Chapter 751: Yan Country (2)
There were already quite a number of disciples from other academies who were already in the Yan Country's Imperial Capital. As the Spirit Battle Tournament had not begun, many of them were roaming around the Imperial Capital to see with their own eyes the prosperity of the mightiest country.
Five horse carriages rumbled on passing through the main thoroughfare. Many of the disciples of the other academies had immediately recognised the banners of the Zephyr Academy and they all came to a halt immediately, fully extending their necks to peer at the convoy of one of the three top academies. At that moment, their eyes showed not one of envy but were instead filled with a tinge of mockery.
"Why have the Zephyr Academy sent so little people this year?" A youth asked, his face greatly puzzled as he stared at the carriages moving further away from them.
He was from an academy that was just average, but even then, for their trip to this Spirit Battle Tournament, the academy had still sent out ten carriages. Besides the ten participants taking part in the Spirit Battle Tournament, there were several teachers and a offhanded guess at the total would easily come up to already over thirty people.
"That's strange, what is the Zephyr Academy up to this year? The Dragon Slayer Academy and the War Banner Academy had even deployed at least twenty horse carriages each, how many people can the Zephyr Academy fit in those few carriages?" The youth asked, scratching at his head, his mind filled with questions.
The Spirit Battle Tournament was expected to run for up to a month and besides the disciples taking part in the contest, the teachers who guided them and personnel who took care of logistics were also an integral component of their entourage and something they could not do without. Hence, even if there were only ten people participating, the number of people each academy sent here were at least a few times that.
The more reputed the academy, the more complete their preparations were, which meant they would have more personnel. Like for the War Banner Academy, their convoy had not only included people from within the academy, the participants had even brought along their own personal attendants to serve them in that month so as to allow them to receive the best care while they prepared for the battles ahead.
Moreover, the level of hospitality the Yan Country extended to the various academies varied according to their might. For an academy like the Zephyr Academy who held one of the vaulted top three academy positions, the Yan Country would be most welcoming even if they had brought seventy or eighty personnel.
But the Zephyr Academy this year had only a total of five horse carriages and one carriage would fit four people at most. Total that up and that would only make up twenty people, falling far below the number expected of their status and position.
The other youth next to him then exclaimed: "You don't know what happened in the Zephyr Academy?"
"What happened?" The youth asked, his face one of bewilderment.
His companion then said proudly: "It seems you really do not know! It was such a tumultuous storm that tore through the Zephyr Academy at the end of last year, and you have not heard a single thing about such a earth shaking event! ?"
The youth shook his head and his face was filled with curiosity as he leapt onto his companion to ask: "What happened to them?"
"It was a really shocking event that shook the Zephyr Academy late last year. The Vice Headmaster murdered the Headmaster Fan Qi and the position of Headmaster is now helmed by Fan Qi's son, Fan Jin."
"What? ! Fan Jin ? I remember that he took part in the Spirit Battle Tournament last year as well. Although he did not make it into the top ten, but he still achieved a rather good rank. But..... how old is he only? For him to be the Headmaster of the Zephyr Academy, aren't they taking it a little too lightly? !" The youth asked, his eyes wide with incredulity, unable to believe what he just heard.
Although Fan Jin was rather gifted and an outstanding youth, his age nevertheless did not differ by much from most disciples. All the Headmasters from the other academies were matured men who were well respected and held in great esteem, so needless to mention just a youth in his teens, even if you doubled Fan Jin's age, that still would not make him a suitable candidate as the Headmaster!
"If not him then who else is there? The Vice Headmaster killed the Headmaster and both Headmasters were lost. The Zephyr Academy today is no longer the same powerful Zephyr Academy of the past. After the disciples and teachers of the Zephyr Academy left for the year end break last year, when the school year started at the beginning of this year, only a very small number of people returned."
Chapter 752: Yan Country (3)
"The Zephyr Academy had more than a thousand disciples in their main division originally, but the number that returned this time was but a small fraction from that. Even most of their teachers had left and the present Zephyr Academy do not have many teachers on hand to instruct them. The disciples are not that dumb to go back there anymore. I also heard that many of their people who represented the Zephyr Academy in the Spirit Battle Tournament last year have now transferred to the War Banner Academy and the Dragon Slayer Academy."
"Can that be true? Doesn't the Zephyr Academy still have the Spirit Healer faculty? That is unique only to them, why would so many of them want to leave?" The youth asked, his face in shock. Having come from an academy that was not well known, he would never have dared thought that a prestigious academy like the Zephyr Academy would collapse and fall from grace in such a short period of time.
The other youth smirked and snorted. "If not for the Spirit Healer faculty holding them up, I am guessing that not a single disciple would have returned. I heard that the incident had not just involved the two Headmasters of the Zephyr Academy but many of their disciples had even been dragged into the turmoil, with many of them needlessly paying with their lives. Who would still dare to continue staying in such a horrifying place? No matter how powerful you can get there, your life is ultimately still more important! Isn't that right?"
"Then, wouldn't the Zephyr Academy this year be in deep trouble? All their elite disciples having run away and Fan Jin is already the Headmaster. Don't tell me he still qualifies to participate in the Spirit Battle Tournament as a disciple?" As the Headmaster of an academy, but needing to rough it out together with his disciples in a competition. If word of this got around, they would be seen as the biggest joke.
"Who knows? The Zephyr Academy do not have much to show this year and just maybe, in an attempt to salvage their pitiable reputation, Fan Jin might really take part in the tournament. But..... if I were to have a say, I would tell them that since the Zephyr Academy has already fallen to such a sad state, there is no need for them to even come take part in this year's Spirit Battle Tournament. By showing up here, they will only end up disgracing themselves."
The two youths continued chatting as they strolled around the Imperial Capital. And in every corner that they went, conversations and debates containing very similar content to what they discussed could be heard."
The once prestigious and largely envied Zephyr Academy, had completely crumbled in barely slightly more than a month. Their once strong financial capital had now turned rather measly. With the outflow of their elites and teachers from the main division, the Zephyr Academy could only depend on disciples they promoted up from the branch division to portray a front, a hopeless and pitiful scenario. Many academies were now waiting to see the Zephyr Academy make a joke out of themselves while at the same time, those academies that had been just notches lower in might in comparison to the Zephyr Academy began to get excited and frenzied, longing to immediately become its replacement.
The carriages of the Zephyr Academy finally rolled to a stop before an inn.
It was one of the more prosperous districts of the Imperial Capital here, and a large area had been allocated to the various academies for them to rest and recuperate. All the buildings in the entire district were now filled with disciples from different academies and compared to many other places in the city, it was much quieter here.
Guards in light armour were standing at attention outside the inn and the Zephyr Academy's horse carriages had barely just stopped when two guards strode up to them.
In the loft opposite them, several youths were staring intently at the carriages of the Zephyr Academy, there eyes tinged with ridicule. Although the incident at the Zephyr Academy was strongly suppressed, the disciples who had left them would not remain tight lipped. And now, the twisted chaos that had swept through the Zephyr Academy was news that everyone throughout the lands knew well!
The youths were keen to see for themselves just what kind of useless good for nothings would the Zephyr Academy be using to make up their numbers.
However, when the first person from within stepped out from the carriage, those youths who were watching intently, prepared for a good laugh, suddenly turned wide eyed and went completely speechless!
Chapter 753: "Yan Country (4)"
Their eyes were glued on the flawlessly and unbelievably handsome face of the man who stepped out gracefully from the carriage. His tall and slender frame, his graceful form and even the slightly devilish smile on that incredibly handsome face made the hearts of every single person looking skip a beat.
His slightly narrowed eyes were like intoxicating wine that mesmerised them as he gaze looked unwaveringly into the carriage. After him, a youth with delicate features followed behind. The youth looked to be only around fourteen or fifteen, and although his looks were clean cut and presentable, it was in no way comparable to the one who came out before her.
The guy who came out first smiled and extended his hand out to the youth to help him off the carriage. Every raise of his hand and every step that he took, just looked too breathtakingly magnificent.
As beautiful as a painting.....
A few more youths came out from the carriages one after another, looking just slightly older, but every single one of them seen to be extremely handsome and attractive. Although still paling in comparison to the first guy that stepped out, they still possessed strikingly attractive pictures and they was even a beautiful young girl among them!
The Zephyr Academy had achieved quite a good result in the Spirit Battle Tournament last year and because of that, they had attracted quite an amount of attention from the other academies. But all the disciples saw that all the Zephyr Academy's participants were all unfamiliar faces.
"These people..... are from the Zephyr Academy?" The spying youths all gulped as their eyes fell onto the pretty girl among the small group!
The Zephyr Academy had a girl among their contestants as well last year, and they remembered that she had been a beautiful girl as well. But when compared to the sweet and pretty thing before them now, the beauty of the girl from their memories seem to suddenly fade.
"See the banners on their carriages, they must be from the Zephyr Academy." The disciples who had gathered around to see the Zephyr Academy ridiculed were now at a loss for words. Irregardless of anything else, their attractive looks alone had already quashed the whole lot of them without the slightest doubt.
They can understand people being attractive, but when the attractiveness reaches such an astounding and heart crushing level, it was somehow beyond their comprehension!
A total of ten people came out from the Zephyr Academy's five carriages. After the crowd eye's saw the last two gravely cold and stern men appear, the horse carriages rumbled off and they did not see other figures appear, once again causing the peering eyes a whole lot of confusion.
"Why are there only ten people from the Zephyr Academy?" The youths were puzzled and they could not figure it out. Every academy who took part in the Spirit Battle Tournament were given ten slots, but they saw only a total of ten people here from the Zephyr Academy, with three of them looking to be already beyond their teens who did not seem to be here to participate in the Spirit Battle Tournament.
And in the remaining seven people, they found Fan Jin to be one among them.
After the dust from the huge unrest that rocked the Zephyr Academy had settled, Fan Jin was no longer a disciple of the Zephyr Academy. He had taken up the position of Headmaster and they had reason to doubt that he was still eligible to take part in the Spirit Battle Tournament.
If what they were seeing was correct, the number of people from the Zephyr Academy taking part in the Spirit Battle Tournament would only be six?
And there was one petite figure among them that looked very young, and looking really skinny and weak. Can a little guy like that really represent the Zephyr Academy in the Spirit Battle Tournament?
At that moment, a unspoken consensus came into the minds of all the people watching.
The Zephyr Academy had fallen into desolation. They couldn't even find ten people to take part in the Spirit Battle Tournament and have just managed to scrape together these six. Although they all possessed extraordinary looks, the Spirit Battle Tournament called for might and not looks.
Almost everyone there quickly assumed that the Zephyr Academy had given up on the Spirit Battle Tournament before the fight had even begun.
Seeing that the people of the Zephyr Academy had already gone into the inn, the watching youths all started to turn away from them. And quick as wildfire in dry grass, the news of what they saw spread.
Chapter 754: Yan Country (5)
The Yan Country's arrangements made for the various academies were very well done, and there were already people who stood ready to welcome the guests from the Zephyr Academy.
The Zephyr Academy had in the previous year brought an entourage of about thirty people and the Yan Country had prepared for them a place that could accommodate up to fifty people. Hence, when the innkeeper saw the loose straggle of about only ten people coming in, the smile on his face suddenly froze briefly, but he quickly recovered and went forward to welcome them smilingly.
"Welcome, our esteemed guests. The rooms have all been prepared and I would like to invite our distinguished guests to have a momentary rest in the meantime. The food will soon be ready and after our respected guests have rested, we will serve you your meals in the hall on the second level." The innkeeper was quick to adapt as he announced with a smile.
Jun Wu Xie nodded slightly and she left with all the others to their respective rooms to unpack.
Upon reaching her room, Jun Wu Xie just left the luggage she carried on her on the table and carried the little black cat in her arms.
It had been slightly more than a month since they had decided to take part in the Spirit Battle Tournament. The situation in the Zephyr Academy had been like what Fan Jin had predicted and they were in an extremely bad state. Any disciple with the slightest gift had chosen to leave them, coming up with some easy excuse by writing them on a flimsy letter. They had hastily arranged for those letters to be delivered to the Zephyr Academy, and from there cut off all ties with the Zephyr Academy just like that. Those disciples that had returned in the beginning of the year were mainly those of average potential and their numbers had fallen to only about three hundred. Even adding the number of those promoted from the branch division to it, the total number of disciples had just barely broken the four hundred mark.
The number when compared to the original headcount that they had, was utterly dismal.
But the disciples' departure was not the most critical issue. The thing that was really killing them was the leaving of the teachers. The Zephyr Academy had more than a hundred teachers before, and the number of them that had remained was now less than ten.
So it was imperative that the Zephyr Academy must achieve a good result in the Spirit Battle Tournament this year, which would allow them to regain their glorious reputation!
Jun Wu Xie carried the little black cat in her arms, her fingers slowly stroking its fur, her mind furiously planning the next steps they were to take.
Fan Jin had initially intended to fill up the ten spots they had been allocated for the Spirit Battle Tournament, but they had not been able to find any disciples decent enough to be put up on stage and hence, they decided to forgo the unutilised spots instead of having mediocre disciples shame the Zephyr Academy's name at this most critical period.
So, Jun Wu Xie had rejected Fan Jin's suggestions before they moved out from the academy.
The Spirit Battle Tournament would have her taking part in it with Qiao Chu and his gang, with Fan Jin excluded.
In the month's time for them to prepare, Jun Wu Xie had not only fully cured Fan Jin and Lord Meh Meh, with Jun Wu Yao's help, her spirit powers had reached new heights, at the peak of the green spirit! She was just a few days away from breaking blue and Ye Sha and Ye Mei had the ring spirit for her breakthrough to blue already prepared. The only thing she needed to do was just to wait till her spirit power accumulated to the sufficient level and she would be able to proceed with her breakthrough.
"Meh~" Wool had started grow again on its body and Lord Meh Meh was lying on the ground just beside Jun Wu Xie's feet as its bleated softly.
Although the wool on Lord Meh Meh's body was yet to become as fluffy as before, it had nevertheless been enough to cover its tender pink skin. At a glance, Lord Meh Meh would look just like before, and only upon closer observation would one find that it had become slightly "slimmer".
Moments later, a knock sounded on Jun Wu Xie's door. Without waiting for her to get up to open the door, the door was already being pushed open.
Jun Wu Yao was leaning against the door frame, a devilish smile playing across his mouth. His eyes were narrowed as he came to sit at the table beside Jun Wu Xie.
"It has been a long journey, it should already be time to go eat." Jun Wu Yao said with a smile.
Jun Wu Xie nodded and leaving the little black cat and Lord Meh Meh behind, she got up and walked out.
Chapter 755: "Yan Country (6)"
Jun Wu Xie had just stood up to walk and was nearing him when Jun Wu Yao very smoothly and naturally held her tiny hand in his as they made their way towards the hall on the second level.
Jun Wu Xie seemed to have gotten used to Jun Wu Yao's natural affectionate actions. She had initially been a little uncomfortable but when she remembered a scene she had once encountered in her previous life where she saw young pair of siblings, the elder brother had also been holding his young sister's hand as well.
But Jun Wu Xie had not noticed one other thing in her memory. When the elder brother held his younger sister's hand, that had been when they were crossing the road and that pair of siblings had only been almost eight years of age.....
Qiao Chu and the others were already seated in the second level hall and when they saw Jun Wu Xie and Jun Wu Yao approaching, Qiao Chu thoughtlessly waved his hand at them to urge them to hurry over.
"Where are Ye Sha and Ye Mei?" Qiao Chu looked behind the pair but did not see any sign of Ye Sha and Ye Mei and he asked feeling a little curious.
Jun Wu Yao replied: "They are out on some matters."
Qiao Chu nodded and did not dare probe any further. Although they did not fear Jun Wu Yao much anymore, but they were still jittery in the face of Jun Wu Yao's overwhelming power and the mystery around him, including his two subordinates, who always appeared and disappeared unpredictably.
The inn's waiter soon served them a table full of food and drinks and quickly retreated after that, leaving the entire floor to the eight of them.
Qiao Chu picked a couple of mouthfuls of food into his mouth with his chopsticks and his face quickly creased up into a frown.
"The food only looks good, but it's not as good as Ye Mei's cooking." Back at the little bamboo grove, although only Jun Wu Xie and Jun Wu Yao stayed in there, the cooking of meals there were undertaken by Ye Sha and Ye Mei. Although Qiao Chu and the others did not dare intrude too often initially, they would occasionally still able to pop over and bum off a meal or two from there.
And just eating there once was enough for Qiao Chu to fall head over heels in love with Ye Mei's skills with the wok. He began to shamelessly plead and drag Hua Yao to go with him to the little bamboo grove every other day, with the lousy excuse of discussing with Jun Wu Xie on their plans to acquire the fourth map, but in actual fact, all he wanted was to have another taste of the heavenly cuisine there.
Hua Yao took a taste as well, and nodded his head slightly, sort of an affirmation of Qiao Chu appraisal.
Well hidden in the shadows, Ye Mei just about to leave with Ye Sha to snoop around the Yan Country's Imperial Capital, coincidentally heard Qiao Chu's candid and forthright assessment, and his face immediately twisted up in mourning.
Although.....
That had been an undeniable compliment on his cooking, why was he not feeling the least bit happy upon hearing that?
[He is not a chef for goodness sake!]
[Heavens! Your comments are not needed here! !]
Ye Sha patted Ye Mei comfortingly on the shoulder silently, in a great display of sympathy.
As brothers in common misery, he of all people could fully empathize with how Ye Mei was feeling right at that moment.
Those hands on them were both born to hold sharply honed blades to wreck havoc as they kicked up a bloody storm, striking endless fears in the hearts of their enemies. But their very own Lord they served had forced them to become skilled in cooking, sewing and the many various menial tasks of housekeeping, almost driving to the edge of madness. Using an executioner's blade to slaughter a chicken..... They had even picked up embroidery needles for their Lord, and that was something they would never mention to anyone. Ever.
"When we do leave the Lower Realm, I swear to never set one foot into a kitchen ever again!" Ye Mei said through tightly clenched teeth, his eyes aflame with strong conviction.
[Humiliation!]
[Pure and utter humiliation!]
[Cooking for their Lord Jue and the Young Miss was already a little bit of a stretch and now that he was branded a "good cook", he really could not make himself feel any pride!
Ye Sha continued to nod in understanding.
"And no more sewing!" When he thought back to the first time he had touched a sewing needle to sew a piece of clothing, and it was for a dumb sheep to wear, he really wanted to ram his head into the wall to kill himself!
As highly skilled and cold blooded killers, they were forced to take up girly and prissy tasks like this. If news of this was leaked, they would both kill themselves on the spot.
Ye Sha sighed heavily, and left the inn together with Ye Mei with heavy hearts.
Chapter 756: Yan Country (7)
The belly full from food and drinks, Qiao Chu flopped back in satisfaction on his chair and gave a loud burp. Fei Yan at the side gave him a disapproving glance before turning his head to face Jun Wu Xie and say: "The information that I managed to dig up on the Yan Country previously, have you seen them yet?"
In the slightly more than a month past, Jun Wu Xie and Fan Zhuo had remained in the Zephyr Academy and had not gone anywhere else while Qiao Chu, Hua Yao and Rong Ruo had gone back to the Phoenix Academy to update Yan Bu Gui on their itinerary on their upcoming trip. Only Fei Yan had been the busiest. He had needed to get a good grasp about the general situation in the Yan Country before the companions moved out before they could plan out their mission in more detail.
Fei Yan had not been idle in that period and had only returned on the day that Jun Wu Xie and the others were due to move out. Throughout the bumpy journey, he had relayed the information he had managed to gather to the others and they had all managed to gain a general understanding of the situation in the Yan Country in that time.
The Yan Country had four sons, with the eldest among them being the Yan Country's Crown Prince, who was the target of Jun Wu Xie and her companions on this mission.
Jun Wu Xie nodded.
"What does Little Xie intend to do? Do we wait till we achieve our ranks before we get close to the Crown Prince or do we begin right now? I heard that the Crown Prince would occasionally come into contact with some of the disciples from the various academies taking part in the Spirit Battle Tournament before the games begin." Fei Yan asked, looking at Jun Wu Xie, subconsciously already relying on Jun Wu Xie's opinion on their next move.
From the moment he met Jun Wu Xie till that moment, her assessment of the situation and decision making had always been accurate and he had not yet seen her lapse in her judgement as yet.
"There's no rush as for now and we'll just watch." Although the information Fei Yan had provided them was useful, she needed to reaffirm it with her own eyes before she would be able to make an accurate judgement.
Till now, the two times that Jun Wu Xie had become involved with people who were working in cahoots with people from the Twelve Palaces, they had not been saintly to say the least. One loved to use handsome looking youths as lab rats for his research in poisons, while the other had plotted to murder the entire student body of an academy. The Yan Country's Crown Prince was thought to be a rather modest and humble Crown Prince from the information she received. He was named the Crown Prince from the age of ten and he had shown himself to be dependable, without having stirred up anything too excessive. After him, the Emperor had another three sons, and the Crown Prince had also been very caring and loving towards them.
From the surface, he seemed to be not too bad a guy.
But.....
To have been involved with people from the Twelve Palaces, Jun Wu Xie did not dare to be so certain with her assessment of the Crown Prince.
Just like Mo Xuan Fei in the beginning. From the memories of her body's previous owner, Jun Wu Xie knew that before she was reborn into the body, Mo Xuan Fei's reputation on the surface had not been any much worse than what she had gathered about the Yan Country's Crown Prince, they were both reputed to be cultured and refined gentlemen, both just as humble and deferent. But in the case of Mo Xuan Fei, he was in truth actually just a well dressed, dignified hypocrite.
"That will work, I am guessing he won't be long in coming here to meet us anyway. Didn't Fei Yan say the Crown Prince has a penchant for mixing with peasants like us?" Qiao Chu said with a laugh. Every year before the Spirit Battle Tournament began, the Yan Country's Crown Prince would always move around among the various academies. And he did not discriminate between them and he visited academies both big and small. Although the top three academies would be included, he did not however overlook those tiny academies that people had never heard of.
That puzzled quite a number of people.
Establishing contact with the top three academies was obviously to enable one to be able to recruit strong talents more easily,
But for a Crown Prince to take the time to visit the common academies, was something people could not comprehend.
Jun Wu Xie sipped at her water, and did not give a reaction to Qiao Chu's statement.
Fan Jin was just listening quietly from the side and towards what the others were discussing, he did not really understand it. As in his mind, the only reason they had come to the Yan Country was only to participate in the Spirit Battle Tournament.
Chapter 757: Yan Country (8)
But Fan Jin did not ask them anything about it, nor did he want to look deeper into it. He knew that regardless whether it was Jun Wu Xie or her companions around her, they were all people from extraordinary backgrounds. And if they did not tell him about what they were going to do, he assumed they must have their own reasons for doing so.
Fan Jin's eyes slowly turned to look at Fan Zhuo. Seeing the genuine smile on his face that shone from deep inside his heart, he was feeling glad and heartened by what he saw.
"You guys carry on chatting. I need to go see the Grand Adviser." Fan Jin stood up and announced. He was afraid that Jun Wu Xie and the others might find it inconvenient to speak their mind if he remained there and he found himself an excuse to leave.
"Grand Adviser? Big Brother, what are you looking for him for?" Fan Jin asked.
The Yan Country's Grand Adviser held a position of pivotal importance and he was highly revered by the people, his reputation and status second only to the Emperor himself, but still higher than even the Crown Prince, the heir apparent to the throne. But the Grand Adviser seldom interfered with the affairs concerning the running of the Yan Country and he would only make an appearance when needed.
If the Emperor of the Yan Country was the authoritative figure as its ruler, then the Grand Adviser would be the Yan Country's Spiritual Leader, who was deeply loved and respected by its people.
Fan Jin replied easily with a laugh: "Senior Wen Xin Han had entrusted me with a letter before we left, for me to hand over to the Grand Adviser."
Fan Zhuo nodded and did not probe further. They had all come out from the Zephyr Academy and the academy was now being run by Wen Xin Han and Gu Li Sheng. As the Zephyr Academy had just weathered through so much turmoil, Fan Jin had sincerely invited Wen Xin Han to temporarily remain at the Zephyr Academy and Wen Xin Han had not refused.
After seeing Fan Jin leave, Fei Yan rubbed at his chin. "If my memory serves me correctly, the Yan Country's Grand Adviser seems to be surnamed Wen." His eyes turning to look meaningfully at Jun Wu Xie.
Although the surname Wen was not considered to be very rare, but the fact that Wen Xin Han had asked Fan Jin to deliver a letter to the Yan Country's Grand Adviser and that they both shared the same surname of Wen would unavoidably make people link them together.
"The Yan Country's Grand Adviser, goes by the name of Wen Yu?" Jun Wu Xie asked.
Fei Yan nodded.
"It is afterall Senior Wen's personal matter and it will not be nice for us to probe into it. But it at least provides us with some reaffirmation that Wen Yu is not our enemy." Fan Zhuo said with a smile. Although he did not know what was written in Wen Xin Han's letter, but if he had tasked Fan Jin to personally deliver the letter, he strongly believed Wen Xin Han's actions was led by some personal motive, like requesting for him to watch over them a little or something along those lines.
"Cough..... I also heard..... that the Yan Country's Grand Adviser looks..... enchantingly beautiful." Qiao Chu said suddenly, a faint pink tinge even starting to show on his face.
Fei Yan shot Qiao Chu a glance filled with disdain, in helpless silence.
[Whenever this moron lays his eyes on beautiful people, no matter male or female, he always puts on this sick puppy face!]
"It is said he looks very beautiful, and that he possesses the most beautiful face in the Yan Country. But do not repeat this unofficial title outside. The Grand Adviser does not seem to like people commenting on his looks." Fei Yan reminded.
"I'm not going to do that. Where would you find a man that likes people telling him that he is pretty?" Qiao Chu grumbled.
Jun Wu Xie listened to them quietly. Without thinking about it, after she heard about Wen Yu's revered beauty, she subconsciously turned to look at Jun Wu Yao beside her. Her slightly cold gaze swept over Jun Wu Yao's flawless and perfect features, carefully scrutinising his face.
It might be that Jun Wu Xie's stare had been too obvious, where even Qiao Chu on the other side noticed it.
"Little Xie, there's no need to stare so hard. I dare guarantee it! That Wen Yu fella, could never be as good looking as our Big Brother Jun." He had never seen anyone looking more attractive than Jun Wu Yao in his life! If someone told him that a person existed that looked better than Jun Wu Yao, he really wouldn't be able to imagine what kind of monster that person could possibly be.
Jun Wu Xie was startled and she quickly averted her eyes, lowering her head to sip at her tea. But her conspicuous attempt to hide made it all the more obvious to Jun Wu Yao's eyes, and that elicited a light laugh out of him.
Chapter 758: "Flame Spirit Auction House (1)"
After lunch, the companions parted ways.
Having come to the Yan Country's Imperial Capital, Fei Yan gathered more sources of information and in this period before the Spirit Battle Tournament commenced, he continued to gather more intelligence. Besides information on the Yan Country's Crown Prince, he researched a little on the academies taking part in this year's Spirit Battle Tournament.
In the short amount of time they took to have a meal, the news that the Zephyr Academy had sent only a meager ten people quickly spread throughout the various academies' teams. Many of them were already thinking that the Zephyr Academy had fallen from grace this year and when they heard the news, they were even more certain that they had been right.
After finishing her lunch, Jun Wu Xie did not remain in the inn. With the Yan Country being the mightiest power throughout the lands, the resources they possessed was something other countries could not compare to. And in the Yan Country's most prosperous Imperial Capital City, there were places that no other cities could compare to as well.
According to Fei Yan's sources, Jun Wu Xie got to know that the Yan Country's Imperial Capital City housed the world's biggest Flame Spirit Auction House. It was opened by the Yan Country's wealthiest merchant and they can be found in all the cities throughout the Yan Country, with the flagship and biggest branch situated right here in the Capital City. They had all kinds of rare treasures and extraordinary things here, more than one could count, and it was the place the tiny Chan Lin Auction House could not dream to compare to.
Although they had been well caught up with so many tumultuous events all this time, Jun Wu Xie had nevertheless not forgotten the elixir that Yan Bu Gui needed. In order to succeed in its cultivation, she needed to first gather the herbs that she needed. Hence, she had her eyes set on the Flame Spirit Auction House at that moment, wanting to go take a look and see if they have anything suitable herbs that she needed.
As the Capital City had an abundant flow of customers, the entire city was dotted throughout with many auction houses big and small. The most successful and prosperous Flame Spirit Auction House among them even opened up for business everyday, allowing everyone to go pick out treasures anytime they wanted.
It was high noon and the Yan Country's Imperial Capital City was filled with the hustle and bustle of people, everywhere you looked, the place was teeming with crowds of people.
As the Spirit Battle Tournament was nearing, the Yan Country's Imperial Capital was filled with people from the various entourages from the numerous academies, and also people who came from other mighty powers and factions who were seeking to pick out potential candidates to recruit. They had all flocked to the Capital City, gathered here together to wait for the tournament to commence, filling up the city to the brim.
In regards to the intentions of the various powers in their city, the Yan Country had always been silent. It was not that they freely allowed others to come try to snatch any potential gifted disciples that they had their eye on, but it was because the Yan Country had complete confidence that anyone they approached, would never reject their invitation.
That was the confidence of the mightiest power throughout the lands!
Jun Wu Xie followed the map that Fei Yan gave her and passed through the main streets and small alleys, making her way towards the Flame Spirit Auction House. And right beside her, a tall slender figure followed closely.
"Does Little Xie have anything she wants to buy?" Jun Wu Yao asked with a smile, looking at Jun Wu Xie. He seemed to have nothing to do in the recent period and he attached himself to Jun Wu Xie. There were only a few occasions that he would disappear only for just a few hours before he would quickly reappear.
Jun Wu Xie had never asked him about his disappearance even when she detected the faint stench of blood on him every time, and just frown slightly but remaining silent.
"I needs some herbs." Jun Wu Xie replied.
"Are you going to cultivate elixirs again?" Jun Wu Yao asked, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Jun Wu Xie. All this time, he had from the beginning till now always been able to smell the light fragrant scent of herbs emanating from her, totally unlike the overpowering smell of scented powder that was commonly found on girls, and different from the sickening sweet smell of a variety of flowers. Jun Wu Xie had a scent about her that was faintly bitter and it might be slightly discomfiting initially, but after getting used to it, it kinds of grows on you and feels extremely comforting.
Chapter 759: "Flame Spirit Auction House (2)"
That was a scent that was uniquely Jun Wu Xie's.
For no other reason, but just because it belonged to her, so Jun Wu Yao liked it.
Jun Wu Xie shook her head, and then nodded.
The elixir was not what she needed, but what she had to do.
Acknowledging Yan Bu Gui as her Master, was her own decision. Although she had not stayed at the Phoenix Academy for long, and she had not interacted all that much with Yan Bu Gui, Jun Wu Xie had however taken in that slovenly dressed man as her Master in her heart. As a disciple, it was a given that she should shoulder her Master's worries.
Without having to mention anything else, just the gifting of the Heaven's Flask and the Cosmos Sack had been incredibly helpful to her.
When people showed her kindness, she might not always verbally thank them, but her gratitude was always hidden beneath her actions taken towards it.
Watching his little darling's conflicting response, Jun Wu Yao only found it endlessly endearing. Remembering when he had first met Jun Wu Xie, she had been just like a little kitten on edge, her guard up against everyone around her, her icy glare always looking at him warily. And at any moment that he took the slightest step closer to her, her claws would immediately come flying at him in response.
And unconsciously, they were somehow able to get along in "harmony" now.
His little darling's attitude towards him had gradually softened in recent times and Jun Wu Yao was in a very good mood. It did not matter that he had to resolve his own matters in an extremely short period of time daily, he was only too willing to do that.
If the day came that his little darling's attitude towards him improved even further, he would not mind it in the least even if it made things more troublesome for him.
The squeezy crowd threatened to swallow up Jun Wu Xie's tiny frame. Averse to the touching others, Jun Wu Xie subconsciously closed the gap between her and Jun Wu Yao. Due to the difference in size of their bodies, when her tiny frame drew closer, it looked completely as if Jun Wu Xie was slipping into Jun Wu Yao's arms. The smile on Jun Wu Yao's face grew wide and he naturally raised an arm and pulled the tiny figure into an embrace, carefully shielding her. He had initially wanted to release a bit of his spirit power, to drive the crowd back away from him, but he immediately threw that idea out of his head as his heart gladdened in glee, his arm clasped around Jun Wu Xie as they traversed their way through the crowd, towards the direction of the Flame Spirit Auction House.
The Flame Spirit Auction House sat on a massive and sprawling space. As Jun Wu Xie had only been to the Chan Lin Auction House before and when she compared the two auction houses together, the huge disparity in scale was immediately clear to see.
Judging just based on the size of the land, the space the Flame Spirit Auction House in the Yan Country's Imperial Capital City sat upon was more than ten times that of the Chan Lin Auction House. At the entrance, an endless stream of people were going into the premises and many of them were youths dressed in the uniforms of many other academies, drawn to come here due to the place's famous reputation.
The youths who came to take part in the Spirit Battle Tournament mostly held thoughts of pride and glory in their hearts and they moved around wearing their uniforms because they knew that many talent scouts from the various powers were hidden everywhere in the capital city waiting to poach for new gifted talents. As they knew that they had no chance of achieving the top ten ranks before the disciples from the top three elite academies, these other disciples had no other choice but to blatantly exhibit their identities in such a fashion at all times possible, carrying themselves in a manner to present their best front, quietly hoping that a talent scout would discover their potential.
Jun Wu Xie was not wearing the Zephyr Academy's uniform and was just dressed in common clothes. Although her looks could be considered delicately attractive, she did not stand out. Added to that, she was petite in size and would be easily overlooked, lost in the massive crowds of people there.
However, this time, Jun Wu Xie would not be overlooked that easily. All the way from the moment she left the inn till she reached the Flame Spirit Auction House, countless pairs of eyes had gauged and scrutinised her from head to toe, but they had not be drawn because of her, but it was all due to.....
Chapter 760: "Flame Spirit Auction House (3)"
The man standing next to Jun Wu Xie, Jun Wu Yao!
Jun Wu Yao was dressed in very ordinary clothes, in full black, plain and simple in design, without a single ornamental or decorative aspect on it. But just that one flawlessly handsome face had been more than enough to draw all eyes to turn towards him. Throughout their entire journey, his tall graceful figure had mesmerizingly fleeted past, having captured and imprisoned an uncountable number of ladies' hearts. The bolder ones among them had even tailed the two people and come to the Flame Spirit Auction House. When they saw Jun Wu Yao going into the premises, all of them had rushed to follow after even though they had absolutely no interest in any of the auctions.
With such a blindingly bright and prominent entity at her side, it was arduously difficult for Jun Wu Xie to remain unnoticed. As a girl, she had crossdressed as a boy for convenience, but as she was very petite in size, and with someone having happily cradling her tightly within his arm the entire way, one really couldn't be sure of her gender. If they didn't look closely at the clothes she was wearing to ascertain that she was actually "male", she would have been insufferably cursed so badly by the train of ladies trailing closely behind them.
After confirming Jun Wu Xie's "gender", some of them who were a little concerned with his gender orientation quickly justified it themselves in a great show of magnanimity. They not only convinced themselves that there was absolutely nothing inappropriate in Jun Wu Yao holding a young male youth so tightly but told themselves that he was just being extraordinarily gentle and considerate, protecting his weak and frail little companion in the crowded sea of people.
Outrageously good looking, gentle and considerate. With that intoxicating smile playing across his lips, Jun Wu Yao immediately sent the gaggle of ladies swooning in rapture, unable to take their eyes off him.
It was only after Jun Wu Xie went into the auction house with Jun Wu Yao that she realised just how vast the place really was. On the ground level, the several hundred seats seemed to be all filled. And while the private rooms on the second level looked slightly similar to the ones back at Chan Lin Auction House, the number and sheer size of them surprised her. Looking up from the ground floor, it was clear that all the private rooms on the second level was fully taken up as well.
Jun Wu Xie and Jun Wu Yao managed to find seats for themselves right at the furthest corner of the hall.
As Jun Wu Yao settled into his seat, many sets of eyes from the ladies locked onto him at the same time. Their gazes were pretentiously coy as they secretly peeked over in the direction of the unparalleled and fabulously handsome man, and if it was not for the societal norm that proper ladies should practice necessary self restraint, they would have all swarmed over him and tried to chat him up.
However, despite having become the focal point of the mass of ladies, Jun Wu Yao seemed to be completely oblivious. The only reaction his deep pair of eyes showed was only the slightest narrowing of the eyes as he accompanied Jun Wu Xie for the auction.
If Jun Wu Xie had wanted any other treasure, he could very well have ordered someone to get it for her, but when it came to herbs, he really haven't much of an idea about them or he wouldn't have allowed her to even need to patronise such a noisy and boisterous place like this. Just seeing the darkened expression on that tiny face, Jun Wu Yao knew that she did not like the crowded and squeezy environment and he subconsciously use his tall frame to block out as much of the noisy clamour around them as possible from her.
At that moment, the auctioneer on stage was carrying out an auction for a precious and beautiful piece of jade. That was always a well loved item of the ladies but all the eyes of the ladies in the hall were instead focused onto another certain spot which suddenly caused the item that should have people fighting to bid for to lose its expected attention.
When Jun Wu Xie saw that the item on stage was not what she seeked, she immediately lowered her eyes and went through the list of herbs that she needed for the elixir in her mind.
In one of the private rooms on the second level, a young girl sitting by the window had initially been bidding for the beautiful piece of jade on stage when that she had suddenly spotted that astounding figure fleeting past out of the corner of her eyes. She was stunned a moment before she turned her head to look down onto the first level.