Chapter 4104 — Journey to the Elixir Hall

"Many thanks, Elder Cai," Wei Zhao said with heartfelt gratitude. It was only out of a friend's friendship that Cai Zhongxuan was willing to go to such lengths to help him, and this kindness and favor were things he must remember well.

Though he would have to wait a few more days, Wei Zhao's heart was now full of anticipation. Even though they had met before on the island in the far north, after hearing of what had recently befallen Tian Chan, his longing to see her had grown into an impatience he could no longer contain.

As one of Wei Zhao's women herself, Xue Li was not particularly jealous about this. Instead, she felt a deep sympathy for Tian Chan's plight and pitied her greatly—after all, had she not suffered the same fate herself?

She herself was like this, and so was Tian Chan. Seen this way, it seemed that any pretty female cultivator who came up from the mortal realm could hardly escape such a calamity. And who knew how Bing Tang was faring now?

Back in the mortal realm, Xue Li and Bing Tang had been out-and-out sworn enemies, but thinking back on it now, what did that so-called grudge between them really amount to...?

Xue Li could not help asking, "By the way, Wei Zhao, besides Tian Chan and me, who else from the mortal realm have you found?"

She was too embarrassed to name Bing Tang outright, but Wei Zhao caught her meaning and shook his head. "Of my close female companions, I've had no word of anyone besides you and Tian Chan. As for the others—Zhong Yongliang, Kang Jingming, Dongfang Badao, those fellows—they were sent to the North Island just like me and joined the Threefold Pavilion there."

"Is that so..." Xue Li could not help feeling a little disappointed, but she still mustered her spirits to comfort him. "It's all right. I believe they'll all be fine. As long as you're here, we'll surely all be reunited in the end."

"Yes, we surely will." Wei Zhao nodded firmly, yet the anxiety in his heart would not disperse. Only now had he learned word of Xue Li and Tian Chan, and both were in a sorry state. Heaven knew how Han Jingyi and the other women were faring now. If he wanted to find them, he would have to raise his strength as quickly as possible—otherwise he would not be able to take a single step anywhere.

……………………

The Elixir Hall on Middle Island.

Emerging from Di Xingdao's room, Tian Chan wore a calm expression tinged with a touch of helplessness. After all this time, Di Xingdao was still the same as ever—mad and muddled, refusing to acknowledge her to the end.

By now Tian Chan no longer harbored any hope that Di Xingdao would acknowledge her. She only wished to look after this elder who shared her blood as best she could. Yet each time he saw her he would curse and rail, and lately it had only grown worse. What was she to do?

Just then, a figure darted out from the shadows and blocked her way. It was her nominal brother-in-law, Zheng Tianshuo.

"Sister-in-law, come to deliver medicine to Old Tian again? Must be lonely all by yourself. How about I keep you company next time?" Zheng Tianshuo's eyes roved up and down over Tian Chan's delicate figure.

Tian Chan frowned, a flicker of disgust passing through her eyes. She did not wish to engage him, but out of courtesy she suppressed her distaste and said, "No need. I can manage on my own. Is there anything else you want, Young Master Chu?"

Zheng Tianshuo did not notice this at all. He took a step closer to Tian Chan and said with a lewd smile, "I heard people say things have been getting unsettled on Middle Island lately too. Two traitors escaped from the Snow Sword Sect, and one of them is a lecher. He's already carried off a female disciple of the Snow Sword Sect. You'd better be careful, sister-in-law, and not fall into his trap!"

"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Chu. But this is the Elixir Hall on Middle Island. No matter how blind that lecher is, he couldn't possibly come to a place like this." Tian Chan took an inconspicuous step backward.

"Even so, you can't discount the boldness of lustful men. Especially with a great beauty like you here, sister-in-law—that lecher might get it into his head and come running. As the saying goes, to die beneath the peony is a death worth dying, and even as a ghost one remains dashing!" Zheng Tianshuo's smile grew more lewd, and he took another step forward.

The teasing in his words was now unmistakable. With no one else around, Tian Chan knew that if she let this go on, he might well give in to lust and lay hands on her, and then things would become difficult to handle.

Tian Chan's expression turned cold at once. She frowned and said, "Young Master Chu, you worry too much. If there's nothing else, please step aside. I need to be going."

"Oh, sister-in-law, don't be in such a hurry! You've got no one to keep you company when you go back anyway. In the prime of your youth, the time for carefree pleasure, yet you keep a lonely vigil in an empty room—doesn't that seem meaningless?" Zheng Tianshuo would not let it drop. Not only did he refuse to step aside, he reached out to touch Tian Chan's face.

Tian Chan quickly dodged and warned him with a cold face, "Men and women should keep their distance. I am your sister-in-law. Please conduct yourself with propriety, Young Master Chu."

"Sister-in-law, don't be so prim and proper!" Zheng Tianshuo burst out laughing, his gaze sweeping over her with unmistakable lewdness as he prattled on. "Everyone says a woman needs a man's nourishment to stay young and beautiful. Sure, you're my sister-in-law, my cousin's woman, but my cousin is a dead man now—he can't nourish you. Since I've inherited his position, naturally I should fulfill the corresponding duties too. What do you say, sister-in-law?"

Such barefaced, shameless words infuriated Tian Chan thoroughly. When she had first come into contact with him, this Zheng Tianshuo had been frivolous but had at least kept to some final底线. Now, however, as his standing in Zheng Dongjue's eyes gradually solidified, his behavior had grown ever more reckless.

From her several encounters with him, Tian Chan had come to understand deeply the shameless nature of Zheng Tianshuo's character. The more she tangled with him, the more eager he became, the more he pushed his luck.

"Does your grandfather know you carry on like this, Young Master Chu?" Tian Chan gave a cold snort and paid him no further mind, turning sideways to hurry past him.

"Hmph, still playing the chaste and virtuous woman with me? Interesting. I'd like to see how long you can hold out!" Watching Tian Chan's graceful figure recede, a ruthless glint flashed through Zheng Tianshuo's eyes. Though he had long lusted after his sister-in-law, his patience had its limits—and by now it was nearly spent.

……………………

Several days later, Wei Zhao finally received definitive word from Cai Zhongxuan. He had settled matters with his senior brother at the Elixir Hall, and everything was now in readiness—he could take Wei Zhao to see Tian Chan.

Wei Zhao was overjoyed. He disguised himself as a young assistant, left Xue Li to continue her closed-door cultivation, and set out alone with Cai Zhongxuan.R1152