Qi Qingqing also thought about chasing the little golden claw, but she couldn't. Not to mention whose speed was higher, hers or the little golden claw's, the key was that she couldn't fully exert her Cultivation in Tianjian City. That would expose her identity and draw the attention of the Holy Martial Law Enforcement.
Qi Qingqing had also staked out outside Tianjian City a few times, but the little golden claw appeared in different directions each time, foiling her plans. Normally, to capture a flying Yao Beast, one needed to find its landing spot in advance and then set up an ambush.
Capturing Qin Chu and the little golden claw was very difficult, but Qi Qingqing was very excited. She liked challenges and disliked things that were easily obtained.
Qin Chu gathered with his brothers, then went to the Alchemist Guild for Alchemy.
Lang Lang was absent, so Qianxun assisted Qin Chu, helping him process Medicinal Pills. Qingyi waited by the side. He and Qin Lingxi were both worried about Qin Chu's safety. Being targeted by a female cultivator in the seventh-stage Venerable Realm was a very serious matter.
After closing up shop at the Alchemist Guild and returning to the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan's stronghold, Qin Chu refined some top-grade Heavenly Origin Pills for Qianxun, Yan Yi, and Bai Yu. The few of them had just entered the fifth stage not long ago and were in a phase of rapid strength improvement, thus greatly needing resources. Since they didn't have his methods for accumulating resources, they were very lacking in them.
Qianxun and the others did not refuse Qin Chu's financial aid. Qin Chu treated them like brothers, and they could do brotherly deeds in the future.
Every now and then, Qin Chu would go to Tianjian Mountain to Cultivate, leaving the little golden claw in Shang Shuyu's care.
For the little golden claw's safety, Qin Chu had taught it that when hunting for food, it should not go to the same place twice, and if it encountered any signs of trouble, it should immediately fly away.
Every time Qin Chu went to Tianjian Mountain, Qin Lingxi accompanied him. Qin Lingxi also needed to Cultivate Sword Intent; she was already attempting to break through to seventh-level Sword Intent.
Qi Qingqing became a regular customer at an inn in Tianjian City. She had been living in Tianjian City for over a year and was almost integrated into it. She had always been searching for an Opportunity. The Sword Emperor Legacy in Tianjian Mountain was not meant for her, but she was not disappointed. She felt that Qin Chu and the little golden claw were her Opportunity, though this Opportunity was not easy to obtain. She had already seen the expert guarding Tianjian City; she had seen him inadvertently in a tavern.
The person Qi Qingqing saw was Su Mu, but Su Mu did not notice Qi Qingqing, mainly because Qi Qingqing was very well hidden, and Su Mu couldn't notice everyone.
Qi Qingqing felt a sense of danger from Su Mu, so she confirmed that Su Mu was the guardian of Tianjian City.
One day, Qin Chu returned from Tianjian Mountain. As soon as he arrived at the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan's stronghold, Su Mu came to visit.
Qin Chu received Su Mu in his own courtyard.
"Is that Vermilion Bird from your Vermilion Bird Holy Clan?" Su Mu asked, looking at Qin Chu.
"It's mine, Senior. How do you know it's a Vermilion Bird?" Qin Chu looked at Su Mu with some surprise.
"I'm interested in various rare books and notes, so I've read records about Vermilion Birds. The one that flew out of your Vermilion Bird Holy Clan's stronghold is a Vermilion Bird, and not just an ordinary one. Only when its Bloodline reaches a certain level does it develop golden claws. This news has already spread throughout the Central State. In some forests around Tianjian City, some cultivators have already set traps, planning to capture it. It's because you've educated the Vermilion Bird well; otherwise, something would have happened long ago," Su Mu said, looking at Qin Chu.
"I hadn't thought of some things; I was careless," Qin Chu said.
"Be cautious! I believe that not only people from our Holy Martial Continent are interested in the Vermilion Bird, but some outsiders will be too. So the Vermilion Bird might lure out a big fish. I plan to use the Vermilion Bird as bait to set an ambush, capture, and kill outsiders," Su Mu said to Qin Chu.
"What do you need Qin Chu to cooperate with, Senior?" Qin Chu asked.
"If you have no objections, someone will come to contact you later, and then we'll proceed to the next step," Su Mu said to Qin Chu.
Qin Chu nodded in agreement. Anyone who dared to covet the little golden claw deserved to die. Not to mention the Holy Martial Law Enforcement would deal with it, he also wouldn't allow such a thing to happen.
After Su Mu left, Qin Chu continued to Cultivate peacefully for a few days.
This day, as Qin Chu was teasing the little golden claw, a beast carriage drove into the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan's stronghold. It was a beast carriage from the Azure Dragon Holy Clan.
Knowing that his fiancée, Shang Shuyu, had arrived, Qin Chu excitedly went to greet her.
After Shang Shuyu got off the beast carriage, Qin Chu stepped forward and took her hand, planning to take her aside to chat. But with a cough, a black-faced Shang Shutianye walked out of the beast carriage.
"Are your eyes for eating? Can't you see there's still someone in the beast carriage?" Shang Shutianye looked at Qin Chu, very displeased.
"Uncle has arrived. Qin Chu didn't notice. Uncle, please come in," Qin Chu invited Shang Shutianye towards the main hall.
"Don't go to the main hall. I don't want to draw attention," Shang Shutianye said to Qin Chu.
It was then that Qin Chu noticed Shang Shutianye was wearing an ordinary green robe, appearing very low-key.
Qin Chu led Shang Shutianye to his private courtyard.
"I know about the Vermilion Bird. Law Enforcer Su wants to set an ambush to trap people. Because the Cultivation Technique I Cultivate is special and can hide my aura, I will be the one to do the trapping," Shang Shutianye said, looking at Qin Chu.
At this moment, Qin Chu understood that Shang Shutianye was the contact person Su Mu mentioned, and the Law Enforcer Su that Shang Shutianye referred to was Su Mu.
"I'll be staying at your Vermilion Bird Holy Clan's stronghold for a while. You should notify the people below to act as if I don't exist. Don't make a fuss; otherwise, they'll notice," Shang Shutianye said to Qin Chu.
While Qin Chu and Shang Shutianye were talking, Qin Lingxi and Qingyi came over and greeted Shang Shutianye.
Qin Chu explained Shang Shutianye's purpose for coming, and then Qin Lingxi and Qingyi went to make arrangements.
"Qin Chu, when I'm not here, you and Yu'er can do whatever you want. But now that I'm here, you'd better behave yourself and not get grabby. Be careful, or I'll chop off your claws," Shang Shutianye's gaze fell on Qin Chu and Shang Shuyu's clasped hands.
Feeling a bit awkward, Qin Chu quickly released Shang Shuyu's hand. He knew his prospective father-in-law didn't seem to like him very much.
"Father, what are you talking about!" Shang Shuyu was displeased. Shang Shutianye was truly making Qin Chu look bad!
"You're still unhappy? Your father traveled all this way, wasn't it to clean up his mess? Tell me, since he came to the Central State, when has he ever been honest? This bear-like fellow even wanted to break off the engagement. I want to kick him to death!" After looking at his daughter, Shang Shutianye began to lecture Qin Chu.
"Uncle is right. Qin Chu will definitely correct himself and take good care of Senior Sister," Qin Chu said, cupping his fists at Shang Shutianye.
"Your attitude is acceptable, but you really have a lot of trouble. There's an expert in the teahouse across the street," Shang Shutianye said, raising his chin towards the direction of the teahouse where Qi Qingqing was staying!