"Wait a minute, Miss Zhang mentioned that the flower thief's jade pendant was emerald green in color, and so is Fang Yunchong's. Last time, the bloodstains in the forest outskirts definitely came from within the tree. To hide inside a tree, one must possess wood-attribute true essence. The flower thief I injured was also at the mid-Golden Core stage. Could Fang Yunchong really be the flower thief?" Xiao Chen analyzed, quickly coming to a realization.
"Ye Tian, Fang Yunchong has been seriously injured by me. Take your junior brothers and capture him immediately!" Xiao Chen urgently descended onto the roof of a building, addressing Ye Tian.
"Why don't you go yourself?" a disciple quickly retorted. Fang Yunchong was a Golden Core stage expert and the young master of the Fang family; they dared not offend him.
"Xiao Chen, they're all cowards, afraid of offending the Fang family!" the Ancient White Tiger transmitted its voice, secretly despising the Xinglan Sect disciples.
"No, we can't let him escape!" Xiao Chen said anxiously, attempting to fly over but finding himself unable due to his severe injuries.
"Xiao Chen! Xiao Chen! You're already this badly hurt; don't chase him. Focus on healing," the Ancient White Tiger transmitted its voice, worried about Xiao Chen's injuries.
Pale-faced and struggling, Xiao Chen replied, "I'm fine... just exhausted my true essence too much..."
"This is bad! Xiao Chen's injuries are severe. Li Fei, quickly take Brother Xiao Chen back to heal!" Elder Li said urgently.
"What about Fang Yunchong?" Li Fei asked, puzzled.
"Don't worry about him for now. The Fang family has dozens of guards at the Fasting stage; we can't fight them. We'll plan everything once Brother Xiao Chen recovers. Hurry!" Elder Li commanded. The cultivators of Hundred Flowers Town never expected the flower thief to be the young master of the Fang family from Dongfang City. It was beyond everyone's imagination.
"Xiaorou, are you sure you didn't see it wrong? The Fang family is several days' journey from Hundred Flowers Town. How could he be the flower thief?" a cultivator asked Zhang Xiaorou, in disbelief.
"I also think it's impossible. The Fang family is powerful. If the young master wanted women, he could have them with just a word. There's no need to come all the way to Hundred Flowers Town."
Zhang Xiaorou said anxiously, "I'm sure I didn't see it wrong. It was that jade pendant; I'm certain about the emerald green color."
"If Xiaorou is so sure, then let's discuss how to handle this once Brother Xiao Chen wakes up," Elder Zhang said gravely, feeling a bit scared. Offending the Fang family had serious consequences.
Dongfang City was several days' journey from Hundred Flowers Town, even by flight. No one suspected the Fang family's young master from such a distant place.
With Li Fei's help, Xiao Chen temporarily stayed at the Zhang family residence. Due to his severe injuries, Xiao Chen had to set aside the matter of Fang Yunchong for the time being and focused on healing in his room.
When Ye Tian and the other Xinglan Sect disciples returned to the sect and reported the matter to Han Yun, it plunged the sect into deep thought.
The Fang family was powerful, not an opponent a small sect like Xinglan Sect could contend with. If they intervened, the consequences could be the sect's destruction.
"Sect Master, how should we handle this? If we intervene, we'll surely make an enemy of the Fang family. The Fang family's strength isn't beneath ours. But if we don't intervene, our sect's reputation will be greatly damaged," an elder asked, looking distressed and anxious.
"I didn't expect Xiao Chen to be a Golden Core stage expert, and he even broke through to the mid-Golden Core stage during his battle with Fang Yunchong, seriously injuring him. Advancing to the Golden Core stage at such a young age, he's truly a genius," Han Yun said, seemingly not hearing the elder's words, his expression one of shock.
"No wonder this kid was so arrogant that day," the third elder frowned, equally shocked.
"Sect Master, Young Master Fang used an earth-grade martial technique, but Xiao Chen defeated him with a single sword strike," Ye Tian said, recalling the fierce battle. The memory made him even more wary of Xiao Chen.
"An earth-grade martial technique? The Fang family possesses such a technique? How is that possible?" an elder exclaimed, visibly shaken. The existence of an earth-grade martial technique was terrifying.
A disciple quickly added, "Second Elder, this is true. Fang Yunchong himself said so, and we saw him use it. Its power was indeed formidable."
"Sect Master, if Fang Yunchong is truly the flower thief, how should we handle it? The Fang family possesses earth-grade martial techniques. The Fang family head must have trained in them too," the elder asked again, increasingly anxious.
"This matter is not yet confirmed. A jade pendant alone cannot prove Fang Yunchong is the flower thief. But we must get involved to ask Fang Yunchong why he's framing our sect! Xiao Chen is healing now. In a few days, I will personally go down the mountain to investigate. You all need not interfere," Han Yun stated.
Seven days later, in Hundred Flowers Town, the flower thief incident had caused an uproar, angering everyone who demanded Fang Yunchong be brought to justice.
In a modest room in the Zhang family residence, the Ancient White Tiger transmitted its voice, "Xiao Chen, how are your injuries?"
"Almost recovered," Xiao Chen replied with a faint smile. This time, his injury had turned into a blessing in disguise, allowing him to break through to the mid-Golden Core stage due to Fang Yunchong's appearance.
"Since you've mostly recovered, you should go out and have a look. The people of Hundred Flowers Town are very anxious," the Ancient White Tiger transmitted its voice.
"If Fang Yunchong really is the flower thief, this will be a tricky situation," Xiao Chen said, slowly opening his eyes. He stretched before heading to the Zhang family hall.
As soon as Xiao Chen entered the hall, Elder Zhang greeted him joyfully, "Brother Xiao Chen, you've recovered? That's great! You finally came out."
The Zhang family hall was crowded. When Xiao Chen saw Han Yun, he couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Sect Master Han Yun, you're here too?"
Han Yun smiled faintly, "I've heard about the situation. As the sect master, I had to come down the mountain personally."
"Brother Xiao Chen, how should we handle this matter? If not handled well, the Fang family might destroy Hundred Flowers Town," Elder Li said anxiously, having been in constant fear these past days.
"The fact that I seriously injured Fang Yunchong is already a fact. The Fang family won't let me go. Since we've already torn the face, there's no need to worry. Now, to determine if Fang Yunchong is the flower thief, we must see if he has a sword wound on his shoulder. If he does, I'll know if I inflicted it. If I did, he is the flower thief. We must go to Dongfang City," Xiao Chen said solemnly.
"Brother Xiao Chen, if Fang Yunchong is the flower thief, what should we do?" Elder Zhang asked worriedly.
"Of course, kill him. Leaving such a scoundrel alive will only harm others," Xiao Chen said nonchalantly, as if it were a trivial matter.
"Brother Xiao Chen, the Fang family is powerful. Even the Lord of Dongfang City must give them face. The other families in Dongfang City follow the Fang family's lead. Killing Fang Yunchong won't be easy," Han Yun said, frowning deeply. Killing Fang Yunchong would certainly provoke the Fang family's wrath, leading to their relentless retaliation. But if they didn't kill him, many more girls would likely suffer in the future.
Everyone in the hall found themselves in a difficult dilemma, unable to decide.
"So what if they're powerful? Should the weak always be bullied by the strong? Is there no justice in this world? Are they all hypocrites pretending to be righteous? What's the point of living in such a filthy world?" Zhang Xiaorou said angrily.
Her words were thought-provoking, leaving everyone in the hall shocked and embarrassed.
"Miss Xiaorou is right. I believe in justice, which is why I said Fang Yunchong must be killed. If we don't act out of fear of the Fang family's power, I, Xiao Chen, cannot accept it," Xiao Chen said calmly, his eyes filled with determination, not willing to submit to power. He secretly admired Zhang Xiaorou's courage.
"Brother Xiao Chen, I'll accompany you to Dongfang City. I want to ask Fang Yunchong why he framed our Xinglan Sect," Han Yun said, seeming to have made up his mind.
"Good!" Xiao Chen nodded and smiled.
"Brother Xiao Chen, you're not from Hundred Flowers Town. We're very grateful for your help, but we'd feel terrible if you lost your life because of it," Elder Zhang said hurriedly. Xiao Chen was just a teenager, after all, and they felt guilty.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly, "I don't want to meddle in others' affairs, but since I encountered this, I can't ignore it. Uncle Zhang, don't worry. I'll be fine."
Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xiao Chen and Sect Master Han Yun swiftly set off for Dongfang City, flying through the sky at great speed.
"Xiao Chen's speed is impressive. At the mid-stage of the Golden Core stage, he can actually keep up with me! Truly a young hero, but I wonder what his background is. To reach the Golden Core stage at such a young age, and from his earlier words, he doesn't seem to fear the Fang family. Could he have a powerful backing? Could he be from the cultivation world?" Han Yun thought to himself, increasingly curious about Xiao Chen's origins.
If Han Yun knew that Xiao Chen had no significant background and was once considered a waste unable to cultivate true essence, having reached the Golden Core stage through sheer effort in just over three years, he would be astounded.
"Brother Xiao Chen, do you really think the flower thief is Fang Yunchong?" Han Yun asked.
"I'm not sure yet. I certainly hope it's not him. If it is, the consequences will be troublesome. But since we're already involved, if it turns out to be him, I will do everything in my power to kill him!" Xiao Chen replied, looking at Han Yun with a determined expression, showing no fear of the Fang family's power.
"What a determined look. Even facing the powerful Fang family, Xiao Chen remains so calm and composed. It truly makes me feel inferior," Han Yun thought to himself.
The two flew swiftly, and in less than two days, Xiao Chen and Han Yun arrived at Dongfang City.