Li San's Fear! Willow Ditch Village!

Who knew what strange supernatural powers those Filthy Things possessed?

The mere ability to drive humans into a crazed state of self-torment was enough to make Lu Xuan's heart tremble with fear.

Had Lu Xuan not acquired the Crimson Flame Blade Art and greatly increased his strength,

and had Yin Energy not been so useful to him, he would not have dared set his sights on those Filthy Things.

The next moment, Lu Xuan suddenly felt an intense hunger.

With practiced ease, Lu Xuan reached to the side and grabbed a small Wooden Box resting on the ground beside him.

He gently opened the Wooden Box, revealing a blood-red object inside.

This was a great supplement Lu Xuan had prepared in advance. Every time his realm improved, he needed to replenish a vast amount of flesh and blood nutrients.

It was something resembling ginseng, as large as Lu Xuan's palm.

Had anyone else been present, they would have recognized at a glance just how precious it was.

Blood Ginseng!

This Great Supplement Medicine was worth more than a hundred taels on the market. It was also a rare medicinal herb that could not be bought even with money.

One tael of silver was enough for an ordinary commoner to live on for half a year.

That was why Lu Xuan's expenses were so immense.

A single use cost over a hundred taels of silver. If the Lu Family had not run medicine shops, Lu Xuan would have long since eaten them out of house and home.

That was why, after learning of Yin Energy's effects, Lu Xuan had displayed such an urgent craving for it.

In an instant, Lu Xuan did not hesitate in the slightest. He grabbed it and tossed it straight into his mouth.

Just like that, the costly Blood Ginseng, containing an immense amount of nourishment, was crazily absorbed by Lu Xuan's body, and his hunger vanished along with it.

Three days later!

After the Lu Family had finished handling Lu Yun'an's funeral arrangements, Lu Xuan had also completely mastered the Crimson Flame Blade Art in his own courtyard.

Lu Family Hall!

Lu Xuan sat in the seat of honor at the front, his eyes closed as he rested his mind, as though waiting for something.

Only when a figure appeared outside the hall and cautiously walked in with a meek and humble demeanor did he open his eyes.

The newcomer was a somewhat gaunt man. When he saw Lu Xuan resting with his eyes closed in the seat of honor,

he immediately showed great reverence, cupped his hands, bowed, and said, "Young Master, I am Li San. What did you summon me for?"

Over these three days, Lu Xuan had not merely practiced his Blade Technique. He had also investigated everyone who had gone to Ping'an Township that day.

"Li San, I summoned you because of my cousin Yun'an."

The moment Lu Xuan said this, Li San's face immediately went pale. As though recalling something terrifying, his body trembled, and he looked utterly frightened.

"Young Master, I did not know Young Master Yun'an would suffer such a thing that night. I was careless for a moment and failed to notice in time."

Li San had been one of the guards on night watch that day, specifically assigned to guard Lu Yun'an's room.

Therefore, he was certainly the person who knew the most about what had happened that night.

That was why Lu Xuan had summoned Li San alone today.

"Speak. Tell me what happened that night. Tell me everything you know."

Li San raised his head and saw that Lu Xuan still looked as calm as an ancient well, utterly composed. Only then did he relax his tightly wound nerves.

He had thought the Young Master had summoned him today to blame him for failing to protect Young Master Yun'an.

After all, the Master and Second Master had already questioned Li San thoroughly, and he had told them everything he knew.

By all rights, the Young Master should have known as well.

"Yes, Young Master!"

"That night, Young Master Yun'an got up in the middle of the night to relieve himself."

"Since we were in an unfamiliar village, I was worried about Young Master Yun'an, so I woke the others in the room and had them accompany him."

"Then, after a full hour had passed, I realized that Young Master Yun'an and the others had not returned."

"I was about to go out and look for them when, unexpectedly, Young Master Yun'an and the others returned. So I did not think much of it."

"Hm?"

Lu Xuan suddenly fixed his gaze on Li San. His calm eyes made every hair on Li San's body stand on end.

"You said Yun'an and the others went outside to relieve themselves and were gone for an hour?"

"Y-yes, Young Master."

Under Lu Xuan's stare, Li San grew afraid, even beginning to stammer.

"When they returned, did you notice anything unusual about them?"

"Unusual?"

Li San hesitated at Lu Xuan's question, then carefully recalled the moment Young Master Yun'an and the others had returned.

"If there was anything unusual, then when Young Master Yun'an and the others passed by me, I seemed to feel a trace of chill."

"And they did not greet me either. They just walked straight into the room."

"Then they lay down directly on the beds. They did not even close the door—I was the one who closed it for them."

"This..."

As Li San spoke, he suddenly stopped. His face turned deathly pale.

He was not an idiot. He seemed to have realized what had happened to Young Master Yun'an.

Didn't they run into one of those Filthy Things?

"Young Master, could it be that kind of..."

Lu Xuan directly interrupted what Li San was about to say, then continued asking, "Enough. Do you still remember where that village was?"

Li San answered without hesitation. That village had been carved into his heart—how could he possibly not remember it?

"I remember. That village is called Willow Ditch Village. It is not far from the Official Road, and it has always been one of the villages where the Lu Family purchased medicinal herbs."

"Willow Ditch Village?"

Having received his answer, Lu Xuan pondered for a moment, then looked at Li San, who was still terrified.

"Very good. Go make preparations. Tomorrow, you will leave the County Town with me for Willow Ditch Village."

"Ah!"

"Th-this..."

"Young Master, you are going to Willow Ditch Village?"

Li San was thrown into complete panic by Lu Xuan's words, seemingly even more frightened than before.

What had he just heard?

The Young Master was actually leaving the County Town.

Li San remembered clearly that ever since he had come to the Lu Family as a guard, through ten whole years of service, he had never once seen Lu Xuan leave the County Town.

The Young Master had always kept a low profile and trained bitterly in Blade Technique within his courtyard. This was something everyone in the Lu Family knew.

Yet today, Li San had heard his Young Master say that he was leaving the County Town—and heading for that Willow Ditch Village that filled him with fear.

Ever since what had happened to Young Master Yun'an, the Master had issued an order.

All ties with Willow Ditch Village were to be cut off. They would no longer purchase medicinal herbs from there.

Li San agreed with that order with both hands and both feet raised. He would rather be beaten to death than return to that terrifying village.

Whenever he thought of what had happened that night, Li San's heart quaked with fear. He was even frequently jolted awake by nightmares.