Chapter 103: The Roadblock
Ye Shi and Mu Chen took the storage slip and made their way to the Mingyue Treasure Pavilion, heading to the spirit-sealed vault to retrieve the contents.
The Treasure Pavilion's vaults are renowned—each client is given a special jade slip for depositing items. The vault is laced with protective arrays: if someone opens the box with the wrong seal, a special spirit ink is sprayed to destroy the contents.
"Mingyue Treasure Pavilion truly lives up to its name!" Ye Shi exclaimed as they exited.
The box had been stored for eighteen years, and the deposit term was ten. When they returned, eight years had passed. It gave him a fright.
"Alright, it's just 160,000 yuan stones," Mu Chen said with a smile.
Ye Shi pursed his lips. "One hundred sixty thousand yuan stones! If it's garbage inside, we might not even get the book."
"Don't think like that," Mu Chen replied. "If Qu Kun went through all that trouble to stash it, it won't be worthless."
Ye Shi held the spatial ring, staring at Mu Chen. "I really don't know what's inside."
Mu Chen shrugged. "We'll find out once I open it."
Ye Shi blinked, teary-eyed, excitement flooding him. "I hope there's something good inside—then I'll be rich overnight."
Mu Chen chuckled. "You! No one gets rich overnight."
"That's true." Ye Shi sighed.
They left the Pavilion's courtyard, but not long after, Lan Ruofeng received news and frowned immediately.
Ever since Mu Chen had displayed the Qingming Flame, Ruofeng felt uneasy, so he quietly dispatched guards to follow Mu Chen and Ye Shi.
As soon as they left the Treasure Pavilion, both felt they were being watched. Mu Chen refused to linger and hurried Ye Shi back toward the academy via the main road.
Yet, even on this path, they were ambushed.
Two black-clad martial artists appeared. Ye Shi instinctively said, "This must be men sent by Ye Xun."
Mu Chen frowned. "Ye Xun would never dispatch two nine-star martial artists—he can't afford it!"
Before Ye Shi could act, Mu Chen took the lead, unleashing over a dozen array talismans.
The two martial artists were clearly blocking their path—but were instantly bound by dozens of formation lines, powerful and inescapable.
"What is this?" Ye Shi asked, bewildered.
"Third-level Snare Formation, Third-level Loss Formation, Third-level Enchantment, Third-level Illusion…" Mu Chen announced calmly.
Ye Shi stared. "So many formations… they're trapped."
Mu Chen didn't answer. He tossed more talismans: third-level Fire Talisman, third-level Explosion Talisman, third-level Amplification Talisman—
Those amplifiers doubled the potency of nearby talismans.
Shouts erupted, explosions followed, and Ye Shi smirked.
"Ah!" Flames surged toward Ye Shi. Mu Chen grabbed him and guided him aside.
Ye Shi could only see flashes of red—roaring heat swallowing all around.
Then Mu Chen unleashed another round of talismans at the blaze. The firestorm, originally ten meters tall, now soared over twenty, the ambient temperature spiking dramatically.
Ye Shi watched, astonished. "No human voice can be heard now…"
Mu Chen nodded. "They've all turned to ashes—no one left to cry out."
Ye Shi peered into the inferno. "Are they truly dead?"
"They should be." Mu Chen replied, unwavering.
"Martial Masters!" Ye Shi muttered, voice trembling.
Mu Chen turned to him: "Do you still think they were Ye Xun's men?"
Shocked, Ye Shi shook his head. "No…?"
"Then who were they?" Mu Chen asked.
"I… don't know." Ye Shi admitted. "You weren't followed by Ye Xun's group."
"True," Mu Chen sighed. "Could be Lan Ruofeng's doing."
Ye Shi's eyes widened: "We have no proof… we can't just blame him."
Mu Chen pressed on: "I don't know either—but it's unlikely Ye Xun."
They slowed as they returned to the academy.
Ye Shi asked, "Mu Chen, where did you learn so many arrays?"
"I made them," Mu Chen replied simply.
Ye Shi's jaw dropped. "You crafted them yourself? But how do you know formation spells?"
"I read about them when I had free time," Mu Chen said calmly. "There are many ways to reach the same goal—different paths, same destination."
Ye Shi nodded thoughtfully, then questioned, "Then why choose the Inscription Institute?"
Mu Chen frowned: "It felt right. Let's hurry back—no more delays."
---
At the academy, Lan Ruofeng's messenger reported—Ruofeng wore a grim expression. Two nine-star masters had failed to stop just one eight-star and a five-star martial artist. Ye Shi hadn't even had time to resist—they were swiftly defeated.
Lan Ruofeng glared at Zhuang Yu and muttered, "Why didn't you stop them?"
Zhuang Yu, expression subdued, replied: "I didn't know who they were."
Lan Ruofeng clenched his fists, eyes hard. The gap between him and Mu Chen was widening every day—what else could he do?
They arrived at the entrance where Jing Zhiyan awaited.
"Ye Shi?" Jing Zhiyan asked sharply. "Were you attacked?"
Ye Shi nodded, confirming simply, "Yes."
"They were ambushed not far from the academy," Jing Zhiyan said, voice cold. "Someone dared to attack my disciple…" His voice tightened with restrained fury.
Ye Shi cracked a faint smile. "Mu Chen slew them clean—and burned them to ashes."
Jing Zhiyan nodded approvingly. "They were nine-star Martial Masters. For Mu Chen to handle that… he's already extremely powerful."
Ye Shi replied with conviction: "Mu Chen is indeed powerful."
Jing Zhiyan glanced at his disciple's affectionate look, sighed, and said, "Alright—go rest."
"I will." Ye Shi bowed once more.
---
On the steps, Lan Ruofeng called out: "Ye Shi…"
He turned, furrowed aggrieved: "Ayu, I came to apologize… I didn't understand the situation."
Ye Shi bristled defensively: "You came to apologize?"
Lan Ruofeng softened: "Why else would I be here?"
Ye Shi shrugged: "I thought you were here to— …to steal."
Lan Ruofeng froze. "You… you care so much about Mu Chen."
Annoyed, Ye Shi shot back: "Do you want something else? Move along."
Lan Ruofeng stepped forward, gripping Ye Shi's arm: "Ye Shi, I—..." He hesitated.
Ye Shi shivered at his closeness: "This is your problem, not mine."
Lan Ruofeng's shoulders fell. "Shitou, you 真懂? You really think Mu Chen is sincere?"
"Of course." Ye Shi said firmly.
"Don't be fooled," Lan Ruofeng warned coldly. "He's using you. When you're no longer useful, he'll discard you."
"Shut up." Ye Shi snapped angrily.
Lan Ruofeng softened momentarily, then said seriously: "One day you'll regret being blinded."
Ye Shi raised his voice: "Shut up!"
---