[Minor Heavenly Cycle Qi Circulation Method +1] [Minor Heavenly Cycle Qi Circulation Method +1] ...
"Practicing the Qi Circulation Method is indeed convenient. Anytime, anywhere, as long as True Essence circulates through the meridians throughout the body, one can draw primordial energy from heaven and earth and strengthen oneself."
"However, each point of progress in the Qi Circulation Method takes longer than before."
Nearly half an hour passed, and the Qi Circulation Method had advanced by only seven points.
Chen Zhuo slowly opened his eyes. Feeling how difficult it was to strengthen the True Essence in his qi sea, he couldn't help sighing inwardly:
"To make progress as fiercely as before, I'll need the True Blood of a demon beast—and it'll have to be a second-tier one."
Chen Zhuo's fingers tapped idly on the tabletop. After a long while, he had only one answer.
After the Autumn Hunt, he would have to go to the Northern Suppressing Faction.
At the thought, Chen Zhuo looked up at Sun Fei and asked, "What kind of place is the Northern Suppressing Faction, exactly?"
That name existed in his memories of his previous life, but he wasn't sure whether the Northern Suppressing Faction of this world was the same as the one he remembered.
"You're awake? Have some tea first."
Sun Fei turned his gaze from the window, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Chen Zhuo.
"Thanks."
Chen Zhuo pressed his index and middle fingers together and tapped the table three times.
Sun Fei nodded slightly. His expression suddenly changed, turning solemn.
"Within the borders of Great Yong, anyone involved with demons or evil forces can be executed first and reported afterward, with imperial authorization!"
"That is the Northern Suppressing Faction."
Chen Zhuo's expression grew grave.
So powerful and overbearing. As expected, no one who dared call themselves the Northern Suppressing Faction was ordinary.
No wonder his master had mentioned it in the last page of the Inheritance Manual, despite writing only a few brief lines.
The Demon Prison held countless kinds of demon beasts.
If he joined the Northern Suppressing Faction, would he ever be short of Demon Blood?
At the thought, Chen Zhuo couldn't help breathing more heavily.
"Joining the Northern Suppressing Faction would naturally be ideal. As long as you have the ability, drinking Demon Blood and resting your head on secret manuals aren't impossible."
Sun Fei fell silent for a moment after speaking, then changed tack. "But you should also know that the Northern Suppressing Faction now recruits talent directly from the county yamen runners because serving in the Northern Faction comes with a very high rate of casualties. And that's nothing compared to special assignments. Often, ten people go out, and if even one comes back, it counts as a good outcome."
Chen Zhuo nodded. "We should indeed be cautious."
Staying alive in one piece would always matter more than Demon Blood.
"However..."
Sun Fei smiled. "If you and I can join the Northern Suppressing Faction together, then when we go out on assignments, if we run into danger, we'll at least have a brother to fight back-to-back with."
"That would greatly reduce the risk of dying."
Chen Zhuo smiled and nodded, but then a thought occurred to him, leaving him a little puzzled.
"Come to think of it, you're the eldest young master of the Sun Family. What makes you think I have what it takes to fight back-to-back with you, instead of dragging you down?"
Ever since they'd first met, Sun Fei had seemed to have a blind faith in his abilities.
Sun Fei smiled mysteriously. "It's a secret."
Chen Zhuo smiled faintly and didn't ask further.
Just then, Chen Zhuo's brows twitched almost imperceptibly. He turned his head, his gaze settling directly on the gambling den downstairs.
"That demonic aura... Why did it disappear?"
Chen Zhuo stared at the gambling den, quietly circulating True Essence through his body as he extended his senses to their limit.
"There it is."
His gaze followed the demonic aura to the other side of the gambling den.
It was too far away. If he hadn't reached Aperture Opening, he wouldn't have been able to sense the aura at all.
"Hmm? It's still moving?"
Chen Zhuo held his breath and focused, keeping his senses trained on the moving aura.
The aura circled outside the gambling den, then gradually grew thicker again.
The demonic aura seemed to be... coming toward him?
Chen Zhuo's expression darkened as he stared intently at the busy street below.
A moment later, an average-built, plain-looking middle-aged man suddenly emerged from an alley nearby.
Chen Zhuo's eyes narrowed slightly.
The Demon-Seeking Art couldn't be wrong. Beneath this man's ordinary appearance, a body full of Demon Blood was concealed.
Had he replaced his blood with demon blood? Could he be from the Long River Gang?
Within Chen Zhuo's field of vision, the middle-aged man stepped out of the alley, glanced around, then crossed through the crowd and headed straight into the teahouse where Chen Zhuo was.
"Is he here for me?"
Chen Zhuo's hand brushed lightly over the mottled hilt of his saber.
In his senses, the demonic aura was growing ever thicker.
Sun Fei noticed his strange behavior and gave him a puzzled look.
Sun Fei was just about to ask when a knock sounded at the door.
A gentle voice followed.
"Young Master, are you still in there?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Sun Fei immediately recognized who was outside.
But just as he began to rise, the person outside pushed the door open and entered.
"What a strong demonic aura. He's probably replaced nearly all the blood in his body by now."
As soon as the man opened the door, Chen Zhuo felt an intensely powerful demonic aura rush toward him.
He was certain that the man had replaced his blood with demon blood—and that every drop of it was False Blood.
"Uncle Qian, what brings you out here?"
Sun Fei greeted the middle-aged man with a smile.
But as soon as Uncle Qian stepped inside, he asked with a dark expression, "Why didn't you go into the gambling den? If you keep waiting around here, another family will snatch up the slot."
As Uncle Qian spoke, he glanced at Chen Zhuo once, then immediately looked away.
"Uncle Qian, don't rush. Come sit."
Sun Fei gestured toward a chair.
Uncle Qian kept his stern expression and didn't even touch the chair. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly waiting for Sun Fei to explain himself.
Sun Fei seemed accustomed to Uncle Qian's attitude. He didn't think it was a case of the servant turning master, nor did he feel offended. His expression unchanged, he said, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Why should we go in and fight to the death?"
Uncle Qian was momentarily stunned. His brows furrowed, and he seemed about to flare up, but then, as if something had occurred to him, his expression gradually settled.
"You've grown up. You have your own ideas and make your own decisions when things happen. That's good."
Uncle Qian sighed softly, first praising Sun Fei, then asking, "Let me hear your plan and see if there are any gaps."
Sun Fei glanced at Chen Zhuo and, after getting his approval, spoke frankly.
"I had Yangzi put on a robe and go in to gather information. He'll see which family comes out on top, then follow them discreetly and signal us when the time is right."
Uncle Qian nodded when he heard this. "It's a good plan, but it's too thin."
"What do you mean?"
"If someone sees through Yangzi's disguise, wouldn't that be a waste of a golden opportunity?"
"Yangzi is clever, and his martial arts aren't weak. Even if someone sees through him, at the very least he can fire a Signal Arrow."
"Still, it's not good enough. I'll have to keep an eye on things myself before I can feel at ease."
Before Sun Fei could agree, Uncle Qian turned and hurried out.
"Hey, hey, Uncle Qian..."
Sun Fei tried to call him back, but Uncle Qian had already gone downstairs, leaving him no way to stop him.
"Brother Chen, Uncle Qian is a good man, but that's just how he is. Don't take it to heart."
From the moment he entered to the moment he left, the middle-aged man had glanced at Chen Zhuo only once, without even greeting him. Clearly, he hadn't thought much of Chen Zhuo.
Seeing Chen Zhuo fall quiet, Sun Fei was perceptive enough to notice.
"It's nothing."
Chen Zhuo smiled and waved a hand.
He hadn't cared about such trivial details at all.
What he cared about was whether Huang Yuan'er would personally show himself later.
How could Uncle Qian, who had replaced his blood with demon blood, still have a single honest word in his mouth?
Once Chen Zhuo knew who he was, he was certain that the gambling den's auction today was a sham. The real purpose was to set a death trap for him.
"Trying to use Fatty Sun to lure me into the trap?"
Through Uncle Qian, Chen Zhuo had already seen through Huang Yuan'er's plan.
Anyone else would have been best off going downstairs and returning straight to the yamen.
But Chen Zhuo didn't want to.
He turned to stare at the gambling den and suddenly smiled. A blade was hidden in that smile.
Not long afterward, a Signal Arrow suddenly shot into the sky about five streets away from the gambling den.
Whoosh—pop!
Sun Fei sprang to his feet.
"Let's go."
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