"Brother Mo, who are these people?" Jiang Chen glanced out the window. He figured they were probably connected to Third Master Jing.
"Judging by their attire, they should be from the Moon God Cult's First Branch." The Peerless Emperor looked completely unconcerned, clearly not thinking much of them at all.
"The Moon God Cult's First Branch? Come to think of it, Brother Mo — do you know anyone with the surname Jing? Some local tyrant in Frost Moon City?" Jiang Chen suddenly asked.
"Jing? Old Third Jing?" The Peerless Emperor nodded. "There is such a person — the Deputy Branch Master of the First Branch. Since the Branch Master of the First Branch basically doesn't handle mundane affairs, this Old Third Jing is essentially the one in control. His cultivation is only at the seventh level of the Imperial Realm, but his family is very well-connected within the Moon God Cult. He has a cousin who's supposedly one of the top geniuses the Cult is pouring resources into, and the older generation of his family even holds Elder positions. So this Old Third Jing is quite arrogant in Frost Moon City. Even the City Lord gives him a measure of respect."
Hearing this, Jiang Chen finally understood. So that was why Third Master Jing had been so brazen. The roots of his arrogance lay right here.
His family held high standing in the Moon God Cult, and he himself was the deputy branch master of the First Branch — it was no wonder he was this domineering.
"Brother, what's this? Did you offend him?" The Peerless Emperor chuckled. "You really do have a knack for stirring up trouble, kid."
Jiang Chen shrugged and smiled bitterly. "Brother, you've wronged me this time. If anyone did the offending, it was him — not me."
He then recounted his trip to Three Rivers Street to purchase Spiritual Medicine, including the whole affair with the Laughing Bodhi. He didn't hide a thing.
The Peerless Emperor's expression grew increasingly grave as he listened. When Jiang Chen finished, the Peerless Emperor solemnly cupped his fists. "Brother, I wronged you. So this whole mess started because of saving me? I'm ashamed — truly ashamed. Here I am, old and muddleheaded, and I've dragged you into trouble with me. Your righteousness knows no bounds, brother. I owe you far too great a debt this time. Don't worry — not only will Old Third Jing not dare cause trouble, but even if his family's ancestor stood before me, he wouldn't dare act arrogant."
The Peerless Emperor wasn't bluffing. The Jing family ancestor was merely an Elder of the Moon God Cult — peak ninth level of the Imperial Realm at most, not an Emperor-grade powerhouse.
Without Emperor-grade strength, one wouldn't even have the right to speak in front of the Peerless Emperor. Meeting him would only allow one to present oneself as a junior.
"Brother, Third Master Jing hasn't arrived yet. Don't show yourself for now — recover your energy first. I'll go out and deal with these fellows."
The Peerless Emperor had just had his poison neutralized. While there were no side effects, he still needed a little time to recover. Plus he'd need to be at peak condition later when detoxifying Madam Yun.
"Brother, don't push yourself. And don't confront them — wait until I come out." The Peerless Emperor counseled earnestly.
Jiang Chen smiled. "Don't worry."
With that, he flashed downstairs. The moment he stepped outside, Long Xiaoxuan walked over with a strange grin. "A few noisy fellows came by just now. I took care of them for you."
"I knew you weren't one to sit quietly." In truth, Jiang Chen had heard the commotion below earlier, but he'd been fully focused on detoxifying the Peerless Emperor and couldn't spare his attention.
"Heh, can't blame me for that. They came looking for you, after all. I was just being helpful."
"What did they say?" Jiang Chen frowned.
"Something about you using fake Heaven-grade Spiritual Medicine to scam them — that you swindled Third Master out of his medicines or whatever. Is that true?"
Jiang Chen flew into a rage. The two stalks of Heaven-grade Spiritual Medicine he'd given were absolutely genuine. With that many witnesses present, if they'd been fakes, someone would have spotted it on the spot.
Besides, with Third Master Jing's cunning, if Jiang Chen had handed him fake Heaven-grade Spiritual Medicine, would the man have been foolish enough to simply accept it? Put plainly, this was nothing but a shakedown!
Jiang Chen was so furious he actually laughed. He thought, "Well, well, Old Third Jing — I hadn't even come looking for trouble with you yet, and here you are, showing up at my door. Two stalks of Heaven-grade Spiritual Medicine and two hundred million Holy Spirit Stones weren't enough?"
Jiang Chen had seen greedy people before, but this Old Third Jing's shameless face had thoroughly infuriated him.
Jiang Chen hadn't come to Frost Moon City looking for trouble. But that didn't mean he was afraid of it.
Especially someone like Third Master Jing — the man was simply going too far!
"Brother Long, I have just one thing to say."
"What?" Long Xiaoxuan blinked.
"Well done!" Jiang Chen's voice was ice-cold. "This Third Master Jing really thinks I'm afraid of him! He got what he wanted, and now he wants to push it further? Fake Heaven-grade Spiritual Medicine? Not only did I give him the real thing — even if I'd given him fakes and he failed to catch it on the spot, that would be his own incompetence!"
"So they were real?" Long Xiaoxuan frowned.
"Of course! I needed the Laughing Bodhi urgently to save Brother Mo and the others — why on earth would I give him fakes?" Jiang Chen was seething. "Come on, let's go out and have a look. I want to see just how arrogant this Third Master Jing really is!"
Long Xiaoxuan grinned. Having been with Jiang Chen for so long, he had gradually overcome his initial wariness of the outside world.
Once that fear of the outside world faded, the True Dragon race's naturally fearless bloodline began to assert itself.
Long Xiaoxuan now practically relished the prospect of chaos. Why would he try to stop Jiang Chen? Not pouring oil on the fire was already being generous.
Getting into trouble?
Who was afraid of whom?