Chapter 112: Turning the Tables, New Deals, Great Gains

Chapter 112: Turning the Tables, New Deals, Great Gains

Su Chen could naturally tell that Cai Xiaoyue liked Zhu Yan—the invitation had been extended purely out of regard for him.

But he didn’t dwell on this. After a moment’s consideration, he politely declined. Cai Xiaoyue showed slight disappointment but didn’t press further.

They walked together through the streets until reaching Zhu Yan’s private clinic.

This courtyard had been specially arranged by the Hex Union for Zhu Yan, specifically for treating injured members of the faction.

Thanks to Zhu Yan’s expertise with the ancient medical manual, every day saw a steady stream of people seeking treatment. All showed him deep respect.

Watching Zhu Yan bustling about, Cai Xiaoyue remarked, “Initially I wanted to assign some assistants to Senior Zhu, but he insisted it was too troublesome and declined.”

“Perhaps he enjoys this state of affairs,” Su Chen replied after observing for a while.

As if spotting something intriguing, Su Chen strode toward the courtyard. Cai Xiaoyue noticed his gaze fixed on a row of bookshelves within the grand hall. She followed silently, careful not to disturb the busy healer.

Approaching the shelves, Su Chen scanned the collection—entirely medical tomes. Some he’d read before, but most were unfamiliar. Arranged in a clear progression from basic to advanced, the organization piqued his interest.

“These medical tomes seem sorted by learning stages,” he mused, picking up a volume. The systematic order—simple to complex—suggested careful curation by Zhu Yan.

This intrigued Su Chen. While he’d been self-taught through scattered studies, Zhu Yan’s family background in medicine provided structured guidance for disciples.

“Benefactor, you’re reading these too?” Zhu Yan approached, smiling as he noticed Su Chen’s prolonged engagement.

Su Chen nodded. “Might I borrow some of these?”

“Benefactor may take whichever you like,” Zhu Yan said easily. The tomes held little value compared to the precious medical secret manual he’d previously gifted Su Chen.

Su Chen selected a few unfamiliar volumes, stacking them carefully. The order mattered more than the books themselves—following it could save him countless hours.

“If you desire more, I’ll borrow some from the library hall when I have time,” Zhu Yan offered, watching Su Chen gather over a dozen tomes.

“Library hall?” Su Chen paused, turning to face him.

Zhu Yan nodded. “These are all borrowed copies. Some aren’t even available commercially, but sharing them won’t be an issue.”

Cai Xiaoyue rolled her eyes. Though these were copies, each would cost dozens or hundreds of silver taels outside. Yet to Zhu Yan, they were simply “freely available.”

Curious about what exactly this “Benefactor” had done to earn Zhu Yan’s unwavering devotion, she remained silent.

Thinking deeply about the library hall reference, Su Chen refrained from further questions with Cai Xiaoyue present.

After borrowing the tomes, Su Chen bid farewell. Zhu Yan had become busy again, only managing to see him to the door.

Returning home, Su Chen immersed himself in the medical texts by their arranged order.

Come the start of the month, he donned Lu Xiaofeng’s disguise and left the city for the Black Market—his goals: acquiring Vital Energy Pills and investigating sources for Mystic Essence Pills.

While Cai Xiaoyue had mentioned that Mystic Essence Pills were exclusive to Xuan Shui Sect disciples, Su Chen remained convinced that someone in Feng City would be willing to sell.

Arriving at the Black Market, Su Chen headed directly to the stall selling Vital Energy Pills. Finding a new person there sent a jolt of unease through him.

“Excuse me, are Vital Energy Pills available?” he asked cautiously.

“You’ve come to the wrong place!” the vendor snapped.

Though anticipated, the confirmation still stung. “Yu Xian was indeed the sole supplier. His death has cut off this source.”

Resigned but unregretful about killing Yu Xian, Su Chen continued searching. After checking the entire market without success, he approached the unmarked stall with his requests.

The vendor’s immediate negative responses darkened Su Chen’s mood. Without either pill, his cultivation progress would stagnate painfully.

“If only I’d kept one Mystic Essence Pill to analyze its ingredients,” he thought bitterly. Several ideas surfaced, including seeking help from Xue Yi under the guise of a sect member. But fabricating stories for her would prove difficult.

Eventually abandoning his search, Su Chen left the market early. Walking along a desolate path, he suddenly turned.

“Have you been following me long? What do you want?” he called out.

A figure dropped from a tree. Cloaked in black, his face remained obscured in shadow. “I’m the one who bought medicine from you before. I need more Blood Qi Elixir—do you have any?”

“Wrong person,” Su Chen replied. “I don’t sell medicine.”

“That’s fine. Just answer one question.”

Su Chen’s eyes narrowed. “What question?”

“Where can I find the Deaf-Mute Physician?”

“You’ve come to the wrong person,” Su Chen said firmly.

The black-cloaked man sneered. “If you won’t speak willingly, I’ll have to force it from you.”

With that, he lunged—fast as a diving hawk. Su Chen reacted instantly, unleashing a sharp palm strike that met the attacker’s silver claw in a thunderous collision.

The clash sent shockwaves rippling outward.

“Strong palm force,” the attacker muttered, retreating a step.

Su Chen flicked his arm—uninjured, but noting silver fragments from the claw. The weapon enhanced its user’s skill significantly.

“You’re from Pure Land Sect?” Su Chen asked.

“You know the Deaf-Mute Physician. That seals your fate today!” the attacker growled.

Su Chen didn’t reply, launching himself forward like a lightning bolt. The black-cloaked man snarled, meeting him head-on like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Clang after clang—iron palm against unyielding claw.

Though evenly matched initially, the attacker soon sensed a terrifying phenomenon. Su Chen’s Vital Force engulfed him like ocean waves crushing a stream—his energy being overwhelmed and transformed into something equally vast.

“Could this man be a Bone Tempering Realm cultivator?” the attacker realized with dread. How had the Deaf-Mute Physician allied with such a powerhouse?

“You dare lose focus even now?” Su Chen’s palm surged forward, his Vital Force crashing down like a tidal wave.

The impact sent the attacker flying, blood erupting from his mouth. The collision of opposing energies within his body left him reeling in agony.

Pffft!

Though he had managed to suppress the surge of Vital Force within, the Black-Cloaked Men’s aura suddenly weakened. His face turned ghastly pale.

"Huh? Where did he go?"

But before he could dwell on his deteriorating condition, he looked up sharply, his body trembling. A chilling coldness surged from his feet to the crown of his head. His spine shivered uncontrollably, every hair on his body standing on end as if plunged into icy water.

Crack!

With a sharp slap of sound, an Iron Palm slammed down vertically from behind, hammering his skull like a sledgehammer. The impact caved in his head, spilling brains like a ruptured melon.

Blood gushed from the Black-Cloaked Men’s nose, mouth, ears, and eyes—a gruesome sight.

Soon, his breath ceased, his life extinguished.

Su Chen silently watched him collapse, then approached to pat him down.

No money.

No secret manual either.

Frowning, Su Chen reflected: People from the Pure Land Sect shouldn’t be this broke!

After another round of searching, he finally found something tucked inside the man’s belt—a note, not money.

Unfolding it, he read: "Third day, third watch of the dog hour, Qingxi Bamboo Grove."

The first two words indicated the date and time. Qingxi Bamboo Grove was a bamboo forest near Qingxi Town, a place Su Chen had heard of before.

A time and a location—who’s this for? Su Chen mused, his expression deepening. Qingxi Town is under the Xuan Shui Sect’s jurisdiction. If they’re meeting on Xuan Shui’s territory… unless it’s a transaction with someone from Xuan Shui.

The thought led him to a conclusion: "Could Xuan Shui and Pure Land Sect have secret ties?"

The Xuan Shui Sect, revered as the paramount faction in Qinzhou, held unmatched authority. Though Qinzhou officially fell under City Authorities, Xuan Shui’s shadow loomed largest. For the Pure Land Sect to overthrow Qinzhou, toppling Xuan Shui was inevitable—the two sects were bitter rivals.

Now, a Pure Land disciple arranging a meeting on Xuan Shui’s turf? Suspicious indeed.

If my hunch is right, what are they trading? Money? Pills? Vital Energy Pills or Mystic Essence Pills?

Following this thread, Su Chen’s eyes gleamed. Compared to other sects, Xuan Shui’s greatest asset was unquestionably their medicinal pills—especially the acclaimed Vital Energy Pill. Thanks to it, Xuan Shui had practically bound all martial cultivators in Qinzhou to their sect. For Pure Land to need these pills made sense.

"Whether this leads anywhere or not, I’ll find out soon enough", he decided after a pause. The risk was undeniable, but fortune favored the bold. If his suspicions proved true, this could open a vital channel for acquiring Vital Energy Pills and Mystic Essence Pills—too tempting to ignore.

Besides, he was certain the Black-Cloaked Men wouldn’t expose their identities during such a transaction, whether from Xuan Shui or Pure Land. That gave him an opening.

Pocketing the note, he tossed the corpse into a ravine and returned to the city.

Two days later, Su Chen set out early for Qingxi Town.

Revisiting Qingxi, he found it unchanged—bustling as ever. Yu Xian’s death had stirred no ripples here, leaving daily life undisturbed.

This time, Su Chen adopted a rough disguise—an imitation of the Black-Cloaked Men’s appearance, bearing five or six parts resemblance. Just in case things went sideways, he could claim to be a relative, using the facial similarity as proof.

He arrived at the bamboo grove early, waiting as the appointed time neared.

Precisely at the third watch, his contact arrived—punctual and cautious. Cloaked in a heavy robe, face concealed, the figure scanned the area warily.

Spotting Su Chen step forward, the man frowned. "Why are you veiled this time?"

Su Chen’s heart thumped, but his expression remained calm. "Did you bring it?" he countered, avoiding the question.

The figure studied him, taking a step back. "Yes, but not much—only ten pills."

"Ten?" Su Chen feigned displeasure. "Is this a joke?"

The robed man sighed, voice tinged with resignation. "You know Xuan Shui’s cracked down after someone got caught selling Vital Energy Pills. Ten’s a stretch these days."

After a pause, he added, "I’ll make up the rest next month."

Two key clues emerged: their trade was indeed Vital Energy Pills, and transactions occurred monthly.

Su Chen refused. "One month? Too long. If you can’t deliver, don’t waste my time."

The cloaked figure grimaced. "I can’t get more now. What if I bring the rest on the fifteenth? Meet again then?"

Su Chen considered, finally nodding. "Fine. But next time, we move to the woods east of Qingxi. Same hour. And I’ll pay a thousand taels now, the rest when you deliver."

"Can it be fifteen hundred?" the man bargained hesitantly.

Su Chen’s glare silenced him. "A thousand. Take it."

Reluctantly, the man accepted, counting the silver notes Su Chen produced. In exchange, he handed over a medicine pouch.

Su Chen examined the ten Vital Energy Pills inside, pocketing them openly.

"I also need Mystic Essence Pills", he added suddenly. "Can you get those?"

The cloaked man glanced up, surprised. "No. I can only make Vital Energy Pills for now."

Su Chen’s eyes narrowed. So the pills weren’t acquired—they were self-made. "Mystic Essence Pills don’t require the same secrecy", he pressed. "Bring as many as you can. Price is negotiable."

After a pause, the man nodded. "I’ll try."

With that, Su Chen left, though not before hiding nearby to observe his contact.

From the start, the cloaked man had accepted his identity too readily, agreeing to terms without protest—a red flag. The initial question lingered: "Why are you veiled this time?"—sounded less like suspicion than a rehearsed line.

Was that a secret code? Su Chen wondered.

Watching the man depart, he debated following but decided against it. Next time will tell. Let’s play it by ear.

As he left, a homing pigeon soared from the grove, flapping over mountains and rivers to land on a courtyard wall.

Inside, a tall man stormed out, flanked by two subordinates.

"Still no sign of Chang Yuan?" he barked.

The men knelt. "Apologies, Dharma King. Not yet."

"How dare he vanish at a critical moment! Does he want death?" The Dharma King spat. "What are you still kneeling here for? Find him!"

As they fled, he called after them, then paused, staring at a torn note in his hand. His expression hardened briefly before softening.

"Keep searching", he said at last. "Alive or dead—I want answers."

At the Xuan Shui Sect, Duan Feng stirred from sleep, awakened by the pigeon’s coo. Retrieving the message, his face darkened.

"Damned Pure Land Sect", he muttered. "They know he’s an impostor, yet they still want me to lure him out. Do they think I’m their pawn?"

He’d already sent the next meeting details, yet Pure Land still demanded he continue dealings with Su Chen, hoping to trace his allies.

Though Su Chen’s identity remained unclear, anyone daring enough to impersonate Pure Land would have guts—and likely backing. Forcing him to keep trading risked exposure, with Pure Land denying any ties if caught.

"Damn it all", Duan Feng growled. "What a fool I was, getting mixed up with these bastards."

Resentment gnawed at him. Trapped between a sect holding his secrets and another demanding allegiance, he could only comply.

The room fell to a restless silence.

Three days passed for Su Chen uneventfully—same as always. Locked in his home, he studied, brewed medicines, and consumed pills.

Su Chen had completely changed his appearance by the third night, arriving at the meeting place half an hour early. Hidden in the shadows, he silently waited. Whether Duan Feng truly suspected him would soon become clear when the appointed hour arrived.

The crescent moon hung like a silver hook inverted in the heavens, bathing the earth in bright, silvery light that turned night into day. Insects chirped, birds called, and frogs croaked—a chorus of restless nocturnal life. Su Chen blended so seamlessly with the surrounding flora that even his breathing became imperceptibly shallow.

“They’re here!”

His stillness didn’t last long. Tilting his ear slightly, Su Chen caught discordant sounds weaving through the night air. More than one group approached—their footsteps clashed with the natural rhythm of the forest.

Figures darted at the edge of his vision, vanishing into the undergrowth like phantoms.

“So it’s true!”

Su Chen’s expression hardened. Duan Feng hadn’t just uncovered his false identity—he’d orchestrated a trap to expose him.

As the agreed hour arrived, Su Chen shifted focus from the hidden assailants to the tardy Duan Feng. Dressed identically to their last meeting, Duan Feng’s eyes scanned the clearing for him. Observing this, Su Chen withdrew further into concealment.

Nearby, a tall man led his subordinates in silent vigilance. Spotting Duan Feng, the group tensed, their gazes sweeping for Su Chen. After fifteen fruitless minutes of searching, one subordinate growled, “Dharma King, are we sure this isn’t a trick? Let me kill him!”

The tall man silenced him with a glare. Though suspicions stirred, he decided to wait.

Meanwhile, Duan Feng’s anxiety deepened. Had Su Chen detected his ruse? Or was he lurking unseen? The uncertainty gnawed at him.

The only certainty was Pure Land Sect’s presence nearby.

Night thickened. Half an hour became an hour, then two…

Duan Feng eventually settled on a comfortable rock, dozing off while waiting. Not even a shadow of Su Chen appeared. He began questioning whether Su Chen had deliberately misled him to avoid the trade.

How ironic, he fumed. I thought I’d outsmarted him, but now I’m the fool.

Frustrated but bound by Pure Land Sect’s signals, he waited. Su Chen, however, hadn’t anticipated their endurance. After nearly three hours, the sect finally signaled retreat.

At last, Duan Feng departed, lingering only briefly afterward. Su Chen stayed hidden until the last trace of their presence vanished before exhaling in relief. Watching both groups disappear, he turned his focus to Duan Feng’s trail. The Vital Energy Pill still burned in his thoughts.

Before long, he spotted Duan Feng pausing by a roadside rock, gasping for breath.

“He won’t appear tonight,” Duan Feng muttered, resuming his path.

Su Chen’s brow furrowed. This wasn’t the route to Xuan Shui Sect. As they ventured deeper into Qingxi Forest, Duan Feng’s furtive movements briefly made Su Chen wonder if he’d been noticed.

But Duan Feng’s cautious nature soon reignited Su Chen’s curiosity. Where was he heading?

After an hour’s trek, a cave emerged ahead. Familiar with the terrain, Duan Feng navigated its trap-riddled entrance with ease. Su Chen followed, straining to hear inside. Faint, indistinct noises echoed within.

“Out he comes!”

Moments later, Duan Feng exited, grinning as he patted his pockets. This secret hideout safeguarded his illicit alchemy—refusing to share surplus Vital Energy Pills with Xuan Shui Sect.

“Tonight’s delay wouldn’t have happened if not for that brat!” he grumbled, stepping forward.

Suddenly, his face froze. Su Chen stood beside him, lips curled in a smirk.

“You—how are you here?!” Duan Feng stammered, recoiling in terror.

Before he could react, Su Chen’s palm slammed his forehead, knocking him unconscious. Dragging him inside, Su Chen uncovered a buried chest in the cavern’s spacious interior.

Three compartments held treasures: Goldfish, thirty Vital Energy Pills, and ten Mystic Essence Pills. The fourth overflowed with mundane items.

“Ten Mystic Essence Pills, thirty Vital Energy Pills, some goldfish, and junk,” Su Chen mused, grinning. “Worth the trip.”

His smile faded as he stared at Duan Feng. Killing him was necessary. Though Duan Feng could’ve been pressured for future supplies, his betrayal with Pure Land Sect left no choice. Better to eliminate the threat.

With his loot secured, Su Chen departed.

Days later, He Qiu’s search for Su Chen hit a dead end. Even Hong Risheng’s estate yielded nothing. But when Duan Feng’s disappearance reached Xuan Shui Sect, He Qiu sensed a connection.

Investigating Duan Feng’s quarters, he unearthed a ledger implicating him in selling Vital Energy Pills to Pure Land Sect.

“This treachery exceeds Yu Xian’s!” Xuandan Academy’s dean roared. “Seize his family!”

“Duan Feng might’ve fled, fearing Pure Land Sect’s retaliation,” He Qiu cautioned.

When asked about Yu Xian’s case, He Qiu revealed, “Target identified: Su Chen. Possibly linked to Hong Risheng.”

The academy heads exchanged glances. “Proceed,” they ordered.

Three days later, Su Chen ingested a Mystic Essence Pill. His Progress Panel updated, and with Easy Mode activated, he swallowed 300 times to elevate Xuan Yuan Qu to Level Two.

Vital Force surged through his kidneys—a nascent stream compared to Iron Shirt’s torrent. Though weak, this new energy marked a breakthrough.

His eyes gleamed with discovery.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end