Rarely Playing the Fool

The fight inside the dimly lit room concluded in the blink of an eye. It wasn't that the two combatants were weak, but rather that one party had planned meticulously while the other was caught off guard.

More importantly, the attackers didn't dare cause too much of a commotion. After all, this was the sect's territory, and Lin Chang'an's earlier transformation into Elder Lu had indeed startled them.

Lin Chang'an examined the long saber in his hand, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the characters 'Cold Moon' carved on the hilt.

"A mid-grade magic item, yet it easily shattered my mana shield just now!" Lin Chang'an brought the saber to his nose and sniffed, a smile spreading across his face.

"Heh, so it was infused with essence of purple copper. No wonder it could break through my mana shield so easily."

Having discovered the reason, Lin Chang'an seemed lost in thought. Despite the biting cold wind howling into the room through the open doorway, his face was wreathed in smiles.

Purple copper was a precious material for refining artifacts. Infusing a magic item with a certain amount of essence of purple copper not only increased its resilience but also gave it a degree of mana-breaking effect.

It was early morning, long before dawn. Disciples of the sect stood guard outside Lin Chang'an's courtyard, while an oppressive atmosphere permeated the frigid room.

"Senior Brother, who were these two? I don't recognize them, but they tried to murder me last night. If only I hadn't been so cautious!"

Lin Chang'an appeared weak, with several fresh wounds on his arms and body, recounting the assassination attempt with a look of lingering terror.

However, Zhang Qing's face was grim as he looked at the two corpses, their features unrecognizable after being burned by the Fireball Technique.

"Junior Brother!"

Zhang Qing started to speak, but Lin Chang'an tightly gripped the saber in his hand. "Senior Brother, this magic item almost cost me my life. If I hadn't been a bit more wary..."

Although Lin Chang'an put on a show of being shaken, Zhang Qing knew better. Looking at the Cold Moon saber and Lin Chang'an's pale, weak appearance, he wanted to say something but ultimately held his tongue.

"I will personally report this matter to Elder Lu. Please stay put, Junior Brother, and do not leave your residence."

As he spoke, Zhang Qing's gaze fell upon the saber Lin Chang'an was clutching, causing his expression to twitch.

"Junior Brother, I will ensure you receive a satisfactory explanation for this matter."

After receiving Zhang Qing's assurance, Lin Chang'an's face finally broke into a smile. He nodded, "Senior Brother, I'm worried. Could you perhaps send Li Han and Qi Feng to protect me?"

"Alright!"

Zhang Qing said nothing, but his suppressed anger was evident. He turned and ordered someone to take the two corpses to Elder Lu, while also secretly instructing his subordinate to set up guards around the courtyard before leaving.

After Zhang Qing departed, the look of shock vanished from Lin Chang'an's face, replaced by a smirk.

"Presumptuous! Utterly presumptuous!"

When Zhang Qing arrived at Elder Lu's residence with the two corpses, Elder Lu's face was ashen. He slammed his fist on the table with unprecedented fury.

"Have we only had a few days of peace!"

Looking at the enraged Elder Lu, Zhang Qing sighed and shook his head. "Elder Lu, the Cold Moon saber is too obvious. A little inquiry would reveal that it was the work of the Third Brother and his associates."

Hearing Zhang Qing's words, Elder Lu let out an angry laugh. "It seems some people's incorrigible nature cannot be changed. Or perhaps I've been too lenient these past few years, making these brats in the sect forget where they are!"

"The sect has shed so much blood and paid so much to achieve its current foundation. Anyone who dares to obstruct the sect's grand plan will learn the meaning of a fate worse than death!"

"Elder Lu, please calm your anger!" Although Elder Lu was smiling, the cold glint in his eyes conjured images of terror in Zhang Qing's mind, and he quickly lowered his head.

However, Elder Lu was not one for pleasantries. Glancing at the two corpses in the room, without any sign of disgust, he cruelly ordered, "Turn them into blood corpses for me and chain them outside the courtyard."

"Also, round up the families and relatives of these two useless individuals. Bring them all to the sect, regardless of whether they have spiritual roots or talent!"

Zhang Qing dared not let Elder Lu continue and quickly clasped his fists in a plea. "Elder Lu, you watched them grow up, and they've shed blood for the sect."

However, facing Zhang Qing's plea, Elder Lu looked at him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, making Zhang Qing's scalp tingle.

"Never mind that they've shed blood for the sect. Even if it were my own son, if he dared to disrupt the sect's thousand-year plan, I would show no mercy."

His words were decisive and left no room for doubt. He had reached this point in the sect's transformation and would not allow anyone to disrupt it.

In the silent room, after a long pause, Elder Lu finally let out a soft sigh.

"Lin Chang'an is the smart one, unlike these fools!" He said, casting a look of disgust at the two corpses.

Zhang Qing chuckled obsequiously. "Who could say otherwise? That kid is too cunning. Elder Lu, you wouldn't believe it, but when I arrived, he was clutching the Cold Moon saber, talking about how he was almost assassinated and didn't even look at the corpses. He clearly guessed something."

"Nonsense! At his age, he's had to fend for himself in the cultivation world. If he were a lamb, he'd have been devoured with nothing left but bones." Elder Lu snorted impatiently.

"To arrive here undetected and infiltrate his home so stealthily, coupled with the Cold Moon saber... who else could it be but one of our own!"

Zhang Qing let out a wry smile. "Elder Lu, the state Lin Chang'an was in when I arrived, and the injuries he sustained... if we don't offer him some compensation, he might hold a grudge."

"A grudge!" Elder Lu's displeased expression softened slightly at the thought of Lin Chang'an. He said in a deep voice, "Then we won't give that kid any reason to resent us."

"Hand over the families of these two traitors to him for disposal. And you will personally deliver more spirit stones and elixirs..."

Zhang Qing listened with growing envy. Elder Lu noticed his sentiment and added meaningfully, "An Alchemist with such potential is worth the sect making such an effort."

While Elder Lu and Zhang Qing were discussing how to compensate Lin Chang'an and handle the aftermath, Lin Chang'an's residence was bustling with activity.

The traces of destruction were no longer visible. A wine table was laden with a lavish spread of food and drink.

"Brother Lin, you're saying this was done by our people?"

Lin Chang'an, at the wine table, no longer looked pale and weak. Instead, he nodded with a light laugh.

Li Han couldn't help but frown and say solemnly, "Brother Lin has been quite the talk of the town recently. First, he was taken in as a disciple by Elder Lu, and now this position. Many disciples who grew up in the sect have been discussing it privately."

"Coupled with Brother Lin's identity as an Alchemist, many are envious. They probably want your wealth."

Li Han's analysis was not wrong. Qi Feng, standing beside them, also nodded. However, Lin Chang'an slammed the table fiercely and looked at the two of them, saying angrily, "No! This was an assassination by outsiders. It must be enemies who are at odds with the sect."

With Lin Chang'an's firm tone, Li Han and Qi Feng were suddenly enlightened and both revealed looks of anger.

"That's right, it must be enemies who want to harm the sect."

At this point, even if they were foolish, they understood that this matter could not be investigated further. After all, who did they really think they were? If they insisted on pursuing it, it would make everyone look bad.

In the end, they would be the ones to suffer. It was better to stick to their story that it was an assassination by the sect's enemies and perhaps even gain some benefits.

Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your support.