Chapter 37

"Who is it?"

Luo Qingchen asked from his bed, his voice weak.

His gaze remained fixed on the doorway, his hand quietly gripping a dagger.

At the same time, he prepared to replenish his health instantly.

This was the moment his body was at its most fragile, and thus the most dangerous time.

Although it was daytime, he could not rule out the possibility that some of those people from earlier harbored ulterior motives, having returned to take advantage of his illness and claim his life.

"Guard Luo, it's me, Xiao Cui."

The young maid's timid, frightened voice drifted from outside the door.

"Xiao Cui?"

Luo Qingchen paused at the sound, then climbed out of bed with his dagger in hand to open the door.

This freckle-faced little maid had once given him a steamed bun.

Even so, he dared not lower his guard.

"Guard Luo, I've brought you some food."

Xiao Cui stood at the threshold holding a tray, her eyes darting toward the neighboring room every so often, her face etched with terror and unease.

Clearly, she had also learned of the tragedy that occurred there last night.

Luo Qingchen reached out to take the food and was about to offer his thanks when the young maid turned and hurried away in a panic. As she ran, she called back, "Guard Luo, Miss A-Yun heard you were injured and specifically gave you her own portion. Also, after you finish eating, remember to bring the bowls and chopsticks back... Oh!"

Before she could finish, she tripped over something, stumbled, and fell flat on the ground.

Ignoring the pain, she scrambled up and fled the area in a frantic rush.

Luo Qingchen looked down at the tray; there was an extra steamed bun, a small piece of meat, and a bowl of porridge compared to his usual meals.

He closed the door and quickly polished off everything on the tray.

After sitting in the room for a while longer, he went out to return the dishes to the kitchen.

The entire Hundred Fragrance Pavilion was quiet and desolate; he did not encounter a single person along the way.

Even in the daylight, the surroundings felt eerie and grim.

Returning to his room, he carefully set up a trap before lying back down on the bed, where he soon fell asleep.

He slept until nightfall.

Just as he was preparing to replenish his health, he suddenly heard footsteps outside.

Then, a knock sounded at the door.

"Brother Luo, are you awake?"

It was Zhang Jiu's voice.

Luo Qingchen's heart tightened. He hid the dagger in his sleeve, went over to light the oil lamp on the table, and then opened the door.

Zhang Jiu stood outside.

Captain Zhou and several others stood behind him.

Zhang Jiu smiled. "Brother Luo, sorry to disturb you. Captain Zhou will be patrolling the pavilion with his men tonight. If you hear anything or see anything, just shout out loud, and Captain Zhou and his men will arrive quickly. Also, two more guards will be arriving in a few days; once you've recovered, you can join them for the night watch."

Luo Qingchen nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Boss, and thank you for the trouble, Captain Zhou."

Zhou Qingyang nodded slightly and was about to leave when he suddenly looked at him again. "Guard Luo has slept all day; is your body feeling any better?"

Before Luo Qingchen could reply, he walked over and reached out. "Come, let me check on you again, Guard Luo."

Luo Qingchen glanced at him and extended his right hand.

Zhou Qingyang gripped his wrist and slowly closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them and said, "Your blood and qi are still very weak. Guard Luo, you must eat more meat and get more rest."

With that, he turned and left with his men.

Zhang Jiu maintained his smile, reached out to pat his shoulder, and said, "Brother Luo, get some good rest. Leave the pavilion to us."

Just as he was about to follow them away, Luo Qingchen spoke up. "Boss, when can I move to a different place?"

Zhang Jiu paused, turned his head, and sighed. "Brother Luo, I can't make that decision, and neither can Sister Sun. There are regulations from above; as guards here, we can only live in this backyard. Unless you have the money to rent a place outside or buy a house yourself. Brother Luo, do you have the money?"

Luo Qingchen fell silent and said nothing more.

Zhang Jiu gave a bitter laugh and walked away quickly.

The backyard returned to silence.

After all their figures had vanished into the gloomy night ahead, Luo Qingchen returned to his room and locked the door.

It's a good thing I didn't replenish my health just now...

It seems Zhou Qingyang didn't find anything on Zhang Jiu, or perhaps he did and is pretending not to know.

After all, judging by the various traces at the scene last night, Zhang Jiu is the most suspicious.

Zhang Jiu was indeed at the scene last night and did fight with Chen Ju; he not only wounded Chen Ju but was also struck by a nail himself. If they checked carefully, it would be impossible not to have noticed.

"However, judging by the situation just now, Zhang Jiu is still free to move about and is completely unharmed."

"Clearly, the relationship between Zhang Jiu and Zhou Qingyang is not simple."

"Or perhaps, Zhang Jiu has some other formidable background."

Luo Qingchen frowned in thought while stroking the wound on his wrist.

He always felt that the Town Guard Bureau personnel coming to help patrol the night did not increase the sense of security here; on the contrary, it might have become even more dangerous.

The people from the Town Guard Bureau were also cultivators, and naturally, they also required blood.

Zhou Qingyang was an expert in the Blood Changing Realm; if he truly harbored ulterior motives and colluded with Zhang Jiu, then everyone in the pavilion might have no room to resist.

He had to cultivate quickly!

He now had blood, silver, and all the cultivation resources he needed; he had to seize the time to cultivate and break through to the Blood Changing Realm as soon as possible!

Otherwise, what awaited him would certainly not be the superficial harmony and peace of the present.

It would likely be sharper fangs and a more terrifying, bloodthirsty maw!

"Add blood!"

He immediately filled the blood in his first blood bar.

In an instant, the fatigue in his body and the lethargy of his spirit were swept away, and a surging, endless power immediately filled his body.

The oil lamp on the table flickered out.

He began to cultivate in the darkness.

Tonight was the first day Zhou Qingyang had brought men to patrol, so other problems shouldn't arise so quickly.

After all, three cultivators had just died last night.

He estimated that the entire perimeter of the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion was now under heavy guard.

"Swish!"

He practiced his punches over and over again, finally refining all the remaining medicinal energy within his body.

Inside him, the cultivation progress had increased to 160/1000.

Tomorrow, he would have to find a way to continue his medicinal baths.

He never felt at ease taking medicinal baths here; if he could find a more secluded place outside to do so, that would be even better.

As dawn approached, he finished his practice, allowing his feverish body to calm down.

Outside, it remained silent.

This dark, gloomy backyard where people always died would likely not be visited by anyone for the time being.

The tragic deaths of Chen Ju and the other two last night, having been sucked into mummies, had likely scared Zhang Jiu and the other cultivators quite badly.

Outside the window, the night color quickly receded.

After daybreak, Luo Qingchen went to the kitchen for breakfast and then headed out.

Outside the main entrance of the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion, he happened to run into Zhou Yan and Sun Tong, who were returning from outside.

The two were yawning, and their expressions shifted when they saw him.

Zhou Yan couldn't help but say, "Brother Luo, your courage is truly great. Chen Ju and the others were sucked into such a state by that monster; how could you still dare to sleep alone in the backyard last night? Weren't you afraid the monster would come back?"

Sun Tong, standing to the side, also spoke with lingering fear, "We wouldn't dare stay in that ghostly place ever again. We plan to spend some money to rent a room outside to sleep at night for the time being."

Luo Qingchen replied, "It's not that I'm courageous; I was physically weak yesterday and couldn't go anywhere. Besides, I don't have the money to rent a place outside."

Zhou Yan sighed, shook his head, and prepared to leave.

Luo Qingchen suddenly said, "Brother Zhou, Brother Sun, do you have any spare silver on you? If you do..."

"None! We really have none!"

Upon hearing this, both their faces changed, and they hurriedly said, "Brother Luo, we still have matters to discuss with the boss. See you later."

With that, the two hurried into the building.

"Renting a house to live outside?"

Luo Qingchen watched their retreating figures, raised a hand to touch the silver hidden against his chest, and a look of contemplation appeared between his brows.

He walked toward the street ahead.

The morning street was somewhat desolate, and the vendors along the roadside looked listless and drowsy.

Hm?

As he was walking down the street, lost in thought, he suddenly felt someone following him.

He turned his head to look, and a corner of a garment quickly flashed into the alley on the right.