Chapter 63: What If It Is Groundless?

"True Person Chen, is there perhaps some misunderstanding here?"

The old face of the Head of the Family of the Huang Family was filled with confusion and great trepidation: "This old man truly does not understand what you mean."

He felt he had been wronged to death; for no reason at all, he did not know what Chen Ci was suspecting. Could it be that he also wanted to learn from that Daoist from Longhu Mountain surnamed Ge and extort a sum?

He could not help but feel despondent; this world...

"A misunderstanding? Perhaps."

Chen Ci was silent for a moment, feeling there were many things he wanted to ask, but in the end, he gave a dumbfounded smile. Why say so much?

He was not here to look for evidence.

The Qingquan Village affair began with the young master of the Wang Family from Xishan Prefecture coming to discuss a medicinal herb business, leading to them being trapped in the village, to their investigation, to the reporting, to the evil spirits that suddenly appeared in Changping County, and to the Longhu Mountain inspection team arriving here, until the matter was finally resolved.

There were too many coincidences involved, so coincidental that the matter started because of the Huang Family and ended with the Huang Family profiting.

The biggest hidden gain that many people overlooked was the Medicine Field of Qingquan Village!

This kind of asset could neither be taken away nor liquidated; it could only rely on human labor for cultivation and development, a long-term endeavor.

And the only ones in Changping County with the professional capacity for this were the Huang Family, who started out in the medicinal herb business. Perhaps there was even the shadow of the Wenxiang Sect behind it, though that was hard to say.

After a year or two, when the Medicine Field was put back into use, wouldn't it be fragrant?

Chen Ci glanced at Huang Defa a few times, and in consideration of the bit of friendship they had, he said: "In those last few days of the month, Daoist, you were far too flustered."

"Ah?"

Huang Defa seemed to be recalling what happened, and after remembering, he could not help but smile bitterly: "True Person Chen, you also saw the state of the Five Qi Peiyuan Mushroom Medicine Field; this old man was truly afraid of being held accountable by the experts from Longhu Mountain."

"It is true that you were afraid; your hair turning white in a few days certainly could not be faked, but that is not what you were afraid of."

"Since you knew the state of the Five Qi Peiyuan Mushroom Medicine Field, why were you not afraid afterward? Could it be just because Lin Banshan paid a visit?"

Chen Ci waved his hand, cutting off his explanation: "No matter how strong the Wenxiang Sect is, it is not stronger than Longhu Mountain. Since you were afraid of being held accountable by the experts from Longhu Mountain, could it be that Lin Banshan could give you some kind of promise? You are an old hand in the world; you wouldn't be that naive."

"What you were actually afraid of was that the high-gong Daoists from Longhu Mountain went to Qingquan Village during those few days. Whether it was you coming to beg me or the evil spirits appearing in the county during those days, I fear the purpose was to stall the people from Longhu Mountain for a few days."

"Once those few days passed, you were truly not panicked in the slightest. Although I don't know what happened, it should not be the matter of the medicinal mushrooms that Lin Banshan spoke of."

"True Person Chen, this old man truly does not understand what you mean. With my cultivation, how could I have such great ability?"

Huang Defa smiled bitterly repeatedly: "I don't know if it was my remark about offering half of the family fortune that made you overthink, True Person. If it is a matter of money, the Huang Family is willing to spend wealth to avert disaster. I only hope True Person Chen will not use these groundless matters to intimidate this old man."

"Groundless?"

Chen Ci calculated the time and could not help but smile: "On this trip, I have understood one principle. For cultivators like us, so what if it is groundless? In the end, the one with the higher Dao wins. I, an Apprentice of the He Mountain Sect, am not a good person anyway, so why care so much?"

"However, Daoist Huang, do you know how many drops of Essence Refining one person can refine?"

After a pause, he reported a number: "At least two drops. I am an expert; the Essence Refining in Qingquan Village was far too little."

"You!"

Huang Defa's eyes widened, but he immediately discovered that his eyelids could not widen fully, and even the voice coming from his mouth was weak and breathless. As soon as his arm was raised, it fell limply.

Damn it, this guy surnamed Chen is launching a sneak attack, and he's using poison!

"The effect is not very good. Even if this mundane stupefying incense is purified and refined using the Essence-Absorbing Method, it is difficult to have an effect on a cultivator. Daoist Huang, your cultivation is too low; you cannot blame others."

Chen Ci reached out to support Huang Defa and said with regret.

"You... you... cannot kill me. Behind me... is..."

Huang Defa struggled, wanting to say something, but was gently sealed by Chen Ci with True Qi: "Shh, I'm not listening. It would be impolite to keep talking. Take a deep breath; I won't kill you."

With True Qi combined with force, he tapped the Hundred Meetings acupoint. Huang Defa's eyes suddenly lost focus, his eyes slanted and his mouth crooked, his Essence Qi Spirit gone.

Chen Ci was not at ease and tapped him twice more. Unless an Immortal descended to the world or someone performed an autopsy, this man surnamed Huang would absolutely never wake up, nor would anyone suspect he was harmed by external force.

After helping him onto the bed to lie down, Chen Ci searched carefully according to the directions the man surnamed Huang had subconsciously scanned earlier. Before long, he discovered a black altar under a hidden compartment in the bed, cold and sinister, feeling like ice to the touch.

"In this world, are there truly no good people left?"

Chen Ci sighed slightly, his eyes filled with disappointment: "However, Daoist Huang, rest assured. I will definitely take care of the Huang Family, do my utmost, and use the greatest discounts when purchasing medicinal herbs from your family."

"The world treats me with malice, yet I return it with kindness. How could a good person like me end up in the He Mountain Sect? There is truly no justice in heaven."

Xishan Prefecture, Fuhu Altar.

After being delayed for a day, Chen Ci hurried all the way and ultimately did not arrive too late. At least no one would know from this that he had snuck back to Changping County.

Entering the Fuhu Altar and arriving at the Internal Affairs Department, Chen Ci took out the Spirit Nourishing Bottle and said: "Chen Ci of Sanyin Temple in Changping County is submitting Essence Refining. Additionally, I have a matter I would like to visit Lin Shixiong about. I wonder if it is possible."

"Temple Master Lin is not seeing guests. This Apprentice should please return."

The old Daoist registering him replied languidly, not even lifting his eyelids.

"I truly have an urgent matter. Could I trouble Shixiong to do me a favor and report it?"

Chen Ci used a hundred-tael gold note to support the Spirit Nourishing Bottle and handed it over.

"Heh, which fellow disciple doesn't have an urgent matter? The Temple Master is busy... Ouch!"

The old Daoist took the Spirit Nourishing Bottle, but his hand sank, and he failed to hold it steady. Fortunately, Chen Ci caught it firmly so it wouldn't fall.

"Is this... filled with Essence Refining?"

The old Daoist's face twitched. The moment he took this Spirit Nourishing Bottle, it must have weighed several hundred catties, otherwise, his hand wouldn't have slipped.

If it really was Essence Refining, heavens, this quantity was terrifying. It must be at least two thousand drops, right?

This guy looked refined on the outside, but he didn't expect him to be such a ruthless person. Chen Ci of Sanyin Temple, tsk.

The old Daoist's originally impatient expression immediately softened, and he replied politely: "This Apprentice Chen, cough, I don't know if the Temple Master is in meditation, so it's hard to say if you'll be able to see him even if I report it. You should take this gold note back first."

"It is fine. Shixiong works hard; just accept it."

Chen Ci waved his hand in refusal and added nonchalantly: "By the way, I do not want others to know the quantity of this Essence Refining. Shixiong should be able to manage such a small matter, right?"

Three thousand two hundred drops of Essence Refining!

Looking at the count on the side, the old Daoist felt a chill in his heart, and his attitude became increasingly respectful, fearing that Chen Ci had gone mad from practicing his arts. This was something that hundreds of 'two-legged sheep' could not possibly provide.

If he messed around like this, this guy would either be executed by Longhu Mountain.

Or he was a rising star of the He Mountain Sect!

He could not afford to offend either of them.

"Of course, of course."

The old Daoist finished the registration and said politely, "Junior Brother Chen Ci, go rest in the reception hall for a while first. I will go speak with the Temple Master now, though whether the Temple Master will see you at such a critical juncture is truly hard to say."

"Mm."

Chen Ci nodded slightly; his face was as steady as an old dog, but in reality, he was slightly flustered.

He hoped this Lin Shixiong could pull him out of this.

After all, a trumped-up charge really can kill people, sigh.

(End of chapter)