Of course, despite Wang Hu's extreme fury, he never considered forcefully breaking down the door to drag Jiang Chen out and cripple him.
There was no other reason than a very clear stance held by the upper echelons of the Xianyun Sword Sect.
If there were grudges and grievances, it did not matter how one crossed paths in the outside world. As long as lives were not lost, it was a minor matter. The higher-ups did not care if an arm, a leg, or a Dantian was crippled, provided such incidents did not happen too frequently.
To put it bluntly, in the eyes of the upper echelons of the Xianyun Sword Sect, these handymen were no different from ants.
However, breaking down a door was strictly prohibited. Once someone broke down a door, no matter whether they were at the Qi Refining 7th Layer or 8th Layer among the handymen, they would be directly executed and wiped out.
To put it crudely, the sect's higher-ups did not think much of this level of cultivation. As long as everyone obediently followed the rules, other matters would not be overly fussed about. But anyone who dared to touch the bottom line would simply be slaughtered without causing any real harm to the sect's interests.
Therefore, no matter how boundless Wang Hu's arrogance was, he only dared to provoke Jiang Chen from outside the door, not daring to charge in at all.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chen looked at the female cultivator who had climbed in through the window, deep in thought.
Yes.
Just a moment ago, before Wang Hu arrived here, this female cultivator had already arrived.
Moreover, she had tipped Jiang Chen off, telling him not to go out today, otherwise he would definitely end up crippled.
Jiang Chen had some impression of this female cultivator; she was the one who had invited him over to have some fun a while back.
"You're fast. It seems the young master's actions against Wang Yuan earlier really made Wang Hu furious."
The female cultivator spoke in a coquettish, sugary tone, her charming eyes flickering like silk, every gesture designed to seduce.
Jiang Chen had long since grown immune to such posturing, while inwardly complaining, "Apart from calling people 'young master' or 'senior brother,' these female cultivators never change up to anything fresh. It's the same cliché all day long."
Shortly after, the female cultivator turned slightly serious and sighed, "You shouldn't go out today. If you fail to complete your handyman chores, at worst you'll just take a bit of punishment."
"If you go out now... tsk tsk, then you'll really be in trouble. Wang Hu is at the Qi Refining 5th Layer, and as far as I know, he has already successfully advanced to the Qi Refining 5th Layer Mid-Stage. So, just bide your time and avoid taking him head-on. A gentleman takes his revenge ten years later."
If Wang Hu knew that this female cultivator had leaked information and tipped Jiang Chen off, she would inevitably be implicated to a certain extent.
Women like her were far more realistic than those ordinary handymen.
Yet she had unconsciously come to notify Jiang Chen. It wasn't because she held any special affection for him; people like her had long since lost the capacity for true feelings.
Jiang Chen nodded, his gaze turning as sharp as a knife's edge as he stared at the female cultivator, then suddenly smiled: "Why are you telling me all this?"
After a brief pause, Jiang Chen said with a hint of mockery, "It couldn't possibly be because you've taken a fancy to me, could it?"
Jiang Chen hadn't quite figured this out, though he roughly understood that this woman probably wanted to invest in a favor so he could help her out in the future.
However, one thing was very clear to him: how could these courtesan-like female cultivators ever make such high-risk investments?
The female cultivator gave a light, carefree laugh: "Let me introduce myself. My name is Liu Yun."
"Women like us who need resources can only resort to these kinds of tricks. The reason I'm helping you is because I hope you'll remember this favor in the future."
Jiang Chen nodded and asked, "You think that highly of me?"
The female cultivator shook her head: "I'm just gambling. After all... high risk, high reward."
She then added, "I hope you'll bide your time and avoid the sharp edge of his wrath. Do not try to force things. Hide away properly from now on until your strength is sufficient before you come out."
Jiang Chen chuckled dismissively: "Mere Qi Refining Realm 5th Layer? I have my own ways of dealing with him."
Liu Yun was slightly stunned before recovering her wits and staring hard at Jiang Chen.
She remembered correctly, didn't she? This Jiang Chen had only entered the sect not long ago, right?
In such a short span of time, he actually claimed to have a way to deal with a Qi Refining 5th Layer cultivator, and his tone was even full of utter disdain.
"Perhaps you should think it over a bit more?"
Liu Yun was already feeling somewhat disappointed. She suddenly felt that the guy she had helped by taking such a risk was simply ungrateful—just like the rumors outside, a reckless kid who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.
Someone at the Qi Refining 2nd Layer claiming he could handle a Qi Refining 5th Layer cultivator?
That was nothing short of daydreaming.
Jiang Chen stood up, preparing to walk out. Seeing this, Liu Yun turned pale with fright and hurriedly hid in a corner so she wouldn't be seen.
"Sigh, good words cannot persuade a ghost going to its doom. What I should have done, I've already done. What I could have done, I've already done."
"I just hope that lunatic Wang Hu doesn't find out I helped this brat."
Liu Yun thought to herself with a shake of her head, while a rising sense of regret welled up inside her.
She had thought he was someone expected to become the next top figure among the handymen, but who could have imagined he was just a young, arrogant fool who didn't understand how to bide his time.
Just as Jiang Chen was about to push the door open and step out, he suddenly turned back and flashed a good-natured smile: "Thanks."
The next moment, Jiang Chen pushed the door open and swept his gaze across the entire scene.
Standing right at the front was naturally Wang Hu, while the few people behind him were the very fellows who had been taught a lesson by Jiang Chen earlier.
Seeing Jiang Chen come out, Wang Hu narrowed his eyes slightly, his fierce and ruthless gaze locking directly onto Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen met his stare, his eyes filled with mockery.
Wang Hu frowned, but managed to suppress the anger in his heart; after all, the true background of this brat before him was still unclear, and he wanted to test him out first.
Caution and prudence were the reasons he had made it this far.
However, his younger brother clearly lacked such composure. The moment he saw his enemy, Wang Yuan immediately leaped out from behind, his furious voice roaring: "Jiang Chen! Weren't you acting all high and mighty the other day?"
"Didn't you say that even if my big brother came, you'd make him kneel?"
"Now that my big brother is here, do you have the guts to say that again?"
Standing behind Wang Hu, Wang Yuan noticed that his brother clearly had no intention of making a move immediately. He played a cunning trick, falsely accusing Jiang Chen in an attempt to provoke his brother into attacking.
As for getting caught?
Wang Yuan didn't think much of it. After all, this was his brother. If he found out... so what? Surely he wouldn't beat his own brother over some newcomer handyman, would he?
Sure enough, upon hearing these words, Wang Hu narrowed his eyes slightly, faint veins bulging on his forehead. Even so, he still suppressed his anger, looked at Jiang Chen, and sneered slightly: "As a newcomer handyman, you're quite arrogant?"
"It seems nobody has properly taught you the rules of the Xianyun Sword Sect yet."
Jiang Chen glanced sideways at Wang Hu. Wang Yuan's words were naturally completely baseless fabrications, but... he didn't care.
The conflict itself wasn't about this matter anyway.
"So what if I am?"
Jiang Chen simply spat out these four words.
His voice wasn't loud, but it was steady, deep, and full of absolute confidence. Everyone present heard every single word clearly.
In an instant, the courtyard fell into a pin-drop silence!
Shocked gazes were cast from afar, all staring fixedly at Jiang Chen.
Are you serious, bro? You're this hardcore?
This is an expert at the Qi Refining 5th Layer Mid-Stage, and you're still acting like this?
After a brief pause, Jiang Chen suddenly grinned: "If you want to try, I'd be more than happy to oblige!"
At this moment, Liu Yun, hiding inside Jiang Chen's room, covered her mouth with her small hand, her pretty eyes filled with extreme shock.
Only one thought remained in her mind: This kid... is finished!