Everyone finally got a clear look at her. She was a young girl, not yet of marriageable age, with a well-proportioned figure, arched eyebrows, slender eyes, a fair complexion, and a clear spirit. Those present all had some cultivation base.
The ones who could see that she was at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer were not weak themselves. When they compared this to Zhao Chun's young and tender face, they knew she was a disciple from a Major Sect and, not wanting to cause trouble for themselves, all shut their mouths.
As for those whose cultivation bases were lower than hers, they naturally could not sense it. Moreover, Zhao Chun was dressed in simple clothes without any jewelry or accessories, and a cloth-wrapped dagger hung at her waist. She did not look like someone of power.
The youth from the Fen Feather Sect also hesitated, not daring to retort recklessly. Seeing his momentum suddenly falter, the Rogue Cultivator spoke again, "You don't even know how many people are on this deck, yet you insist that one of our brothers is the thief. Is this how disciples of the Fen Feather Sect conduct themselves, so arbitrarily?"
Zhao Chun was displeased. It would have been fine if these people were just discussing the matter at hand with the intention of resolving the conflict, but every sentence they spoke skewed towards the background of the Fen Feather Sect disciples. Rogue Cultivators and the sects and families usually kept to themselves, like well water and river water not mixing.
She had once heard Meng Han say that in the Eastern Region, there were cities established by allied Rogue Cultivators, with numerous Great Cultivators inside, no less powerful than the top sects.
Looking at these four Rogue Cultivator brothers, whose cultivation bases were all at the fourth or fifth layer of Qi Refining and who were traveling together, Zhao Chun felt they might have some connection to those Rogue Cultivator cities.
The leading Rogue Cultivator had coppery skin, a square face with a high forehead, and a cultivation base also at the Qi Refining Stage 5. This was why the Fen Feather Sect did not dare to act rashly and cause trouble. His pair of tiger-like eyes darted about ceaselessly, landing on Zhao Chun.
Although he did not know her identity, he did not rashly speak to offend her either. This person's name was Fang Xunzhuo. Before stepping onto the Immortal Path, he was merely a woodcutter from the mountains.
He had stumbled his way to the Qi Refining Stage 5, and later befriended three other Rogue Cultivators. The four of them swore a blood oath and became sworn brothers. Since his age and cultivation base were both the highest, he naturally became the leader.
This time, he was leading his brothers to the Eastern Region, hoping to enter one of those Rogue Cultivator cities to seek their fortune. Having braved the elements for several decades, Fang Xunzhuo knew well that some people might appear simple and reserved on the surface, but held deep schemes within their hearts.
The young girl before him remained completely unmoved under everyone's gaze, her eyes sharp. Her posture was like a pine tree, and the aura around her was unlike that of a mortal. Therefore, he only continued to press the Fen Feather Sect disciples, pointing out Zhao Chun's presence without taking the initiative to involve her in his words.
"She was five meters away, while you all brushed past us. If we're talking about who could have pulled a trick, naturally, suspicion falls on you first!"
"Since you all say it's just suspicion! Can you arbitrarily define a crime based on mere speculation in your hearts? Can you just grab and hold onto us in broad daylight?"
Fang Xunzhuo had a clever mouth, which had won him many advantages. Moreover, the few from Fen Feather Sect truly couldn't produce any evidence and were in the wrong. Coupled with their youth and ignorance of the power of debate, their faces flushed red with anger, and their eyes glared furiously.
Zhao Chun had been called out, but she found that the two sides were arguing so intensely that they had no intention of paying her any more attention. So, she quietly moved out of the center of the crowd and into the group of spectators.
"Do you know these two parties?" she asked, lightly tapping the arm of the person next to her.
The person, wearing a blue shirt and grey cloth pants, was one of the ship's helpers, currently taking the opportunity of the commotion to skive off some work. Hearing Zhao Chun's question, he rolled up his sleeves, held his head high, and said, "After traveling north and south for so many years, what is there that I don't know?"
"The Fen Feather Sect is in Qin Hill of the Southern Region. Their previous Sect Master was a Core Formation Great Cultivator, and they were quite powerful in that area. Later, the Sect Master passed away, and only Foundation Establishment cultivators were left. So they declined and became a Minor Sect..."
He cleared his throat and continued, "As for those four brothers, they've only gained a bit of fame in recent years. Because they made their name at Fuqing Lake, they gave themselves the elegant title 'Four-Way Wanderer of Green Aid'. The leader is the eldest, Fang Xunzhuo.
The one beside him with the long beard is the second brother, Xiao Quan. Both are at the Qi Refining Stage 5. The two behind them with open robes, the tall one is called Ma Chunli, and the short one is Sun Zhicai.
Both are at the Qi Refining Stage 4. Although the four of them don't have high cultivation bases, the magical arts they use can complement each other. It's said they can even hold their own against a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator for a bit." Zhao Chun was used to fighting alone.
She had only briefly cooperated with Tu Cenzhen when slaying the black moth, but Tu Cenzhen had merely assisted from the side. In essence, she was still the one doing the close-quarters combat. Unexpectedly, these four Rogue Cultivator brothers could produce such a marvelous effect by coordinating with each other.
While she was talking with the ship's helper, the conflict between the two parties had reached a stalemate. The few young disciples from Fen Feather Sect were clumsy with their words and couldn't out-argue the old foxes. They wished they could just draw their swords, but there were rules on the great ship: no private fights.
Violators would not only be thrown off the ship, but they would also have to compensate for the travel delay. The former was nothing, but the latter was severe. All told, it would cost several thousand Essence Stones to settle the matter.
Fang Xunzhuo and his group had accurately judged that the other party wouldn't dare to make a move. They constantly provoked them with words while feigning a righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor, which made their taunts even more effective.
Seeing they couldn't win the argument, a young girl in a goose-yellow long dress among the Fen Feather Sect disciples turned her head and said, "You! You tell us!" Fingers as white as spring onions were a beautiful thing, but it would have been better if they weren't pointing at Zhao Chun's face.
"You were also on this deck, did you or did you not see them steal my Senior Brother's Azure Mountain Waters Bottle!"
Regardless of who was right or wrong, Zhao Chun truly had not noticed this matter. She shook her head and said, "No." The young girl's willow-like brows shot up as she snapped, "So you're with them too!" Her jade-like hand shot forward, about to grab Zhao Chun's shoulder!
"Zhan Qian!" the leading youth, who was also the Senior Brother she mentioned, stopped her, "Do not be rude."
He had a handsome face and elegant manners. He nodded slightly at Zhao Chun and said, "My Junior Sister has spent a long time in the sect and doesn't know proper etiquette. I hope Fellow Daoist can forgive her."
He too could see that Zhao Chun's aura was extraordinary, guessing that she was also a cultivator. And since he couldn't perceive her cultivation base, he felt some apprehension in his heart. Zhao Chun grumbled inwardly.
This Senior Brother was quick to stop her. If he had been two breaths later, she would have had to act before the girl touched her shoulder and snap her arm back. The other party was only at the third layer of Qi Refining; with one twist, she could have easily dislocated and broken her arm bone.
"I have been here since morning. I only knew something was happening when the argument started. If I didn't see it, I didn't see it. I am neither defending those four, nor am I intentionally opposing you."
Zhao Chun said her piece, and then waited to see how the Fen Feather Sect disciples would react. Except for the leading Senior Brother, the few men and women behind him all looked indignant. In their hearts, they had long since lumped Zhao Chun together with the Four-Way Wanderer of Green Aid.
"This Fang has a method that might resolve today's matter!"
Fang Xunzhuo strode forward, his tiger-like eyes narrowing, his intentions unclear.
(End of this chapter)