Chapter 109: I Had Nothing to Do With This

It did not take long to arrive at the Feng residence. Chen Xiang followed a gatekeeper inside and was led to the main hall.

Inside the hall, besides the two elders from the Li family, Old Madam Feng and the representative from the City Lord’s Mansion were also present. Upon seeing Chen Xiang arrive, they all offered slight smiles, though Old Madam Feng’s expression was forced and clearly lacked enthusiasm, while the man from the City Lord’s Mansion wore a dark, sullen look.

"Haha, Young Friend Chu is truly punctual. Since you have arrived, we are ready to depart," Elder Li said with a hearty laugh. Elder Li Chu also nodded with a smile.

"I shall leave the arrangements to you, seniors!" Chen Xiang replied with impeccable courtesy.

"Hmph, you two old ghosts. Now that the person is here, I should head back. I won't keep you company any longer," the man from the City Lord’s Mansion grunted. With that, he rose into the air and vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Elder Li called out toward the distance, "Many thanks!" But there was no response.

Chen Xiang felt a sense of intrigue but chose not to ask. Elder Li did not intend to explain either; he looked at Chen Xiang, his lips parting as if to speak, but he stopped himself. Chen Xiang found this curious, but after a moment’s thought, he realized what the elder was thinking. He asked "sensibly," "Elder Li, is there something you need my help with? If there is any way I can be of service, please do not hesitate to command me."

Hearing this, the smile on Elder Li’s face deepened. "Young Friend Chu is truly perceptive. I do indeed have a matter that requires your assistance."

"Oh? Please, go ahead," Chen Xiang said, striking a pose of rapt attention.

Elder Li exchanged a glance with Li Chu, then nodded and said, "To be honest, Young Friend Chu, do you still have any Vitality Spring Water on you? I will not hide it from you: someone in our Li family has a desperate need for life-essence treasures recently. We are in great need of this spring water. But rest assured, if you can provide another portion, I will report it to the Clan Head, and you shall receive even greater rewards!"

Elder Li began by asking, but finished by asserting that Chen Xiang possessed more. This was because, just yesterday, Chen Xiang had not yet handed over the half-bottle of lower-concentration "Vitality Spring Water" he had kept.

Chen Xiang cursed the old fox silently, but on the surface, he smiled and produced the half-bottle. After all, it was merely a product of Vitality Essence Liquid diluted over and over; it was useless to him.

"What are you saying, Elder Li? From now on, I am a member of the Li family. If the Li family has a need, I will naturally spare no effort!" Chen Xiang said with a smile, handing over the spring water.

Elder Li reached out to take the jade bottle, his smile widening. He laughed, "Haha, I was right about you! The Fourth Elder has recruited a fine guest elder for our Li family! Do not worry, young friend, I will certainly fight for your benefits within the family!"

Outsiders who joined a family served as guest elders. They were typically provided with resources in exchange for their full cooperation when the family required help. However, they were never granted access to the family’s core secrets, much like the outer disciples of a sect, though with slightly better standing.

"Then I thank you, Elder Li," Chen Xiang accepted gracefully.

Under the ravenous gaze of Old Madam Feng, Elder Li calmly tucked away the jade bottle and said to her, "Fellow Daoist Feng, I will report the conditions we agreed upon last night to our Clan Head, and we will stand by the Feng family’s side and assist you as much as possible."

"Many thanks to both elders. From now on, my Feng family will also do our best to support you both," Old Madam Feng replied, her lips twitching as she answered with forced politeness.

The two elders nodded and turned to Chen Xiang. "Very well, Young Friend Chu, let us be off!" Chen Xiang nodded, and together with the two elders, he took to the sky, departing the Feng residence.

***

"Hmm? Why is the city so quiet today?" Chen Xiang asked, puzzled.

When he arrived in Biyun City yesterday, the streets were filled with vendors, shoppers, and a bustling, lively atmosphere, with cultivators rarely seen. Today, however, not a single mortal was to be seen. Instead, hundreds of cultivators were darting about the streets, wearing various attires and holding beads, as if searching for something.

"Young Friend Chu is unaware? Perhaps it is because you were out of the city yesterday. Someone killed the Young Sect Master of the Kunshan Sect along with his five Golden Core guards. When the Sect Master saw the soul tablets shatter, he mobilized the entire sect and several neighboring sects to hunt for the culprit," Elder Li explained.

"So that’s it," Chen Xiang realized, though he sneered inwardly.

It was not just the Young Sect Master who had died; their Great Elder had perished as well. The fact that this news had not been leaked was likely out of fear that it would invite trouble—after all, with such a significant reduction in their primary combat power, others would inevitably harbor ulterior motives.

"That Kunshan Sect Master is currently at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage. With his long remaining lifespan, it is very likely that he will survive the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation and break through to the Spirit Severing stage in his lifetime!" Elder Li sighed with envy, casting a meaningful glance at Chen Xiang.

Chen Xiang: "..."

"Elder, what is that look for? I didn't do it! I only met that Young Sect Master once, and I even spoke to him quite humbly!" Chen Xiang said, brazenly lying.

The two elders’ lips twitched. Humbly spoke for a while? Humbly, my foot! You called him "little fatty" at every turn. That narrow-minded little fatty would surely have come after you, and he was last seen following right behind you—don't think we didn't see that!

"Er, Young Friend Chu is right. I am not doubting you; I simply wanted to remind you, given that you had contact with their Young Sect Master yesterday. Ahem, enough of that, let us hurry," Elder Li, feeling he could no longer keep up the pretense, urged them to leave.

Meanwhile, the cultivators searching for the culprit had no idea that their target had long since left Biyun City.

Inside the City Lord’s Mansion, the man who had attended Old Madam Feng’s birthday banquet appeared before a main hall. He commanded a guard, "Go and report to the City Lord; I have a matter of great importance to relay!"

"Understood, Elder Pang!" the guard replied before turning into the hall.

Moments later, the guard returned. "Elder Pang, the City Lord is waiting for you in the study!"

Elder Pang nodded and entered the hall. In the study, a middle-aged man with the air of a scholar was holding a book. Sensing someone approach, he closed the book, looked up, and asked, "Elder Pang, what is the matter with your trip?"

"City Lord, Vitality Spring Water appeared at the banquet. All in all, there was about a small bottle’s worth, and it has fallen into the hands of the Li family," Elder Pang said.

"Oh? Vitality Spring Water?" The City Lord looked surprised, then chuckled. "Haha, Li Qingcang, oh Li Qingcang, I never expected that in your twilight years, such a life-extending treasure would appear. Heaven is truly being kind to you!"

"City Lord, do we need to take any action?" Elder Pang asked.

The City Lord waved his hand. "No. Not long ago, instructions came from above forbidding us from interfering in the affairs of the various factions for the time being."

"Besides..." the City Lord changed his tone, "there is a faint rumor from above that a mysterious power will soon target the Li family, which is why we are not to intervene in the disputes between the factions!"

"A mysterious power?" Elder Pang asked, confused.

"Yes. You may leave for now; you need not take on any more missions in the near future," the City Lord said.

"Understood!" Elder Pang bowed respectfully and retreated from the hall.

The City Lord stood up, formed a hand seal, and a streak of light shot out of the hall and vanished. Then, as if nothing had happened, he picked up his book and continued reading.

"To be continued..."