Chapter 59: The Wang Family's Siege

"Watch your words," Qin Liang said, flicking Jiang Chang on the forehead.

Jiang Chang rubbed his head and muttered, "I'm not talking nonsense. They asked me to pass a message to you, saying only you can save Master Mo."

"Brother-in-law, why don't you teach me how to save Master Mo? I'll go save him."

Jiang Chang rubbed his hands together as he spoke, looking as if he were waiting for a red envelope. He hadn't received a single red envelope since Qin Liang got married.

"Get lost."

Qin Liang kicked him aside and entered the courtyard.

After shutting the door, he quickly changed into a suit of black clothes, draped a black robe over himself, and vaulted over the courtyard wall.

Master Mo's illness was a closely guarded secret. The fact that even a kid like Jiang Chang knew about it meant the situation had clearly become extremely critical. Leaving him no time for overthinking, Qin Liang could only hope that Mo Xiaochi had already gathered all the required medicinal herbs.

"Huh?"

Before Jiang Chang had walked far, he turned his head and saw a dark figure leaping out of Qin Liang's courtyard. He couldn't help but be startled. "Has my brother-in-law lost his mind? Why take the wall instead of the front gate when there's a proper door?"

He hadn't recognized the identity of the person in the black robe; without thinking much about it, he simply assumed that since his brother-in-law had just gone inside a moment ago, the person coming out now must naturally be him.

"No wonder he's so strong. Experts never take the ordinary path," Jiang Chang thought, his eyes filled with absolute admiration.

Qin Liang made his way to the marketplace and walked straight into the auction house.

Qian Youcai spotted the black-robed figure at a glance and hurriedly stood up, asking with vigilance, "May I ask what business the honored guest has here?"

"The business of the Deathless Pill," Qin Liang said.

"Ah, so it is the Master!"

Knowing how to read the situation, Qian Youcai hastily and respectfully welcomed Qin Liang in, leading him to a back room.

On the bed lay Mo Xiaochi, flat on his back and breathing heavily, with more air going out than coming in.

"Logically speaking, after taking the Life-Reversing Pill, one should live for another seven days. There is still one day remaining, so why has the backlash occurred prematurely?"

While sensing the old man's pulse, Qin Liang asked in a deep voice.

Daring not to conceal anything, Qian Youcai explained, "Master Mo went into the mountains yesterday to gather herbs and must have been disturbed by malevolent beast aura. He has been restless ever since returning, and after leaving behind a pouch of herbs, he lapsed into unconsciousness and hasn't woken up since."

Qin Liang took the Qiankun pouch to inspect it, confirming that it indeed contained the grade-two medicinal herbs required for the Deathless Pill.

"I need a quiet room."

"Rest assured, Master, it has been prepared for some time."

Qin Liang entered the quiet room alone. It did not take long before a grade-two medicinal pill of flawless quality emerged from the cauldron.

"This..."

He was somewhat caught off guard. The quality was simply too high!

If word got out, people would inevitably suspect him of being a grade-three alchemist. What should he do then?

Being a grade-two alchemist already brought enough hustle; if he were a grade-three alchemist, it would probably be very difficult to evade the watchful eyes of the City Lord's Mansion, which would spell considerable trouble.

"Could this wretched cauldron only forge items of flawless quality?" Qin Liang mused helplessly.

Returning to Mo Xiaochi's room, he dismissed Qian Youcai. With the others out of the way, only he and the unconscious Mo Xiaochi remained in the room. By administering the medicine personally, his identity should remain undiscovered.

Mo Xiaochi swallowed the Deathless Pill, and his complexion began to improve, his breathing gradually growing steady.

Qin Liang waited here for the duration of an incense stick before watching Mo Xiaochi slowly regain consciousness, wearing a dazed expression.

"You are..." The old man quickly guessed the situation.

"I am merely entrusted by young friend Qin."

Qin Liang had long since grown accustomed to this; performing such deeds now left his heart completely steady and his face unblushed.

"So it is the Master! Thank you, Master, for saving my life. May I ask how to address you?" Mo Xiaochi rolled off the bed, bowed deeply with cupped hands toward the black-robed figure, and radiated utmost respect.

"As per our agreement, five sun-origin stones, not a single one less." Qin Liang's tone was icy.

Mo Xiaochi let out a dry, helpless laugh. Since the other party was unwilling to reveal his identity, it would be unseemly to press further.

He very neatly handed over a small cloth pouch. "Please inspect it, Master."

After checking to ensure everything was correct and keeping his composure as much as possible, Qin Liang put the pouch away and turned toward the door.

To forge the Explosive Pill, a ferocious beast's core was still missing. Where could one be found?

In Rainbow Glow Mountain, beasts at the Origin Condensation realm were extremely rare; aside from the mountain lord, none seemed to exist. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion surely had no stock either, making the acquisition of a beast core exceedingly difficult.

He had barely managed to survive his encounter with Grand Elder Jiang Tao and truly had no desire to face another Origin Condensation realm expert—especially a ferocious beast. One misstep, and he might never return alive.

"If I can advance the Four-Convergence Fist into the Five-Convergence Fist, or integrate other movement-type martial arts to boost my speed and add a few more life-preserving methods, perhaps I could venture into the depths of Rainbow Glow Mountain and try my luck."

Pondering thus, Qin Liang walked toward the entrance of the auction house under Qian Youcai's guidance.

However, just as he was about to step outside, a troop of men rushed forward and surrounded the gates of the auction house.

"Where is Your Excellency heading? Since we are fortunate enough to cross paths, why not come over to the Wang family estate for a visit?"

The leader was none other than Wang Sheng, head of the Wang family. His gaze was sharp as lightning as he locked his eyes onto the black-robed figure.

"What is the meaning of this, Manager Qian?"

Qin Liang's expression darkened slightly as he glanced sideways at Qian Youcai.

He had not lingered long inside the auction house; how could the Wang family have tracked him down so quickly? It was hard not to suspect that the auction house had played a double game and intentionally tipped off the Wang family.

"Master, please discern the truth! This is absolutely not my intention; I have no idea how they managed to get here!" Qian Youcai was shaking like a leaf in the wind, his hefty body trembling violently as he desperately tried to explain.

"Stop right there!"

Arriving in a hurry, Mo Xiaochi stepped in and blocked Wang Sheng's path. "Wang Sheng, what are you trying to do?"

This grade-two alchemist master had come here specifically for him and had saved his life; if the master were to suffer harm because of this, the spread of the news would severely damage his own reputation.

Wang Sheng sneered. "This person's identity is unknown, and I worry he poses a threat to the citizens of Sulfur City. Therefore, I've brought men to apprehend him and take him before the City Lord to be dealt with. Does the auction house intend to step in and obstruct us?"

During the previous auction, Wang Sheng had already deduced that these merchants must be backed by a mysterious powerhouse; otherwise, they would never have dared to simultaneously offend the two local overlords, the Wang and Feng families.

Consequently, they had dispatched men to monitor the three major commercial giants: the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, the Weaponry Workshop, and the Auction House.

Today, seeing the mysterious black-robed figure arrive, everything unfolded precisely as anticipated.

If they could capture this mysterious expert and hand him over to the City Lord's Mansion, it would not only earn the City Lord's favor but also suppress these commercial giants, making any subsequent moves against the Jiang family much smoother.

"The Master is an honored guest invited by the auction house. How could his identity be unknown?" Qian Youcai argued righteously.

"Oh?" Wang Sheng's face was filled with eager anticipation. "Then may I ask how this Master is addressed?"

"This..."

Qian Youcai and Mo Xiaochi froze. Truly unaware of the black-robed man's name, both of them turned their gazes toward Qin Liang.

Qin Liang felt helpless; it seemed he had no choice but to invent a moniker on the spot.

However, crafting names was hardly his forte!

"This old man is Mu He. Hearing that Sulfur City is a place of outstanding natural beauty, I specially came here to travel and wander. I never imagined I would find myself surrounded here. So this is Sulfur City's way of treating guests!" Qin Liang's voice remained deep and tinged with helplessness.

"Humph!"

Refusing to let the matter drop, Wang Sheng pressed on. "Since you are a visitor, why not show your face? Could it be you are harboring ulterior motives?"

"Wang Sheng, watch your tone."

Mo Xiaochi rebuked him angrily, his aura leaking outward as his expression darkened to the extreme.

As the sole grade-one alchemist in Sulfur City, even the City Lord treated him with three parts courtesy. How preposterous that the Wang family dared to show such disrespect!

"Heh!"

Unfazed, Wang Sheng sneered and waved his hand. "The auction house is plotting misdeeds! Men, immediately seize these individuals and take them all to the City Lord's Mansion to await the City Lord's judgment!"