Suspicion

Crack—

A crisp shattering sound echoed through the main hall as teacups splintered into pieces.

Song Tonghai's eyes were bloodshot, red-rimmed. His gaze pierced through the wide-open hall doors, fixed on the mountain of gift boxes piled in the courtyard, and his fury grew harder to contain.

Visible Internal Energy condensed into mist, rising from the crown of his head. An invisible gale swept around him, sharp as blades against the skin.

Qi Condensation into Edge—this was already the phenomenon of stepping into the Martial Grandmaster realm.

Song Lingxue stood not far away, her brows also tightly knit.

The news had spread this fast—there had to be a mole within Song Manor, likely more than one.

Seeing the rage on Song Tonghai's face, Song Lingxue picked up a teacup from the side and stepped forward slowly: "Father, please calm your anger."

Song Tonghai took the cup, drained it in one gulp, steadied his surging breath, and let out a long shout: "Song Yun!"

Song Yun strode quickly into the hall and knelt in salute: "Here."

"Investigate thoroughly!"

Song Tonghai took a deep breath, murderous intent flashing in his eyes: "I grant you the authority to make on-the-spot decisions. If the evidence is solid, no need to report up—just beat them to death and feed the dogs."

He had thought he treated the household well, yet he'd still raised such turncoats. Now, his anger was genuine.

"Understood."

Song Yun acknowledged respectfully, rose, and left.

Chu Zheng paid little attention to these outside disturbances. Most of his focus was on studying those few texts and repairing the jade cup.

These past few days, he had slept very little, but his energy remained largely unaffected.

The Essence Pill, after restoration, had too obvious an effect. Even staying up late every night poring over the texts, Chu Zheng was still full of vigor the next day.

After lunch, basking in the winter sun, Chu Zheng first set to repairing the tea tray he'd taken from the Filth Room earlier.

This tea tray was also an old piece, long deprived of moisture, inevitably bearing some cracks.

Yesterday, Chu Zheng had soaked it in a water vat. After a night of steeping, most of the cracks had already healed.

Slowly wiping the water stains off the tea tray, Chu Zheng took out specially prepared new lacquer and brushed the tray anew.

Under the sunlight, the lacquer quickly set, and the entire tea tray looked brand new.

You have expended some effort to repair a tea tray weathered by time, and your skill has improved slightly.

A notification rang in Chu Zheng's mind. His eyes flickered, and he immediately pulled 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)

Seeing the experience in the Restorer column, a glint of understanding passed through Chu Zheng's eyes.

Repairing the tea tray by hand was a test of the panel for Chu Zheng.

With only five restoration chances per day, it was far too few for him. Raising the Restorer level would take nearly half a year.

So, he wanted to try relying on himself to increase Restorer experience.

The result was gratifying—fixing the tea tray had indeed added 2 experience points.

Now, he used all his daily refresh restoration chances on the Grand Cycle Qi Circulation Compendium Introductory Chapter. In just over ten days, he could begin attempting cultivation.

Shortly after noon, the Filth Room, usually devoid of visitors, received a guest.

Song Yun came alone, taking time out of his busy schedule to check on the tasks he'd assigned Chu Zheng earlier.

The Filth Room had been tidied up, the floor spotless. To have it managed to this degree was commendable.

Even with the intention of finding fault, Song Yun couldn't pick out any flaws for the moment.

In the past, Chu Zheng hadn't taken his words to heart, but this time he'd been so diligent—it was a bit disorienting.

"Not bad."

After circling twice, Song Yun stepped out of the Filth Room and offered a compliment, then asked: "Any shortages in food or supplies? If you—"

Before he could finish, Chu Zheng smiled and said bluntly: "My appetite's been a bit big lately. Could lunch have some extra lean meat?"

Song Yun was momentarily speechless—he'd only been making a polite gesture out of habit.

Thanks to Song Lingxue's care, Chu Zheng's meals were already among the best for the servants, yet he still wanted more.

"Understood."

Song Yun ultimately didn't refuse. He acknowledged the request and turned to leave. The day before, when Song Lingqing returned to the manor, Chu Zheng had behaved very much within the rules—at least enough to make him look somewhat agreeable.

Perhaps the Eldest Young Lady might also change her view of him...

Just as he stepped out of the side courtyard, Song Yun paused slightly, then abruptly turned back. Gazing at Chu Zheng basking in the sun in the distance, thoughts inevitably began to stir in his mind.

Within the manor now, he had the authority to make snap decisions. Even if he killed Chu Zheng on the spot under the pretext of colluding with outsiders, the Eldest Young Lady would at most scold him a few times afterward.

Perhaps this was a godsent opportunity—he could use this chance to make Chu Zheng disappear for good...

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

Slap—

The sharp sound of a slap rang out. Song Yun's cheek instantly swelled, and a thread of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Staring at his slightly reddened palm, Song Yun was silent for a long moment. Then he glanced at a pair of Tiger Head Shoes in the corner of the wall and let out a low laugh:

"Beast. Is this how your parents taught you to be a man?"

With Song Tonghai's permission, Song Yun acted almost without restraint, turning Song Manor upside down. In just a few days, he had arrested six people one after another.

For a time, the manor was fraught with tension—everyone felt endangered.

All the servants' rooms were searched, dug down three feet deep, unearthing many secrets.

Soon, they once again reached the Filth Room where Chu Zheng stayed.

Song Yun had only intended to go through the motions, but he never expected to find an unexpected gain.

The Filth Room was only so big. With nowhere to hide those few tomes, Chu Zheng's stash was quickly discovered.

That day, Song Lingqing had come alone and left in a hurry, never bothering to mention such a trivial matter to her family.

And given Chu Zheng's status, there was no way he could have come into contact with such texts, so suspicion naturally fell on him.

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

Compared to last time, this place now had many more torture instruments. Dark brown blood scabs clung to them—someone had already been put through them.

Most of the instruments looked brand new, freshly made.

Though the Song Manor's rules were strict, they didn't abuse private punishment. These were clearly prepared on the spot.

Song Yun didn't interrogate Chu Zheng himself. Instead, he reported the matter to Song Lingxue and laid out all of Chu Zheng's recent actions on the table.

After reviewing Chu Zheng's activities over the past few days, Song Lingxue's brow furrowed slightly. Connecting it to the day Song Lingqing returned to the manor, when Chu Zheng had stood alone outside the hall, a shadow darkened in her eyes:

"You've been running outside a lot lately. What for? Do you have acquaintances outside the manor?"