But Lu Zhiyuan was an alchemist. He handled these medicinal ingredients every day. However clever the counterfeiting, he would still spot it.
"What? More counterfeit ingredients?"
Meng Jingxiu exclaimed as though he had only just learned of it. "Don't worry, young friend. Knowing those people weren't honest, I specifically had them gather extra this time. I'll certainly give you ten full batches of ingredients."
As he spoke, he dragged more ingredients out of another room and set them before Lu Zhiyuan.
Lu Zhiyuan looked at him. Meng Jingxiu had prepared for either outcome. If the fakes went unnoticed, he made a profit. If they were discovered, he had spare ingredients waiting.
Meng Jingxiu certainly was talented.
"I'll take another look."
Lu Zhiyuan examined the new ingredients. A moment later, his expression darkened. Some of these were counterfeit too.
He straightened and looked at Meng Jingxiu.
"More fakes? Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"
Meng Jingxiu shook his head vigorously, then produced a package of medicinal ingredients from behind his back and held it out.
"Check these. Good thing I prepared plenty."
Lu Zhiyuan was speechless.
Fifteen minutes later, he left the black market with the bundle on his back. Its merchants were all alike. Profit was everything to them. Understanding that, he had not considered replacing Meng Jingxiu.
At least the medicinal ingredients Meng Jingxiu supplied were of good quality, and he delivered them on time.
Back at his rented courtyard, Lu Zhiyuan entered the alchemy room. In more than two but fewer than four hours, he used all the ingredients to finish brewing Herbal Restoration Pills.
As his proficiency drew closer to Perfected, his pill yield kept increasing. From these ten batches of ingredients, he brewed a full thirty-one Herbal Restoration Pills.
"Once I sell these, I'll be able to simplify Immortal Points the Way."
He smiled. He had wanted this sword technique for a long time. Once he had it, he would possess a finishing move. Even against a stronger enemy, he would have a chance to fight for his life.
Early the next morning, before he could leave home, Gu Tingche came to his door.
"Something terrible's happened!"
Gu Tingche looked deeply distressed.
"What's wrong?" Lu Zhiyuan asked with a smile, handing him a cup of tea.
Gu Tingche shuddered involuntarily as he spoke. The bloodstains on the clinic floor seemed to be flowing before his eyes again.
"Calm down and tell me what happened." Lu Zhiyuan's expression turned serious.
"The clan sent people this morning. They said Steward Luo was to go to the Tao clan's estate to discuss something. But Steward Luo tried to run..."
After a few sips of tea, Gu Tingche calmed slightly. He recounted the morning's events in detail, giving Lu Zhiyuan a clear understanding of what had happened.
Guards from the Tao clan had told Luo Chenghou to come with them. He had claimed he needed to fetch something from his room, then tried to escape through a secret passage inside it.
He had actually dug a secret passage in his room, apparently preparing well in advance for the day he was exposed. But the Tao clan's guards had been extremely cautious this time and immediately noticed something amiss.
They had rushed into the room and fought Luo Chenghou.
He had revealed formidable strength. Two of the five guards were killed, and he had managed to escape.
Furious, the Tao clan had reported the matter to the county office and put up its own money for a bounty. Even information about Luo Chenghou would earn a substantial silver reward.
As the clinic's deputy steward, Lu Zhiyuan naturally had to go there once he learned that something had happened.
"Physician Shi is dead?"
Shortly after he reached the clinic, more news arrived. Physician Shi, who had visited Northgate Clinic a few days earlier, had just been killed in the street.
The killer had worn a conical hat that concealed his face, but Lu Zhiyuan knew it was Luo Chenghou.
"He really holds a grudge."
Lu Zhiyuan murmured to himself. Luo Chenghou had probably guessed that Physician Shi was involved in exposing him. After all, the physician had visited Northgate Clinic just a few days earlier.
What Lu Zhiyuan had not expected was that, after escaping the clinic, Luo Chenghou would attack and kill Physician Shi instead of immediately leaving the county seat. He would not even leave his vengeance until the next day. A ruthless man indeed!
Everyone at the clinic had learned what happened. The Tao clan had naturally heard even sooner.
Now they were truly outraged. Luo Chenghou's actions were a direct affront to the Tao clan. Unsurprisingly, the bounty instantly doubled, reaching an amount that even tempted Lu Zhiyuan.
But thinking of Luo Chenghou's current strength, he abandoned the idea.
Of the five guards that morning, one had been at the Bone Tempering stage and four at the Flesh Tempering stage. Luo Chenghou had killed two of them while surrounded, then escaped without difficulty. Lu Zhiyuan's strength was nowhere near enough to fight him. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
Northgate Clinic remained in turmoil throughout the day. No one could concentrate on their work.
Night fell. Lu Zhiyuan left the clinic and headed home.
After winding through several alleys, he was about to step into his courtyard when he stopped. He looked around uncertainly and slowly retreated a few steps.
"You're perceptive. I never noticed that before!"
A voice rang out. A dark figure had appeared on the courtyard wall without his noticing. The man looked down at Lu Zhiyuan, his gaze so cold it sent a chill through him.
"Steward Luo?"
Lu Zhiyuan's pupils narrowed. Although the man's face was covered, his build was enough to make him recognizable, especially since he had made no attempt to disguise his voice.
"I'm no steward now. Just a homeless cur, that's all!"
Luo Chenghou laughed softly. The sound was piercing, like countless fine needles driving into the back of the neck.
"You must be joking, Steward Luo."
Lu Zhiyuan quietly retreated a few more steps, keeping his eyes on him. "What brings you here?"
"I've spent today thinking about how the Tao clan discovered what I was doing. One reason was that fellow Shi. The other was you!"
Luo Chenghou fixed his icy gaze on him. "So, before I leave Stillshade County, I had to come and see you. Otherwise, I wouldn't be quite satisfied."
"Steward Luo, you've misunderstood!"
"If I think I'm right, then I'm right. What do I care what you think? I want to kill you. What say do you have in it?" Luo Chenghou laughed loudly.
"You make a good point, Steward Luo. Goodbye!"
After he finished speaking, Lu Zhiyuan moved and vanished from the spot.
"Trying to run? Did I give you permission?"
Luo Chenghou snorted coldly and set off after him. Yet after only a short pursuit, the arrogant smile slowly faded from his face.
He had thought he could catch Lu Zhiyuan in a few strides. Instead, the distance between them kept increasing. In moments, they were dozens of meters apart.
And the gap was still widening.
Luo Chenghou's eyes filled with shock. Hadn't Lu Zhiyuan only just broken through to the Skin Tempering stage?
Was this a speed someone at the Skin Tempering stage could reach?