By the time he reached a deserted corner, Lao Xu was itching all over after leaving Third Master's den of thieves.
When he learned that Hua Kai, that lackey of the Qian Family's eldest young master, was looking for people-and clearly looking for them-he had wanted to speak up.
As Lao Xu saw it, he and the young master had nowhere to hide in this small town.
Such was the Qian Family's clout in Suming County. If they wanted to investigate, everything was only a matter of time.
Yet seeing the Fourth Young Master utterly unmoved, as though this had nothing to do with him, curiosity rose in Lao Xu's heart.
Did the Fourth Young Master have a move up his sleeve or not? If not, Lao Xu might as well go kill them. He could simply take advantage of the night to finish off everyone who knew.
Just then, Zhou Muzhi spoke. "How are the funds for Gate Knocking coming along?"
Hearing that the young master was speaking not about himself but about Lao Xu's affairs, Lao Xu was actually somewhat taken aback. Then warmth filled his heart. This Fourth Young Master was simply too considerate of others.
When Lao Xu went a long while without speaking, Zhou Muzhi stopped, turned back to look at him, and swept his gaze over him. "What are you thinking about?"
Lao Xu answered at once. "How to deal with the Qian Family."
At that, Zhou Muzhi shook his head with a faint smile.
He had done all this not because he feared the Qian Family's eldest young master, but because he was investigating why vengeful spirits formed. That was the true priority. Before he understood the actual situation, it was best not to expose himself.
As for the Qian Family.
They were indeed a colossal presence in Suming County, but he, Zhou Muzhi, was in the shadows.
As long as no one knew he existed, he was a scythe in the god of death's hands, able to reap whichever head he chose. Unless the other party was at his master's level-then he truly would be no match.
"There's no hurry. Right now, the prerequisite is to improve your strength. If you want to enter the ring against the Qian Family, you only qualify to step onto the stage after Gate Knocking."
There was nothing wrong with that. Lao Xu agreed and answered the Fourth Young Master's question.
He went over it in his head, then spoke truthfully.
"With your funding, young master, there's no problem on my end. Once I've prepared everything needed for the breakthrough, I can go see Master Li."
After all, Lao Xu had gained more than two hundred and thirty taels from these two trips alone. Together with his previous savings, attempting the Blood Gate once more would be no problem.
And thanks to Zhou Muzhi's ample funding, his preparations this time would be more thorough than ever.
"Good!"
Zhou Muzhi was very satisfied. Once Lao Xu broke through, there would be someone to carry out things in the future.
With a Gate Knocking expert, whatever they did in Suming County would yield twice the results for half the effort.
"Then go make your preparations. Come find me again once you've succeeded in breaking through."
Hearing Zhou Muzhi's words, Lao Xu asked one more question. "But your safety..."
The corners of Zhou Muzhi's mouth lifted, and the blood and qi throughout his body surged into action. This was an aura only someone who had achieved Gate Knocking could possess, and his was stronger still.
When it acted upon someone who had yet to achieve Gate Knocking, their hair would naturally stand on end, goosebumps would rise, and their mind would be overawed.
Lao Xu's pupils trembled. That was exactly what he felt now.
The Fourth Young Master had already knocked open the Blood Gate!
In just a few days, a mere few days, he had finished the road Lao Xu had failed to travel in half a lifetime.
It took him a long time to recover his senses.
The affected parts of his body also returned to normal after Zhou Muzhi withdrew his aura.
Lao Xu murmured an assent. "Then I'll be off."
"Go on."
The two parted ways, and Lao Xu went to attempt Gate Knocking.
Zhou Muzhi continued on alone, intending to visit his second brother's place.
Barring any surprises, the supplementary ingredients for making Evil-Repelling Incense should already be there. He needed to pick them up.
The Zhou Family Vinegar Workshop.
As one of the Zhou Family's three lifelines, this workshop, which produced an endless stream of vinegar water, also provided a livelihood for many lower-class households in the county town.
Smelling the strong vinegar scent in the air, Zhou Muzhi looked toward the large, independently built vinegar workshop. Carts and horses passed through its gates in an unbroken stream, collecting goods in bulk.
Zhou Family Vinegar had some renown in several nearby small towns as well. As its source, this place handled an enormous volume.
As the Zhou Family's Fourth Young Master, his arrival was immediately reported to a workshop steward inside, who wore the Zhou Family's standard cloth uniform.
The man hurried over at a jog, his expression welcoming and smiling, his tone humble, plainly trying to please him.
"Greetings, Fourth Young Master. This way, please."
Zhou Muzhi looked at the man but had no memory of him. He gave an outward hum of acknowledgment without moving and asked, "Where's my second brother?"
As this vinegar workshop's new proprietor, his second brother, Zhou Buren, was always busy.
Seeing that he had no intention of moving, the steward also stayed where he was and answered, "The proprietor is at the Distillery. It's rather busy there today."
Since his second brother was absent, Zhou Muzhi asked no more about him and instead asked where the supplementary incense ingredients were.
"They're all here. Please wait a moment, Fourth Young Master. I'll fetch them right away."
The minor steward left briefly. When he reappeared, he carried two palm-sized oiled-paper packets tied up like medicine parcels.
"All the ingredients are here. Fourth Young Master, I have a nephew who enjoys gathering medicinal herbs in the mountains. He found the Redwood Root as well, so I brought it along."
"Oh?"
Zhou Muzhi gave the man a serious look, then took the two packets of ingredients, quite pleased.
"Not bad. Your nephew certainly has some ability to have found these."
He meant it. Even Half-Immortal Xu would need considerable time to gather them, and luck would play a part too. Otherwise, his success rate in making incense would not have been so low.
The minor steward looked around just then. Seeing that none of his peers were watching, he whispered furtively to Zhou Muzhi.
"Fourth Young Master, my nephew actually has the other thing you wanted too. It's just that the Purple Lingzhi Threaded Roots aren't easy to bring over."
This time, Zhou Muzhi's expression turned serious as well.
He had not expected so much good news.
Looking at the vinegar workshop steward before him, he asked outright.
"What do you want? Or rather, what does your nephew want? Tell me, and I'll see whether I can resolve it."
Anyone with eyes could see the steward's intentions.
The minor steward's eyes lit up. Everyone said the Zhou Family's fourth son was a wastrel, but as he saw it, this was a straightforward man. There was no need to beat around the bush at all.
So he stated his purpose.
"My nephew does have ability, but he lost an arm on a trip into the mountains a while ago. He wants to exchange this thing for a future. Fourth Young Master, could you put in a word with the proprietor?"
After hearing him out, Zhou Muzhi did not answer immediately. Instead, he thought it over before asking another question.
"Losing an arm is indeed a major problem, but you know my circumstances too. I can't arrange anything grand. Still, I could ask my second brother to let him be a steward like you."
The man had not gone to his second brother because he knew his temperament. There was bound to be little chance of success with this sort of backdoor arrangement.
But coming to him was different.
Who in the Zhou Family did not know how close the brothers were?
Taking a roundabout route could save a great deal of trouble.
Besides, this thing was practically lifesaving for Zhou Muzhi. It was an enormous favor, and Zhou Buren would not refuse once he knew.
Once they settled the matter, the minor steward gave him an address. If Zhou Muzhi went there, he would meet his nephew and could then obtain the Purple Lingzhi Threaded Roots.
Zhou Muzhi went straight to the address and met a deathly pale young man who had lost an arm and was wrapped in bandages.
Upon seeing Zhou Muzhi, the man did not immediately produce the item. Instead, he first brought out a contract prepared in advance, which listed what Zhou Muzhi had to agree to. Even the amount of his monthly pay was written out in detail.
Zhou Muzhi expressed no objection. With a sweep of his hand, he pressed his fingerprint onto it and signed his name.
Now this was someone who got things done-thorough enough.
Looking at the contract, the one-armed young man took out the item as well and added a remark.
"Young Master Zhou, please don't blame me. I'm a cripple now. I can't afford not to take my future seriously. I'll be relying on this to live for the rest of my life."
Zhou Muzhi hummed in acknowledgment, patted his shoulder, said he understood, and then took his leave.
Holding the three ingredients, Zhou Muzhi knew that all the materials for this batch of incense had now been gathered.
He immediately hurried toward Half-Immortal Xu's home.
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