Chapter 124

Chapter 124: Decision

At Zhou Garden, Zhou Luo returned with the materials and walked alone towards the third floor.

He arrived at the alchemy room, and first used spiritual symbols to isolate the place from the outside, then took out the materials needed for the Gathering Spirit Potion and began refining it.

It had to be said that the materials for the Gathering Spirit Potion were hard to find; with the materials he had acquired at present, he estimated he could refine at most five or six pills.

This was even under a one hundred percent success rate.

Although Zhou Luo held all the knowledge for first-level alchemy, refining top-level first-level potions still could not guarantee a one hundred percent success rate.

He stood before the furnace, his expression serious, and first placed some medicinal materials into the furnace before beginning to channel spiritual energy to smelt them.

Meanwhile, Xu Changsheng was meditating quietly when his chest suddenly grew hot.

He woke abruptly, and took out a spiritual symbol from his chest.

The spiritual symbol bore eight large characters:

"Meet at Wei Yang House within fifteen minutes"

Xu Changsheng felt a shock in his heart, his face revealing a complex emotion.

He placed the spiritual symbol back into his chest, and rose to walk outside.

Once outside, he took a deep look at the main building’s location.

Sunlight poured down, coating the three-story building in a golden facade that shone brightly.

Standing beneath the tree shade, Xu Changsheng’s eyes flickered with various struggles.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward into the world.

Under the blazing sun, his body felt no warmth at all.

"I am going to buy some supplies."

He walked straight toward the direction of Wei Yang House.

Wei Yang House was to the west, near the core district, the opposite direction from Zhou Garden.

Compared to the bustling eastern area, the west was rather desolate; even under the same scorching sun, as Xu Changsheng walked along the road paved with blue bricks, he still felt the temperature drop.

Soon, he arrived at Wei Yang House.

It was a very ordinary residence, different from the luxurious estates and gardens he had passed on the way; its plainness even made one doubt if it truly belonged there.

Although it seemed common, Xu Changsheng knew that no one dared underestimate this place.

For this was the residence of Elder Jiu, Lin Xuanfeng.

This cold-blooded and cunning hall master of the Law Enforcement Hall had always been the most feared figure among the family members.

Before his sharp, hawk-like gaze, all secrets vanished; any family member who fell into his hands would receive extremely severe punishment.

His existence even made some family members feel he was more terrifying than an evil cultivator.

For evil cultivators only killed, while he tormented people.

Anyone interrogated and punished by him personally was left with profound shadows without exception.

No one knew what methods he truly possessed; they only knew they must never fall into the hands of this Elder Jiu.

Otherwise, it would have been more unbearable than death.

Xu Changsheng did not know Elder Jiu deeply, but he had heard some rumors about him.

For instance, when interrogating a family disciple who had violated family rules, he drove the person mad and into mental instability with just a few words.

Also, while investigating a major case and discovering it involved a certain family disciple, he arrested them immediately and sent them to the family prison; that night, nothing but screams could be heard in the prison.

In many people’s minds, Elder Jiu, with his gloomy face, was a man of brutal tactics, cruel and ruthless.

Xu Changsheng recalled the first time he had met him.

Unconsciously, he thought of those somber eyes in his mind, causing a stir of turmoil in his heart.

Creak—

Just then, the main gate suddenly opened, and a servant lowered his head, saying, "The master has been waiting for you for a long time."

Only then did Xu Changsheng snap back to reality and followed the servant into the mansion.

Unlike Lin Xuanfeng’s cruel and brutal nature, the residence was not as gloomy and terrifying as expected; instead, it felt tranquil and cozy.

Crabapple trees in the front yard swayed in the sunlight, emitting a faint fragrance; various flowers, plants, and trees came into view, making it seem vibrant and full of life.

Xu Changsheng was taken to the innermost courtyard.

The courtyard was a forest of peach blossoms, with a rich floral scent filling the air, refreshing and joyful.

"The master is waiting for you inside," the servant said before leaving.

Nervous and uneasy inside, Xu Changsheng walked restlessly along the small path into the peach blossom forest.

He was a formation master.

He keenly sensed that a large formation was hidden within this peach blossom forest.

However, the formation did not reveal itself, and he could see nothing.

Before long, he saw the man among the peach trees.

At that moment, Lin Xuanfeng was still wearing black robes; he sat on a stone stool, his sharp eyes gazing over, calm in expression. His very thin lips moved slightly, "Too slow."

Xu Changsheng trembled and dared not look at him; he could only lower his head and say with great reverence, "Elder Jiu, I was delayed by some matters."

Lin Xuanfeng ignored these matters and asked lightly, "How is the task I gave you going?"

Xu Changsheng pressed his lips together, his face paling slightly; his gaze fixed firmly on the ground as he pretended to be calm, saying, "Elder Jiu, I’ve already gained his trust."

"Then, what was his reason for body refinement?" Lin Xuanfeng narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Sorry, Elder Jiu, I haven’t figured it out yet," Xu Changsheng said, his voice sounding fearful.

Lin Xuanfeng’s expression didn’t change at all; he picked up the spirit tea nearby and took a light sip, "Then, tell me what you do know."

With his head lowered, Xu Changsheng gritted his teeth tightly, his heart overwhelmed with infinite conflict.

Indeed, before entering Zhou Garden, Lin Xuanfeng had once approached him, intending him to monitor the other party and record any signs of abnormality.

Later, Zhou Luo’s heart-to-heart talks and trust made him waver internally; not to mention how the other bought him formation tools, taught him formation knowledge, and so on.

On one hand was a close friend’s trust; on the other, the pressure of oppressive authority.

Caught between them, he had no idea how to choose.

"Elder Jiu, they’re all minor things; Zhou Luo has no abnormalities."

In the end, Xu Changsheng made his choice.

"Oh?"

A flicker of interest flashed in Lin Xuanfeng’s eyes; he surveyed the man and went on, "Xu Changsheng, you should know that everything you have was given by the family."

"Changsheng will never dare forget the family’s immense kindness his entire life."

Xu Changsheng bent his waist nearly to ninety degrees.

"Then why are you lying to me?"

Lin Xuanfeng raised his voice; the calm surroundings suddenly blew with a fierce wind, howling loudly, and the peach leaves rustled noisily.

Xu Changsheng shuddered and knelt on the ground, continuously kowtowing, "Elder Jiu, I truly didn’t lie to you."

The heavy thuds of kowtowing echoed without pause; Xu Changsheng showed no sign of stopping.

Because he knew only this could make the other drop his suspicions.

The brief struggle let Xu Changsheng see his heart clearly.

In life, one must hold onto something in their heart.

And what he chose to hold onto was not to betray the other’s trust.

Lin Xuanfeng watched him quietly; only after his forehead bled did he say lightly, "Get lost."

Xu Changsheng scrambled to his feet and fled in panic.

Watching the pathetic figure, Lin Xuanfeng frowned slightly, a hint of frustration in his expression.

After stepping out of Weiyang Mansion, Xu Changsheng heaved a long sigh of relief; he looked up at the azure sky, a smile curling his lips, feeling an unprecedented sense of ease.

When Xu Changsheng returned to Zhou Garden, Zhou Luo, who had finished refining the Gathering Spirit Potion, was already gone.