NovelYeni Chapter 149: A Stream of Unwelcome Guests
Chapter 149: A Stream of Unwelcome Guests
After his in-depth conversation with Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning, Jiang Chen felt quietly satisfied, sensing that his bond with the two women was growing stronger.
On the other hand, this development only deepened the frustration in Fang Yuan’s heart as he sat across from Jiang Chen.
However, at this moment, Fang Yuan couldn’t show his irritation. He had no choice but to silently fume, hoping for Jiang Chen to leave soon.
Unfortunately for him, Jiang Chen didn’t align with his wishes. Turning his attention to Fang Yuan, he commented, "Junior Brother Fang Yuan, holing up in the cave mansion for cultivation isn’t a foolproof strategy. It’s good to get out and stretch your legs once in a while."
"I’m planning to train outdoors for the next few months. Would you care to join me?" he suggested, his face bright with enthusiasm.
"No," Fang Yuan responded firmly, shaking his head. "I prefer to focus on enhancing my cultivation base for now."
Fang Yuan’s irritation towards Jiang Chen was intense, his passion for cultivation overshadowing everything else. Why would he even consider going out for training with Jiang Chen? Wouldn’t that be just torturing himself?
"Very well," Jiang Chen replied, giving a knowing smile. He had expected Fang Yuan’s refusal and was not surprised at all.
"Should you change your mind about training outdoors, feel free to let me know," he offered, his voice casual but tinged with a hint of mischief. Internally, he smirked with a sense of cunning triumph, thinking, ’Hehe, this is all on you. Just wait until you find out I’ve invited Ji Ruxue too. I hope you don’t end up regretting your decision.’
Immediately afterward, Jiang Chen shifted to light conversation, asking a series of routine questions about Fang Yuan’s hometown, his family members, and how his parents were faring...
To Fang Yuan’s dismay, the conversation dragged on. It wasn’t until a visible wave of irritation crossed his face, and he was on the verge of dismissing this troublesome visitor, that Jiang Chen leisurely stood up. With an expression of lingering curiosity, he declared, "Junior Brother Fang Yuan seems eager to get back to his cultivation, so I’ll leave you be.
I’ll drop by for another chat next time!"
"Ah, yes, yes. Please see yourself out." A sigh of relief escaped Fang Yuan’s lips, as he barely restrained himself from hastening Jiang Chen’s departure.
"Then, I’ll be on my way!" Jiang Chen nodded, performing a traditional fist-and-palm salute towards Fang Yuan, and then again towards the Soul Embodying Ring on Fang Yuan’s finger.
After receiving affirmations from Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning within the ring, Jiang Chen flashed a friendly smile and left Fang Yuan’s cave mansion in high spirits.
...
At the entrance to Fang Yuan’s dwelling, the crowd quickly surrounded Jiang Chen as soon as he appeared.
"Lord Jiang Chen, how is Young Master Fang Yuan?" a member of the Fang Clan asked eagerly.
"Do you think his cultivation will keep improving steadily?" another inquired hopefully.
One after the other, they kept talking, each person hoping to exchange a few words with Jiang Chen. Their faces were alight with eagerness to curry favor.
Seeing the endless stream of questions, Jiang Chen gestured for everyone to quiet down. With a warm smile, he announced, "Everyone, Junior Brother Fang Yuan is about to start his cultivation soon. If you have urgent matters, please feel free to visit him when it’s convenient for you."
His words were deliberately vague, seeming to discourage them from disturbing Fang Yuan while also suggesting they could visit him soon.
Fang Yuan, for his part, felt unable to raise any objections.
After finishing his remarks, Jiang Chen said goodbye to the eager crowd and left, transforming into a streak of light that quickly disappeared from sight.
The crowd was left momentarily stunned, uncertain of how to interpret Jiang Chen’s vague instructions. After some time, a few decided to leave, while others hurried to visit Fang Yuan.
System Mall: Level 2]
’Hmm, I have 15,200 points,’ Jiang Chen thought, furrowing his brows. ’With this, I can acquire two top-grade cultivation pills for the Inquiring Journey realm, but it’s not enough for a breakthrough.’
After considering his options, he decided, ’I’ll save these 15,200 Villain Value points for now. They might come in handy during my upcoming journey beyond the Purple Heaven Holy Land.’
Without further ado, Jiang Chen closed his panel and earnestly began his period of seclusion, dedicating himself to intensive cultivation.
...
As time moved forward at its unhurried pace, Jiang Chen was deeply immersed in his intense cultivation practice. He stayed focused, making consistent progress and subtly improving with each moment. On the other hand, Fang Yuan, who sought similar achievements, wasn’t as fortunate.
He fell victim to Jiang Chen’s behind-the-scenes strategies, which led to visitors frequently interrupting him, disrupting his cultivation efforts.
Cultivators from lesser-known sects were typically turned away by Fang Yuan as he preferred to maintain his solitude. Nearly all visitors received the same cold reception.
However, as word spread about the steady stream of people attempting to meet Fang Yuan, it sparked curiosity among others. They, too, became eager to encounter this remarkable prodigy.
After all, Fang Yuan posed no significant threat to Jiang Chen’s esteemed position, so there were no concerns about potential partisanship or any related complications.
As a result, the number of visitors to Fang Yuan continued to grow, almost becoming a routine practice.
It became so common that cultivators would often ask each other upon meeting: "Have you paid a visit to Fang Yuan yet?"
As the flow of visitors increased, so did their stature. Prominent figures whom Fang Yuan found hard to turn away, like Ji Mingxiu, Mo Yu, and other high-ranking sect elders, began appearing, sometimes alone, sometimes in groups.
If Fang Yuan were to refuse meetings with such respected individuals, he risked appearing excessively arrogant and dismissive of others.
This influx of visitors undoubtedly enhanced Fang Yuan’s fame and even lent him a certain prestige.
However, no matter how high Fang Yuan’s prestige climbed, Jiang Chen’s presence continued to loom larger.
Whenever people talked about Fang Yuan, the conversation inevitably turned to Jiang Chen. His status was higher, his insights even keener.
Moreover, as Fang Yuan’s fame grew, so did the belief among many that he could become a serious contender for the position of the Holy Son.
This widespread recognition stripped away any element of surprise he might have had in the grand battle, significantly diminishing the impact of his prospective showing off.
Such a scenario was precisely what Jiang Chen had anticipated. His only concern was whether Ji Ruxue would decide to visit Fang Yuan as well.
Fortunately, he had already exchanged contact imprints with Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing. Additionally, with individuals like Rong Liangcai covertly monitoring, he was able to stay informed about Ji Ruxue’s movements.
Furthermore, Jiang Chen soon felt reassured. When he attempted to subtly inquire through Xie Xiaojing whether Ji Ruxue intended to visit Fang Yuan, the suggestion was met with a firm rejection.
Previously, Ji Mingxiu had intended to play matchmaker between Ji Ruxue and Fang Yuan, a proposition she had declined.
A visit to Fang Yuan at this point could potentially stir up a lot of rumors. That was an outcome she wanted to avoid.
Unquestionably, a significant factor in Ji Ruxue’s decision to avoid visiting Fang Yuan was that, thanks to Jiang Chen’s influence, any lingering curiosity she might have had towards Fang Yuan was effectively quelled.
Upon receiving this information, Jiang Chen’s lingering concern was extinguished, replaced with well-earned satisfaction. His maneuvers had successfully managed the situation, allowing him to focus on his own cultivation.