Chapter 785: When Did I Say I Wanted to Kill Him?

"Hehe, guess who I met last night, guys?"

The screen unfurled, filling the air with fragrant scent.

Li Li Fenghua lay on his back, feet propped on the table, hugging the slender beauty Shi Mei while peeling a green tangerine.

"Who?"

"The Marquis Baron Xingyi!"

"You only know the title 'Baron Xingyi Nan'? He's an eighteen-year-old Great Martial Artist—what Marquis Baron Xingyi?"

"Idiot, do you even have brains? How can a title and a noble rank differ? Didn't Baron Xingyi Nan just get promoted to Marquis Baron Xingyi?"

"Whoa, promoted two ranks at once? Is he a True Master? He was eighteen two years ago, barely twenty now—ten years ahead of Master Bai? What's the Great Great Qian's record for True Master age?"

"Twenty-six in Great Great Qian?"

Everyone froze.

If not for Liang Qu's commotion in the imperial capital two years ago, he'd rarely care about cultivation records.

"Is the difference really that big?"

"Of course it is! How long has our Great Shun been around? How long has Great Great Qian? In a single jiazi cycle, a True Master at thirty is already impressive—now another Baron Xingyi Marquis, dominating for five years, completely surpassing them! His Majesty's civil and martial achievements far outshine the former dynasty! A sign of heavenly fortune!"

"Enough, enough—His Majesty won't come to this backwater to hear your shouting." Li Li Fenghua frowned. "Baron Xingyi Marquis isn't even a True Master. Don't ask me how he got promoted—I don't know. All I heard from my father is he's a third-class marquis. Are you listening or not?"

"Tell us, tell us! How did you meet him?"

"Don't you dare spread this around..."

The next day.

Long Yao and Long Li hung out bedding to dry, then folded and stored it in the large cabinet.

Liang Qu received guests in the hall, feigning surprise: "You're here for alchemy too?"

"Too?" Marquis Marquis Changrui raised an eyebrow.

"You're the fifth person today to come to my home." Liang Qu spread his hands. "It's not that I'm unwilling—I truly can't help. I've already promised Lord Anning and Marquis Marquis Jingfu. I've promised them all. I might not even get the pill until late this year. This was granted by His Majesty's favor; I can't repeat it a third time. If His Majesty finds out, he won't be pleased."

"Haha, no problem, no problem..."

Marquis Marquis Changrui showed no change in expression, chatted for a moment, and intended to leave a silver note—but Liang Qu still refused.

They saw off Marquis Marquis Changrui.

Liang Qu waved: "Hurry, hurry, lock the door, lock it! Have you packed everything? Get on the boat fast!"

"You didn't take the easy money, Elder?" Long Li closed and locked the door, then skipped backward with hands behind her back, grinning.

"If I took it all, when would the Great Pill ever be ready?" Liang Qu was speechless.

Let Li Li Shunfeng know, that's enough.

Marquis Marquis Jingfu came after Lord Anning, also offering ten thousand taels. He only accepted the money because his excuse was decent—expanding his treasury—but then one "demon" after another appeared.

Weak excuses made the lack of goodwill obvious.

Take someone's money, remove their troubles.

No trouble now, trouble later.

Who knows what trouble?

Someone must have leaked word. Last night there were five people—Long Yao and Long Li don't gossip, Li Li Shunfeng is too smooth to do it—only his son could've done it.

"Youngsters are unreliable."

Liang Qu sighed.

"Come on, Elder!"

"Coming!"

Mid-January.

Snow drifted over Pingyang.

Thin snow couldn't cover the thick, wrinkled roof tiles—black and white unevenly layered.

Officially, river navigation was suspended for half the month, but in truth, Liang Qu had surfaced again in Pingyang after spending half a month with Long Long Eying at the Sea Lord's alchemy den, where he'd helped refine the Octopus King.

The River Office didn't rush to report it.

With the promotion of Baron Xingyi Marquis, banquets were inevitable—his purse would bleed heavily. First, attend to urgent matters.

Inside the residence.

Thick ice had formed in the water vat.

Long Li used iron tongs to place glowing charcoal beneath the inkstone to warm it.

Liang Qu dipped his brush in ink, writing swiftly, detailing the entire process of how he'd secured the "Butchering Permit" and the likely outcome for Ming Jianyi.

He blew on the ink to dry it.

"Master?"

At noon, Chen Xiu carried a tray to deliver food to the western wing's master, but Liang Qu intercepted her.

"No need, go about your business."

Liang Qu waved her off, took over the meal delivery, and, as the old monk requested, placed the written note beneath the bowl, then set it by the door.

Cluck-cluck-cluck.

The silly chicken flapped its wings and ran over. Scarface, clad in yellow robes, slapped it down. Wu Long swung his tail forward, bit the limp chicken's head, dragged it to the kitchen door, pinned its wings with half his body, and kept gnawing the bones.

Squeak!

The door swung open.

Liang Qu pulled his gaze back, startled: "Master?"

He'd sensed it the moment he placed it down.

Had he been watching all along?

How could this be? If his mind was burdened, how could he focus on meditation and the Dao?

The old monk nodded gently, slid the note from beneath the bowl, and unfolded it to read.

Liang Qu watched the old monk's eyes closely, confirmed he'd read most of it, and felt proud.

"Master, rest assured—I've handled everything for you! Once the Great Snow Mountain matter is done, I'll bring you his head!"

"If you'd like to take it yourself, I'll clean up the mess. If not, wait a year—I'll do it for you. Use him, then kill him..."

The old monk twisted his prayer beads.

"When did I say I wanted to kill him?"

Liang Qu was stunned. His mind froze.

He spun it over and over in his head.

He scratched his hair, rubbed his temples.

His throat bobbed—he had countless words to say, but couldn't untangle them.

All his thoughts stuck together, emerging as one sound.

"Huh?"

Snow slid from the eaves, breaking in layers, crashing into shards with a clatter.

The old monk smiled faintly.

Liang Qu suddenly understood.

"Phew!"

He exhaled sharply, heart pounding, leaning back against the corridor railing as he wiped sweat.

Snap!

He jumped.

Monks don't lie.

He was truly startled.

"You're different from me. Had you possessed even a third of my former self, it wouldn't have come to this." The old monk suddenly sighed.

Different?

What was different?

Before Liang Qu could grasp it,

the old monk, heedless of the dirt, suddenly sat cross-legged, placed a lacquered tray on his knees, pulled out wooden chopsticks, lifted the porcelain bowl, dumped all the dishes onto the rice, and ate greedily, with wild abandon.

Even Su Guishan wouldn't do this—it was utterly unlike the old monk's usual demeanor.

He didn't resemble a high monk—he resembled a martial rogue.

Yet within this boldness,

a strange, indescribable aura emerged.

"Any meat?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Liang Qu nodded frantically, sensing something, dared not delay—he dashed into the kitchen.

The long table held a dazzling array of dishes; he carried out each meat dish on its own platter.

Simultaneously, he called out through the mental link to Teta Kai and the Third Prince, ordering them to summon help at top speed.

Whoosh!

A dark shadow darted.

Passersby felt a gust of black wind rush past, like a giant black rat zipping by.

Teta Kai sprinted on all fours, bursting through the door, racing down the street.

Chishan raised its front hooves and leapt over the fence, racing toward Pingyang Prefecture City.

Even Long Pingjiang and his brother, who were working, received the news.

"Go back?"

"Yes, the boss said hurry, hurry, hurry—very fast!" the young Shenh Dragon spoke like arrows.

Splash!

The water scattered.

The young Shenh Dragon looked around.

Huh.

Where did they go?

Though Long Long Eying was the farthest away, she arrived first, aided by the spiritual link and connected waterways.

She rushed into the courtyard, worried.

Long Long Eying glanced around and saw only Liang Qu running back and forth between the kitchen and the western wing, constantly… serving dishes?

Liang Qu caught sight of Long Long Eying and gave her a signal.

Long Long Eying's eyes flickered; she immediately understood who the protagonist was and what this was about.

Not long after.

Several Long Clan masters rushed over, followed by Su Guishan, Xu Xu Wenzhu, Yang Yang Dongxiong, Xu Xu Yuelong, Wei Lin…

Excluding Weng Weng Lijun, who could not be reached, every notable master within Pingyang Prefecture had gathered in Liang Qu's small courtyard.

They held their breath, utterly focused, watching Liang Qu serve dishes and the old monk eat.

Zhang Da's mother didn't know what was happening, only that there wasn't enough food—she needed to cook another round.

Chen Xiu and Fan Xinglai both went to help.

The scene was strangely surreal.

At first, the old monk used a small porcelain bowl; perhaps he found it unsatisfying, ate two bowls, then abandoned the bowl for a basin.

He didn't spit out bones from chicken, duck, fish, or meat.

He didn't miss a single chili or Sichuan pepper.

Wooden chopsticks clattered against porcelain bowls.

Lips and teeth soaked in broth.

Drops splattered onto robes.

No matter how much food arrived, it vanished into a bottomless black hole.

Fan Xinglai, the two mothers, Chen Xiu, the Long Clan members, Su Guishan… the household was large, warriors had huge appetites, and Guan Guan Congjian often came to beg meals—each meal required a massive amount of food!

Gulp.

Su Guishan swallowed his saliva.

Such an eating style made him genuinely hungry.

(End of Chapter)