Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 752 Completed

The summer breeze carried a scorching heat, and the gleaming official road, worn smooth by countless footsteps, swirled up wisps of dust. Months of drought had withered the vegetation, leaving the land desolate. An old farmer in the fields silently wept as he watched his withered crops die. The setting sun painted the distant, mottled ancient city a blood-red hue.

Without a sound, Chen Xuan and his two companions appeared by the roadside, far away from the 'medicine garden' that was destined to ignite the world soon. No matter how the situation developed, Chen Xuan would no longer interfere; he was merely a passerby who occasionally stopped on his journey.

Liu Yuyuan, who was standing like a lackey in the confrontation between the various parties just a moment ago, was brought here by Chen Xuan in just a few breaths, and he was still a little dazed.

After taking in his surroundings, he realized that he was near the place where he had first met Chen Xuan and his group a few days ago. At that time, because a large number of women had gone missing over the years, and Chen Xuan and his group happened to have several beautiful women with them, he became suspicious and went to follow them. At this moment, the roadside tea stall a few hundred meters away was still open for business.

Thinking back to the previous situation, as a member of the martial arts world, if he were taken away by the Chrysanthemum Guards, he would probably not be in any danger, but he would definitely not be free for a period of time and would have to cooperate with the investigation in various ways.

With a flicker of thought, Liu Yuyuan bowed respectfully to Chen Xuan and said, "Thank you for helping me out of that predicament, Mr. Chen."

Guo Qingxue glanced at Chen Xuan's expression, but as if she had forgotten, she still held his arm tightly, her full breasts pressing against his arm. She already knew her feelings for Brother Chen, and how could she bear to let go of such an opportunity? However, with Liu Yuyuan, a stranger, present, her cheeks flushed slightly.

Chen Xuan gently moved his arms, trying to pull away, but Guo Qingxue hugged him even tighter. He didn't force her anymore and let her be; it was quite comfortable anyway.

He smiled at Liu Yuyuan and said, "Hero Liu, there's no need for that. It was just a small favor. But please understand, it's not that I can't take your friends with me, it's just that doing so would be pushing my luck."

“Mr. Chen, you flatter me. I understand,” Liu Yuyuan quickly replied. He knew that in that situation, Chen Xuan had already done more than enough by taking him away; he dared not ask for more.

Nodding, Chen Xuan said, "Actually, Master Liu, there's no need to worry too much. At most, they'll be restricted from their freedom for a period of time to cooperate with the investigation. They went there out of a sense of righteous indignation and didn't do anything wrong, so they should be fine. They should be free soon."

Liu Yuyuan had been navigating the martial world for many years. Although his skills were mediocre, he wasn't stupid. Even though he didn't know what had happened deep down in the underworld, he still vividly remembered the events of not long ago. Knowing the matter was of great importance, he said earnestly, "Young Master Chen, rest assured. Although there are many things I don't understand, I know what to say and what to keep to myself. I know nothing."

Knowing what he meant, Chen Xuan waved his hand and said, "It's not that serious, but it's best to keep a low profile until everything settles down." He paused, then looked at Liu Yuyuan and asked, "What are your plans next, Master Liu?"

Liu Yuyuan shook his head, slightly bewildered, and said, "I don't know either. I originally wanted to uncover the truth behind the woman's disappearance and also investigate the whereabouts of my fiancée from back then, but now it seems that it's simply beyond my control."

Seeing his helpless and bewildered expression, which might seem a little cruel, Chen Xuan hesitated for a moment before patting him on the shoulder and saying, "Master Liu, you must have been mentally prepared for some things long ago. It's just that you're a little unwilling to accept the outcome without actually seeing it. You saw it in that herb garden before. The villains were using women's remains to cultivate the Acacia Ice Moon Flower. This matter is beyond the reach of ordinary people. So just wait for the results. Afterwards, the Yu Hua Kingdom's court should release the list of the women who have been victimized over the years. However, it's probably impossible to retrieve the remains. After all, with so many dead women, it's impossible to tell who is who."

In this era, there was no way to verify identity through DNA testing. It was almost impossible to claim a dead person without clear characteristics. That's why Chen Xuan said what he did. As for the list of victims, Qin Yan and Qin Ruyu must have kept records of the abductions they sent. After all, they were abducting young and beautiful women. Perhaps these two behind-the-scenes leaders wouldn't care about such trivial matters, but the people actually doing the work would definitely make sure to perfect these details.

At this moment, Chen Xuan suddenly regretted slapping Qin Ruyu to death. The kidnapped women had all been devoured by her through the Soul-Devouring Spider King, and their bloodline memories had been absorbed. So, was it possible to identify the identities of the corpses through the special characteristics of the Soul-Devouring Spider King?

There was nothing he could do; things had already come to this, so Chen Xuan didn't dwell on it anymore.

With a bitter smile, Liu Yuyuan said helplessly, "I hope it's as Mr. Chen said. I'll stay in Yucheng for now. If I see the list published and confirm that my fiancée's name is on it, I'll build her a cenotaph. We'll talk about the rest later. I should rest for a while, then find a job and settle down. You have to look forward, right?"

“That’s true. Perhaps it’s a bit offensive, but Master Liu is still young and shouldn’t dwell on the past. Once he’s in a better mood, he should settle down and start a family,” Chen Xuan said with a smile.

Liu Yuyuan gave Chen Xuan a strange look, then shook his head and said, "Let's talk about it later."

After chatting with him for a while, Chen Xuan was also subtly reminding him that there were some things he couldn't interfere with, otherwise he might get into trouble. After such a big incident, after Qin Yan's death, who knows how many people would be implicated. If he didn't have the ability, it was better to stay out of the way. Fortunately, Liu Yuyuan was a smart man and understood what Chen Xuan meant.

Chen Xuan had previously thought they would be separated for a while and reminded him to come find him when he had time. Now that he had brought him out, and not wanting to leave today's matters for tomorrow, Chen Xuan thought for a moment and said, "Master Liu, do you remember when I asked you about your family's martial arts techniques?"

With a sudden thought, Liu Yuyuan looked at Chen Xuan and asked thoughtfully, "Mr. Chen, there are some things I know I shouldn't ask about myself, but I still want to know, when you went down into the depths before, was it... never mind, I'll be blunt, was it to avenge those women, including my fiancée?"

"I guess you could guess that?" Chen Xuan thought for a moment and said.

With a relieved smile, Liu Yuyuan said, "Very well, since that's the case, it's just a mere family heirloom technique. If it can help Young Master Chen, I'll gladly offer it up. However, please give me some time to write it down, and I will definitely deliver it today."

Slightly taken aback, Chen Xuan shook his head and smiled, "Master Liu, you misunderstand. It's not that I covet your divine martial arts manual. To be honest, after you mentioned that you cultivate the Ze Yuan Technique, I had some suspicions. So, after you left that day, I started to investigate some of your past. I hope you will forgive me for this. Only then did I learn that you are a descendant of an old friend."

Hearing this, Liu Yuyuan looked puzzled. He hadn't paid much attention to Chen Xuan's investigation of him; after all, who was Chen Xuan? He'd dared to offend him and follow him, so why wouldn't he be investigated first? However, at this moment, he genuinely didn't understand. He pondered and said, "I don't know what Mr. Chen means. I would be so bold as to ask you to explain more clearly."

Chen Xuan waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so serious, and smiled, saying, "May I ask, Master Liu, is Senior Liu Changhe your ancestor?" "How did Mr. Chen know... Yes," Liu Yuyuan paused for a moment and nodded, since the other party had already investigated him, so it wasn't surprising that he knew these things.

Looking up into the distance, Chen Xuan sighed slightly, "Fate is truly wondrous. I once received the legacy of Senior Liu Changhe, and now, by a twist of fate, I have encountered an old friend again. Every bite and drink is truly wonderful."

Liu Yuyuan's eyes widened slightly, and he suddenly became agitated, but he quickly suppressed it, took a deep breath, and said, "Mr. Chen, you..."

Shaking his head to interrupt him, Chen Xuan's mind raced as he said, "Remember when I said that Master Liu seemed somewhat familiar? After learning about your past and confirming that you were an old friend, I realized that what seemed familiar was the Ze Yuan Technique you cultivated. Now it seems that it was incomplete, which is why I didn't discover it immediately. I also cultivated the Ze Yuan Technique, a legacy from Senior Liu."

"I see," Liu Yuyuan nodded in surprise, but didn't react much else.

Slightly surprised, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "As far as I know, Master Liu is the last male descendant of your direct lineage. Now that we have met, receiving your gift is already a stroke of good fortune. How could I dare to keep it for myself? It should be returned to its rightful owner..."

However, Liu Yuyuan decisively waved his hand to interrupt, saying, "Mr. Chen, although I don't know how you obtained the ancestral inheritance, that is your good fortune. We, the younger generation, are incompetent and have failed to protect the ancestral inheritance, which is truly shameful. The idea of ​​returning it to its rightful owner is out of the question. What you have is yours, and I dare not hope for more."

At this point, he gave a wry smile and shook his head, saying, "Besides, even if I were to regain the ancestral legacy from Mr. Chen, do I look like I could possibly preserve it in my current state?"

That's why he's called a chivalrous person. His upright and honest character alone is something that ordinary people can't match. Regardless of cultivation level or strength, anyone else would probably be overjoyed. That's the life's work of a Transcending Tribulation Realm expert.

However, after hearing what he said, Chen Xuan realized that he had been somewhat inconsiderate. His cultivation level was not high enough to directly impart knowledge like Old Liu had done before. If so many things were written down, it would bring him disaster. Moreover, a person's energy is limited. Not everyone has his talent. Giving him more secret techniques would most likely be useless.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Xuan said seriously, "How about this? Your cultivation of the Ze Yuan Technique is incomplete, so I will complete it for you. As for how far you can cultivate it in the future, I cannot help you with that. Since you practice swordsmanship, I will also return a sword technique to you. It's not that I'm unwilling to return everything, but please don't mind if I say too much. Too much would be difficult for you to master, as it is the foundation of your livelihood. Next, I will give you a pill formula. You should have heard of the Xiaoyao Pill, right? It's not a difficult thing to make. You can use it to earn money for your living and cultivation. I also know the principle of not flaunting wealth. If you were to refine the Xiaoyao Pill and sell it, it would definitely be more trouble than good. I will put in a word with you, and you can contact the Zheng Family Chamber of Commerce directly, which will save you a lot of trouble and will definitely give you a fair price. What do you think?"

"No, no, Young Master Chen, as I said, what's yours is yours, there's no such thing as returning something to its rightful owner. Actually, I'm not afraid to laugh at you, but we younger generations are incompetent, and we are already extremely fortunate that our ancestors' legacy can be carried forward by you," Liu Yuyuan waved his hands repeatedly.

Instead, Chen Xuan felt embarrassed. It wasn't that he felt guilty; after all, neither he nor Lao Liu owed each other anything. However, since he had received so many benefits, he naturally had to take care of the descendant of an old friend.

Since he had already said it, Chen Xuan wouldn't take it back just because of his attitude, and said seriously, "Let's do it my way."

Before he could refuse, Chen Xuan pointed a finger at him, and a wisp of true energy surged into his body, circulating through his meridians. He reminded him, "Hero Liu, calm your mind and remember the circulation route. I will guide you through the complete circulation of the Ze Yuan Technique several times. Although your previous practice was incomplete, the foundation is still there, so it shouldn't be difficult. Have you lost the mental cultivation method? If not, then completing the meridian circulation route will make it complete."

While completing the Ze Yuan Technique for him, Chen Xuan also remotely obtained ink and brush, multitasking to carefully write down the recipe for the Xiaoyao Pill and the experience of its production process. There was also the Zheng Yang Sword Technique, a top-tier sword technique left behind by Old Liu. Chen Xuan had never used it in public before. This sword technique was upright and righteous, in line with the chivalrous nature of Liu Yuyuan. Moreover, it was highly compatible with Ze Yuan and could unleash its full power.

After confirming that he had memorized the entire Ze Yuan Technique, Chen Xuan withdrew his hand and handed him the pill formula and sword manual, saying, "Hero Liu, this is a small token of my appreciation. I hope you won't refuse. By the way, after you've memorized the sword manual and pill formula, please destroy the originals, lest they attract covetousness and bring disaster upon you."

"Well... then I'll accept it without being too polite," Liu Yuyuan said without any pretense, bowing deeply. Chen Xuan had already gone to such lengths, so it would be ungrateful of him to refuse any further.

Chen Xuan nodded and smiled, "That's right. Relatively speaking, these are all insignificant. If you, Hero Liu, have any further questions in the future, please feel free to come to me if it's within my power, without causing me any trouble."

"I will try my best not to cause trouble for Mr. Chen," Liu Yuyuan said, cupping his hands in greeting. But how could he not know his place and actually go to his door?

Now that things have come to this, Chen Xuan has finally put one worry to rest. In fact, if Liu Yuyuan hadn't been unable to eat it and was worried about harming him, what would have been wrong with giving him all the inheritance he received from Old Liu? After all, it wasn't his own, and it was just returning it to its rightful owner. He wasn't that petty.

Chen Xuan bowed slightly and nodded, saying, "My wife is eagerly awaiting your return, Hero Liu. We shall take our leave now. I have already shielded everyone except Xiaoxue from what happened earlier. Please keep my instructions in mind."

"I wouldn't dare delay Mr. Chen, please," Liu Yuyuan said with a complicated expression, making a gesture of invitation. He had never expected to have such an opportunity, which was a stroke of luck for him.

In fact, apart from the Ze Yuan Technique, all other martial arts, alchemy, and weapon-refining methods were things that Old Liu learned after leaving the Liu family. Being able to regain his family's inherited techniques, as well as additional top-notch sword skills and alchemy formulas, what more could he ask for? He was even somewhat flattered, as he had never even dreamed of obtaining these things before.

Watching Chen Xuan and his group leave, Liu Yuyuan paused for a moment, then bowed respectfully to Chen Xuan's retreating figure, saying, "Thank you."

The reason for expressing gratitude again was that Chen Xuan secretly transmitted his voice to him, informing him of Lao Liu's burial location. In this era where filial piety is paramount, being able to learn the whereabouts of one's ancestor's remains is no less than a second life.

Chen Xuan only told him the location of Lao Liu's burial, without revealing anything about the things Lao Liu did in his delirium. He was already dead, and there was no need to leave a stain on his reputation for posterity... (End of Chapter)