi Qiushui.