Chapter 420 - 247: Mysterious Siblings, the Wang Family’s Schemes

[Skill: Alchemy (Perfection), Medical Skill (Perfection)...]

The days of leaving the Land of Cyan Clouds and wandering the Jianghu were not dull for Su Mu, and even more so for Li Lu, as it was the first time both of them left Cyan Cloud.

After ten days, the previously perfected skills of alchemy and medical skill both showed slight signs of loosening, and Su Mu felt an invisible bottleneck.

"As expected... just like the previous breakthrough in forging to Entry Level artifact refining."

Noticing this, Su Mu’s eyes brightened slightly, but he still felt something was missing. He quickly remembered that he had broken through the perfected forging skill to artifact refining under the guidance of three masters. He guessed there might be a skill gap between alchemy, medical skill, and Entry Level alchemy.

"What I’m lacking right now is... the inheritance of alchemy skills."

Ultimately, Su Mu had the pharmacist as both a mentor and a guide in medical skill, while in alchemy, he had entirely relied on his own exploration to reach this point. However, Su Mu was confident that he need not master the complete Entry Level alchemy skills; grasping even a bit would allow him to break through this invisible bottleneck directly.

But in this world, many inheritances are in the hands of noble families and those in power. Ordinary people, even with talent, without the corresponding inheritance and resources for cultivation, would ultimately fade into obscurity, unable to discover their talents throughout their lives.

Leaving the alley, Li Lu hummed a tune, knowing it was time to have a big meal next. This had always been the case along the way, which was also why Li Lu believed Su Mu practiced medicine not for money.

Su Mu’s appetite was astonishing, requiring at least half a tael of silver per meal. If encountering local delicacies on the way, Su Mu would not hesitate to try them.

With this in mind, Su Mu’s empty hand suddenly fell on Li Lu’s shoulder as they turned into a small alley.

Soon, a man and a woman also entered the alley, but as soon as they stepped in, they paused with a look of confusion. They had seen Su Mu enter the alley just before but found him missing when they followed.

"Hmm?"

They exclaimed in confusion, and immediately two strands of spiritual power released from their foreheads, sweeping over the alley to land behind a high wall.

"Found them."

The woman in the richly dressed duo was about to pursue immediately upon finding the trace, but the man quickly stopped her, bowing slightly toward the high wall and speaking apologetically.

"Elder, my sister and I mean no harm. We have always been fond of making acquaintances with extraordinary people, and we also despise the arrogance of the Wang Family. Please come out and meet us."

Hearing this, the woman imitated the bow, though inwardly still somewhat dismissive, believing Su Mu might not be the person they were looking for, considering he was just a martial artist.

Tap tap!

As soon as the words fell, a sound of footsteps resonated from behind, and the siblings turned abruptly with a shudder, their expressions changing drastically. Unbeknownst to them, Su Mu had already appeared within inches behind them.

Seeing Su Mu’s figure, the siblings glanced at each other, both recognizing the other’s shock. To bypass their spiritual power detection and get behind them without a sound, had there been any malice on his part.

Among the five great cultivation methods, martial artists are unmatched in close combat, and being cornered by such a martial artist in this narrow alley, the siblings would suffer severe injury if not death. The previously indifferent woman now broke into a cold sweat.

"Speak, why are you looking for me?"

"Forgive us, elder."

The man spoke as the siblings subtly distanced themselves from Su Mu.

"These two are not from the Wang Family and bear no hostility."

Su Mu’s five senses, enhanced through successive comprehension transformations, far exceeded ordinary people. After understanding martial momentum, his perception of killing intent and hostility reached a terrifying level.

Before the Wang Family’s people arrived, Su Mu had noticed the duo among the crowd. Even though they had left the Land of Cyan Clouds, they had only encountered a Three Religions cultivator in a county named Shanglan County along the way, an elder who was beside the Shanglan County Magistrate.

Three Religions cultivators were rare, while martial artists were commonly seen.

However, the two before him were both Daoist cultivators. Although both had hidden their auras, this did not escape Su Mu’s notice. The ones who thought they had hidden themselves well were actually glaring in Su Mu’s eyes.

"Elder, our siblings are at odds with the Wang Family. Perhaps you could move aside for a chat?"

The man spoke earnestly, both appearing flustered, unwilling to linger long in the alley for fear that Su Mu might develop other ideas.

Su Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly, observing their subtle expressions. The aura of the two was not weak, one was of Sixth Grade, and the other of Seventh Grade. Judging by their conduct, they were not from ordinary families, but Su Mu disliked trouble.

"You’ve found the wrong person. I’m not interested in the Wang Family."

Su Mu directly declined, stepping forward. The siblings retreated two or three steps with slight changes in expression, upon which Su Mu calmly stated, "I’m going to fetch my apprentice."

As they brushed past each other, the two in fine clothes were on high alert, and it wasn’t until Su Mu left the alley with Li Lu from behind the high wall that they breathed a sigh of relief. Their expensive clothes were soaked in cold sweat, like survivors of a disaster.

"Brother, did you sense when that man appeared behind us?"

The man shook his head solemnly.

Seeing this, the woman’s heart trembled again, dispelling her last bit of contempt. She knew the person next to her was cautious, and it was certainly not due to carelessness.

There was only one possibility: the opponent’s strength far exceeded theirs.

...

"Did you know they were following us from the start?"

Su Mu nodded slightly.

"Should we leave first?"

"Let’s eat first."

"Oh."

Li Lu nodded secretly upon hearing this. During this time with Su Mu, she had gained some understanding of him; the calmness in Su Mu’s tone was enough to show that the two just now were not strong enough to be considered a threat.

After exiting the alley, the two divided their tasks clearly: Li Lu inquired about the town’s taverns among the pedestrians, while Su Mu visited medical halls to search for medicinal herbs. Shortly thereafter, the two headed towards a tavern.

...

On the other side, the town center.

Five members of the Wang Family scrambled to arrive outside a deep courtyard with vermilion doors. The gold-gilded plaque of the mansion hung high, the word "Prince’s Mansion" gleaming coldly in the twilight.

"What are you looking at? Scram!"

The five who had just fled the alley, upon seeing the mansion, wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads and changed their demeanor, shouting harshly towards the street, causing pedestrians and children in the distance to hastily leave.

The leading man quickly approached the guards of the Prince’s Mansion and spoke in a low voice. Shortly thereafter, he entered the mansion alone.

Deep within the mansion, in a study.

Dappled light filtered through the carved window lattice onto the agarwood table. A bronze Pixiu glimmered under the candlelight.

"Patriarch Wang, have you found the traces of the Li Family members?"

The current Master of the Wang Family, Wang Qi, wrapped his plump body in brocade, his round face piling up with smiles as he flattered the person sitting opposite him.

"Tributor Zhou, rest assured, Mr. Wang has already dispatched people for a thorough search. If the Li Family members dare set foot in Shifeng Town, you will be informed of their whereabouts immediately."

"Useless!"

The man referred to as Tributor Zhou slowly raised his eyebrows and snorted lightly, sipping his tea. His high cheekbones under a chiseled face, with thin lips pursed, clearly showed some dissatisfaction.

At that moment, a voice came from the shadows outside the courtyard.

"Patriarch, Wang Qiang requests to meet."

"Wang Qiang?"

Wang Qi raised his eyebrows slightly, "Let him in."

Soon, Wang Qiang’s figure appeared in the study, unable to swallow his saliva upon seeing the two inside, especially noting Tributor Zhou’s presence, showing extreme fear of this person.

"Is there news about the Li Family members?"

Wang Qiang was startled, sensing the anger in the Patriarch’s tone, swallowing the words in his mouth, and spoke with his head down, "Yes, there is news..."

Once Wang Qiang’s voice fell, Tributor Zhou’s gaze landed on him, causing Wang Qiang to tremble all over at the sight of it, immediately speaking in a trembling voice.

"Just recently, a suspicious pair of traveling doctors arrived in the town. An elderly man and a girl about fifteen or sixteen. Upon hearing of this, I immediately led people to investigate..."

Initially, Wang Qiang’s words were full of panic, but after a few sentences, his heart hardened, embellishing the day’s events as he spoke.

Upon hearing Wang Qiang mention the old doctor showing clear hostility towards the Wang Family, and casually scattering a handful of copper coins as blades, the two in the hall immediately had their eyes brightened.

"You mean that old fellow is hostile towards my Wang Family?"

"Patriarch, this is absolutely true!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Qi’s expression changed slightly, showing both joy and some concern as he looked towards Tributor Zhou beside him, who also furrowed his brow upon hearing it.

"Immediately dispatch someone to keep an eye on those two, but don’t get too close; watch from a distance."

"Yes, Patriarch."

After Wang Qiang received his orders and left the study, he panted heavily, yet his face showed a fierce expression. He sensed that Tributor Zhou had set his sights on that person, and those whom Tributor Zhou targeted were doomed.

"Old fool, how dare you embarrass me, Wang Qiang, in front of so many people! You’re dead now!"

Wang Qiang thought viciously, knowing that Tributor Zhou wasn’t from Shilin Town but hailed from the Great Commandery City, with a remarkable background, possessing unfathomable strength. Even the Patriarch had to flatter him.

Once Wang Qiang’s figure disappeared from the study, Wang Qi immediately cast his gaze, awaiting Tributor Zhou’s decision.

"Hmph, what a Li Family, to actually dispatch a Martial Artist?"

Zhou Ying’s face showed a trace of darkness, yet deep in his eyes, there was also a hint of curiosity. He racked his brains but did not recall such a person among the Li Family’s tributors.

"Probably secretly recruited desperados, a Martial Artist..."

Zhou Ying’s eyes also flashed with a hint of apprehension; he was unwilling to act rashly against such a mysterious Martial Artist. Plus, if they fought inside the mansion and were forced into close combat by such a desperado, it would be disadvantageous to him.

"Patriarch Wang, no matter the means, dispatch someone to lure these two to the Lake Heart Island five miles east of the city."

Five miles east of Chushifeng Town is a crescent-shaped lake, within which lies an unnamed solitary island. Zhou Ying planned to set up an ambush there in advance, luring them to the island to eliminate them.

As night fell, the door was knocked on, and the shop attendant outside lowered his voice to speak.

"Old doctor, someone ordered me to deliver a letter to you."

Su Mu opened the door, his ears slightly moving, able to clearly hear the deep breaths of several Martial Artists on the first floor and outside the inn under the night sky, as the shop attendant handed Su Mu a letter.

"Who sent it?"

"I... I don’t know."

Knowing he could not extract more information, Su Mu accepted the letter, returned to his room, and looked at it.

"Information on the medicinal herbs you need... See you at the Lake Heart Island five miles east of the town at 7:45 PM tomorrow."