Step by Step Ascend to Immortality

Chapter 50: Chapter 015 Forced to be a guide

Ding Wugu, his mouth still impaled by the spear, mumbled helplessly for help.

From above, a crane flapped its wings and descended next to the young woman. Yan Chuan's eyes flickered with recognition upon seeing the crane, but he remained focused and unyielding.

"I am Wen Ruo," said Wen Ruo with a formal tone. "I apologize for the damage caused to the stele; I was too eager to see the inscription and accidentally shattered it."

The presence of the word "Disperse" had already diminished Wen Ruo's earlier arrogance, and his tone remained polite.

"I'm Mu Yuxi," the young woman said with curiosity as she regarded Yan Chuan. "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you yet."

"Enough with the pleasantries. Who are you, and why haven't you released Ding Wugu?" Young Master Yang demanded, his tone full of arrogance.

Yan Chuan looked at the group but made no move to release Ding Wugu.

"I'm Yan Chuan. May I ask why you have come uninvited?" Yan Chuan's voice was low and steady.

"Yan Chuan? You're from the Yan family?" Mu Yuxi's eyes brightened with interest.

"Yes?" Yan Chuan raised an eyebrow, puzzled by her reaction.

"You were seen interacting with members of the Dahe Sect. Is Yan Tao from the Dahe Sect related to you in any way?" Mu Yuxi asked.

Yan Chuan's eyes narrowed at the mention of Yan Tao.

"Yan Tao is my father," Yan Chuan replied with a serious tone.

"Your father? That explains it. A tiger father does not raise a dog son. As I recall, at the Heavenly Appointment Conference, Yan Tao stood alone against many and impressed everyone. Wen Ruo has seldom admired anyone, but Yan Tao was an exception. So you are his successor!" Wen Ruo remarked with admiration.

"I will compensate for the damage caused. Will you release Ding Wugu now?" Mu Yuxi asked with a smile.

Yan Chuan considered Mu Yuxi's offer, sensing her attempt at conciliation. She had refrained from saving the dwarf, indicating she didn't want to make enemies. Likewise, Yan Chuan had avoided escalating the situation by not ordering Huo Guang to kill the dwarf, leaving room for resolution.

Yan Chuan nodded slightly and gestured to Huo Guang.

"Understood," Huo Guang and Liu Jin responded immediately.

With a "whoosh," the spear was withdrawn from Ding Wugu's mouth, and Huo Guang and Liu Jin stepped back.

"How dare you! I'll make you all pay!" Ding Wugu roared with fury as he freed himself, pulling out a black sphere, ready to strike again.

"Ding Wugu!" Mu Yuxi's voice cut through his rage.

Ding Wugu, momentarily startled, turned around.

"Saintess, they've humiliated me... I want them dead, I want them dead!" Ding Wugu's eyes burned with hatred.

"Enough!" Qing Long shouted angrily.

A powerful aura surged towards Ding Wugu, making him shiver and regain his composure. He glared at the soldiers, took several deep breaths, and finally calmed down.

"Fine! I'll obey the Saintess's command," Ding Wugu said begrudgingly.

"Very well," Mu Yuxi nodded and turned away, dismissing him.

Ding Wugu's face remained dark as he looked at the soldiers.

"Lord, they're in critical condition!" Huo Guang called out from afar.

The soldiers, clutching their wounds, surrounded five young captains who had been poisoned by Ding Wugu's dark aura. Their bodies were turning black and trembling.

Yan Chuan raised an eyebrow. "Mu Yuxi, you must honor your promise!"

Yan Chuan understood some Feng Shui techniques but was too inexperienced to deal with the poison himself.

"Ding Wugu, cure them!" Mu Yuxi demanded.

"I won't. I've been greatly insulted. Since the Saintess has spoken, I will not pursue the matter further. But to have me save them? Not a chance!" Ding Wugu's eyes were full of malice.

"Ding Wugu!" Mu Yuxi's tone was icy.

"Saintess, I am not your subordinate. You needed me to enter the Feng Shui array, and now you disregard my feelings for a few insignificant lives? I won't help unless I am dead!" Ding Wugu's voice was cold.

With that, Ding Wugu gave Yan Chuan a scornful glance. He believed Mu Yuxi wouldn't be able to do anything about him due to his role in the Feng Shui array.

Mu Yuxi frowned, then sighed lightly.

"Qing Long, go see if there's a way to save them," Mu Yuxi ordered.

Her words indicated her position: she preferred to anger Yan Chuan rather than worsen her situation with Ding Wugu.

Yan Chuan said nothing and approached the five young captains. Qing Long infused a green light into one of them, but the young captain merely trembled, his face still dark.

"Saintess," Qing Long shook his head, unable to cure the poison.

"It's useless. This is Feng Shui's death poison, already embedded in the heart veins. You don't understand Feng Shui, so you can't resolve it!" Ding Wugu sneered.

"Lord," the soldiers bowed to Yan Chuan.

The five young captains had supported Yan Chuan, so Yan Chuan naturally wouldn't abandon them.

Yan Chuan extended his hand, and Liu Jin quickly handed him a jade brush and an inkstone. Dipping the brush in ink, Yan Chuan swiftly wrote on the foreheads of the five captains.

From a distance, Wen Ruo's eyes lit up.

"That brush? It looks too crude to produce such powerful characters!" Wen Ruo shook his head.

Yan Chuan ignored him and continued writing.

As the brush moved, a gentle breeze began to stir, and a greenish glow slowly seeped into the five poisoned men.

"Clear!"

"Clear!"

...

Yan Chuan wrote the word "Clear" five times, and the greenish light enveloped the poisoned men.

"Is it really him? It's truly his writing!" Wen Ruo exclaimed in astonishment.

As he marveled, a hint of bitterness crossed his face. Watching the young man's back, Wen Ruo felt as if all his previous practice had been for naught.

Young Master Yang glared at Yan Chuan enviously. "Writing? It's a trivial skill."

Ding Wugu also glared with resentment.

"Lord, will they be alright?" Huo Guang asked anxiously.

Handing the brush back to Liu Jin, Yan Chuan took a deep breath. "I'm not sure. It's up to fate now. My writing can only clear part of the poison. The rest depends on them. Guard them closely and don't move them!"

"Understood," the silver-armored soldiers responded.

"Huo Guang, stay behind and tend to the injuries of everyone," Yan Chuan instructed.

"Yes," Huo Guang replied, understanding that stabilizing the soldiers' morale was just as important as treating their wounds.

Yan Chuan rose and, with Liu Jin, led the group back to the bamboo grove.

"Everyone, let's continue this conversation at my humble abode," Yan Chuan said to Mu Yuxi and the others.

"Very well," Mu Yuxi nodded.

Wen Ruo looked at Yan Chuan with a hint of shame.

Young Master Yang remained dismissive, and Ding Wugu still harbored resentment.

"Little Crane, play around for a while and come find me later," Mu Yuxi said to the crane.

The crane nodded and soared into the sky.

The group followed Yan Chuan into the bamboo grove and soon arrived at a bamboo house. The fog that had previously been dispersed by Qing Long's actions began to slowly reassemble.

Inside the bamboo house, Yan Chuan took the main seat, with Wen Ruo, Young Master Yang, Ding Wugu, and Mu Yuxi seated around him. Mu Yuxi's four subordinates stood behind her.

Servants quickly brought tea.

"Please, everyone," Yan Chuan said courteously.

The others nodded. Young Master Yang took a sip.

"Ugh!"

"What is this terrible tea!" Young Master Yang spat out the tea in disgust.

"Ugh! It's worse than my foot soak," Ding Wugu complained, also spitting out the tea.

Yan Chuan cast a dispassionate glance at the two but said nothing.

Liu Jin stood beside Yan Chuan, looking displeased.

Mu Yuxi raised an eyebrow but chose not to comment.

Wen Ruo spoke with a touch of apology. "This is Young Master Yang, son of the Daoist Lord. The earlier misunderstanding was due to Ding Wugu, a Feng Shui master."

"The Daoist Lord's son?" Yan Chuan's expression shifted slightly, then he nodded.

Young Master Yang looked down at Yan Chuan from his elevated position.

"You didn't come here just for my calligraphy, did you? Please, state your purpose clearly," Yan Chuan said, addressing Wen Ruo.

Respect earns respect. Yan Chuan's tone remained polite towards Wen Ruo, reflecting his understanding of the situation.

"Before we proceed, I have to ask," Wen Ruo inquired with curiosity, "have you set up any Feng Shui arrays around these woods?"

"Yes, a rudimentary Feng Shui array with limited power," Yan Chuan replied without dispute.

"That's impossible! There's no way this could be a Feng Shui array; I don't sense any source of Feng Shui energy!" Ding Wugu exclaimed in disbelief.

Yan Chuan glanced at Ding Wugu but chose to ignore him.

"Could you clarify this for me?" Wen Ruo asked, still curious.

Nodding, Yan Chuan said, "This is a concealed array. The Feng Shui source is deep underground, not visible from the surface. Only a true Feng Shui master would be able to sense it."

"What are you implying? That I'm a fake Feng Shui master?" Ding Wugu shouted angrily.

Yan Chuan offered a faint smile, remaining indifferent.

"Speak clearly, boy!" Ding Wugu demanded, fuming.

"Ding Wugu!" Mu Yuxi interjected, clearly annoyed.

Ding Wugu, begrudgingly, shot one last furious look at Yan Chuan.

"The situation is as follows: We need to enter the large Feng Shui array in the southern area. However, we've been unable to approach it from the air these past few days, so we intend to enter from the ground. Therefore, we hope to find a guide nearby. The Saintess mentioned you have some knowledge of Feng Shui, which makes you an ideal candidate. So, we'd like to ask you to lead us," Wen Ruo explained.

"Lead you into the large Feng Shui array in the south?" Yan Chuan narrowed his eyes.

"Are you unwilling?" Young Master Yang's voice was cold.

Yan Chuan fell silent for a moment, his fingers lightly tracing the armrest of his chair.

"You can recognize dragon veins, so you must have some expertise in Feng Shui. As long as you lead us in, I will do my best to fulfill any request you make," Mu Yuxi added.

Yan Chuan glanced at the group, took a deep breath, and finally nodded. "Alright."

"Your Highness!" Liu Jin exclaimed in shock.

Entering the forbidden forest was perilous. How could they venture in?

"There's no need for further discussion. I have my plans," Yan Chuan said, shaking his head.

"Very well," Liu Jin said, his face grim.

"I suspect we're not the only ones attempting to enter the large Feng Shui array now," Yan Chuan observed calmly.

"Yes, indeed. On the ninth day of the ninth month, with the alignment of nine stars, a significant influx of Yin energy entered the Yang realm. The Feng Shui array, connecting the realms of Yin and Yang, is particularly affected. With no one to oversee the array, it is bound to become chaotic. Many sects have already arrived. From what I've seen, there are at least ten groups. Everyone is eager to claim whatever's inside," Mu Yuxi confirmed.

"Oh? What's inside?" Yan Chuan asked, intrigued.

"That's beyond your concern. Just focus on guiding us," Young Master Yang replied dismissively.

Yan Chuan smiled slightly. "I'll guide you, but I have one condition."

"Oh?" Mu Yuxi looked at Yan Chuan with interest.

"I want to bring my army with me. And, throughout our journey, any beasts or creatures we encounter, except those you wish to keep, will be claimed by my men for their nourishment and training," Yan Chuan stated firmly.

"You're asking for too much!" Young Master Yang scoffed.

"Low-level beasts are of no use to us. If you want them, feel free to take them," Mu Yuxi said with a smile.

"Very well. You can rest here for the night. I'll check on my men's injuries and we'll depart first thing tomorrow morning. Is that acceptable?" Yan Chuan asked.

"Sure," the group nodded in agreement.

"Liu Jin, please arrange accommodations for everyone," Yan Chuan instructed.

"Yes," Liu Jin responded.

After arranging the accommodations, Liu Jin accompanied Yan Chuan back to the military camp.

"A mere mortal leading thousands of commoners? He must be out of his mind!" Young Master Yang said disdainfully.

"It's good to have more people. The Feng Shui array is incredibly dangerous. These thousands of men will serve as expendable scouts," Ding Wugu said coldly.

"Exactly. It's no loss if they die," Young Master Yang chuckled.

"Wen Ruo, what do you think of Yan Chuan?" Mu Yuxi asked, her eyes gleaming.

"Neither humble nor arrogant. Quite exceptional," Wen Ruo replied, nodding.

"Do you think he's suitable to be my attendant?" Mu Yuxi asked with a smile.

"Is he even worthy of that?" Young Master Yang dismissed the idea.

Wen Ruo frowned. "An attendant to the Saintess can only be loyal to her. While this man seems outwardly unremarkable, he has a natural pride that makes it difficult for him to remain subordinate for long."

"I like someone with pride. I want to see just how capable he is. If he's as I suspect, I won't mind going the extra mile. My people must be the best!" Mu Yuxi said confidently.

"Yuxi, don't be mistaken. He's just an ordinary person with only basic cultivation!" Young Master Yang argued.

Ding Wugu watched Yan Chuan's departing figure with envy and hatred.

Wen Ruo, though admiring Yan Chuan's father, found it hard to speak up at this moment.

In the military camp...

The soldiers tended to their injuries, protecting the five poisoned junior officers.

Of the five, three had regained consciousness, their blackened faces slowly returning to normal. However, the other two's pupils had dilated until they ceased to breathe.

"Er Niu! Da Shuanzi!" the soldiers wept in despair.

"Your Highness!" Huo Guang rubbed his reddened eyes, gritting his teeth as he looked at Yan Chuan.

Yan Chuan, his face cold and his eyes filled with a fierce anger, stared at the two deceased junior officers.

"Your Highness, Er Niu and Da Shuanzi died unjustly. The culprit... the culprit..." Huo Guang clenched his fists, his voice trembling with rage.

If they had died on the battlefield, Huo Guang could accept it as part of a soldier's duty. But their deaths were unexplained and the killer was right here, with no chance for vengeance. How could anyone not be angry? How could they not feel hatred?

"Give them a proper burial!" Yan Chuan said coldly.

"Understood!" the soldiers, with red eyes, responded.

"This matter is far from over. There will be a reckoning in due time!" Yan Chuan's gaze turned icy, a trace of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

Huo Guang, shivering, looked gratefully at Yan Chuan. "Yes!"

The others had no more to say. Yan Chuan's killing intent spoke volumes.