This was the first time Jiang Chen had heard anything about how his Martial Vein was stolen.
It was also the first time he had heard a clue.
The news jolted him.
Wen Quan said respectfully, "Master, the Fire Sparrow Kingdom has a Second Prince named Wen Shixi."
"Wen Shixi was born without a Martial Vein."
"He was the one. The last time he came to Hanwu City, he set his sights on you. In the end, he conspired with your fiancée and set up a scam. Your fiancée lured you outside Hanwu City."
"Wen Shixi’s men and people from the City Lord’s Mansion took the opportunity to capture you and steal your Martial Vein."
"And then..."
Hearing this, Jiang Chen cut in sharply, "Alright, that’s enough."
"I understand."
An intense, cold glint instantly flashed in his eyes.
’Wen Shixi, Second Prince Wen Shixi.’
’And Qin Muxue.’
His voice was somewhat grim.
"You damn couple. I’ll make you regret ever being born."
Jiang Chen finally knew who had stolen his Martial Vein.
From the moment he was reborn, Jiang Chen knew Qin Muxue was involved, but he had never identified the true culprit behind it all. Now, it turned out to be Wen Shixi, the Second Prince of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom.
Although he had never met Wen Shixi, Jiang Chen was already overcome with the urge to kill him.
"Tell me about Wen Shixi."
After a moment of silence, Jiang Chen said to Wen Quan.
This Wen Quan, of course, was not the real Wen Quan, but Cyan Silkworm.
Cyan Silkworm told Jiang Chen a great deal about Wen Shixi.
Jiang Chen was very satisfied.
"Good. You may go back for now. Let me know if anything else comes up."
"Yes, Master."
Cyan Silkworm nodded and, without another word, turned and flew down the mountain.
He vanished into the mountains in an instant, heading back to the City Lord’s Mansion.
Jiang Chen, meanwhile, stood on the mountaintop.
He remained silent.
That night, the stars were bright.
With his hands behind his back, Jiang Chen gazed at the distant sky.
Before long, a black light suddenly surged up from the world far away.
"Huh?"
’What is that?’
Jiang Chen’s expression turned serious as he stared toward the distant horizon where the black light was rising.
He was somewhat surprised.
Then, he saw the black light over there erupting continuously, shooting toward the sky.
At the same time, a wave of scorching heat swept from the distance toward Hanwu City.
"That... That is..."
Jiang Chen suddenly thought of something.
He said in astonishment, "Could it be the Black Fire? This seems to be the birth of the Black Fire."
At the thought of the Black Fire, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.
Although Jiang Chen was an Alchemist, he had never possessed any kind of Fire of Heaven and Earth.
If he could control a Fire of Heaven and Earth, his Alchemy Skill would improve tremendously.
Having a Fire of Heaven and Earth would even help improve the quality of the Elixirs he refined.
The Black Fire was one such Fire of Heaven and Earth.
What he was sensing now was definitely the Black Fire, a Fire of Heaven and Earth.
’This Black Fire... it seems to be in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.’
’The Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain is exceptionally dangerous.’
Jiang Chen fell silent. The Black Fire was erupting continuously, on the verge of emerging.
He didn’t immediately head for the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain. From the looks of it, the Black Fire still needed some time before it would fully emerge.
’I’ll use this time to take care of matters in Hanwu City first.’
’Then, I’ll obtain the Black Fire.’
’After that, I can go to Guyue City and deliver the letter of annulment.’
A plan was already forming in his mind.
There were only two short months left until he had to go to the Qin Family in Guyue City to deliver the letter of annulment.
With that, Jiang Chen immediately turned and headed for Hanwu City.
Meanwhile, the signs of the Black Fire’s birth in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain had indeed caused a huge commotion.
The Alchemists from the Alchemy Master Guild, in particular, were all ecstatic.
"This looks like the Black Fire."
"Heavens! The Black Fire, a Fire of Heaven and Earth, has been born!"
"I must obtain the Black Fire."
Some Alchemists immediately and quietly left Hanwu City, heading for the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.
「City Lord’s Mansion.」
Wen Bufan was still feeling resentful.
Seeing his father emerge from seclusion, he hurriedly sought out Wen Quan.
"Father, have you recovered?" he asked, still a bit cautiously.
Wen Quan sat there and nodded. "Not only have I recovered, but my Cultivation has also increased."
"There’s no need to worry."
The Wen Quan sitting there was no different from the old Wen Quan. In fact, based on his appearance and demeanor, he seemed even more composed, with a hint of ruthlessness.
"That’s great."
Wen Bufan was overjoyed and immediately said, "Father, the City Lord’s Mansion lost to the Jiang Family this time. Are we just going to let it go?"
"Why don’t we ask the experts from the Fire Sparrow Kingdom to step in, annihilate the Jiang Family, and avenge our defeat?"
The words had barely left his mouth when Wen Quan shot to his feet.
He raised his hand and slapped Wen Bufan viciously across the face.
SLAP!
"You little bastard! Don’t you dare provoke the Jiang Family again."
Wen Quan’s slap was incredibly harsh, leaving Wen Bufan’s face twitching uncontrollably.
Stunned, Wen Bufan clutched his face in disbelief and looked at his father, bewildered.
"Father, why did you hit me?"
"Was I wrong?"
SLAP!
He had just finished speaking when Wen Quan slapped him again.
"You really don’t learn, do you? From now on, do not provoke the Jiang Family. The City Lord’s Mansion will make peace with them, understand?"
Wen Quan’s two consecutive slaps left Wen Bufan completely dazed.
He couldn’t believe it. His own father had actually slapped him.
And so viciously at that.
Most importantly, his father wanted to make peace with the Jiang Family instead of seeking revenge.
That was what he found most unbelievable.
Clutching his badly swollen face, Wen Bufan was on the verge of tears.
"Father, if you don’t want revenge, fine, but why are you hitting me?"
But as soon as the words were out.
SLAP!
Wen Quan backhanded his son, Wen Bufan, across the face.
"I’m hitting you to knock some sense into you, to make you remember my words."
"You worthless thing! It’s because of you that our City Lord’s Mansion suffered such heavy casualties! Do you have any idea how formidable the Jiang Family is?"
At this moment, Wen Quan was like a strict father teaching his son a lesson.
His entire body radiated a domineering aura.
Inwardly, however, he was extremely pleased. This was him punishing Wen Bufan on behalf of his master, Jiang Chen.
Wen Bufan was almost beaten unconscious by Wen Quan.
But Wen Bufan still stubbornly held to his opinion.
"Father, if the City Lord’s Mansion can’t handle the Jiang Family, can’t we ask for help from the experts of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom?"
He really couldn’t accept it.
At that moment, a cold glint flashed across his father Wen Quan’s face.
He abruptly raised his large hand again.
’Oh no, he’s going to slap me again...’
He hurriedly tried to dodge.
But how could his speed possibly compare to that of Wen Quan, a Fifth Heaven Martial King?
SLAP!
This slap landed viciously on Wen Bufan’s face.
Wen Quan nearly slapped Wen Bufan’s head clean off.
The force of the blow sent him stumbling to the ground.
He was stunned.
But Wen Quan, his face cold, charged over again.
"You vile son! You disgraceful son! All you do is cause trouble for me everywhere you go! I’m going to beat you to death today!"
Wen Quan was absolutely furious, though he didn’t know where this rage was coming from.
He just wanted to viciously beat this Wen Bufan to death.
After all, Wen Bufan had caused his master no small amount of trouble.
Now, he could beat Wen Bufan openly and justifiably.
Then, Wen Bufan was subjected to a brutal beating from Wen Quan.
Wen Bufan began to wonder if he was even his father’s biological son.
"Father, spare me!"
"I’m your son..."
He was about to have a breakdown.
Repeatedly beaten by his father to within an inch of his life, he had no choice but to beg for mercy.
"You little bastard, I’m not just hitting you! This is a father’s love! I’m teaching you a lesson, teaching you how to be a decent person."
"Keep a low profile from now on, and stop causing trouble all the time."
"Otherwise, I’d rather just crush a bastard like you to death."
Wen Quan’s anger didn’t seem to have subsided, but he didn’t beat Wen Bufan to death either.
He planned to keep Wen Bufan around. Maybe he could beat him up whenever he was in a bad mood.