Chapter 259: Making a Friend

Seeing that the one who had helped him was actually Chen Mu, Su Donglai was very surprised.

Chen Mu was younger than him, and the strength he had displayed once in Zhenzhoucheng was most likely greater than his as well.

There was no need to even mention his status.

But none of that compared to Chen Mu's guidance that had let him defeat He Zaiyun!

Spotting the opening, seizing the timing, striking with perfect precision…

These were not things that could be accomplished merely by having a higher cultivation.

What was needed was sharp observational ability, deep insight into the martial Dao, and rich experience in teaching and guiding…

Those who possessed such abilities were generally martial Dao experts in their fifties or sixties, with the沉淀 of years behind them.

How old was Chen Mu?

……

"Don't be nervous."

Chen Mu chuckled lightly. "I told you—as long as it's within your ability, I won't deliberately make things difficult."

"……" Su Donglai fell silent.

Seeing this, Chen Mu said in a serious tone, "What I want you to do is wait until you truly become Hua Shanhe's ideal son-in-law. Then, through your future father-in-law's connections and influence in Bai Yun City and the surrounding area, help me find someone."

Hearing this, Su Donglai's brow rose slightly, with a hint of disbelief. "That's all?"

"That's all." Chen Mu nodded firmly.

"Then what if I ultimately don't get chosen?" Su Donglai pressed.

Chen Mu smiled, his expression relaxed. "It doesn't matter. Whether it works out or not, let's just consider it making a friend. What I value is Brother Su's potential and future—not just a one-time transaction."

Upon hearing this, Su Donglai fell silent once more for a moment, then cupped his fist and solemnly said.

"Many thanks!"

Chen Mu casually waved his hand. "Among friends, helping each other with a small favor doesn't require thanks."

Hearing Chen Mu address him as a "friend" again, Su Donglai's tense expression eased considerably.

He gestured for Chen Mu to sit, personally took up the teapot, refilled Chen Mu's cup with hot tea, and said frankly, "Since Brother Chen treats me as a friend, Donglai won't hold back. If you're in a hurry to find someone, I do have a close friend in the city who knows people from all walks of life and is quite well-informed—he might be able to help."

Chen Mu first cupped his hands in thanks, then asked, "I appreciate Brother Su's kind offer. May I ask who this friend of yours is? To be honest, the person I'm looking for has a rather sensitive identity—an internal defector from the Zhenwu Division, and it's no small matter."

Hearing this, Su Donglai's face changed and he immediately cupped his hands in apology. "That was presumptuous of me! Since it's such an important matter involving an imperial court criminal, it would be improper to drag my friend into it, lest it bring him trouble. Please forgive me, Brother Chen."

"Understood."

Chen Mu nodded, did not press the matter, and naturally changed the subject. "When did Brother Su arrive in Bai Yun City?"

"Just this morning."

Su Donglai also breathed a sigh of relief and answered, "I received a letter from a close friend, which is why I made a special trip here."

After a brief pause, he said frankly, "I won't hide it from Brother Chen—I came to Bai Yun City this time for the martial-arts tournament to win a bride. After years of wandering the jianghu, fighting and struggling, I'm truly a bit weary."

"If I can become Senior Hua's son-in-law and gain a stable home, that would be a decent path out—at the very least, I won't have to worry about cultivation resources in the future. Besides, I've heard the Young Lady's character is gentle and kind, and her reputation is excellent."

After listening, Chen Mu raised his cup in a gesture. "Then I wish Brother Su immediate success and the fulfillment of your wish."

"Many thanks!"

Su Donglai raised his cup.

The two chatted casually for a while longer, exchanging some insights on the martial Dao and jianghu anecdotes, the atmosphere quite harmonious, before finally parting ways.

……

Chen Mu found an unremarkable inn in the city to stay at.

The next day, he once again altered his appearance and disguise, strolled the streets seemingly aimlessly, but in truth kept his eyes and ears open, continuously gathering any possible traces related to Zhu Jiuchuan.

The following two days were the same—lingering in teahouses and taverns, market streets and docks, listening for news from all sides.

Until the afternoon of the third day, Chen Mu was walking slowly along a bustling street when he suddenly heard a commotion ahead, interspersed with anguished accusations.

Someone causing trouble?

Chen Mu's brow lifted, his pace quickened, and he followed the sound.

He saw that in front of a pill shop bearing the signboard "Hundred Herbs Pavilion," a crowd of onlookers had gathered, blocking the entrance completely.

At the shop's entrance, three men dressed as martial artists, their cultivation at the Postnatal realm, were emotionally demanding justice from the shop.

The leader held a porcelain pill bottle and declared indignantly, "Everyone, come look!"

"My second brother bought a bottle of 'Dragon Tiger Pills' here the day before yesterday, hoping to aid his cultivation. But after taking them, he started vomiting and having diarrhea, his whole body weak!"

"How could this be Dragon Tiger Pills? It's clearly poison!"

"Hundred Herbs Pavilion sells fake medicine and harms people—you must give us an explanation! Compensate us for our losses!"

"……"

A man with stubble was being supported; judging by his complexion, he was indeed pale and bloodless, his aura also listless and weak, not seeming to be faked.

The surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion, pointing and gesturing.

"Hundred Herbs Pavilion has been around for decades, its reputation has always been decent—they probably sold the wrong pills."

"No way, can pills be sold wrong? This is something you put in your stomach—if they got it wrong, it could cost someone their life!"

"Heh, why do I feel this was intentional?"

"You mean… extortion?"

"What else? Look at these three men's faces—they clearly don't look like good people!"

"……"

Sold the wrong medicine?

Chen Mu stood at the edge of the crowd, listening to the commotion, offering no opinion.

Just then, a squad of Bai Yun City guards, dressed in uniform white tight-fitting clothes with standard-issue long swords at their waists, arrived swiftly.

"What is all this commotion about?" the squad leader at the head demanded in a low voice.

The three men seeking justice, seeing this, immediately acted as though they had found their backbone. They hurried forward and explained the matter in even greater detail, holding up that bottle of "Dragon Tiger Pills" high for the surrounding crowd and the Bai Yun Guard to see, calling out in grief-stricken voices.

"My lord, you must see justice done for us! This 'Hundred Herbs Pavilion' sells fake medicine that harms people — where is the justice in that!"

The squad leader listened, nodded, and reached out to take the medicine bottle. "This matter is simple enough. Real or fake, we'll know once it's tested."

"Hold on!"

A voice rang out — slightly aged, yet full of vigor.

Out came the Shopkeeper of "Hundred Herbs Pavilion," an old man in a brocade robe with a deep, steady aura, his cultivation roughly at the seventh or eighth layer of the Innate Realm, striding briskly from within the shop.

He first cupped his hands toward the Bai Yun Guard's squad leader, his face carrying just the right measure of apology and helplessness. "Captain He, it's only a small matter — no need to trouble the City Lord's Office with an appraisal. It was an oversight on our shop's part; perhaps we failed to remind the customer of the pill's taboos in time."

"This customer's losses, our shop is willing to bear. Not only will we replace the bottle with a superior-grade 'Dragon Tiger Pill,' we'll additionally compensate him with double the medicine cost. What do you think?"

Having said this, he turned to the crowd and declared in a clear voice, "Our 'Hundred Herbs Pavilion' has operated in Bai Yun City for several decades, relying on the two words 'integrity' and 'trust.' We have never sold fake medicine!"

"This good fellow's discomfort after taking the Dragon Tiger Pill — in this old man's view, is very likely a clash between his own constitution and the properties of certain auxiliary ingredients in the pill. Such cases are one in ten thousand, but every now and then, one or two crop up here and there."

The Shopkeeper's gaze swept over the bearded man, and he continued, "The Dragon Tiger Pill's properties are fierce and aggressive. If one's constitution leans toward yin-coldness, or one harbors a hidden ailment, and cannot fully dissolve the medicine's power for a time, symptoms like vomiting and collapse are perfectly normal."

Hearing this, many of the regular customers among the surrounding crowd nodded in agreement.

"That's right, Shopkeeper Wang speaks reason. Hundred Herbs Pavilion's pills have never had problems."

"This talk of constitution clashes — it's the first I've heard of it."

"That's because you're ignorant!"