Chapter 108: Discussion

Four disciples of the Flying Snake Sect lay sprawled on the ground, clutching their chests, clearly gravely injured.

“Tap, tap, tap!”

Tan Jun followed the sound and saw two figures slowly emerging at the cave entrance.

One was a young man in a white robe, seemingly a bit younger than himself. The youth carried an ancient and simple long sword on his back. His delicate face bore a hint of resolve, especially his jet-black eyes, deep and bright like stars.

The other was a strange man, his clothes tattered and his disheveled gray hair partially obscuring his face, making it hard to discern his features. In his hands, he held two large pancakes, which he devoured greedily.

These two were none other than Lu Han and that peculiar man who had arrived just in time.

Tan Jun rose, his expression darkening. After all, being interrupted at such a moment was hardly pleasing. He cupped his fists and addressed the strange man, “I wonder if my four disciples of the Flying Snake Sect have somehow offended you?”

As for Lu Han, Tan Jun chose to ignore him outright. He assessed him as a ninth-level postnatal cultivator. Were it not for the Flying Snake Sect having cleared the nearby poisonous beasts, someone of Lu Han’s level wouldn’t have been able to come here. He guessed Lu Han must have followed an elder to this place.

The strange man continued eating, paying no heed to his words. A flash of anger crossed Tan Jun’s face. Over the years, no one had dared disrespect him. Even the Xuan Lords showed them some courtesy. Yet he restrained himself. The four disciples had been out for only a few breaths; Lu Han was only a ninth-level postnatal. There was only one possibility.

The unknown man still eating those pancakes was the one who had defeated the four disciples.

Those four disciples were, after all, second-level innate cultivators. The Flying Snake Sect, one of the three great sects of the Great Xia Empire, cultivated disciples who were virtually invincible in their rank and few rivals could match them. To defeat them so quickly and toss them into a cave would require someone at least at the elder’s level. Besides the Land of Chaos Souls, the minimum rank was seventh-level Xuan Lord. Though the Land of Chaos Souls suppressed cultivation to third-level innate, the physical strength remained.

“Whether you’ve offended us or not,” Lu Han stepped forward and said, “the behavior of the Young Sect Leader is truly unworthy of the name of one of the Great Xia Empire’s three great sects.”

With the strange man here, Lu Han felt somewhat emboldened. Though his soul was gravely wounded and his mind somewhat unclear, he could still communicate simply with the man.

“Young man, when did you get the right to interrupt when I’m speaking to your elders? Don’t you know that misfortune comes from careless words? You’re just a mere ninth-level postnatal. If we hadn’t cleared out the poisonous beasts nearby, you wouldn’t even have made it this far,” Tan Jun said with contempt.

Lu Han said nothing in reply, a look of understanding dawning on his face. No wonder he hadn’t encountered any beasts on the way with Jia Cheng. Jia Cheng had found it strange at the time; it turned out it was all the work of the Flying Snake Sect.

Tan Jun snorted coldly, clearly unwilling to engage further with Lu Han, and turned to the strange man. “Sir, I advise you not to interfere in the affairs of the Flying Snake Sect. I can overlook that you injured my disciples earlier.”

“Young Sect Leader…” someone began.

“Silence!” Tan Jun snapped.

…but the strange man still ignored him.

“Excuse me for interrupting, but this matter today, we will take charge,” Lu Han stepped forward.

Being completely disregarded was unpleasant. Lu Han understood that as a mere ninth-level postnatal, he was beneath the Flying Snake Sect’s Young Sect Leader’s notice—such individuals were a dime a dozen in the sect. But this matter, Lu Han had to handle. Since the strange man ignored everyone, Lu Han had to step forward and assert himself. The strange man was his hired muscle, and however he’d brought him here, Lu Han had his own reasons.

“Young man, though your elder is present, I hope you do not test my patience. This is no place for you to speak,” Tan Jun said coldly, locking eyes with Lu Han.

Lu Han felt as if a venomous snake was pressing against him, yet he met Tan Jun’s gaze without flinching.

“Interesting,” Tan Jun said with surprise.

“This matter is mine to decide, and today, I must take the princess with me!” Lu Han pointed to the injured Princess Qingcheng lying nearby.

Princess Qingcheng trembled slightly. She had been listening all along. In fact, from the moment Lu Han had entered the cave, she recognized him. After all, not long ago when she left Maple Leaf City, Lu Han had mentioned coming to repay a debt of gratitude.

She had thought that, being so remote, their paths would never cross again. She had only helped the Lu family to gain a favor from the Sword King. Who would have expected that fate would bring her and Lu Han together under such circumstances?

She understood that Lu Han could easily ignore this matter and leave without losing anything. Choosing to offend one of the Great Xia Empire’s three great sects—the Flying Snake Sect—was hardly a wise decision. Even to an outsider like herself, it seemed a losing proposition.

Moreover, it was her third brother who had colluded with the Flying Snake Sect to plot against her. Unexpectedly, the one who came to her rescue was neither from the Murong royal family nor her supposed fiancé, Shen Tai, but Lu Han, a man she had only met once.

Looking at Lu Han’s delicate yet resolute face, unyielding before the Flying Snake Sect’s Young Sect Leader, Princess Qingcheng felt a strange, inexplicable sensation welling up, a sourness in her nose.

“Does your lordship share the same intention?” Tan Jun asked the strange man gravely.

“If that is the case, then things become rather troublesome,” Tan Jun thought to himself.

If this man forcibly took Princess Qingcheng away, there was little he could do. Though he was a fourth-level innate cultivator, before a Xuan Lord, he was no match. Even if the Xuan Lord could only rely on physical strength, it was beyond his ability to resist.

Still, Tan Jun was confident in his own safety. Surely, everyone within the Great Xia Empire had heard of the Flying Snake Sect’s reputation. Few dared to provoke them, lest they face ruthless retaliation. Apart from the other two great sects—the Heavenly Gang Sect and the Blood Spider Boat—and the Murong royal family, no one in the Great Xia realm could stand against them.

“No need to ask further. What I say represents his intention,” Lu Han said.

The principle of repaying a kindness with a greater one weighed heavily on Lu Han. His father, Lu Tianhong, had survived the deadly Tiger Toad poison thanks to the antidote pill from Princess Qingcheng. Though he didn’t know her motives, the fact remained that she had saved his father. Now that fate had brought Lu Han here, it was only natural for him to intervene.

Of course, Lu Han was no reckless youth. Had he come alone, he would not have made such a decision. With the strange man by his side, he felt confident.

Without the strange man, Lu Han would have come only to die a pointless death. Four second-level innate disciples alone were beyond his ability to handle. Coupled with the Flying Snake Sect’s Young Sect Leader, Lu Han believed he would have been dead before even entering the cave.

“Looks like there’s no room for negotiation,” Tan Jun narrowed his eyes, a dangerous aura emanating from him.

Lu Han shrugged.

“Why don’t you hand over the princess to me, and we can all part amicably? What do you say?”

“Haha... If I don’t hand her over, what can you do?” Tan Jun laughed bitterly.

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