< Chapter 38: Successful Setup >
At the Lord’s Mansion.
“What did you say? Ziyang Courtyard has been attacked by a demon cultivator?” Fei Si, who was handling official affairs, stood up in shock.
“How is Young Master Meng Chong?” he immediately inquired.
Upon learning that Meng Chong was unharmed, the boulder that had been in his throat finally settled in his heart.
He promptly ordered the deployment of a team of cultivators to support Ziyang Courtyard.
“I’ll go first!” Fei Si, no longer caring about the official duties at hand, leaped into the air and, like a rainbow, flew towards Ziyang Courtyard.
“Meng Chong was placed in Ziyang Courtyard, both before and after, very secretly.”
“But he had only just arrived there when he was attacked by a demon cultivator!”
“Is it really a demon cultivator?” Fei Si’s mind was clouded with doubt.
He was the right-hand man of the current Lord of Puppet Immortal City, with a sinister character and adept at using cunning schemes. Many things that the Lord of Puppet Immortal City found inconvenient or Chi Dun too brainless to handle were left to him.
Previously, Fei Si had discovered that Zhou Zhu of the Zhou Family, relying on his innate talent and despite his injuries, was dissipating his power very quickly, posing a significant threat to Meng Chong.
He had made arrangements to activate the Zhou Family’s secret agents and sabotaged Zhou Zhu, significantly delaying Zhou Zhu’s power dissipation.
Meanwhile, Zheng Jian of the Zheng Family, using his artifact-refining skills, was also making fast progress, so he decided to sabotage him as well.
Lastly, to disguise his own actions, he activated a suicide attacker to intentionally assault Meng Chong. Meng Chong killed the attacker in self-defense, thus making a name for himself among the three major families and indirectly showcasing the strength of the Lord’s Mansion.
Of course, Meng Chong was unaware of this matter. Apart from Fei Si and the city lord, no third person knew.
As for the Ning family, Fei Si had also taken notice of Ning Xiaohui. However, this person was still strategizing with his family for greater benefits and had not relinquished his powers, posing no threat. Therefore, Fei Si refrained from taking action.
Within the Ning household, the city lord’s mansion had planted an insider. However, Fei Si considered: activating the insider to take action was worthless. It was better to spare the Ning family, creating the reality where among the powers of the four directions only the Ning family had not been attacked.
By doing this, what would the Zhou and Zheng families think?
Fei Si used this to subtly lay a trap, making a covert move against the Ning family.
It was precisely because he had done so much that, when he heard Meng Chong had been attacked, he immediately felt as if facing a great enemy.
“Could it be that the other three families have uncovered the truth and are secretly retaliating against us?”
“Which family could it be?”
“And how did the leak happen in our side?”
In Puppet Immortal City, the balance among the four directional forces was maintained. Everyone professed righteousness, and even if they sought revenge, they would not do so openly, nor would they break decorum; instead, they would make covert moves.
Arranging for or disguising as demon cultivators was the most common method.
Fei Si landed in Ziyang Courtyard, causing a gust of air that stirred up dust and debris.
He looked around, and everywhere were signs of fierce battles. Among the ruins, numerous cultivators’ bodies lay strewn, along with a great many shattered mechanical parts.
The Foundation Establishment peak swordsman who had been repelled by Han Ming earlier and had fled using an escape talisman had returned.
Upon seeing Fei Si, the swordsman’s face turned pale, and he hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects.
“Desertion in the face of the enemy will be dealt with later!” Fei Si had already received an urgent report from the cultivators on his way here, giving him a clear picture of what had transpired during the attack.
Although the swordsman bowed his head in apparent obedience, he harbored no regrets in his heart.
His colleague, also a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, had taken the initiative to confront a mechanical demon cultivator and had not returned.
It was clear that his chances of survival had been slim.
At least he had preserved his own life!
As for the punishment, he would endure it. With his life intact, all possibilities remained open.
Fei Si passed by the swordsman and hurried to the alchemy room.
In the alchemy room, Meng Chong was squatting down, tending to Sun Lie who was lying on the ground.
By now, Sun Lie’s complexion had improved significantly.
Although Meng Chong was not skilled in healing others, Sun Lie was a grandmaster alchemist and carried many healing pills with him.
“Master Meng Chong, are you alright?” Fei Si asked urgently, his voice full of concern and anxiety.
Even though he knew Meng Chong was unharmed, it was important to show concern at such times.
Often, pleasantries are not useless—they can signify a certain attitude, and attitudes often indicate one’s stance.
Meng Chong glanced at Fei Si and shook his head, indicating that he was fine.
Fei Si felt it was bizarre, but he would never voice his thoughts aloud. “Sun Lie, you’re lucky Meng Chong is unharmed, otherwise you would be to blame!”
“Your death would be trivial, but Lord Meng Chong possesses exceptional immortal talent and is the hope of the Meng family. If you had hindered him, even ten lives would not suffice as compensation.”
Sun Lie, although a grandmaster alchemist, was only at the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment stage, not a Golden Core stage cultivator.
In fact, even if Sun Lie were at the Golden Core stage, Fei Si would have scolded him just the same. That was his cleverness.
Leaning against the wall, Sun Lie gave Fei Si a significant roll of his eyes.
He was not one for trivial formalities and did not have much regard for someone like Fei Si. Even if Fei Si were a Golden Core stage cultivator, what of it? He would still retort without hesitation.
Everyone was supposed to act according to the righteous path’s standards.
Cultivation did not mean everything.
“I’m dragging Meng Chong down?” Sun Lie countered. “It was your city lord who personally requested my involvement. Do you think I wanted to meddle in this mess with Lava Immortal Palace?”
As a grandmaster alchemist, even if his cultivation was a bit lacking, his valuable skills earned him respect wherever he went, ensuring he never fared poorly.
Fei Si glanced at the ruined ingredients in the cauldron and scoffed, “Now look what’s happened. Your attempt to help Lord Meng Chong has failed. You’ve exposed us, and staying here now poses an even greater risk.”
Sun Lie snorted. “Fei Si, which ear of yours heard me say that I failed?”
“I have already succeeded!”
“Huh?” Fei Si was taken aback.
Meng Chong was momentarily stunned. “Master Sun, my energy hasn’t dispersed yet.”
Sun Lie burst into hearty laughter, not bothering to explain right away, clearly feeling triumphant.
Fei Si sneered, pointing at the wasted ingredients in the cauldron: “Facts speak louder than words, Sun Lie. What’s the use of being stubborn now?”
Sun Lie’s laughter grew louder, filled with derision. However, his amusement soon pulled at his injuries, and his laughter abruptly stopped, replaced by a grimace of pain.
“Cough, cough, cough…ugh!” Sun Lie coughed violently, then his throat convulsed, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood.
The blood reeked strongly of alcohol.
“What a pity, what a pity,” Sun Lie lamented as he stared at the blood and slapped his thigh.
Meng Chong quickly offered him a medicinal pill: “Master Sun, no more talking, please take some medicine.”
Sun Lie pushed his hand away: “Pills aren’t something you should have more of; I’ve just taken some, and the medicinal strength is already spreading throughout my body, slowly being digested. Too much would not be good.”
Fei Si narrowed his eyes, sensing something odd: “What are you pitying?”
Sun Lie looked at the blood on the ground and explained: “That was Thousand Flame Fierce Soul Wine. It’s brewed with millennium Spirit Flame Flowers, pure Soul Essence, and Flame Spring Water. The aroma is rich, and the liquor is potent; I nearly finished it!”
Meng Chong sighed: “Master Sun, don’t feel bad. It’s just Thousand Flame Fierce Soul Wine. I’ll ask Grandfather to get you another jar.”
Only then did Sun Lie smile broadly, looking at Meng Chong: “Good lad, your efforts haven’t wasted my careful planning of this setup for you.”