Misty Rain of the Old Times

It hadn't rained since the beginning of the year, and after months of sunny days, the roads were extremely dry. With people coming and going, there was already a thick layer of dust on the dirt roads and official roads outside the small county town, and the slightest movement would cause dust to fly up.

Yet, not a speck of dust was stirred up where the newcomer landed, which alone demonstrates the exquisite nature of the lightness skill, undoubtedly a top-tier and superior technique.

He was dressed in a blue robe and looked to be around twenty years old. He was tall and handsome, with long hair casually draped over his shoulders and fluttering in the wind. His cultivation aura was extremely concealed, and ordinary people could not tell that he had any cultivation at all. He seemed like a frail and weak scholar.

However, his methods of concealing his cultivation level were completely exposed in front of Chen Xuan, since Chen Xuan himself was an expert in this area. Now, unless he actively revealed it, even people of the same level could not tell that Chen Xuan had any cultivation.

With just one glance, Chen Xuan could roughly see through his background. His cultivation level was also top-notch in the Innate Realm, only slightly inferior to Guo Jinglong and Liu Zhenwei back then. He was more than qualified to be the leader of a prestigious sect.

Moreover, the innate true energy within his body is extremely pure and profound, gentle and continuous, seemingly endless. The cultivation method influences a person's personality and outward appearance, giving people a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze and possessing a profound and majestic presence.

This person was probably only in his early thirties. Chen Xuan couldn't help but secretly admire him. He was truly a young talent, having reached a height that countless people could not achieve in their entire lives at such a young age. He wondered which teacher had produced such a brilliant student.

Regardless of his first impression of her, Chen Xuan could guess that she was most likely from Yuhua Kingdom and had approached him because of He Hongyi. This made Chen Xuan somewhat melancholy. Sure enough, girls were the source of trouble, especially pretty girls. Once they got involved, it was inevitable that they would become jealous and scheming.

Just like the little princess, don't assume that their marriage went smoothly. That was only because Chen Xuan took drastic measures last year. Otherwise, countless forces coveting the little princess would have faced endless troubles.

In the Jing Kingdom, Chen Xuan was well-known and no one dared to cause him trouble, but that wouldn't work in other countries.

Needless to say, with his current achievements, no matter how gentle his personality, he still possesses a deep-seated self-confidence. Naturally, he wouldn't think he's inferior to others. If he admires He Hongyi, who is currently single, he would naturally try every means to win her over and wouldn't give up easily.

This kind of normal pursuit is fine; it's aboveboard and honest. But if it were someone with malicious intentions, that would be truly disgusting.

The newcomer stood upright like a pine or bamboo, holding a sword and clasping his hands in a fist salute. He looked at Chen Xuan with a gentle smile and said, "May I ask if you are Young Master Chen Xuan? I am Yan Quan from the Qingyang Sect of Yuhua Kingdom. I am sorry for my intrusion. Please forgive me if I have offended you."

Seeing this, Chen Xuan stopped and bowed, smiling, "I am Chen Xuan. May I ask what advice this brother may offer?"

As he spoke, Chen Xuan noticed that the little princess beside him seemed hesitant to speak. A thought struck him, and he realized that this Yan Quan was no ordinary person.

The little princess had reminded Chen Xuan before that someone who admired He Hongyi might come to her door, including a person with a grandmaster background, who might be this person.

However, Chen Xuan was completely unfamiliar with the so-called Qingyang Sect. Not to mention the martial arts sects of Yuhua Kingdom, he only had a superficial understanding of the major sects of Jing Kingdom.

At this moment, the little princess wanted to remind Chen Xuan, but it was inconvenient to interrupt when her man was speaking while they were out. She handled this small detail very well.

Although he had already confirmed Chen Xuan's identity, Yan Quan couldn't just jump straight to the point. A proper opening was necessary. Receiving a response from Chen Xuan, he smiled gently and bowed again, saying, "Young Master Chen, how could I presume to offer guidance? It is an honor to even meet you." Then, his gaze fell upon the little princess beside him, and he bowed slightly, saying, "I presume this is Princess Fuyao. I am but a rough man from the mountains; please forgive me if I have caused any disturbance."

Although families and countries are different, this person did not lack the proper etiquette and dared not be disrespectful in front of the little princess. He kept a very low profile. Even though the little princess was a princess of Jing Kingdom, if he really displeased her, she could send him to the royal family of Yuhua Kingdom with a letter of divorce. This person would probably be in deep trouble.

In an era where imperial power was supreme, if you dared to disrespect the royal family of another country, would you also dare to disregard your own royal family?

Upon hearing this, the little princess, with her dignified bearing and royal demeanor, nodded slightly and waved her sleeve gently, saying, "Young Master Yan, there's no need for such formalities. Now that I'm married to a commoner, you can discuss matters with my husband."

Chen Xuan was a little bored at this moment. Drifting around with Yan Quan was nothing compared to the comfort of going on a spring outing with his wife. So, just as Yan Quan was about to exchange pleasantries, Chen Xuan said with a slightly apologetic tone, "Excuse me, I don't know why Young Master Yan has stopped my wife and me. Please explain. If there's nothing else, I'll have to take my leave. My wife and I have other matters to attend to. Please forgive us."

"The rumors are indeed true, Young Master Chen is indeed straightforward and frank," Yan Quan laughed heartily, then said seriously, "Since Young Master Chen has put it that way, then I will not stand on ceremony. I have heard that Young Master Chen's skills are extraordinary, and I have also practiced martial arts for many years. I feel that I have some minor skills, and I humbly request Young Master Chen to give me some pointers. I hope you will not hesitate to teach me."

At this point, he bowed deeply again, his attitude extremely sincere, but his eyes gleamed with high fighting spirit, anticipation and excitement, as if a gourmet had seen an unparalleled delicacy.

A martial artist, especially one who has achieved such success at his age, how could he not feel itchy to fight when he encounters a powerful opponent?
Upon hearing his purpose, Chen Xuan was slightly speechless, thinking to himself, "Damn it, he actually came here for this purpose?"

On second thought, he realized it wasn't that simple. This guy wasn't just trying to challenge him; he was probably more cunning. First, he wanted to test if he was really as formidable as the rumors suggested. If the rumors were false and he defeated him, wouldn't that demonstrate his prowess? Sooner or later, the news would reach He Hongyi's ears, subtly letting her know that the person she liked was actually a fraud, and that his methods were far more sophisticated than Tian Bin's. If the rumors were true, his defeat at Chen Xuan's hands wouldn't be shameful; on the contrary, he would gain valuable experience exchanging ideas with a grandmaster. Either way, he wouldn't lose.

It has to be said, this guy is quite interesting. However, Chen Xuan shrugged and smiled, "I'm sorry, Brother Yan, I am just an ordinary citizen, not a member of the martial arts world. I don't like swords and spears. If you want to have a martial arts contest, you've come to the wrong person. If there's nothing else, would you please move aside?"

Before showing himself, Yan Quan considered many possibilities, such as being easily defeated by Chen Xuan, being ridiculed by Chen Xuan, or being defeated by Chen Xuan because he was not worthy of the title, thus gaining points with He Hongyi. However, he did not expect Chen Xuan to be so mild-mannered and not respond at all, which made him feel uneasy, like punching cotton.

His mind raced, but he still pleaded sincerely, "I truly wish to learn from you, Young Master Chen, and earnestly request your permission." Shaking his head, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "I've already said I don't like swords and spears, so why force me, Hero Yan? Isn't traveling, enjoying the scenery, appreciating flowers and the moon more interesting? Swords have no eyes; a few bumps and scrapes would hurt so much. So, I apologize for coming from so far away; I hope you have a good time. Excuse me."

Chen Xuan nodded politely, then turned to signal the little princess and the others to continue on their way. "Since you won't let me, I'll just go around to the side. The road is so wide, it doesn't matter which way I go."

Seeing this, Yan Quan was quite conflicted. Chen Xuan had already said that, so if he continued to ask for advice, it would be a bit presumptuous. But if he just let it pass by, he would feel uncomfortable. Wouldn't it be a wasted trip?

Still somewhat unwilling, he gritted his teeth and reappeared in front of Chen Xuan and the others, bowing deeply and saying, "I hope Young Master Chen will grant my request and do me the favor so that my trip will not have been in vain."

Du Juan's gaze immediately turned cold, and she said in a deep voice, "How dare you! My master is being polite to you, giving you face and speaking kindly, and you can't listen to him? Do you really think my master is easy to talk to and that's why you're taking advantage of him?"

Xia Mei's expression also darkened slightly, and she noticed that Yan Quan's gaze was somewhat displeased. However, since Du Juan had spoken first, she didn't say anything more. If this person continued to be so ignorant, she might have to teach him a lesson. Did he really think that anyone could offend the master and the prince? Who did he think he was? The Qingyang Sect of Yuhua Kingdom might be very prestigious in the martial arts world, but frankly, what was he?
"I have no intention of offending you. We martial artists should help each other improve. I sincerely ask for your guidance, Young Master Chen," Yan Quan said, still standing in front of him with a bow. His attitude was respectful, but he had a determination to succeed.

Even the little princess frowned slightly, but since her man hadn't spoken, she naturally wouldn't say anything.

On the busy road, they were clearly wealthy and powerful, and it seemed that something was amiss. People with sense kept their distance to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

The young girl had no experience in this matter and was somewhat at a loss. Yunlan and Yunxin, on the other hand, remained calm. After all, they were carefully selected by the little princess, and they didn't care about this little situation at all. They were just waiting for the master and princess to give the order, and they would act without hesitation.

Xia Mei's lips curled into a cold smile. She thought to herself that people in the martial arts world were indeed a bunch of uncouth people who didn't know manners. They thought that because they had some skills, they were used to getting by and should cooperate with everyone. Little did they know that in front of the truly powerful and influential, if you were to be treated with respect, you would be someone important. If you were not given face, who would you be?

This is something they should handle. What's the point of having them if His Highness has to deal with it personally?
Du Juan's gaze suddenly turned icy cold. As a former assassin, he saw that Yan Quan had already thought of more than ten places to strike, and he was about to make his move.

Chen Xuan slightly raised his hand to signal them to calm down. This Yan Quan had a cultivation level of Innate Realm, which was not something they could handle. It was not that Chen Xuan was underestimating himself, but even Xia Mei, who was carefully cultivated by the royal family, was no match for him. Even Xiao Ran, last year's martial arts champion, probably couldn't defeat him in a short time, and that would be if Yan Quan didn't have any powerful trump cards.

Du Juan and the others immediately stopped when they saw Chen Xuan's actions, while Chen Xuan looked at Yan Quan and said seriously with his smile slightly gone: "Hero Yan, you should be able to sense that I am actually a very easy person to talk to. I have made my position clear again and again. Do you really want to force me and make everyone unhappy?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Quan's face flushed with unease. He had indeed gone too far. Normally, he should have turned and left, but he had a compelling reason. To put it bluntly, he had received instructions from his master to ask Chen Xuan for guidance, to test whether Chen Xuan was as powerful as rumored. If so, then the Qingyang Sect of Yuhua Kingdom, or even the Yuhua Kingdom's court, would have to change their strategy. How could they remain indifferent to such a large piece of meat as the cave below Wanku Mountain?

This is just one reason; another reason is He Hongyi.

He Hongyi, recognized as one of the top ten beauties in the martial arts world of Yuhua Kingdom, actually fell in love with Chen Xuan of Jing Kingdom. She even willingly became his concubine despite his marriage. How could this put the faces of the people in the martial arts world of Yuhua Kingdom? Did such a large country have no outstanding young men? He himself also liked He Hongyi. Firstly, He Hongyi was skilled enough that any man would like her. Secondly, He Hongyi had saved him once a few years ago. Perhaps He Hongyi herself didn't even know it. In any case, he wouldn't give up easily, and a fire was burning in his heart.

For two reasons, it is imperative to find out what makes Chen Xuan so extraordinary!
Faced with Chen Xuan's displeased tone, Yan Quan took a deep breath and said firmly, "I hope Young Master Chen will forgive my rudeness and offense. Please enlighten me."

Chen Xuan almost laughed out loud at her words: "You yourself know you've been rude and offensive, so how dare you say something that makes me not mind? Trying to morally blackmail you? Too bad my moral bottom line is incredibly flexible, you can't blackmail me at all."

I didn't mean to bully you, but you insisted on making things difficult for me. Why bother?

Shaking his head, Chen Xuan said, "Although you are indeed being a bit unreasonable—oh, sorry, 'unreasonable' isn't quite the right word to describe a man—that's not important. What's important is that your attitude is acceptable, and we don't have any grudges between us. So, I won't let you suffer. But this is the first and last time, okay? Although I'm easy to talk to, I'm really not interested in trivial matters, so let's skip the swordplay and fighting. How about this, let's play a game. You walk around Yang County for three days. If you can stop on your own, I'll give you a chance to challenge me. If you can't stop on your own, then you go back to where you started. This isn't a discussion; it's already begun. That's all, goodbye."

With that, Chen Xuan nodded, signaling the little princess and the others to leave.

Yan Quan immediately frowned, thinking to himself, "If you're not going to make a move, fine, but why are you playing such a pointless game? Are you trying to make fun of me? Why should I have to circle around Yang County for three days?"

However, the moment the thought popped into his head, he was horrified to find that his body was no longer under his control. He took a step forward and his body honestly obeyed Chen Xuan's words to circle around Yang County!

This horrified Yan Quan. When had he fallen victim to this? And more importantly, what methods did Chen Xuan use?
Not only did he fail to uncover Chen Xuan's true nature, he also had no idea what methods Chen Xuan had used... Well, this could be considered a partial understanding of Chen Xuan, right? The key question is, does he really have to circle around Yang County for three days like this?
Yan Quan's body was out of control, and his mind was in turmoil. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he realized that he had discovered an incredible truth: Was He Hongyi so devoted to Chen Xuan because he used such strange methods? If he told He Hongyi this truth, wouldn't he be able to save her?
It turns out Chen Xuan is actually this kind of person; everyone was wrong about him…

With his Purple Mystic Illusionary Eyes, Chen Xuan can now silently control the words and actions of those below the Grandmaster level, even when he is deliberately trying to outmaneuver them. Isn't it better to enjoy the scenery with his wife? He has no interest in fighting with his opponent, and even if he does make a move, it will be a matter of instantaneous defeat.

As they passed each other, Chen Xuan smiled at Yan Quan. Lacking mind-reading abilities, he had no idea what Yan Quan was thinking about the so-called truth. He thought to himself, "You want to show off by fighting me? Fine, I'll grant your wish and let you be the center of attention."

If Yan Quan cannot break free from the control of the Purple Mystic Illusionary Eyes on his own in the next three days, he will definitely be the center of attention, becoming a topic of conversation for countless people. I wonder if he will be embarrassed when he meets his fellow martial arts practitioners in the future.

This is just a minor punishment to serve as a warning. This guy shouldn't bother Chen Xuan anymore. If he continues to be so ungrateful, things won't be as simple as just going around in circles… (End of Chapter)