71: Zhang Yang's death

Chen Linsheng felt an uncontrollable joy welling up in his heart. His eyes were fixed on the line of text appearing on the spirit book in his mind—

[Able to stably refine mortal grade Low-Mid Grade Medicinal Pills].

The importance of a Medicinal Pill to a Martial Artist was self-evident. Whether for assisting in Cultivation, overcoming a Bottleneck, or healing and detoxification, they were indispensable.

Being able to refine pills himself would greatly alleviate his thirst for resources, especially for a peerless Cultivation Technique like the Golden Robe Skill, which required a massive amount of resources to build a Foundation.

“The Soldier Fiend Pill Tempering Method... is truly profound. Although the process is dangerous and consumes a great deal of Mental Energy, the quality of the resulting pills seems superior to ordinary methods.”

He carefully felt the sharp and domineering power of blood and qi contained in the three “blood essence pills” in his palm, his heart filled with a sense of achievement.

He carefully put away the newly refined blood essence pills, the remaining Toad Venom, and other Materials. After several days of closed-door Cultivation, combined with the mental exhaustion of his first Alchemy session, even with his Foundation of the Hunyuan True Body, he felt a trace of fatigue.

“It's time to end the seclusion.”

He stood up and bowed once more to the Curled Beard Guest's Silver Bone, grateful for the Opportunity and protection this Immortal Cave had provided him.

Subsequently, he dove into the waterway, like a fish returning to its nest, skillfully returning to the pond in his home's backyard.

The moonlight was like water, and the courtyard was silent. Su Wan's heart had been hanging in suspense; hearing the sound of water in the backyard, she immediately rushed over. Seeing Chen Linsheng emerge from the water unharmed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes full of tenderness and concern.

“A Sheng, you're back.”

Looking at Su Wan's gentle and beautiful face under the lamp, Chen Linsheng felt a sense of peace and satisfaction.

He stepped forward and gently embraced her, feeling the warmth and dependence from the delicate body in his arms. The tension and fatigue of the past few days seemed to mostly dissipate.

“Yeah, I'm back. Everything went smoothly.”

He didn't say much about the hardships of Alchemy, simply holding her and enjoying this rare warmth.

That night, he held Su Wan and slept soundly, putting all disturbances out of his mind for the time being.

The next day at noon, Chen Linsheng arrived at the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall feeling refreshed.

He planned to report his gains from the seclusion to his Master and perhaps ask some questions about Alchemy and further progress in the Python Dragon Strength.

However, as soon as he stepped into the martial arts hall's main gate, he sensed that the atmosphere was wrong.

The usually noisy Training Grounds were somewhat quiet now. Disciples were gathered in small groups, whispering to each other with expressions of alarm and unease.

Even more striking was that several Yamen Runners in official uniform were standing in the courtyard, and Head Constable Li Xunya, who had visited his home because of the Medicine Gang case, was actually talking to a martial arts hall manager.

Chen Linsheng's brows furrowed slightly, a bad premonition rising in his heart. He

stood not far away, watching quietly.

Li Xunya and the manager didn't seem to talk for long before he left hurriedly with the Yamen Runners, his expression solemn.

Seeing the Government people leave, Chen Linsheng then beckoned over a familiar Disciple and asked in a low voice, “What happened? Why did Head Constable Li come?”

The Disciple, seeing it was Chen Linsheng, quickly bowed respectfully, then a look of grief and disbelief appeared on his face as he lowered his voice and said:

“Senior Brother Chen, don't you know yet? Something big has happened! Zhang Yang... Senior Brother Zhang Yang... while he was cultivating at home last night, he suffered a Qi Deviation and died suddenly!”

“What?!” Chen Linsheng's whole body shook, his pupils suddenly contracting. “Zhang Yang... is dead? Qi Deviation? How is that possible!”

He instinctively felt it was absolutely impossible!

Zhang Yang was a Disciple who had entered at the same time as him. Although he came from the Poor Faction, his martial arts talent was outstanding and his Heart-Nature was quite resilient. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to stand out among so many Disciples, complete Skin Quenching early, and even be considered by some Junior Brothers as a Genius second only to himself.

For someone with Zhang Yang's Heart-Nature and talent, Skin Tempering Realm cultivation was already second nature. How could he suffer a Qi Deviation and even die from blood and qi attacking his heart while quietly cultivating at home?

“Is the news certain?” Chen Linsheng pressed, his voice carrying a sternness he hadn't even noticed himself.

“Absolutely certain!” The Disciple nodded heavily. “His family found him this morning and already reported it to the officials for examination. The Hall Master and several Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters just hurried to Zhang Yang's house in the East City.”

Chen Linsheng's heart sank. He no longer cared about anything else, turned around, and activated his Movement Technique, racing toward the East City.

His mind kept replaying Zhang Yang's focused, even somewhat stubborn expression during his usual practice. How could such a young man, who was so full of desire for the Dao and acted steadily, end up like this?

The residence where Zhang Yang's family lived was much better than where Chen Linsheng had lived when he first arrived; it was purchased after he became a formal Disciple of the martial arts hall and his family's situation improved.

However, at this moment, this residence, which should have been full of hope, was shrouded in a sorrowful and heavy atmosphere.

Outside the courtyard, some neighbors and Poor Faction Disciples from the martial arts hall who had heard the news were gathered, their faces mostly filled with grief, indignation, and doubt.

While some Disciples from wealthy families stood far away, whispering to each other with a sense of detachment and a trace of subtle fear, as if they felt something was not simple and were afraid of getting into trouble.

Chen Linsheng parted the crowd and walked straight into the courtyard.

He saw Zhang Yang's mother, a white-haired old woman in simple clothes, slumped on a stone bench in the courtyard, weeping uncontrollably, her wrinkled face full of despair and confusion.

Third Martial Sister Liu Ruyan was squatting beside her, softly comforting her, her pretty face also covered in frost.

Zhao Zheng stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, his face so gloomy it could drip water. Although he hadn't taken Zhang Yang as a personal Disciple, Zhang Yang was still a Disciple formally recorded in the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall's registers; he was one of Zhao Zheng's people!

Now that he had died at home for no clear reason, and the Government's preliminary conclusion was actually “breath deviation during practice, blood and qi attacking the heart,” how could he believe it?

This was not just the loss of a good prospect, it was someone slapping the face of his Yangwei Martial Arts Hall and challenging Zhao Zheng's authority!

Senior Brother Shi Poyue was not there, likely having gone to handle other matters or assist the Government investigation.

Second Senior Brother Di Moyu stood silently behind Zhao Zheng, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings like a crouching leopard.

Seeing Chen Linsheng arrive, Zhao Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly as he said in a deep voice, “Linsheng, you've come at the right time.”

Chen Linsheng stepped forward to bow: “Master, Zhang Yang...”

Zhao Zheng waved his hand, interrupting him, his voice carrying suppressed rage:

“The Government's conclusion is utter nonsense! How could a Disciple of mine, Zhao Zheng, fail to control even the mere blood and qi of the Skin Tempering Realm?”

His gaze swept over Chen Linsheng, Di Moyu, and Liu Ruyan, his tone resolute: “This matter is definitely not simple! On the surface, we will temporarily accept the Government's conclusion to avoid alerting the enemy. But in secret, we must investigate this thoroughly! Moyu, Ruyan, Linsheng, the three of you will conduct a secret investigation into this! Do not let any clue slip by!”

“Yes! Master!” Chen Linsheng and the other two responded in unison, their eyes filled with solemnity.

Di Moyu was skilled in hidden weapons and Tracking, Liu Ruyan was meticulous, and Chen Linsheng possessed several Skills at Perfection; by forming an investigation team with these three, Zhao Zheng's emphasis on this matter was clear.

Although the Government people had already conducted a preliminary investigation of the scene, they clearly hadn't gone deep, or rather, they might not have been willing to.

After comforting Zhang Yang's mother and having her leave to rest for a while, Chen Linsheng and the other two began their secret investigation.

Chen Linsheng stood in the center of the Quiet Room that Zhang Yang had used as a practice room during his life, slowly closing his eyes.

[Tracking Perfection], activate!

[Five Senses Clarity], trigger!

In an instant, the entire world became completely different in his perception.

The fine dust floating in the air, the odor molecules remaining in the floor cracks, the almost invisible scratches on the walls... everything turned into a massive flow of information, pouring into his mind.

He filtered out the familiar smell of sweat and blood qi belonging to Zhang Yang and also filtered out the messy footprints and scents left by the Government personnel.

His Mental Energy was like the most precise sieve, carefully identifying any trace of disharmony.

Suddenly, his nostrils twitched slightly, catching a strand of extremely faint scent that had almost been dispersed by the wind.

The scent was mixed among the dust and the faint smell of blood, carrying a trace of eerie sweetness, as if it were the residue of some specially made incense burning, unlike any spice he had ever smelled.

He followed the source of that faint scent, his gaze finally locking onto the window frame on the north side of the room.

There, the scent was most concentrated. Although it was faint and almost imperceptible, in his extraordinary perception, it was as clear as a firefly in the dark.

“There's something strange here,” Chen Linsheng said in a deep voice, pointing to that window frame. “A very faint, sweet and fishy incense scent, definitely not something Zhang Yang would normally use.”

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan and Di Moyu immediately leaned in to distinguish it carefully, but they were clearly unable to catch this strand of abnormality as clearly as Chen Linsheng.

Immediately after, Chen Linsheng leaned down. The Divine Effect of [Minute Insight] made his gaze like a torch as it swept across the floor.

The Government people had cleaned the scene, but some deeper traces could not be completely erased. In an inconspicuous corner near the wall, he found a footprint.

This footprint was of varying depth, with a strange point of focus, completely different from the way an ordinary person walks or exerts force, and even more different from the style of footprints left by Zhang Yang.

It seemed to belong to a unique Movement Technique or footwork—light, treacherous, and carrying an indescribable evil aura.

Beside the footprint, there was also a strand of purple thread.

Chen Linsheng calmly put the thread in his hand, then shouted.

“There's a footprint here,” Chen Linsheng pointed at the almost indistinguishable mark, his tone solemn. “The footwork is strange, definitely not left by Zhang Yang himself. It seems there was a second person in this practice room last night!”

Di Moyu crouched down and carefully examined the footprint, his eyes cold: “So it is. Qi Deviation is a lie; killing to silence him is the truth!”

Liu Ruyan's pretty face was full of anger: “Using something like special hallucinogenic incense to plot against him, interfering with the circulation of blood and qi, and then infiltrating with a unique Movement Technique... what a sinister method! Who would be so cruel to Zhang Yang?”

Chen Linsheng stood up, his gaze as sharp as a blade, scanning the entire room once more.

The strange incense scent, the eerie footprint... Though the clues were faint, they clearly pointed to one fact—Zhang Yang's death was a meticulously planned murder!