Chapter 67: The Return of the Map (Double Chapter)

Chapter 67: The Return of the Map (Double Chapter)

In a quiet room, Lu Bu and Xiao Yan sat across from each other. Snow Mei and Qing Lin weren't present Lu Bu had sent them out to play, as he needed to have a private conversation with Xiao Yan.

"Kid, where exactly did you find this Flame of Ten Thousand Beasts... no, I should ask, how did you even subdue it?" Lu Bu asked, his gaze skeptical as he scrutinized Xiao Yan. After all, the Ice Spirit Cold Spring was in his hands. Did Xiao Yan find another one? Unbelievable! This brat's protagonist halo was too overpowered.

"Let's not talk about that. You said you were going to find another Dou Huang to help. Did you find anyone?" Xiao Yan smirked, a little proud of himself as he quickly diverted the topic.

"No, we must talk about it," Lu Bu said, narrowing his eyes. He had just realized something he couldn't sense Yao Lao's soul fluctuation anymore. The black Bone Spirit Ring was still there, but the old man's presence had vanished entirely.

"Uh…" Xiao Yan winced. It seemed that Lu Bu had noticed the truth with a single glance.

"Hmph." Lu Bu snorted coldly. "Xiao Yan, you'd better explain everything right now. Maybe I can lend you a hand. But if your teacher isn't around, then I'm not going to Yun Lan Sect!"

"You !" Xiao Yan was livid. Was Lu Bu really planning to take his money and refuse to do the job?

"Hm? Got a problem with that?" Lu Bu snapped back without hesitation.

If Yao Lao wasn't present, who was supposed to act as bait for Protector Wu? And which Dou Zong level expert would willingly risk offending the Hall of Souls to help them? Without Yao Lao, Lu Bu's entire plan was pointless. Why bother going to Yun Lan Sect? To play bodyguard for Xiao Yan? Ridiculous.

Xiao Yan's expression twitched, and he finally let out a resigned sigh. "My teacher is asleep. He used up too much energy helping me refine the Heavenly Flame…"

With that, Xiao Yan explained how he had discovered the Flame of Ten Thousand Beasts, as well as Yao Lao's current state.

"What?! You found the Flame of Ten Thousand Beasts in the Amethyst Winged Lion King's lair?" Lu Bu's eyes widened, filled with regret. To think a Heavenly Flame was right there in front of me, and I didn't even realize it!

"Uh… not exactly. The lair was just the entrance. You had to go deeper," Xiao Yan said, raising an eyebrow as he noticed Lu Bu's pained expression. A grin spread across his face finally, he had managed to outdo Lu Bu in something.

"It was in the lair!" Lu Bu ground his teeth. Back then, he had noticed something unusual but hadn't investigated further. He didn't have a Heavenly Flame at the time to detect it, nor had he considered this possibility.

"Damn that Amethyst Winged Lion King! Why did it have to refine that purple flame?" Lu Bu muttered, gnashing his teeth and sighing with regret.

"Well, these things come to those with virtue. There's no point in forcing it," Xiao Yan said with a self satisfied wave of his hand, his tone modest but his smirk anything but.

"Tch, it's not like I don't have one. The Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth, far superior to yours," Lu Bu retorted, his disdain palpable.

Xiao Yan's smugness vanished instantly, and he sullenly gulped down a cup of water. Talking to this guy always made his blood pressure spike.

"Alright, let's get back to business," Lu Bu said, tapping the table. His tone grew serious. "Your teacher must be awakened. Otherwise, there's no point in going to Yun Lan Sect we'd just be walking into a death trap."

A sly grin spread across Lu Bu's face. If Yao Lao was out of commission, it was time to make things difficult for Xiao Yan.

"You... You have a way to wake my teacher?" Xiao Yan asked, his spirits lifting with hope.

"I do. But what do you have to offer in return?" Lu Bu replied with a sly smile. "Treating someone isn't free, you know. I don't work for charity."

"You shameless scoundrel!" Xiao Yan bellowed, his anger boiling over.

"You think repairing a soul is easy?" Lu Bu retorted. "And we can't just wake him up we have to strengthen his soul as well. Otherwise, if we head to Yun Lan Sect, we're screwed!"

"Kid, you wouldn't understand the complexity of these matters between Tier 6 alchemists."

Xiao Yan: "..."

Lu Bu wasn't lying, though. Yao Lao's strength needed to be restored. If Protector Wu managed to capture Yao Lao during a confrontation, the consequences would be disastrous. At best, Xiao Yan would lose his mentor. At worst, Protector Wu might fuse with Yao Lao's soul in a desperate bid for power, leaving Lu Bu with no chance of victory.

Restoring Yao Lao's strength was non negotiable.

"What do you want?" Xiao Yan asked, his expression grim. For Yao Lao, he was willing to pay any price.

"Heh heh…" Lu Bu chuckled, rubbing his hands together. This was the moment he'd been waiting for.

Xiao Yan felt a bad premonition rise in his chest.

"The map to the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame," Lu Bu said, raising an eyebrow with a sly grin. It was time to reclaim what rightfully belonged to him.

"You…!" Xiao Yan's face twisted in anger. This was outright extortion!

"Well? Are you trading or not? If you're not interested, I'm not helping. Let the old man stay asleep at least he won't nag me all the time," Lu Bu said, rolling his eyes.

"Fine!" Xiao Yan growled, clenching his teeth as he produced a tattered, yellowed map. It was the piece he had taken from the cave in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

Xiao Yan had no choice. Yao Lao wasn't just his teacher he was family. For someone who had saved his life countless times and guided him through his darkest moments, Xiao Yan would pay any price to bring him back.

"Good lad!" Lu Bu gave Xiao Yan a thumbs up and pulled out a pen and paper, quickly jotting down a list. "These are the ingredients we'll need. Check the Alchemist Guild for them. I'll coordinate with the Mitel Auction House to find the rest. We need to gather everything as quickly as possible."

"Understood!" Xiao Yan replied, tucking the list into his storage ring with a serious expression.

"I'll be staying with the Mitel family for the time being. If you run into any trouble, come find me," Lu Bu said.

"Got it." Xiao Yan nodded firmly.

"Alright, let's go. We're done here," Lu Bu said, standing up. He was eager to catch up with Qing Lin and enjoy a meal.

"Wait a second!" Xiao Yan grabbed his arm, annoyed. "Didn't you say you were going to find another expert to join us at Yun Lan Sect? Where's the person?"

"I found him," Lu Bu replied, rolling his eyes. "Ever heard of the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong? Formerly one of the top ten experts in the Jia Ma Empire and the leader of the Mitel family."

Xiao Yan's face lit up with joy. With three Dou Huangs on their side, the trip to Yun Lan Sect suddenly seemed far less daunting.

"Ha! You're incredible, Lu Bro!" Xiao Yan laughed heartily.

Lu Bu gave him a side eye. Weren't you just calling me unreliable earlier?

"Are you sure he's here?"

Suddenly, loud voices echoed from outside the quiet room. Xiao Yan and Lu Bu exchanged glances before stepping out to investigate.

Outside, two men in alchemist robes stood with four tier badges on their chests: Otto, the vice president of the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild, and Frank, the guild president.

"Yan Xiao, are you alright?" Otto asked anxiously. "I heard you got into a fight. Where's the enemy?"

Frank scanned the area nervously, looking for any threats. As for Lu Bu, the two guild leaders completely ignored him. After all, what could a mere Tier 1 alchemist do against someone as talented as Yan Xiao?

Lu Bu's lips twitched. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Master Otto, Master Frank, it's fine," Xiao Yan said, waving dismissively. "It was just a joke between me and a friend."

Suddenly, Xiao Yan froze as a thought struck him. Lu Bu's Dou Qi… had reached the level of a Da Dou Shi.

"Damn it, this guy…" Xiao Yan sighed in frustration. That sense of inferiority crept back in. Why couldn't he ever surpass this bastard?

"You brat... You're always making people worry," Otto scolded angrily, his beard quivering as he glared at Xiao Yan.

Outside the room, Otto and Frank were both lecturing him earnestly.

"Alright then, since that's the case, stay with your friend. If anything happens, contact us immediately," Frank said, preparing to leave with Otto.

"Masters, we've finished talking, but there's something I need your help with," Xiao Yan hurried after them. He was desperate to escape Lu Bu's company. Compared to Lu Bu, his cultivation was inferior, his alchemy skills paled in comparison, and even his looks weren't as good. Being around him was immensely stressful.

Lu Bu shrugged and extended his soul perception, quickly locating Snow Mei and Qing Lin, who were happily wandering outside. The two girls were clearly enjoying themselves.

"Mr. Lu, have you known Yan Xiao for a long time?" Snow Mei asked casually as she followed Lu Bu, though her gaze occasionally flickered to his face, betraying her curiosity.

Lu Bu rolled his eyes. Great, another innocent girl ruined by that scumbag Xiao Yan.

"Ah… We've known each other for quite a while," Lu Bu said with a sigh, slightly annoyed. I'm standing right here, looking this handsome, and she still doesn't notice me?

"What kind of person is he? What does he like? Can you tell me more about him?" Snow Mei asked hesitantly, her tone shy. "I have a… friend who's curious about him."

Qing Lin's eyes sparkled with amusement. She had already taken a liking to this elder sister, who treated her to delicious food and fun outings. Unlike that woman Ya Fei, this one is so nice!

"Xiao uh, Yan Xiao?" Lu Bu sneered, his tone sharp. "He's a lecher who loves beautiful women and enjoys toying with their emotions, especially girls like you."

Snow Mei broke out in a cold sweat. This must be one of Yan Xiao's spiteful friends.

"And he also loves treasure hunting. He has incredible luck and always manages to find hidden treasures. It's infuriating!" Lu Bu muttered bitterly.

The thought of the Flame of Ten Thousand Beasts made his chest ache. It had been so close to him, and if he had taken one bold step forward back then, such a precious Heavenly Flame wouldn't have fallen into Xiao Yan's hands.

"Sigh… It's heartbreaking!" Lu Bu sighed heavily, gazing up at the sky.

"Yan Xiao does enjoy treasure hunting," Snow Mei said, her eyes glinting as she tried to gather more information. "He once found a black jade piece in Black Rock City. It was filthy and looked worthless. Do you know what it is?"

"Mr. Lu, could you share some of your treasure hunting adventures with Yan Xiao? I… I'm just curious," Snow Mei said, feigning nonchalance.

"Hmm?" Lu Bu's eyebrows rose, and his eyes glinted mischievously. He pulled out the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations jade piece he had just acquired from his storage ring. "Miss Snow Mei, is this the kind of jade piece you're referring to?"

"Huh?" Snow Mei's gaze landed on the black jade piece in Lu Bu's hand. She picked it up and examined it carefully. After a while, she nodded. "Yes, that's exactly the same kind of jade piece!"

"You have one too?" Snow Mei asked in surprise.

This guy really is the protagonist… Lu Bu's eyes flickered with envy. It was as if the heavens themselves were feeding Xiao Yan opportunities.

Lu Bu brushed the thought aside for now. After all, the item was already in Xiao Yan's possession it wouldn't be going anywhere. He could retrieve it before Yao Lao woke up.

"Ahem, Snow Mei," Lu Bu coughed lightly, his tone suddenly serious. "In truth, Yan Xiao likes girls who can accompany him on the path of cultivation. Whether it's alchemy or Dou Qi, as long as you can share his struggles and triumphs, he'll like you."

"Oh…" Snow Mei's cheeks turned slightly pink. She had thought her feelings were well hidden, but it seemed she hadn't been as discreet as she'd believed. That said, she wasn't entirely lying she did have a friend named Lin Fei.

"And one more thing don't tell him I told you this. That kid doesn't like being exposed," Lu Bu added.

"Got it, I understand."

"See you around."

"Bye!" Snow Mei left, practically skipping away. She was in high spirits. Before, she had no idea how to approach Yan Xiao beyond maintaining a good relationship with him. Now, for the first time, she felt like she had a direction to take.

"Let's go, Qing Lin. Time to head back to the Mitel family and find Hai Bodong," Lu Bu said, taking Qing Lin's hand as they boarded their carriage.

The coachman snapped the reins, and the carriage began moving forward at a steady pace.

Mitel Family Estate, Main Hall

Hai Bodong sat calmly in the main seat, sipping tea with an air of serenity. His expression was calm, like an undisturbed ancient well.

"Hai Lao, it's truly wonderful to see you back home," said an elderly man with graying hair and ornate robes, his voice trembling with emotion. "When you disappeared, I exhausted all my resources trying to find you, but I never succeeded."

"Let's not dwell on the past," Hai Bodong replied, waving a hand dismissively.

It wasn't that he hadn't wanted to return, but with his strength sealed, he would have been useless. It was better to maintain his mysterious reputation, deterring potential enemies from taking advantage.

"Teng Shan, you've done well over these years. Keep it up I believe you're better suited to these matters than I ever was," Hai Bodong said.

"But, Hai Lao, this… this doesn't align with the family's ancestral teachings…" Mitel Teng Shan stammered.

"Then change them! From now on, the rules will change!" Hai Bodong declared with a wave of his hand.

At that moment, an elderly man entered the hall, trembling nervously. He was alone, while his grandson lay miserably nearby. It was clear that trouble had befallen him.

"Poorly taught, arrogant and overbearing!" Mitel Teng Shan pointed at the old man's nose, berating him harshly. "You raised an idiotic grandson, and that would've been bad enough, but to think he dared to offend Hai Lao himself!"

"From today onward, you are demoted from headquarters. In light of your past contributions, you'll be sent to Salt City. You are forbidden from returning for the next three years!"

"Y Yes…" The old man, Mitel Lei Na, breathed a sigh of relief. The punishment wasn't too severe. Though Salt City was far from the capital, it still offered opportunities for success.

"Take this fool Lei Ou and get out of my sight!"

"Yes, Grand Elder." Lei Na hurriedly grabbed his grandson and dragged him away in disgrace. In his haste, he nearly tripped over the doorframe.

"Ya Fei, you've done well this time."

Having dealt with the matter, Mitel Teng Shan turned to Ya Fei with a pleased smile. "Welcoming Hai Lao back is a great merit. There's no need for you to remain as Acting Overseer you're officially promoted to Overseer. Keep up the good work."

"Thank you, Grand Elder," Ya Fei said respectfully.

"Hai Lao, what do you think?" Teng Shan asked with a smile.

"You handle these things as you see fit," Hai Bodong replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Are the materials I requested ready?"

"They're all prepared… Hai Lao," Teng Shan hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I heard from Ya Fei that the alchemist who requested these materials is just a boy around ten years old?"

"Hai Lao, I recognized the materials for the Emperor's Extreme Pill among them… A boy capable of refining such a pill at that age it's quite extraordinary."

"Don't underestimate him!" Hai Bodong said solemnly. "Let me tell you this: in my current state, I wouldn't last three exchanges against him. Even if I went all out, I wouldn't be able to hurt him."

"What?!" Teng Shan's face turned pale. Hai Lao was a Dou Huang how could this be possible?

"The world isn't as logical as storybooks would have you believe. Luck and fortuitous encounters are unpredictable," Hai Bodong said. "Treat him with the utmost respect, but don't overdo it. Our relationship is one of equals. Just show him the courtesy he deserves."

"Understood, Hai Lao," Teng Shan said, nodding.

At that moment, a guard entered the hall. "Grand Elder, the young man you summoned has arrived."

"Invite him in… No, I'll go meet him myself," Teng Shan said immediately. A Dou Huang level figure deserved a personal reception.

"Let's go together," Hai Bodong said, standing up. "Lead the way. Make sure the alchemy room is quiet and ready."

"Rest assured, Hai Lao I've prepared everything," Teng Shan replied with a smile.

(End of Chapter)

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