Chapter 29: Whose Sect

Both cultivation and enjoyment were pursued without conflict. It was truly delightful to receive resource support while living in such a vibrant place.

Deacon Xu had a special skill, so he didn't need to leave the sect to fight for his life and cultivation path. Being able to open a Xu Clan Elixir Shop meant he was doing quite well among the outer sect Foundation Establishment deacons.

The elixir shop was not far from Deacon Xu's residence, only two streets away. If not for the prohibition on flying for Qi Condensation cultivators within the Ten Rebellious Blood Sect districts, one could cross the distance in mere breaths. After all, the number of Qi Condensation cultivators was enormous; without restrictions, the sky would be filled with people, disrupting the sect's environment.

Walking briskly, Wang Yu encountered an unexpected person when he arrived near Deacon Xu's residence: Su Qingshan!

He was also at the entrance, but he wasn't using the main gate; instead, he was at a side door, obscured by shadows. Wang Yu only recognized him by his aura.

“Senior Brother Su!”

“Junior Brother Wang———”

Su Qingshan was clearly startled and hurriedly pulled the door half-shut. Wang Yu observed from a distance and noticed something fleshy blocking the entire door behind the side entrance. Su Qingshan was fumbling for something with one hand.

Squish, squish, squish~

Was it the sound of a turbulent underground river? Wang Yu dared not approach further and asked from a distance, “Excuse me, Senior Brother Qingshan, is this Deacon Xu's residence?”

“…Yes.”

For some reason, Wang Yu felt that Su Qingshan was gritting his teeth, and his arm was still twitching.

“It's like this: the Xu Clan Elixir Shop recently advertised for four first-tier alchemists, offering two hundred spirit stones per month. I wanted to ask if this is true.”

Wang Yu played a trick, not revealing that he had already signed the contract. Things were becoming complicated, and he had no idea what relationship Su Qingshan had with Deacon Xu.

Immediately after, a loud, booming voice came from inside the door.

“Two hundred a month?!!”

“Whoever dares to offer such terms, this Young Lady will skin them alive!”

Great, now it's even more troublesome.

Su Qingshan, on the other hand, was more concerned with Wang Yu's movements. “Junior Brother Wang, why are you inquiring about this? Spirit slaves don't have anywhere to learn alchemy.”

“Senior Brother Qingshan, you've misunderstood. I heard about the opening of the Xu Clan Elixir Shop while working in Deacon Tantai's herb garden. I wanted to try for a position as an elixir refining apprentice to learn some skills.”

“That's true. Newcomers should try more things, gain experience, and hone their skills.”

By this point in the conversation, Wang Yu was almost certain there was an issue with the elixir shop. He now had only one course of action.

On the other hand, the relationship between Su Qingshan and the young lady of the Xu residence was also interesting. Her self-appellation as "this Young Lady" and her speaking in the tone of a master made her identity obvious.

“It's getting late. Senior Brother Qingshan, if you have something to discuss, perhaps you should go inside. I shouldn't disturb you further; I'll take my leave now.”

Su Qingshan hesitated, wanting to speak but couldn't. Only after Wang Yu had walked far away did he murmur, “Jiaojiao, he definitely saw it!”

“Ah~ha…”

“That kid got off easy. Go dig out his eyes.”

“Now?”

“———Tomorrow!”

With a cry of alarm, Su Qingshan was grabbed by a gigantic fleshy palm and pulled inside, like a chick. His teary eyes looked helplessly at the bright moon in the sky.

He missed his mom~

Meanwhile, Wang Yu did not return to his residence. Instead, he turned and headed towards the Disciplinary Hall. That pair of individuals was impatiently getting intimate right at the entrance. He couldn't bear to watch; it was too disgusting.

At the same time, he labeled Deacon Xu as someone to avoid. Recalling how Su Qingshan had previously sought him out alone, wanting to frame and kill Zhao Shang, there seemed to be an invisible thread connecting the two incidents.

As he walked, Wang Yu suddenly stopped.

“Tantai Chan?”

That's right. How could a mere outer sect disciple in the early Qi Condensation stage be targeted? It could only be related to his half-year spent in the herb garden.

Many people knew that Deacon Xu was pursuing Tantai Chan; it was even a common topic of gossip spread everywhere. Was it because of this?

It didn't feel like it. Considering the benefits associated with Tantai Chan, there were only a few: the herb garden, her identity as an alchemist, elixirs... and her beauty could also be counted.

“Are there four possibilities… Is Su Qingshan involved because he's helping his future father-in-law? If so, wouldn't my joining the Xu Clan Elixir Shop be like walking right into a trap?”

No, no, no———

If that were true, Deacon Xu would have come knocking immediately; he wouldn't have stayed away from the elixir shop. So, it must still be the Zhu clan grandfather and grandson who are problematic.

The herb garden was a spiritual land obtained with the help of Cold Blood Peak. If anyone were to contend for it, it would be Evil God Peak; they weren't qualified. As for alchemy, Deacon Xu's skills weren't bad, unless they were seeking higher-tier alchemy techniques. Did Tantai Chan possess such techniques? He couldn't be sure. Regarding elixirs, producing only one batch in half a year was somewhat unusual, making that particular guess indeed suspicious.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the entrance of the Disciplinary Hall. Wang Yu straightened his attire, clearing all distracting thoughts from his mind. He had important business to attend to now; he could think about the rest later.

The Xu Clan Elixir Shop's contract was in triplicate. This was where Wang Yu saw an opportunity.

Following the procedure, Wang Yu met a Foundation Establishment stage disciplinary cultivator. He didn't look old, had fine features, but was somewhat sickly pale. At this moment, he was looking at Wang Yu with an impatient expression.

Oh no! He almost forgot: those working in these departments were usually 'second-generation' disciples with deep sect backgrounds, and they were on duty at night. His own 'second-generation' status was rather flimsy.

Muttering inwardly, Wang Yu stepped forward and respectfully said, “Outer sect disciple Wang Yu pays his respects to Senior Deacon.”

“Spit it out… Bothering me in the middle of the night. If you don't have a good reason, I'll skin you alive.”

Zhuo Shouqing's face showed his impatience. Three moons ago, while indulging in frivolous pursuits with his colleagues, he made a reckless wager. To his surprise, he was the first to finish, and so for the next year, he was assigned night duty at the Disciplinary Hall. Every time he remembered, he hated his own powerlessness, and thus, he found Wang Yu displeasing as well.

Such an attitude, surprisingly, pleased Wang Yu. Emotions were good! He wasn't afraid of someone with emotions; he was afraid of a venomous snake that hid its true nature, which couldn't be manipulated with words.

Wang Yu collapsed to the ground with a thud, as if scared senseless. “This disciple dares not lie! It’s the Xu Clan Elixir Shop! They tricked this disciple into signing an unfair contract, treating this one-armed alchemist like an animal! He’s not human! Even so, this disciple could endure it. But that manager is even worse! He exploits the four alchemists at the shop, seeking exorbitant profits of over a hundred thousand spirit stones! My brother Zhou Tao has been refining elixirs until he vomits blood, yet he's still forced to continue. He claimed that in this Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect, his Zhu family is heaven! And that the Disciplinary Hall are all his dogs!”

The more Wang Yu fabricated, the more outlandish his story became, and the more smoothly he spoke, rattling off a long list of grievances. To Zhuo Shouqing's ears, only the phrase 'over a hundred thousand spirit stones' registered, and his eyes instantly turned fierce, like a wolf's.

“Preposterous!”

“Audacious!”

“My Zhuo family wouldn't dare claim to control everything, so what kind of worthless trash is this Zhu family? Come with me.”

“Wang Yu, as you command.”

“Someone! Prepare to raid their home! I want to see whose sect this truly is!”