Chapter 242: Chapter 240: Why Wouldn’t I Dare?

A young man in an Alchemy Master’s robes was receiving the fawning praise of Master Qin and the others.

As he listened to their endless compliments and fawning words, the young man beamed, his face a picture of smug arrogance.

However...

Just as he was at his most pleased, a voice that had haunted him like a nightmare for the better part of a year suddenly rang out beside him: "Young Master Xiong, it’s been a while!"

"Hm?"

The smile on the young Alchemy Master’s face instantly froze.

An unbearable memory surfaced in his mind. It was a memory that had tortured him like a nightmare for more than half a year.

That memory was like a fishbone stuck in his throat.

Every time he recalled it, it felt as if seventy thousand sharp needles were piercing his very heart and soul.

It was the greatest stain on his honor, the biggest humiliation of his life.

A memory too painful to revisit.

For the past six months...

He had been actively trying to forget that memory. It wasn’t until a few months ago, after he finally broke through to become a Second-Grade Alchemist, that he’d managed to push the unbearable memory away.

But just now, that same voice from his countless nightmares had sounded in his ear once more, and his expression turned utterly foul.

His neck stiff, he slowly turned toward the sound. His pupils contracted violently, and it felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart, making it hard to breathe. ’It’s him? He... What is he doing here?’

Jiang Chen strolled over with a smile, a playful look in his eyes. "My dear disciple, your master is here. Aren’t you going to come over and pay your respects?"

That’s right.

The young Alchemy Master at the center of the adoring crowd was none other than Xiong Yingjie—the same one who had competed against Jiang Chen in Artifact Refining back in Yulan Mansion and suffered a crushing defeat!

"I..."

Xiong Yingjie’s face went pale, and for a moment, he was utterly speechless.

Instead, it was Master Qin and the others who reacted first. Putting on a brave face, they roared at Jiang Chen, "How audacious! How dare you speak so rudely to Young Master Xiong? I think you’ve got a death wish, kid!"

"That’s right! Young Master Xiong is a once-in-a-century artifact refining prodigy from the Imperial Capital! His master is Master Yu Dan, the Grand Elder of the Alchemy Master Guild! Even the other Elders of the Guild wouldn’t dare demand that Young Master Xiong pay them respects! Who the hell do you think you are?"

"This kid is just asking to die!"

The crowd around Xiong Yingjie chimed in, hurling insults.

A few of the more powerful individuals even rolled up their sleeves and began to surround Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen’s expression remained unchanged.

He remained perfectly calm, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked at Xiong Yingjie. "An Alchemy Master’s memory ought to be quite good. What’s this? Has Young Master Xiong become so important that he’s become forgetful? Forgotten all about me? In that case, allow me to remind you—Yulan Mansion... the Alchemist Guild... Pill Fighting..."

Each word that left his lips was like an invisible blade stabbing into Xiong Yingjie’s heart.

His face grew paler with each one.

A cold light flickered in his eyes. He stared intently at Jiang Chen and gritted his teeth. "No wonder Xiong Li and the others never returned. It seems they failed."

"Heh, so you haven’t forgotten me after all!" Jiang Chen grinned. "In that case, it’s about time we settled our scores, both new and old!"

The mention of the two men, Xiong Li included, inevitably brought Blood Wolf Village to mind.

If he hadn’t been strong enough, he would have already lost his life in Blood Wolf Village’s ambush, his body sent to the Yellow Springs.

And the mastermind behind it all was none other than Xiong Yingjie, standing right before him!

As if sensing the chilling killing intent in Jiang Chen’s gaze, Xiong Yingjie’s expression darkened. A vicious gleam appeared in his eyes as he let out a sinister laugh. "Settle scores? HAHAHA! You must have forgotten where you are. This is the Alchemist Guild in the Imperial Capital—my turf! I don’t even have to lift a finger. With just a word, I can have you killed."

"Tsk, tsk. Young Master Xiong is so impressive!" Jiang Chen grinned. "It seems the lesson you learned back in Yulan Mansion wasn’t painful enough. So little time has passed, and you’ve already forgotten it!"

Within his dark, bright eyes, pinpricks of icy light glinted.

Like solid ice.

Chilling to the bone.

Xiong Yingjie’s face slowly darkened, the killing intent in his eyes growing more intense.

Yulan Mansion. The name was like a nightmare, a Heart Demon.

It tortured him endlessly.

The moment he heard the name, those unbearable memories resurfaced. A cold glint appeared in his eyes as he said in a low voice, "Hmph. If you hadn’t conspired with Cui Zheng back then, how could you possibly have beaten me?"

"Oh? So you’re saying you’re still not convinced?" Jiang Chen said, raising an eyebrow.

"Hmph," Xiong Yingjie sneered. "I’m a Second-Grade Alchemist now. You’re not even worthy of my defiance anymore!"

He glanced down at the Second-Grade Alchemist insignia on his chest, and a powerful wave of confidence surged through him.

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, sizing up Xiong Yingjie. His eyes flickered as he said, "So you’ve been promoted to a Second-Grade Alchemist. No wonder you’re so confident. In that case, I wonder if Young Master Xiong has the guts to compete with me again?"

"HAHAHA! You actually want to compete with Young Master Xiong in Alchemy?"

"That’s hilarious!"

"Master Qin, you seemed to be talking to this kid just now. Do you know him? If you’re acquainted, I’d advise you to get him out of here quickly before he makes a complete fool of himself!"

Master Qin quickly waved his hands. "You all misunderstand! I don’t know this fellow at all. He came over earlier with a First-grade Advanced Refiner’s Identity Token, and I’d already determined he was a fraud. I was just about to have him thrown out when Young Master Xiong arrived! Don’t worry, everyone. I’ll call security right now to beat this little swindler, who doesn’t know heaven from earth, out of here!"

Hearing this, the crowd was slightly stunned. Then, they all turned to look at Jiang Chen with disdain.

’Impersonating a First-grade Advanced Refiner?’

’The guy’s a complete fraud!’

The crowd stared at Jiang Chen with mocking eyes. Even Xiong Yingjie raised an eyebrow, a cunning look on his face as he thought, ’This guy’s Alchemy skills are admittedly impressive. But to say he’s also an Artifact Refiner? I absolutely don’t believe it. I’ve never heard of anyone being proficient in both Artifact Refining and Alchemy. He must be a fraud!’

At this thought.

Xiong Yingjie gave a cold smile and said with false magnanimity, "Little Qin, I think you’re being too hasty. Perhaps the man really is an Artifact Refiner?"

"You jest, Young Master Xiong! How could someone like him be an Artifact Refiner? I doubt he’s even qualified to be an Artifact Refining Apprentice!" Master Qin said quickly.

Xiong Yingjie nodded and continued, "Be that as it may, I also think it’s more likely he’s a fraud. Still, we should always give someone a chance, shouldn’t we?"

"Young Master Xiong, you mean...?"

Master Qin looked at Xiong Yingjie, confused.

"Practice is the only way to test the truth. Didn’t he claim to be a First-grade Advanced Refiner? Then let’s have him forge a Profound Weapon for us, right here and now!"

Hearing Xiong Yingjie’s words, Master Qin was stunned for a moment.

Then, realization dawned!

It was obvious that Xiong Yingjie had also concluded that Jiang Chen was a fraud and wanted to use this method to humiliate him.

’So you claim to be an Artifact Refiner, do you?’

’If we make him demonstrate his Artifact Refining skills in public and he can’t produce anything, not only can we expose him as a fraud, but we can also humiliate him in front of everyone.’

A grin spread across Master Qin’s face. He then turned to Jiang Chen, his expression a mask of disdainful provocation. "Well, kid? Do you have the guts?"

"I bet he won’t dare!"

"That fraud is probably going to make a run for it!"

Xiong Yingjie also watched Jiang Chen with a confident, contemptuous sneer.

Facing the crowd’s provocative stares, Jiang Chen just smiled, shrugged, and grinned as he spoke...

"Why wouldn’t I dare?"