Chapter 89: Chapter 89: The Xu Family’s Plot
"The Song Family model?"
Lin Changheng was lost in thought.
"That’s right. But they’re not expanding everywhere like the Song Family. Instead, they’re selecting a few new Marketplaces with potential to open shops in. As for the old districts, while they have a lot of foot traffic, the shops are saturated and the customer base is pretty much fixed. There isn’t much profit to be made, so they’ll only pick a select few."
This Shopkeeper was well-informed and had a good personality, but he was a chatterbox. Once he started talking, he couldn’t stop, and he laid everything out clearly.
"Thank you for telling me all this, Shopkeeper. But is there any news about which New Districts the Sun Family has chosen?"
Lin Changheng asked after thanking him.
"There’s no specific news, but the Liu and Xu Families’ New District in Juechen Valley is in an excellent location. It has untapped potential, so it’s a strong possibility."
The Shopkeeper offered his own speculation based on the information he had.
Then, he saw the Black Robe Cultivator before him freeze for a moment. Thinking the man didn’t quite understand his words or wasn’t familiar with the new Marketplace in question, he began to explain his reasoning, which was nothing more than its superior geographical location, the abundance of resources invested in its construction, and so on.
But he didn’t know that the reason Lin Changheng had frozen was because he was thinking, ’It’s actually Juechen Valley!’
’It’s not that I’m unfamiliar with it—I’m far too familiar!’
He thought to himself, ’If the Xu Family’s New District really does open and develops well, and if the Sun Family truly sets up a new shop there, then I have to get a post there, no matter what.’
’Proximity really does breed opportunity.’
"Thank you for the information, Shopkeeper."
Lin Changheng chatted with the Shopkeeper for a while longer, subtly probing for more details. Content with what he had learned, he didn’t forget to buy some common Demon Beast Materials as a thank-you for taking up so much of the man’s time before he left.
"Come again when you have time, Fellow Daoist!"
The Shopkeeper, still eager to talk, saw him all the way to the door.
...
「Five days later.」
Lin Changheng had already been traveling with the caravan for three days.
But as he looked at the Veil Hat Female Cultivator sitting across from him in the same carriage, he felt that something was off.
It wasn’t about the Female Cultivator herself; she was as calm as ever, and the two of them hadn’t exchanged many words, just as before. Rather, it was that the caravan’s Steward was coming by a little too frequently.
He didn’t always stop to talk, but would linger and patrol near their carriage. Although Lin Changheng couldn’t see him, he could recognize the man by the distinct hoofbeats of his Flood Dragon Horse.
The strange part was that the caravan had already sold off most of its goods, yet the Steward was patrolling even more frequently than when they had first set out.
’This means there must be something here that he considers important... ’
If Lin Changheng hadn’t made a habit of being cautious and paying close attention to his surroundings, he would never have noticed this detail.
There was only one cargo-pulling packhorse carriage in front of them. Judging by the strain on the wheels, it wasn’t carrying much. He just didn’t know if it was leftover goods or something newly purchased to be transported back to the family.
However, the likelihood of it containing important items was not high. After all, a single item, or a small quantity of items, could easily be placed in a Storage Bag and carried on one’s person for better security.
Behind that was the carriage Lin Changheng was in, with him and the Female Cultivator inside.
The carriage’s interior was simple, with nothing out of the ordinary at a single glance.
That left the two people riding inside.
Considering their importance, he used the process of elimination to rule himself out. That only left the Female Cultivator.
’Could it be... that she’s carrying something important?’
The sudden thought inexplicably burrowed into his mind.
For the next two days of the journey, he paid extra attention to the movements of the caravan’s Steward and the woman.
And sure enough, he made a discovery.
He confirmed one thing directly: the Steward’s frequent approaches had nothing to do with the packhorse carriage up ahead.
Furthermore, the Steward no longer stood watch at night. Instead, he rested with Lin Changheng, the Female Cultivator, and the others.
Ordinarily, this would seem normal, but now Lin Changheng could sense a clear protective intent.
The implications of this situation were such that he dared not think about it too deeply.
’By the looks of it, the Xu Family might have actually sent someone to win an important item at the auction in the Ruins District.’
’It’s just that the Xu Family didn’t send a large contingent, which made me overlook the possibility earlier. I thought that since the Xu Family already possessed a Foundation Establishment Pill granted by their Upper Sect, they wouldn’t have any interest in this item.’
’Just a handful of people, with the strongest only at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer. How bold... but it’s also a good way to lull outsiders into a false sense of security.’
Lin Changheng meditated by the fire, feeling a mix of admiration and unease.
Because he couldn’t suppress his thoughts... they always drifted toward the [Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object].
’Did the Xu Family really secretly win the [Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object]? Why else would they be acting like this over any other item?’
’The fact that the final successful bidder had an old man’s voice wasn’t important. Switching bidders, using voice-altering techniques to hide one’s identity... those were all standard tactics.’
’Whatever the Xu Family won, whatever they’ve obtained, I just hope they don’t slip up, get discovered, and attract prying eyes. Otherwise, with just these few people, things could get really dangerous.’
Lin Changheng just wanted to reach the Xu Family’s station peacefully; he didn’t want to get involved in anything else.
But for the Xu Family, having a Foundation Establishment Pill and now a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object on top of that, the probability of producing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was genuinely high.
He just didn’t know who the Xu Family’s final candidate for Foundation Establishment would be.
But as it turned out, his worst fears were about to come true.
「Half a day later.」
Trouble truly came knocking.
The Xu Family caravan, which had been proceeding normally, suddenly halted, ordered to stop by the caravan’s Steward, Xu Xulin.
"What’s that smell?"
Xu Xulin’s face grew wary. He twitched his nose, sensing something was wrong.
The next moment, a strange heat began to build inside his body.
"Poison! Take your Antitoxic Pills, quickly!"
At his shout, the Xu Family members all swallowed their Pills and formed a defensive Array Formation.
Ever since the last incident, all of the Xu Family’s traveling caravans were issued Antitoxic Pills, one for each person.
The two people in the carriage did not show themselves, but they also took their Pills.
Lin Changheng sighed internally, lamenting his bad luck. At the same time, he finally saw a fluctuation in the Female Cultivator’s state of mind as her delicate, slender fingers clenched slightly.
Next, the distinct sound of people pushing through the forest and rustling leaves came from the side. Clearly, after poisoning them, the ambush had begun!
A chaotic din of Magical Combat and clashing sounds erupted. Although Lin Changheng was anxious, he saw that the Female Cultivator hadn’t moved, so he also remained still.
If his earlier speculation was correct, this woman could not come to any harm, which meant staying with her was definitely the safer option.
Sure enough, a Talisman was activated over the carriage, forming a Light Shield, and the two of them were unharmed.
Before long, a sinister voice echoed out, "We meet again."
"It’s you! You have some nerve, attacking my Xu Family’s party repeatedly."
Immediately, Steward Xu Xulin’s furious roar was heard, but Lin Changheng detected a hint of ease beneath the anger. "It seems last time didn’t hurt you enough! This time, you’ve delivered yourselves to our doorstep to die!"
"Careful, or you won’t even be able to protect the last surviving sprout of your Chen Family!"
’So they aren’t people who followed us from the Marketplace?’
’But rather the Tribulation Cultivators who were running rampant outside the Xu Family’s territory before?’
’It seems he’s a Cultivator who luckily escaped when the Chen Family was destroyed, and he’s here for revenge.’
’No wonder Xu Xulin had the time to say so much. He must have been trying to pass information to the Female Cultivator.’
Inside the passenger carriage, the two unseen occupants quietly breathed a sigh of relief in unison.
Sensing each other’s similar reactions, their gazes met, crossing through two layers of veiled curtains.
