Chapter 61: Ordinary Friends

"An Evil Trigram?"

Li Chang’an’s heart skipped a beat.

He hadn’t encountered an Evil Trigram in a long time.

Even when the Foundation Establishment Ancestor attacked, the Divination had shown an Auspicious Trigram!

’Why would an Evil Trigram suddenly appear?’

Li Chang’an’s gaze sharpened as he carefully read the details of the Divination.

[You seek out Chu Mu, a Tier One Middle Grade Spirit Plant Master, to acquire the materials needed for Body Refinement. During the transaction, he poisons you, causing damage to your Meridians.]

"Poison?"

Li Chang’an frowned.

Chu Mu was a Spirit Plant Master; it was perfectly normal for him to cultivate poisons.

But the two of them had no grievances or grudges.

’Why would Chu Mu want to harm me?’

’Chu Mu’s reputation in the Marketplace is quite good. He’s kind and rarely makes enemies.’

Li Chang’an pondered, recalling information about Chu Mu.

On the surface,

Chu Mu was much like him—an honest and dutiful Cultivator.

The man had been in the Marketplace for many years and had never caused any major trouble.

’He wouldn’t attack me for no reason. There must be something else going on. Could he be an inside man for the Tribulation Cultivators from Black Wind Mountain?’

Li Chang’an’s mind immediately jumped to Black Wind Mountain.

After all, the Tribulation Cultivators from Black Wind Mountain had just launched a sneak attack not long ago.

Although they had failed, it was highly likely they would come again.

’Either way, this transaction cannot proceed.’

Li Chang’an thought for a moment.

Then, he instructed Dahuang to keep an eye on Chu Mu.

If he really was an inside man for Black Wind Mountain, Chu Mu would definitely meet with the Tribulation Cultivators.

However,

in the days that followed, Chu Mu didn’t meet with any Tribulation Cultivators from Black Wind Mountain. Instead, he made several trips to the Hundred Affairs Hall in the center of the Marketplace.

’Could it be... he’s working for Zheng Lingfeng?’

Li Chang’an guessed silently.

Since Dahuang couldn’t get close, he couldn’t find out Chu Mu’s specific purpose.

A few more days passed.

The Divination showed an Evil Trigram once again.

[Today’s Divination: Evil]

[Chu Mu will take the initiative to visit you for a transaction, during which he will secretly poison you, causing damage to your Meridians.]

"He can’t wait any longer?"

Li Chang’an frowned, lost in thought for a long time.

...

「The next day.」

At dusk, just as predicted, Chu Mu took the initiative to pay him a visit.

"Daoist Li, are you home?"

He was dressed in a dark green robe, a gentle smile on his face that was instantly disarming.

The courtyard gate slowly creaked open.

Li Chang’an, controlling a Low Grade Puppet, stood behind the gate and asked in a surprised tone,

"Daoist Chu, what can I do for you?"

"Daoist Li..."

Seeing that Li Chang’an was wearing a mask and not showing his true face, Chu Mu was also a bit surprised.

But he didn’t think much of it.

He just assumed it was one of Li Chang’an’s particular quirks.

"Daoist Li, I heard from Daoist Luo that you were looking to trade for two Treasure Materials, Hundred Bitter Grass and Thunder Heart Wood?"

"That is correct."

Li Chang’an nodded, a hint of apology in his voice.

"However, I’ve already obtained both materials. My apologies for forgetting to inform you, Daoist Chu."

"No matter, I was just asking."

Chu Mu was all smiles, appearing quite magnanimous.

He held out a Jade Scroll.

"Daoist Li, this Jade Scroll contains a record of all the Spirit Plants I cultivate. If you ever need anything, feel free to come find me."

"Alright. Thank you, Daoist Chu."

Li Chang’an reached out and took the Jade Scroll.

Chu Mu’s eyes flickered. The moment he saw Li Chang’an’s hand touch the Jade Scroll, an imperceptible glint of joy flashed in his eyes.

Then, he smiled, cupped his fists, and took his leave.

"Daoist Li, it’s getting late. I won’t disturb you any further."

"Very well. Take care, Daoist Chu."

Li Chang’an watched him leave.

After that, he closed the courtyard gate and stared at the Jade Scroll in his hand for a moment.

’Could it be that he used this Jade Scroll to poison me?’

Li Chang’an carefully replayed his conversation with Chu Mu.

But he couldn’t spot anything out of the ordinary in the entire process.

If it weren’t for the Divination’s warning, he very well might have fallen for it!

"It’s truly impossible to guard against everything!"

Colorless, odorless poisons were the most troublesome.

Li Chang’an frowned slightly and placed both the puppet and the Jade Scroll into a separate Storage Pouch.

He had Dahuang continue to watch Chu Mu, looking for an opportunity to strike.

Soon, that opportunity arrived.

The next morning, Chu Mu left Qinghe Marketplace with his fishing gear, heading to Bright Moon Lake to relax and fish.

’That Li Chang’an probably hasn’t realized he’s been poisoned yet. By the time he does, it’ll be too late.’

A smile touched his lips; he felt the matter had gone very smoothly.

But...

at that very moment, the ground beneath his feet suddenly collapsed, as if a great maw had opened up and swallowed him whole.

Chu Mu, with only the Cultivation of the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, was completely unable to resist.

"What’s happening?"

His face was a mask of terror.

In the blink of an eye, he was dragged deep underground.

Li Chang’an’s Puppet Body was already waiting for him in this Underground Space.

"Daoist Li?"

Chu Mu’s face was pale, his soul still shaken.

He recognized Li Chang’an’s attire, and his heart pounded with shock.

’How is Li Chang’an so strong? Isn’t he only at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer? How could he capture me in a single move?’

At the same time, an unsettling thought surfaced in his mind.

’Could it be... he found out about the poisoning?’

Li Chang’an glanced at him, his tone indifferent as he asked bluntly, "Daoist Chu, we have no grievances or grudges. Why did you try to poison me?"

"What?"

Chu Mu reacted quickly, putting on a confused expression.

He was about to argue, but Li Chang’an had no patience for it.

He strode forward and stomped down, brutally snapping Chu Mu’s shin.

A sharp CRACK echoed.

"AHH—"

Chu Mu screamed, his face contorting in agony.

He never would have imagined it.

Li Chang’an was so ruthless from the very start, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to the "honest and dutiful" and "kind and gentle" person others described!

For a moment, immense fear consumed Chu Mu’s heart.

But what came next was even more terrifying.

"Daoist Chu, I can slowly break every bone in your body, feed you a Healing Elixir to mend them, then break them all again, heal you again, and repeat the process until you’re willing to tell me the truth."

Li Chang’an watched him coldly, his words as cruel as any Demon Cultivator’s.

"Of course, you could also choose to tell me now and spare yourself the pain."

With that said, he prepared to continue.

Chu Mu, drenched in sweat from the pain, hurriedly shouted,

"It was Zheng Lingfeng! He made me do it!"

"Just as I thought."

Li Chang’an wasn’t surprised.

He asked, "Why would Zheng Lingfeng target me?"

Seeing that he had stopped, Chu Mu let out a sigh of relief.

He didn’t dare hide anything and, enduring the pain, explained,

"He discovered that the contract the Young Miss gave you was unusual. He also found out that she had privately exchanged for a Wood Element Technique and suspected she did it for you, so..."

Chu Mu glanced at Li Chang’an and swallowed hard.

"So he guessed that you and the Young Miss have some kind of unspeakable relationship. He told me to poison you to get you under his control, so he could use you to keep the Young Miss in check."

"Oh?"

Li Chang’an’s brows furrowed tightly. This was unexpected.

He had thought that Zheng Lingfeng was targeting him purely because of their personal grudge.

But this matter actually involved Zheng Qingqing!

What unspeakable relationship did he have with Zheng Qingqing? They were just ordinary friends.

However, Zheng Lingfeng didn’t see it that way.

...

「Meanwhile.」

At the Hundred Affairs Hall in the west-central area of the Marketplace.

Zheng Lingfeng was confidently counting down the time.

’In three days at most, the poison in Li Chang’an will take full effect. Then, he’ll have no choice but to come to me for the antidote, and he’ll be completely at my mercy.’