Chapter 174: Chapter 144: Concentration Pill

After they took their seats, Song Changsheng remarked with some emotion, "It’s only been a few years since we parted ways in Ling Province, yet we’ve both become Foundation Establishment Cultivators. People would hardly believe it if we told them."

"Yes. Back then, a single Blood Demon at the Foundation Establishment Realm was enough to drive us to desperation," Zhuang Yuechan said with a wistful sigh. Due to her special status, she rarely had the chance to leave the mountain to gain experience.

Even when she could leave, it was usually with her elders or senior brothers and sisters; she had never ventured out alone to gain experience.

Exploring that ancient grotto-mansion with Song Changsheng’s group was her first time leaving the mountain by herself, and the first time she had ever felt her life was truly in danger.

That was why after returning to Celestial Sound Mountain, she immediately entered closed-door cultivation, striving to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible so she would have the means to protect herself.

If she were to encounter that Demon Cultivator again now, she still wouldn’t be their match, but she was confident she could at least escape with her life.

"Oh, by the way, Fellow Daoist Zhu and Fellow Daoist Xu have also broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage. They both appeared in the city a while ago. If you had come earlier, you might have run into them. It’s a shame I was tied up and couldn’t meet with them to catch up. They’ve already left now," Zhuang Yuechan said, a little disappointed.

"Fatty was in Luoxia City? When?" Song Changsheng asked quickly, raising an eyebrow.

Zhuang Yuechan thought for a moment. "It was a little while ago. I only found out because I had Senior Brother Niu ask around for me."

"A little while ago? That’s impossible. I’ve been in Luoxia City for over a year, searching for him this whole time. If he were in the city, there’s no way I wouldn’t have been able to find him."

Song Changsheng stroked his chin, puzzled. He was very confident in his Ten Thousand Miles Tracking technique, and he was certain Zhu Yiqun was not in the city.

But to his surprise, his words left Zhuang Yuechan stunned. "You’ve been in Luoxia City for over a year?"

"That’s right. I set out as soon as my clan received the invitation from the City Lord’s Mansion. I’ve been staying at the Moon Viewing Pavilion ever since. Why?" Song Changsheng found her tone strange.

"I was tied up before, so I asked Senior Brother Niu to inquire about your group’s whereabouts. He found news of Fellow Daoist Zhu and Fellow Daoist Xu, but not you. I was starting to think the Song Clan wasn’t coming to my Master’s birthday banquet."

Song Changsheng’s eyes widened at her words. ’Isn’t Niu Dazhuang just lying through his teeth? We met and even spoke before!’

’Looks like Niu Dazhuang has a serious problem with me, so much so that he’d even lie to his own junior sister.’

Recalling the man’s attitude from their last encounter, Song Changsheng gritted his teeth. With a sly glint in his eye, he decided to stir up a little trouble for him.

So, he feigned confusion and said, "That makes no sense. I saw him back when the Luoxia Auction House made its announcement. We even chatted for quite a while..."

"My senior brother already met you?" Zhuang Yuechan’s brow furrowed. Song Changsheng had no reason to deceive her, but Niu Dazhuang was her senior brother. Neither should have a reason to lie, but the facts were plain: one of them had to be untruthful.

Zhuang Yuechan was incredibly sharp. Once suspicion took root, she quickly ran through the events in her mind and recalled Niu Dazhuang’s various uncharacteristic behaviors. She hadn’t paid them any mind at the time, but now she was starting to see the inconsistencies.

’Senior Brother Niu is lying? But why would he hide the news of your arrival in Luoxia City? What’s in it for him?’ Even for someone as brilliant as Zhuang Yuechan, this was baffling. It all seemed so pointless.

Song Changsheng, reading her expression, knew the timing was perfect. He immediately twisted the knife. "I even asked him to pass on my greetings to you. What, did Senior Brother Niu forget?"

"I was in closed-door cultivation for a while. Perhaps he didn’t want to disturb me. Please, don’t mind him, Fellow Daoist." Zhuang Yuechan didn’t want Niu Dazhuang to lose face in front of an outsider, so she made an excuse for him. Inwardly, however, she made a mental note. ’I’m definitely going to find him and get to the bottom of this...’

On a low, craggy mountain, Niu Dazhuang, who was in the middle of roasting some meat, suddenly let out two violent sneezes that nearly extinguished his campfire.

He rubbed his nose and grumbled, "Which son of a bitch is talking about me now?"

——————

Seeing that he’d made his point, Song Changsheng didn’t press the matter further. After all, he only wanted to annoy Niu Dazhuang, not drive a wedge between him and Zhuang Yuechan.

He proactively changed the subject. "Fellow Daoist Zhuang, do you happen to know where Fellow Daoist Zhu went after leaving Luoxia City?"

He was still a little worried about Zhu Yiqun.

Zhuang Yuechan shook her head. "That... I don’t know. The last I heard, Fellow Daoist Zhu and another cultivator named Song Qingxing killed the Living Puppet that had been causing trouble in the city. They collected the reward from the City Lord’s Mansion and then vanished."

"PFFT—"

Song Changsheng, who had just raised his teacup for a sip, spat everything out. He broke into a fit of coughing, looking utterly mortified.

"Fellow Daoist Song, are you all right?" The sudden outburst startled Zhuang Yuechan, and she asked with concern.

"I’m fine, I’m fine. It just went down the wrong pipe, haha," Song Changsheng replied awkwardly.

Zhuang Yuechan looked thoroughly skeptical. After all, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator choking on tea was an incredibly flimsy excuse. It was as ridiculous as saying a True Dragon had drowned.

Song Changsheng knew his excuse was terrible, but he never would have guessed this was the source of the rumor about "Zhu Yiqun" appearing in Luoxia City.

’To think it would circle all the way back to me. Life is so damn bizarre.’

"Ahem, I was just surprised to hear the name Song Qingxing. I have a nephew with that name, and he isn’t even of age yet." Song Changsheng had no intention of revealing the truth. After all, the whole point of using an alias was to mislead people, and it seemed to be working quite well.

"Oh, I see," Zhuang Yuechan said with a smile. "If you see Fellow Daoist Zhu in the future, you can have him arrange an introduction. Who knows, this Song Qingxing might even be a member of your Song Clan."

"Enough about that," Song Changsheng said, waving his hand dismissively, his expression turning serious. "Fellow Daoist Zhuang, I need to ask you about someone."

"Please, ask."

"She’s an elder named Xiao Qingwan. She’s at the Purple Mansion Stage and is also a Tier Three Alchemist. I was wondering if you’ve heard of her?"

"Xiao Qingwan?" Zhuang Yuechan’s pupils constricted. She stared at Song Changsheng. "Where did you hear that name?"

"This elder came to see me just yesterday. She left me with that name before she departed." Song Changsheng had been watching her reaction closely, and it was now clear that Zhuang Yuechan knew exactly who she was.

’I’ve suspected for a while that Elder Xiao was from Luoxia City. The visions I saw in my dreams, her ability to track my movements so easily... it all pointed to her being a local.’

’It’s very likely she’s one of Luoxia City’s hidden protectors, just like that Purple Mansion Great Cultivator guarding the Treasure Vault. That would explain why she’s not famous. But as the Great City Lord’s Direct Disciple, Zhuang Yuechan would almost certainly know of her. And from the looks of it, I was right.’

’I only just found out that Fellow Daoist Song was on the mountain. How did Martial Aunt know beforehand?’ Zhuang Yuechan’s mind raced with doubt. She began to think hard and quickly found a suspicious detail.

’The day I went to visit Martial Aunt, someone else had already been there to see her... and that person was Niu Dazhuang!’

’He *did* know Song Changsheng was in the city! He was lying!’

’Oh, Senior Brother, Senior Brother... you’ve really gotten yourself into deep trouble this time. You’re on your own now.’ Zhuang Yuechan sighed inwardly, already mourning Niu Dazhuang’s fate.

She was one of the few people who knew the inside story, so she understood just how grave Niu Dazhuang’s mistake was.

It was a mistake she could have made, or any of her other martial siblings, but he was the one person who absolutely could not. She could already imagine the punishment that awaited Niu Dazhuang, and she couldn’t help but shudder.

But Niu Dazhuang was still her senior brother; she couldn’t just leave him to his fate. After a moment’s thought, she looked at Song Changsheng and asked, "What did you talk about with her?"

Song Changsheng fell silent for a moment. He certainly couldn’t tell her the details of their meeting. He could only say, "Not much. She just said she wanted to see me. I’d never heard of her before, so I thought it was strange. That’s why I wanted to ask you about her."

Hearing this, Zhuang Yuechan breathed an inward sigh of relief...