Chapter 41 - 39: Twists and Turns

After a moment of stunned silence, Zhang Deming instantly changed his tune.

His plain expression became much more amiable. He feigned a helpless shake of his head and said, "Forget it. Seeing as you’re so sincere, I’ll help you out one more time."

As he spoke, a small, green sprout appeared in Zhang Deming’s hand.

Zhang Deming plucked the two tender green leaves from the sprout, walked over to Li Shifan, who was half-sitting on the ground, and said, "Open your mouth."

Li Shifan stared blankly at Zhang Deming. Zhang Deming continued, "What are you gaping for? I told you to open your mouth. Are you afraid I’m going to poison you?"

Hearing this, Li Shifan opened his mouth, still somewhat dazed.

Zhang Deming placed the leaves in his mouth. They transformed into a faint stream of Life Energy, which rapidly began to mend his internal injuries.

Seeing the clear improvement in the other man’s injuries, Zhang Deming checked his repository.

’Still three white orbs and one gold one. No increase. Can’t I fleece the same sheep again so soon?’

’Bad review!’

Then, Zhang Deming said, "I imagine you’re not the type to just hand over your Spirit Stones and barely scrape by. So, you should focus on finding a way to break through sooner rather than later."

With that said, Zhang Deming once again got up to leave.

Only then did Li Shifan snap out of his daze from Zhang Deming’s abrupt switch from ice-cold to warm and pleasant.

"Wait!"

The call to stop came from behind him again, and Zhang Deming turned back, confused.

’What now?’

’Could it be that this suspected future star of the Celestial Spirit Sect, this ’wasted-genius’ protagonist, is really going to repay me by slaving away for me?’

Facing Zhang Deming’s confusion, Li Shifan said, "Most of the story I told you before is true."

Zhang Deming was baffled. ’So what?’

’What are you trying to say?’

’You’ve already sold the thing. Why are you bringing up the backstory now?’

"So?" Zhang Deming said.

"The only part that was different is that I’m not the last of my family. As for the Cultivation Technique, it was stolen from me not long after I started my training. And I mean stolen—no copies left."

’Hm?’

A thought struck Zhang Deming. ’Stolen? Then what did he just sell me?’

Li Shifan continued, paying him no mind, "I’m a servant in the Close Combat Department. I was targeted almost as soon as I joined the sect and was forcibly transferred to be a servant in Little Hui Peak’s Close Combat Department."

"Later, due to certain circumstances, I was left with no choice but to hand over the Cultivation Technique."

’Hm? The Close Combat Department... could it be?’

Zhang Deming seemed to have thought of something, his brow furrowing slightly.

Li Shifan ignored Zhang Deming and went on, "But a few days ago, I was suddenly summoned by Senior Brother Lu Ze."

"He returned the Cultivation Technique to me, saying the forced transaction back then was just his subordinates being ignorant and messing things up, so the deal was void."

"He also said that even though he’d returned it to me, many of his subordinates still knew what had happened."

"So he told me to take it and sell it, saying it would be better for everyone, and that I could keep the money."

"What’s more, he even gave me a tip that someone was looking to buy a Tier Two Cultivation Technique."

By this point, Zhang Deming’s expression had turned ugly.

’So your desperation to make the deal wasn’t because the Cultivation Technique was stolen goods?’

’And here I thought you were an honest guy!’

Li Shifan continued, "I’m not an idiot. I knew the whole thing was strange."

"To be careful and avoid getting dragged into anything, I didn’t even inspect the Cultivation Technique."

"Even though the situation reeked of strangeness, I watched you for a few days and saw that you were, in fact, buying Cultivation Techniques."

"So I decided to sell it to you."

"Because, as strange as it was, it clearly wasn’t directed at me."

"With Lu Ze’s status, if he wanted to deal with me, he wouldn’t need to go to such lengths."

"Since it wasn’t aimed at me, and I could get back the money that was rightfully mine for the Cultivation Technique, I didn’t have any reason to hesitate."

"That’s why I sold it to you. Looking at it now, I’m guessing all this strangeness is directed at you."

"Although I don’t know what Senior Brother Lu Ze is planning, if you have a grudge against him, then this is definitely aimed at you."

"Even if this was all just my suspicion, I was originally planning to turn a blind eye. After all, it had nothing to do with me, and you got a good enough deal, so it’s only fair you bear some of the risk, right?"

"But now I owe you a favor, so I figured I should have a chat with you, Senior Brother, and tell you what’s on my mind. Wouldn’t want to be unable to find you later when it’s time to repay that favor."

’You’re more than ’not an idiot’; you’re as cunning as a fox. That honest-guy act from before was pretty convincing!’

’And after all this, it somehow turned into a fight between me and him, with you reaping the benefits from the middle?’

’Ha, you really are blessed with great Qi Fortune, aren’t you!’

After hearing him out, Zhang Deming pondered for a long time, considering all the possible schemes at play. Finally, he asked, "Was your Cultivation Technique forcibly stolen before, or was it something else?"

Li Shifan was silent for a long while before he said with difficulty, "It was sold. ’Sold’ for ten taels of silver."

’Uh...!’

’That ruthless?’

’And I thought *I* was a good haggler!’

’But that emphasis on the word ’sold’... quite clever.’

"Was it a private matter, or did many people know about it?" Zhang Deming pressed.

Li Shifan replied, "Quite a few people knew, but Lu Ze’s name wasn’t directly involved. I ’sold’ it to a servant."

"Then, an Outer Sect senior brother ’stumbled upon a bargain’ at the market and bought the Cultivation Technique for a single Spirit Stone."

"Only after that was it presented to Senior Brother Lu Ze."

’Holy crap, what a scheme. They had a whole process to launder it. He gets what he wants without damaging his reputation. He gets to act like a scumbag and still expects everyone to praise his virtue.’

"And when he returned the book to you, did anyone else know?" Zhang Deming continued.

Li Shifan shook his head. "Only the two of us knew. And because he said it would look bad, I didn’t dare reveal anything."

"I was originally planning to sell it quietly, then use the Spirit Stones I got to focus on my breakthrough."

"I just didn’t expect that when Senior Brother Lu Ze called me in to talk, a few of our fellow sect members would notice."

"That’s why I was targeted right after I sold it."

Zhang Deming summarized, "So, from an outsider’s perspective, this Cultivation Technique still belongs to Lu Ze, and quite a few people know that, right?"

At Zhang Deming’s summary, Li Shifan froze for a second before it dawned on him. His face turned grim as he said, "Are you saying... theft?"

Zhang Deming nodded. "That’s most likely the scheme. By telling me now, you’ve saved your own skin. Otherwise, when things blow up, if they can’t pin it directly on me, you’d probably be framed as the inside man."

"Let’s go. I expect there are plenty of people in the Outer Sect waiting for us. Time to serve the main course."

Hearing this, Li Shifan asked worriedly, "Shouldn’t we inspect it first? Or maybe you should hide the book now?"

Zhang Deming smiled. "No need. I have my own way of handling this."

By this point, Li Shifan had mostly recovered, thanks to the healing from the Growth Technique.

Seeing Zhang Deming’s calm demeanor, Li Shifan felt much more at ease.

The two of them left the alley together and headed out of the market.

At the same time, Zhang Deming focused his Heart Spirit on his panel and placed the Cultivation Technique directly into his repository.

’Whether my guess is correct or not, this Cultivation Technique isn’t for studying anyway, but for mounting.’

’Once it’s in the repository, it’ll turn into a Rune-type material, which won’t affect my use of it at all. This also eliminates any possibility that some hidden trick or tracking mechanism was left on the book.’

When the two of them reached the exit of the market, things were just as they had expected.

No sooner had they stepped out of the market than someone bumped into them.

A moment later, Lu Ze appeared before them with the Law Enforcement Team.

"Well, if it isn’t Senior Brother Lu. It’s been half a month since we last saw each other, hasn’t it? What brings you here, Senior Brother?" Zhang Deming asked with a faint smile.