Wayfarer

Chapter 652: Beating Up the Suitors

Within the Yuqing holy land, at the foot of Chiyang Peak, Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao waited until the evening, when Han Bingdie returned. Two beautiful women accompanied her.

"Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao called out.

Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously, "Senior, these cultivators are..."

"They're my husband's first and second wives, here to have a look at you," Han Bingdie said.

"I greet both seniors." Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply, though an odd look crossed his face.

"So this is Xiao Nanfeng! No wonder Yu'er's besotted."

"Not bad, not bad! Yu'er's clearly as discerning as I am."

The two women glanced at Xiao Nanfeng with significant interest while he shivered.

"Sisters, let's talk business, shall we?" Han Bingdie asked.

"Please go ahead, Sister," one of the women replied.

Han Bingdie smiled wryly. "Very well. I didn't want to go against my husband's wishes, but since you both agree... I'm counting on both of you to help me out if he blames me, alright?"

"He's a stubborn fool who wants to sacrifice Yu'er's happiness for the Yuqing holy land. Can't his three sons do that? Why is it Yu'er who has to give up her man? Dream on!"

"Don't worry. If he blames you, we'll be on your side."

The two women promised to ally themselves with Han Bingdie.

"Thank you, Sisters," Han Bingdie said.

"Seniors, what are all of you discussing?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, confused.

"Nanfeng, we won't make any promises about whether you can be with Yu'er in the future, but are you willing to fight others on her behalf at the moment?" Han Bingdie asked.

"Of course."

"Good. Here's the situation. For some reason, Yu'er's father chose to induct her as a Yuqing holy maiden. The title is no blessing—such holy maidens are expected to make marriage alliances with foreign powers to strengthen the Yuqing holy land's reserves. The matter wouldn't have been pressing if not for the fact that several powers are now seeking Yu'er's hand in marriage under the pretext of taking part in her father's upcoming birthday. Somehow, even the hierarch has approved of this.

"My husband is willing to do anything for the future of the Yuqing holy land, and he is naturally in agreement with the hierarch. This makes matters difficult for Yu'er: he wanted her to meet with these prospective suitors, but she's been refusing to see any of them. That's the cause of the conflict, and we can't do anything about it," Han Bingdie explained.

"Oh? Senior, you mean I should elope with Yu'er?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

The three women were all taken aback. Han Bingdie scoffed, "Elope? This is the Yuqing holy land! Do you think you'd succeed? Don't think of doing anything with Yu'er at the moment."

"Understood," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "How am I to help Yu'er, then?"

"Didn't you say that you had plenty of fierce subordinates and relics? My husband's birthday is in ten days. Over the next ten days, send these prospective suitors packing with your fists," Han Bingdie said.

"With my fists?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.

"Indeed. There are plenty of strong suitors around, and you two True Immortals won't be able to handle them all by yourselves. Aren't you a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court? Send for other Martial Aspects to help you out, then," Han Bingdie said.

"Would it cause any problems if I were to get into fights in the Yuqing holy land?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, worried.

"What problems could there be? You're not beating up Yuqing disciples, after all. You're a guest, and they're guests as well. There aren't any restrictions on guests fighting each other.

"You need to showcase your strength not just to my husband, but also to the other Mountain Lords and the Hierarch himself. At the very least, you need to make them think that those losers aren't qualified to marry Yu'er. I'll champion you and extol your virtues then as well," Han Bingdie said.

"Senior, are there Boundless Immortals among these suitors?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Han Bingdie scoffed. "Do you think Boundless Immortals are a dime a dozen? If a Boundless Immortal were to come as a suitor, the Hierarch would never dare have them stay at the foot of Chiyang Peak. Yu'er would be bound for marriage in an instant. These are True Immortals at best. There's only a single Golden Immortal, supposedly from the Southeastern Aquatic Palace, and he hasn't become one for long. That's why you'll need reinforcements."

"In that case, I'll make my move immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"What? And what if the two of you were to lose?" Han Bingdie exclaimed.

"I'm invincible among True Immortals, and I'm certain I can beat an early-stage Golden Immortal. There's no time to lose. Who knows what'll happen if I wait?"

The three women glanced at Xiao Nanfeng in surprise. Han Bingdie frowned. "Nanfeng, your master is Ku Jiang, and he isn't skilled at bragging. Is this a joke?"

"I've taken on a Golden Immortal before, Senior, and I'll have relics as a safeguard. I'll be fine."

The three women eyed each other before Han Bingdie finally said, "Very well. This is as much as we can help you. If you end up wasting this opportunity yourself, there's nothing more we can do."

"Please relax, Senior. I won't disappoint or embarrass you or Yu'er. We'll pen the letters of challenge today and take them on the very next morning," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Very well." Han Bingdie nodded.

She still seemed somewhat unable to believe Xiao Nanfeng's claims. After all, despite the fact that True Immortals and Golden Immortals differed by but a single major realm, the difference might as well be that between night and day.

She pointed out to Xiao Nanfeng where the prospective suitors were located.

Meanwhile, on Chiyang Peak, Yu'er was still locked in her room, not having realized that Xiao Nanfeng had come to pay her a visit.

The Mountain Lord Xia Xingchen frowned as he eyed the valley, knowing that his three wives had gone to talk to Xiao Nanfeng. Rather than stop them, he seemed to be waiting to see what Xiao Nanfeng would do with anticipation.

The next day, at the entrance to the Yuqing holy land, Xia Lan was standing guard when a Yuqing disciple rushed out to find him. "Senior Brother Xia Lan, something's wrong!"

"What's the matter?"

"Do you remember Xiao Nanfeng from yesterday?"

"What about him?"

"Last night, he penned a letter of challenge against all the prospective suitors seeking your sister's hand. They're all fighting today!" the Yuqing disciple cried out.

"What? You must be mistaken. There's no way he's going to cause such a fuss right after arriving here!"

"It's true! Chiyang Peak's in a huge commotion about the news. No, it's already spread to the other peaks. There are disciples from all over waiting for the show!"

"Are you serious?"

"Of course! He's going to take on all the suitors in one go. The fight's about to start!"

"Damn it, he really is a troublemaker, isn't he? I'm going to go have a look!" Xia Lan called out.

"Senior Brother Xia Lan, your guard duty—"

"What's there to guard? Come on!"

He rushed in through the gate and quickly vanished from sight.

Xia Lan passed through cloud and fog cover as he zipped toward the foot of Chiyang Peak, where countless Yuqing disciples had already gathered.

Those Yuqing disciples were standing atop the various mountain peaks, chatting with each other as they pointed out the various suitors. Some had even brought tables with fruit, wine, and snacks with them as they watched the show unfold.

After all, for the holy maiden's suitors to take on each other would be rare entertainment indeed.

"Look! That's Xiao Nanfeng over there. The fight's starting!"

"He looks plain and ordinary. Is he really going to be able to take down the other suitors?"

"Ah, those fists are multiplying!"

The Yuqing disciples were taken aback.

In a valley surrounded by disciples, Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and punched at his opponent, a monk. Suddenly, countless fists emerged all around the monk, sending him flying as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"They're really getting into a fight? Xiao Nanfeng, that bastard! To think my sister would devote herself to him—not only is Father going to be upset, none of my mothers are going to speak up on his behalf anymore!" Xia Lan exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanjiao sat enjoying a flagon of wine in a pavilion, without any intention of making a move himself. Xiao Nanfeng strode forward, eyeing the forces gathered around him.

The suitors' delegations were composed of thousands of cultivators in all, and they were all glaring at Xiao Nanfeng.

"Once again, I'm perfectly happy to welcome you to celebrate Mountain Lord Xiao's birthday, but I don't intend to allow you to extend an offer of marriage," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.

"And who are you to deny us that opportunity?" a cultivator shouted.

"I don't intend to order you about with my station, lest others think that I'm unqualified. If you insist, then you'll have to beat me up first. Actions speak louder than words, after all."

"Allow me." A muscular monk with a ferocious air about him strode forward.

"A monk as a prospective suitor? Aren't you ashamed?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

He punched forward, and the sky filled with fists. The monk was sent flying.

"Junior Brothers, take down this fool with me!" the monk shouted.

"Yes, Senior Brother!" the monks chorused.

Seventeen monks shot forward alongside him, all of them boasting significant strength. They were all Heaven Immortals. The eighteen monks stood in a formation that released an overwhelming aura, shocking the gathered Yuqing disciples.

"It's the Golden Arhat Temple's eighteen-arhat formation!"

"Xiao Nanfeng's done for now."

"Did he really think he could take on so many cultivators alone? What a joke!"

Countless disciples murmured to each other from around the valley.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I gave you the opportunity to take me on one after another. You're going to gang up on me all at once instead?"

"Ha! As if there's a need to fight you in an ethical fashion," the muscular monk thundered.

"Very well, then," Xiao Nanfeng declared.

A red moon appeared behind his head, rising into the air. Red clouds formed around it as cursed spiritual power filled the valley.

The cursed spiritual power left everyone uneasy, including the gathered monks. Their leader abruptly shouted, "Hurry!"

"Die!" the eighteen monks shouted as one.

They clutched their staffs and shot forward, the eighteen staffs boasting the combined strength of a whole battalion of troops as they struck at Xiao Nanfeng.

Just then, coils of red rope unfurled from the clouds above, lashing at the gathered monks like whips of order.

The lengths of red rope each coiled around a monk's neck. The muscular monk in the lead was tied up with so much rope that he looked like a dumpling.

The monks were left hanging in the air, their staffs clattering to the ground. Their faces flushed red as they tore at the rope around their necks without any luck.

"R-Release me!" the muscular monk shouted in fear.

All the Yuqing disciples were taken aback.

"What a sinister technique, and what dense cursed spiritual power..."

"That monk in the lead's a True Immortal. He can't even seem to move!"

"They've all been hung..."

The disciples gaped at the sight unfolding before them.