Free Web NovelChapter 247: Chapter 247: The Most Honored Guest
"Master, those old geezers at the Martial Arts Department reached the Great Venerable realm over a decade before I did. No one knows how powerful they are now. I’m just a little worried." Yan Qingshan glanced at Jiang Xinghai, his expression complex.
"Old Yan, the older you get, the more you cling to life. It’s really true." Jiang Xinghai said, closing his eyes to rest.
Yan Qingshan smiled awkwardly. "Actually, those old geezers might not all be on site. As far as I know, a good number of them are in death-door seclusion, all hoping to break through to the Celestial Destiny Realm."
"If that’s the case, why are you still on pins and needles? How did I ever end up with a servant like you?" Jiang Xinghai shot Yan Qingshan a look.
Yan Qingshan didn’t dare say another word and kept driving.
「A short while later.」
The two drove to the grand entrance of an ancient-style building.
On a mahogany plaque, the three words "Martial Arts Department" were carved.
A stone platform in front of the gate blocked the way, forcing the car to stop.
"Master, we’re here," Yan Qingshan said softly.
"Announce us." Jiang Xinghai opened his eyes, now fully awake.
The two got out of the car, and Yan Qingshan approached the gate.
"Elder Yan has arrived!"
The two middle-aged guards at the gate immediately cupped their fists and smiled.
"Today, our Martial Arts Department welcomes a distinguished guest. Send word to prepare a reception of the highest standard. Go quickly." As a Great Venerable and a core member of the Martial Arts Department, Yan Qingshan’s words naturally carried great weight.
"Elder Yan, my sincerest apologies. Because you and Elder Xue caused a bit of trouble yesterday, the Chairman has issued a strict order: anyone who wants to enter this gate must have his personal approval." One of the men politely refused him.
Yan Qingshan had expected as much. He turned to glance at Jiang Xinghai.
Jiang Xinghai simply gave him a look.
Yan Qingshan nodded. He turned back to the two guards and said coldly, "If you don’t want to get hurt, step aside."
"Elder Yan, you..."
"Elder Yan, please have some self-respect! As the guards on duty..."
BAM! BAM!
Without a second thought, Yan Qingshan threw two punches, and the two Grandmaster-level guards were sent flying.
"Master, after you." Yan Qingshan bowed, gesturing for him to enter.
"From now on, address me as Mr. Jiang in public." Jiang Xinghai said as he stepped through the gates of the Martial Arts Department.
"As you command, Mr. Jiang." Yan Qingshan quickened his pace to follow.
He was about to explain the layout of the Martial Arts Department, but Jiang Xinghai showed no interest and headed straight for the herbal garden.
Along the way, many members of the Martial Arts Department saw Yan Qingshan approaching with an unfamiliar young man. Those of lower rank didn’t dare to speak up.
However, a man whose strength was on par with Yan Qingshan’s naturally stepped forward to inquire.
"Brother Yan, who is this?"
"The Martial Arts Department’s most distinguished guest." Yan Qingshan merely smiled and led Jiang Xinghai away at a faster pace.
"The most distinguished guest?"
"Someone so young can be our most distinguished guest?"
"What on earth is that Old Yan up to?"
A buzz of discussion rose among the crowd. After watching Yan Qingshan and Jiang Xinghai depart, they all turned their gazes to the most senior man present, Hu Dashan.
"Elder Hu, last night Elder Yan and Elder Xue were here trying to take the Dragon Scale Bamboo. Today he brought a stranger. You don’t think there’ll be trouble, do you?"
"That’s right, Elder Hu! The Chairman gave a strict order yesterday forbidding any strangers from entering. Should we notify him?"
The crowd gathered around Hu Dashan, all talking at once.
"Silence!"
Hu Dashan was also one of the Martial Arts Department’s only nine Great Venerables.
Besides the Chairman and the four Elders at his side, two had died in Jizhou yesterday, leaving only him and Yan Qingshan.
Therefore, his status was comparable to Yan Qingshan’s, and he naturally held considerable authority.
"Send the order: have all personnel block the front and rear entrances."
After a moment of contemplation, Hu Dashan left that single command and vanished from the spot.
A pavilion stood before the herbal garden.
Beneath the pavilion, an old man with white hair and a white beard sat cross-legged.
’Hm? The aura of a stranger?’
He opened his eyes to look into the distance, a cold glint in them. ’That stranger Old Yan brought... he’s so young, yet his presence is so sharp. Is he deliberately provoking our Martial Arts Department?’ freēwebnovel.com
"Brother Wanyan!" Yan Qingshan approached, a wide smile plastered on his face.
This white-haired, white-bearded elder was Wanyan Hongchao, the older cousin of the late Wanyan Honglie.
"Old Yan, the Chairman gave a strict order forbidding any strangers from entering," Wanyan Hongchao said, remaining cross-legged, his gaze stern and imposing.
"You misunderstand, Brother Wanyan. This is Mr. Jiang, our Martial Arts Department’s most distinguished guest." Yan Qingshan stopped ten meters away.
"Mr. Jiang?"
Wanyan Hongchao narrowed his eyes. "Him? Our Martial Arts Department’s most distinguished guest? What a joke!"
Not only did he have no idea who Jiang Xinghai was, but his anger flared when he saw the young man’s eyes scanning the herbal garden. "Boy, you’d better look away. Otherwise, even if Yan Qingshan tries to protect you, I will strike you dead where you stand!"
If he had known that Jiang Xinghai was the Little Chef, he probably wouldn’t have wasted so much breath.
Only a few people knew that the deaths of Wanyan Hongchao’s cousin, Wanyan Honglie, and his nephew, Wanyan Xiong, were both connected to Jiang Xinghai.
