Chapter 00291: Go Back Where You Came From
# Go Back Where You Came From
Chapter 291
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 291: Go Back Where You Came From
Lan Xiaobu knew it was his turn to speak.
He sighed, "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have taken Bian Yufeng away. I heard that Bian Yufeng had a top-grade wood-attribute immortal spirit vein. I took him away hoping to extract that information, but not only did I fail to get it, he ended up escaping."
It was common knowledge that Bian Yufeng might possess a top-grade wood-attribute immortal spirit vein.
Trying to hide it would be like covering one’s ears while stealing a bell.
So, admitting it outright wasn’t a big deal.
"Haha, don’t worry about it. Bian Yufeng escaping is no big deal…" Teng Mo laughed, clearly not concerned about Lan Xiaobu’s thoughts.
If Lan Xiaobu hadn’t taken Bian Yufeng away for the sake of the top-grade wood-attribute immortal spirit vein, he would have found it strange.
Lan Xiaobu felt that things weren’t as simple as Teng Mo made them out to be.
He asked, "What about the Zhi family?"
Teng Mo pondered for a moment before replying, "The Zhi family is quite mysterious. Although they aren’t one of the prominent families in our Star Ascension Immortal Court, they shouldn’t be underestimated. They are one of the most enigmatic families in the Mysterious Profound Immortal Domain. It’s rumored that they have an Immortal Emperor, but their Immortal Emperor has never shown himself. When they came earlier, I told them you were in seclusion and sent them away. But I don’t think this matter will end here. They’ll likely come back to question you…"
Just as Teng Mo finished speaking, an immortal official outside announced, "Great Immortal Officer, Zhi Qianshan from the Moon Mirror Immortal Court is here to pay a visit."
Teng Mo looked at Lan Xiaobu helplessly, his eyes saying, "See? Here they come."
Lan Xiaobu nodded, and Teng Mo immediately said, "Please invite Zhi Daoist in for a chat."
As Teng Mo’s voice fell, a thin, pale-faced man with no beard walked in.
At first glance, Lan Xiaobu could tell that this man was at least a late-stage Immortal King.
He had dealt with many Immortal Kings before, and his experience allowed him to gauge the man’s strength immediately.
"Zhi Qianshan greets the Great Immortal Officer. I apologize for the sudden visit," Zhi Qianshan said with a respectful bow.
Lan Xiaobu realized that Teng Mo had likely downplayed the Zhi family’s status.
If the Zhi family were truly insignificant, they wouldn’t have the right to visit the Great Immortal Officer on the fourth floor of the Forbidden Immortal Bureau.
Teng Mo smiled and said, "Please take a seat, Zhi Daoist. Here, have a cup of our Star Ascension Immortal Court’s Luoxing Tea."
He poured a cup of immortal tea for Zhi Qianshan.
After expressing his gratitude, Zhi Qianshan turned to Lan Xiaobu and said, "You must be the rising star of the Forbidden Immortal Bureau, Immortal Officer Lan."
Lan Xiaobu laughed heartily, "You flatter me, you flatter me. I haven’t been in the Forbidden Immortal Bureau for long, but I’ve made some progress. I’m now a Minor Immortal Officer. When Immortal Officer Teng leaves, I have a good chance of becoming the Great Immortal Officer. This place suits me perfectly, allowing me to truly shine. Zhi Daoist, since you’re a friend of the Great Immortal Officer, if you ever need anything from me, Lan Xiaobu, just say the word. I have some tricks up my sleeve."
His tone was anything but humble.
Zhi Qianshan was slightly taken aback.
Lan Xiaobu hadn’t been in the Forbidden Immortal Bureau for long, and his personality wasn’t something Zhi Qianshan had looked into—mainly because Lan Xiaobu hadn’t interacted with many people for long.
He hadn’t expected Lan Xiaobu to have such a personality.
It wasn’t exactly arrogance, but it was the kind of attitude that no superior would appreciate.
The Great Immortal Officer hadn’t even left yet, and here Lan Xiaobu was already eyeing his position.
As for having some tricks up his sleeve, that wasn’t for him to say—it was for others to judge.
Teng Mo chuckled and said, "Xiaobu does have some talent. If I leave, he would indeed be the next Great Immortal Officer."
That sealed the deal.
Zhi Qianshan then thought that Lan Xiaobu’s personality might actually make it easier for him to investigate the situation.
He clasped his hands and said, "My family’s Zhi Feng’an was ambushed and killed by the bandits Bian Yufeng, Fu Xun, Jiu Tingxuanmu, and Wang Yi outside the Tianyun Immortal City. I heard that Bian Yufeng was captured by the Forbidden Immortal Bureau, so I came specifically to take him away. Of course, if there’s any offense, my family will compensate the Forbidden Immortal Bureau in full."
Lan Xiaobu thought to himself, *Your family might be powerful, but you’re still just an immortal family.
The Forbidden Immortal Bureau is the highest authority in the Star Ascension Immortal Court.
You think you can just come and take someone away? Who do you think you are?*
Then he remembered what Teng Mo had said earlier.
Teng Mo could have refused Zhi Qianshan outright on behalf of the Star Ascension Immortal Court, but he hadn’t.
Instead, he had let Zhi Qianshan come and pressure Lan Xiaobu.
That wasn’t very considerate.
"Zhi Daoist, you’re absolutely right. These bandits are ruthless and kill indiscriminately. The fact that the Forbidden Immortal Bureau captured Bian Yufeng is a great service to the cultivators of the Star Ascension Immortal Court," Lan Xiaobu said firmly.
Zhi Qianshan frowned slightly and had to take the initiative to ask, "I heard that Bian Yufeng was taken away by Immortal Officer Lan. Do you know where he is now?"
Lan Xiaobu sighed, "Ah, speaking of this, I feel like I’ve let down the Star Ascension Immortal Court and the Forbidden Immortal Bureau. I did take Bian Yufeng away with some personal motives, but my main goal was to use him to lure out Fu Xun and Jiu Tingxuanmu. Unfortunately, I was too careless and underestimated the cunning of these bandits…" As Lan Xiaobu spoke, Zhi Qianshan began to sense that something was off.
Sure enough, Lan Xiaobu continued, "I thought I was clever enough—after all, I did rise to the position of Minor Immortal Officer quickly, didn’t I? But I didn’t expect Bian Yufeng to be even more cunning. He took advantage of my carelessness, ambushed me, and escaped. It’s all my fault for being greedy. If I hadn’t been after his top-grade wood-attribute immortal spirit vein, I wouldn’t have been ambushed, and Bian Yufeng wouldn’t have gotten away."
Zhi Qianshan frowned slightly and said, "That top-grade wood-attribute immortal spirit vein belongs to my family. This time, we’re hunting down those four bandits not only to avenge our family member but also to reclaim that vein."
Lan Xiaobu looked surprised, "Oh, I see. What a pity. If I had gotten that top-grade wood-attribute immortal spirit vein, I could have handed it over to you today and even become friends with you. What a shame…"
His straightforward personality was on full display.
"May I ask where Immortal Officer Lan let Bian Yufeng escape? Did he reveal anything else?" Zhi Qianshan pressed.
Lan Xiaobu gave Zhi Qianshan a look of exasperation and said, "That’s not something I can answer. Those details are recorded in the Forbidden Immortal Bureau’s archives. Without the Great Immortal Officer’s permission, I can’t just disclose them."
Teng Mo coughed lightly.
He could tell that Lan Xiaobu wasn’t too pleased and quickly said, "Zhi Daoist, these matters are indeed recorded in our bureau’s archives and cannot be disclosed."
Zhi Qianshan said indifferently, "So, if a prisoner is taken out of the Forbidden Immortal Bureau privately and escapes, the bureau bears no responsibility?"
Lan Xiaobu sneered. *Now we’re talking.
If your family is so powerful, you should have spoken like this from the start.*
Seeing Lan Xiaobu’s sneer, Teng Mo also felt a bit annoyed with Zhi Qianshan.
He coldly snorted and said, "The Star Ascension Immortal Court’s affairs are not for others to meddle in. The Zhi family has no authority over our Forbidden Immortal Bureau. Someone, see our guest out."
Zhi Qianshan stood up, glanced at Lan Xiaobu, and said, "My family will take this matter to the Star Ascension Immortal Court. I hope you’ll be ready to answer our questions then."
Earlier, when Zhi Qianshan had been polite, Lan Xiaobu had been willing to play along.
But now that Zhi Qianshan was subtly threatening him, Lan Xiaobu didn’t hesitate to stand up and retort, "Your family can go to hell. I’m a Minor Immortal Officer of the Forbidden Immortal Bureau, and I won’t answer your questions. I let Bian Yufeng go because I felt like it. What are you going to do about it? I was being polite earlier, but you really think you’re something special. Get the hell out of here and go back where you came from."
His sarcastic tone made it clear that Lan Xiaobu had long been fed up.
If things didn’t work out here, he could always leave.
There were plenty of places that would welcome him.
"Very well," Zhi Qianshan said, leaving with those two words.
He wasn’t particularly bothered by Lan Xiaobu’s outburst.
From the moment they met, Lan Xiaobu had struck him as someone with no emotional intelligence, someone who didn’t know how to leave room for negotiation.
But for a Minor Immortal Officer of the Forbidden Immortal Bureau to think he could challenge the Zhi family? That was a miscalculation.
"Haha, well said, Brother Xiaobu!" Teng Mo laughed heartily after Zhi Qianshan left.
Lan Xiaobu sighed, "Great Immortal Officer, those words should have come from you, not me. I’m worried I’ll be hunted down now. I have no backing, and if someone comes after me, I’m done for."
Hearing Lan Xiaobu address him as "Great Immortal Officer" instead of "Brother Teng," Teng Mo knew that Lan Xiaobu was unhappy.
He quickly reassured him, "Brother Xiaobu, don’t worry. No matter how powerful the Zhi family is, they wouldn’t dare hunt down a Minor Immortal Officer of the Star Ascension Immortal Court. Even if they complain to the Immortal Court King, I’ll speak up for you."
But inwardly, Teng Mo was a bit troubled.
No matter how you looked at it, within the Star Ascension Immortal Court, Lan Xiaobu wasn’t exactly in the right.
Taking a prisoner out of the Forbidden Immortal Bureau’s cells without permission and then letting him escape—how was he supposed to defend that?
Lan Xiaobu immediately brightened up, "Thank you, Brother Teng. By the way, Brother Teng, I’ve prepared well for the upcoming alchemy competition, but the only thing I’m lacking is a good flame."
Teng Mo waved his hand, "Don’t worry about the flame. I’ll take care of it. Normally, the competition uses earth flames, but in special circumstances, I can get my hands on a fifth-grade immortal flame."
Lan Xiaobu knew what Teng Mo meant by "special circumstances."
That would only happen if Lan Xiaobu managed to break through the competition and reach the finals.
"So, when are we leaving the Forbidden Immortal Bureau for the Mysterious Profound Immortal Domain?" Lan Xiaobu asked.
Teng Mo replied, "We’ll leave now, but not alone. All the participating alchemists from the Star Ascension Immortal Court will go together. Our group is the smallest, with only four people. Some alchemy sects are sending dozens, even over a hundred people. Not only that, but the Immortal Court King will also be going in person."
The Immortal Court King was going too? It seemed the Star Ascension Immortal Court was taking this alchemy competition very seriously.
As for the four people in their group, Lan Xiaobu knew who they were: himself, Teng Mo, and the two Immortal King guards, Xie Chuan and Xu Ning.
(End of Chapter)