Chapter 597: Return to Mercenary City (Three)

Received once more into the Tianqin clan, Jian Chen had been once more honored into the compound just like with his last arrival here. Even the head and the senior figures of the clan had made their way over to the halls to greet Jian Chen. Jian Chen was after all, the King of Mercenaries, and a figure that the Tianqin clan would not dare bear arrogance with.

Even as he was being warmly received, Jian Chen had finally met up with Qin Xiao once more. Years may have gone past, but there had been no significant changes in Qin Xiao, whether it was in personality of body. There had been a tremendous increase in his strength however, as he was now an Earth Saint Master.

The moment when Qin Xiao saw Jian Chen, he had been ecstatic and wrapped him into a hug, “Hey, Jian Chen! I’ve been waiting for you return. Any later, and I would have gone looking for you instead.”

Untying himself from the embrace, Jian Chen gave a cursory appraisal of Qin Xiao before approving of the change, “Not bad, you’ve become an Earth Saint Master. What a talent you have. If I’m not wrong, you’ve only just hit the age of thirty. Hmm, a thirty year old becoming an Earth Saint Master, that’s an achievement that the entire Tian Yuan Continent would regard as true talent.”

Replying for his son, the head of the Tianqin clan laughed with pride. “Qin’er is talented indeed. Even in our Zhuya Kingdom, there is not a single person that holds as much potential as he does. Just half a year ago, the king himself had betrothed his daughter to Qin’er. Many of the other factions of the kingdom have already tried their hand at arranging a marriage as well!”

Nodding at the man, Jian Chen looked to Qin Xiao, “Qin Xiao, is that true? You’re wedded now?”

There had been an embarrassed look on Qin Xiao’s face when faced with the question. Laughing, he said, “The wedding day has already been established. In two years worth of time, I will be wed to the third princess of the Zhuya Kingdom. Jian Chen, you and Ming Dong have to make sure that you will attend my wedding.”

“Of course, of course we will.” Jian Chen laughed with joy over Tianqin’s excitement.

Moving on, Jian Chen and Qin Xiao had walked deeper within the courtyards of the clan to talk as they pleased.

Entirely out of the blue, Qin Xiao blurted out a single question as soon as they were alone, “Jian Chen, although I am not of the same level of strength as brother Ming Dong, I am still an Earth Saint Master and a man capable of my own decisions. I’ve stayed within the Tianqin clan long enough, would it be possible for me to follow you in your travels through the continent?”

“Really? Of course you can! As things turn out, I have founded a mercenary group that is short of people I can trust at the moment. If you’re willing, why not join my mercenary group?” Jian Chen laughed.

“Coincidentally enough,” Qin Xiao began with a bright look in his eyes, “I had been entertaining the notion of creating a mercenary group with you. But since you’ve beaten me to the punch, then I’ll save my breath. Jian Chen, when will we leave then? Staying around in the Tianqin clan has bored me to death, I’ve had half a mind to leave earlier already.”

Evasively, Jian Chen shook his head when he saw the impatient look on Qin Xiao’s face, “I estimate that there’ll be some time before then. I’ve still a trip to Mercenary City and the surrounding area. When I come back from then, I’ll be able to bring you over to the mercenary group I’ve made to take a look.”

Not even a moment after Jian Chen finished speaking, the gentle and refined sounds of a zither could be heard being played. The notes had been delightful and pleasant to the ears as if they were filled with an enchanting type of magic to captivate any listener. The music had been so much that Qin Xiao and Jian Chen had stopped in their conversation for just a moment. By listening to the music of hte zither, the two of them had grown calm and tranquil like undisturbed water.

At a pavilion nearby, a single white-robed young woman could be seen seated on a stone table as she plucked at the strings of her zither. It was almost as if the entire world around her had harmonized with her music, as even the flowers and the grass nearby would sway and turn with the rhythm of the beat and the wind would harmonize with her notes.

“Right. My younger sister enjoys playing the zither in her spare time. Compared to the past, her ability in playing it has improved so much that even I can’t help but feel intoxicated by the music she plays.” Qin Xiao sighed in approval of his sister’s music.

“Yes, your sister has grown skillful in the art of the zither if she is able to influence the heart and mind of a human with her music.”” Jian Chen agreed. The effects of her music had been more than enough for Jian Chen to really believe was possible.

Calmly walking over to the pavilion with Qin Xiao, the two of them sat at a nearby table to listen to the next ballad of the zither without disturbing her.

If the second daughter of the Tianqin clan saw Jian Chen and Qin Xiao enter her audience of one, she did not make notice of it. Even her eyes had remained unmoving as she focused completely on her zither to play earnestly. In this one moment, her eyes were solely glued on her zither and nothing else in the world had mattered to her.

The ballad continued on for some time before finally receding away into silence. Her tender fingers paused in its movements as she lifted her eyes away from the zither at last and then onto Jian Chen and Qin Xiao who were nearby. Her eyes had registered them with a bright gleam of light that contained a lively look to them as if it were sentient.

Yet, her face had been covered by a single piece of cloth when she smiled at the two, making her exact appearance unclear. “Brother, my apologies, I’ve kept you waiting. My lord Jian Chen, I had no idea you would come in either.”

There had been a faint smile on Jian Chen’s own face when he nodded, but when he was about to speak, Qin Xiao had cut in first, “Sister, you spend more than enough time wearing that veil outside, why do you wear it in our own home as well?”

“Wearing this veil has become something of a habit for me. To take it off now would be a strange change.” She replied softly. Turning to Jian Chen, she spoke, “If I remember correctly, the last time we met, lord Jian Chen, it was a year ago. Have you been well since our last meeting?”

A bright smile appeared on his face, “Worry not, this one has done well. On the other hand, you’ve seemed to have made great progress in the art of the zither I see.”

“This girl has been studying the art of the zither for as long as she’s lived. Every day I try my best to study and dedicate myself to the art. Even now, my skills are still lacking in comparison to someone like the famous Heavenly Enchantress.”

Jian Chen’s heart had skipped a beat when he heard mention of that name. “Perhaps you wish to follow the Heavenly Enchantress’ footsteps and wish to delve into the way of the zither rather than Saint Force?”

“I’d bet so. My sister has always been a smart one with a power of comprehension stronger than others. Even her skill in cultivation is decent, but what made my father disappointed was her lack of motivation to continue with her cultivation. As a result, she is only at the fifth layer of Saint Force and spends her time focusing on the zither instead. Although the ballads she plays are captivating, it’s rather useless against an enemy.” Qin Xiao shrugged his shoulders noncommittally. The fact that his own sister was so entranced by the zither had been a source of a headache for him since he did not see any applicable way it could be used for cultivation.

Even though her brother had criticized the usefulness of the zither, she did not grow angry. Instead, she explained, “Brother, you underestimate the zither. I have not yet reached the beginning steps of the way of the zither, that’s all. The profound mysteries of the music that a zither produces is something you couldn’t possibly imagine. In the case that one truly embarks on this path of cultivation, then the fighting prowess they bring is far beyond what Saint Force could compare to.”

“Aside from the Heavenly Enchantress, I have never heard of anyone else using the music of a zither as a way of cultivation. Sister, you don’t have any guidance nor teachings on how to embark on this path. To try and find this path by yourself is difficult, why not just cultivate with Saint Force instead?” Qin Xiao pleaded.

But she had shaken her head in response, “This is what I plan to do with my life. I will use all of my energy to accomplish my goal, and even if there lies nothing at the end of my path, I will not regret it.”

“Qin Xiao, if your sister is so set on this path, then let her walk the path she chooses. Although the music your sister plays is far below what is needed to fully captivate the soul of a person, it has reached a point of maturity in its own right. As long as she continues to practice and study, your sister will grow and learn. She will definitely reach the way of the zither she talks of.”

Qin Xiao could only sigh in response to Jian Chen’s words. In his mind, he really couldn’t approve of the arduous path his sister set for herself.

“Thank your lord Jian Chen for your encouragement. My name is Qin Qin. Please feel free to call me so in the future rather than sister of Qin Xiao, my lord.” She smiled. But behind the veil, the smile had been hard to distinguish.

“Qin Qin!” Jian Chen spoke to herself, “So your name was that? It is a delightful sounding name that suits a lady like yourself.”

The lively light in Qin Qin’s eyes danced as she looked at Jian Chen and nodded. Without another word, her eyes went back to the old-looking zither on the table and her fingers moved to caress the strings of it once more to induce a melodious sound.

Looking at the zither, Jian Chen hesitated for a moment, “Miss Qin Qin, this one has once had the pleasure of meeting the Heavenly Enchantress in Mercenary CIty before. In the future should I meet her again, this one will ask to see if she will impart any guidance onto you.”

Qin Qin’s eyes had lit up at the sound of that, “Then I will be in your care, my lord, to ask for the Heavenly Enchantress to be my master. That alone has been the greatest desire of mine since young.”

Jian Chen had not remained in the Tianqin clan long after that. Talking briefly with Qin Xiao and Qin Qin for a moment longer, he finally left the clan after a small discussion with Qin Xiao about the next thing he had to accomplish. Leaving behind Walaurent City, Jian Chen flew back towards the Dazhou Kingdom once more.

Afterwards, it had been an uneventful trip as Jian Chen finally crossed over into the Dazhou Kingdom and into the palace where he had the king welcome him in. There had been no obstructions for Jian Chen to use the Space Gate to travel hundreds of thousands of kilometers to reappear on the other side in the forests near Mercenary City.

Confirming his own position on a map, Jian Chen rose into the air and shot off away into the skies towards the city. He had planned on entering Mercenary City to not only buy several things for elder Xiu, but he he had also hoped that there would be anything else worthy of his notice in the city.

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