"Master Chu, there's no need for such formalities," Lin Chen replied, his expression unchanged upon seeing Chu Yuan again.
Although they had met before in the shopping mall, Lin Chen knew that his previous encounter with the Chu family was orchestrated by Zhou Qianyuan's scheme. The goal was to use the conflict between himself and Chu He at that time to force him to deal with the Chu family. However, since everything had been clarified, there was nothing else to dwell on.
"Alas, Mr. Lin, you are so magnanimous to help us without holding any grudges. I am truly ashamed," Chu Yuan sighed deeply, his face filled with helplessness.
Truth be told, if not for his daughter's illness, he would likely never have interacted with people from the cultivation world in his life. He had always imagined cultivators to be ethereal beings, transcending the mortal realm. Yet, to his surprise, a renowned alchemist like Zhou Qianyuan was coveting his daughter! Zhou Qianyuan was already nearing eighty years old, old enough to be his father, yet he shamelessly insisted on being his son-in-law! If not for his status as a cultivator, Chu Yuan would have torn him limb from limb.
"Master Chu, you are too kind," Lin Chen said, seeing that Chu Yuan had personally apologized. There was no reason for him to say anything more.
"Oh, you actually came?" A cheerful voice chimed in from the side. Without a doubt, it could only be Chu Lian, the Chu family's youngest daughter.
"Lian'er, do not be rude to Mr. Lin!" Chu Yuan exclaimed in alarm at his daughter's words. Heaven knew that his daughter had recounted the events of his time in the Southwest upon her return. She had also mentioned finding a powerful young master from a renowned family in the cultivation world who had promised to help them deal with Zhou Qianyuan. However, to Chu Yuan, both Lin Chen and Zhou Qianyuan were genuine cultivators. Even if Lin Chen wasn't as high-ranking as the helper his daughter mentioned, he was still a cultivator! They, as ordinary people, could never afford to offend such individuals. Even if they didn't need Lin Chen's help now, offending him was out of the question. If Lin Chen were to become angered by the Chu family, they, as mortals, would have nowhere to turn.
"Hmph, Father, that's just how it is!" Chu Lian declared haughtily, clearly unimpressed. "I've learned a lot about the cultivation realms now. This person only has early-stage Core Formation cultivation. The helper I found is a mid-stage Core Formation expert, and he has several late-stage Core Formation experts under him. He's definitely stronger than this person!"
"You insolent child, how dare you speak like that!" Chu Yuan bellowed, furious at Chu Lian's disrespectful tone. "Mr. Lin, please forgive my daughter. She was spoiled by me since childhood and speaks without thinking. Please do not take her words to heart!" Chu Yuan then turned to Lin Chen and bowed deeply.
"It's alright, it's alright. Master Chu, you are being too polite. I wouldn't stoop to the level of a child," Lin Chen said, forcing a smile as he observed Chu Yuan's gesture.
Only the Wu brothers, Wu Long and Wu Hu, standing nearby, could no longer contain their laughter and burst into outright guffaws.
"Hahaha, little girl, mid-stage Core Formation? How mighty!"
"Exactly! We're almost scared to death!" Wu Long jeered, mockingly addressing Chu Lian. To the Wu brothers, Lin Chen and Zhang Ying were their masters for helping them find their family. Now, a mere brat dared to look down on their masters. This was a direct insult to their honor. More importantly, Lin Chen had already broken through to the mid-stage Core Formation realm, and his combat power was such that even Wu Quigui, the Supreme Elder of the Blazing Fire Sect, had retreated. Under the combined efforts of Lin Chen and Zhang Ying, Wu Quigui, a top-tier expert, had met his demise. The sect leader of the Blazing Fire Sect, Wu Zhixiong, had fled overnight upon hearing Lin Chen's name. The Wu brothers couldn't imagine who in the entire Southwest cultivation world could possibly be Lin Chen's opponent. Yet, to be looked down upon by such a young girl was simply too amusing for them.
"Hmph, what are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?" Chu Lian retorted with a cold snort, clearly indignant at Wu Long's mockery. She had found that helper in the Trial Valley, and he was a genuine mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, accompanied by several late-stage Core Formation experts. Such individuals were considered top-tier experts in the cultivation world! What right did these people have to look down on her "Brother Tian"?
"Yes, yes, you are absolutely right," Wu Long and Wu Hu exchanged glances, a hint of amusement in their eyes. "I'd love to see who in the entire Southwest cultivation world dares to claim they are more powerful than Mr. Lin later on!" They were already anticipating the expression on Chu Lian's helper's face when he arrived and saw Lin Chen.
"Heh, the noble Chu family, putting on quite a show!" a furious roar echoed from the entrance. "Our young master has personally arrived at the Chu family gates, yet no one is here to greet him?"
"Hmph, my helper has arrived! You wait, I'll definitely have my Brother Tian teach you a lesson!" Hearing this, Chu Lian's face lit up with joy, and she turned and skipped towards the entrance.
Upon hearing this voice, Lin Chen's brows furrowed instinctively. The voice sounded familiar. If he wasn't mistaken, it was the voice of the guard who had accompanied Young Master Tian Gaofei of the Tian family back then. Could it be that the so-called expert Chu Lian had invited was Tian Gaofei himself?