Transaction

Inside the side chamber.

As Li Yuan's words fell.

Qin Jiu's expression instantly turned cold.

This man was truly insolent—not only did he ignore his words, but he also brazenly tried to incite Wang Yue, showing no regard for the Qin Family at all.

"What nerve!"

Wang Yue roared in anger, his figure darting forward like a ghost to close in on the man.

Then, with a tremor of his palm and fingers, he struck down fiercely.

The latter's face showed surprise.

At the same time, he raised his hand to parry.

"Boom"

Their fists and palms clashed, each retreating several steps, while the nearby octagonal table inexplicably burst apart.

"Are you truly loyal, or merely feigning it?"

Li Yuan's eyes narrowed into slits.

His robes billowed, stirring without wind.

"The Four Seasons Pharmacy has never meddled in the struggles of major powers. My visit today is solely for business. If you're unwilling, I, Li, will drop the matter. If we continue, not only will you die, but that boy will die as well."

"What exactly are you trying to do?!"

Wang Yue glared furiously, but ultimately wary of the man's final words, he refrained from pressing the attack.

Hearing this, Li Yuan said with a hint of deeper meaning, "You are about to face a great calamity."

"That spirit beast formula is truly rare. If it were to vanish, it would be a great pity. I, Li, have come today to purchase that formula. Young friend, since Wang Yue is willing to be your servant, then I, Li, ask you: are you willing to sell the formula to me?"

"As a condition."

"I, Li, can take you away from this place of trouble."

"Of course, you may also propose other terms. As long as I can fulfill them, I will ensure your satisfaction."

As he spoke toward the end.

His gaze fell on Qin Jiu.

"You might as well speak more plainly."

Qin Jiu said expressionlessly, "What do you mean by 'great calamity'? Could it be that the Four Seasons Pharmacy intends to move against the Qin Family? Or are the successive attacks on the three great families by demons all the work of the Four Seasons Pharmacy?"

But Li Yuan only said flatly, "You just need to answer me: sell or not."

"Not selling."

Those two words fell.

Li Yuan's face showed no emotion.

He turned and walked very directly toward the door.

Seeing this, Wang Yue was instantly on high alert, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the man.

When the latter reached the doorway, his figure paused slightly.

Then he pulled an iron block from his bosom.

Tossing it casually behind him, he said at the same time, "Don't be too hasty to refuse. If one day you suddenly change your mind, you may come to the pharmacy to find me. As long as you bring the formula, my offer will stand, no matter when."

"Young master, this old servant is useless."

Wang Yue knelt on the ground, his face full of guilt.

Qin Jiu picked up the iron block from the floor and shook his head. "There's no need for you to blame yourself for this. If I weren't here, you wouldn't have had to be so restrained."

"Now, I'm quite curious about the Four Seasons Pharmacy."

"What background do they really have?"

He rubbed the object in his hand.

This was precisely the Cold Jade Marrow.

"Hard to fathom."

Qin Jiu's brow was tightly furrowed.

If Li Yuan bore no hostility, then why had he come straight for the spirit beast formula upon entering, even trying to bribe Wang Yue with healing pills? If he did bear hostility, with his supreme martial skill, he could have simply attacked directly—why bother with the pretense of a fair trade?

And in the end, he had even left behind the Cold Jade Marrow.

Not to mention what he had said about a great calamity...

"The Four Seasons Pharmacy has a long heritage, having taken root in Songshan County for at least three or four hundred years. Neither the late family head in his lifetime nor any other power was willing to antagonize them—not even the county government."

"As for their origins, this old servant does not know."

"However, the Weapon-Forging Shop in the inner city, just like the Four Seasons Pharmacy, has an impressive background. It's said these two forces share no small connection."

"Precisely because of that, it's all the more strange."

Qin Jiu shook his head.

He didn't dwell on it further.

Whether it was those two forces or that Li Yuan, none of them were opponents he could contend with now.

"Regardless, the Cold Jade Marrow is in hand."

"Next comes inscribing the talent."

"Then raising my own martial realm. One refinement—far from enough..."

Exiting the tavern.

Qin Jiu had originally planned to have Wang Yue drive back to the Qin Mansion.

But halfway there, he overheard some talk.

Which made him change his mind on the spot.

"Young Master, it seems something major has happened to the Zhao Family."

"I heard it too."

Inside the carriage.

Qin Jiu's expression shifted slightly.

Outside the carriage, many common folk, even peddlers and laborers, were loudly discussing how the Zhao Family had been wiped out.

"Let's take a detour and have a look."

"Yes."

Wang Yue acknowledged.

Then he urged the horses faster, heading straight for the Zhao Mansion.

In the span of just two incense sticks' time.

Qin Jiu arrived before the Zhao Mansion's gates.

At this moment, the entrance was packed with onlookers, among them constables in cloud-patterned blue robes, moving in and out of the Zhao Mansion.

"What happened to the Zhao Family?"

"Word is they were wiped out by a demon."

"A whole great family. Their guard corps had at least a hundred martial artists, and now they're all corpses on the ground—not even a single intact body can be found. It's too... no, too tragic."

"A catastrophe beyond compare."

The crowd's clamor shook the heavens.

Qin Jiu frowned, pushed through the crowd, and after having Wang Yue negotiate with the county office personnel, he stepped into the front courtyard.

The moment he entered.

A thick stench of blood assaulted his nostrils.

"How many died here?"

"Nearly everyone."

A constable accompanying him replied, "A few days ago, for reasons unknown, the Zhao Family acted as if facing a great enemy, summoning all their guards to patrol and defend. Yet last night, no one knows what happened—the entire family was slaughtered."

"The methods were extremely brutal."

"Most terrifying of all, no screams of agony were heard from the Zhao Mansion last night."

As they spoke.

The group had already arrived at the Zhao Family's reception hall.

Inside, several figures stood side by side.

Seemingly investigating something.

Qin Jiu's expression flickered with surprise, for he recognized one of them—it was Han Zheng, the head of the Han Family.

"Uncle Han, you're here as well."

"Nephew..."

Han Zheng nodded gravely.

Qin Jiu walked to his side and asked, "Was this done by the same demon that attacked the Han Family?"

"Yes and no."

Han Zheng cast a discreet glance at Wang Yue, then sighed, "The aura is similar, but I am certain this is not the demon that broke into my Han Family that day. If the demon that attacked us back then had been this one, I fear the Han Family's fate would have been no different from the Zhao Family's."

"What is the current situation of the Zhao Family?"

"They're all dead."

Han Zheng's tone was far from calm. "The Zhao Family's two Internal Fortification experts were obliterated, not even a complete corpse left. The rest—family members, guards, everyone—died on the spot."

Hearing this, Qin Jiu's breath caught in his throat.

The Zhao Family, the very ones he had suspected.

Had been wiped out without a sound, just like that.

Recalling Li Yuan's words from not long ago, he nearly broke out in goosebumps. That "you all" the other had mentioned probably didn't refer solely to the Qin Family...

"Even Internal Fortification martial artists died so silently."

"This inner city has become the dangerous place instead."

"No wonder Li Yuan spoke that way..."

Qin Jiu's expression turned grave.

Today's events sent chills down his spine. The Qin Family's only Internal Fortification expert now was Wang Yue, and even he wasn't at full strength. If the demon that slaughtered the Zhao Family set its sights on the Qin Family, the consequences would be incalculable.

"I'm not one to cling stubbornly to rules."

"If disaster truly looms."

"Then it's just a single secret formula—giving it away wouldn't hurt."