Killing the Chicken to Scare the Monkeys

"How was Old Zeng seriously injured?"

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

"A group of people charged into Old Zeng's residence. Though there were Guards there, in the end, they only managed to keep Old Zeng from dying!"

Zhao Xia gnashed his teeth. Even now, they still did not know who had done it. The Zhao Family was now intensifying its investigation, and if they found even the slightest spider silk or horse track, they would surely retaliate like mad.

Chen Fei said nothing. The thought that flashed through his mind was Zhang Sinan and her people.

Since Dan Xiang had come to find Chen Fei, they naturally would not let old Medical Hall hands like Zeng Defang off either. Chen Fei simply had not expected that those people would actually beat Zeng Defang into a serious injury.

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

Killing the Chicken to Scare the Monkeys? Or had they already lost all bottom lines? Or was it to leave the Zhao Family short on pills, unable to deliver, and draw the Rebel Army's blame?

"I heard the residence has an incomplete recipe for the Ever Floating Pill. Might I take a look at it?"

The Zhao Family had increased the workload and said requests could be made. In Chen Fei's view, such requests were at most a token gesture. If he truly put forward some major demand, the Zhao Family might not necessarily agree.

An Inner Strength Technique was something he should not even think about. They would not even give him the Light Spirit Pill recipe, for fear he would waste the current Herbs.

Only a rib-like, tasteless-to-eat yet too-pitying-to-discard incomplete recipe—something you could not see much from, but not entirely without value—was actually quite suitable.

Zhao Xia was a little surprised by Chen Fei's request, but he nodded and said, "I'll go back and report it. Alchemist Chen, pay attention to your safety recently. These two will stay behind to protect you. In a couple of days, once we rent a Courtyard, we'll arrange all the alchemists properly."

Most of the alchemists who could refine Light Spirit Pills had been arranged to stay in the Zhao Residence. Because they all had families in tow, the Zhao Residence had been packed full all at once.

As for those who were unwilling to be restrained, the Zhao Residence arranged manpower to protect them instead. In fact, they had already arranged people before, like on Zeng Defang's side, but those attackers were quite skilled and had not been stopped.

"Many thanks!"

Chen Fei cupped his hands, and Zhao Xia left. Two Zhao Family Guards followed Chen Fei back to the Courtyard. Chen Fei arranged a room for them, and under normal circumstances, they would stay in the Courtyard on guard.

With Guards outside, Chen Fei's movements were slightly affected. If he moved into the Zhao Residence later, that effect would be even greater.

Fortunately, Chen Fei would soon leave Pingyin County, so this influence would not last many days.

Chen Fei glanced at the mark on his wrist. The activity of the Bone-Attached Gangrene had been increasing all along. Chen Fei decided to find an opportunity in the next few days to ask Chi Defeng again just when that group would set off.

This faint, encircling sense of urgency was far too tormenting.

The fragrance of medicine began to spread from the Pill Room. Chen Fei had just refined a few furnaces of pills when Zhao Xia returned, placing a Pill Recipe in Chen Fei's hands, along with today's increased amount of Herbs.

Chen Fei looked at the incomplete recipe in his hands with some pleasant surprise. This Zhao Family was actually quite decent; they said they would give him the incomplete recipe, and they directly gave it.

He wondered what kind of gains would appear after the later Simplification.

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

Chen Fei placed the pills that needed to be handed in separately into one drawer of the Wooden Cabinet, and the other pills into another drawer. Then he put the Wooden Cabinet into the Space Grid.

Thinking of the Wooden Cabinet packed full of things, a smile could not help but appear on Chen Fei's face again. Previously, Chen Fei had still been thinking that if he left Pingyin County, much of his belongings would be impossible to carry.

Now, because he had gained the Space Grid, Chen Fei could carry some of every kind of pill and every kind of Herb. Even if he encountered sudden situations in the wild, Chen Fei now had some ability to resolve them.

Imperceptibly, this guaranteed Chen Fei's safety in the wild.

He cultivated inner strength and practiced moves. Before he knew it, night had fallen.

Chen Fei was in the Pill Room pondering the techniques of the Bow Technique when some faint, fragmented sounds suddenly came from outside the door.

Chen Fei's expression stirred slightly. Carrying his Longsword, he walked out of the Pill Room, just in time to see a Black Shadow standing in the Courtyard. The Zhao Family's two Guards had long since collapsed limply to one side, blood constantly gushing from their necks. It was obvious they could no longer live.

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

"Who are you? Sent by Zhang Sinan?" Chen Fei's brows knitted tightly.

"You're rather smart. Unfortunately, you were given a chance, and you didn't cherish it!"

Zhang Xianping revealed the Dagger in his hand. A trace of fresh blood was still flowing on it as he walked toward Chen Fei step by step.

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

The Zhao Family's people had not died yet, but the former Medical Hall's people had fallen first instead. If he did not help, he had to die? But if he truly helped, and the Zhao Family discovered it, he would actually die too.

In this world, wanting to live was truly too difficult.

"Only now do you know fear? Don't worry, you're the fourth. Next, there will be others going down to keep you company."

Zhang Xianping laughed, his laughter carrying arrogance. The next moment, Zhang Xianping flashed to Chen Fei's front and slashed a blade toward Chen Fei's neck.

Clang!

A muffled sound of weapons clashing rang out. Chen Fei's Longsword blocked Zhang Xianping's Dagger.

Zhang Xianping raised his brows, somewhat surprised. Wasn't he said to be just an ordinary Skin Refining Realm martial artist? He could actually block his attack.

Zhang Xianping was just about to change moves when alarm bells suddenly blared in his heart, and a streak of white light appeared before his eyes.

Ding!

The tip of Chen Fei's Longsword pressed against the Dagger. A trace of terror showed in Zhang Xianping's eyes. If not for his extraordinary master's lineage, and the fact that his Movement Technique had achieved some success, he would have been completely unable to dodge that sword just now.

Still shaken, Zhang Xianping glanced at Chen Fei. How could such a sword move be something a Rogue Cultivator ought to have? In fact, even within Pingyin County, there should not have been such a sword-move inheritance.

Understanding that the person before him was not easy to provoke, Zhang Xianping planted his right foot on the ground, and his figure drifted backward like willow catkins.

Chen Fei's sword move abruptly changed, blooming like flame. The sword form instantly enveloped Zhang Xianping completely.

With his Movement Technique obstructed, Zhang Xianping had no choice but to block the attack before him. A moment later, Zhang Xianping let out a faint breath of relief. Though this sword move was extraordinary, it was still within what he could handle.

Now, as long as he guarded against that heaven-sent sword strike from earlier, there would be no other trouble.

In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged several dozen moves, and Chen Fei gained a more complete understanding of his current strength.

Immortal Guides the Way was undoubtedly still a powerful Killing Move, but against a true expert of the Bone Forging Realm, if the sneak attack failed, it was very easy for the opponent to be on guard.

After all, it was only one move, with no follow-up. It was very easy to end up like Zhang Xianping now—block that one sword, and there was nothing more to it.

And though the Fire Pattern Sword was also quite impressive, it was limited by Chen Fei's own Cultivation Realm, making it difficult to kill someone with it.

Chen Fei watched Zhang Xianping, who was about to gradually break free, and stopped tangling with him.

Heart Cleansing Art! Three Immortals Sword!

Zhang Xianping, who had been handling things with ease, found that the Sword Qi around him abruptly vanished. Then he saw a streak of white light flying toward him.

"I've been waiting for this move of yours!"

Thinking Chen Fei had exhausted the donkey's tricks and had nothing left, Zhang Xianping shouted and held his dagger in front of him.

As long as he blocked this sword as well, Zhang Xianping could use the force of the collision to take the opportunity to leave this place.

And after seeing Chen Fei's three axe-swings, Zhang Xianping even felt that if this continued, the one who won should be him.

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

Zhang Xianping held his dagger and stared blankly at Chen Fei. His body suddenly staggered back a step. At some unknown moment, a huge hole had appeared where his heart was.

His dagger had not blocked Chen Fei's sword.

"Good Sword Technique!"

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