After collecting himself, Qin Chu stood up and bowed to Mei Tianling, "Qin Chu thanks Senior for your protection. Qin Chu will remember this favor."
Looking at Qin Chu, Mei Tianling hesitated slightly, "Just for your willingness to remember this favor, I will give you another convenience. Come with me." Mei Tianling led Qin Chu to a room on the top floor of the Alchemist Guild.
"This is my room for meditation and Cultivation. To facilitate discreet travel, there's a secret passage here that leads to one of our Alchemist Guild's Medicinal Pill Pavilions. You can use it from now on." Walking to a bookshelf in the room, Mei Tianling reached out and pushed it. A passage appeared after the bookshelf moved.
Looking at the secret passage, Qin Chu was secretly surprised. Wasn't this exactly what he needed to solve his problem? If he went out now, he would be watched, but with a secret passage, he could come and go freely, rendering any stakeouts and surveillance useless.
After showing Qin Chu the secret passage, Mei Tianling led Qin Chu out of the room, then instructed the guard at the stairwell that Qin Chu was allowed to enter and exit her secret room without obstruction.
"Go back! When your mind is in turmoil, you should calm down. Furthermore, the nurturing of spirit fire and Cultivation are also very important. Spirit fire can not only be used for Alchemy but also for combat. Do not squander heaven's generous gift," Mei Tianling said to Qin Chu after leading him out of the room.
Bowing to Mei Tianling, Qin Chu returned to his small courtyard.
In the small courtyard, Qin Longfeng was already waiting.
"Qin Chu, are you not injured?" Qin Longfeng scrutinized Qin Chu from head to toe.
"Uncle, don't worry, I'm fine. How are things outside?" Qin Chu asked after sitting down.
Hearing Qin Chu's question, Qin Longfeng smiled, "This time, the White Tiger Holy Clan suffered heavy losses. Besides the nine strongholds that were eradicated, they lost three powerhouses at the sixth-tier King realm, and their Face was completely lost. The City Lord's Mansion also showed its stance, which is to give no Face to the White Tiger Holy Clan."
Qin Chu smiled, "Originally, it was just a battle between fifth-tier Heavenly Origin realm Cultivators. I didn't expect such an unexpected gain. Three sixth-tier King realm Cultivators—this is a huge loss for the White Tiger Holy Clan, wait! Wasn't it two? How did it become three?"
"Shang Tianhua was afraid of losing Face, so he threw in another one," Qin Longfeng said with a smile, recounting Shang Tianhua's helpless move after the City Lord's Mansion refused to release the person he requested.
"Serves them right. Rules are rules. If you don't follow the rules, you have to pay the price." Qin Chu felt a little relieved. If the White Tiger Holy Clan was shameless, then they deserved to lose Face and pay the price.
Qin Longfeng took out a jar of wine and poured some for Qin Chu and himself. "I'm happy. It's been almost twenty years, and now I finally feel relieved."
"Uncle Longfeng, this is just the beginning," Qin Chu said.
Afterward, Qin Chu asked Qin Longfeng to prepare maps of the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan and Black Tortoise Holy Clan strongholds.
"Qin Chu, you're not going to take on the Black Tortoise Holy Clan too, are you?" Qin Longfeng's Face was full of surprise. He felt that Qin Chu was a bit crazy, daring to do anything.
"Yes! But for now, let's deal with the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan first. By the way, Uncle Longfeng, isn't my mother Zhen Beixuan's daughter?" Qin Chu asked Qin Longfeng.
Qin Longfeng nodded, "She's a cousin's daughter, also considered an adopted daughter."
"That makes sense then. What kind of kinship? It's all bullshit! Before, I was considering that I couldn't get revenge because of blood ties, but now, screw that!" Qin Chu cursed.
Looking at Qin Chu, Qin Longfeng was a little puzzled. Zhen Xueyan was a princess of the Black Tortoise Holy Clan; this was known to all Cultivators in the world. Why would Qin Chu ask? However, what he knew, he naturally couldn't conceal.
After chatting with Qin Chu for a while, Qin Longfeng left. He had to go help Qin Chu gather information.
Qin Chu began his Cultivation. He stayed very steadily within the Alchemist Guild, but Saint Martial City was anything but steady. Qin Chu's name circulated in every street and alley. Qin Chu had slain a King realm Cultivator and, with his people, had wiped out nine strongholds of the White Tiger Holy Clan overnight. This was something no one had been able to do in the past, or rather, no one had dared to do.
Inside the Azure Dragon Holy Clan's castle, Shangshu Tianye was drinking tea, and Zhen Han and Shangshu Yu were also present. Shangshu Yu was very dissatisfied that Shangshu Tianye didn't help Qin Chu, but Shangshu Tianye acted as if he hadn't noticed.
"Madam, that little rascal certainly has some skill. Now the White Tiger Holy Clan is suffering a painful loss. The White Tiger Holy Clan hasn't experienced a major war, but Qin Chu is slowly carving away at them with a small knife, and their strength is severely depleted. In Heavenly Sword City, coupled with the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan and Blade God Valley's attacks, plus their losses in Saint Martial City, their strength has been greatly diminished, already exceeding one-third. If this continues, there won't even be a need for a major war; Qin Chu's small knife will bleed them dry," Shangshu Tianye said, taking a sip of tea.
"I truly feel for that child. Without his parents by his side, no one to care for him, it's not easy!" Zhen Han looked at Qin Chu with increasing fondness, like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, overflowing with maternal love.
"It's true that it's not easy, but enduring more hardship in youth is good for the future," Shangshu Tianye said.
"If you're not going to help, just say so. Don't come up with such a nice-sounding excuse," Shangshu Yu said, dissatisfied.
Shangshu Tianye put down his teacup, "Yu'er, he wants to break off the engagement; he doesn't want to have any connection with you. And I will always be your father. Don't you know who is closer and who is further?"
Zhen Han smiled, "Husband, if you can help, please do. Those fellows from the Black Tortoise Holy Clan are also out, and Qin Chu might not be able to hold on."
Shangshu Tianye nodded, "That group of scoundrels coming to Saint Martial City certainly doesn't have good intentions. The Vermilion Bird Holy Clan fighting three clans alone is not easy. Someone, notify Hei San to come over."
Hearing Shangshu Tianye's words, Shangshu Yu was startled, "Father, what are you going to do?"
"Currently, it's a fifth-tier battle. Hei San has been unable to enter the King realm, but he has no problem dominating within the fifth-tier. I will lend him to Qin Chu for a while. Qin Chu fighting alone is boring; let's add some fire to them," Shangshu Tianye said.
"Father, please warn Senior Brother Hei San not to lead Qin Chu astray. Senior Brother Hei San is involved in drinking, gambling, and visiting prostitutes," Shangshu Yu's Face showed some joy, because the Hei San mentioned by Shangshu Tianye was his Disciple, her Senior Brother.
"Alright," Shangshu Tianye nodded.
"Also! Qin Chu doesn't know my identity, so Senior Brother Hei San mustn't reveal it," Shangshu Yu reminded Shangshu Tianye again.
Shangshu Tianye smiled and nodded, "I will tell Hei San that, apart from fighting, he is to keep silent about anything concerning the Azure Dragon Holy Clan. No talking!"
One day, Qin Chu was practicing his sword techniques when Enforcement Officer Zhang informed him that someone was looking for him.
Qin Chu left the small courtyard and saw a man in a black robe. Qin Chu looked at him and realized he didn't know him.
"My name is Hei San. I'm here to help you kill people. One person, one good jar of wine. Just nod, and it's a deal!" the man in the black robe said.
Qin Chu sized up Hei San, "Are you reliable?"
"Below the sixth-tier, I can kill anyone!" Hei San pointed to the battle blade on his back.