Without hesitation, Chen Chao closed the distance in an instant and punched at the man. The latter dodged to the side and struck at Chen Chao with a palm filled with surging qi.

Chen Chao's robes billowed. The saber at his waist was drawn out an inch, but a moment later, Chen Chao pushed it back into the sheath.

The two exchanged several moves afterward. The man did not pull away, and so remained mostly at a disadvantage, unable to counter Chen Chao effectively.

Later, the two locked eyes and exchanged a punch.

After they were knocked apart, the rippling qi between them spread out in layers, dispersing the surrounding sea of clouds.

The man glanced at Chen Chao, cupped his hands, and smiled. "I am Xu Taixuan. Greetings, Lord Warden Commander Chen."

Chen Chao smiled and asked, "So the words said earlier no longer count?"

Xu Taixuan shook his head. "Since the Mountain Lord didn't speak, that agreement naturally doesn't count. Moreover, Your Excellency has humiliated our Windspirit Mountain far too much on this visit."

Chen Chao nodded and smiled. "Got it. So we still have to fight in the end? I just wonder, will this be the last fight?"

Chen Chao sighed. "If that's how it is, then are we still fighting or not? Wouldn't it be better if this official simply summoned people to wipe out your Windspirit Mountain right now?"

Xu Taixuan remained silent.

Chen Chao smiled. "But you're the only one this official has seen on this mountain who has a backbone. For your sake, this official doesn't feel like destroying Windspirit Mountain."

Xu Taixuan cupped his fists and said, "In that case, I can only thank Lord Chen."

Chen Chao could not be bothered to waste words. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said in a loud voice, "This official, Chen Chao, Lord Warden Commander of Great Liang, am now taking Chen Wannian and his family away from Windspirit Mountain. Does Windspirit Mountain still have any objections?!"

This sentence was carried out by a vast wave of qi, echoing through the entire Windspirit Mountain.

Xu Taixuan merely stared at Chen Chao in silence, making no move and saying nothing.

Before long, a young man arrived. He looked at Chen Chao and said stiffly, "Chen Wannian. Lord Chen may take him."

Chen Chao looked at the young man and asked, "You have the authority to decide?"

The young man remained stiff. "My father is the lord of this mountain."

Chen Chao gave an 'oh'.

Then he watched as the young man went to check whether the old man was alive or dead.

Before landing, Chen Chao glanced at the man still suspended midair and smiled. "If you can no longer stay on Windspirit Mountain one day, you can come to the Divine Capital and find this official too."

Xu Taixuan brushed it off with a smile.

Chen Chao said no more.

......

Back on the mountain path, the Chief Enforcer had already ordered someone to bring Chen Wannian's wife. She was a rather pretty woman, and when she saw her husband and son, her eyes were already brimming with tears.

Chen Chao looked at the Chief Enforcer and narrowed his eyes as he said with a smile, "If you've placed any kind of restriction on her, or used some special poison, now would be the time to hand over the antidote and save this official from making another trip.

Chen Chao sighed. "This official has got quite a lot to handle next and really doesn't want to make another trip to this Windspirit Mountain."

The Chief Enforcer's expression changed slightly. After thinking it over, he still reached into his robes, pulled out a small bottle, and handed it to Chen Chao with an awkward smile. "Madam Chen has never been in the best of health. These pills are just for her to nourish her body."

Chen Chao took it but did not expose the lie. He simply passed it to Chen Lian.

The young man was rather angry but ultimately held it in.

After that, the group began descending the mountain. The Chief Enforcer watched them off, his face full of forced smiles.

Walking along the mountain path, Chen Wannian said with vicissitudes of emotion, "From now on, I'm afraid I'll never again see the scenery of this mountain."

He had always been deeply attached to Windspirit Mountain. If he had not been forced to leave this time, he likely never would have chosen to do so.

Now that he truly had to go, of course he found it hard to let go.

Chen Chao smiled and teased, "Then this official will do my best. In ten or so years, how about letting Mr Chen come back to be the lord of this Windspirit Mountain?"

Though it sounded like a joke, Chen Wannian shook his head seriously. "I only hope Lord Chen won't interfere with Windspirit Mountain again."

Chen Chao nodded. It had just been something said in passing, he naturally had not meant it seriously.

But after a moment’s thought, he asked, "Is there someone on the mountain named Xu Taixuan?"

Chen Wannian looked a bit surprised. "Lord Chen met him?"

Chen Chao spoke of what had just happened. Although that Xu Taixuan's cultivation was still at Nepenthe and his daoist techniques were not necessarily stronger than the old man's, he had clearly been tempering his body on a regular basis. Hence, that was why he had been able to grapple with Chen Chao at close range in the beginning.

"He has backbone and a sense of propriety. That's why this official decided to back off. Otherwise, if you want to go down the mountain, you'd be waiting another half a day."

Chen Chao rubbed the hilt of his saber. In the world, he was not someone who disregarded reason. It all depended on who he was facing. If it was always someone like that old man, then he would stop bothering with reason altogether.

"To be honest with you, Lord Chen, it was under his guidance that this Chen walked the path of martial arts. He's considered half a master to this Chen. However, that Master Xu lacks talent in martial arts. But he does occasionally temper his physique. As a result, his physique is much stronger than that of an average cultivator."

Chen Wanian slowly said, "Perhaps he's the only person in this mountain who's truly been good to this Chen."

Chen Chao smiled. "A person is lucky if they meet one such benefactor in their life. Mr Chen is also someone fortunate."

Chen Wanian deeply felt the same and said in a low voice, "You’re right, Lord Chen. If this Chen hadn't met Master Xu back then, I wouldn't have today's accomplishments."

Chen Chao smiled and nodded but did not say much more about it.

After descending the mountain, Chen Chao accompanied the three of them for a short distance. It was not that he feared an ambush from Windspirit Mountain. After all, the final sentence he had left behind was clear. If the other party still did not get the message, things would not be so easily forgiven.

Chen Wanian was troubled, and there were some things he had wanted to say earlier. But now, he still felt the need to speak.

Chen Chao had already seen through him. He spoke to himself, "This official won't force Mr Chen to fight the demon race at the Northern Frontier Great Wall, nor will this official pressure Mr Chen to go against Windspirit Mountain. When you arrive at the Divine Capital, you can start doing what you like. Anything you don't want to do, just don't. Since you are a person of the Nepenthe Realm, you deserve the treatment that comes with it. Although the Great Liang may not be able to take care of Mr Chen in every way, the respect and courtesy you deserve will certainly be there."

Chen Wanian felt somewhat ashamed. He realized that he had been thinking with a narrow mind and projecting his shortcomings on someone else.

Chen Chao said no more and just sent Chen Wanian and his family to a ferry dock. He then smiled and said, "This official has arranged everything for you. Once you reach the Divine Capital, someone will be there to receive you."

Chen Wanian clasped his fists in gratitude. But this time, he remained silent, not saying anything else.

Chen Chao watched as the three of them departed.

It was not until the ferry was out of sight that he slowly turned around.

He walked alone.

After a few steps, Chen Chao rubbed his waist and then massaged his legs, resembling a young man who was reluctant to walk but had no choice but to travel a long way. He seemed somewhat aggrieved, yet not completely so.

A moment later, the young man stood up, straightened his back, and continued walking.

The road ahead was long, and he had to continue walking.

This was a logic that many people understood.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com