Chapter 129: Kill with Borrowed Blade, Marital Alliance, Bone Tempering Tier: Thick Earth Foundation

Chapter 129: Kill with Borrowed Blade, Marital Alliance, Bone Tempering Tier: Thick Earth Foundation

"Do you believe it?"

"I don't."

This was precisely the crowd's sentiment.

If someone else had made the claim, they might have entertained it. But coming from the man who had just slain two of the Four Academy Heads and left the other two wounded—Hong Jinchen—its credibility plummeted.

Hong Jinchen sensed their skepticism and cleared his throat. "I have two methods—one overt, one covert—to resolve this swiftly."

"Which two?" Sect Master Hong Jingrui ignored Hong Jinchen's previous remark entirely, offering him an out.

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Hong Jinchen.

He cleared his throat again. "First: deploy the Shadow Assassin. We now understand Su Chen's tactics. Leak his information to the Shadow Assassin, and someone will act."

"The second?" pressed Hong Tao.

"More complex, but advantageous to our Hong Clan: kill with borrowed blade."

"What do you mean?"

"Shift the calamity eastward", Hong Jinchen explained. "A Chu Clan expert will soon arrive in Big Feng City. We'll blame Su Chen for the Twin Beauties' deaths and let the Chu Clan deal with him."

"Brilliant!" Xuan Courtyard's Hong Lang clapped approvingly.

Hong Jinchen's plan would not only deflect suspicion from the Hong Clan but also eliminate Su Chen—killing two birds with one stone. Even Sect Master Hong Jingrui gave a subtle nod, his thoughts aligning with the strategy.

Though the Chu Clan had helped eliminate the Hex Union, lingering doubts remained. Blaming Su Chen would erase surface-level suspicion and prevent retaliation.

"Proceed as you suggest", Hong Jingrui decided. "Handle it yourself."

Meanwhile, in the Black Market, a gray-cloaked man approached a wordless signboard shop. He scrawled his request on paper and handed it to an attendant, who stiffened after reading it.

"This information costs a thousand taels, but be warned—it's unverified", the attendant said.

"Fine. Just give me everything", the gray-cloaked man rasped, paying the sum.

The attendant handed him a notebook. As the man flipped through it, his eyes turned icy, making the attendant shiver. With a flick of his wrist, he shredded the notebook and vanished into the night.

By dawn, the gray-cloaked man had reached Big Feng City. Using a Fragrance Lure Insect, he tracked Madam Qi's group to a derelict manor, only to find the trail cold.

"Late again", he muttered, his expression unchanged. He turned toward Xuan Shui Sect. "Looks like I’ll have to visit them next."

At noon, Hong Jinchen greeted a group at the sect's gates, finding Chu Qing among them.

"Chu Qing, welcome! Forgive our lack of preparation", Hong Jinchen bowed.

Clad in crimson Chu Clan robes embroidered with three Fire Lotus blooms, Chu Qing replied curtly, "No matter."

Hong Jinchen's smile tightened. "Please, join us inside."

As Chu Qing entered, news spread: the Chu Clan's arrival unsettled the sect. Though expected, his presence felt ominous.

In the reception hall, Hong Jinchen ordered tea before Chu Qing cut to the chase. "Surely the Hong Clan knows why I’ve come. Let’s speak plainly."

"Of course", Hong Jinchen said, signaling a disciple to deliver a dossier. "This man—Su Chen—is our culprit."

Chu Qing skimmed the pages, his skepticism evident. "The Hong Clan expects me to believe a nobody killed the Twin Beauties?"

Hong Jinchen's smile faded. "Read further."

Chu Qing's eyes narrowed as he read. "This one killed Hong Qi?"

Hong Qi's reputation preceded him—even the Chu Clan knew his name. A prodigy rivaling their own "Hidden Dragons", fallen to Su Chen?

"The Hong Clan mobilized entirely, turning Big Feng City upside down to find him", Hong Jinchen continued. "Hong Qi confronted him, but Su Chen slaughtered our disciples. We lost many. Regrettably, he vanished after Hong Qi's death."

Hong Jinchen's voice trembled with feigned grief. The truth—Hong Qi's demise was irrecoverable—so why not weaponize it? Every detail had been prepped for this moment.

Chu Qing's expression darkened. "I apologize, Jinchen. I doubted your sincerity."

Hong Jinchen chuckled. "No offense taken. We all act for our families."

Chu Qing requested the dossier, which Hong Jinchen handed over without hesitation. After a brief farewell, Chu Qing departed.

"Hmph. Just as rumored—Chu Qing's paranoia knows no bounds", Hong Jinchen mused after he left.

Chu Qing's refusal to stay at Xuan Shui Sect confirmed lingering suspicions. But evidence now pointed irrefutably to Su Chen.

No matter how Chu Qing investigated, the trail led only to a dead end.

Click-clack.

“Master Li, these are the medical tomes our young master sent for you.”

A servant’s voice came from outside the door as attendants carried in a wooden chest.

Since Su Chen had agreed to collaborate with Qiao Qiliang, the latter had relocated him to a private courtyard for “convenience in communication.” Su Chen had hesitated briefly but accepted, adding a few requests:

First, to gather medical tomes related to toxic arts.
Second, to collect various sword manuals.
Third, to supply him with Mystic Essence Pills and Vital Energy Pills at market price, with no quantity limits.

Su Chen had even offered Qiao Qiliang the chance to propose three counter-demands in return, promising compliance as long as rewards were sufficient. Naturally, Qiao Qiliang had agreed without hesitation.

Soon, Su Chen was settled in a lavish villa staffed with 36 doting maids and 72 burly attendants.

“Master Li, these are the first batch,” the servant said, opening the chest to reveal neatly stacked books. “The young master said more will arrive in a few days—these are for you to start with.”

Su Chen had adopted the alias Li Xunhuan at Qiao Qiliang’s suggestion, hence the title.

Su Chen nodded, tossing the servant a few silver taels. The man waved it away, flustered.

“Take it!” Su Chen thrust the coins into their hands before eagerly flipping open a tome.

“Thank you for your generosity,” the attendants bowed out.

Left alone, Su Chen dragged the chest to a stone table and slumped into a rattan chair. Moments later, maids swarmed him—offering grapes, bananas, tea, even feeding him by hand.

Eventually, overwhelmed by their fussing, he snapped, “Leave me to study!” The maids retreated, giggling.

By dusk, Su Chen stretched lazily. Three books devoured in an afternoon. The secrets of toxins unfolded like a new world, intoxicating and endless.

“Time for dinner, Master.” A maid whispered.

A dozen servants filed in, setting the table with opulent dishes. Su Chen sighed, admiring the feast: Wealth has its perks.

After dining, he resumed reading.

Shuffle-shuffle.

“You’re here—why not step in?” Su Chen murmured without glancing up.

A shadow materialized at the door, composed and unflustered. The visitor strode in, his uniform bearing the emblem Su Chen recognized from Madam Qi’s faction.

Chu Clan!

Chu Qing studied Su Chen, surprised by his youth. “I have a question.”

“Ask.”

“Hong Clan claims you killed one of ours. Any defense?”

“Would it matter if I didn’t?”

“Depends on my mood. A bad mood might end you.”

“And if you’re in a good one?”

Chu Qing redirected, “Join the Chu Clan. Your talent would earn elite cultivation resources and prestige.”

He paused, his tone softening. “Though you’re an outsider, your… appearance could secure a marital alliance, fast-tracking you to our core leadership.”

Core members wielded immense power. Reaching the Blood Shifting Realm, coupled with loyalty and a strategic marriage, could elevate him indefinitely. The Chu Clan prized prodigies.

“With us, the Hong Clan dares nothing—even if you killed Hong Jingrui,” Chu Qing added, sensing hesitation.

Su Chen shook his head. No interest in groveling to aristocratic cliques. He’d slain a Chu, and betrayal would be inevitable once discovered.

“A shame,” Chu Qing sighed. Su Chen braced for an attack, but Chu Qing merely opened the door and left.

Later, pacing the streets, Chu Qing mused. Killing Su Chen had seemed pragmatic, but sparing him might amuse Hong Clan rivals. Let him survive a while longer.

Three days passed uneventfully.

Now, swallowing his last Vital Energy Pill, Su Chen’s Progress Panel flickered:

[Easy Mode Activated: Stand for 50 minutes to advance Thick-Earth Manual to Layer 4.]

When the time elapsed, his spleen trembled.

Layer 4!

The Thick-Earth Manual now ranked second in vitalizing his viscera—only Iron Shirt’s Bone Tempering surpassed it.

His gaze lingered on the Progress Panel. Four layers total, maxing at Bone Tempering’s peak. Fire Cloud Transformation and No Disturbance Manual shared the same limit. Xuan Yuan Qu could reach Blood Shifting, but he only possessed Bone Tempering fragments. Iron Shirt remained his sole path forward.

Will fusion techniques work again? If not… Finding Blood Shifting techniques would be a nightmare.

“Master, your bed’s warmed,” a maid called.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end