TGCFNM -Chapter 170 Make Him Spit the Silver Back Out

As soon as Chu Ling and Xiao Hua sat down again, Wan Sanjin and Zhang Dong came upstairs as well. The two of them glanced in unison at the door that had been kicked in, then were led by a servant to the private room next door.

“My lord, did you get into a fight?” Wan Sanjin asked.

Chu Ling shook her head. “We were just discussing inviting a monk to perform a ritual and cleanse you of your bad luck.”

“It should be a Daoist priest for rituals, my lord,” Zhang Dong corrected.

Chu Ling thought about it and nodded. “Right. Then we’ll invite a Daoist priest to perform the ritual, and a monk to conduct a requiem.”

Wan Sanjin sat down, puzzled. “Why are we inviting both a Daoist priest and a monk?”

After pouring each of them a cup of tea, Xiao Hua recounted what had just happened.

Wan Sanjin’s expression changed drastically in an instant. Gritting his teeth, he said, “That bastard dared to overcharge me for silver! I’ll make him spit it back out!”

“For now, the Shangguan brothers are investigating that matter,” Chu Ling said, looking at Wan Sanjin and Zhang Dong. “Our main focus is still Doctor Gu—also known as Bai Zhuoxing. Did you find out anything?”

Zhang Dong replied, “My lord, what people are talking about most right now is Scholar Sun and Miss Nangong being in love. Many are guessing they’ll likely get engaged after next year’s imperial examination in the spring. Some even say the engagement might happen soon, and they’ll marry right after the exams.”

Xiao Hua huffed angrily. “That Scholar Sun is nothing but a scoundrel!”

Wan Sanjin, however, had learned something new. “Quite a few people know there’s a Doctor Gu in the Qingqi Army. He has graying hair, a stooped back, and looks quite old. But his medical skills are astonishing—many prominent families have invited him to their estates for treatment.”

“But right after the Qingqi Army’s leader, Nangong Jue, died unexpectedly, Doctor Gu vanished mysteriously. There isn’t the slightest trace of him in the entire city. Even the guards at the city gates don’t know whether he left the city. It’s as if he disappeared into thin air—no one has seen him since.”

“Because of his medical skills and prescriptions, the major aristocratic families have all been searching for him. They’ve even sent people outside the city to look, but so far there’s been nothing. Some even suspect he died accidentally while gathering herbs.”

Resting her chin on her hand, Chu Ling frowned. “Are we going to end up chasing shadows this time? He disappeared so completely.”

Wan Sanjin said worriedly, “It’s possible. He might really have fled.”

Chu Ling muttered softly, “But where would he run to? The Nangong family definitely won’t let this matter go. When Bai Hu brings people back to guard this place again, he’ll certainly increase manpower to search…”

And that Qinglong—didn’t he say he had found where Bai Zhuoxing was? How did he still let the man escape? Prince Rui ought to dock his pay.

“I might have an idea where he would go…” Bai Su said, her face turning slightly pale as she looked at Chu Ling. “If Miss Guo hadn’t struggled to break free, she wouldn’t have died so early. Fort Master Guo would have continued raising her for a while longer, until the blood gu completely devoured her—then he would have used consummation to extract it.”

“But for a man, that isn’t necessary. The gu insect also lives longer. However, if it can only last a few more years, then it would be about time for Bai Zhuoxing to extract the blood gu. And the best place to extract it should be an extremely cold region—on Mount Tianjian.”

Chu Ling didn’t quite understand and looked at Bai Su with confusion in her eyes.

The Ghost Scholar explained, “At the foot of Mount Tianjian, there may still be the change of four seasons. But the summit of Mount Tianjian is covered in snow all year round. As the sect master of Mount Tianjian, Mei Zhongxue comprehended his ever-changing Snowsha Sword technique amid raging blizzards, surpassing even his own master.”

Chu Ling looked at the others inquisitively. “The summit of Mount Tianjian—I think I’ve heard it’s covered in snow year-round?”

“Yes, my lord,” Wan Sanjin said. “Our Wan family’s inns are all opened at the foot of the mountain. The town there is called Tianjian City.”

Chu Ling gave a thumbs-up. “Your elder brother really can do business anywhere.”

Wan Sanjin nodded proudly. “That’s true.”

Chu Ling glanced at Bai Su, wondering how she should spin the story later. After thinking for quite a while, she finally drafted something in her mind.

“You all remember how Miss Guo died, don’t you?” Chu Ling began.

Wan Sanjin nodded. “The Blood Gu.”

Chu Ling nodded repeatedly. “Right, the Blood Gu. Fort Master Gu was a gu-raiser, so he used his own daughter to plant the Blood Gu. That Bai Zhuoxing is abnormal as well—and he plays with gu insects too. So it’s very possible that he also used his own child to plant a Blood Gu.”

Wan Sanjin gave a low hum. “That’s possible.”

Chu Ling’s expression turned slightly solemn. “When I sent Miss Gu on her way, why did I use fire? Because insects fear fire. So gu insects might prefer cold environments.”

Wan Sanjin suddenly understood. “So Bai Zhuoxing may have gone to Tianjian Mountain?”

“Extremely likely!” Chu Ling said with certainty.

Wan Sanjin spread his hands helplessly. “Then what do we do? Tianjian Mountain isn’t open right now.”

“Not open?” Chu Ling asked.

“Mm. Even Tianjian City is temporarily closed.” Wan Sanjin looked at her. “Otherwise, why wouldn’t Cao Tong and Yan Sheng rush to Tianjian City? Wouldn’t that be safer? That’s what they told me.”

Chu Ling thought for a moment before saying, “Then Bai Zhuoxing must be lying low for now. Once Tianjian Mountain opens its gates, he will definitely rush there!”

Wan Sanjin calculated the time.

“There’s still about a month and a half before the invitations take effect. It’ll take us seven or eight days to reach Tianjian City. So we’ll have to stay here for another month and seven days…” After finishing his calculations, he slapped the table angrily. “I’m going to make that man spit every last coin back out!”

Chu Ling noticed the look in Bai Su’s eyes and said softly, “A month and a half passes quickly. Soon enough, we’ll find Bai Zhuoxing.”

Bai Su lifted her gaze to Chu Ling. “Whether it’s for me or for Su He, you must all be careful. This man is not easy to deal with.”

“But with just the few of us, we’re ultimately at a disadvantage,” Chu Ling said, the corner of her lips curving into a crafty smile. “So it would be best to divert the trouble elsewhere—draw Mei Zhongxue into dealing with him.”

She smiled slyly. “A martial arts grandmaster should rid the martial world of its scourges, shouldn’t he?”

Wan Sanjin burst into laughter. “Right! Why didn’t I think of that?”

Chu Ling smiled at him. “Before we find Bai Zhuoxing, how about setting up a few small obstacles for him first? What do you think?”

Wan Sanjin asked, “What kind of obstacles? Spend money to hire the people of Tianxia Zhi to go after him?”

“Of course not. Where would I get that much money?” Chu Ling said. “I’m thinking of asking someone to spread a few pieces of news…”

She glanced at Bai Su, who nodded.

“What kind of news?” Wan Sanjin asked.

Chu Ling’s smile widened as she declared, “Naturally, some information my mysterious master once mentioned. With a bit of embellishment from me, we’ll expose the fact that this man is a scourge to the martial world—let everyone be wary of him, and let the martial artists deal with him.”

Wan Sanjin considered it, then nodded. “My lord, that is indeed a good method. It’ll also warn others to be cautious of him.”

Chu Ling gave a slight nod, her expression turning serious. “And it would be best if Tianjian Mountain resolves him this time. Otherwise, we’ll probably be chased by this lunatic to the ends of the earth.”

Just thinking about it was unbearable.

So this man—

Must die.