Don't Want to Stir Up Trouble

Song Ping personally saw him to the door. Watching Li Xingluo's retreating figure, Song Ping slowly pushed his wheelchair toward the bed.

With a single "Father" followed by a long sigh, Song Ping's eyes were filled with sorrow.

In a secluded alley south of Ink Cloud City, a figure in black robes did not turn around upon hearing footsteps, merely asking in a slow, leisurely tone.

"What is it?"

The newcomer spoke in detail, and as the black-robed figure listened, his eyes grew increasingly dark and gloomy, until he finally could not hold back.

"What? You mean to say that old immortal of the Song Clan and his crippled son have a good chance?"

The newcomer nodded slightly, serving as an answer for the black-robed figure.

"I absolutely will not allow such a thing to happen. After plotting for so many years, with success finally in sight, how could I let someone ruin it? Absolutely not." The black-robed figure was nearly frantic, his eyes filled with viciousness, bloodshot veins bulging in his eyeballs.

After his Berserk Rage, the black-robed figure slowly calmed down, released the newcomer's collar, and fell into deep thought.

Seemingly having come up with a plan, he signaled for the newcomer to come closer, whispered something into his ear, and upon hearing it, the newcomer's eyes lit up, and he nodded fiercely.

"Go, get this done."

"Yes!" The newcomer turned and left, while the black-robed figure clenched his fists tightly, as if harboring deep hatred for someone.

Night fell, and just as Li Xingluo was resting in his room, there came a hurried knocking at the door.

Opening the door, he saw that Song Xue looked extremely anxious.

"What is this?"

Song Xue caught her breath, her expression tinged with sadness, and she lowered her head as if admitting a fault. "I searched the warehouse for a long time but couldn't find one of the medicinal ingredients. Even more strangely, I went to every pharmacy in our family's market and couldn't find it either. They all said it sold out a few days ago."

Li Xingluo listened to Song Xue's description while pacing back and forth, pondering every word she said.

The medicinal ingredients on the list were not of a high grade; this shouldn't be happening.

"Miss Song Xue, I wonder, besides you, who else has seen the list I gave you?"

Song Xue rested her chin on her hand, her mind racing, before she suddenly looked up.

"Second Uncle?"

"Your Second Uncle saw the list? When?"

Song Xue lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong, muttering.

"It was when he accompanied me to the warehouse to get the herbs. The warehouse has always been under Second Uncle's care, so when he asked to see it, I gave it to him."

Li Xingluo was left speechless, caught between laughter and tears. He had already instructed Song Xue that no one but her should touch the list he wrote, yet she had done exactly that.

Song Xue seemed to grasp some message from Li Xingluo's words and gaze; she shook her head repeatedly, her eyes darting around as she spoke.

"No, that's impossible. How could Second Uncle... that's my grandfather, after all."

"I didn't say anything, but if this ingredient is missing, it will be very difficult to save your grandfather's life."

"No, you must have another way, right?" Song Xue gripped Li Xingluo's arm tightly, tears streaming down her face again.

"Right, the Su Clan's pharmacy might have it. I'll go buy it now."

As if grasping at a straw, Song Xue released Li Xingluo's arm and turned to run outside.

Li Xingluo shook his head helplessly. This girl was truly foolish; the Song Clan and the Su Clan were currently at daggers drawn, so it was unlikely they would sell anything to her.

Li Xingluo quietly followed after her. After all, the Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid was still in Song Xue's hands; if something happened to her, he wouldn't know who to demand it from. What a nuisance.

Song Xue went straight to the Su Clan's pharmacy, and the moment she stepped inside, the pharmacy doors slammed shut.

Sure enough, it was all a setup. Li Xingluo quietly climbed onto the rafters and looked through the window.

Song Xue was already surrounded by a patrol squad lying in ambush for the Su Clan.

"Is this how your Su Clan does business?"

"Sorry, our Su Clan only does this kind of business with the Song Clan. Eldest Miss Song, I advise you not to struggle and come with us obediently, otherwise, we won't be gentle."

The captain in the lead looked at Song Xue triumphantly, as if watching a lamb fall into a pack of wolves.

"I would rather die than go with you." Song Xue drew her whip, showing no fear even when facing a group that outnumbered her and possessed higher cultivation levels.

"Fine, then let us experience the high techniques of the Song Clan's eldest miss. Attack! Just don't kill her; she's still useful."

"Yes!" The patrol squad launched their attacks on Song Xue one after another.

Dealing with these patrol members, Song Xue appeared quite capable, brandishing her whip to keep the group at bay and even wounding several of them.

Seeing that over a dozen members couldn't take down a young girl, the patrol captain flew into a rage, cursed them as "trash," and attacked personally.

Song Xue was still occupied with the other patrol members and did not notice the captain's strike. Just as a palm was about to hit her back and the captain was gloating over his successful sneak attack...

His striking hand suddenly seemed to be hit by something, and he let out a cry of pain as blood seeped from the center of his palm.

Only then did Song Xue notice the captain who had ambushed her; she spun around, whipped out, and sent him flying with a heavy blow.

The sudden turn of events left the patrol members surrounding Song Xue stunned, and they all ceased their attacks.

The middle-aged man behind the counter saw the patrol captain sent flying by Song Xue, cursed "trash" as well, and leaped out from behind the counter.

A pair of large hands, like the iron talons of a hawk, attacked Song Xue. She lashed out with her whip, but to her surprise, the opponent caught it with ease.

Song Xue tugged hard on the whip, but it remained motionless; the middle-aged man gave a forceful yank, causing Song Xue to tumble toward him.

Song Xue felt as if she were caught in a suction force, unable to break free, and as the distance closed, she clearly saw him gathering his strength to deliver a fatal blow.

At the critical moment, a flash of cold light streaked across the air, forcing the middle-aged man to instinctively release the whip and retreat.

The middle-aged man gasped, realizing that had he been even a fraction of a second slower, he would have ended up just like the patrol captain.

He couldn't help but recall how the patrol captain had launched a sneak attack earlier, and even though Song Xue hadn't noticed, she had still suffered—could it be...

The middle-aged man cupped his hands in a salute, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"I do not know which friend is here, but could you please show some respect to the Su Clan? This is a matter between the Su Clan and the Song Clan."

Song Xue also realized that someone was helping from the shadows, recalling everything that had just happened to the patrol captain.

"I have no interest in the conflict between your two clans." Li Xingluo deliberately lowered his voice, making it sound rough and hoarse.

"If that is the case, why did you intervene, friend?" The middle-aged man tried to locate the speaker based on the sound.

"It is simply that This Seat cannot stand to see you bullying the few with the many, or the weak with the strong."

The source of the voice had shifted again, and it had happened without a sound; the middle-aged man felt a sudden sense of dread.

The oblivious patrol captain scanned his surroundings and, finding no one, roared in anger: "Who goes there? If you have the guts, stop acting like a coward and come out! This is the business of our Su Clan. If you don't want trouble, leave now, or else when we find you, we will make you pay!"

"Is that so?"

As soon as those two words were spoken, the patrol captain, who had been shouting arrogantly just a moment ago, suddenly collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth; within a few breaths, he had ceased to breathe.

Everyone was shocked at the sight, and the middle-aged man, seeing the state of the patrol captain's death, was filled with terror.

"A Poison Master? Are you a Poison Master?"

Upon hearing the words "Poison Master," the crowd was even more terrified; someone capable of killing a Six-Star Dou Master without a sound was not an opponent they, a group of small fry, could contend with.

Song Xue naturally saw the miserable state of the patrol captain lying on the ground, devoid of any breath.