Discontent

"Drink! All of you, drink!"

Inside a Wine House, Pu Liao was exchanging cups with several others, looking exceedingly pleased with himself.

"It's getting late, and the owner will be closing soon. Shall we call it a day?" one of the guards asked with a laugh.

"We haven't even finished the wine. What closing?" Pu Liao turned his head and spat a thick wad of phlegm onto the floor.

The guards exchanged glances, and someone secretly curled his lip. Though Pu Liao was now injured and crippled in the legs, the Zhang Family had not cast him aside after the millstone had done its work. They had instead kept him at Qingzheng Medical Hall.

But with his leg broken, Pu Liao would be like this for the rest of his life. Though he was still their leader, his former prestige had greatly faded.

A full half hour passed before Pu Liao had eaten and drunk his fill. Alone, trembling and limping, he made his way toward his residence.

It was deep into the night, and there were no pedestrians left in the county. Pu Liao was not afraid. He even hummed a few lines aloud.

For the past few days, he had been in an excellent mood. Even dragging an injured leg could not conceal it. These drinking feasts had already continued for several days.

Creak!

The old door groaned as it was pushed open. Pu Liao entered, locked the door, and lit a candle. Just as he was about to take a sip of the tea on the table, he suddenly caught sight of someone sitting upright in the corner.

Pu Liao's drunkenness was instantly scared away. Cold sweat broke out all over him as he gripped the longsword in his hand and stared carefully at the shadowed figure. It was Chen Fei.

"Why are you in my house!"

Pu Liao was horrified, but he forced himself to remain calm as he shouted at Chen Fei. His eyes darted from side to side, searching for a way out.

Since Chen Fei had suddenly appeared here, the assassination had likely failed. Chen Fei was clearly only in the Skin Tempering Realm. How had he come through completely unscathed?

Pu Liao could not understand what had happened. For now, he had to stabilize Chen Fei first.

"Why did you send people to kill me? When we ran into those mountain bandits, I was the one who carried you back." Chen Fei looked at Pu Liao expressionlessly. This was what Chen Fei had never been able to figure out.

If there had been any grudge between them, the biggest one was the matter of Pu Liao teaching him the cultivation technique back then. Could it be that, over something so minor, Pu Liao had wanted him dead?

"When did I ever send anyone to kill you!"

Pu Liao wore a bewildered expression as he looked at Chen Fei. "Who is framing me? This is utter slander, splashing blood in my face!"

"Your emotions are far too different from usual. So it really was you!"

Holding his longsword, Chen Fei began walking toward Pu Liao step by step. Since he could not get an answer, Chen Fei simply stopped asking. In this world, many things did not need much reason to begin with.

"It has nothing to do with me! Even if you want to kill me, you can't use such a clumsy excuse!"

Seeing Chen Fei approach, Pu Liao panicked and roared, "When I taught you the cultivation technique, I deliberately made things difficult for you. I was indeed at fault. I can apologize to you, and tomorrow, I can set several tables at Yanfei Tower and admit my mistake before everyone."

Pu Liao shouted as he backed away.

"No need." Chen Fei shook his head.

"If the Zhang Family finds out I was killed, they will certainly investigate thoroughly. Everything requires evidence. If you have proof that I sent people to kill you, then even in death, I would have no grievance. But if you casually find some pretext to kill me today, I refuse to accept it!" Pu Liao shouted in terror.

Chen Fei stopped walking. Seeing this, Pu Liao let out a slight breath of relief. Just as he was about to speak, a cold gleam flashed through the dim room.

Pu Liao's body suddenly stiffened. A line of blood appeared on his forehead as his eyes fixed on Chen Fei. He had thought he had steadied Chen Fei and could escape this calamity.

"With me, evidence isn't needed."

Watching Pu Liao breathe his last, Chen Fei's figure flickered as he left the room.

A moment later, Chen Fei returned to the courtyard he rented.

Looking at the bright moon in the sky, Chen Fei sighed softly. He only wanted to cultivate in peace and quiet, but this world clearly would not grant him that chance.

The next afternoon, news of Pu Liao's death spread throughout North City Medical Hall.

"Could it be those mountain bandits again? Things have only been quiet for a few days, and they've come back already!"

"Maybe not. The people killed before were all from wealthy households. Pu Liao was only a guard. He shouldn't have been targeted."

"Who can say for sure? Perhaps we should stay at the Medical Hall for the next few days. There are more people here, so it's safer."

Within North City Medical Hall, everyone discussed the matter heatedly. Liu Jun even came specifically to report the matter to Chen Fei.

No one linked Pu Liao's death to Chen Fei, an alchemist.

Many people knew that Chen Fei had only recently broken through to the Skin Tempering Realm. His main focus was still alchemy, and he had no grievance with Pu Liao.

No matter how one looked at it, the two should not have come into conflict, and Chen Fei did not possess the strength to kill Pu Liao.

As usual, Chen Fei refined Blood Qi Pills while increasing his proficiency with the Revival Pill. Inwardly, he planned to go to the Dark market that night to receive that batch of medicinal herbs.

Once the herbs were in hand, Chen Fei could refine Revival Pills and sell them in the Dark market.

Though last night's events had passed without real danger, Chen Fei's desire for strength only continued to grow. Danger could strike at any time without warning. Only by becoming strong enough could he avoid it.

As evening approached, Chen Fei was about to set up the furnace and refine his final batch of Blood Qi Pills for the day when he was suddenly informed that he was to go to the Zhang Family.

Chen Fei was somewhat surprised. Thinking of the young miss, Zhang Sinan, it was possible she wanted to ask about North City Medical Hall. There was also some chance she wished to ask about Pu Liao's death.

After making a simple cleanup, Chen Fei headed to the Zhang Family.

With its towering mansions, golden roofs, and stone walls, the Zhang Family estate looked imposing and magnificent. It was Chen Fei's first time coming to the Zhang Family. He entered through a side gate and followed a servant into a separate courtyard.

Chen Fei looked up to see Zhang Sinan speaking with Zeng Defang.

"Greetings, Young Miss. Greetings, Elder Zeng!" Chen Fei stepped forward and cupped his hands.

"Have you grown accustomed to staying at North City Medical Hall?"

Zhang Sinan turned to look at Chen Fei, sizing him up from head to toe. Compared with when they had provided disaster relief, Chen Fei now looked much sturdier, making him somewhat more pleasing to the eye.

Before, he had been dark and skinny, which had made her dislike him somewhat. If not for his skill in alchemy, there was no way Chen Fei could have caught Zhang Sinan's eye.

"Thank you for your concern, Young Miss. Everything is well."

"Have you discovered anything at North City Medical Hall?" Zhang Sinan asked calmly.

It was only after hearing news of Pu Liao's death today that Zhang Sinan recalled Chen Fei and the task she had assigned him. She simply called Chen Fei over to ask about it clearly.

"Everything at North City Medical Hall is handled by Steward Sun. I have few opportunities to get involved." Chen Fei spoke truthfully.

"Sun Shu is cautious by nature. Chen Fei suddenly arriving at North City Medical Hall would naturally make Sun Shu wary."

Seeing Zhang Sinan frown, Zeng Defang spoke up for Chen Fei.

And that was indeed the case. Sun Shu did not trust Chen Fei at all. If Chen Fei had not recently been diligently refining pills and stayed out of other matters, North City Medical Hall would not have remained so peaceful.

"I said from the beginning that if you discovered a problem, I could personally decide to give you the formula for the Light Spirit Pill. But if you make no progress in this matter, then when the time comes, I may have to send you back where you came from, and your pill-sharing percentage will be changed back to the original thirty percent."

Zhang Sinan was somewhat dissatisfied. Her expression was cold as she said, "Think it over carefully yourself! If there is nothing else, you may leave first."

Zhang Sinan had issued an order to see him out. Clearly, she was dissatisfied with Chen Fei's performance.