A Minor Trouble / Luring the Guest In

Ya Fei, standing nearby, was equally astonished. Had she misjudged him? Was this man really a madman?

"Right now, you're uninjured, but you soon will be!"

Before his words had even faded, Qin Chen's robe billowed outward. His sturdy boot tore through the air and viciously slammed into Lei Le's arrogant face.

The kick carried tremendous force, sending Lei Le flying backward like a kite with its string cut before he crashed heavily onto the stone road in the distance.

"Cough, cough..."

His dry coughs drowned out his screams as Lei Le spat out blood mixed with shattered teeth, looking utterly wretched.

Looking at Lei Le sprawled on the ground like a dead dog, Qin Chen sneered. Against someone like this, even punching him felt disgusting.

The guards who had been enjoying the show sucked in a cold breath, contributing to the birth of Heavenly Flames on the Battle Qi Continent.

A moment later, they finally came to their senses. Gripping their weapons tightly, they surrounded Qin Chen, intending to capture him.

Chapter 59: A Minor Trouble

Qin Chen did not even spare the guards a glance. He lightly stomped his foot, and as the blood on his boot sole was shaken away, an invisible wave of force swept out, knocking every approaching guard to the ground.

Ya Fei stared at the calm and composed Qin Chen, the surprise in her beautiful eyes instantly turning to shock.

"Get lost!"

Qin Chen's voice carried unquestionable authority, like a sharp blade piercing the guards' hearts.

The guards struggled to their feet, retreated to Lei Le's side, helped him up, and fled deeper into the Mittel Family estate in a panic.

As the guards carried away the limp Lei Le, he did not forget to leave behind a threat. "You little bastard, so you came here to cause trouble! Just wait there if you've got the guts!"

To his surprise, Qin Chen stood there quietly, like some foolhardy youth.

After recovering her senses, Ya Fei's delicate body trembled. She hurried to Qin Chen's side, her almond-shaped eyes full of anxiety. "Sir, you should leave quickly. Lei Le's grandfather, Lei Ou, is a Dou Ling expert. He won't let you off."

Although Ya Fei wanted to thank Qin Chen for helping her solve this problem, she knew this was no longer something that could be settled as a private grudge. He was challenging the dignity of the Mittel Family.

After all, even if someone in the family had committed a mistake, it was not an outsider's place to punish them, much less at the gates of the Mite'er estate.

Hearing this, Qin Chen discreetly glanced at Ya Fei's full chest rising and falling with tension, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"A mere Dou Ling is nothing in my eyes. If you aren't afraid, you can wait here with me. You might even gain some opportunity from it."

Watching Qin Chen's manner, Ya Fei furrowed her willow brows and pressed her lips into a thin line. After thinking for a moment and meeting his deep eyes, she ultimately decided to stay.

Yet the delicate hand clenched tightly within her sleeve revealed the unease in her heart.

Elsewhere, within a spacious and brightly lit room at the Mittel Family headquarters.

Mittel Tengshan, formerly the Mittel Family's Great Elder and now its patriarch, stood respectfully before a gray-haired old man.

"Hai Lao, we have located the remaining medicinal ingredients on the list. We should be able to gather them all soon."

Hearing this, a trace of delight finally appeared on Hai Bodong's usually indifferent face. "Very good, Tengshan..."

!!!

Before he could finish speaking, Hai Bodong abruptly shot to his feet.

"What is it, Hai Lao?" Mittel Tengshan asked in confusion as he looked at the alarmed Hai Bodong.

He had followed Hai Bodong for decades. No matter whom they encountered, he had never seen Hai Bodong reveal such an expression.

This aura... it must be the Queen Medusa. He's here! As the thought flashed through his mind, Hai Bodong's expression became calm once more.

Looking at Mittel Tengshan beside him, Hai Bodong said indifferently, "A distinguished guest has arrived. Come, Tengshan. Accompany me to welcome him."

Upon hearing this, Mittel Tengshan's expression shifted slightly, and his confusion deepened. Hai Bodong had mentioned this distinguished guest to him before, but Hai Lao had spoken casually then. Why had he become so unsettled today?

His aged eyelids flickered as Mittel Tengshan respectfully acknowledged the order and followed Hai Bodong outside.

Outside the gates of the Mite'er estate.

"Ya Fei, you've certainly grown bold. You actually dared to collude with an outsider and injure a family member. When the next council meeting convenes, I will formally propose to the other elders that you be stripped of your position!"

An elderly man in ornate robes, his face gloomy, stared venomously at the young man and woman before him. His voice carried an undisguised threat.

Several guards stood behind him, each with cold eyes.

As for Lei Le, two guards were supporting him. After being injured by Qin Chen earlier, he still could not stand on his own.

Even so, his face remained full of smugness and cruelty.

Ya Fei's beautiful face turned icy as she prepared to retort.

"Don't waste words on him. If a dog bites you, are you going to bite it back?" Qin Chen's casual voice sounded from the side.

"Brat, you're courting death!"

Qin Chen's words undoubtedly enraged Lei Ou. Battle Qi surged over his withered palm as he clearly prepared to strike.

Whoosh!

A white figure flickered in and out of sight, appearing between Ya Fei and Lei Ou as if it had teleported.

Before anyone could react, a broad palm extended from the white figure, carrying bone-chilling energy as it lightly pressed against Lei Ou's chest.

The instant they came into contact, Lei Ou's expression changed drastically. Then, he felt a mountain-toppling force erupt from his chest and send him flying.

Blood-red ice crystals fell to the ground alongside the old man, leaving everyone present dumbfounded.

"Grandfather!" After staring blankly for a moment at the pale old man on the ground, Lei Le finally came to his senses and cried out in panic.

"This..." Seeing the domineering old man sent flying, Ya Fei inexplicably felt that this scene seemed oddly familiar.

Why did this look so much like something she had seen before?

"H-Hai Lao!" After shaking the shards of ice from his hair and recognizing Hai Bodong's face in the distance, Lei Ou trembled in terror.

"Hai Lao." Ya Fei stepped before Hai Bodong, cupped her hands, and greeted him sweetly.

"Mm."

Hai Bodong waved his hand and slowly walked over to Qin Chen. Cupping his hands, he smiled lightly. "You finally came."

"It has only been a year, yet Hai Lao's bearing has become even more impressive than before." Qin Chen returned the gesture.

At that moment, Mittel Tengshan hurried over. Seeing the scene before him, the old fox's eyes shifted as he quickly understood what had happened.

A shrewd smile appeared on his face as he hurried forward and repeatedly cupped his hands toward Qin Chen. "You must be the distinguished guest Hai Lao mentioned. Your presence today truly honors the Mittel Family."

"Patriarch Tengshan, you flatter me. I apologize for the disturbance caused by my visit." Naturally, Qin Chen would not strike someone who was smiling at him.

Seeing this, Hai Bodong glanced at Lei Le and the others before asking, "What happened just now?"

"Oh, it was like this."

Qin Chen curled his lips and pointed at the trembling Lei Le. "This man said he wanted to break my bones. I had no choice but to defend myself with all my strength, but who knew that after failing to defeat me, he would call over a Dou Ling expert? If Miss Ya Fei had not reasoned with them and allowed Hai Lao to arrive in time, I might have died here today."

"I see."

Hai Bodong nodded, then looked at Mittel Tengshan beside him. "Tengshan, did you hear what this young friend said?"

Mittel Tengshan's expression darkened slightly. How could he fail to understand Hai Lao's meaning? He immediately barked, "Lei Ou!"

"P-Patriarch." Ignoring the pain in his body, Lei Ou hurriedly got up and knelt on the ground.

With a cold snort, Mittel Tengshan said indifferently, "You offended a distinguished guest of the Mittel Family and should have been severely punished. However, considering your past contributions to the family, you are hereby stripped of your position as an elder and assigned to manage a branch guild in a border city. You are forbidden from returning to headquarters for three years!"

"Leave today. There must be no delay!"

Chapter 60: Luring the Guest In

Lei Ou's body trembled, and his heart instantly turned to ashes. Yet he did not dare offer the slightest objection and could only grit his teeth and kowtow. "Yes, Patriarch!"

With that, Lei Ou called to the guards behind him and left in disgrace with his grandson.

After the two disappeared from sight, Mittel Tengshan turned his gaze toward Ya Fei beside Qin Chen, his tone softening. "You did very well this time. At the next council meeting, I will have you officially take over management of the Mite'er headquarters auction house."

"Thank you, Patriarch." Ya Fei's delicate hand clenched within her sleeve as she nodded slightly.

Now, she finally understood what Qin Chen had meant by an opportunity.

After handling the matter, Mittel Tengshan's expression relaxed slightly. He looked at Hai Bodong, who looked at Qin Chen, and Qin Chen nodded.

"This is not the place to talk. Let us find somewhere quiet and discuss this properly," Hai Bodong said seriously.

"Mm." Qin Chen nodded.

"Master..." Mittel Tengshan began.

"Don't call me Master. I'm not that old yet."

"Oh, yes, yes, yes. Young friend, please follow me..." Qin Chen's words reassured Mittel Tengshan somewhat. He had been worried that Qin Chen might be someone with a strange temper.

Within a quiet and luxurious room at the Mittel Family headquarters.

The Mittel Family truly deserved its reputation for having risen through commerce. Their headquarters was indeed magnificent.

"Hai Lao, how are the medicinal ingredients coming along?" Qin Chen asked with a smile as he looked at the two old men.

"Most have already been prepared, but we are still missing several rare ingredients." Hai Bodong took out a Storage Ring and handed it to Qin Chen, his voice solemn.

Qin Chen accepted the Storage Ring and sent his soul power into it. Before long, he smiled knowingly. "This is enough. I have the remaining ingredients myself."

Hai Bodong truly lived up to being an angel investor. Under the usual rules, one needed to provide three sets of ingredients when asking an alchemist to refine a pill, yet Qin Chen found that many of the ingredients in the Storage Ring numbered more than three.

There were even many ingredients that were not included in the pill formula at all.

"Time is of the essence. Take me somewhere secluded now, and I will begin refining the pill immediately," Qin Chen said at once.

"The place has long been prepared, but..."

Hearing this, Hai Bodong beamed with joy, but soon scratched his head awkwardly.

Qin Chen frowned, confusion in his eyes. "What is it, Hai Lao? Is there some problem?"

"There is indeed a minor trouble."

Composing himself, Hai Bodong continued, "When I went to the Alchemist Guild to trade for the Spirit Fusion Pill formula, I happened to mention you to their president, Fa Ma."

"After learning that you are a Tier 6 Alchemist, Fa Ma greatly wished to meet you. Because of this, he did not even charge any fee for that Spirit Fusion Pill formula. What do you think..."

"Oh?"

Qin Chen was somewhat surprised. He stroked his chin and pondered for a moment before letting out a soft laugh. "In that case, let him come and take a look."