"Every single one of the Chen Family Fort's ancestral worship ceremonies has been attended by people from our Flowing Cloud Sect. Is this how you treat your guests?" Lin Yun sneered.
"A guy like you only deserves this kind of treatment. You'd better tell me everything you know to avoid a beating!"
How does the Chen family have the audacity to treat someone from the Flowing Cloud Sect like this? Lin Yun suspected this was all arranged by Xiao Pingtian.
His expression turned cold. "And what if I don't?"
Chen Zhibao chuckled. "Young man, I advise you to learn to be smart. If you die here, I'm afraid no one will care."
But the moment Chen Zhibao finished speaking, he heard another person shout from behind him.
"Heh, the Chen family sure is bold. What kind of dog are you to not even show respect to the people of our Flowing Cloud Sect?"
Hearing this familiar voice, Lin Yun was a little surprised. Duan Heng had arrived with several other Flowing Cloud Sect disciples. The arrogant expression on Chen Zhibao's face instantly changed. How did another group get here?
The previously arrogant Chen Zhibao's face changed color the moment he saw Duan Heng. "Senior Brother Duan."
Lin Yun also smiled and greeted him.
Chen Zhibao immediately knew Duan Heng's identity; the Chen family was aware of the few frequently seen disciples from the Flowing Cloud Sect. He cupped his fist at once.
"So it is Senior Brother Duan. This was all a misunderstanding. How would we dare to be disrespectful to a disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect? It's just that this little junior brother of yours is too ignorant of the rules. We were just teaching him a lesson."
On any other day, the matter might have ended there. But today was different.
Just as Chen Zhibao thought the issue would be quietly resolved, Duan Heng stepped forward.
SLAP!
The slap stunned Chen Zhibao. He looked at Duan Heng in astonishment. The Flowing Cloud Sect was powerful, but they still relied on the support of families like theirs and had never been so brazen.
"Who do you think you are? Does Junior Brother Lin need you to teach him the rules? He is the personal disciple of the Qingxia Peak Elder! That status alone is more than you can handle."
Qingxia Peak?
Chen Zhibao's expression changed. "Senior Brother Lin, please forgive my lowly self. Please don't hold this against me!" As he spoke, he was about to kneel. The several servants beside him quickly followed suit.
Lin Yun didn't even spare them a glance. "Senior Brother Duan, what brings you here?"
Duan Heng led Lin Yun into the Chen family compound, completely ignoring Chen Zhibao and the others. "The Chen family is merely a vassal of the Flowing Cloud Sect. They've received so many benefits from our protection over the years and still don't know gratitude. How dare they be so disrespectful to a disciple of our sect." Duan Heng was still fuming.
"The Sect Master personally sent us. It's said there's a new discovery at Five Yang Mountain. The Chen family's ceremony this time is also important, and the Sect Master was worried something might go wrong, so he sent us to take a look. There's strength in numbers!" Duan Heng patted Lin Yun's shoulder like an older brother. "You kid, next time you meet these blind bastards, there's no need to give them any face! Since when does a disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect need to care about what others think when they're out?"
Lin Yun smiled and nodded. Even if Duan Heng hadn't come, he had his own ways of dealing with those fools.
When Chen Nanfeng saw Duan Heng, he laughed heartily and came forward to greet him. "Aiya, even Junior Brother Duan has come! I was just chatting with Junior Brother Xiao about you." Although Chen Nanfeng was over fifty with graying temples, he walked with a spring in his step, indicating his strength was not simple.
"Family Head Chen, you need to keep your subordinates in line. If I hadn't come personally today, I would never have known that your Steward Chen held such dissatisfaction towards the people of our Flowing Cloud Sect," Duan Heng said casually.
Chen Zhibao, who was following behind him, was so scared he nearly wet himself. "Family Head, please forgive me!"
Chen Nanfeng snorted angrily. "You bastard! Are you not clear about the relationship between the Flowing Cloud Sect and our Chen Family Fort? How dare you treat our honored guests like this!"
With that, he struck out with his palm from a distance.
BANG!
Lin Yun felt a thick wave of yuan energy whistle past him. Chen Zhibao was sent flying out of the courtyard, spraying blood everywhere. Even so, he didn't dare say a word, struggling to kneel on the ground. "This lowly one knows his mistake. Please forgive me, Family Head."
Seeing that Chen Nanfeng was about to deliver a killing blow, Lin Yun took the initiative to step forward. "Family Head Chen, a small punishment is enough. He didn't do it on purpose."
Chen Nanfeng looked at Lin Yun with some surprise. Given the Flowing Cloud Sect's status, no one would have said a thing even if he had killed Chen Zhibao today. He assumed Lin Yun was just kind-hearted, not knowing that Lin Yun also had his own calculations.
"Hmph, for the sake of this Junior Brother Lin, I won't pursue the matter. But if there is a next time, I will have you flayed and skinned. Do you understand?"
Chen Zhibao nodded repeatedly.
"What are you waiting for? Scram!"
After driving Chen Zhibao away, Chen Nanfeng finally bowed to the two men beside him. "Junior Brother Xiao, Junior Brother Duan, today's matter was due to my poor discipline. Please do not take offense."
Xiao Pingtian glanced at Lin Yun with a frown. This kid is so much trouble.
"Junior Brother Lin, there's nothing for you here. You can look around the fort. The ancestral worship ceremony is soon, so it's very lively," Duan Heng said with a smile.
Lin Yun nodded. Of course, he had no intention of wasting time in Chen Family Fort. The crucial thing was to get to Weiyang Mountain and catch his target.
After leaving the Chen compound, Lin Yun wandered around for a bit. Many people had indeed come to Chen Family Fort, but few had any decent opportunities. Looks like... I'll just have to keep shearing this one sheep. Lin Yun smiled and shook his head.
In the evening, he returned to the Chen residence. By then, Chen Nanfeng, Xiao Pingtian, and the others had gathered in the study.
Lin Yun arrived at the door of the study and saw Chen Zhibao. The latter wanted to block him but gave up after thinking about what had happened earlier. And then there was Lin Yun's status. A personal disciple of Qingxia Peak? Who doesn't know that Shangguan Wan is an absolute witch?
After being announced, Lin Yun entered the study.
Xiao Pingtian was impatient. "You kid, what is it now? Can't you see we're discussing the ancestral worship ceremony?"
Lin Yun stood to the side, his expression unchanged. "Senior Brother Xiao, the ceremony is certainly important, but you shouldn't forget the purpose of our visit."
Duan Heng smiled, trying to smooth things over. "Senior Brother Xiao, since Junior Brother Lin has come, he probably has something to say, right?"
"Senior Brothers, I happened to hear a piece of news in Chen Family Fort. It's said that a group of mysterious people has recently appeared on Weiyang Mountain. I'm worried they might be connected to the Red Ghost Sect."
Weiyang Mountain? Chen Nanfeng's expression shifted slightly.
Xiao Pingtian, however, was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. "You were only out for a short while and managed to find such important news? Lin Yun, do you know that this is not a game!"
Duan Heng still trusted Lin Yun completely. "Senior Brother Xiao, Junior Brother Lin is not one to lie. I'm afraid this might be true."