It had to be you

After Xiao Zhan left, Zhou Changqing stayed at Mittel for the time being and began recovering from his injuries.

After several days of rest, the dull ache in his internal organs finally disappeared completely.

That day, Zhou Changqing sought out Ya Fei, who had just finished hosting an auction.

"Little brother Changqing, what brings you to your big sister? Have you finally changed your mind and decided to let me make a trip back to the family?"

Inside the room, Ya Fei asked playfully.

Ugh...

How had she still not forgotten about that?

Zhou Changqing looked at Ya Fei helplessly. "What are you thinking? I already said there's no need. Stop dwelling on it."

"I came to see you about something else, Sister Ya Fei."

"What is it?"

At his words, Ya Fei put away her smile and asked with a much more serious expression.

As Zhou Changqing took out weapons, armor, and other items from his Storage Ring and placed them on the floor before Ya Fei, he said, "Sister Ya Fei, I'm leaving Wutan City. I came to say goodbye and give you a few things while I'm at it."

"What?! You're leaving Wutan City?"

Ya Fei's eyes had been sparkling at the sight of all the Magic Core Armaments on the floor, but his words instantly startled her.

"Yes." Only after taking everything out did Zhou Changqing look at Ya Fei and nod.

"Why?"

Ya Fei grew anxious and hurriedly pressed him. "Is it because of what happened with the Jia Lie Family?"

"If that's the reason, there's absolutely no need to leave. As long as you stay at Mittel, they won't dare lay a hand on you."

"If you're really worried, just do it my way."

"Heh, don't get worked up just yet, Sister Ya Fei."

Zhou Changqing shook his head slightly and rested both hands on her fragrant shoulders, smiling as he said, "I have my own plans. Actually, even without the Jia Lie Family incident, I would have left before long. This just moved my departure forward."

"So there's no need for your approach. I know what you mean without you saying it. If we really did that, your life afterward probably wouldn't be easy."

"Besides, I'm not a member of the Mittel Family. I can't stay at the Mittel Auction House forever, can I?"

Better to rely on himself than beg for help.

If Zhou Changqing had wanted to latch onto Mittel and use its power to settle this matter, he would have used his connection with Xiao Yan years ago to join the Xiao Clan, obtain a cultivation method, and pledge his life to its service.

Even a clan as united as the Xiao Clan had several factions fighting among themselves.

That went doubly for the Mittel Family.

Although Mittel had a fairly good reputation in the original story, he would never trust every single one of its members completely.

There was no telling when an idiot like Jia Lie Bi might pop up within the Mittel Family.

Zhou Changqing had never believed that everyone in this world was smart. There were plenty of fools around.

Besides, Ya Fei was Ya Fei, and Mittel was Mittel. The two could not be lumped together.

"But..."

Ya Fei wanted to try persuading him again, but Zhou Changqing cut her off with a wave.

"No buts. Besides, leaving doesn't mean I'll never come back. I remember you saying you were assigned here, Sister Ya Fei. You'll have to return to the Imperial Capital eventually, won't you? You might even see me there when the time comes."

That was true. Although Wutan City counted as a major city in the Jia Ma Empire, it ranked at the very bottom of them. Its strongest experts were only Da Dou Shi.

A genius like Changqing would never stay in such a small place forever.

His future belonged on a grand stage where mighty experts gathered like clouds and prodigies converged. Only somewhere like that could he truly shine...

Gazing dazedly at the handsome young man before her, Ya Fei's eyes betrayed a trace of reluctance. She let out a soft sigh. "All right. Your big sister respects your decision."

"But don't forget what you said. If you go to the Imperial Capital someday, you must come visit me."

"I will."

Zhou Changqing smiled and gently embraced Ya Fei, whispering, "See you again, Sister Ya Fei."

Then Zhou Changqing turned and left the room.

A little while later.

Resting her chin in her hand, Ya Fei leaned by the window and watched his retreating figure leave the auction house and gradually disappear into the crowd.

Just then, someone pushed open the door and entered.

"Didn't you guess long ago that he would leave? Why do you still look so reluctant to let him go? Heh, to think the flower of Mittel would wear such an expression over a young man. It seems our young friend Changqing is far more charming than those young masters in the Imperial Capital."

As early as the day after Zhou Changqing was attacked, he had asked Mittel to gather a large quantity of supplies for him, including various materials, books, and Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills.

Those things had drained almost all of Zhou Changqing's savings.

Shrewd as Ya Fei and Gu Ni were, they had long since guessed his intentions.

"Uncle Gu Ni, stop teasing me. With Changqing leaving, who knows when we'll see him again? I've lost my source of precious auction items like Treasure Weapons. How could I possibly be in a good mood?"

Ya Fei spoke calmly, as though she had not been the one sitting there lost in a daze just moments earlier.

Gu Ni stroked his beard and shook his head, pointing at the girl before him as he said helplessly, "You... I don't know what to say to you."

"If you really have feelings for our young friend Changqing, the family might not reject him, given his talent."

"Uncle Gu Ni, you're oversimplifying things. So what if he's a genius? Until he's grown into his potential, the family won't offend the Mu Family for his sake."

"If talent could solve everything, wasn't the talent the Xiao Clan's third young master displayed back then enough to win the favor of all the major powers in the Imperial Capital?"

"In the end, strength still does the talking in this world..."

After leaving Mittel, Zhou Changqing quickly made his way to the Xiao Clan.

After telling the servant at the gate who he was and why he had come, Zhou Changqing followed him and soon entered Xiao Yan's courtyard.

"Old Zhou, what brings you here? I heard you were attacked a few days ago. You've been staying at Mittel all this time, so I couldn't really go see you."

Xiao Yan had already received word from the servant and set out tea for his guest on the stone table in the courtyard.

"Yeah. The Jia Lie Family teamed up with quite a few other forces to do it. They wanted to get rid of me and cut off the supply of Treasure Weapons so customers would return to their Marketplace."

Although this was his first visit, Zhou Changqing acted as though he were in his own home, sitting down without ceremony and pouring himself a cup of tea to wet his throat.

Xiao Yan sat down with him without asking about his injuries. Since Old Zhou could come visit him, he probably wasn't in bad shape.

Frowning, Xiao Yan gave a derisive laugh. "That certainly fits the Jia Lie Family's style. They really went all out."

"What are you planning to do? Want the Xiao Clan to hit them hard? If that won't work, I'll take care of it and steamroll the bastards myself."

"Who are you trying to bullshit? You haven't even broken through to Dou Zhe yet, have you? Go play somewhere else. I have my own plans."

Zhou Changqing laughed as he cursed at him and raised his middle finger.

Don't ask. If anyone did, he would just pretend he had learned it from Xiao Yan.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan raised his own middle finger and declared swaggeringly, "Believe it or not, even though I'm still at the Dou Qi stage, the Jia Lie Family is nothing in my eyes."

How could Zhou Changqing not know what Xiao Yan meant? He would simply ask Yao Lao to possess him, then borrow Yao Lao's strength to wipe out the Jia Lie Family.

But again, it was better to rely on himself than beg for help. If he could handle something himself, he would never leave it to someone else. Otherwise, it could easily become a habit.

If it really were a life-or-death crisis, he would not stand on ceremony. He would wish Yao Lao could possess Xiao Yan eight times a day.

"Enough of that. I came to ask you for a favor and say goodbye while I'm here."

"Say goodbye?"

"Yeah."

"You're not going to take the Jia Nan Academy entrance assessment?"

"No. This trip isn't entirely because of the Jia Lie Family, either. I have some things to take care of. If I get the chance afterward, I'll just go straight to Jia Nan Academy. Besides, if I'm not mistaken, you aren't planning to go there right now either, are you?"

"You know me best, Old Zhou. All right, I won't say anything more. What do you need me to help with?"

"Help me find out Jia Lie Ao's, Aoba Le's, and Qieqie'er Xu's whereabouts. Any problem with that?"

"That's all? Of course I can. But are you planning to...?"

"Heh, they think they can offend me and still have an easy time of it? Since I can't get to them, I can at least get to their sons, can't I?"

"It had to be you, Old Zhou. Ruthless!"

(End of chapter)