The Mystery of the Golden Marrow Poison Begins to Unravel, and an Enemy Emerges

Jiang Xu parted from them on the way, giving Shi Xiuyan a close and encouraging injunction: "Cultivate well, and reach Tendon Forging soon."

He patted Shi Xiuyan on the shoulder: "Give my regards to Master Shi." Then he smiled at Liu Yunche, nodded in acknowledgment, and immediately turned to leave.

He Wu was the last to walk away. At the moment of departure, he smiled at Liu Yunche with a trace of a merchant's shrewdness:

"If Brother Yunche has leisure, you can come find me in the south of the city; I will certainly sweep the mats to welcome you."

Facing the twilight afterglow, Liu Yunche smiled and accepted: "If I have free time, naturally I must come to trouble Brother He."

Shi Xiuyan and Liu Yunche walked side by side down the street, while Wei Cong and another person silently followed behind them.

"Yunche, the outer-city hunt Senior Brother Jiang mentioned is worth going to." Shi Xiuyan spoke abruptly.

Liu Yunche glanced at him, said nothing, and walked quietly forward.

Before taking many steps, he heard Shi Xiuyan continue: "Senior Brother Jiang was once saved by my old man. Therefore, he is quite close with my household."

Liu Yunche nodded inwardly, so that was how it was. The close words Jiang Xu had used toward him at the banquet were presumably also for the sake of Qing Yue.

Shi Xiuyan continued: "Li Xuantong is proud but not arrogant. Just as you said, her temperament is straightforward, and she cannot keep things hidden. This is one of the reasons I associate with her."

"Li Xuansheng is indeed a gentleman, and holds much virtuous renown within the Martial Academy."

"He Wu's family background is not small; he can serve as a help."

Shi Xiuyan paused, the corners of his mouth turning up:

"These people are all worth interacting with and building mutual connections. Yunche, I am pulling you into this circle. If you make a carp leap over the dragon gate in the future, don't forget me."

Just now, upon hearing Shi Xiuyan's analysis, Liu Yunche had almost thought his temperament had changed, but he never expected that a few words would revert him to his original form, remaining the very same Shi Xiuyan he knew.

He smiled, resting his right hand on Shi Xiuyan's shoulder, his tone revealing a trace of confidence: "Rest assured, in the future I will certainly give you a pull."

Shi Xiuyan laughed heartily: "A single pull is not enough..."

The two walked across the arched bridge and through the street corner.

Shi Xiuyan said softly: "Yunche, you really have changed a great deal during this period. You have less of your former reticence, more confidence... and also a bit more edge."

"Qing Yue, people all grow. Especially after experiencing life and death, one understands all the better what they need."

"My old man says there is great terror between life and death, and also great good fortune. Seen this way, that is truly not false." Shi Xiuyan sighed with emotion.

At that very moment, a group of aristocratic youths walked toward them from ahead. The one in the lead was resplendently dressed, and as he conversed with those around him, a faint air of arrogance emanated from his eyes.

This person Liu Yunche knew: Liu Yu, a collateral branch member of the Liu Household, one of the Three Great Families of Verdant Grain County.

Years ago, the two of them had studied together at the academy. Because they shared the surname Liu, they had been mistaken for members of the same family, and the other had been quite polite to him.

Later, after knowing the truth, the other's attitude had instantly turned cold, and in past days they rarely had any dealings.

"Isn't this Yunche? I heard your household suffered a change some days ago, and you asked the academy for a long leave. How is it you have time to stroll outside today?"

Sun Tai stood behind Liu Yu with a smiling face and earnest words, and anyone who didn't know would have thought he was concerned about Liu Yunche.

This person was Liu Yu's lackey, the son of a small merchant whose family business entirely depended on the Liu Household.

With a second thought, Liu Yunche understood what the "matters at home" in Sun Tai's mouth meant. It was presumably just the reason his father had used to ask for leave for him.

As for Sun Tai himself, he was like a piece of dog-skin plaster; whenever they met, he would come up to sneer a few times. In the past, Liu Yunche's temperament was mild, and he had never bothered to argue with him.

Sun Tai did not know where he had learned that Liu Yunche and Liu Yu seemed to have a conflict, and wanted to use this method to ingratiate himself with Liu Yu.

Yet in Liu Yunche's eyes, this kind of behavior was nothing more than dogs barking at the moon, adding only to the amusement.

Such a person was not worth Liu Yunche's attention; when an opportunity arose, he would simply crush him to death. What he cared about more was the person next to Sun Tai—someone he didn't have a deep impression of, but vaguely remembered being called Zheng Shen.

The moment this person had seen him just now, a flash of panic had crossed his eyes. Although it was quickly reined in, Liu Yunche had still detected it.

Before Liu Yunche could reply, Shi Xiuyan at his side took the lead in losing patience. Glaring with horizontal brows, he let out a cold snort:

"I wondered who was chewing their tongue in disorder, and it turns out to be an unknown stray dog."

"Yunche has a good temper and doesn't quibble with you. I don't have this kind of patience; if you dare run your mouth again, don't blame me for being impolite."

With that, Shi Xiuyan raised his fist, and a fierce, bold aura was undoubtedly displayed.

He had followed Shi Xiuyan for years in cultivation, occasionally going out for experiential training, and had long since seen blood on his hands. He was far from comparable to these pampered aristocratic youths.

The crowd's expressions turned horrified, and Liu Yu's expression also changed.

Sun Tai was even frightened into taking a step back, his face turning red with anger and embarrassment. Yet as he looked at Shi Xiuyan's faintly glowing fist, he did not dare utter a single sound.

Liu Yu stared at Shi Xiuyan and shouted coldly: "Such formidable prestige."

Shi Xiuyan had even prepared himself to strike, but he never expected Liu Yu to violently flick his sleeve and turn away, his actions clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation or drag.

Liu Yu's martial arts talent was poor, and it was only under the vigorous support of his household that he had reached the Iron Skin Realm; wanting to go a step further would take at least years.

Moreover, he recognized the person opposite him: the young master of the Rolling Stone Martial Arts Hall—Shi Xiuyan.

Even if he rushed up, he would only end up getting beaten, and his family wouldn't seek justice for him on that account. It was better to turn and leave; either way, it was just losing a bit of face.

He still understood the principle that a wise man submits to circumstances.

Sun Tai stared foolishly at Liu Yu's back, and not daring to linger, hurriedly followed after him.

Once these two left, the remaining people scattered like birds and beasts. Zheng Shen also blended among them, vanishing into an alley.

Gazing at his back, Liu Yunche pondered for a moment, but did not plan to risk his own body.

"Yunche, it's not that I'm scolding you, but your temper is still too soft. If anyone dared provoke me, I would have struck long ago."

"It's fine if your temper was soft before you practiced martial arts, but if you're still like this after practicing, hasn't your martial training been in vain?" Shi Xiuyan exhorted him earnestly from the side.

Liu Yunche said decisively: "Alright, if there is a next time, I will strike directly."

"That's more like it. All right, enough talk. I'm leaving first." Shi Xiuyan waved his hand and turned away.

Night fell, and twinkling stars dotted the firmament.

After stepping into the alley, Zheng Shen's pace grew slow, the expression on his face shifting as if he had encountered a difficult problem hard to resolve. After a long while, he finally made up his mind and followed the road toward a certain courtyard in the east of the city.

All the way, he was cautious and careful, from time to time glancing left and right with a nervous expression, terrified of being tracked. This sort of appearance naturally looked like he had a guilty conscience in the eyes of those who cared.

Finally, he arrived at a secluded courtyard. Zheng Shen pressed his body against the door, placed his fingers on the knocker, and knocked three times in a rhythmic pattern.

Then he waited quietly, and after several breaths, the door slowly opened. Inside was pitch-black with no light, and Zheng Shen hurried inside.

Although it was not his first time coming, the pitch-black environment, leaking a gloomy and chilling cold, still made his whole body tremble.

A low voice came from the main room, carrying a trace of suppressed annoyance: "The timing is not right; why come here?"

Daring not to delay, Zheng Shen bowed low and poured out everything about seeing Liu Yunche today.

"Didn't you say that Golden Marrow Poison had no cure? Today I saw that Liu Yunche, and he was still as lively as a tiger on the streets."

"Oh?" A surprised voice came from within the room. "There is actually such a thing?"

Perhaps this matter aroused the curiosity of the person inside, for Zheng Shen heard a creaking sound of a push of the door, and an elderly man in a black robe with gloomy eyes and a hooked nose slowly walked out.

Zheng Shen glanced at him, then hastily lowered his head, not daring to look again.

"This poison is rare. Let alone Verdant Grain County, even in the Prefecture City few have heard of it. To say it has no cure is naturally correct."

The old man muttered to himself, also explaining to Zheng Shen.

The fingertips he exposed to the air were pitch-black, and as his fingers rubbed together, a faint, strange fragrance diffused. He muttered under his breath: "Could some high expert have passed by?"

Sniffing the strange fragrance abruptly, Zheng Shen tightened his heart. Remembering the terrifying rumors about the person before him, he instinctively closed his breath.

Zheng Shen's small movements fell into the old man's eyes. Unconcerned, the old man let out bursts of weird laughter:

"Kid, if this old man wanted to poison you, you would have already turned into pus. If it weren't for your family having a bit of friendship with me, trash like you wouldn't even be qualified to die at my hands."

Zheng Shen hurriedly bowed and smiled ingratiatingly: "Senior is right; it was this junior who was abrupt."

The old man shook his head and sighed:

"Seeing you, this old man finally understands why the Zheng Clan is growing more and more fallen."

Zheng Shen did not dare to answer, his expression somewhat abashed.

"I know about this matter." The old man looked at the Zheng Shen before him with extreme impatience.

"Then... Liu Yunche..." Zheng Shen stammered, hope in his eyes.

The old man furrowed his brows and glanced sideways at Zheng Shen: "Hm?"

"This old man sold the Golden Marrow Poison to you; that was a single transaction. As for... other matters, those naturally carry another price."

Before the voice faded, the old man's body suddenly lurched forward, and Zheng Shen was startled and fell to the ground.

"With your worth, you aren't qualified to make me move."

"Scram," the old man waved his hand as if swatting a fly, saying sinisterly: "If there is a next time, and you don't abide by the rules... you can stay behind and go to the back courtyard to help me tend the medicinal herbs."

Not daring to say a single word, Zheng Shen propped himself up with his hands, bowed with folded fists, and then scuttled away in a dejected state.

After a moment, Zheng Shen walked out of the courtyard gate, looked around in a wretched and haggard manner, and finding no one about, quickly departed.

What Zheng Shen did not know was that his actions had fallen clearly into a pair of eyes.

The panicked expression, the mud stained on the hem of his robe, and so on—not a single detail missed.

Liu Yunche returned alone, making his way unhurriedly toward the Cloud Perch Courtyard, pondering Zheng Shen's affairs in his heart while likewise waiting for someone.

An hour passed. Liu Yunche sat in the pavilion, holding a teacup by his fingertips, leisurely and contentedly sipping his tea.

Suddenly, a figure vaulted in from over the wall.

"You're here. Come sit down and talk." As if he had long known who the visitor was, Liu Yunche spoke while conveniently pouring a cup of tea for the newcomer.

The newcomer wore a gloomy expression with a scratch over his left eyebrow: it was none other than Wei Cong.

"Young Master, following your instructions, I trailed Zheng Shen the entire way. This fellow truly has a secret." Wei Cong took the teacup, gulped down a mouthful, and then spoke.

"Tell me slowly. Was there any danger on this trip?"

"I acted with caution, following Zheng Shen to a secluded courtyard. However, I didn't go in. Zheng Shen stayed inside for about the time of an incense stick before coming out."

"When he came out, he was extremely disheveled, and the hem of his robe was even stained with mud."

Liu Yunche nodded in praise: "Not going in was correct; the depth of the courtyard is unknown, so one must not take risks."

Wei Cong squeezed out a smile: "This is also thanks to the master's teachings. I've followed the master for over twenty years; I haven't learned much else, but I've picked up a few fractions of the master's caution."

Pausing briefly, Wei Cong spoke out the conjecture in his bottom of his heart: "That courtyard has something strange about it; I didn't dare get too close."

"The smell there was wrong."

"A smell?" Liu Yunche asked doubtfully.

"Indeed. I've roamed the pugilistic world with the master for many years, and I've seen many martial arts experts fall precisely to these minor details."

Liu Yunche's gaze congealed, and after pondering for a moment, he slowly spat out a single word:

"Poison!"

As soon as these words left his mouth, Liu Yunche instantly associated them with his own poisoning. Coupled with Zheng Shen's panicked expression today...

His fingertips unconsciously tapped against the stone table, clearly contemplating the connections and conspiracy behind the scenes.

"Young Master, this matter is no small thing. I will go report it to the master right now." Wei Cong said.

"Good, go." Liu Yunche cupped his fists in a salute. "Many thanks for today, Lao Wei, for letting you risk your own body."

Old Wei returned the salute with cupped fists, and then left the Cloud Perch Courtyard by the exact same path he had entered.