’Earth Level, huh? Then I have no choice but to go.’

Chen Yi had thought the mastermind behind the Illusory Sound Sect would be more cautious and slow their pace.

He hadn’t expected them to be in such a hurry.

It had been twenty days at most since Hundred Herbs Hall had taken off, and the Xiao Family Medicine Hall’s business had only been booming again for just over ten days.

Not even a full month had passed, and it wasn’t yet time for Hundred Herbs Hall to share its profits of silver coins with the Xiao Family Medicine Hall. Yet, those people were already itching to cut off the Xiao Family’s source of wealth.

It just went to show how domineering they were.

’The person behind the Illusory Sound Sect... a Liu from Jing State? Or a Liu from Shu State?’

As he thought about it, a slight smile touched Chen Yi’s lips. ’Either way, the name is Liu.’

He glanced at the night outside, took a brief rest, and then got to work.

No matter how much his Cultivation improved in a single day, he would be no match for those Evil Demons from the Illusory Sound Sect.

Rather than waste time on Cultivation, it was better to make thorough preparations to protect himself.

Xie Tingyun, Shen Huatang, and the Xiao Family Punishment Hall would be the ones to intercept the Evil Demons from the Illusory Sound Sect.

’I’m just going to watch the show. I have no intention of revealing myself.’

Fortunately, Chen Yi had made some preparations in advance, so he wasn’t panicking now.

He then took out the medicinal herbs he had brought back from Jishi Medicine Hall and Hundred Herbs Hall. Using the scale, pestle, and other tools kept in the study, he began to process them.

He meticulously ground the herbs into fine powders, carefully placing each one on a separate sheet of Yunsong Paper.

Pile after pile.

It took him a full hour to finish his preparations.

And now for the most crucial step—compounding the drug.

Chen Yi found a cloth to cover his mouth and nose. He then held his breath with the Breath Concealment Technique and sealed his airways with True Essence.

It was no wonder he was being so cautious.

The formula he was about to concoct was one he had spent the last several days specifically researching.

Due to its overwhelming potency, he had named it "Immortal Drunk."

It wasn’t a Poison, but it was more effective than one.

Following the recipe, Chen Yi weighed out each powder and carefully poured them into a clean porcelain basin.

There were thirteen herbs in total. Though they were all common, when combined with the right catalyst, their explosive potency was enough to knock out a Middle Third-Grade Martial Artist.

Whether that meant Sixth Grade, Fifth Grade, or Fourth Grade remained to be seen until he actually used it.

Once all the herbs were in the porcelain basin, Chen Yi took a porcelain vial from his robes and slowly tapped the powder within into the mixture.

This was the very same Knockout Drug he had gotten from Pei Guanli—and the catalyst for his Immortal Drunk.

Instantly, a hazy, pinkish dust that was neither mist nor smoke began to rise.

’It’s done.’

This strange phenomenon matched exactly what Chen Yi had envisioned when he designed the drug.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he poured all the powder from the basin into the porcelain vials he had prepared.

In total, he had produced five vials of Immortal Drunk.

Once he was finished, Chen Yi opened the window, letting the residual powder in the room disperse on the wind. Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief.

He looked at the five porcelain vials on the table, a smile spreading across his face.

Even though he could only use it five times, he was eagerly anticipating the effects of Immortal Drunk.

’Immortal Drunk... Its true power is that it can bypass the protection of True Essence.’

Seeing that it was nearly three in the morning, Chen Yi put away the vials, sat back on his bed, and began cultivating the Four Symbols Skill.

Soon, his mind once again entered that profound and mysterious state of chaos.

「The next day」

The two-day downpour finally ceased.

However, the sky remained a hazy gray, showing no signs of clearing.

The evaporating moisture made Shu State City feel faintly hot and muggy.

Some people broke out in a sweat just sitting still, to say nothing of those who were out working.

Thus, after a busy morning, Xiaodie returned to her room to wash up and change into a fresh, dry set of clothes.

She even wrapped cotton bands around her two hair buns to absorb sweat.

She then woke up Xiao Wuge and Chen Yi as usual, and the three of them had breakfast together in the living room.

They had simple but delicious wonton noodles with chili oil.

When Xiaodie saw Chen Yi finish two bowls, both doused in chili oil, she asked in surprise, "Young Master, you like spicy food?"

Chen Yi nodded with a smile. "Shu State’s cuisine is famous throughout the Great Wei. Of course I like it."

’Especially hot pot.’

It was just that the Xiao Mansion, being a prominent household, had its own dedicated kitchen that focused mainly on stir-fried and braised dishes.

Breakfast might be simple, but lunch and dinner were extravagant affairs of rare delicacies or exquisite, ornate dishes. There was never anything as simple as hot pot, which couldn’t showcase the chefs’ skills.

Xiaodie studied him skeptically. When she was sure he was serious, she broke into a laugh. "Young Master, if you like spicy food, you should have told me sooner."

"I thought since you’re from Jiangnan Prefecture, you wouldn’t be used to spicy food."

Chen Yi smiled. Thinking of hot pot, an idea struck him. "At noon, go to the kitchen and have them..."

’Since I don’t have to go to the Medicine Hall today, I might as well eat something special right here in the mansion.’

He gave her detailed instructions, having Xiaodie write them all down.

Chen Yi then took Xiao Wuge to the pavilion, brought out a chessboard, and prepared to teach him how to play.

He hadn’t even finished explaining the rules when he saw Xiao Wan’er approaching with Cui’er and Juan’er, carrying account books and an abacus.

Xiao Wan’er glanced at them and said with a gentle smile, "Playing chess? Have I come at a bad time?"

Xiao Wuge pouted at the sight of her. "Sister, please, have a seat."

Xiao Wan’er patted his head affectionately. "Jiaxing Garden felt a little deserted today. I hope I’m not bothering you."

"Not at all, not at all..."

Chen Yi chuckled, placed the chessboard on a nearby bench, and motioned for Xiao Wuge to continue their game there.

He was a little surprised to see Xiao Wan’er, but he didn’t feel she was an intrusion.

After all...

Chen Yi thought of the melody he had heard two nights before. He collected himself and focused on teaching Xiao Wuge chess.

"The Chess Dao has three great Realms: seeing the game as just a game, seeing the game as more than a game, and finally, seeing the game as just a game again..."

He wasn’t trying to be profound; this was a genuine insight he’d gained after reaching Minor Success in the Chess Dao.

He himself, however, had only reached the second Realm: ’seeing the game as more than a game.’

His earlier mental exercise of using Shu State as a chessboard was one of the applications of this Realm.

Xiao Wuge took his words to heart without fully understanding them, and then began to familiarize himself with the rules of the game.

The one taught with focus, and the other learned with diligence, making Xiao Wan’er, who was watching from the side, feel a little out of place.

She hadn’t come over simply because "Jiaxing Garden felt deserted."

For some reason, she had felt uneasy all day, as if something momentous was about to happen.

Strangely, however, after coming to Spring Lotus Garden and watching Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge play, her unease had subsided, replaced by a sense of peace.

Xiao Wan’er didn’t understand why, attributing it simply to the garden’s elegant atmosphere.

「As noon approached.」

Xiaodie bustled about, bringing out the hot pot base and having the kitchen staff deliver various ingredients and dipping sauces.

The group gathered around and began to enjoy hot pot right there in the pavilion.

Xiao Wan’er and her maids had never eaten like this before. They found it novel and ate with delight.

"Is this how they eat in Jiangnan Prefecture?"

Chen Yi shook his head. "This is an authentic Shu State dish. I heard about it from the artisans in the East Market."

He wasn’t lying. While hot pot was a rare sight in Shu State Prefecture City, it was quite common in the more remote towns and counties.

It was a convenient way of eating favored by Pullers and Boatmen who were in a hurry to get to work.

Xiao Wan’er nodded as she took small bites. "It’s delicious."

Xiao Wuge was sweating profusely, panting and hissing from the spice.

"Sister, Brother-in-law, I think my lips are swollen..."

His complaint made everyone burst out laughing, and the atmosphere was warm and pleasant.

But hearing Xiao Wuge’s casual address, Xiao Wan’er’s face, illuminated by the glow of the pot’s burner, took on a slight blush.

’It should be Eldest Sister and Second Brother-in-law.’

Xiao Wan’er and her party didn’t get up to leave until evening.

Before she left, she specifically warned Chen Yi not to go out for the next few days, lest those villains find an opportunity to harm him.

Chen Yi, of course, nodded obediently, looking the very picture of compliance.

But shortly after nightfall, he feigned exhaustion and sent Xiaodie and Xiao Wuge to their rooms to rest.

He waited until their breathing grew slow and steady.

Chen Yi changed into a long black robe and put on a simple disguise, adding a small mustache.

He checked his reflection in a copper mirror. After confirming that he wouldn’t be recognized at a glance, he took the five vials of Immortal Drunk and slipped out of Spring Lotus Garden.

However, Chen Yi didn’t attempt to cross the middle and front courtyards.

Instead, he cut through the Purple Bamboo Forest and took a detour over a small hill on the other side, heading toward Hundred Herbs Hall.

Though some of the Xiao Family’s Personal Guard were stationed there, the woods were dense.

Under the cover of night, with his current Realm in the Meteor Butterfly Step, he was confident he could sneak out of the Xiao Mansion if he was careful.

About an hour later, Chen Yi arrived at Hundred Herbs Hall.

Following his memory, he walked nonchalantly to a tavern on the edge of the West Market.

It was not yet curfew, and the tavern was bustling with diners, full of life and the smell of cooking.

"A private room upstairs."

"This way, sir."

Chen Yi went to a private room on the third floor overlooking the street. He sat down leisurely, gazed at Hundred Herbs Hall in the distance, and muttered to himself:

’When you’re watching a show, it’s always better to have some peanuts and melon seeds.’