Temporary Stay in Qingshan Town

"It's him."
Xiao Yi Xian looked at Chu Chen's figure, her expression subtly changing. Noticing the noisy crowd, Chu Chen turned around in surprise, "Xiao Yi Xian? The one with the Woeful Poison Body."
Their gazes met. Chu Chen was somewhat surprised to see the expressions of everyone around him, realizing that their eyes and actions were uniformly directed towards the pale white-robed girl, "So, she is Xiao Yi Xian."
"What a coincidence, we meet again." Moving closer, Xiao Yi Xian softly spoke to Chu Chen. These words immediately drew everyone's attention to Chu Chen.
Assessing this unfamiliar face, the Mercenary Group seemed somewhat displeased, their eyes revealing anger and jealousy.
"What a coincidence, so you, little girl, are Xiao Yi Xian. A pleasure to meet you." Chu Chen greeted her very politely.
"You know me?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, somewhat puzzled.
"I've heard a little."
Their simple conversation, in everyone's eyes, took on a different flavor. The gazes directed at Chu Chen sparked with fire, wishing they could devour him alive.
Sensing this strange, jealous atmosphere, Chu Chen intentionally averted his gaze, "Xiao Yi Xian, you still have things to do, don't you? Please go ahead and attend to them."
"Alright."
Chu Chen shrugged, preparing to leave and find an inn for a temporary stay, but Xiao Yi Xian called him back. She revealed a sweet smile, "Sir, may I ask your name?"
Scanning the fiery eyes of the crowd, Chu Chen paused for a moment before speaking, "My surname is Chu."
"Are you looking for an inn?" Xiao Yi Xian called Chu Chen back once more.
"Yes, it's getting late. You know the situation today; I need a good bath."
"Why not stay at Wan Yao Zhai? We'll cover your lodging and meals. If not for Sir Chu's intervention today, I fear we wouldn't have made it back."
Xiao Yi Xian's words were like a fuse, reigniting the recently subsided murmurs. Chu Chen was quite helpless.
"Is this the benefactor who saved my child today? Indeed, he possesses an extraordinary aura." At the entrance, a robust, dark-skinned middle-aged man, wearing a wolf emblem on his arm, appeared.
"Mu She, the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, is here too. Why is Wan Yao Zhai so lively today?" Someone in the crowd muttered.
"You are?"
"Young brother, I am Mu She, Mu Li's father. I am truly grateful for today's events. How about you join the Wolf Head Mercenary Group for a gathering? We'll treat you to meat and fish." Mu She's hearty laughter immediately echoed through the shop, lingering for a while.
"It was merely a coincidence, no need to trouble yourselves," Chu Chen replied indifferently. He vaguely remembered this Wolf Head Mercenary Group; in the books, they had once opposed Xiao Yan, acting for profit but not committing immoral deeds.
Although Chu Chen's strength in this small place made dealing with them as easy as turning his hand, it would still be a bother, so he simply refused.
"Ah, how can that be? If word gets out, wouldn't people look down on our Wolf Head Mercenary Group? Although I am a crude man, I still know how to repay kindness. Am I right, everyone?"
Everyone discussed animatedly, most supporting Mu She's approach. At this moment, Mu She's laughter grew even heartier.
"Unfortunately, Xiao Yi Xian has already arranged my rest and meals. Next time, for sure." Chu Chen smiled and turned to leave, but was called back by Mu She once more, instantly feeling a little annoyed.
"I said, no need!" Chu Chen tilted his head, a chilling aura flashing in his pupils. Mu She's expression immediately stiffened, and he retreated two steps in fear.
Mu She frantically rubbed his eyes. He saw two colossal phantom figures behind Chu Chen: two great blue snakes and one white snake, filling the entire room, their bodies enveloped in vast Dou Qi, looking ferociously at Mu She.
Mu She instantly felt breathless, his legs suddenly went weak, and he collapsed to the ground under countless gazes, "That... that, then I won't disturb you further."
Disregarding his image, Mu She hastily and frantically got up, running out of the shop with extremely strange steps, almost tripping at the threshold.
"Leader, what's wrong?" A mercenary group member hastily protected Mu She.
Mu She did not give the person a good look, opening his mouth fiercely, "Don't ask so many questions! If you don't want to die, then hurry up and leave!"
Inside the shop, a female attendant pulled up the curtain on the first floor and led Chu Chen in. Behind the pharmacy on the first floor was a courtyard in the style of a siheyuan.
"Sir Chu, this is your room. Please."
"Thank you."
Entering the room, Chu Chen casually assessed the interior. The room was a decent size. He locked the door, simply washed his sweaty body, then sat in the wooden tub and closed his eyes.
His consciousness entered the space created by the Jade Snake Three-Flower Pupils. His consciousness materialized into a person, and Chu Chen paused in the green space.
Tree shadows swayed, and rustling sounds echoed in his ears. The Scarlet Ice Snake King and Scarlet Ice Snake Queen quickly emerged, then straightened their bodies, their eyes filled with reverence as they looked at Chu Chen, their bodies as rigid as if trained.
"Xiao Bai, what are you doing?"
Behind the two Scarlet Ice Snakes, Xiao Bai was exhaling white mist from its mouth, its tail wrapped around a tree. When the sound from behind rang out, the two snakes' bodies became even straighter, seemingly trembling slightly.
Chu Chen was very helpless, "They just arrived. Can you not show some courtesy? Is it intentional or unintentional?"
Xiao Bai instinctively nodded, then immediately shook its head repeatedly.
"It seems it's intentionally unintentional."
Chu Chen chuckled and began to absorb the power of the two Scarlet Ice Snakes. His hands quickly formed hand seals. A pure energy began to emanate from the Scarlet Ice Snakes, slowly being drawn into Chu Chen's hands.
"The effect of the Jade Snake Three-Flower Pupils is indeed somewhat extraordinary, but the increase in strength is quite slow. If there's a need in the future, I must visit the Heavenly Snake Mansion. The Heavenly Snake Mansion knows more about the Jade Snake Three-Flower Pupils than I do.
If they can help, these Jade Snake Three-Flower Pupils will become even more powerful and unresolvable. This weakness is truly a bit troublesome."
The power was still continuously being drawn out. Chu Chen had no choice; this was also out of necessity. He silently made a decision in his heart: as long as he lived, he would protect these two mutated Scarlet Ice Snakes.
To exchange a lifetime of worry-free existence, far from the perilous Demonic Beast Forest, for strength—would that be better? Chu Chen did not know.
"This is a world where the big fish eat the small fish; no one blames anyone." As Chu Chen was adjusting his own strength, a crisp sound suddenly echoed in the space.
Chu Chen's nerves immediately tensed, and he instantly withdrew his consciousness.
In the room, someone was knocking on the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Xiao Yi Xian. Sir Chu, are you available?"
Chu Chen put on his clothes, casually rubbing his hair, and opened the door. "What is it?"
Opening the door hastily, Chu Chen's chest was slightly exposed. Xiao Yi Xian quickly retreated a step, her gaze shifting to the side, "It's getting late. I've come to invite you for a meal."
"A meal... Speaking of which, I am a bit hungry."