Suspicion

Crack—

A crisp crack echoed through the main hall as the teacup shattered into four pieces.

Song Tonghai's eyes were slightly reddened and bloodshot. Through the wide-open doors, he stared at the gift chests piled like mountains in the courtyard, his fury growing ever harder to contain.

Visible Internal Energy condensed into smoke and rose from above his head. An invisible gale swept through the surroundings, sharp as blades scraping across the face.

Qi Condensation into Edge—this was already a celestial phenomenon of having stepped into the realm of a Martial Grandmaster.

Song Lingxue stood not far away, her brows tightly furrowed as well.

The news had spread so quickly; there had to be spies within Song Manor, perhaps more than one.

Seeing the fury written across Song Tonghai's face, Song Lingxue picked up a teacup from the side and slowly stepped forward.

"Father, please calm your anger."

Song Tonghai took the cup and drained it in one gulp, suppressing the turbulent breath in his chest before shouting loudly.

"Song Yun!"

Song Yun strode swiftly into the hall and dropped to his knees in salute. "Here."

"Investigate thoroughly!"

Song Tonghai took a deep breath, murder blazing in his eyes. "I grant you the authority to act at your own discretion. If the evidence is conclusive, there is no need to report it. Beat them to death and feed them to the dogs."

He believed he had treated those in the manor well, yet he had still raised such treacherous wretches. This time, he was truly enraged.

"Yes."

Song Yun answered respectfully, rose, and left.

Chu Zheng paid no attention to the turmoil outside. Most of his focus was devoted to studying those books and repairing the Jade Cup.

Over the past few days, he had slept very little, yet his spirits had barely suffered.

The repaired Essence Pills had an effect that was far too obvious. Even though Chu Zheng stayed up every night poring over the books, he was still full of energy the next day.

After lunch, beneath the warm winter sun, Chu Zheng began repairing the tea tray he had previously taken from the Filth Room.

This tea tray was also an old item. Long deprived of moisture, it had inevitably developed several cracks.

Chu Zheng had tossed it into a water vat yesterday. After soaking overnight, most of the cracks had already healed.

Slowly wiping away the water stains on the tray, Chu Zheng took out specially prepared fresh lacquer and coated the tea tray again.

Under the sunlight, the fresh lacquer quickly solidified, and the entire tea tray looked brand-new.

You expended a little effort to repair a tea tray weathered by the years. Your skill has improved slightly.

A notification sounded in Chu Zheng's mind. His gaze shifted, and he immediately brought up the Panel.

Name: Chu Zheng

Cultivation: Zero Order

Cultivation method: Body-Fitting Fist (Zero Order), Wind-Chasing Swordplay (Zero Order), Grand Cycle Qi Circulation Compendium (Sixth Order/Incomplete)

Restorer: Zero Order (32/1000)

Daily Remaining Restoration Count: 0

Currently repairable: Grand Cycle Qi Circulation Compendium Introductory Chapter (18/100)

Looking at the experience under Restorer, understanding flashed through Chu Zheng's eyes.

Repairing the tea tray had been a test of the Panel.

With only five restoration attempts each day, it was simply too little for him. Raising the Restorer rank would take nearly half a year.

So, he had wanted to try increasing his Restorer experience through his own efforts.

The result was gratifying. Repairing the tea tray had indeed given him 2 experience points.

Now, Chu Zheng used all his daily refreshed restoration attempts on the Introductory Chapter of the Grand Cycle Qi Circulation Compendium. In a little over ten days, he would be able to begin attempting cultivation.

Not long after noon, the Filth Room, which usually saw no one, received a visitor.

Song Yun came alone, taking time out of his busy schedule to inspect the work he had previously assigned Chu Zheng.

The Filth Room had been tidied up neatly, its floor spotless. Maintaining it to such a degree was no easy feat.

Even though Song Yun had come intending to find fault, he could not pick out any problems for the moment.

In the past, Chu Zheng would not have taken his words too seriously. Yet this time, he had put in such care, which made Song Yun feel somewhat unaccustomed.

"Not bad."

After walking around twice, Song Yun left the Filth Room. He offered a word of praise, then said, "Are you lacking anything in food or daily necessities? If—"

Before he could finish, Chu Zheng smiled and said without the slightest courtesy, "My appetite has grown recently. Could you send more fresh meat with lunch?"

Song Yun was momentarily speechless. He had merely made a polite remark out of habit.

Thanks to Song Lingxue's care, Chu Zheng's meals were already among the best of all the servants. Song Yun had not expected him to ask for even more.

"Understood."

Song Yun ultimately did not refuse. After agreeing, he turned and left. When Song Lingqing had returned to the manor the day before yesterday, Chu Zheng had behaved quite properly. At the very least, Song Yun found him much more agreeable now.

Perhaps the Eldest Young Lady would also change her opinion of him...

Having just left the side courtyard, Song Yun froze slightly. He suddenly turned around and looked at Chu Zheng, who was sunning himself in the distance. Thoughts inevitably began to arise in his heart.

Now that he had the authority to act at his own discretion within the manor, even if he killed Chu Zheng right now on the grounds of colluding with outsiders, the Eldest Young Lady would at most rebuke him a few times afterward.

Perhaps this was a heaven-sent opportunity. He could use it to make Chu Zheng disappear completely...

As the thought deepened, Song Yun abruptly raised his hand.

Slap—

A crisp slap rang out. Song Yun's cheek instantly swelled, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Staring at his faintly reddened palm, Song Yun fell silent for a long while. He glanced at a pair of Tiger Head Shoes in the corner and laughed softly.

"Beast. Is this how your parents taught you to behave?"

With Song Tonghai's permission, Song Yun acted with almost no restraint. He turned Song Manor upside down and arrested six people in just a few days.

For a time, Song Manor was filled with the cry of wind and the call of cranes; everyone feared for themselves.

Every servant's room was searched, digging three feet into the ground and uncovering quite a few secrets.

Very soon, they searched the Filth Room where Chu Zheng lived once more.

Song Yun had originally intended merely to go through the motions, but he did not expect an unexpected gain.

The Filth Room was only so large. Chu Zheng had nowhere to hide those books, and they were naturally discovered soon enough.

Song Lingqing had come alone that day and left in a hurry. She had not taken such a trivial matter to heart, much less specifically informed the household.

Given Chu Zheng's status, it was impossible for him to have access to such books, so he naturally fell under suspicion.

Before long, Chu Zheng was once again locked in the Wood Shed.

Compared with last time, there were many more instruments of torture here. Dark brown blood scabs clung to them; someone had already suffered beneath them before.

Most of the instruments looked very new, having been made only recently.

Though Song Manor's rules were strict, it did not abuse private punishment. These had clearly been prepared in haste.

Song Yun did not interrogate Chu Zheng himself. Instead, he reported the matter to Song Lingxue and submitted every action Chu Zheng had taken in recent days for review.

After examining Chu Zheng's actions over the past several days, Song Lingxue's brow creased slightly. Thinking of Song Lingqing's return to the manor that day, and of Chu Zheng standing alone outside the hall, her gaze darkened a little.

"You've been going out frequently these past days. Why? Do you have acquaintances outside the manor?"