In the early morning, Bai Di City was shrouded in clouds and mist.
At the front hall of Jubao Fang's main store.
Two Nascent Soul cultivators entered, each holding a pile of arrowheads. They stood respectfully before the old shopkeeper, Bai Chen. One of them said in a deep voice, "Old shopkeeper, these are Mo Family spiritual explosion arrowheads found on the wreckage of the spiritual boat ridden by Shopkeeper Qingqiu. Although the shafts are gone, the arrowheads remain. These arrowheads are specially made, engraved with the name of Medicine King Valley."
"Oh?"
Bai Chen raised his hand, and an arrowhead was instantly drawn into his palm. He frowned as he looked at the slightly damaged arrowhead, and said faintly, "If that's the case, was this incident done by Medicine King Valley?"
"Not necessarily, it's too deliberate."
An eleventh-realm cultivator dressed as a scholar said with a solemn expression, "Old Shopkeeper Bai, if it were really done by Medicine King Valley, why would they be so foolish as to use their own spiritual explosion arrows? Furthermore, Medicine King Valley had just agreed to a pill business with Shopkeeper Qingqiu. Why would they ambush and assassinate Qingqiu midway? It makes no sense."
Bai Chen narrowed his eyes and smiled, "If we judge by motive, then the person competing with Qingqiu for pill sources would be the most likely culprit. But we have no concrete evidence, so we can't make a move yet. However, Medicine King Valley, these arrowheads are ironclad proof. If we shift the blame to Medicine King Valley, and see how they respond, wouldn't this move be more reasonable?"
The scholar smiled and bowed, "Old shopkeeper is wise!"
"Let's go."
Bai Chen stood up, dressed in a white robe, and smiled, "It's time to meet the head of Medicine King Valley. Let's see what explanation Sun Tingxuan has, and also gauge Medicine King Valley's attitude towards this matter."
"Yes!"
A group of merchant cultivators rose one after another and, following the old shopkeeper, took to the sky, heading north.
...
Medicine King Valley was shrouded in dense clouds.
In the alchemy room, Sun Tingxuan looked at the faint footprints on the ground with an extremely solemn expression. The alchemists in the alchemy room wore special cloth boots from Medicine King Valley, while the footprints on the ground were clearly from cloth shoes. Someone had sneaked into the alchemy room, the intention being obvious. The pill formulas plastered on the alchemy furnace were precisely the purpose of his trip.
"This is truly bizarre."
Su Zhe frowned, "The alchemy room is a forbidden and heavily guarded area of our Medicine King Valley. Each alchemy room is protected by restrictive formations and also guarded by Star River realm cultivators. Who could bypass the restrictions and sneak into the alchemy room under the noses of Star River realm cultivators? Could it be..."
He and Sun Tingxuan exchanged glances, and a name appeared in both their minds: Lin Zhujie.
This young Nascent Soul cultivator was the most likely candidate. If he could evade the eyes and ears of Star River realm cultivators and leave the courtyard, he might have the ability to infiltrate the alchemy room and steal pill formulas.
Sun Tingxuan's expression turned cold, and he said in his heart, "Mr. Su, have we really tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice? That kid... is he actually a master who has been hiding his strength?"
"Who knows."
Su Zhe frowned and said, "This matter should not be publicized. Family Head, let us pretend that nothing has happened. If Lin Zhujie is just a petty thief, wanting to steal the pill formula to refine the Zhenyuan Pill to save his incompetent master, then this is a trivial matter. I'm afraid he might leak the pill formula. Therefore, our Medicine King Valley should accelerate the refining of pills, and tightly tie the names of Medicine King Valley and Zhenyuan Pill together. Even if other pill refining sects refine the Zhenyuan Pill, we can claim it's a replica and fake, thus minimizing its impact on Medicine King Valley."
"Yes, that's the only way."
Just then, a Golden Core cultivator arrived, respectfully saying, "Family Head, Old Master Bai Chen, the general shopkeeper of Jubao Fang in Bai Di City, requests an audience and specifically asks to see the Family Head!"
"Understood. Go and ask Old Shopkeeper Bai to wait in the front hall. We will be there shortly."
"Yes."
Sun Tingxuan's expression became even more grim. He frowned, "The old guy surnamed Bai coming in person, this matter will be difficult to resolve. It seems to be related to the assassination of Shopkeeper Qingqiu at Jizi Lake. Although our Medicine King Valley has obtained the Zhenyuan Pill formula, the troubles have not stopped. It's truly a time of turmoil. Mr. Su, what should we do now?"
"Nothing."
Su Zhe said, "This matter was not done by our Medicine King Valley, so we have no reason to admit it. As for the rest, we will take it one step at a time."
"Yes, that's all we can do."
...
Front hall.
When Sun Tingxuan and Su Zhe entered the front hall, the Jubao Fang merchant cultivators all stood up. Old Shopkeeper Bai Chen rose from the main guest seat. Without a word, he directly threw a pile of arrowheads onto the ground in front of Sun Tingxuan. He frowned, his expression quite unfriendly. Although this twelfth-realm great cultivator of the merchant family was known for valuing harmony for wealth, if someone truly dared to provoke Jubao Fang and intended to use force, then Bai Chen was undoubtedly the most formidable fighter among merchants in the human world today.
"Old shopkeeper, what is this?" Sun Tingxuan bent down and picked up an arrowhead from the ground.
"Sun Tingxuan."
Bai Chen said faintly, "These are spiritual explosion arrowheads found on the side of the spiritual boat wreckage that Shopkeeper Qingqiu was on. The arrowheads were deeply embedded in the side of the boat. You should recognize the characters engraved on them, Family Head Sun, right?"
"Of course I recognize them."
Sun Tingxuan frowned, "They are artifacts of our Medicine King Valley, but this does not prove that people from our Medicine King Valley did it. Moreover, what benefit would this bring to our Medicine King Valley? Please calm your anger, old shopkeeper. This matter is truly unrelated to our Medicine King Valley."
"Completely unrelated?"
Old Shopkeeper Bai Chen raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Sun Tingxuan, where do you get the audacity to say completely unrelated? Even if it wasn't done by your Medicine King Valley, it must be closely related to your Medicine King Valley. Who in this world most wishes for Jubao Fang and Medicine King Valley to fall out? Who most wishes for us to become enemies? Who would be the greatest beneficiary of our falling out? Wouldn't you know?"
"Old shopkeeper!"
Sun Tingxuan frowned, "What does the old shopkeeper want our Medicine King Valley to do?"
"Prove your innocence."
Bai Chen said faintly, "Qingqiu had an accident on his way back after concluding business at your Medicine King Valley. These arrowheads also bear the name of your Medicine King Valley. Who is the culprit? Should your Medicine King Valley not investigate? Are you expecting the Ancestral Court of Merchants to investigate?"
"This..."
Sun Tingxuan had been in charge of Medicine King Valley for many years. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? He frowned and sneered, "Is the old shopkeeper using the Ancestral Court of Merchants to pressure me? Although my Medicine King Valley is not large, it is one of the first-class sects on the roster of the Great Merchant Dynasty. Is it fair for the old shopkeeper to place this baseless accusation on our Medicine King Valley?"
"Sun Tingxuan."
Bai Chen sneered, "You've taken all the benefits and said all the nice words. Does it mean that all the business in the world should be earned by your Medicine King Valley, and everyone else has to bow their heads? If your Medicine King Valley is like this, then you might as well give up on the pill business in the human world from now on. Also, don't forget, why were you able to become the Family Head?"
"Old shopkeeper, you..." Sun Tingxuan's expression was already extremely unpleasant.
Bai Chen's gaze was disdainful, and he said with a faint smile, "If it weren't for your elder brother, the legendary Medicine Sage Sun Baigui, who died ten years ago while fighting the great demon Yu Chang to preserve the human waterway south of Xijian River, and if it weren't for your father, Medicine King Sun Qinghe, who has been in seclusion for a long time, deducing complete pill formulas without breaking through, how would a mere Sun Tingxuan like you have the资格 to be in charge of Medicine King Valley?"
"Old shopkeeper!"
These words directly struck Sun Tingxuan's weakness and sore spot. Although he was the Family Head, his reputation was far inferior to that of his deceased brother or his father in seclusion. As long as his father, Sun Qinghe, ended his seclusion, this Medicine King would be the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, and he, Sun Tingxuan, would only be the second person in Medicine King Valley. Therefore, this seat as Family Head could be lost at any moment. Even if Sun Xingchun or Sun Yunnuan grew up and achieved excellence in cultivation or pill refining, Sun Tingxuan would have to yield!
His gaze was cold as he looked at the old shopkeeper, "Did the old shopkeeper come to Medicine King Valley just to scold me, Sun Tingxuan?"
"You think you're worthy?"
A cold glint flashed in Bai Chen's eyes. The world of a twelfth-realm great cultivator was about to manifest, and the entire front hall was under immense pressure from the Great Dao. This influential figure from the Ancestral Court of Merchants looked at the other party and smiled faintly, "Within a month, we demand an explanation from Jubao Fang regarding the matter of Shopkeeper Qingqiu, otherwise, await the indictment from the Ancestral Court of Merchants."
Saying that, the old shopkeeper turned around, "Let's go."
The merchant cultivators turned around one after another, and not a single one glanced at Sun Tingxuan.
...
After everyone had left, Sun Tingxuan stumbled and sat dumbfounded in the Family Head's chair, his eyes filled with rage, "Too much... too much bullying!"
Su Zhe wanted to comfort him a few words but didn't know where to start. After all, Jubao Fang's influence was far greater than Medicine King Valley's, and Jubao Fang was backed by the Ancestral Court of Merchants. Medicine King Valley, however, was not supported by the Ancestral Court of Physicians. When Medicine Sage Sun Baigui was alive, the Ancestral Court of Physicians was willing to take care of them to some extent. After Sun Baigui died in battle, no one from the Ancestral Court of Physicians had ever visited. Medicine King Valley was merely a pill refining sect in the human world, what did it have to do with the Ancestral Court of Physicians?
Not long after, a plump steward walked in, saying respectfully, "Family Head, the spiritual boats from the Lu clan of Yun Province have arrived. A total of twelve spiritual boats, decorated with lanterns and banners. It is said they also brought substantial gifts, a betrothal letter, and a matchmaker."
"Ah?!"
Sun Tingxuan was slightly startled and said, "What does that mean?"
The plump steward said, "I heard from the arrivals that the young master of the Lu clan in Yun Province, Lu Shaoyan, wishes to marry the eldest lady, Sun Xingchun, and therefore has come with great fanfare today to offer a betrothal gift."
"What?!"
Sun Tingxuan suddenly stood up, his body swaying. Recently, there had been too many matters in Medicine King Valley, and he was already overwhelmed.
Beside him, Su Zhe's eyes lit up, and he transmitted a message, "Jubao Fang's inquiry can be put aside for now. We must first establish the Zhenyuan Pill business. Since we have lost the connection with Jubao Fang, then the Lu Business Firm, with branches in Ning Province, Yan Province, Shu Province, and Bai Di City, has become our first choice. Moreover, we can go with the flow and marry off Sun Xingchun, who has always had a strong will. Why not?"
Eighth update complete, brothers, please vote!