Chapter 65: Thirty-Year Ginseng, Phantom's Labyrinth

Chapter 65: Thirty-Year Ginseng, Phantom’s Labyrinth

“Master, we have guests.”

The quiet room was interrupted by a servant’s voice from outside. Zhang Hong composed himself and said to Li Mo, “Li Mo, if you have matters to attend to, go ahead.”

Li Mo nodded. Lately, both he and Zhang Hong had been consumed by preparations.

Following the servant out of the courtyard, he immediately spotted Su Chen seated in the Grand Hall sipping tea. Su Chen noticed him too, rising with a smile.

They exchanged greetings, and Su Chen handed over his wedding gift. Li Mo accepted it with a hearty pat on Su Chen’s shoulder, laughing, “I thought you’d forgotten!”

The other disciples had sent their gifts earlier, but Su Chen had been the last to arrive. Li Mo wasn’t worried about the gift itself—he knew Su Chen wouldn’t forget his wedding—but rather that Su Chen might overlook the event entirely.

Su Chen chuckled awkwardly. “How could I forget my senior brother’s wedding?”

Li Mo burst into laughter, then chatted with Su Chen for a while.

“By the way, senior,” Su Chen suddenly asked, “why are there so many guards patrolling the courtyard?”

As he’d entered Zhang Manor, he’d sensed an unusual tension—not the joyous atmosphere of an impending wedding, but something far more guarded.

Li Mo didn’t hide the truth. “It’s because of the Skyborne Phantom. My future father-in-law’s family is in an uproar over it. But if that phantom dares show up, I’ll make sure he regrets it.”

A simple wedding had been thrown into chaos by a single letter from the Skyborne Phantom. Li Mo’s voice brimmed with resentment, already plotting revenge for the coming night.

“Need help?” Su Chen hesitated before asking.

“Such a trivial matter doesn’t require my junior brother’s involvement,” Li Mo waved him off with a smirk. “No matter how legendary this Skyborne Phantom is, can he truly vanish into thin air? I’ve already had my future father-in-law hide the ginseng. Even if he has divine skills, he won’t find it.”

“Senior brother, is the Skyborne Phantom really that formidable?” Su Chen asked.

Li Mo shook his head, repeating what Zhang Hong had told him. In his view, these were all exaggerated rumors. How could anyone steal treasures without a trace?

Su Chen asked a few more questions, and Li Mo answered them all.

Noticing Su Chen’s curiosity, Li Mo teased, “If you’re so interested, come watch tomorrow night. You might even see me catch him!”

Su Chen pondered, then nodded. “As you say, senior brother.”

Seeing Su Chen’s serious expression, Li Mo chuckled but didn’t press further. After a while, he excused himself to attend to other matters. Su Chen declined his offer to see him out and left Zhang Manor.

The next evening, Su Chen arrived as promised. The manor’s security had been tightened further.

“Father-in-law, this is my junior brother, Su Chen,” Li Mo introduced him to Zhang Hong.

Zhang Hong forced a smile. “Ah, the famous Su Chen I’ve heard so much about. Thank you for coming.”

“The honor is mine,” Su Chen replied politely.

After brief greetings, Zhang Hong and Li Mo hurried off to prepare.

Su Chen remained in the Grand Hall, seated quietly among unfamiliar faces—mercenaries and martial cultivators Zhang Hong had hired for protection.

He glanced around, then turned his attention to the courtyard. Zhang Hong was issuing orders to guards in the front, while Li Mo did the same in the Courtyard of Shadows.

Soon, both men returned to the Grand Hall, where the crowd stood respectfully.

“Thank you all for coming,” Zhang Hong said, bowing. “Protect the ginseng tonight, and your rewards will be generous.”

The room erupted in cheerful agreement.

Su Chen noticed that despite the Skyborne Phantom’s threat, the ginseng wasn’t hidden. It sat openly in a box in the Grand Hall, guarded by the assembled cultivators.

Li Mo leaned close to Su Chen, smirking, “We’re baiting him. This way, we can catch him red-handed.”

“Won’t this be too obvious?” Su Chen asked.

Li Mo shook his head. “With so many eyes watching, what could possibly go wrong?”

Su Chen thought, Here we go.

“Still,” Li Mo added, “you might waste a whole night here. If you’re busy, go ahead and leave.”

Su Chen refused. “No, I’ve come this far. I’d regret missing the Skyborne Phantom’s grand entrance.”

Li Mo smiled, touched by the gesture.

Time dragged on. The courtyard and Grand Hall remained eerily silent. The Skyborne Phantom had promised to come but gave no time. Zhang Hong could only keep everyone waiting.

To pass the time, servants brought fruits and sweets for the guests.

Suddenly, a gust of wind howled through the entrance, extinguishing the candles. Shadows danced wildly.

Everyone tensed, scanning the darkness. When nothing happened, they relaxed—until Su Chen’s eyes narrowed.

Something’s wrong.

Before he could speak, sharp whistling sounds pierced the air.

“Stop him!”

The Grand Hall plunged into pitch blackness.

A faint rustle of movement caught Su Chen’s ear. He lunged, hand snapping out—tear! A piece of torn cloth remained in his grip.

The intruder vanished like smoke. Even Su Chen, straining his senses, only heard the sound, never seeing the figure.

“Catch him!” Zhang Hong screamed, panic cracking his voice. Guards flooded in.

When the candles relit, Zhang Hong stared at the empty box, his face ashen.

“The ginseng… it’s gone!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end