The Immortal Emperor Returns

Chapter 327 Favor of Chu the Devil

Chu Xun, the Devil.

Not only the warriors of Xiacheng, but even Xia Boyan and Xia Miaoyu were shocked, speechless, and surprised.

Chu the Devil has come to Xiacheng, all because someone was trying to kill his sisters.

The words of “generously rewarded” would have sounded infinitesimally meaningless if they were spoken by others, but it was wholly different since it came through Chu Xun’s lips.

A favor owed by Chu the Devil himself could well potentially save their lives.

All of Xiacheng stirred as every warrior began doing all they could to find out anything they could about these sisters of Chu the Devil.

Under orders to tie up all loose ends, the Presbyters of the Brotherhood of Seven Stars had been murdering every single person involved in this affair and many among the young prodigal Wang son’s harem had been murdered in cold blood.

A great number of them had used the opportunity that arose during the chaos when Jiu You was slaughtering the Grandmaster security detail to escape to different parts of Xiacheng and this greatly inconvenienced the Presbyters of the Brotherhood.

“Chu the Devil,” Xia Miaoyu muttered Chu Xun’s moniker with interest.

But Xia Boyan looked nowhere near pleased nor delighted. That Chu the Devil’s own sisters were missing and in grave peril within the locale of Xiacheng was real trouble indeed to the rulers of the city.

“Men.”

Xia Boyan called for his men and bade them to find out what they could about Chu Xun’s sister.

“I have sent forth my men to assist in this matter, Master Chu,” Xia Boyan’s magnified voice echoed across the cityscape, “Come, I bid you. Perhaps we can wait together for good news.”

Chu Xun leaped off his perch at the top of the tall building and morphed into a flash of light that raced in the direction of Xia Boyan’s voice.

The latter’s voice was barely just gone when Chu Xun arrived at the courtyard of the Xia Manor.

“Master Xia,” Chu Xun greeted, clasping his fists in salute, “Thank you for your help and hospitality.”

“Let’s not stand on ceremony, Master Chu. Long have I heard of your name and finally, today, we meet. And if I may say so, I am amazed at how young you are,” said Xia Boyan with candor. Chu Xun looked incredibly young for his powers and reputation.

“I feel flattered, Master Xia,” Chu Xun responded simply.

Xia Miaoyu was aside, studying Chu Xun curiously. Chu Xun’s name commanded great renown that some might argue, is blighted by a bloody reputation, yet, to her, it was also a testament to his might.

With the realization of Chu Xun’s youth and power came a humbling sensation, coupled with awe, as Xia Miaoyu had always been proud of her own powers and accomplishments because of her remarkable talent.

Chu Xun was just too absurdly young for a person of his macabre notoriety and strength.

“Come, friend. Please have a seat,” implored Xia Boyan.

Chu Xun strolled towards him and sat down on a granite garden stool.

“Can you tell me more about your plight, my friend?” asked the head of the Xia Family, dubious as to what had brought the sisters of Chu the Devil here to Xiacheng.

Feeling embarrassed himself, Chu Xun told him everything.

“Two greenhorns wandering together,” Xia Miaoyu observed dryly.

That earned her a forceful glare from her father, afraid that her words might anger Chu the Devil.

To his relief, Chu Xun shook his head wearily, smiling. “I guess that pretty much simplifies it.”

That only increased Xia Miaoyu’s curiosity about Chu Xun.

“I wonder if I could impose upon you with a request, friend,” she said suddenly, “I would like a spar with you.”

Chu Xun stared at her. Xia Boyan addressed him as “friend” and now, so did his daughter. That sounded rather odd.

Xia Boyan too noticed her addressing of Chu Xun, and he smiled sheepishly, “I’m afraid my daughter does not observe the usual decorums. Please don’t mind her.”

Chu Xun chuckled quietly. That said much about Xia Boyan – by addressing him as “friend”, his daughter had unwittingly placed herself almost on par with her father in terms of seniority. Something which would have angered any prideful father, but yet Xia Boyan looked barely offended and this showed how generous he was as a person.

And Chu Xun knew better than to refuse Xia Miaoyu’s request for a spar. The Xia Family was helping him to locate Tang Rou and Jiu You, so sparring with her and giving her a piece of advice or two was the least he could do to return the favor.

Although he wondered if Xia Boyan might feel annoyed instead if he were to so flippantly consider this score settled.

Xia Miaoyu, on the other hand, was rather excited when Chu Xun did not refuse her request.

But quite frankly, Chu Xun found Xia Miaoyu’s level of magical cultivation and skill to be the cream of the crop of her age group of warriors.

Xia Miaoyu emphasized greatly on attacks whilst Chu Xun focused mostly on defense.

But with the great disparity between their powers, Chu Xun could easily nullify her attacks even without the use of any Hong Meng Immortal Qi.

Even after an exchange of several dozen blows, Xia Miaoyu failed to singe even a corner of Chu Xun’s robes. Astonished at him, she started to fully comprehend the extent of Chu the Devil’s invincible might and well-earned fame.

Watching from the sidelines, Xia Boyan looked equally flabbergasted himself. It would appear that Chu Xun’s powers were beyond his, because he was never so lackadaisical even when he sparred with Xiao Miaoyu.

“Incredible!” Xia Miaoyu said at last unabashedly with undisguised admiration.

Chu Xun merely grinned and gave her a few pieces of advice on the control of Internal Breath and how she could improve.

Xia Boyan nodded as he listened. It was not much, but the mere few words of advice contained such great insights that even he could benefit from them.

Seconds ticked by slowly.

Still without any news about Tang Rou’s and Jiu You’s whereabouts, Chu Xun’s anxiety began to flare up.

Far away, in a darkened alley of a remote cranny of Xiacheng, a young woman was running frantically for her life.

“You’ll never get away, surrender yourself quietly!” sneered a presbyter of the Brotherhood. Looking at how frightened the young woman was gave him a sense of thrill like a cat toying with a mouse.

Coincidentally, a few warriors who were searching about Tang Rou and Jiu You stumbled upon them before he could deliver the killing blow.

“SAVE ME!” screamed the woman.

These warriors had been desperately raking any clues they could find about Tang Rou and Jiu You. Hearing the woman’s scream made them mistook the woman as one of the Devil’s sisters and they quickly rushed to her aid.

Alarmed, the presbyter quickly fired a beam of energy at the woman’s back.

“Dammit, you!” snarled one of the warriors, firing another energy bolt of his own and it smashed into the salvo fired by the presbyter of the Brotherhood.

The impact of the colliding energy missiles flung the warrior off his feet, but that saved the woman by creating an opening for his other fellow warriors to rush forward.

“Don’t worry, lady. With us here, this old craven will not hurt you! We’ll bring you to Immortal Chu!” said one of them.

Before she knew it, the warriors surrounded her in a ring, keeping her from harm.

“Who are you, you old craven?! How dare you try to kill Chu the Devil’s own sister?! Are you seeking death?!”

The presbyter muttered darkly, refusing to divulge his identity. “You’re mistaken. She’s a slave of my household, not the sister of the Devil!”

One of the warriors tried confirming that with the young woman.

The woman shook her head, indicating that she didn’t know Chu Xun.

Dismayed, the band of warriors began to wonder if they had stumbled into a trivial household squabble where involving themselves would only give them more hassle than good.

The woman was no fool. She immediately realized that the warriors were thinking of leaving, then she remembered the loud, sonorous warning that rumbled across the entire cityscape just now when she was fleeing. Wondering if she was right, but knowing that she needed to save her own life, she whimpered, “Are you looking for two girls – one older than the other, but both pretty and gorgeous girls – on the run? I know about them.”

The warriors stopped in their tracks. As long as they could earn Chu the Devil’s favor, they would never allow any clues to slip through their fingers.

“One older than another? Wait, did Immortal Chu mention two persons?” asked one of them uncertainly,

The rest of his colleagues shook their heads, indicating that they did not know.

“Let’s just ask to make sure,” suggested another.

With no ways to reach Chu Xun, they could only scream.

One of them, a Human King, imbued his powers into his voice, “IMMORTAL CHU! ARE YOU LOOKING FOR TWO GIRLS? ONE OLDER THAN THE OTHER?”

Chu Xun sprang up at once when he heard the voice. “Indeed. Have you heard anything about them, friend?”

The warriors were elated. Hastily, the Human King responded, “Indeed. We seek an audience, Immortal Chu. We are at the Huadong Alley.”

Xia Miaoyu said quickly, “Come with me.”

Chu Xun nodded. With Xia Miaoyu leading the way, they reached Huadong Alley in no time.

“Is there anyone here who communicated to me just now about my sisters?” Chu Xun asked.

The Human King was practically shaking with excitement. “Greetings to you, Immortal Chu. It was I who spoke earlier.”

“Where are they?” asked Chu Xun anxiously as he dug more than ten middle-grade magical shrubs and tossed it to him.

So nervous that he was literally shaking, the Human King received the gift with disbelief. Middle-grade magical herbs were rare enough and the Human King could not believe his eyes seeing more than ten in his hands.

“This young woman, Immortal Chu, she knows about your sisters.”

The woman quickly noticed everyone behaving reverently before Chu Xun, and knew he must be someone important. “Can you guarantee my life if I tell you what you want to know?”

“Speak in haste. I am Xia Miaoyu of the Xia Family and I can guarantee your safety,” said Xia Miaoyu.

As rulers of Xiacheng, the word of the Xia Family was law and upon Xia Miaoyu’s word, the woman became convinced that her safety was ensured.

That prompted her to reveal every single detail she knew.

As for the presbyter of the Brotherhood, he had long fled even before Chu Xun arrived. In fact, he was so scared that he almost lost his wits when Chu Xun’s voice came.

“Where’s the man who was trying to kill her?” asked Chu Xun.

“That way, Immortal Chu,” said one of the warriors, a hand pointing readily, “He went that way.”

Chu Xun launched himself into the air where he used a tall building as a foothold to propel himself up another several dozen meters. Hovering in the air, he saw a dark figure speeding away and he swooped down at him like an eagle upon its prey.

All it took was only a mere moment, and Chu Xun came back, carrying a man as limp as a ragdoll. He tossed the man to the ground right at the woman’s feet and asked, “Is he the one?”

The young woman nodded.

“To what organization do you belong?”

Shaking like a cornered mouse, the presbyter of the Brotherhood struggled to rein in himself. A Fifth-grade Human King like him should have been commanding fear and respect, yet he could barely do anything before Chu Xun nabbed him with the ease of handling a little child.

“I, I, I... I am a presbyter of the Brotherhood of Seven Stars...” he mumbled.

“The Brotherhood of Seven Stars?! How dare you commit such heinous acts here in Xiacheng!” glowered Xia Miaoyu, “Speak! Are you the ones hunting Immortal Chu’s sisters!”

“N-N-No... It’s not my idea... I, I am only following the orders of the leader...” Driven by the fear of Chu Xun, the craven admitted everything in a fit of hysteria.

Boom!

An incredible presence that reeked thickly of Chu Xun’s vehement intent to shed blood swept the entire alley, and every single person nearby shifted uneasily.

Chu Xun reached and seized the head of the man.

Bang!

The presbyter of the Brotherhood burst into a thick mist of blood.

“What the hell?!” Not even Xia Miaoyu, never mind all other lesser warriors present, could prevent a terrified shudder.

“Everyone,” Chu Xun regarded the warriors, “I owe you all a debt for this help. Speak to me any time; if it is within my power, it shall be yours. And I need a guide, if anyone is willing.” Unfamiliar with Xiacheng, he needed someone to lead him.

“At your service, Immortal Chu,” said an eager warrior hastily.

“Farewell, everyone!”

Chu Xun waved his hand, tossing several dozen magical shrubs as a gift to the band of warriors for their assistance before leaving with the lone warrior who had agreed to be his guide and they vanished.

The band of warriors cheered with ecstatic exultation. They had got it, the favor of Chu the Devil, and one that they could call upon any time, in addition to the huge gift of so many magical shrubs and herbs.

“Gentlemen, I shall have to impose upon you to see this lady home safely,” instructed Xia Miaoyu.

No one would refuse – not when this lady was the harbinger of their good fortune.

Xia Miaoyu returned back to her residence and reported everything to her father.

“How brazen they’ve become, the Brotherhood...” growled a fuming Xia Boyan with his brows furrowed in rage, “Miaoyu, there must be more women being hunted down by the Brotherhood. Go save them. This will send a loud and clear message to the Brotherhood that we are the true rulers of Xiacheng.”

Those words of Xia Boyan carried an ominous and sinister air.

Xia Miaoyu withdrew at once to carry out her father’s orders.

Meanwhile, Chu Xun shot like a beam of light with his guide with him.

“This is it, Immortal Chu,” said the warrior.

Chu Xun halted and handed him a bundle of ten magical herbs. “Thank you for your help.”

Overjoyed by his reward, the warrior would have wanted to stay on by Chu Xun’s side a little longer. But he knew it was impossible and left gratefully.