Chen Xingze’s brows furrowed even tighter, the suspicion in his eyes not fully gone.
“Oh? You heard the sounds of fighting?”
“Where exactly were you in Hidden Beast Mountain at the time? From which direction did the sounds come? How long did they last?”
Zhou Kai cursed inwardly at the little fox, but his face still carried that unsettled, frightened look.
“Sixth Elder, forgive me, forgive me!” He waved his hands repeatedly and forced a bitter smile. “I was truly scared out of my wits. My mind was blank. How could I remember so clearly?”
“The exact location… probably a small grove on the southern side of the outer area of Hidden Beast Mountain? The place where Horned Boars often appear.”
“The sounds… metal clashing, and those… whooshing noises, like flying swords cutting through the air? Very loud. Very frightening!”
He deliberately chose vague, generic details and avoided any specifics.
“The direction… it seemed to come from deeper inside the mountain? I couldn’t tell. I was being chased by Horned Boars and didn’t even notice which way I was running!”
Zhou Kai firmly branded himself as timid, panicked, and confused. No matter how Chen Xingze pressed him, he insisted he had been terrified and remembered nothing clearly.
Chen Xingze stared at him. “With your demeanor? And you used to be a robbery cultivator?”
But Zhou Kai’s control over his expression was flawless. The fear and confusion he displayed were almost impossible to fault.
“My dantian was injured. I barely survived. Now I value my life even more.”
Patriarch Chen Rulong, seated at the head, finally spoke.
“That’s enough, Xingze.”
“Guest Elder Zhou, this matter is no small issue. Since it involves the Celestial Spring Sect seniors investigating a wanted individual, we must treat it cautiously.”
“What you’ve said does sound reasonable. A cultivator at the 4th stage Qi Refining Realm encountering the aftermath of a powerful battle and fleeing in fear without observing clearly is understandable.”
“We’ll leave it at that for now.”
Chen Rulong’s tone shifted. “However, Guest Elder Zhou, remember this. You are under the protection of the Chen Family and receive the Chen Family’s stipend. You must always put the family’s interests first. When traveling outside in the future, speak carefully and keep your eyes open. Do not let curiosity or greed drag you into troubles beyond your capacity and bring unnecessary disaster to the family. Do you understand?”
Zhou Kai immediately bowed. “The Patriarch’s instruction is wise. Zhou Kai will remember it well and act with greater caution in the future, never causing trouble for the family.”
Chen Xingze snorted softly. Though dissatisfied, he knew further questioning would yield nothing.
“If there are no further instructions, may I take my leave and return to continue healing?” Zhou Kai asked.
Chen Rulong waved his hand. “You may go.”
“Yes.”
Zhou Kai felt as though he had been granted amnesty. He bowed respectfully to the four men and withdrew.
Only after leaving the main hall and stepping into the courtyard, the night wind brushing against him, did he let out a long breath.
“This Chen Xingze is no simple character,” Zhou Kai thought. “Young, yet already so calculating.”
Inside the side chamber, one of the Celestial Spring Sect disciples spoke with dissatisfaction. “Senior Brother, are we just letting him go? His words were evasive. I doubt he was entirely truthful.”
Chen Xingze lifted his teacup and took a light sip, his eyes cold. “I know.”
“No evidence,” Chen Xingze interrupted, setting the cup down. “We cannot act on suspicion alone. Besides, the Patriarch has spoken.”
He paused, then added, “But he won’t escape scrutiny. I’ve already arranged for him to be watched. If he has any connection to Shen Hanyi, I’ll make him understand the consequences of deceiving Chen Xingze.”
Zhou Kai returned to his familiar small courtyard. Chen Ziyi immediately stepped forward to take his outer robe.
“Husband, why are you back so late? The others returned long ago.”
Naturally, Zhou Kai could not tell the truth. “Nothing serious. The Patriarch and Sixth Elder asked a few questions about Hidden Beast Mountain.”
“It seems related to the recent attack on Celestial Spring Sect disciples. They also mentioned the upcoming opening of the Desolate Spiritual Herb Grounds. The family plans to send people in to search for herbs used in refining Foundation Establishment Pills.”
Now that Zhou Kai possessed the system, exchanging with his confidante was enough for advancement. Pills used to break realms no longer held much attraction for him.
Chen Ziyi’s eyes brightened. “Foundation Establishment Pills? Those are…”
“I know they’re valuable,” Zhou Kai interrupted. “But such opportunities often come with great danger. The Desolate Spiritual Herb Grounds is surely filled with hazards, not to mention competition from other families and rogue cultivators.”
“I’m only at the 4th stage Qi Refining Realm. My foundation is shallow, and my dantian was injured before. I’m not suited for fierce competition. This kind of near-death opportunity is better avoided.”
With the system in hand, Zhou Kai truly felt little pull toward such breakthrough pills.
“Husband is right,” she said softly. “No opportunity outside is more important than your safety. If the family truly assigns you to go, just decline. The Patriarch won’t force you.”
“You understand me best.” Zhou Kai held her soft hand, warmth filling his heart.
…
After another round of “in-depth exchange,” the system notification sounded in Zhou Kai’s mind.
[Ding! Exchange with confidante Chen Ziyi. Obtained Exchange Interaction Points: 40.]
He naturally added all of it to Alchemy.
[Zhou Kai (damaged dantian)]
[Cultivation: 4th stage Qi Refining Realm (0/400)]
[Vitality: 2nd stage Meridian Awakening Realm (0/200)]
[Spiritual Roots: Metal (Low-grade 12/100), Wood (Low-grade 25/100), Water (Low-grade 17/100), Fire (Low-grade 23/100)]
[Hundred Arts of Cultivation: Alchemy (2nd Grade 35/300)]
[Confidante: Chen Ziyi]
[Available Exchange Interaction Points: 0]
Zhou Kai adjusted his waist.
“Finally 2nd Grade. Ever since activating the system, every day has been like this. Once my dantian is repaired, I must arrange a proper dual cultivation method as soon as possible.”
The next morning.
“Time to visit Treasure Prosper Pavilion and try my luck.”
Zhou Kai tidied himself, informed Chen Ziyi, and headed straight for Hidden Beast Mountain Marketplace.
“Guest Elder Zhou, you’re here!”
Before he even stepped through the doors of Treasure Prosper Pavilion, the attendant Xiao Zhang hurried out to greet him.
“Please this way, Guest Elder Zhou.” Xiao Zhang eagerly led him to the second floor. “Manager Wang specifically instructed that you are a valued guest. If you came again, he would personally receive you.”
However, when Xiao Zhang pushed open the inner hall door, the main seat was empty.
A young girl ran in from a side entrance. She looked no more than twenty years old, dressed in a fitted pale yellow dress. Her black hair was styled in twin buns, giving her a lively and charming appearance. Her face was delicate and bright.
“Huh? Where’s Father?” she asked casually upon seeing Xiao Zhang and Zhou Kai.
Xiao Zhang quickly bowed. “Miss, Manager Wang was here just now. Perhaps he stepped out temporarily…”
She pouted. “Probably dragged off for tea by some fox friends again. What’s the matter?” Her gaze shifted to Zhou Kai, curiosity evident.
Xiao Zhang hurriedly introduced him. “Miss, this is Guest Elder Zhou Kai of the Chen Family, a valued guest of Treasure Prosper Pavilion. A few days ago, he sold mid-grade Qi Gathering Pills here. Today he’s come to discuss business with Manager Wang.”
“A Chen Family Guest Elder?” The girl looked Zhou Kai up and down. “Father isn’t here, but I can handle small matters.”
“My name is Wang Qiaoqiao. Guest Elder Zhou, if you have pills to sell or wish to purchase something, just tell me.”
Zhou Kai did not object. If the manager’s daughter could decide, that saved him another trip.
Without wasting words, he took out two jade bottles from his storage bag and placed them on the table.
“Qi Gathering Pills. Mid-grade. Thirty pieces.”
Wang Qiaoqiao removed the stopper, sniffed lightly, then poured one out to inspect it carefully. She nodded. “The quality is indeed good.”
She picked up the other jade bottle and removed the stopper. “Is this also Qi Gathering Pills?”
A strange medicinal fragrance with a hot undertone wafted out. Her expression instantly changed.
“This is—”
Her cheeks flushed bright red. She slammed the stopper back on and tossed the bottle onto the table as if it burned her.
“Lock Yang Pills?” Her voice wavered with embarrassment and indignation. “You can refine mid-grade Qi Gathering Pills, yet you refine this kind of shameless thing to make money?!”
Zhou Kai looked at her indignant face without a trace of embarrassment. Instead, he found it amusing.
He slowly pushed the bottles forward. His tone was as calm as if discussing the weather. “Miss Wang, that’s not fair. A pill that sells for spirit stones is a good pill. Whether Qi Gathering Pills or Lock Yang Pills, they meet real demand.”
“That’s sophistry! Utterly… utterly shameless!”
“Oh?” Zhou Kai raised a brow and picked up a shining spirit stone from the table. “Miss, perhaps you can tell me. Which spirit stone is shameless and which is honorable?”
“Business is business. Meeting demand and earning compensation is natural and proper. How does it become immoral when it’s Lock Yang Pills?”
“Are the cultivators who purchase such pills also shameless, then?”