47: Red figure, life-claiming method

From his reaction, Jiang Lan could guess with ninety percent certainty.

That blood pill should be the benefit one could obtain after the sacrifice.

It's just that its specific function is unknown.

However, the group of Taoist Priests in the Division were already researching it, and perhaps they had already yielded results.

He would just ask Wu Qingyun when he returned.

Chen Heguang's eyes flickered for a moment, then he suddenly smiled, picked up the wine cup in front of him, and drained it in one gulp.

"This Altar Lord originally kindly wanted to save your life, but since you don't appreciate it, then so be it."

Hearing this, Jiang Lan felt puzzled.

Save his life?

How so?

But he didn't show his confusion, instead, he said indifferently:

"The wine is finished. Now, leave Uncle Chen's body. I will let bygones be bygones."

"Hehe... Instead of worrying about him, you might as well worry about yourself. You've been afflicted by someone's Soul-Reaping Technique. How many days you have left to live depends on your fortune."

Chen Heguang continued, "Three days, I'll give you three days. If you regret it, you can come find this Altar Lord."

After he finished speaking, without waiting for Jiang Lan's agreement, a faint, almost imperceptible wisp of Qi emerged from Chen Heguang's nose.

Immediately after, Chen Heguang's eyes rolled back, and he slumped softly onto the table.

Jiang Lan subconsciously gripped the long saber at his waist.

But that wisp of Qi was extremely fast, in just an instant, it floated out through the open window of the private room, giving Jiang Lan no chance to pursue it.

Jiang Lan didn't actually chase out through the window. Instead, he withdrew his right hand from his waist, glanced at Chen Heguang on the table, and then blinked.

Soul-Reaping Technique?

Although Jiang Lan wasn't sure what the Soul-Reaping Technique he spoke of actually was.

But he vaguely felt that what the Altar Lord said was probably not groundless.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Jiang Lan, and he remembered the fleeting red shadow he saw in the Demon Suppression Division on the night of the celebration banquet.

At that time, there was also a voice, indistinguishable between male and female, that spoke to him.

'Give me back my head.'

Besides that, Jiang Lan couldn't recall any other abnormalities that had happened to him.

Initially, when he heard that inexplicable voice, Jiang Lan was indeed vigilant for a period.

But after such a long time, with no other movements, Jiang Lan had put the events of that day out of his mind.

Now it seemed, he had actually been afflicted by someone's evil art?

A faint smile touched Jiang Lan's lips.

He was just worried that the target would be hard to find, and he didn't know how much lifespan that thing coming to claim his life could add to him.

He only hoped it wouldn't be too weak.

A few years or a dozen years were useless to him.

Just then, Chen Heguang, who was sprawled on the table, slowly woke up.

He raised his head and looked around with a slightly bewildered expression.

After a short while, Chen Heguang's eyes gradually regained clarity.

"Lan'er? Where is this?"

"Yan Chun Pavilion."

"Yan Chun Pavilion?" Chen Heguang looked utterly confused.

He frowned deeply and pondered for a good while, "Didn't I go out to investigate a case? How did I end up in Yan Chun Pavilion?"

Immediately after, Chen Heguang looked out the window.

It was evening, and the sky outside had already darkened.

Chen Heguang's mind became even more muddled.

"Why is it dark outside?"

Jiang Lan didn't rush to answer Chen Heguang's question. Instead, he picked up the wine jar again and poured him a cup of wine.

"Yan Chun Brew, three taels of silver per jar."

Chen Heguang was somewhat tempted, but before he figured out what had happened, he wasn't in the mood to drink wine and asked:

"Lan'er, what exactly happened? How did I end up here? I clearly remember that I went out to investigate a case, but not long after I left the Demon Suppression Division's gate, I..."

Jiang Lan sighed softly.

"It's my fault."

This matter was an unprovoked disaster for Chen Heguang.

If it weren't for him, Chen Heguang would most likely not have been sought out by that Altar Lord.

Jiang Lan organized his words and roughly recounted what had just happened to Chen Heguang.

Listening to Jiang Lan's narration, Chen Heguang's fists clenched involuntarily.

He didn't mean to blame Jiang Lan, but rather felt a sense of lingering fear.

If Jiang Lan hadn't gone to his house just now, his two children would probably have already fallen victim to foul play.

After hearing everything, Chen Heguang slumped back against the chair, muttering in a low voice:

"It's good that nothing happened... It's good that nothing happened..."

"Uncle Chen, don't be afraid. Help me clear out a room at home, I'll stay there for a while."

Jiang Lan also found the sudden appearance of that Altar Lord somewhat inexplicable.

He said he wanted to win him over, but Jiang Lan felt it shouldn't be that simple.

From the previous situation, that Altar Lord's strength should not be weaker than his current self.

Therefore, if he truly wanted to win him over, there would be no need to go to such great lengths and beat around the bush so much.

Moreover, listening to the Altar Lord's words, he should also know about what happened at the God of Wealth Temple previously.

But Jiang Lan could confirm that he must have known about it afterward, at the very least after he had returned to the Demon Suppression Division.

Otherwise, the Altar Lord could have intercepted him halfway.

At that time, Jiang Lan was only at the Qi Gathering Fifth Level, and facing him, he should have been utterly powerless.

Whether it was to recruit Jiang Lan or to kill him, it was entirely up to the Altar Lord's mood.

After pondering for a while, Jiang Lan felt that there were still some things he couldn't straighten out.

The most crucial point was, why did that Altar Lord want to recruit him?

Jiang Lan didn't believe that he would go to such great lengths to cause trouble just to have one more subordinate.

His gaze swept out the window, looking at the bustling crowd, Jiang Lan shook his head slightly.

Thinking so much was useless.

He still had a considerable amount of lifespan left.

He would raise his cultivation again in a while, and then he would meet whatever came his way.

Over six hundred years, even if this body's bone structure was poor, raising it by two or three levels should certainly not be a problem.

Moreover, he still had an experience package.

He also didn't know if Hong Luan had raised any demonic beasts or ghosts.

If she had, adding another thousand years to his lifespan was not impossible.

Chen Heguang sat opposite Jiang Lan in silence for a while, then he nodded.

"Alright, we'll go back together in a bit, you and I."

Although he didn't want to trouble Jiang Lan, the safety of his family was too important to him.

So even if he didn't want to cause trouble, this time he probably would have to.

Jiang Lan smiled.

"It's all over, let's eat something."

Chen Heguang looked at the table, his eyes lighting up.

Although there were only some leftovers, this was after all Yan Chun Pavilion.

Listening to Jiang Lan, although he had eaten a lot just now, the problem was he hadn't tasted anything!

Picking up his chopsticks, Chen Heguang began to clear the battlefield.

And Jiang Lan called out to the outside: "Waiter."

Soon, a capable waiter pushed the door open and entered.

"Honored guest, your command."

Jiang Lan thought for a moment and said, "Braised goose web, ham stewed pig's trotters, steamed crab, chicken oil rolls, yellow jade buns, sugar-steamed crispy cheese—one serving of each."

Chen Heguang looked up and waved his hands repeatedly.

"No need, no need, I'm full!"

Jiang Lan glanced at him, "Those are for Aunt."