Marketplace Conflict

Marketplace Conflict

Nothing happened overnight. In the morning, sunlight streamed through the window, casting a riot of colors across the floor and warming the entire room.

Chen Qiye stretched lazily, feeling a warm current flow from his lower abdomen through all four limbs and hundreds of bones. "Looks like quite a lot of people talked about me last night." His emotion points continued to increase, but the experience needed for advancement had also risen. For now, he remained a three-star Dou Shi.

After washing up, Chen Qiye pushed open the door and walked out to find Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er waiting outside together.

"Xun'er greets Master Chen."

"Greetings, Teacher." Xiao Yan bowed slightly and explained, "This is Xiao Xun'er. She wants to come to the marketplace with us."

Chen Qiye glanced at Xiao Xun'er. Dressed in pale green, her fitted clothes accentuated her graceful curves. Coupled with her uniquely elegant temperament, it was no wonder Xiao Yan was so captivated by her.

"Mm." Chen Qiye nodded. He was not particularly interested in Xiao Xun'er. First, he was not into little girls. Second, he had to maintain the dignity of a teacher.

Besides, what he cared about more right now was strength. The Strongest Master System could open portals between planes, and the Battle Through the Heavens World was not the end of his ambitions.

Xiao Yan was in high spirits as he left the clan with Chen Qiye and Xiao Xun'er.

Along the way, the clansmen they encountered all looked at Xiao Yan with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Xiao Xun'er was currently the most dazzling gem among the younger generation of the clan, whether in beauty or talent. Though she appeared gentle and approachable within the clan, there was a subtle aloofness beneath it. Greeting her was easy; having a deeper conversation with her was difficult.

As for Chen Qiye, he had been an unknown figure when he first arrived at the Xiao Clan. After yesterday's events in the reception hall, he had become the subject of heated discussion throughout the clan.

Not only had he restored Xiao Yan's talent, but he also possessed mysterious pills and was such a young Dou Shi powerhouse. The younger disciples of the Xiao Clan were immensely curious about him, and some had even begun entertaining the thought of becoming his disciples.

However, Chen Qiye was even more aloof than Xiao Xun'er and rarely spoke much with others.

Wutan City was one of the Jia Ma Empire's major cities and exceptionally bustling. Although the sun blazed overhead, the streets remained packed with people, and a few strange races could even be seen among the crowd.

After wandering around for a while, Chen Qiye, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Xun'er headed toward a medium-sized marketplace in the southern part of the city. There were several such marketplaces in Wutan City, each controlled by one of the city's three great clans. This southern marketplace happened to be under the Xiao Clan's control.

Calling it control was somewhat misleading. In truth, they merely maintained order and security in the marketplace while collecting some fees.

Entering through the marketplace gates, Chen Qiye led the young man and woman around aimlessly.

"Is that Master Chen, the one everyone in the clan has been talking about?"

"I didn't expect him to be so young. They say he's the Third Young Master's teacher, a Dou Shi powerhouse!"

"Master Chen can't even be twenty yet, can he?"

A group of capable guards whispered among themselves from afar. Chen Qiye walked forward with his hands clasped behind his back, appearing even more eye-catching in their eyes than Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er.

Just as the three were strolling around, a burst of commotion came from a Xiao Clan medicine shop in the southern part of the marketplace.

"That sounds like one of our clan's shops. Teacher, let's go take a look," Xiao Yan said after glancing over from afar.

"Mm." Chen Qiye nodded, and the three headed over together.

"Come take a look, everyone! My brother died after using the Blood-Coagulating Powder sold by this medicine shop! It's a pity my brother didn't die in the jaws of a first-tier magical beast snake, only to be killed by the Xiao Clan's inferior Blood-Coagulating Powder instead!" In front of the shop stood a burly, fierce-looking man with his upper body bare. At his feet lay another man, collapsed on the ground with blood at the corner of his mouth and wounds all over his body. He appeared to have already lost all signs of life.

The burly man clenched his fists and roared, looking utterly grief-stricken. "My poor brother had an eighty-year-old mother above him and young children still crying to be fed below him. Yet he was killed by your Xiao Clan just like this! If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation today, don't blame us brothers for getting rough!"

"Impossible!" A richly dressed middle-aged man emerged from the medicine shop and immediately denied it. "All the medicinal powders sold by our Xiao Clan are personally refined by respected alchemists. They are all premium medicines and have never had any problems. Otherwise, how could the Xiao Clan have stood firm in Wutan City for so long?"

"Words alone prove nothing. My brother is lying dead right outside your Xiao Clan medicine shop. Today, your shop must give us an explanation!"

The burly man spoke resentfully. At once, seven or eight people dressed as mercenaries joined in the clamor. "That's right! The Xiao Clan must give us an explanation!"

"They came with bad intentions." Chen Qiye narrowed his eyes and swept his gaze over the crowd.

"Payne, what's going on here?" Xiao Yan asked a Xiao Clan guard beside him as he watched the situation begin to spiral out of control.

"These people are mercenaries from outside the city. They rarely appear around Wutan City. This subordinate suspects the Jia Lie Clan and the Ao Ba Clan may be behind this!" Payne stepped forward and said, "Third Young Master, Miss Xun'er, you should leave first!"

Xiao Yan frowned. Just as he was about to speak, the burly man roared, "Fine! Since your Xiao Clan refuses to give us an explanation, we brothers will seek one ourselves!" As soon as his words fell, the seven or eight mercenaries drew their sabers with a clatter and prepared to rush forward.

Bang! The saber was knocked aside, and the burly man staggered back two steps.

"Impudence!" The manager of the Xiao Clan medicine shop shouted. The guards stationed nearby instantly surrounded them, and the scene immediately descended into chaos.

"You dare use force in the marketplace? Do you think the Xiao Clan has no one left?"

The middle-aged man shouted coldly. A faint green Dou Qi wrapped around his body, and the surrounding people quickly retreated several steps.

"Xiao Chu! A one-star Dou Shi!"

Cries of alarm rose from the crowd. Xiao Chu flicked his sleeve, his face grim as he said, "You dare cause trouble in the Xiao Clan marketplace? Are you looking to die?"

As Xiao Chu's words rang out, everyone's expressions changed slightly. The Xiao Clan had dominated Wutan City for many years, and its reputation was formidable.

"Hahaha!" A burst of wild laughter rose. The burly man's face twisted viciously as he stared at Xiao Chu like a venomous snake. "Xiao Chu! Your Xiao Clan sold fake medicine and poisoned my brother first, and now you want to use your power to suppress us? Is this the Xiao Clan's idea of justice?"

"Get lost!" Xiao Chu raised his fist, green Dou Qi coiling around it as he shouted, "I, Xiao Chu, am a one-star Dou Shi. This is my justice!"

Chen Qiye watched from the side and shook his head slightly.

A one-star Dou Shi indeed had considerable deterrent power in Wutan City, but today's matter was clearly not so simple. Rather than resolving it properly, Xiao Chu intended to suppress them with force. Such conduct would only give others something to use against the Xiao Clan.

Clap, clap, clap!

As soon as Xiao Chu finished speaking, a burst of piercing applause rang out.

(End of Chapter)