Despicable

Running away was human nature.

With a lifeline dangling before them, anyone would find a way to seize it.

Those caught in the situation could not see clearly. Even though Fu Quanliang had been acting strangely, Song Tonghai was unwilling to dwell on it at the moment.

Fu Quanliang had not remained in seclusion for long. He emerged the very next day, and the moment he did, he began making all sorts of demands of Song Tonghai.

He wanted delicacies from land and sea, century-aged wine, beautiful concubines, and dancing girls.

Song Tonghai naturally fulfilled every request, but the overwhelming expenses were already more than the Song Family could bear.

Most of Song Manor's savings had been sent away in batches. The last great sum of reserve funds had been entirely given to Chu Zheng by Song Lingxue before this, and was now in Song Yun's hands. There was scarcely any surplus left.

With no other choice, Song Tonghai mortgaged the Song Family's ancestral residence in exchange for gold and silver. From Luofeng City's largest brothel, he hired more than ten singing girls, along with former flower queens, for Fu Quanliang's pleasure.

At the same time, Song Tonghai hired the finest chef in the city and gathered every sort of ingredient, all to serve Fu Quanliang alone.

With things going on like this, silver naturally flowed away like water. Each day's expenses amounted to at least a thousand taels of silver.

The courtyard where Fu Quanliang stayed had practically become a paradise on earth. The pleasing sounds of strings and flutes never ceased, and every night was filled with song and revelry, debauchery without restraint.

Chu Zheng saw every word and deed of Fu Quanliang's. He had already more or less pieced together the course of events.

The hundred-day period was drawing ever closer. Chu Zheng instead hoped that Fu Quanliang could buy them more time.

Around noon, Song Lingxue entered Chu Zheng's courtyard carrying a bundle.

"The Aged Herbs in the Storehouse are basically gone. Only these pills remain. I've already asked people to keep watch—if they come across any century-old Aged Herbs, they'll do their best to reserve them for you."

Chu Zheng accepted the bundle Song Lingxue handed over and casually glanced through it. Most of its contents were ordinary medicinal items such as Essence Pills and Bone Strengthening Powder—better than nothing.

To cultivate the Dragon Tiger Body Upper Chapter, he could not do without Spiritual Medicine. Yet in this mundane mortal world, Spiritual Medicine was far too rare. Even when mortals occasionally obtained some, it was quickly taken in by the major powers and then offered as tribute to the Hidden Immortal Sects behind them.

Left with no choice, Chu Zheng could only use these ordinary Herbal Ingredients as substitutes. The botanical source Qi he absorbed could still advance his Dragon Tiger Body cultivation, even if the medicinal potency fell somewhat short. It was simply much slower.

As for using spiritual energy to stimulate the fleshly body, the Sun Moon Essence could wholly replace that.

After delivering the medicine, Song Lingxue did not leave. She sat down in the courtyard.

Chu Zheng did not avoid her. He poured out several Essence Pills and placed them in his mouth, removed his upper garments, and directly began absorbing the Great Sun Essence.

Beneath the sunlight, his sturdy tendons and bones visibly rose and fell in a rhythm, as though breathing. Before long, a thin sheen of sweat covered his body.

At first, Song Lingxue had felt somewhat embarrassed, but after seeing it often enough, she gradually became accustomed to it.

After a while, Chu Zheng slowly opened his eyes and spat out the remaining medicinal dregs in his mouth.

Song Lingxue walked to his side and handed him a towel. Not far away stood a bucket of well water she had prepared.

Chu Zheng took the towel and wiped himself down with the well water. Casually, he asked, "Is Fu Quanliang still the same today?"

"Yes. He ate an entire suckling pig in the morning, then half a sheep and three bear paws at noon. His appetite is only getting better and better."

Song Lingxue frowned slightly and sighed. "Like a starving ghost reborn—like he has only a few days left to live."

Chu Zheng responded with silence. After so many days, even Song Lingxue had spotted the problem.

"Why did you come back that day?" Song Lingxue's gaze dimmed slightly. "Helping the Song Family is like snatching chestnuts from the fire for you. There is not the slightest benefit in it."

"I'm giving it my best try. If things become impossible, I'll run. I won't take you with me."

Chu Zheng did not conceal anything and plainly stated his thoughts.

Song Tonghai and Song Lingxue were the main targets. If he took them along, Chu Zheng would not be able to escape.

When necessary, Chu Zheng would naturally choose to abandon them.

The fact that he had been able to leave Luofeng City safely this time was already enough to prove that he was not among the targets. He possessed the Qi Observation Method; with a single glance, he could see the strength of his opponents. If he truly could not win, he would simply leave.

He would not do something as foolish as throwing his life away for nothing.

But their current situation was still far from that point. There was room to struggle, so there was no harm in trying.

"That's good."

Hearing Chu Zheng's overly blunt words, Song Lingxue felt as though a huge boulder had dropped from her heart. She relaxed considerably, and a trace of a smile appeared on her face.

"I just feel... that if you died just like that, it would be a bit of a shame."

"What is there to regret? Everyone dies eventually—some deaths weigh heavier than Mount Tai, while others are lighter than a goose feather."

Chu Zheng spoke softly. "Right now, your death and mine are both goose feathers to this world."

"Is that from a book too?" Song Lingxue raised a brow.

"Yes."

Chu Zheng put on his clothes and walked into the room. "How much of what I asked you to find have you brought?"

To raise his Restorer level, he needed valuable damaged antiques. The older and rarer they were, the more experience he would gain after restoring them.

Chu Zheng had already restored everything in the Song Family that could be restored. He had even deliberately smashed several items after repairing them, then repaired them once more, but he had not gained any experience at all.

That left him with no choice but to look beyond the manor and have Song Lingxue search elsewhere.

"I put them all in the Storehouse for you. They're mostly old things that have been around for years. They couldn't be repaired anyway, so the various households had simply thrown them aside. They didn't cost much silver."

Song Lingxue followed Chu Zheng into the room and naturally sat down on the edge of the bed.

"You still have something to say?" Chu Zheng frowned.

"I... I've been practicing more diligently lately, and my tendons and bones have been feeling a little uncomfortable."

Song Lingxue's gaze flickered away as she lowered her head. "Could you use that Pediatric Massage Heart Method or whatever it is to massage me again?"

"Oh?"

At her words, Chu Zheng stepped forward swiftly and placed one hand on Song Lingxue's shoulder. The Panel did not send any prompt.

"It's nothing serious. There's no need—"

Before Chu Zheng could finish, Song Lingxue suddenly raised her hand and pressed down on the hand he was about to withdraw. Her head remained lowered.

"I still feel a little uncomfortable."

After a long silence, Chu Zheng withdrew his hand.

"There's no need."

Before his words had even faded, Song Lingxue abruptly stood and strode toward the door.

Just before leaving, she stopped, suddenly turned back, and asked, "Chu Zheng, what kind of person do you think I am?"

Chu Zheng was somewhat dazed. After pondering for a moment, he gave an ambiguous assessment. "A smart person."

In his view, Song Lingxue was someone who knew what she wanted and what she ought to give up.

Knowing what to take and what to relinquish was sometimes great wisdom.

Yet in the current state of affairs, being adept at weighing gains and losses was of no use. The world was unpredictable—where could there be so many choices for one to make?

"I feel instead... that sometimes, I'm quite bad."

Song Lingxue tugged at the corner of her mouth, opened the door, and walked out, swift as the wind beneath her feet.

Only after leaving Chu Zheng's courtyard did Song Lingxue slow her steps. Her legs suddenly felt weak. She braced one hand against the wall and leaned by the roadside.

After a while, she bent over and covered her face with her hand. A whisper slipped through her fingers.

"Despicable."