Chapter 1837: 1834: Zhao Qinglan!

Chapter 1837: Chapter 1834: Zhao Qinglan!

Hearing the doubts of the elders and villagers, Zhao Yuan explained them one by one.

In the end, he pushed Li Chen out and had him carefully recount how he encountered the Wind Wolf King and how he killed it.

Feeling the simplicity and enthusiasm of these people, Li Chen found it hard to refuse.

After sorting out his thoughts, he began telling the story from when he first met that so‑called Wolf King patrolling the mountain, all the way to how he forced the Wind Wolf King to its death, giving a simple rundown.

As for coming from Earth, how he met Beiming Xue and Wui Nishang, and even the previous encounter with that Sky Eagle Sect, he didn’t mention a single word.

Li Chen spoke as if it were nothing, but in the ears of everyone listening, it was utterly soul‑stirring.

You have to know, let alone the Wind Wolf King, even a lone Wind Wolf was hard for them—these best‑of‑the‑best hunters from a hundred li around—to deal with.

In an instant, the way they looked at Li Chen was filled with admiration.

Especially those young girls who had yet to marry—their faces were full of starry‑eyed wonder.

If Li Chen so much as glanced their way, it would make them flush red on the spot, lower their little heads, and not dare meet his gaze.

“Brother Li, from your accent you don’t sound like a local. May I ask where you came from and where you’re headed?”

Li Chen thought for a moment, then, following the backstories of protagonists in those wuxia novels on Earth, casually made one up that sounded perfectly proper.

“I have no father or mother. From childhood I followed my master into seclusion in the mountains. Now that my master has gone traveling, he’s sent me down the mountain to temper myself!”

Hearing this, Zhao Yuan and the others suddenly understood.

This casual excuse from Li Chen neatly explained why he knew nothing about the Northern Territory, yet possessed such formidable skills.

Right after, Zhao Yuan, on behalf of all the villagers of Zhao Village, extended a warm invitation to Li Chen.

“Since Brother Li Chen, you don’t yet have a clear destination, why not stay in our Zhao Village for a while and let us properly fulfill our duties as hosts!”

This fit Li Chen’s wishes perfectly. He had been worrying about having nowhere to go, so he might as well stay in Zhao Village for now.

It just so happened he could use this opportunity to properly get to know this mysterious place, the Northern Territory.

“Then I’ll be troubling you!”

Previously, Zhao Yuan had even promised that he would refuse, but now, hearing Li Chen agree, he was extremely excited. He waved his hands repeatedly and said, “No trouble at all, no trouble at all. Little brother, what are you saying? For Zhao Village to receive such a noble guest as you is the good fortune of our entire stockade!”

After that, he arranged for Li Chen to stay in the best courtyard in the whole village—the home of Manor Master Zhao Yuan himself.

With nothing else to do, Li Chen practiced sword in the manor.

Just then, two women were hiding behind a bed of flowers, peeking this way.

One was a girl in her teens, with a graceful figure and skin as delicate as if it would break at a touch. Though she had not yet fully grown, a single glance made it clear she was an extraordinary beauty in the making.

The other was slightly older, around twenty or so, dressed like a handsome young matron.

The two of them were none other than Manor Master Zhao Yuan’s third daughter, Miss Zhao Qinglan, and his eldest daughter‑in‑law, Sunx Fang.

Seeing Li Chen practicing sword, Zhao Qinglan stole a look at him and quietly asked, “Sister‑in‑law, he doesn’t look that old—how could he possibly have killed the Wind Wolf King?”

Sunx Fang, whom she called sister‑in‑law, was also puzzled, and replied casually.

“Father said he’s a Disciple of an Immortal in the mountains who came down to temper himself. His Martial Arts are unfathomable!”

“Oh, really? But from what I see, his sword moves are very simple—he’s only got that one move of drawing the sword, right?”

Though Zhao Qinglan was a girl, she usually liked playing with blades and spears.

Moreover, she had decent talent in Martial Arts, and among the younger generation in Zhao Village, she truly had few rivals.

Since she was already at the age of almost leaving the household, and with her good looks, quite a few young talents had come to propose.

Other girls, as long as they took a fancy to someone, would have their parents decide for them.

But not Zhao Qinglan. She had once declared that anyone wanting to marry her had to defeat her first.

Otherwise, why should she let him “conquer” her?

Now, hearing the people in the manor talk about Li Chen like he was some divine figure, Zhao Qinglan became interested in him.

Seeing Li Chen practicing sword there all this time, her hands itched. She turned to Sunx Fang and said, “Sister‑in‑law, I’m going to go test him and see if he’s really as godlike as everyone in the manor says.”

On hearing this, Sunx Fang was greatly alarmed and hurriedly called out, “Qinglan, don’t you go causing trouble!”

“Don’t worry, sister‑in‑law, I know what I’m doing. I won’t go too far!”

With that, Zhao Qinglan suddenly drew her sword and thrust toward Li Chen.

Seeing someone lunging at him, Li Chen’s eyes narrowed and he casually drew his sword.

“Swoosh!”

The Sword Shadow was as fast as lightning, directly knocking aside Zhao Qinglan’s longsword with a clanging impact.

Immediately after, before Zhao Qinglan could even react, that cold, gleaming sword tip was already resting against her snow‑white, jade‑like neck.

Just a slight twist of Li Chen’s wrist would pierce Zhao Qinglan’s throat, and she would perish on the spot.

“Mr. Li, Qinglan meant no harm—please don’t hurt her…”

Seeing this, Sunx Fang feared something might happen to Zhao Qinglan and hurried over.

Li Chen glanced at Sunx Fang running toward him, then looked back at Zhao Qinglan, whose face had lost all color, and promptly sheathed his sword.

“So it was Miss Qinglan. I was offensive just now, please forgive me!”

Hearing him, Zhao Qinglan rubbed her wrist, which had gone numb from the counter, and snorted.

“Hmph, using such a heavy hand—you don’t know how to show the slightest tenderness toward a lady!”

With that, she avoided looking into Li Chen’s eyes, hastily picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground, and ran off like a thief.

Seeing this, Sunx Fang wore an apologetic smile and said to Li Chen, “Mr. Li, my younger sister is still young and ignorant. Please don’t hold it against her!”

Li Chen smiled and said, “Miss Qinglan is just a little girl. How could I take her seriously?”

Having run just over ten meters, Zhao Qinglan clearly froze when she heard this, then subconsciously turned back to glance at him.

Just then, a sudden commotion came from outside, along with the sound of gongs and drums, shrill and grating.

Right after, Zhao Zhigao came rushing over.

Seeing him, Zhao Qinglan quickly asked, “Qinglan, that Hong Biao from Hong Family Village has come to propose again. He says he wants to marry you!”

At the name “Hong Biao,” a look of disgust immediately surfaced in Zhao Qinglan’s clear, bright eyes.

“That Hong Biao is a good‑for‑nothing bully who only knows how to oppress men and prey on women. There’s no way I’m marrying someone like him!”