"Alas, Xiao Yi, so many years have passed, and you still haven't accepted reality? The gap in talent cannot be bridged solely through effort. To be frank, you are no match for Shi Qi... If it came down to it, you wouldn't even be able to touch his clothes."
Ye Santong's indifferent yet certain voice pulled Gongsun Yi back to reality.
"Heh, I understand, Master!"
Gongsun Yi forced a smile, then cupped his hands towards Ye Santong. "I have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave, Master!"
With that, Gongsun Yi departed without regard for anyone else.
Qi Qingfei and Lin Zicong exchanged glances, unsure whether to stay or go.
"Let's go too," Chen Xiao said calmly. Qi Qingfei and Lin Zicong immediately nodded and left the room.
Before leaving, Chen Xiao said to Ye Santong, "Old sir, perhaps you are mistaken. In my opinion, talent isn't that important. Farewell... See you again, Xiao Hongchan!"
Chen Xiao affectionately patted Xiao Hongchan's head one last time before striding out of Sanyang Kaitai.
"Goodbye, big brother!"
Xiao Hongchan waved goodbye to Chen Xiao's retreating back with reluctance.
After Chen Xiao and his companions left, Shi Qi said with disdain, "Heh, what a bunch of ignorant fools. They think talent isn't important, probably because they don't know what true talent is. They're just frogs in a well!"
As soon as Shi Qi finished speaking, Xiao Hongchan shook her head and said, "Big brother isn't a frog in a well at all. He's very powerful!"
"Heh, a mere mortal from the secular world, how powerful can he be?"
Shi Qi scoffed, not taking Xiao Hongchan's words seriously at all.
Xiao Hongchan, however, said stubbornly, "Big brother is much more powerful than you, Shi Qi gege."
"Much more powerful than me?"
Hearing this, Shi Qi felt even more that Xiao Hongchan was just speaking childish nonsense. He teased, "Then tell me, who is more powerful between him and your grandfather?"
"I'm not sure about that..."
Xiao Hongchan shook her head with a serious expression, then said as if reciting a tongue twister, "Because I can sense how powerful Grandpa is, but I can't sense how powerful big brother is. So I'm not sure who is more powerful."
Ye Santong was stunned by her words. "Xiao Hongchan, are you telling the truth? You really can't gauge how powerful that big brother is?"
"Of course, it's true!"
Xiao Hongchan raised her small hand as if making an oath. "Xiao Hongchan doesn't lie! If I lie, may lightning strike me and kill Shi Qi gege."
Shi Qi: "..."
Is that how you swear an oath?
Noticing Ye Santong's expression change, Shi Qi smiled and said, "Master, you don't actually believe Xiao Hongchan's nonsense, do you? That kid is just a person from the secular world. No matter how powerful he is, can he be more powerful than Xiao Zhan? When I fought Xiao Zhan, he couldn't even last ten moves under me."
"Perhaps I'm overthinking it."
Ye Santong nodded in agreement. Then, as if remembering something, he instructed, "Right, Shi Qi, that young man offended some dogs from the Imperial Guards just now while protecting Xiao Hongchan. Now that they've left, those dogs will likely track them down for revenge. You'll have to bear the burden and secretly protect them for me."
"Yes, Master. Just a few dogs from the Imperial Guards. If I encounter them, I'll kill them directly!"
Shi Qi's lips curved into a cold smile.
...
"Master, Master, was that old man just now really my grandmaster?"
On the way back, Lin Zicong asked excitedly.
Gongsun Yi glared at him, too annoyed to bother replying.
Qi Qingfei directly retorted, "You really know how to bring up sensitive topics. Can't you see that the old man doesn't even acknowledge your master as his disciple? Have some backbone! And you still call him grandmaster!"
Gongsun Yi almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Others might bring up sensitive topics, but hers was the most sensitive!
However, with these two clowns bickering, Gongsun Yi's mood brightened considerably, and the oppressive feeling vanished.
After all, so many years had passed. No matter how much he cared, it was all in the past. He should have let it go long ago.
Yongning County was an ancient city with many historical sites, and some of its streets were paved with blue bricks and stones, remnants of bygone eras.
As dusk gradually settled, the four strolled to an open space in a park.
Chen Xiao stretched and said casually, "You've been following us for quite a while. Aren't you going to show yourselves? How long do you plan to trail us?"
As soon as he finished speaking, several people emerged from the nearby woods. They were the four from the Imperial Guards of the Imperial City.
"The brat is quite sharp, to have noticed us tracking you!"
The chubby栾 (Luan) said with a sinister grin. Although he was speaking to Chen Xiao, his eyes kept scanning Qi Qingfei, filled with lecherous intent.
If Qi Qingfei had been her usual self, she would have already cursed, "What are you looking at? Keep looking and I'll dig out those dog eyes of yours."
However, recalling how Luan had killed Dongxia Yang Potian with a single palm strike, she no longer had the courage.
Chen Xiao said mockingly, "You all reek like dogs. It's hard not to notice you!"
"You scoundrel! It's one thing for Ye Santong to call us dogs, but you dare to insult us too?"
Luan roared angrily.
"Heh, you are a pack of stinking dogs. If he can insult you, why can't I?"
Chen Xiao said with a pout.
"You scoundrel! I followed you all this way to confirm that Ye Santong isn't secretly protecting you... Without his protection, you dare to be arrogant in front of me?"
Luan said coldly, "A mere mortal dares to offend us, the Imperial Guards of the Imperial City. You truly don't know your limits. Ye Santong can protect you for a while, but he can't protect you forever!"
Chen Xiao shook his head and sighed, "They say dogs have keen noses and excellent senses of smell. I think you dogs are the exception. Are you really sure Ye Santong hasn't sent anyone to protect us in secret?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Luan was taken aback.
Chen Xiao spoke calmly to the air in front of him, "Since you're here, why hide? Are you ashamed to show your faces?"
As Chen Xiao finished speaking, a figure slowly materialized in the air before him. It was Shi Qi.
Shi Qi glared coldly at Chen Xiao. This brat knew he was sent by his master to protect them, yet he dared to disrespect him. It was truly detestable.
Lin Zicong and Qi Qingfei were stunned by this scene.
What was going on? Was this a Russian nesting doll?
They had no idea that as they were strolling, so many people were following them. Was this some kind of "mantis stalks cicada, unaware of the oriole behind" game?