Chapter 155: Settling the Score

After saying this, Su Ming scrambled up from the ground and fled with a pale face. The surrounding onlookers breathed out a long sigh of pent-up anger. They had long since grown tired of Su Ming's tyranny in Pill City, but none had dared to resist. Now, Chu Han had finally given vent to their frustrations.

Soon after, Leng Ye pulled Chu Han along, intending to take him away from the Yanyun Pavilion, but Chu Han gently shook off her hand. "Leng Ye, is there a way for us to get to the second floor? I don't have a VIP card, so I can't enter."

"Chu Brother, what time is it now, and you're still thinking about the second floor? That guy will be back for revenge any minute now! His father, Su Zaitian, is an elder of the Pill Sect and is notoriously protective of his own. If we don't leave right now, it will be too late."

Leng Ye could hardly spare a thought for anything else at that moment. Terrified that some misfortune might befall him, she hurried to explain the situation to him.

Yet Chu Han merely smiled faintly. "I am not leaving. If he wants revenge, let him come. I am not afraid of him, let alone his old man. Rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

Hearing Chu Han's words, Leng Ye could not help but freeze for a moment. Having not seen him for such a long time, Chu Han's temperament remained entirely unchanged—fearless of the heavens and the earth, utterly impervious to pressure from anyone whatsoever. And that was precisely what captivated her about him.

She found herself glancing at him a few more times. Though his face was concealed, she could still recognize his features from the shape of his brows. A blush crept onto her fair cheeks as she recalled the events that had transpired back in the Eastern Wilderness.

"By the way, how did you end up here? Have all the matters in the Eastern Wilderness been settled?"

Chu Han asked softly. He certainly hadn't expected to run into Leng Ye here. After all, this was Pill City, a great distance away from the Eastern Wilderness. Moreover, judging by Leng Ye's demeanor, she seemed quite familiar with the place; she definitely hadn't arrived just today.

"Actually, I belong to the Leng family of Pill City, one of the three major families here. Previously, I was in the Eastern Wilderness because a major crisis befell the Leng family, and my father was afraid something might happen to me, so he sent me to stay with my maternal grandfather. Recently, matters have been largely resolved, so I came back to take a look. But what about you, Chu Brother? Did you come here to participate in the Grand Alchemist Tournament?"

Leng Ye smiled and explained. Chu Han experienced a sudden realization; he had no idea Leng Ye possessed such a background. One had to understand that the supreme power in Pill City was the Pill Sect, right beneath which stood the three major families. These three families were illustrious lineages of alchemy, and at their zenith, they could rival the Pill Sect itself, representing formidable forces within Pill City.

Chu Han nodded, confirming Leng Ye's suspicion. However, since the Leng family was an alchemy lineage, Leng Ye must be an alchemist herself. No wonder she had come here to purchase medicinal herbs; back in the Eastern Wilderness, he had been completely unaware of this. This girl hid her capabilities remarkably well.

"Since you're a member of the Leng family, there's no need to be afraid of Su Ming, is there? Su Ming is merely the son of a Pill Sect elder, whereas you are the legitimate young lady of one of the three major families. No matter how formidable Su Ming is, he cannot contend with the Leng family, right?"

Chu Han frowned. Although Su Ming's father was an elder of the Pill Sect, he was just an elder after all; how could he possibly contend with the Leng family? No matter how diminished the Leng family might be, they were still one of the three major families, holding a pivotal position in Pill City.

"Chu Brother, you've just arrived in Pill City and don't know its rules. The three major families of Pill City are not set in stone; there is an evaluation every year. If a family lacks the qualifications, they are cast out, and a qualifying sect steps up to take their place. Recently, the Leng family has been troubled by internal and external woes, suffering a generation gap in talent. Today's evaluation will likely result in failure, and once the Leng family is expelled from the three major families, goodness knows how many people will kick us while we're down."

At the mention of this, Leng Ye's eyes dimmed, filled with a growing sense of self-reproach. After all, she was a member of the Leng family and ought to contribute to its welfare. Among the younger generation of the Leng family, her mastery of alchemy was considered the finest, yet compared to the prodigies of the other two major families, she fell far short.

Her talent for alchemy was limited, and among Pill City's younger generation, her aptitude could only be described as mediocre. Every year, the evaluation of the three major families was contested by the absolute elites of the younger generation. With the Leng family experiencing a shortage of talented successors, there was a high probability they would fail today. Should the Leng family be eliminated, moving out of Pill City would be their only option, leaving them no other recourse.

Seeing Leng Ye's expression, Chu Han grasped the general situation and let out a slight sigh. For families of this stature, standing at the very peak was glorious, but falling from grace brought the most agonizing descent. This held true not only in Pill City, but for sects in any city whatsoever.

"Never mind, let's not talk about such depressing matters. Weren't you heading to the second floor? I'll take you in."

Leng Ye adjusted her mindset, offered a faint smile, and led Chu Han toward the stairs. In the back of his mind, Chu Han pondered; back in the Eastern Wilderness, Leng Ye had lent him considerable assistance. If an opportunity arose where he could lend the Leng family a hand, he would not refuse.

However, as the two of them stepped onto the stairs and Leng Ye produced her VIP card, a guard blocked their path.

"Are you blind? This is a VIP card belonging to the Leng family. Of course I have the right to bring someone in. Let us pass immediately."

Leng Ye's expression turned icy. Having finally managed to see Chu Han, she hadn't expected to be stonewalled here, which deeply embarrassed her.

"I'm sorry, you may bring someone else in, but this fellow cannot enter. Furthermore, after today, the Leng family will likely no longer be one of the three major families. Your days of acting arrogantly are numbered. Besides, it isn't us who barred him from entering; someone specifically gave the order."

The guards sneered instantly. They were people who judged others by their status; naturally, they would never have dared utter such words while the Leng family was at its zenith. But now that the Leng family was teetering on the brink of ruin, they cared nothing for them at all.

"You... Fine! Tell me, who said he couldn't enter?"

Leng Ye pointed at the guard and demanded loudly.

"It was I."

At that moment, an authoritative voice rang out from behind them. The two turned around to see an elderly man with a white beard, dressed in long robes, walking toward them with an icy expression. Right behind the old man was none other than Su Ming, the very person Chu Han had disciplined just a short while ago.

Seeing the old man's demeanor, there was no need to guess—he was Su Ming's father, Su Zaitian. Sure enough, Leng Ye whispered a warning in Chu Han's ear, while Chu Han merely smiled faintly.

"Elder Su, making things difficult for the younger generation is hardly the style of the Pill Sect. If word of this gets out, it won't do your reputation any favors either."

Leng Ye stepped forward and spoke respectfully. Even if the Leng family still retained its status among the three major families, she would not dare show disrespect to the Pill Sect—let alone now, while the Leng family was in such a precarious state.

Chu Han remained silent, curious to see what this old fellow intended to do. If trouble was what he wanted, Chu Han wouldn't mind teaching this old man a lesson, even if it meant offending the Pill Sect. After all, the majesty of a Heavenly Venert permitted no defilement by anyone.

"Hmph, Leng girl, step aside. If not out of consideration for your father, you wouldn't even have the qualification to speak in my presence. As for that fellow behind you, stop hiding behind a woman! You were awfully arrogant when you beat up my son. If I don't teach you a lesson today, you will never learn that not everyone is someone you can afford to cross."

Su Zaitian showed Leng Ye no courtesy whatsoever. He glared at Chu Han standing behind her and barked fiercely. Before either of them could reply, he continued, "Still wearing a mask? Looks like you're no good sort either. You're probably some heinous bandit fleeing from the pursuit of another sect who ran all the way here to hide."