A Life-Saving Grace, Qi-Replenishing Pill

Having just dealt with that group of Mid Bright Force martial artists, Zhou Haiyan turned around and happened to see Gu De's fleeing back.

A Dark Force expert like Gu De had actually run away?

She stood frozen for a while before coming back to her senses. Then she hurried over to Lu Fan and looked him over from head to toe.

Only after confirming that the old man beneath the Cracked Mask was breathing steadily and had not suffered any serious injuries did she secretly let out a sigh of relief. She clasped her fists and bowed.

"Old Mr. Chen, could it be that you had already stepped into the Dark Force realm? I was disrespectful before. Please forgive me."

"It's nothing." Lu Fan waved a hand, making no effort to clear up Zhou Haiyan's misunderstanding as he turned and walked toward the carriage.

By then, Old Zhang, the steward, had already ordered people to gather up the scattered goods and reload them. Once he had finished, he quickly came before Lu Fan and gave him a deep bow.

"Old Chen—no, Lord Chen. We have you to thank for this. If not for you driving Gu De away, this shipment and this old man's life would both have been left on the road today. Rest assured, once we return, I will report this to the master and have your reward increased. We will never let your efforts go unrewarded."

Lu Fan nodded.

Old Zhang did not exchange any further pleasantries and respectfully withdrew.

Before long, the group arrived at Feng City and delivered the goods to the other party as agreed.

During the handover, Lu Fan gave the goods another look. Jade bottles were arranged neatly inside brocade boxes, each sealed tightly with a red-lettered strip of paper.

Noticing Lu Fan's curiosity, Old Zhang smiled, took out a jade bottle, and poured out its contents.

They were black pills, each emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

"These are all Qi-Replenishing Pills. They are greatly beneficial for Dark Force martial artists seeking to replenish their qi and blood. A single bottle is worth a thousand taels of silver. If this shipment sells smoothly, its total value will exceed three hundred thousand taels. It is also the Qin Household's most important transaction at present."

Lu Fan's gaze lingered on one of the Qi-Replenishing Pills.

Medicine effective on Dark Force martial artists naturally meant its effects far surpassed those of meat.

He was only separated from the Dark Force realm by a single layer of window paper. He would soon have use for these things.

Old Zhang seemed to sense what he was thinking and immediately handed over the bottle of Qi-Replenishing Pills. "Lord Chen, please accept this bottle as a small token of my regard. Without you holding the fort today, this batch of Qi-Replenishing Pills would have long been lost. Please, you must accept it."

Lu Fan did not refuse. He accepted the porcelain bottle and said, "Thank you."

After resting in Feng City for a day, the group set out on their return journey on the third day.

Without the goods weighing them down, they returned to Chi City in only half a day.

At parting, Zhou Haiyan clasped her fists toward Lu Fan with a solemn expression. "Old Chen, you saved my life during this escort. Haiyan will remember this debt of gratitude. If you ever have need of me, say but the word."

Lu Fan gave a slight nod. "Until we meet again."

After Zhou Haiyan left, Lu Fan was just about to turn away when someone blocked his path.

"Lord Chen, please wait."

The newcomer was none other than Old Zhang, the steward.

"My master has heard what happened on the road and wishes to meet you personally to thank you face-to-face. Would Lord Chen be willing to come with me?"

Lu Fan shook his head. "No need. Please convey my thanks to the Qin family head for his kindness. Farewell."

Old Zhang still wanted to say something, but Lu Fan had already turned and walked away.

Not long after Lu Fan left, another figure came storming up to Old Zhang. It was Wang Hu, who had traveled with them.

"Steward Zhang, what is the meaning of this reward? Why was I only given half? The person in charge of distributing it said it was your decision?"

Old Zhang smoothed his sleeve and looked at him unhurriedly. "What, does Mr. Wang Hu think it is too little? Then why not think carefully about how much effort you contributed along the way?"

Wang Hu's face shifted from green to purple. His lips moved, but in the end, he could not utter a single word.

On this escort mission, he truly had not contributed anything from beginning to end. He had even wanted to abandon everything and run away.

"Hmph. I'll remember this." Wang Hu coldly threw out those words, then turned and hurried away.

Old Zhang glanced at his retreating back, spat on the ground, then returned to the Qin Estate and truthfully reported everything that had happened on the road to Qin Yuan, the Qin family head.

"So, that Mr. Chen only took the agreed reward and did not accept a single extra coin?" Qin Yuan pondered after hearing the report.

"Yes. By the way, Master, should we send someone to follow him and probe Lord Chen's background?" Old Zhang asked in a low voice.

Qin Yuan waved a hand. "No need. He deliberately concealed his appearance and does not wish to deal too much with the Qin Household. Clearly, he does not want his identity exposed. Forcing an investigation may instead offend him. What is more urgent now is Thunder Martial Hall. They actually dared to openly rob the Qin Household's goods. This matter will not be so easily swept aside."

Old Zhang hurriedly said, "We detained those surviving captives in Feng City. Should we take them to Thunder Martial Hall and confront them?"

"Useless." Qin Yuan shook his head. "As long as Gu De has not been captured, they can deny it to the death, and we will have no irrefutable proof. Besides, this time, it is likely not solely Thunder Martial Hall's doing. The Feng Household is very likely behind it."

"The Feng Household?" Old Zhang's expression changed slightly. "Master, if the Feng Household truly joins hands with Thunder Martial Hall, then we..."

Qin Yuan raised a hand, cutting him off. His tone remained calm. "What are you panicking for? The Feng Household can find allies, so can't the Qin Household? Yaxin has entered Blackstone Martial Hall, and its hall master, Zhang Yao, is a Late Dark Force expert capable of matching Li Xiao. Moreover, the two halls have never seen eye to eye. Zhang Yao is our best ally."

"Go tell Yaxin at once. Have her pass along a message to Hall Master Zhang—at the banquet three days from now, I ask that he must honor us with his presence."

Only then did the tension leave Old Zhang's face. He acknowledged the order and withdrew.

After Old Zhang had gone far away, the calm, imposing expression on Qin Yuan's face slowly faded, replaced by deep exhaustion and gravity.

The balance of power in Chi City had remained unchanged for decades. For the Feng Household to suddenly join hands with Thunder Martial Hall and launch an attack now, they must have another source of support behind them.

Yet what exactly that support was, he still could not see through.

The only thing he could do was draw in as many forces as possible before the storm arrived.

Qin Yuan sighed, a trace of regret appearing on his face.

"If only I could recruit that Old Mr. Chen as an Attendant, I would have a few more cards in hand."

"Unfortunately, he does not wish to wade into these muddy waters."

Thunder Martial Hall, in a large room deep within the inner courtyard.

Inside the dim room, a bald, burly man knelt on the floor with his forehead pressed tightly against the ground, not daring to lift it even slightly.

This man was Gu De.

"My deepest apologies, Hall Master. This matter was about to succeed, but the Qin Household somehow found a Bright... Dark Force expert."

"Because of that man, the escort robbery failed. Please punish me."

The middle-aged man seated in the great tiger-skin chair was Li Xiao, hall master of Thunder Martial Hall.

"A Dark Force martial artist, is it?"

"Sure enough, a Dark Force realm forced up through medicine cannot compare to a proper Dark Force martial artist, can it?"

Li Xiao swept Gu De with a cold glance and spoke in a low voice.

Gu De, kneeling there, shuddered and buried his head even lower.

"Enough. Get out. I don't want to see that face of yours right now."

Upon hearing this, Gu De felt as though he had received a pardon. He scrambled and crawled out of the room.

After the door closed, a young man's sinister voice came from the corner of the room.