Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The Gathering Yuan State is classified in a different way than the Condensing Qi State. It has three classifications: the preliminary stage, middle stage and late stage.
Each stage includes three sub-stages: beginning, completeness and peak.
Jiang Chen’s current state was the beginning of the preliminary stage of the Gathering Yuan State.
After the year-end bonuses were given out, on the next day, the travelling members of the Jiangs returned one after the other.
Among them was Jiang Jian’s brother, Jiang Feng. He progressed a lot in the past year and had achieved the peak of the preliminary stage of the Gathering Yuan State.
In addition, he brought back a noble female companion, which was enviable for others.
And the cousin who was on good terms with Jiang Chen also came back.
Her name was Jiang Lu, a very pretty woman. As soon as she came back to the Southwind Ridge, she went to Jiang Chen’s room and expressed her empathy and anger for what had happened to him.
She also brought Su Qian’s news to him.
A guy would show up in the New Year celebration banquet of the next day, an enemy that would be extremely difficult to deal with for Jiang Chen.
That guy was Meng Fei. He came to the Jiang Mansion with his apprentice sister, claiming that they were having adventures in the Hundred Thousand Mountains and had no time to go back home to celebrate the New Year, so they came to the Jiang Mansion to join in the fun.
Jiang Lu told Jiang Chen something she knew by hearsay, “He is Su Qian’s new boyfriend. He is here only to seek revenge for Su Qian. His master Gui Ya was a famous and powerful man in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.”
“Oh? Revenge?” Jiang Chen didn’t understand what that meant, since from his understanding he was the one who should seek revenge.
“Did you or did you not write the certificate of divorce to divorce Su Qian?” Jiang Lu asked.
“Yes, I did.”
“It’s very humiliating for a girl to receive a certificate of divorce. And people will say that Meng Fei is with a loose woman that you’ve abandoned. That’s why they only want you to sign that disengagement agreement.”
Jiang Chen got to understand the situation, but he still had some doubts, so he asked, “How did you know these things?”
“Because I was in the Whitewater City.”
Jiang Chen nodded. Jiang Lu was working in the Whitewater City. Of course she was more well-informed.
“Even you know that Meng Fei is Su Qian’s boyfriend. There is nothing wrong with my certificate of divorce.”
Jiang Lu was worried. “I am afraid that he will rock the boat tomorrow. He is in the peak of the preliminary stage, and his master is Gui Ya…”
“Take it easy.”
Jiang Chen didn’t take it seriously and interrupted her indifferently.
Jiang Lu looked at him, puzzled. She said, “It seems to me you’ve become a different person.”
“I have to grow up after all those bad experiences,” Jiang Chen said helplessly.
“Alas. Don’t upset. These things will be over sooner or later. We will definitely get Uncle Windblade out of there.” Jiang Lu felt remorse for what she had said and looked at Jiang Chen with empathy.
…
The New Year celebration officially started on the next day. Guests who wanted to have some fun in the Southwind Ridge also had arrived.
Most of these guests came here to celebrate the New Year because they didn’t have enough time to go back home or they had no family at all.
However, there were some new people among this year’s guests.
For example, Meng Fei and his apprentice sister, Liu Fei, whom Jiang Lu had mentioned.
And Xiao Hai, the alchemist who worked for the Jiang Mansion. But it was his first time celebrating the New Year here. He didn’t look very friendly. His hands were bandaged.
The west courtyard knew soon that it was Jiang Chen who had beaten Xiao Hai and he came here this day to avenge himself. His master would arrive soon.
What’s more, to everyone’s surprise, apprentices from the Swordquest School were also there.
That was a powerful school beyond the Hundred Thousand Mountains. People could deduct from its reputation in the Southwind Ridge how great and powerful it was.
The two disciples were pursuing a villain who was hiding in the Hundred Thousand Mountains and didn’t get time to go back. That was how they were in the Jiang Mansion.
Of course the Jiangs treated them as noble guests.
At the same time, there was a special guest for the east courtyard, someone from the Su’s.
He was sitting with the east courtyard, talking with people in a jovial mood, as if he had no idea of the current relationship between the two families, which made the east courtyard totally confused.
Jiang Chen came to the square in his new clothes. Some servants were busy with fixing up the place. There were round large tables as far as the eye could see.
He became the center of attention as soon as he showed up. A guy came to him promptly.
“Jiang Chen.”
It was a handsome young man in a white robe. Beside him was an elegant lady.
The young man was Jiang Jian’s brother, who just came back from the institution. He was in the peak of the preliminary stage of the Gathering Yuan State, as good as the Wind Move Guards of the Jiangs. And he was only twenty years old.
Jiang Feng had been very popular in the Southwind Ridge until Jiang Chen’s great talent was discovered.
Fortunately they were four years apart and had no competitions between them, so there had been no conflicts. After Jiang Feng went to the institution, they had even less encounters.
“You are the son of the Windblade? What a plain boy!” The girl beside Jiang Feng sized up Jiang Chen with a look and showed a contemptuous smile.
She continued without expecting any response from Jiang Chen, “To be honest, without the Windblade, the Southwind Ridge is only an ordinary force.”
The she looked around and shook her head with pity.
Jiang Feng was embarrassed, but he knew his female companion’s temper, so he didn’t respond.
“Who are you?” Jiang Chen asked.
“My name is Jin Jie. You can call me Miss Jin,” She said proudly.
“You are a guest here. Watch your mouth.” Jiang Chen didn’t show her any courtesy.
Jin Jie was shocked. She said angrily with her eyes wide open, “What did you just say? Do you know whom you are talking with?”
“An insolent woman, who knows no respect,” Jiang Chen said coldly.
“Respect? Your small Southwind Ridge doesn’t deserve my respect.”
“Then please leave.” Jiang Chen gestured towards the door.
Of course Jin Jie wouldn’t leave so easily, but she was so dumbfounded that she couldn’t even say a word.
Jiang Feng took the chance to question Jiang Chen, “Jiang Chen, she is my guest. You don’t have the right to ask her to leave.”
“So you’ll allow her to talk bullshit here to insult the Jiangs? Don’t forget you are also a member of the Jiangs,” Jiang Chen said.
Jiang Feng was extremely discontented with Jiang Chen’s attitude towards him, since he didn’t save face at all in the presence of Jin Jie. He said, “What a great talk! How eloquent you’ve become since we last met! Looks like that without your father here, no one is giving you any proper education. Today I will give you a good lesson as a brother!”
“Yeah? How will you give me the lesson?” Jiang Chen raised his head and looked at Jiang Feng with provocation.
“You’ll know it soon. There are plenty of chances at the banquet.”
Jiang Feng didn’t rush. Instead, he left with Jin Jie for the moment.
At the moment Jiang Chen sensed that someone was looking at him. The cold and gloomy look made him quite uneasy.
He looked towards where the look was coming from. He saw a young man who was more or less his age sitting in a seat for distinguished guests.
There was also a girl beside him.
Jiang Lu came to him and noticed his look. She nodded at him.
“Is he Meng Fei?”
Jiang Chen squinted. Instead of being intimidated, he looked like he had accepted the challenge.
Something occurred to him. Last time when her mother went to the Su’s, they met a rude guy who claimed to be Su Qian’s boyfriend.
He called Cher over, pointed at Meng Fei and asked her, “Is he that guy?”
“Exactly!” Cher looked at him and nodded.
“What did he say?” Jiang Chen asked.
“Young Master.” To his surprise, Cher glanced at him and didn’t dare speak.
Jiang Chen couldn’t imagine what terrible things Meng Fei had said that even the talkative Cher didn’t dare speak them out.
“Good. I got it,” Jiang Chen said coldly.
