39: Chapter 39 Showing Off One's Talent

Two days later, the small courtyard of Listening to Bamboo Pavilion was filled with the fragrance of medicinal herbs.

The furnace fire was burning brightly, and he was focusing all his attention on controlling the heat.

He ensured the pill fragrance would not overflow and drift throughout the entire Lin Manor.

"Almost there."

He gave a soft shout, and the furnace lid flew up.

Six pills rolled out into a jade plate, their color warm and lustrous, with a nose-filling medicinal fragrance.

Marrow Cleansing Pills, First Tier Middle Grade.

Their effect was to cleanse the meridians and expel impurities; for mortal martial artists wishing to step onto the immortal path, they could be called divine medicine.

They simply couldn't be bought on the market in Qingshi Town, and if one occasionally appeared, people would fight tooth and nail for it.

Chu Sheng picked one up and nodded with satisfaction.

"The quality is decent. Three are standard, two are superior, and there's one..."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Barely counts as top-grade? This Strong Luck thing is truly a cheat code for alchemy."

He looked at Xiao Huan nearby. "Come here."

Xiao Huan walked over obediently, her face full of confusion.

Chu Sheng pressed that top-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill into her hand.

"Eat it."

"Huh?"

Xiao Huan's hand shook in fright. "Big Brother Chu, this pill must be very expensive, right? I..."

"When I tell you to eat, eat."

Chu Sheng interrupted her.

"Your constitution is too weak. If you don't build a good foundation, you won't even be able to find the door to cultivation in the future."

"This Marrow Cleansing Pill can help you cleanse your essence and marrow. Although you won't become a cultivator, strengthening your body and prolonging your life won't be a problem."

Xiao Huan's eyes reddened.

"Big Brother Chu..."

Chu Sheng waved his hand. "Stop dawdling and eat it quickly. I'll protect your dharma."

Xiao Huan nodded vigorously and swallowed the pill.

For the next hour, Xiao Huan was covered in sweat, and dark, grimy impurities seeped from her skin.

"Go wash up quickly."

Chu Sheng handed over a bucket of hot water. "Once you've washed clean, you'll be able to feel the change."

Xiao Huan ran into the inner room with a blushing face.

Half an hour later, when she came out, her whole being seemed to have been reborn.

Her skin was much finer, and her gaze was clear and bright.

"Big Brother Chu!"

She was so excited she was incoherent. "I... I feel... I feel like my body is so light! Even my breathing is smooth!"

"The foundation is set, so you'll suffer less in the future. Go on, tidy up the courtyard."

Chu Sheng watched her back. "Xiao Huan's matter is settled. Next..."

He looked at the several sets of medicinal ingredients placed by the alchemy furnace.

Materials for the longevity and spirit prolonging pill.

Second Tier Lower Grade, exactly the kind he had refined for Lin Tiannan in the simulation.

But it was missing the main herb, Spirit Longevity Grass.

Last time, it was prepared by the Lin family.

"I need to prepare this in advance," he thought to himself.

"Although Old Man Lin is using me to some extent, he is Wan Qing's father after all. If he really can't hold on and the Lin family falls, I'll be in trouble too."

Just as he was preparing to start the furnace, there was a sudden knock on the courtyard gate.

"Is Attendant Chu there?"

It was the voice of Steward Lin, sounding a bit urgent.

Xiao Huan went to open the door.

Steward Lin walked in quickly, his expression not looking very good.

"Attendant Chu, something has happened."

Chu Sheng raised an eyebrow. "Steward Lin, take your time and tell me."

"The matter with Black Wind Stockade has blown up."

Steward Lin lowered his voice.

"That dog Song He, I don't know what got into him, but yesterday he took men to the Wang family's territory to cause trouble, saying the Wang family stole his medicinal herbs."

"How could the Wang family take that? They started fighting on the spot. Song He was seriously injured, and several of his subordinates were killed."

Chu Sheng laughed inwardly. "Such a thing happened?"

"That's not all."

Steward Lin continued.

"The Li family has gotten involved, saying Song He had robbed their merchant caravans before and they want to settle old scores."

"Now the Wang and Li families have joined forces, forcing the Lin family to give an explanation."

Chu Sheng was thoughtful.

Song He was only a Ninth Grade Martial Artist, yet he was acting so boldly; ultimately, it was still because of his connection to the Lin family.

"So now..."

"The Wang family's attendants, the Li family's eldest young master and young lady, as well as our manor's Han Li and Young Master Lin Hao, have all gathered in the front hall."

Steward Lin sighed.

"The Great Steward can't keep them down and sent me to invite you."

"You were responsible for the bandit suppression before, and he only became like this after meeting you. Why don't you go and try to mediate?"

The corner of Chu Sheng's mouth twitched imperceptibly.

Mediate?

He was the one who had instigated this whole thing.

But his face remained impassive as he stood up and said, "Let's go, I'll have a look."

In the front hall, the atmosphere was tense, like drawn bows.

In the main seat was Great Steward Lin Yuanshan, his face ashen.

Beside him, Lin Hao was waving a fan, looking like he was watching a play.

Han Li stood with his hands behind his back, his expression gloomy.

Two groups of people sat opposite them.

On the left were several attendants from the Wang family, led by a lean old man at the Fifth Stage of Qi Guiding, his gaze sharp.

The other two were both Qi Induction Fourth Grade, looking ready to strike at any moment.

On the right were two people from the Li family.

One was a young man in his early twenties, Qi Induction Fourth Grade, with arrogance between his brows.

Beside him was a young girl in a goose-yellow dress, her features delicate and her eyes lively, curiously observing everyone in the hall.

The Eldest Young Master of Li Family, Li Chengye, and the Third Young Lady, Li Zhiyi.

Information flashed quickly through Chu Sheng's mind.

Of the three major families in Qingshi Town, the Lin family was the strongest, with Family Head Lin Tiannan at Ninth Grade of Qi Induction.

The Wang family was next, with their head at Qi Guiding Rank 8.

The Li family was the weakest, their head only at Seventh Stage of Qi Guiding.

But the reason the Li family could sit firmly as one of the three major families was because of that family head.

Li Qingshan, a First Tier Top Grade Alchemist.

In the entire Qingshi Town, he was the only one who could refine First Tier Top Grade pills.

This was also why the Lin family had always been courteous to the Li family.

"Attendant Chu is here."

Lin Yuanshan felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted and hurried to greet him.

Chu Sheng nodded and stood to one side.

The leading attendant of the Wang family gave a cold snort.

"Steward Lin, we didn't come here today to hear you introduce people. How will the matter of Song He be resolved?"

Lin Yuanshan said in a deep voice,

"The Lin family was unaware of Song He's actions. If the Wang family wants an explanation, they must also provide evidence."

"Evidence?"

The Wang family attendant sneered.

"All of my Wang family's medicinal shops in town were turned upside down; does that count as evidence? Song He personally said he suspected my Wang family stole from him; does that count as evidence?"

Lin Yuanshan frowned. "That was just Song He talking nonsense..."

"Steward Lin."

Li Chengye spoke, his tone neither hot nor cold.

"Let's not talk about the matter between our two families for now. It is an established fact that Song He robbed my Li family's merchant caravans; the Town Mayor also sent people to investigate, but it ended up going nowhere."

"Since we've brought it into the open today, this debt must be settled, right?"

Lin Yuanshan's head felt as big as a bucket.

Han Li finally spoke, his voice cold.

"Young Master Li, I was unaware of the things Song He did. If he really robbed the Li family's caravans, the Lin family will naturally deal with it. It's just that now..."

He glanced at the Wang family's attendant.

"Some people are taking advantage of the situation to loot and are trying to force blame onto us; I, Han, am not one to be easily bullied."

The Wang family attendant was furious. "Who are you saying is taking advantage of the situation?"

"I'm talking about whoever is getting worked up."

"Stop pretending, Song He is your man, you, you, you!"

Seeing that they were about to come to blows, Lin Hao snapped his fan shut.

"What's all the shouting for? Song He is just a bandit leader, wouldn't it be over if we just killed him? Is it worth such a big fuss?"

Everyone turned to look at him in unison.

Lin Hao felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at. "What are you looking at? Am I wrong?"

Lin Yuanshan sighed and didn't speak.

A flash of disdain crossed Han Li's eyes, but he didn't say anything either.

Li Zhiyi suddenly smiled, her voice crisp.

"Young Master Lin Hao is right, Song He indeed deserves to be killed. The question is, what happens after he's killed? Who will compensate for the medicinal herbs the Wang family lost? Who will make up for the losses from the Li family's robbery?"

Lin Hao was stumped by the question, his mouth opening and closing, unable to speak.

At this moment, Lin Yuanshan suddenly muttered a sentence.

"It's a pity the Big Young Master didn't come, otherwise how could they be allowed to act so wildly."

Hearing this, Han Li's mouth twitched, but he didn't respond.

Li Chengye, however, heard it and said with a half-smile,

"Big Young Master Lin Bufan? I heard he travels abroad all year round, his movements as mysterious as a dragon. What, does the Lin family now have to rely on someone who isn't even here to hold the fort?"

Lin Yuanshan's face darkened. "Young Master Li, watch your words."

The atmosphere became even more tense.

Chu Sheng watched coldly from the side.

The Wang and Li families joining forces to apply pressure was targeted at Song He on the surface, but in reality, they were testing the Lin family's bottom line.

Although the Lin family was the strongest, Lin Tiannan was injured and didn't have much longevity left.

With Lin Bufan absent and Lin Zhentian ignoring affairs, there were few who could truly fight.

Han Li couldn't be relied upon.

This was an opportunity.

He suddenly took a step forward and cupped his hands to Lin Yuanshan.

"Great Steward, This humble one has a word to say, though I don't know if it's appropriate."

Lin Yuanshan quickly said, "Attendant Chu, please speak."

Chu Sheng looked at the people from the Wang and Li families and said neither humbly nor arrogantly,

"The matter of Song He is, in the end, a nuisance. It's no good for anyone if he stays alive. How about this—the Lin family will provide the men to personally wipe out Black Wind Stockade and hang Song He's head at the town gate for all to see."

"As for the Wang family's losses and the Li family's old debt..."

He paused. "The Lin family is willing to provide a batch of pills as compensation. How about it?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was shocked.

Lin Yuanshan's eyes widened. "Attendant Chu, you..."

Han Li's face was even more ashen. "Chu Sheng! On what basis do you speak for the Lin family?"

Chu Sheng said indifferently, "Attendant Han, I'm just making a suggestion. Besides..."

He looked at the people from the Wang and Li families.

"The matter of the pills is from my own private collection; it won't cost the Lin family a single cent. Consider it... an apology on behalf of the Lin family."

The Wang family attendant looked at him suspiciously. "You? What kind of pills can you bring out?"

Li Chengye also became interested. "Attendant Chu is an alchemist?"

Chu Sheng smiled slightly, took out a jade bottle from his robe, and handed it to Li Chengye.

"Young Master Li might as well look at this."

Li Chengye took it and opened the stopper.

His pupils shrank, and he lost his voice. "Marrow Cleansing Pill?!"

Li Zhiyi also leaned over, took a look, and her eyes sparkled with brilliance.

"This quality... it's even better than what Father refines!"

She blurted it out, then realized her slip of the tongue and stuck out her tongue.

Li Chengye took a deep look at Chu Sheng.

"Attendant Chu, this pill... you refined it?"

Chu Sheng smiled without saying a word.

The whole room went silent.

Lin Yuanshan was stunned at first, then wild joy erupted in his eyes.

Li Zhiyi stared at Chu Sheng, her eyes bright as if she had discovered a new world.

Chu Sheng stood with his hands behind his back, feeling very pleased with himself.

"Successful show-off. The groundwork for the next simulation is set."