Chapter 505: The Swap

Thinking this, Lin Chao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Dao Soldier..."

His hand rested upon the Dao Soldier.

He was sensing carefully what exactly the Dao Soldier was.

After all, logically speaking, he was already at the Nascent Soul realm; in other worlds, he would already count as a great cultivator.

Not to mention destroying worlds, turning rivers and overturning seas would be effortless.

Yet, as he was now, he still felt very weak.

And the Dao Soldier, however, was able to unleash some magical abilities.

This made him even more curious about the Dao Soldier.

Only, when he tried to understand the Dao Soldier, Lin Chao suddenly realized that in the dark, Gou Han seemed to have had a trace of excitement.

That appearance seemed to be wanting to get close to Lin Chao, wanting to merge into one with Lin Chao.

Seeing this scene, Lin Chao's figure hurriedly retreated.

If this Gou Han were to merge with him, he would have to begin a journey of fleeing to the ends of the earth.

He would even implicate Hua Popo, Jiang Boye, and Zhao Tai.

Moving away from the Dao Soldier, that kind of excitement from the Dao Soldier disappeared.

"Dao Soldier... what exactly is it?

Does it have its own Spirituality?" Lin Chao pondered carefully.

After pondering for a while, Lin Chao felt it was better to wait until there were more opportunities in the future to understand what the Dao Soldier actually was.

Lin Chao left the thatched cottage; he took a look, and Tan Kong was still in a coma.

Lin Chao could not help but focus his attention on the sandalwood box Tan Kong had given him.

He opened the sandalwood box and took a look at the incense inside.

A strange look flashed in Lin Chao's eyes.

This Dragon Pattern Incense... indeed had a problem.

"If I remember correctly, Tan Kong still has some Dragon Pattern Incense on him."

Lin Chao searched, and sure enough, he discovered a cloth bag on Tan Kong.

Inside the bag, some Dragon Pattern Incense was being kept.

This Dragon Pattern Incense was exactly the same as the one in the sandalwood box.

However, the Dragon Pattern Incense in the bag had no problems.

Lin Chao thought for a moment and swapped the Dragon Pattern Incense in the sandalwood box with the one in the bag.

He believed that Tan Kong would not be able to distinguish the difference between the two types of Dragon Pattern Incense.

Having finished this, Lin Chao breathed a sigh of relief.

Not long after, Tan Kong slowly woke up, a look of confusion on his face: "I actually fell asleep?"

Lin Chao smiled: "Earlier, Senior Brother came out from inside and was a bit sleepy, so I didn't wake you when you took a short nap."

"So that's how it is." Tan Kong also smiled, not feeling anything amiss.

After all, in such an environment, people are indeed prone to fatigue and feeling sleepy.

Throughout the night, Lin Chao and Tan Kong took turns lighting incense and changing candles together.

The sky also gradually cooled.

The people replacing Lin Chao and Tan Kong for their shift arrived, and the guard duty for Tan Kong and Lin Chao was about to end.

Tan Kong wore a gentle smile on his face, looking extremely amiable, and he said at this time: "Junior Brother, the Dragon Pattern Incense is of great value; please be sure to hand it to Uncle-Master Jiang for me."

"Rest assured, Xia Yang will not forget Senior Brother's entrustment." After Lin Chao finished speaking, he left holding the Dragon Pattern Incense.

Tan Kong glanced at Lin Chao; the gentle smile in his eyes vanished, replaced by a trace of disdain.

If it were not for that adult's plan, he would be too lazy to communicate like this with a lowly person like Xia Yang.

Lin Chao held the sandalwood box, his face also showing sleepiness.

Having not slept all night, this body of his was also very tired.

After handing the Dragon Pattern Incense to his master, Lin Chao decided to go back and get some good sleep.

"Master."

Arriving at Master Jiang Boye's courtyard, Lin Chao saw his master as usual, basking in the Sun on a lounge chair.

Hearing Lin Chao's call, Jiang Boye squinted his eyes: "Why did you come over this morning?"

"Senior Brother Tan Kong has a gift he asked me to give to Master."

Lin Chao placed the sandalwood box beside Jiang Boye.

"What is contained here is Dragon Pattern Incense."

Upon hearing this, a trace of joy flashed in Jiang Boye's eyes: "It is actually this kind of incense?"

Lin Chao knew that Jiang Boye was obsessed with incense as if it were his life.

It was normal for him to have this reaction to Dragon Pattern Incense.

Jiang Boye looked at Lin Chao and asked: "What do you think of this person Tan Kong?"

Lin Chao pondered for a moment and mused: "He is kind to others and easy to approach.

He is even willing to give the precious Dragon Pattern Incense to Master, which shows he is also very generous."

"Is that so?" Jiang Boye smiled, "This person is plotting against your spot for the Heavenly Palace; you must be careful."

"Many thanks for informing me, Master."

"Alright, get lost, hurry up and cultivate, and enter the Golden Core realm as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chao had an impulse to tell Jiang Boye that he had already reached the Nascent Soul realm.

However, he thought about it and decided against it.

Previously, he could have told him he had reached the Golden Core, but he did not want to be too high-profile, and furthermore, he was still tainted by the karma of the Great Brightness Sect, so he chose not to tell him until he had figured out the situation.

Now, since he could control the Dao Soldiers, there was no problem.

"Master, actually... I have already reached the Golden Core."

Lin Chao said.

Jiang Boye was stunned upon hearing this: "You have reached the Golden Core?"

"Yes, disciple broke through and entered the Golden Core yesterday," Lin Chao said softly.

A hint of a smile appeared on Jiang Boye's face: "If I remember correctly, you have been practicing the Literary Arts for less than a year?"

"Yes," Lin Chao replied.

A flash of brilliance crossed Jiang Boye's eyes: "You kid... you are full of surprises."

Jiang Boye had heard a little about Xia Yang's talent.

Among the many disciples of the Qingxu Sect, it could only be considered low-to-middle.

In Jiang Boye's view, with such talent, it would already be quite remarkable to enter the Golden Core in three or four years.

Now, Xia Yang had entered the Golden Core in just over half a year.

Such talent, in fact, could be considered top-tier even within the Qingxu Sect.

"Not inferior to me back in the day," Jiang Boye sighed.

Although Jiang Boye did not value talent too highly.

However, talent is naturally the higher the better.

Xia Yang had already broken through to the Golden Core, which exceeded his expectations.

This level, placed within the Academy, could be considered among the best.

"During this time, you should practice well and stabilize your realm.

I will handle the matter of going to the Academy for you.

By the way, during this time, try your best not to have contact with Tan Kong," Jiang Boye said with an excited expression.

"As you command, Master."

"Go on down."

Lin Chao bid farewell and turned to leave.

There was more gratification in Jiang Boye's gaze.

But soon, he turned his gaze to the sandalwood box.

"Dragon Pattern Incense... would Tan Kong be so kind?"

He looked at the Dragon Pattern Incense inside, and his pupils suddenly changed color at this moment.

The black pupils turned white.

From his eyes, it seemed that some white threads were shot out.

The threads wrapped around the Dragon Pattern Incense, and a strange expression flashed in Jiang Boye's eyes.

"No problem... could it be that I guessed wrong, and the person behind Tan Kong... is not targeting me, but merely after the resources I have in the Academy?" Jiang Boye muttered.

In the days that followed, Lin Chao kept practicing and living a leisurely life.

Sometimes, he would also follow the Qingxu Sect's merchant caravan to Luo Ma County to collect supplies.

Now, Hua Popo had moved into Jiang Boye's courtyard and become Jiang Boye's full-time cook.

"Junior brother, we shall part ways here; two hours later, we will gather here together."

The lead senior brother of the Qingxu Sect said.

The Qingxu Sect disciples present immediately split up in twos and threes.

However, Lin Chao was alone.

Lin Chao first went to the Jishi on the East Street and bought quite a few medicinal herbs, then went to other Jishi to buy some things he needed.

Now, his physique was becoming increasingly robust, though compared to other martial artists, his figure was still too thin.

He had silver notes he had taken from the Flower Bandit Zhu Xiang, so he was not short of money and could buy some medicinal herbs for dietary nourishment.

However, just as Lin Chao came out of a medicinal herb shop, an old man appeared in front of him.

"May I ask if you are Xia Yang, a disciple of the Qingxu Sect?"

Lin Chao looked at the old man, a look of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Who are you?"

"I am Tan Jiang, and Tan Kong is my nephew," Tan Jiang said.

"So it is Elder Tan. I wonder what business Elder Tan has with me?" Lin Chao's gaze carried a trace of vigilance.

"My nephew Tan Kong, ever since he finished his guard duty last month, fell into a serious illness, his health deteriorated day by day, and yesterday... he passed away."

A trace of sorrow flashed in Lin Chao's eyes: "Senior Brother Tan Kong... he actually passed away."

"I heard that during the last guard duty, it was you, Junior Nephew Xia Yang, who was on duty with Tan Kong. Did he have any abnormalities at that time?" Tan Jiang looked into Lin Chao's eyes.

Lin Chao showed a thoughtful expression: "No, Senior Brother Tan Kong was completely normal that day. He even told me many things about the Academy, which benefited me greatly."

Tan Jiang continued to ask: "My nephew once happened to obtain a batch of Dragon Pattern Incense. I heard he gave it to your master. Is there... any more of that Dragon Pattern Incense?"

"The Dragon Pattern Incense is extremely precious, and my master also likes it very much. He burned it every night and finished it all some time ago.

My master was even talking about when to go find Senior Brother Tan Kong to buy some more Dragon Pattern Incense, never thinking... that Senior Brother Tan Kong would just leave like this. It is truly lamentable."

"Sigh..." Tan Jiang also sighed, and then he continued, "If you, Junior Nephew, know any inside information about my nephew's death, please tell me, and I will surely reward you handsomely."

After Tan Jiang finished speaking, he turned and left.

Not long after, Tan Jiang returned to the Tan family.

At this moment, inside the room, a gloomy voice sounded: "Second brother, why didn't you just grab that Xia Yang and interrogate him to see if Kong'er's death has anything to do with him!"

The speaker was Tan Jin, the president of the Luo Ma County Chamber of Commerce, and he was also Tan Kong's father.

"Big brother, Xia Yang is a disciple of the Qingxu Sect after all; if we take him by force, we will offend the Qingxu Sect!" Tan Jiang advised.

In Luo Ma County, apart from the county government, the Qingxu Sect held the greatest power.

Tan Jiang continued: "I went to ask that little brat; he shouldn't know anything about Kong'er's death."

Hearing this, killing intent flashed in Tan Jin's eyes: "It must be that old scoundrel Jiang Boye, plotting against my Kong'er!"

"I suspect the same. Although Jiang Boye is only at the Golden Core realm, he is no ordinary Golden Core.

He possesses a Dao Soldier Embryo.

It must be that he discovered the problem with the Dragon Pattern Incense that the great person gave to Kong'er, and plotted against Kong'er." Anger was also present in Tan Jiang's voice.

Naturally, they would not think that it was their son who had plotted against Jiang Boye first.

They also dared not hold resentment toward the great person who had told their son to harm Jiang Boye.

They only dared to heap all their fury upon Jiang Boye.

"Kong'er... you hadn't even married, hadn't even produced offspring, and just like that, you are gone..." The killing intent in Tan Jin's eyes grew even stronger. "Old scoundrel Jiang Boye, you want to leave me without descendants; what a cruel heart!"

Tan Jin was getting on in years, and although he had taken several concubines, none of their bellies had shown any movement.

Tan Kong was Tan Jin's only son, and he had pinned great hopes on him.

Now that his son was dead, Tan Jin's hope was gone.

"I will slay the old scoundrel Jiang Boye!" Tan Jin shattered the chair he was sitting on with a single palm strike.

As the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Tan Jin was not just a merchant, but also a martial artist.

He possessed the strength of a Sixth Grade martial artist.

Moreover, his Chamber of Commerce also kept many Seventh Grade martial artist thugs.

With these people united, killing a Jiang Boye would be easy.

Beside him, a troubled expression appeared on Tan Jiang's face: "Big brother, this matter still needs to be considered carefully.

Jiang Boye is, after all, an Elder of the Qingxu Sect; if we just kill him like this, the Qingxu Sect will certainly not let our Tan family off.

By then, our Tan family might face the danger of being wiped out.

This matter still needs to be considered carefully."

Tan Jin was clearly blinded by hatred at this moment: "No, I must kill him!"

Tan Jiang was full of worry, and he advised: "Big brother, Jiang Boye must die, but we must make a thorough plan."

It was not Tan Jiang's son who had died, nor was he the one left without descendants; he was even somewhat pleased.

Naturally, he would not do something foolish for Tan Jin's sake.

Tan Jin looked at Tan Jiang with gloomy eyes: "Second brother, do you not want to avenge Kong'er?

If you are unwilling, even if I have to exhaust all my family wealth, I will make the old scoundrel Jiang Boye die!"

Hearing this, Tan Jiang felt even more anger in his heart toward his big brother, Tan Jin.

He had contributed significantly to the Tan family's current prosperity.

Yet, for the sake of his own selfish interests, his big brother was going to bury the entire family.

"Big brother, I also want to avenge Kong'er.

It is just that we must think of a foolproof method.

Otherwise, if we don't kill Jiang Boye and instead bury our Tan family, who will visit Kong'er's grave in the future?

I already have a plan in my heart now.

In Luo Ma County, haven't the Damang Bandits been roaming about recently?

We can cooperate with the Damang Bandits, first capture that kid Xia Yang, hand him over to the Damang Bandits, let the Damang Bandits come forward, and use Xia Yang to force Jiang Boye to trade silver for the person.

Then, our men will use camouflage as Damang Bandits and slay Jiang Boye!" In a short time, a scheme had formed in Tan Jiang's mind.

Hearing this, Tan Jin said: "Not bad, let's do it this way. Send people now to go and grab that kid Xia Yang!"

At this time, Xia Yang, who was hiding outside the room, was speechless upon hearing this.

Originally, he had only felt that there was something wrong with Tan Jiang, so he thought he would follow him.

He had not expected to actually hear such a secret.

However, at this moment, he could not make a move.

Although he was confident he could slay these two.

But, as he was now, he was actually still an Ordinary person.

After slaying Tan Jiang and Tan Jin, he would certainly be exposed.

Therefore, Lin Chao thought for a moment, and his figure vanished.

Not long after, Tan Jiang walked out of the Tan residence alone.

His expression was hurried, clearly having urgent business to attend to.

What they did not know was that a pair of eyes had been watching them the whole time.

About the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn passed, Tan Jiang arrived at a courtyard.

In this courtyard, some thugs were kept.

These thugs were all people worthy of trust from the Tan residence.

At this moment, these thugs were exercising their bodies, swinging heavy hammers or lifting giant stones.

Seeing these people, Tan Jiang said: "You few, prepare yourselves, disguise yourselves as Damang Bandits, and go grab someone for me."

"As you command," the big men in the courtyard said.

And at this moment, a voice came from somewhere.

"Damn it, to think they'd dare impersonate us Damang Bandits, they're courting death!"

A massive stone was thrown from outside the courtyard, landing inside.

Bang!

The boulder smashed into Tan Jiang, and Tan Jiang was instantly dead as can be!

(End of chapter)