254: Chapter 249: Is There More to the Story?

The two entered the Immortal Cave and sat down in the stone hall as host and guest.

Chen Zhiwen took out the spiritual tea he had brought and poured a cup for Sun Simiao.

The aroma of tea curled in the air, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

During their casual conversation, Chen Zhiwen seemed to inadvertently mention something he had seen on his way here.

"It is quite a coincidence. On my way to Medicine King Valley, in a canyon outside the valley, I encountered a group of mercenaries who seemed to be intercepted and killed by a group of evil cultivators wearing blood-colored robes."

As he spoke, he observed Sun Simiao's expression.

"Seeing their vicious actions at the time, I casually dealt with those evil cultivators and saved the mercenaries."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Sun Simiao's hand holding the teacup paused slightly. He looked up, a flash of surprise appearing in his eyes.

"Did that group of evil cultivators wear black robes with blood patterns and ghost masks on their faces?"

"Sect Master Sun knows them too?"

Chen Zhiwen asked back, feigning curiosity.

"To tell you the truth, those are the remnants of the 'Blood Fiend Sect' that have been causing trouble around the periphery of my Medicine King Valley recently!"

Sun Simiao's expression became slightly grave.

He put down his teacup and let out a helpless sigh.

"I didn't expect them to dare to take action even against the escort team of the Danxin Pavilion!"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Chen Zhiwen followed his lead and asked, feigning deep curiosity:

"I am also curious, why would the Blood Fiend Sect keep targeting your Sect? I heard from those mercenaries that what they were escorting seemed to be just some ordinary Alchemy Materials. Is it really worth such a big fuss from the Blood Fiend Sect?"

This question clearly touched upon Sun Simiao's inner troubles.

He was silent for a moment, seemingly deliberating on how to speak.

Ultimately, he looked at Chen Zhiwen's sincere gaze. Considering that the other party was now an Elder of his Sect, and had just dealt with the Disciples of the Blood Fiend Sect, effectively pledging his allegiance, he decided to reveal some information.

"Sigh, this matter is truly an unprovoked disaster."

A look of heaviness appeared on Sun Simiao's face.

"Elder Chen, you may not know this, but some time ago, it was said that the Old Ancestor of the Blood Fiend Sect was ambushed by an extremely powerful arch-enemy, suffered life-threatening injuries, and fled to our Eastern State territory."

"Oh?" Chen Zhiwen's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm as he listened quietly.

"That Blood Fiend Sect Old Ancestor came to my Medicine King Valley in person and demanded that we fire up our furnaces to refine a top-grade healing Medicinal Pill of the sixth rank, the 'Nine-Turn Soul Returning Medicinal Pill'."

Sun Simiao's tone became somewhat serious as he said this.

"From the very beginning of its founding, my Medicine King Valley established a rule. That is, we are only responsible for Alchemy and never directly participate in any outside grudges or grievances. All the Medicinal Pills we refine are only ever sold to large chambers of commerce like the Danxin Pavilion, to be sold on our behalf. We never perform private custom Alchemy for any individual or faction."

He paused, a trace of pride and helplessness flashing in his eyes.

"It is precisely because of this iron rule that my Medicine King Valley has been able to remain unscathed for so many years in this Eastern State, which is full of experts, even without a Nascent Soul expert holding the fort. Because no one knows if offending us is equivalent to offending the countless customers and powerful beings behind us who purchase our Medicinal Pills."

"So that's how it is." Chen Zhiwen nodded in realization, expressing his understanding.

"Therefore, after the Xuanji Daoist... Oh no, after that Blood Fiend Sect Old Ancestor made his request, we naturally politely refused him."

Sun Simiao continued, a trace of indignation on his face.

"Who would have thought that the Blood Fiend Sect Old Ancestor is narrow-minded and vengeful! Just because of this, he held a grudge against my Medicine King Valley, sent his Blood Fiend Sect Disciples to lurk around the periphery of my Medicine King Valley, and constantly harassed and intercepted our Disciples who went out to collect herbs and the merchant teams transporting Materials, attempting to force us to submit in this way!"

"As for the mercenary team that you, Elder Chen, saved, what they were escorting was indeed just some Heaven And Earth Treasure for refining ordinary Medicinal Pills, not anything particularly precious. The reason the Blood Fiend Sect took action was purely to disgust us and cause us trouble."

After listening to Sun Simiao's explanation, Chen Zhiwen appeared enlightened on the surface, but his mind was racing.

Sun Simiao's words sounded reasonable and seemed to perfectly explain the ins and outs of the matter.

The Xuanji Daoist was seriously injured and in urgent need of Medicinal Pills to heal, and after being rejected by Medicine King Valley, he was furious and sought revenge.

Everything was logical.

However...

Sun Simiao did not disturb Chen Zhiwen's rest any further.

Seeing that what needed to be said had been said, he exchanged a few more pleasantries, instructed Chen Zhiwen to rest well, and told him that if he needed anything, he could contact him at any time through the Elder token. He then stood up to take his leave and left Chen Zhiwen's Immortal Cave.

Chen Zhiwen stood up and saw Sun Simiao off to the entrance of the Immortal Cave.

He watched Sun Simiao's receding figure until it disappeared into the clouds and mist, and the gentle smile on his face slowly faded.

A deep light flickered in his eyes.

He always felt that Sun Simiao was hiding something.

He had not told him the whole reason.

The matter was likely not as simple as he had described.

If the Xuanji Daoist was only retaliating because his request for Alchemy was refused, given his ruthless nature as an evil cultivator, it likely wouldn't be as simple as causing minor trouble on the periphery. Instead, he would try every possible means to infiltrate Medicine King Valley and carry out large-scale destruction and slaughter.

The reason he only sent Disciples to harass on the outside was more like a... feint?

A smokescreen to cover up his true purpose?

However, after a second thought, Chen Zhiwen understood why Sun Simiao would do this.

After all, he was just an outsider who had just joined Medicine King Valley and had not yet fully gained his trust.

Under these circumstances, it was naturally impossible for him to reveal all the important matters involving the core secrets of the Sect to him, a newly arrived Elder.

Being able to speak to this extent was already quite sincere.

After figuring this out, Chen Zhiwen no longer worried about this matter.

He knew that being overly eager for quick success would only reveal flaws.

As long as he stayed here, the Xuanji Daoist would sooner or later show his fox tail.

He retracted his thoughts and turned back to his "Purple Cloud Peak".

He did not immediately enter the Immortal Cave to go into seclusion, but walked around his brand-new mountain peak at a leisurely pace, familiarizing himself with every environment and every Restriction here.

Waterfalls, clear pools, herb gardens, spiritual springs...

The environment here was indeed far superior to any place he had stayed before.

After a simple tour to familiarize himself, he returned to the Immortal Cave, activated all Restrictions, and completely cut off prying eyes from the outside.

Then, he sat cross-legged and entered a state of focused Cultivation again.

No matter how the outside world changed, his own strength was the foundation for dealing with everything.