"Senior Brother, Senior Brother is back!"
"Senior Brother, you've finally returned."
"We... have suffered!"
Du Tian immediately climbed out of bed.
His leg seemed to be injured. Unable to stand, he simply crawled over to Zhang Su and clutched tightly at Zhang Su's trouser leg.
He cried out his grievances with snot and tears streaming down his face.
Not only Du Tian—Zhao Feng and Chu Dachuan were in the same state.
Every one of them was injured.
Their injuries were even quite serious.
They would probably need more than a month of recovery.
"Tell me. What exactly happened?"
Zhang Su asked coldly.
"Senior Brother, we don't know exactly who it was."
"Originally, following your instructions, we began gathering information on the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples. But then some Outer Sect disciples suddenly appeared and started provoking us."
"We only entered the sect a year ago. How could we possibly defeat those veteran Outer Sect disciples?"
"Originally, we wanted to swallow our anger and endure the humiliation, but those people seemed to be targeting us. Begging for mercy was useless—they struck ruthlessly and injured us."
"Senior Brother, you must remain calm. This matter is probably not so simple. Though we were the ones injured, those people were likely coming for you."
"After all, word that you intend to challenge the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples has probably already gotten out. They are striking first, trying to disrupt or even provoke you..."
Even now, Chu Dachuan was still urging Zhang Su to stay calm.
Zhang Su did not act rashly.
It was just that Du Tian and the other two looked rather miserable.
In truth, only Du Tian was somewhat worse off. His leg was broken and needed time to recover.
The other two could move about freely, but they would be unable to cultivate for a while.
"Who was it? Could it have been Wang Feng?"
A thought flashed through Zhang Su's mind.
Wang Feng was the most likely suspect.
After all, Zhang Su had injured Wang Feng's younger brother, Wang Hai.
And Wang Feng was also one of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.
He had both motive and strength.
However, it was also possible that some of the other Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples wanted to exploit the conflict between Zhang Su and Wang Hai, drag Wang Feng into the water, and make Zhang Su and Wang Feng fight each other.
In any case, it was most likely connected to the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.
"Outer Sect disciples are not valued by the sect. But the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples are different. In a sense, they can already be considered half Inner Sect disciples..."
Zhang Su saw everything as clearly as fire.
He understood that once the positions among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples were involved, there would be countless troubles.
Zhang Su did not investigate immediately.
That would have been wasted effort.
No matter who was behind it, as long as Zhang Su was strong enough, those so-called schemes and tricks would be utterly meaningless.
After a night of grueling cultivation, the last four Blood Replenishing Pills on Zhang Su's person had been completely used up.
And the amount of Blood Qi he possessed had reached as many as two hundred and twenty-four strands.
It was already daylight outside.
Zhang Su glanced at the three of them.
Though these three had a tendency to fawn on the powerful, ever since they began following him, they had indeed worked diligently for him.
Even this time, they had gathered plenty of detailed information on the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.
"Which of you can still move?"
Zhang Su asked.
"Senior Brother, Zhao Feng and I are both fine."
Chu Dachuan said.
Zhang Su directly pulled out three one-hundred-tael banknotes and handed them to the three men.
"You three have worked diligently. Naturally, I have seen it. These one-hundred-tael banknotes are your reward."
The three were overjoyed.
One hundred taels in banknotes meant one hundred contribution points, enough to exchange for two Blood Replenishing Pills.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
The three hurriedly bowed in thanks.
"Chu Dachuan, Zhao Feng, take these eight thousand taels in banknotes and exchange them directly for one hundred and sixty Blood Qi Pills."
Zhang Su directly took out eight thousand taels in banknotes.
Both men froze.
"Ei... eight thousand taels in banknotes!"
Even Chu Dachuan's hands were trembling.
These were eight thousand taels in banknotes. He was just giving them to them like that?
"What, is there a problem?"
"No, absolutely no problem. Please wait, Senior Brother. We'll exchange them for Blood Replenishing Pills for you!"
Chu Dachuan drew a deep breath, immediately got up, and left the courtyard with Zhao Feng, heading straight for the Trading Hall.
Only Zhang Su and Du Tian remained in the room.
Du Tian also quieted down.
"Senior Brother, are you going out too?"
"Yes."
Du Tian fell silent. He seemed to faintly understand something.
Zhang Su then rose to his feet and pushed open the door.
"Senior Brother, you must be careful..."
Du Tian's voice entered his ears.
But Zhang Su did not answer and simply left the courtyard.
Chu Dachuan and Zhao Feng both looked extremely nervous.
They hurried toward the Trading Hall.
They encountered no trouble along the way.
They exchanged for one hundred and sixty Blood Replenishing Pills and carried them all on their persons.
"Whew..."
The two let out sighs of relief.
Eight thousand taels in banknotes had been exchanged for one hundred and sixty Blood Qi Pills.
That was enough to drive any Outer Sect disciple mad.
The two carefully walked out of the Trading Hall.
But before they had gone far, several figures suddenly blocked their path.
"Hm? Liang Zitao, it's you again..."
Chu Dachuan gritted his teeth in hatred.
The leader of those figures was Liang Zitao.
Previously, Liang Zitao had been the one to lead people in beating them.
Liang Zitao looked at Chu Dachuan and Zhao Feng, sneering. "Oh? You can get out of bed now? What good things did you come to the Trading Hall to exchange for this time? It seems you've forgotten what I said last time."
"I told you to stay properly in the courtyard and not come out. Every time you come out, I'll beat you!"
Liang Zitao could not even be bothered to find excuses anymore.
In any case, he knew the rules of the Guiyuan Sect's Outer Sect very well.
As long as he did not cripple them severely or kill anyone, there would be no problem.
So long as he did not violate the sect rules, he had plenty of ways to deal with Chu Dachuan and the other three.
"Liang Zitao, aren't you afraid of Senior Brother Zhang Su?"
"You may be at the Blood Qi Realm Eighth Layer, but before Senior Brother Zhang, you are simply not worth mentioning!"
"When Senior Brother Zhang returns, he will repay tenfold every injury you inflicted upon us!"
Chu Dachuan shouted sharply.
At the mention of Zhang Su's name, a trace of unease flashed through Liang Zitao's eyes.
Zhang Su had already become famous throughout the Outer Sect.
Many Outer Sect disciples at the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer were no match for Zhang Su.
Liang Zitao was naturally afraid.
But he had long since received instructions. He sneered, "Afraid? Of course I'm afraid! But by the time Zhang Su returns, I'm afraid he won't even be able to protect himself. How could he still have time to deal with me?"
After speaking, Liang Zitao immediately waved his hand.
At once, five Outer Sect disciples surrounded Chu Dachuan and Zhao Feng.
"You..."
Chu Dachuan clutched the Blood Replenishing Pills in his arms tightly.
But a disciple at the Blood Qi Realm Seventh Layer stepped forward and punched Chu Dachuan directly.
Then he grabbed Chu Dachuan by the neck and lifted him up.
Slap.
At that moment, a cloth bag fell from Chu Dachuan's arms to the ground.
Several pills rolled out of the bag, spinning across the ground.
"These are... Blood Replenishing Pills!"
Liang Zitao's breathing immediately grew hurried.
A burning eagerness appeared in the eyes of every Outer Sect disciple present.
Those were Blood Replenishing Pills.
They could be called divine medicine for the Blood Qi Realm!
Who would not want to cultivate with Blood Replenishing Pills?
But a single Blood Replenishing Pill required fifty contribution points, equivalent to fifty taels of silver.
They were far too expensive!
Yet there was such a large bag of Blood Replenishing Pills here.
There had to be more than a hundred of them!
"What are you trying to do? Those aren't my Blood Replenishing Pills—they belong to Senior Brother Zhang..."
Chu Dachuan struggled violently.
The veins on his forehead bulged.
But with the other party gripping his neck and holding him up like a chick, the more he struggled, the more pain he suffered.
Liang Zitao paid no attention whatsoever to Chu Dachuan's words.
At that moment, the only thing in his eyes was that large bag of Blood Replenishing Pills!
Just as Liang Zitao's hand was about to touch the bag on the ground—
Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a faint figure behind him.
"Who?"
Liang Zitao whirled around.
Then he saw him.
Behind him, a young man in white robes, holding a longsword in his hand, was walking forward step by step.
"You want to rob Zhang's Blood Replenishing Pills too?"
His tone was calm.
Yet the coldness contained in his words made Liang Zitao's heart tremble.
After all, a man's name was like a tree's shadow.
Before they had met, it had been one thing.
But now, the Outer Sect's renowned Zhang Su stood right before him. How could Liang Zitao dare to act presumptuously?
"Senior... Senior Brother Zhang..."
Liang Zitao's heart tightened.
Whoosh.
Without the slightest hesitation, Liang Zitao pushed off hard with his feet and frantically retreated.
He had to run!
The farther away, the better!
Before you continue