Chapter 428: Little Nannan
Time flowed like water. Zhang Wenchang was shrouded in a deadening gloom, lacking any trace of youthful vigor. In fact, his face was aged, and no one would have guessed he was a young man.
“Boss, give me a jar of wine and four small dishes.” Ye Fan walked into the crude little tavern.
Zhang Wenchang responded woodenly, like a scarecrow without a heart. He mechanically brought over a wine jar and silently set down four small plates of food, without uttering a single word.
“This useless old man is like a corpse. He can’t squeeze out a single sentence in half a day. Did you hear what I said to you earlier?” a young man said with great disgust.
“I heard you.” Zhang Wenchang’s eyes were dim. He slowly gathered the bowls and chopsticks, wiping down the table.
Having inexplicably arrived in this world, he had no talent for cultivation and suffered constant bullying from his fellow disciples. Over the past few years, he had spent his days in gloom and decadence, silently enduring all of this.
“What are you shouting about?!” Ye Fan slammed the table, casting a sidelong glance at the young man.
“None of your business. We’re talking to this old waste,” another young man said, looking over.
“Get lost. Don’t disturb my drinking.” Ye Fan swept his gaze over them contemptuously.
“Who are you, daring to act so arrogantly?” The several young men all stood up, advancing together with cold sneers.
“Customer, you’d better leave quickly,” Zhang Wenchang said woodenly to Ye Fan.
“Old man, get out of the way!” One of the young men stepped forward and shoved him, making him stumble and nearly fall to the ground.
Zhang Wenchang’s temples were white as frost. He steadied himself against the table, silently standing to the side, saying nothing more, dejected and gloomy.
The young men came up close, all staring at Ye Fan with cold smiles on their faces. One of them pointed at his face and said, “Do you think you’re the Holy Son of Yi, or the Golden Wing Little Peng King?”
“Smack!”
Ye Fan slammed the wine bowl directly onto his face, covering his entire head with the bowl. The man couldn’t even cry out as he flew backward, crashing onto the street. He clawed and kicked, then quickly stopped moving, dead on the spot.
“Scram!” Ye Fan only had this one word, his expression icy cold.
The others were stunned, never expecting him to dare such a thing. After a long moment, one of them said, “The great-grandson of Ancestral Aunt Ji Hui has been killed…”
“You have some nerve, daring to casually kill someone from the Ji Family!”
Ye Fan didn’t want to bother with them, but upon hearing the name Ji Hui, his expression instantly turned frigid. “So what if I killed him?”
“You… just wait and see!” The others turned and fled.
“Still daring to threaten me?” A cold smile curled at the corner of Ye Fan’s mouth. With a clang, he snatched the longsword from one of them.
“Pfft!”
He swung down, and with a chop, one man’s head was sent flying, landing on the street. The corpse was also flung out, not a single drop of blood spilling inside the small tavern.
“You…” The others were terrified.
“I told you to scram, but you had to court death!” Ye Fan felt a surge of anger. Seeing Zhang Wenchang so cruelly bullied, and knowing Ji Hui was behind it, he struck without mercy.
“Pfft!” “Pfft!”
Sitting there, he swung the sword repeatedly. Blood sprayed as he cleaved several men in half, sweeping them all out onto the street.
Everyone passing by was dumbfounded, silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to breathe loudly. Who was this man? He had butchered members of the Ji Family—what a fierce temper!
“He is the king of the younger generation in the Central Province—Wang Chongxiao.”
“It’s him. I’ve seen him before.”
Some whispered, their fear deepening.
Ye Fan sat as steady as Mount Tai, his expression calm. Before entering the tavern, he had transformed into Wang Chongxiao’s appearance, even mimicking his temperament—domineering and cold.
Over the past half-month, Wang Chongxiao had entered the Southern Domain and waged battles everywhere, killing at will. Many of the younger generation had fallen by his hand, and even some senior figures were enraged, wanting to step in and kill him.
Ye Fan felt that this young king from the Central Province had too many enemies. He probably couldn’t even keep track of how many foes he had. Even if Ye Fan added a few more powerful enemies to his list, Wang Chongxiao wouldn’t care.
“How did you end up like this?” Ye Fan transmitted his voice with divine thought. He clearly remembered that before he left, Elder Ma Yun of the Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven had taken Zhang Wenchang as a disciple, so his situation should have improved.
Zhang Wenchang was shocked inside, staring blankly at Ye Fan.
“Don’t be surprised. It’s me, Ye Fan. Just speak in your heart.”
Zhang Wenchang’s lips trembled. He bent down to wipe the tables and chairs, using it as a cover to hide his loss of composure, afraid of being discovered.
“You need to leave quickly. They’re waiting for you to come back. There are people watching in secret.”
A cold glint flashed in Ye Fan’s eyes. He didn’t press further, to avoid implicating Zhang Wenchang. He used his divine thought to smooth over everything that had just happened, leaving Zhang Wenchang unaware.
Ye Fan planned to pick the Immortal Medicine and then help him regain his youth. For now, he didn’t want to cause too much of a stir.
Zhang Wenchang’s mind went into a daze. Everything from before vanished, and he didn’t know what had happened.
Three years had passed, and his situation was very poor. He had opened this small tavern to make a living. For someone who had come from the other shore of the starry sky, this was an inexplicable sorrow.
His eyes lacked vitality, like a walking corpse. Every night, lying on the bed, he would stare at the ceiling, thinking of his homeland, thinking of his parents, thinking of the child he had never seen. This was a kind of torment.
Ye Fan sighed. He knew that Zhang Wenchang’s life was very difficult. He had no cultivation talent and was bullied by his fellow disciples. Later, Elder Ma Yun took him as a disciple, but Elder Ma Yun died soon after, and Zhang Wenchang was once again abandoned.
“I will help you,” Ye Fan said.
“No need. I’m used to it.” Zhang Wenchang shook his head.
“Wait for me. I will come back.” Ye Fan said.
“Alright.” Zhang Wenchang nodded.
Ye Fan left the tavern. He planned to enter the Ancient Forbidden Land to pick the Immortal Medicine. He knew that this time, he would face great danger, but he had to go.
Just as he was about to leave, a little girl suddenly ran over and tugged at the corner of his clothes.
“Big brother, can you buy me a bun?” The little girl looked up at him with big, clear eyes.
Ye Fan was stunned. He looked down at the little girl. She was about five or six years old, dressed in rags, her face dirty, but her eyes were very bright.
“Alright.” Ye Fan nodded.
He took the little girl to a nearby bun shop and bought her two buns.
“Thank you, big brother.” The little girl said gratefully.
“You’re welcome.” Ye Fan smiled.
“Big brother, can I follow you?” The little girl asked timidly.
“No.” Ye Fan shook his head.
“Oh.” The little girl lowered her head, looking disappointed.
“But I can take you to a safe place.” Ye Fan said.
“Really?” The little girl looked up, hope shining in her eyes.
“Really.” Ye Fan nodded.
He took the little girl to a nearby inn and settled her in.
“Wait for me here. I’ll be back soon.” Ye Fan said.
“Alright.” The little girl nodded.
Ye Fan left the inn. He knew that this time, he was going to face a life-and-death crisis, but he had no choice. He had to get the Immortal Medicine.
He walked toward the Ancient Forbidden Land, his figure gradually disappearing into the distance.