Kill the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

"How had Elder Zeng been gravely wounded?"

Chen Fei did not make a request first, instead asking about Zeng Defang.

"A group of people stormed Elder Zeng's residence. Though there were guards, they ultimately only managed to keep Elder Zeng alive!"

Zhao Xia gritted his teeth in fury. They still did not know who had done it. The Zhao Family was intensifying its investigation, and if they found even the slightest clue, they would surely retaliate with madness.

Chen Fei said nothing. The first people who came to mind were Zhang Sinan and her group.

Since Shan Xiang had come looking for Chen Fei, they naturally would not spare old Medical Hall hands like Zeng Defang. Chen Fei had simply not expected them to beat Zeng Defang so severely.

According to Zhao Xia, those people had even intended to kill Zeng Defang outright.

Kill the chicken to warn the monkey? Or had they already cast aside all bottom lines? Or were they trying to leave the Zhao Family short on pills, unable to meet their quota and thus face the rebel army's censure?

"I heard Zhao Manor has an incomplete formula for the Floating Pill. Might I study it?"

The Zhao Family had increased the workload and said they could make requests. In Chen Fei's view, such requests were at most a gesture of goodwill. If he truly asked for something major, the Zhao Family might not agree.

An Internal Energy cultivation method was something he should not even dream of. They would not even give him the formula for the Light Spirit Pill, fearing he would waste their current medicinal ingredients.

Only an incomplete formula, as useless as chicken ribs—nothing could truly be gleaned from it, yet it was not entirely without value—was quite suitable instead.

Zhao Xia was somewhat surprised by Chen Fei's request, but he nodded. "I will report it when I return. Pill Master Chen, please be careful these next few days. These two will stay behind to protect you. In a couple of days, once we have rented a courtyard, we will settle all the pill masters there."

Most pill masters capable of refining Light Spirit Pills had been arranged within Zhao Manor. Since they all had families in tow, Zhao Manor had been packed full at once.

As for some who were unwilling to be bound, Zhao Manor arranged guards to protect them. There had originally been guards posted, such as at Zeng Defang's place, but the attackers had been exceptionally skilled and had not been stopped.

"Thank you for the trouble!"

Chen Fei clasped his hands. Zhao Xia departed, while the two Zhao Family guards followed Chen Fei back to the courtyard. Chen Fei arranged a room for them, and they would normally remain in the courtyard on watch.

With guards outside, Chen Fei's movements were somewhat affected. If he later moved into Zhao Manor, that impact would become even greater.

Fortunately, Chen Fei would soon be leaving Pingyin County, so this inconvenience would not last many days.

Chen Fei glanced at the mark on his wrist. The bone-attached sore had been growing more active. He decided to find a chance in the coming days to ask Chi Defeng again when that group would actually set off.

This faint but ever-present sense of urgency was truly exhausting.

The fragrance of medicine began to spread from the Pill Chamber. Chen Fei had only refined a few batches of pills when Zhao Xia returned, handing him a pill formula along with the medicinal ingredients for today's increased quota.

Chen Fei looked at the incomplete formula in his hand with some surprise. The Zhao Family was rather decent—having said they would give him an incomplete formula, they gave it to him outright.

He wondered what gains would appear after it had been simplified.

After refining pills for an entire morning, Chen Fei stopped. All the medicinal ingredients had already been refined.

Chen Fei placed the pills he needed to submit separately into one drawer of the wooden cabinet, while storing the other pills in another drawer. He then put the wooden cabinet into the spatial slot.

Thinking of the cabinet packed to the brim with goods, a smile appeared on Chen Fei's face once more. Before this, Chen Fei had worried that if he left Pingyin County, much of his belongings would be impossible to carry.

Now, with the extra spatial slot, he could carry various pills and medicinal ingredients with him. Even if he encountered unexpected situations in the wilderness, Chen Fei now possessed some ability to deal with them.

Invisibly, it had guaranteed Chen Fei's safety in the wild.

He cultivated his Internal Energy and practiced his techniques. Before he knew it, night had fallen.

Chen Fei was in the Pill Chamber, pondering the finer points of archery, when faint rustling suddenly came from outside the door.

Chen Fei's expression shifted slightly. Carrying his longsword, he stepped out of the Pill Chamber and saw a shadow standing in the courtyard. The two Zhao Family guards had long since collapsed to one side, blood continuously gushing from their necks. They clearly would not survive.

"You are Chen Fei?" Zhang Xianping looked down at Chen Fei from above.

"Who are you? Did Zhang Sinan send you?" Chen Fei frowned tightly.

"You are quite clever. Unfortunately, when you were given the chance, you did not cherish it!"

Zhang Xianping revealed the dagger in his hand, a trace of blood still flowing along it, and walked toward Chen Fei step by step.

Seeing Zhang Xianping admit his identity, Chen Fei could not help but sigh inwardly. Just because he had refused to help, Zhang Sinan had begun killing people, starting with those from the former Medical Hall.

None of the Zhao Family members had died yet, but the former Medical Hall people had fallen first. Refuse to help, and he would die? But if he truly helped, he would also die if the Zhao Family discovered it.

In this world, staying alive was truly too difficult.

"Now you know fear? Don't worry. You are the fourth. Others will follow you down soon enough."

Zhang Xianping laughed, his laughter brimming with arrogance. The next moment, he flashed before Chen Fei and slashed his dagger at Chen Fei's throat.

Clang!

A dull clash of weapons rang out as Chen Fei's longsword blocked Zhang Xianping's dagger.

Zhang Xianping raised his brows, somewhat surprised. Hadn't they said he was merely an ordinary Skin Tempering Realm martial artist? Yet he could actually block his attack.

Just as Zhang Xianping was about to change his move, alarm bells suddenly rang wildly in his heart. A streak of white light appeared before his eyes.

Ding!

The tip of Chen Fei's longsword struck against the dagger. A trace of fear appeared in Zhang Xianping's eyes. If not for his extraordinary inheritance and accomplished movement technique, he would have been completely unable to evade that sword strike.

Zhang Xianping gave Chen Fei a lingering, fearful glance. What sort of Rogue Cultivator possessed sword techniques like these? Even within Pingyin County, there should not have been such a swordsmanship inheritance.

Realizing the man before him was not to be provoked, Zhang Xianping stepped on the ground with his right foot, his body drifting backward like willow catkins.

Chen Fei's sword technique suddenly changed, blooming like flames as the sword forms instantly enveloped Zhang Xianping completely.

His movement technique blocked, Zhang Xianping had no choice but to defend against the attacks before him. A moment later, Zhang Xianping let out a slight breath of relief. This sword technique was extraordinary, but still within an acceptable range.

Now, so long as he guarded against that otherworldly sword strike from earlier, there would be no further trouble.

The two exchanged dozens of moves in the blink of an eye, and Chen Fei gained a more comprehensive understanding of his current strength.

Immortal Points the Way was undoubtedly still a formidable killing move, but against true Bone Forging Realm experts, if the sneak attack failed, it was easily guarded against.

After all, it was only one move, with no follow-up. Just like Zhang Xianping now, once he blocked that sword strike, nothing more would happen.

As for the Fire Pattern Sword, though it too was remarkable, it was limited by Chen Fei's own Cultivation Realm and was also difficult to use to kill someone.

Watching Zhang Xianping gradually break free, Chen Fei stopped entangling him.

Serene Heart Incantation! Three Immortal Swords!

Zhang Xianping, who had been dealing with the attack effortlessly, discovered that the surrounding Sword Qi suddenly vanished. Then he saw a streak of white light flying toward him.

"I've been waiting for this move!"

Thinking Chen Fei had exhausted his tricks, Zhang Xianping shouted and held his dagger before him.

So long as he blocked this sword strike again, Zhang Xianping could borrow the force of the collision to escape from here.

Having seen Chen Fei's three tricks, Zhang Xianping even felt that if they continued dragging this out, the victor should be himself.

The next moment, the white light vanished, and Chen Fei withdrew his move and stood where he was.

Zhang Xianping held his dagger as he stared blankly at Chen Fei. His body suddenly staggered backward a step. At some point, a massive hole had appeared where his heart should have been.

His dagger had failed to block Chen Fei's sword strike.

"Fine swordsmanship!"

Zhang Xianping looked at Chen Fei and murmured softly. The next moment, he collapsed to the ground. The soil beneath him was quickly soaked through with blood.