A middle-aged man with a slightly fat build led a train of guards and hurriedly came in. Seeing the messy state of the grounds and the many corpses and blood stains, his forehead broke out in thin rivulets of sweat. His expression was also very terrified: “Forgive me, noble guests! This time is the fault of this small inn. Noble guests, please don’t blame...”
As he repeatedly announced his faults, his small eyes would flicker with an impatient gleam.
Xu Lingxiu’s cold eyes swept over. He raised his chin: “Don’t blame? We’ve encountered life-threatening danger here, and you have the gall to ask us not to blame you? If our people died here, should we also not blame you? If I cut off your people’s heads, you also won’t blame me?!”
This questioning voice was severe. Coupled with the displeasure in his tone and the faint suppressive might emitted from his body, that slightly fat, middle-aged man poured with sweat and his complexion turned pale-white.
The slightly fat, middle-aged man beseeched them several times. He was fully aware that this was because the tavern’s protection had been too lax. He understood even more that this party was a group of elite pharmacists heading to participate in the Pill Battling Assembly. If he offended someone here, not only would his business take a dive, the family property might completely decline after being spurned by all the pharmacists — Even basic safety couldn’t be guaranteed. People had only arrived after the incident occurred; it wasn’t something they could simply excuse.
After Xu Lingxiu showed his bad temper, he gestured with his hand: “Get to the bottom of this at once!” His attitude was especially nasty, “I don’t care how much you have to do, but this tavern of yours won’t be able to escape the responsibility of us being targeted by assassins! You need to give me an explanation! Or else—”
The slightly fat, middle-aged man was like a pardoned criminal. After apologizing again and again, he turned around and brought the crowd of guards with him as he departed. Of course, he still left behind some martial artists at Xiantian stage six and above to patrol outside. Once he got out, his complexion turned gloomy: “Investigate!”
He gnashed his teeth: “You must find that two-timing asshole for me!”
After these people moved away, someone promptly closed the courtyard door.
Xu Lingxiu impatiently opened his mouth: “Was it the Ghost Division’s assassins?”
A Xiantian stage six martial artist quickly stepped closer. Once those dead bodies were rummaged through, their arms were all exposed.
Sure enough, all of the black-clothed people had a vivid and lifelike, black ghost head on the skin of their arms.
Gu Zuo’s heart was startled.
Ghost Division? He remembered that there was a Ghost Division in the Cangyun Empire, and it was still doing business with his big brother. Despite that they had come to Qingyun Sect, that business was temporarily handed over to Gongyi Yan. He led the clan’s pharmacists to make use of the medicine refining hand seals that they’d left behind in order to carry on the refining processes.
However, could it be that the Ghost Division didn’t just exist in the Cangyun Empire, but it had even spread to the Qingyun Continent?
Off to the side, Qiu Qian and the others looked at the corpses of the Ghost Division assassins, and their eyes flashed with traces of loathing.
Gu Zuo saw everyone’s expressions and didn’t understand somewhat. He thought about it, and asked: “Senior Sect Brother Xu, the captured assassin here has only just lost consciousness. How should we deal with him?”
Xu Lingxiu stated: “Just throw him on the ground.”
Gu Zuo signaled to Dragon One with his eyes.
Dragon One obediently threw the black-clothed man from his shoulders onto that pile of dead bodies.
Then, some martial artists came over. With blades in hand, they all killed that previously captured, but not yet dead, assassin.
Gu Zuo was a little confused, and walked over to Xu Lingxiu’s side: “Senior Sect Brother Xu, you weren’t going to interrogate him?”
Xu Lingxiu’s attitude towards him was many times better than towards other people. Although he was impatient, he still gave Gu Zuo an explanation: “The Ghost Division’s assassins will never betray their organization. If they awaken and find themselves captured by others, they’ll certainly kill themselves. It’s useless to question them via torture.”
Gu Zuo was unconvinced: “Don’t tell me that we can’t prevent them from killing themselves?”
Xu Lingxiu sneered: “That’s the Ghost Division’s secret technique. It’s very strange. Once, there were many pharmacists who dissected a corpse in an attempt to find the cause, but it was ultimately a failure. Consequently, they arrived at the conclusion that perhaps the technique wasn’t medicinal poison, but rather a variant martial skill, a means of concealment in a cultivation method, or something else. Since nothing could be found, they naturally gave up. And anyone targeted by the Ghost Division could more or less guess who would have such a deep hatred as to hire an assassin.”
Gu Zuo understood in a flash: “So it’s like this...” He suddenly reacted, “Senior Sect Brother Xu’s meaning is that he also knows the one who tried to have us assassinated...”
Xu Lingxiu glanced at him: “You’re actually not that stupid.”
At this time, Li Yunquan took the initiate to speak: “During the previous Pill Battling Assembly, someone had also come to launch an assassination. At that time, our Qingyun Sect wasn’t vigilant enough and the entire team was almost completely annihilated. If it wasn’t for the bodyguards being adequately powerful and for their timely responses, I’m afraid the aftermath would’ve been too horrible to contemplate. It was just that it was too sudden back then, and we didn’t discover the real culprits. This time, we’ve long prepared for it, so we emerged completely unscathed.”
He recalled that the person guarding Gu Zuo was just the lone Dragon One. To avoid causing any conflicting views, he actively said: “Originally, a person on night watch was arranged outside of Junior Sect Brother Gu’s room. However, Junior Sect Brother’s bodyguard reacted extremely fast, and he wasn’t in any position to use his skills.”
Gu Zuo understood.
At that time, it turned out that Xu Lingxiu had already met with misfortune once. It wasn’t a surprise that he would be upset after being attacked by an assassin again. But in the end, who would dare to face public condemnation and set themselves against Qingyun Sect?
After entering the room, Gu Zuo obediently sat on a chair.
Xu Lingxiu immediately said to him: “It’s said that the main culprits weren’t found, but I think several powers that obtained good rankings during the last Pill Battling Assembly are all under suspicion.”
Gu Zuo reflected on this: “What rankings did our Qingyun Sect obtain last time?”
Xu Lingxiu said: “There were five pharmacists who arrived last time. Among them, there were two high-level pharmacists, two mid-level pharmacists, and I was the only low-level pharmacist. In the three compositions, except for me, who only got seventh place due to being too young, the other four people were all in the top three. Every Pill Battling Assembly has almost always been like this.”
Gu Zuo definitely didn’t find it strange that the Qingyun Sect could obtain this achievement.
This continent’s name was Qingyun Continent. Just by looking at the name Qingyun Sect, it was the greatest entity on the entire continent. Granted that there were other powers and sects, they couldn’t ever compare to this colossus. However, that much reputation necessitated that much strength. The Sect’s interior had opened an independent Pharmacist Hall, so would it still be proper if a few extremely outstanding pharmacists couldn’t be found?
The resources of the other powers fell short of Qingyun Sect’s. So it was only natural that it was harder for them to get by.
Just like the Pill Battling Assemblies of previous years, the top three places were basically monopolized by the pharmacists of Qingyun Sect and Danyun City. Though, they weren’t evenly matched. The rankings after them were divided up between the other pharmacists.
Danyun City had these achievements over the past many years. And so long as the City Lord wasn’t an idiot, he wouldn’t try to have the Qingyun Sect’s pharmacists assassinated. In that case, those few powers that had good rankings naturally had the largest suspicions.
Gu Zuo asked further: “Then, besides Danyun City and our Qingyun Sect, which ones obtained good rankings the most often?”
After Xu Lingxiu’s expression blanked for a moment, he replied: “Double Moon City, Pill Heart Sect, Black Water Society, and Green Dragon Sect... They’ve monopolized the remaining top ten places. Among them, Double Moon City, Pill Heart Sect, and Black Water Society are all veteran powers. When Green Dragon Sect arose some twenty or thirty years ago, they had only participated in the Pill Battling Assembly two times. If they come this time, that’ll be the third time.”
Gu Zuo thought about it: “Does Senior Sect Brother Xu believe that the probability of it being the Green Dragon Sect is high?”
Xu Lingxiu sneered: “No. Precisely the opposite. The one with the biggest suspicion is Pill Heart Sect.”
Gu Zuo was a bit interested. He also carefully analyzed this, and said to Xu Lingxiu: “Senior Sect Brother Xu’s meaning is that, because the Green Dragon Sect seems the most suspicious on the surface and is the newest power, its probability is actually the smallest? Has Senior Sect Brother Xu already observed their normal methods of action?”
Xu Lingxiu looked over at him in surprise: “You actually realized this.”
Gu Zuo smiled and chuckled, waiting for Xu Lingxiu’s explanation.
Originally, there really was a big relationship between Green Dragon Sect’s suspicions and the way that Sect handled things.
Xu Lingxiu was a bit arrogant, but he was also straightforward, so he continued speaking.
That year, Xu Lingxiu was not yet thirteen years old. Because his status was special and he barely reached the standards of a low-level pharmacist, he followed many pharmacists to participate in the Pill Battling Assembly. His main objective was to gain knowledge and experience.
After the course of the assassination, the Qingyun Sect’s people were greatly enraged. On the spot, they made the City Lord of Danyun City arrange an inescapable net that was bound to find the truth of the assassination.
During that time, many doubts were cast on Green Dragon Sect, which had lost the previous Pill Battling Assembly in spite of possessing very remarkable pharmacists. If the assassination had been successful, the Green Dragon Sect would’ve undoubtedly made huge steps forward, obtaining a big reputation. This would’ve attracted even more people to join the Green Dragon Sect.
While it was only natural for Xu Lingxiu to be skeptical at first, he’d grown up as a moon orbited by the stars. With so many knowledgeable people, how could’ve it been possible for him to not know of this matter? As a result, he secretly sent someone to ask around about Green Dragon Sect’s activities. It was discovered that the style of the Sect was to go steady and strike hard. The previous Pill Battling Assembly was merely for testing the waters.
In private, they had secretly raised quite a few outstanding pharmacists, and those pharmacists were actually members of a destitute medicine refining family. Because of inadequate resources and fragmented hand seals, the family had fallen into dire straits. The Green Dragon Sect’s Sect Master had boldly offered them shelter and had also given them a portion of the Sect’s superior hand seals. Thus, these pharmacists, who originally had a foundation, made substantial improvements. And after many years of nurturing passed, they reached this kind of standard.
Following which, they came to participate in that time’s Pill Battling Assembly. Moreover, in order to raise the reputations of those pharmacists, several years prior to the Pill Battling Assembly, they’d already gone to many small gatherings where pharmacists were privately invited for pill battles.
Soon after, Xu Lingxiu and the Sect’s people made an analysis. It was felt that, with the style of the Green Dragon Sect’s Sect Master, he wouldn’t have offended the Qingyun Sect so shortsightedly. On the contrary, there was a very big probability that someone had done such a thing to shift the blame onto Green Dragon Sect!
If this happened, then not only could the novel and competitive Green Dragon Sect be eliminated, but an opportunity could be seized to make the Qingyun Sect lose during that time’s Pill Battling Assembly. This would allow their own rankings to improve.
In addition, after no traces could be discovered following the events, the Qingyun Sect’s people were even more skeptical — Yes, the mind of the Green Dragon Sect’s Sect Master was very meticulous, but being able to truly act this flawlessly wasn’t something that the novel and competitive Sect could accomplish. That capability required a tremendous foundation and roundabout channels.
Gu Zuo listened with suspense: “Then, which power did our Sect suspect the most?”
Xu Lingxiu said: “Pill Heart Sect.”
Gu Zuo was puzzled: “Why?”
Xu Lingxiu said nothing else except for three words: “Forever third best.”
Gu Zuo suddenly understood.
Danyun City and Qingyun Sect’s pharmacists were both top-notch. Taking turns to claim the top three spots showed that there was hardly any differences in their strengths. They were super first-class. However, if a power was always pushed below them and could only be the third best, it showed that, no matter what, this power was merely first-class. The differences in position was very large.
Thinking up to here, Gu Zuo further questioned: “Since the suspected one was Pill Heart Sect, why would they still send an assassin to the Sect this time? Wouldn’t a cover-up only make matters worse?”
Weren’t such acts just a bit too stupid?
Xu Lingxiu said: “What you’re able to think of, the Sect can also naturally think of. At that time, in order to avoid alerting the enemy inadvertently, all of our doubts were tamped down and Green Dragon Sect was even suppressed to a certain extent to show that our suspicions of them were the deepest. Furthermore, under such pressure, those few pharmacists of Green Dragon Sect were forced to fall in the rankings. Our anger was also taken out on the other few powers to express the wrath of our Qingyun Sect.”
Gu Zuo’s heart stirred: “Even Danyun City wasn’t an exception?”
Xu Lingxiu nodded: “Correct. In addition, the rankings of the four pharmacists who attended at the time had all fallen to second and third place. Not like before where there’d inevitably be one person to take first.”
Gu Zuo: “Expressing failure...”
Xu Lingxiu nodded again: “For the heavens to strike a person down, it must first unseat him.”
Gu Zuo was amazed: “So Pill Heart Sect believed that Qingyun Sect was negatively affected and received a harsh blow. If this was done again, maybe it would fall from grace?”
Xu Lingxiu said: “The ability of Pill Heart Sect to do such things is enough to prove that they believed themselves to have snatched the opportunity as early as last time, and that they were already somewhat arrogant and contrary. Moreover, Qingyun Sect has been suppressing Green Dragon Sect the whole time, which could make them believe that the matter hadn’t been exposed. They’d want to scheme once more.”
He continued: “The ones who came this time were the Ghost Division’s assassins. There were twice as many people as last time, they were even more powerful, and the selected location was even more ingenious. It’s completely different from last time. If we hadn’t been long prepared for this and made some strategies, I’m afraid we would’ve suffered many losses. If some pharmacists were lost, we would’ve suffered defeat upon reaching the Pill Battling Assembly. Although, no matter how angry we got, they would’ve pushed all these tricks onto that Green Dragon Sect.”
Speaking up to here, Xu Lingxiu revealed a disdainful expression: “As for justification... They could put out evidence that Green Dragon Sect had been driven to desperation after being suppressed. On top of that was the former resentments. Green Dragon Sect had truly become the scapegoat.”
Gu Zuo concluded: “But they didn’t manage to kill us.”
The corner of Xu Lingxiu’s mouth curled: “In the end, the matter of us being targeted for assassination may negatively affect us. In addition, that Pill Heart Sect may think that we’ll raise some difficult questions to that City Lord again. They’ll still have opportunities through the Pill Battling Assembly’s treacherous undercurrents.”
Nevertheless, Gu Zuo felt that Pill Heart Sect had done something foolish due to crazy fits of rage and jealousy. Truly, they’d been holding it in for too long. Otherwise, they should’ve thought more about this plot which could be so easily seen through with just a few mere suggestions. Doing all this, what were they thinking in the end?
Gu Zuo voiced his thoughts.
Xu Lingxiu coldly laughed and said: “In front, there’s an enormous mountain blocking the way, and behind, there’s a competitive newcomer catching up. The Pill Heart Sect isn’t the same as the other two powers. Pill refining is their primary source of income, and they have always acted as the top dog of Qingyun Continent’s medicine refining world. Unfortunately, they showed that they weren’t the top dog during each and every Pill Battling Assembly. Instead, they lost to Qingyun Sect, which mainly cultivated martial artists, and to Danyun City, which mainly sold medicinal herbs. Naturally, they weren’t resigned to this. Opportunities are fleeting. Even when facing a bit of danger, they should’ve also felt that it was worth it. The worst thing is that our Qingyun Sect finally discovered a clue, but basically had no evidence. What else could we do to them?”
Gu Zuo blurted out: “Suppress them, too?”
Xu Lingxiu said: “Even if we suppressed them, that would be a far-flung path. They’d suffer a huge loss, but so long as the evidence isn’t the final nail in the coffin, we won’t be able to wipe out the Sect. And so long as the Sect isn’t wiped out, they’ll be able to make a comeback.”
Gu Zuo heard this and heaved a sigh: “Then, wouldn’t they feel that they were free to do whatever they wanted?”
Xu Lingxiu sneered and said: “The people of that sect have refined pills to the point of stupidity. Who says that we can’t kill them without proof? Who says that wiping out the Sect is the biggest punishment? The insignificant Pill Heart Sect doesn’t deserve a response from our Qingyun Sect. During this trip to the Pill Battling Assembly, we’ll need to ruthlessly step on their faces. After that, we’ll assist the Green Dragon Sect. Rather than fighting with each other, we’ll ruin the Pill Heart Sect’s reputation. At that time, all the ambitions of the Pill Heart Sect will go up in smoke. Their previous strategy will also turn into a joke!”
To be honest, Gu Zuo was a little slow to understand.
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand what he was hearing, but that the internal matters were really disordered. Having to fight and scheme, and handle these things day after day would definitely cause him to collapse.
In any case, it seemed that Qingyun Sect had guessed who did it, but ignored it. After confirming this, Qingyun Sect thought to assist Green Dragon Sect to get rid of Pill Heart Sect. And the other party, which was miserably suppressed before, was helped. But because it performed well, it was chosen to be a blade. In the future, perhaps it could still rise up to a towering position?
Gu Zuo: “...”
Such a tiny matter really left him confused.
Could it be that this was the way that big Sects considered things?
En, it was better that he just diligently refined medicine.
After clearing up the whole sequence of events, Gu Zuo decided to no longer care about this brief interlude. He talked about a few more things with Xu Lingxiu, then turned around and returned to his own room.
Originally, he had nothing to do with this matter. He’d honestly participate in the Pill Battling Assembly and obediently go to find the needed medicinal herbs. He wouldn’t foolishly ask questions about anything else.
After staying here for a night, that slightly fat, middle-aged man came by again. He hadn’t changed his clothes, and it was clear that he’d toiled away all night long. When he arrived this time, he’d also brought along some news.
Last night, he finally discovered traces of that two-timing guy. Only, when it was discovered, that guy had already become a corpse. It was clear that, although that guy had sold information on the tavern’s guests, he hadn’t obtained any benefits afterwards and had instead lost his small life.
With this briefing, Xu Lingxiu didn’t make things difficult for the slightly fat, middle-aged man. But after Zhu Hong beat the man with a gentle smile, the slightly fat, middle-aged man announced his failings once again and sent off this group of ancestors.
Following which, that flying wild beast flapped its wings, and carried everyone to the nearest and largest city — Danyun City!
Because it was a city of medicinal herbs, one could already see countless medicine fields from high up as they approached the city. There was a multitude of herbs being grown in those fields. It could be said that at least one third of the medicinal herbs of the entire Qingyun Continent came from this place!
Martial artists couldn’t stray far from pharmacists, and pharmacists couldn’t do without medicinal herbs. From this, it could be seen how prosperous this Danyun City should be!
Danyun City’s city gates were particularly tall and large, and could accommodate many wild beasts entering side by side. Beyond the city gates, there were many people arriving. From their style of dress and the people accompanying them, most were pharmacists.
The Pill Battling Assembly was basically a grand gathering of pharmacists. No matter the rank of the pharmacist, even if they didn’t get past the qualifying round, they’d all more or less want to take a look.
The flying wild beast didn’t fly directly into the city. Rather, it landed on the grounds just outside.
Gu Zuo followed after Xu Lingxiu and looked to the other side of the city gates. There was another wild beast that was extremely tall.
This wild beast couldn’t fly, but its back supported a small palace hall with a four-sided fretwork. The interior was draped with fine silk, animal skins, and other things. It seemed exceptionally cozy.
After Xu Lingxiu’s group landed, the person leading that wild beast had a wide smile and walked over. He deferentially welcomed them into the palace hall on that wild beast’s back.
At this time, Gu Zuo realized that due to Qingyun Sect’s high status, even though they reached Danyun City, there was a specially appointed “chauffeur” to pick them up and drop them off!
...Sure enough, this was the charm of the privileged!
After entering the city, the streets to the left and right were very wide, and many commoners on both sides were all looking over here — And yes, while there weren’t too many martial artists among them, their abilities in tending medicinal herbs absolutely couldn’t be underestimated! At this moment, they were also observing these distinguished guests, and displayed Danyun City’s passion.
The destination that the wild beast was moving towards was even more remarkable. With its large steps, its speed wasn’t slow. Not long after, it stopped in front of a very majestic building.
Here was the mansion of the City Lord.
That’s right. Whether it was due to Qingyun Sect’s prowess or the skill of its pharmacists, they would stay at the City Lord’s Mansion every time they came to participate in the Pill Battling Assembly! Moreover, apart from them, no one else could enter the City Lord’s Mansion!
This was similarly an honor that made the Pill Heart Sect red-eyed with envy...
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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