Elsewhere.
Ling Tianhe's residence.
As soon as he returned, he immediately set the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's spies to investigating the black market.
As for himself, he swallowed some pills to recover from his injuries.
Since Su Chen wanted to keep him alive to get things done, he hadn't hit him too hard.
After returning, he swallowed some pills and recovered from his injuries.
At least, unless someone paid close attention to his breathing, they wouldn't be able to tell he was hurt.
Inside the main hall.
Jiang Chendong and Lu Wencang were already waiting.
They saw Ling Tianhe emerge from the rear courtyard.
"Deputy Tower Lord Ling, there's something strange about Su Chen. You should have taken him down today!"
Jiang Chendong spoke up.
Hearing Jiang Chendong's words,
Ling Tianhe nearly spat up a mouthful of blood.
He had wanted to take Su Chen down today, but not only had he failed, he'd been beaten black and blue.
"There's no need to rush things with Su Chen. Let him feel pleased with himself for now. How is the investigation into the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform in the black market going?"
Ling Tianhe changed the subject.
"Many people are investigating it now. Besides us, there are at least three other forces looking into it. It seems they're all interested in the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform!"
"But we've only found out that the person who sent the message was completely wrapped in a black robe. Their voice had been altered, so it can't be used as evidence. We can only investigate based on their build. It'll probably take some time to find them!"
Jiang Chendong replied.
"Investigate with everything you've got! You must find this person. And Wencang, when is the envoy from Zitan Palace expected to arrive?"
Ling Tianhe then asked Lu Wencang, who was standing nearby.
"According to the reply we received, the envoy should arrive here in five days!"
Lu Wencang answered.
"Do we know who they've sent this time?"
Ling Tianhe asked.
"Mu Qingxue of the Mu Family, from Zitan Palace."
Lu Wencang replied.
"She's surnamed Mu!" Hearing this, Ling Tianhe's expression faltered, and a hint of disappointment crossed his face.
"Tower Lord, it looks like we have to deal with Su Chen within five days. Once Mu Qingxue arrives, she'll definitely support Su Chen in becoming the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's Tower Lord!"
"After all, Tower Lord Su was once a follower of that Mu Family figure!"
Lu Wencang said gravely.
Why had Su Mengbai's Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower received help from Zitan Palace?
It was because Su Mengbai had once been a follower of an important figure from Zitan Palace.
That important figure had been surnamed Mu.
Now, the envoy from Zitan Palace was also surnamed Mu, which showed how seriously the other party took this matter.
Moreover, Su Chen was Su Mengbai's son. Since the envoy was surnamed Mu, she would surely support him.
That was why Ling Tianhe looked so disappointed.
Though Su Chen had beaten him badly enough to make him afraid,
If someone from Zitan Palace appointed him as the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's Tower Lord, Su Chen wouldn't have the power to object.
It seemed his hopes had come to nothing.
As for Lu Wencang's suggestion that they take down Su Chen within five days,
it was simply impossible.
He felt that even if he reached the Innate Late Stage, Su Chen might still beat him black and blue.
For now, all he could do was obediently follow Su Chen's orders.
"Leave Su Chen alone for now. Focus on investigating the black market and the Tower Lord's cause of death."
"We mustn't let the envoy from Zitan Palace arrive while we know nothing. It'll be hard to explain ourselves then."
Ling Tianhe changed the subject.
Hearing Ling Tianhe's words, Lu Wencang and Jiang Chendong both felt something was off, but neither said anything.
They went to take care of their respective tasks.
Jiang Chendong in particular still needed to help Su Chen settle Qin Lan.
Su Mansion, rear courtyard.
Inside Shangguan Ziyun's pavilion.
"Miss, the envoy from Zitan Palace is Mu Qingxue of the Mu Family!"
Xiao Lan spoke softly before Shangguan Ziyun.
"I didn't expect the Mu Family to take this matter so seriously. They've even sent Mu Qingxue in person."
"Do you think it's possible that Su Mengbai was planning to give the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform to the Mu Family?"
Shangguan Ziyun mused.
"Miss, we still can't confirm the news about the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform!"
"But I've uncovered a clue. The person who killed Su Mengbai may have ties to the Lei Family."
Xiao Lan said.
"The Lei Family? Who from the Lei Family was involved in this?"
A cold glint flashed through Shangguan Ziyun's eyes as she asked.
Lei Ao of the Lei Family.
Xiao Lan replied.
"Lei Ao? He was involved in this? Investigate him and see if you can uncover anything else."
"And what's Ling Tianhe been up to?"
Shangguan Ziyun thought of Ling Tianhe.
"After leaving the secret chamber, he didn't do anything unusual. He's been investigating the black market and looking for clues about Su Mengbai's killer with all his might."
"His behavior seems a little strange!"
Xiao Lan said with a frown.
"It does seem a little strange. Just have people keep an eye on him. As long as he doesn't stir up trouble, we can leave him alone for now."
"What's Su Chen doing?"
Shangguan Ziyun asked next.
"Steward Fu says that after finishing his meal, Su Chen went back to the secret chamber to continue cultivating. He told everyone not to disturb him!"
"I bet he's trying to cram at the last minute. What good will cultivating do now?"
Xiao Lan said coldly.
"How has his expression and state of mind changed?"
Shangguan Ziyun ignored Xiao Lan's remark and asked about Su Chen's state of mind and expression.
At that, Xiao Lan replied solemnly, "Miss, Steward Fu says Su Chen seems calm in both expression and state of mind. He can't make anything out of it."
"Calm in both expression and state of mind?"
"Su Chen, you've certainly made me curious."
A glimmer flashed through Shangguan Ziyun's beautiful eyes.
Elsewhere,
Su Chen had already arrived on the busiest street in Qingcheng City.
He went straight into a pill shop.
Pills were among the things martial artists needed most.
After all, pills could speed up cultivation. The shop was crowded with martial artists, and plenty of them were dressed like him.
Su Chen walked up to a counter and lowered his voice slightly, making it rough and deep so he sounded like a middle-aged man.
"I want three hundred top-grade Qi and Blood Pills!"
A Silver Note worth nine hundred taels appeared in Su Chen's hand and landed on the counter.
The woman serving Su Chen looked surprised when she saw the Silver Note.
Qi and Blood Pills were the most common pills on the market, used to replenish one's qi and blood.
An ordinary Qi and Blood Pill cost one tael of silver.
A top-grade one cost three taels, so three hundred of them came to nine hundred taels.
That was a pretty sizable order.
Though Su Chen had spent money lavishly at Yuchun Courtyard, that was a pleasure house—and Yuchun Courtyard's newly risen star courtesan, at that. That was why it had cost so much.
Here in Qingcheng, three taels of silver could support a family of five for two months.
Of course, that was for the poor.
The rich could toss a thousand taels around without giving it a second thought.
After a brief moment of surprise, the attendant hurried into the back room.
A short while later, she placed six bottles of pills in front of Su Chen.
"Fifty pills per bottle, three hundred in all. Please take care of them!"
The attendant handed the Qi and Blood Pills to Su Chen. She added, "If you're looking for better pills, you could take a look on the second floor. They have not only pills, but other things as well!"
"But you'll have to pay a thousand taels to enter the second floor!"
Perhaps because she'd seen Su Chen casually take out a nine-hundred-tael Silver Note earlier, she offered the suggestion.
Of course, if he made a purchase,
she'd get a small commission too.
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