After picking up the herbs, the group headed for the inn. They needed to come up with a viable protection strategy that would include the two days wait for the realm, the week within the realm, as well as their exit from the town itself. With the threat of the bounty, nothing could be left to chance. Especially considering the added danger of Wu Chen possibly having his cultivation destroyed.

As they approached the inn, they noticed two separate groups standing patiently outside the inn's doors.

One group appeared to consist of several disciples from the Thunder Palace. Their light blue robes stood in stark contrast to the robes of the golden clad Elder who had been a judge earlier in the day.

The other group consisted of town guards. The bronze armor they wore caught the last rays of the setting sun and exuded a feeling of strength and security. Although the mayor himself wasn't present, it was obvious who had sent them.

'Let me handle this.' Wu Chen ordered softly as they came to a stop before the two groups.

Raising his voice higher and crossing his arms over his chest, Wu Chen glanced over both groups disdainfully, 'I wasn't aware it would take so many esteemed persons to deliver one simple invitation.'

The Thunder Palace Elder stepped forward with a polite bow, 'We are still completing the request you made in the judging box, but other issues have come to light that require the presence of so many.'

'Tch!' Su Chunwen rolled his eyes and received a fierce glare from the Elder.

Wu Chen tried to stifle his chuckle. Su Chunwen was the most outspoken of the group and rarely gave face if it wasn't deserved.

'I see.' Wu Chen nodded slowly, 'Those issues wouldn't have anything to do with the bounty currently hanging over my head, would they?'

'Of course they do.' The Elder admitted easily, not surprised that Wu Chen already knew about it, 'Our sect was chosen to guard the realm entrance as well as to ensure the safety of the participants. As you have already been attacked during the arena competition and are now under serious threat from outside sources, it is our duty to keep you safe from further harm.'

'I would feel much safer had I not already been attacked while under your supposed protection.' Wu Chen bit out acidly.

The Elder blanched at the bold statement but couldn't argue, 'I understand your anger, but I must insist that you accept the added protection. I would not want to have to explain to your father that you were injured under his Sect Sponsor's watch.'

Wu Chen was momentarily stunned, 'Speak clearly, Elder. What do you mean by Sect Sponsor?'

'The Wu Clan has signed an agreement with the Thunder Palace and is now under our protection.' The Elder said with an attempt at a friendly smile.

Wu Chen didn't find anything about sponsorship friendly. Everything about it spoke of oppression, suppression, and control. He began to shake, and his fists clenched tightly.

For the first time, Ren Qiguang felt ashamed to be a member of the Thunder Palace. Bullying clans and controlling their cultivation was a far cry from the doctrines and honorable behavior supposedly taught by the sect. His Master had been against this unjust move from the beginning.

He cast a glance at Wu Chen and noticed his anger and flushed face. His heart sunk. He could only hope that this wouldn't cause a rift in their friendship.

Ignoring the Elder completely, Wu Chen turned toward the guards, 'And you? What are you here for then?' His tone was icy. Only a slight tremor betrayed his inner angst.

One of the guards stepped forward and gave a polite bow, 'I am called Wang Shin, daozhang. I lead this troop and have been ordered by the mayor to ensure your safety while you are in Linan. He has heard of the bounty from the one known as Slave Master and wishes to ensure good relations between our town and the cultivation world. Rest assured, we will do our utmost to protect you.'

'Wouldn't your talents be put to better use in arresting the one called the Slave Master and eradicating the slave trade in your town, rather than wasting this many guards to protect a single unimportant man?' Wu Chen asked with a sneer.

Wang Shin glared at Wu Chen and didn't bother to answer.

Wu Chen snorted, 'While I appreciate the thoughtfulness of the mayor, your services are not needed here. Please return to the mayor and tell him of our conversation. I am sure the citizens who are regularly threatened by dangerous criminals like the Slave Master would feel safer knowing he was actually doing something about them rather than turning a blind eye. Wouldn't you agree, Wang Shin?'

Wang Shin's face darkened with humiliation and anger. With a grunt, he ordered his men back to the mayor.

'Let's hope you don't come to regret turning us away.' Wang Shin gritted out with a sneer.

'Believe me,' Wu Chen smiled back innocently, 'Seeing your troops leave so that they can help fulfill the mayor's promise to the people of Linan fills me with confidence.'

Wang Shin snorted and then turned on his heel and left.

'Are you sure that was the right thing to do, Wu Chen?' Ren Qiguang asked quietly.

'I have a bounty on my head, and the mayor is most likely one of the Slave Master's subordinates. How safe would I be if I entrusted myself to the Slave Master's own men?' Wu Chen answered while his eyes followed the back of Wang Shin as he stormed off.

'You are wise for your age. I look forward to seeing your growth in our sect once your quest is complete.' The Thunder Palace Elder said with a smug smile.

Wu Chen ignored the pompous Elder and his implied future sect membership. He was exhausted and in need of his medication. The burning and pain were beginning to flare up, and he just didn't have the patience to deal with anything else.

At least not politely.

'It has been an eventful day, and I am in need of my medication and a good rest. Please forgive me for being rude, I will leave first.' Wu Chen made an insincere bow to the Elder and headed straight to his room. He was followed closely by his friends, who were now silent and unsure of what to say.

As the group approached Wu Chen's room, it was actually the shy Shi Feng who stepped in front of Wu Chen, stopping him from entering.

'Wu Chen,' Shi Feng bit his lip and lowered his eyes. He looked quite distraught, 'Please accept my apology.'

Wu Chen noted the serious faces of the friends around him and sighed, 'Every debt has its debtor. Do not take the blame for your leaders. Just learn from their missteps. Right now, I just want to take my medication, circulate my qi, and sleep.'

Ren Qiguang turned to the group and ordered, 'Boyan-shidi, Feng-shidi, please go grab the bedding and personal items from all of our rooms. We will be spending the next few nights in Wu Chen's room. Chunwen-shidi, take the herbs and prescription to the kitchen and prepare his medicine. Don't let anyone else near it as you prepare it. Also, order Wu Chen a bath and a meal for all of us to be delivered to Wu Chen's room while you're down there.'

Zhang Boyan and Shi Feng scurried off while Su Chunwen held out his hands for the herbs and prescription Wu Chen had placed in his Void pouch. Shaking his head, Wu Chen handed them over, and Su Chunwen walked briskly toward the kitchen.

Wu Chen frowned at Ren Qiguang, 'Is this really necessary?'

Ren Qiguang crossed his arms over his chest and grinned, 'Yes. It is absolutely necessary.'

Wu Chen huffed angrily and reached to open the door. As his hand touched the latch, Wu Chen felt the presence of an unfamiliar aura.

His face darkened, and he signaled to Ren Qiguang. Understanding his signal, Ren Qiguang stood to the side of the door and silently drew his sword. He waited while Wu Chen drew his swords and stood on the other side of the entry, then Wu Chen gave him a nod. Ren Qiguang turned the latch and pushed the door open quickly.

Although the aura grew stronger, there was no movement or sound in the darkened room. Ren Qiguang lifted an eyebrow in Wu Chen's direction, and Wu Chen sent his aura out to search the room. He located a talisman attached to the underside of his bed and an array near the bathing area.

Leaning in toward Ren Qiguang, he whispered, 'There's a talisman and an array in the room. The attacker must be nearby.'

'The roof.' Ren Qiguang stated.

Wu Chen nodded, 'Or outside the window.'

'Let's try the roof first.' Ren Qiguang suggested as he waved at Wu Chen to follow him to his room.

When they entered Ren Qiguang's room, they stopped Shi Feng as he was packing up and quietly shared what they'd found. Shi Feng nodded and headed out to share with the other two. Wu Chen and Ren Qiguang disguised their breath and auras and stepped out of the window. From there, they flipped silently over onto the roof.

Seeing the Elder dispatching the other disciples to their guard posts, Wu Chen tossed a loose tile toward him and got his attention. The Elder nodded his understanding when Wu Chen pointed to the roof, and he sent two of his stronger disciples to back them up.

While Wu Chen was doing that, Ren Qiguang scanned the roof and noted a misshapen shadow along the roofline. He pointed the intruder out to Wu Chen, and they both crouched and used their qinggong to approach the person as silently as possible.

All of these maneuvers required qi usage, and the more he used his qi, the worse the burning and pain Wu Chen was subjected to. He was doing his best to keep it under control, but he was nearing his limit. He began to shake, and sweat beads appeared along his brow as he gritted his teeth.

Seeing Wu Chen struggling, Ren Qiguang signaled for him to stop, and he began forming a seal. When he completed the seal, he pushed his hands towards the mysterious shadow and twisted them quickly.

There was a sharp cry, and then the man was lifted bodily from the roof and slammed onto his back by what appeared to be an unseen force. His own sword unsheathed itself and hovered over his face, just a hairsbreadth from his eye. The man swallowed and didn't move a muscle.

Wu Chen lifted an eyebrow at Ren Qiguang. The man chuckled at Wu Chen's puzzlement, 'I caught the glint of metal armor under his cloak.'

'So, you used his own metal against him.' Wu Chen praised with a tired chuckle as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He shook his head and teased, 'Ren Qiguang, Ren Qiguang, I am glad you are my friend and not my enemy.'

As Wu Chen rested for a moment, Ren Qiguang and the other two disciples escorted the now terrified man to the Elder. Then he returned and helped Wu Chen to his feet.

'Come on. Let's relocate to my room for the night. We'll deal with your room and its petty traps tomorrow.' Ren Qiguang wasn't taking no for an answer and helped Wu Chen back to his room.

As they entered Ren Qiguang's room, they found the other three waiting in case they were needed. Ren Qiguang explained what happened and informed everyone that they would now be staying in his room instead of Wu Chen's. Once that was understood, Su Chunwen handed Wu Chen the medicine he had concocted, and he quickly ran off to change the order for the bath and meals.

Wu Chen sat on the floor and downed the bitter medicine. Before he began circulating his qi, he looked over at Ren Qiguang and nodded his head, 'My thanks for your care and protection. It is indeed my fortune to have met you and your martial brothers.'

Ren Qiguang's ears warmed, and he smiled, 'Thanks are not necessary between us. Just circulate your qi. We'll guard you.'

Wu Chen nodded and began his circulation feeling safe under Ren Qiguang's watchful eye.