As the brocade-clad young man entered the tavern.
The diners inside all revealed looks of terror and unease.
Chen Changqing swept a detached glance over the young man.
He found that this person was no ordinary commoner either, possessing the cultivation of the eighth level of Body Refining.
Besides that, the several guards following behind him were all Qi Refining cultivators.
To mortals, such strength already counted as formidable.
However, in the eyes of Chen Changqing and Qing Yang, it was somewhat lacking.
By now, Qing Yang's cultivation was already nearing Core Formation.
Chen Changqing, meanwhile, was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
Body Refining and Qi Refining cultivators were indeed so weak before them that they were not worth mentioning.
"Move aside, all of you! This is Dai Hai, the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold!"
"Watch yourselves. Don't bring disaster upon your own heads..."
"If you offend Young Master Dai, be careful your heads do not stay on your shoulders."
"I heard that a few days ago, someone accidentally offended him, and their entire Household was wiped out the very next day!"
"Black Wind Stronghold! That is something no one can afford to provoke!"
"..."
The diners in the tavern whispered among themselves. Seeing Dai Hai enter, they all chose to keep their distance.
Yet Chen Changqing and Qing Yang remained utterly at ease.
They paid even less heed to those discussions.
"Junior Brother Chen, have a drink."
Qing Yang raised his wine cup.
Chen Changqing smiled faintly, then shared a cup of wine with Qing Yang.
At the same time, Dai Hai arrogantly swept his gaze around the tavern.
Seeing the many diners fear him as though he were a tiger.
Dai Hai wore a self-satisfied expression.
Suddenly, his gaze fixed upon the spot where Chen Changqing and Qing Yang sat.
After seeing him arrive, all the other diners had sensibly chosen to stay far away.
Yet Chen Changqing and Qing Yang acted as though nothing had happened.
Their manner clearly showed that they were ignoring him, the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold!
At that mere thought, the anger in Dai Hai's heart was instantly ignited.
"Didn't you see this young master arrive?"
"Why haven't you gotten the hell out yet?"
Dai Hai spoke coldly, glaring viciously at Chen Changqing and Qing Yang.
As the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold, he had long been accustomed to running wild and tyrannical in this region.
His father, Dai Xiongfeng, was the local emperor, and his cultivation had reached the Core Formation Realm. Who would dare show him disrespect?
Hearing Dai Hai's shout, the diners in the tavern were frightened out of their wits and scattered in every direction.
Only Chen Changqing and Qing Yang completely ignored what he had said.
"Grr!"
Seeing that the two still did not move, Dai Hai's fury intensified. His eye twitched as he roared:
"Men!"
"Throw them out for this young master."
At Dai Hai's command, the guards behind him rushed out with savage grins.
"You dogs, seeing our Young Master and still not making way?"
"You are simply courting death!"
"..."
Several guards charged forward in fury, their Qi Refining cultivation erupting.
But what the guards never expected was this.
Before they could even rush forward, Chen Changqing suddenly swung out a slap.
Boom!!
In an instant, an incomparably powerful surge of spiritual power swept forth from his palm.
"Bang! Bang! Bang..."
Before the guards could react, Chen Changqing's single slap sent them all flying.
Looking closely again, the guards had already smashed heavily into the wall, each coughing up blood.
"You..."
Seeing this, Dai Hai's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
He had not expected Chen Changqing's strength to be so powerful.
With just one slap, he had sent several Qi Refining guards flying.
What Dai Hai found even more unacceptable was this.
Within the territory of Black Wind Stronghold, someone actually dared lay hands on the people of the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold?
The more he thought about it, the more furious Dai Hai became. He glared viciously at Chen Changqing and said:
"Boy, you have a lot of nerve!"
"You even dare hit this young master's men?"
"Do you know that my father is a Core Formation cultivator?"
"If you kneel and beg for mercy right now, this young master might be happy enough to spare your dog life!"
"If you refuse..."
Before Dai Hai could finish speaking, Chen Changqing suddenly turned to look at him, his cold eyes like lightning!
"Too noisy!"
Before his words had even faded, Chen Changqing backhanded Dai Hai with a slap.
An invisible wave of spiritual power swept out.
In less than a moment, it was as though an invisible great hand of spiritual power had slapped down upon Dai Hai's cheek.
Slap!
A crisp, resounding slap rang out.
"Pfft!"
Dai Hai was struck so hard that his teeth flew out, and his entire body was sent flying backward.
After hitting the ground, he felt dizzy and disoriented, while half his face instantly swelled up.
"You... you dare hit me?"
Dai Hai was furious beyond measure, glaring at Chen Changqing with venom-filled eyes.
Chen Changqing's expression remained indifferent. He did not even spare Dai Hai another look.
Just then, the several guards Chen Changqing had previously slapped away approached Dai Hai in panic.
"Y-Young Master!"
"Leave now!"
"They are Foundation Establishment cultivators. A wise man does not fight when the odds are against him."
Hearing this, Dai Hai's heart trembled. He then stood up with the support of those guards.
"You... just you wait!"
When he reached the entrance, Dai Hai turned back and glared at Chen Changqing.
As the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold, when had he ever suffered such humiliation and bullying?
Chen Changqing stared indifferently at Dai Hai, a nearly imperceptible strange glint flashing through his eyes.
Before long, Dai Hai led several guards away in a sorry state.
Inside the tavern, the diners who had earlier retreated all wore astonished expressions at the sight.
"This?"
"Am I seeing things?"
"Someone actually dared touch the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold in this territory?"
"Do they not want to live?"
"That kid looks like a hotheaded fool. He has really brought disaster upon himself this time."
"..."
As the diners whispered among themselves, the tavern owner approached in a flustered panic.
"Two immortal masters, you have caused a huge disaster!"
"Black Wind Stronghold runs wild and tyrannical, and its chief, Dai Xiongfeng, is a Core Formation powerhouse."
"This time, you have beaten Dai Hai, the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold."
"Black Wind Stronghold will absolutely not let this go."
"Y-you should leave quickly!"
Chen Changqing smiled faintly, glanced back at the tavern owner, and said:
"It is nothing."
Perhaps Black Wind Stronghold's fierce reputation spread far and wide in this region, but Qing Yang and he were Shushan Disciples.
Moreover, there was no need to fear a mere Core Formation cultivator.
Back when he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, Chen Changqing had wanted to find a Core Formation Realm cultivator to test his skills against.
He had not expected that while traveling with Qing Yang to Hundred Herbs Valley this time, someone would voluntarily deliver himself to their door.
"Ah..."
Seeing that Chen Changqing and Qing Yang were completely unmoved, the tavern owner did not try to persuade them further.
After eating and drinking their fill, Chen Changqing and Qing Yang stayed at the tavern.
Without realizing it, night fell.
"Whoosh!"
A streak of light flashed past.
When one looked again, Chen Changqing had already landed north of the tavern.
The next moment, with a flick of his fingertip, a transparent thread appeared.
This was Tracking Silk, Shushan's most basic tracking technique.
When Dai Hai left during the day, Chen Changqing had already secretly planted it on him.
Before you continue