Lijiang City, east of the city, Lijiang Tower.
Chen Mu sat in a corner of the first-floor hall.
While waiting for his meal to be served, Chen Mu looked up and surveyed the flow of people on the first floor. This was already his third day in Lijiang City.
There was a dining table next to the passageway from the kitchen where the food was served.
A lean old man in black clothes was using a small curved knife to slice duck for his grandson.
“This pair of grandfather and grandson…”
After thinking for a moment, Chen Mu remembered. He had seen them the last time he had come to Lijiang Tower to live incognito. Back then, the old man was also cutting meat for his grandson to eat.
Chen Mu smiled and turned his head to look at the crowd near the port outside the doorway.
“It seems there are more outsiders than before.”
“And all of these outsiders are martial artists dressed in fancy tight suits.”
“World clans?” Chen Mu’s brows furrowed slightly.
Lijiang City is the closest to Shouyang Mountain. Those who managed to get a Thousand Mechanism Token would usually come to Lijiang City to live incognito until the day they leave.
Anyone strong enough to snatch a Thousand Mechanism Token is no weakling. These bigshots, being used to living freely, would not condescend to hide in the wilderness.
“This gives world clans an opportunity,” Chen Mu’s brows furrowed tighter. “They better not stir up any trouble.”
“No, it’s certain they will cause trouble!”
Chen Mu sighed, “No peace wherever I go.”
“After this meal, I should stock up on more supplies.”
He did not want to get involved in unnecessary hassles.
“The Five Ghosts Bag can conceal the Thousand Mechanism Token, and although it can’t block it completely, it generally won’t be detected unless someone is very close.”
In the past, the Wuding Ring and Soul-Calming Stake were only perceived when someone was nearby.
“I’ll stay safely at home. As long as world clans are not searching every inch thoroughly, I am safe.”
…
Five days later, east of the city in Yongtong District, Jiazi Alley, Chen Residence.
Chen Mu was sitting under the pavilion on the east side of the courtyard.
The house had been unoccupied for more than half a year, and when he first arrived, the pavilion’s pillars were moldy, the thatched roof had rotted, and the wooden floor near the courtyard gate was waterlogged and swollen. It took three to four days to gradually renovate and repair everything.
He then bought completely new pots, pans, ladles, sleeping mats, and quilts.
Coupled with the Soul-Calming Stake, the small courtyard instantly felt comfortable and livable.
“If I’m to live here for three months, I can’t allow myself any discomfort.”
Nestled in a rocking chair, Chen Mu was immersed in reading a medicine book.
What was once arcane text now became fascinating with the insights brought by increased proficiency.
After glancing at his Pharmaceutical Technique, which had increased by another five points, Chen Mu put away the medicine book with satisfaction.
“I don’t need a high rank, as long as I can distinguish the components of the Fasting Pill.”
“I still have to keep up with the counterfeit business,” Chen Mu thought regretfully.
Money never lasts.
Taking a ship out to sea without knowing for how long, I must prepare high-energy, long-lasting food like Fasting Pill version 3.0.
Therefore, he bought a bottle of Fasting Pills, which instantly cost him 12,000 silver.
Gentle Breeze Powder, Spirit Sand Pills, Mesmerizing Divine Smoke—these emergency medicines for healing and self-defense must also be prepared. Preparation of Fasting Pills also requires the right herbs, so he bought a large batch of medicinal materials as well.
If Zhang Ye hadn’t returned a gift of four to five thousand silver, he would have almost been unable to pay the bill.
Now, he only had a little over two thousand silver on him.
…
After taking a sip of the cool tea on the small table, Chen Mu, feeling well-rested, stood up and went to the thatched shed near the courtyard gate.
On the west side edge of this shed, there stood a row of seven wooden stakes as thick as bowl mouths.
Chen Mu stood behind the first stake, closest to the direction of the courtyard gate.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The Sleeve Sword Technique was silently executed and then retracted.
Tiny chips of wood flew up from the top of the stake like snowflakes.
Before long, the outline of a smooth spherical surface emerged.
Reflecting on the feeling of drawing the sword just now, Chen Mu had a strange expression on his face.
“Culinary skills have this function as well?”
He had never practiced carving, but his culinary skills included a branch of knife techniques. At the moment, by making associations, he managed to shape the wooden sphere to be round and smooth.
“An unexpected delight,” Chen Mu smiled.
Glancing at the swiftly increasing proficiency of the Sleeve Sword Technique, Chen Mu buried his head in practice again, “Advancement is in sight.”
…
Half a month later.
In the western part of Lijiang City, within a residence with five courtyards.
Sikou Yang, his face smooth and ruddy, but his beard and hair snowy white, sat leisurely at the head of the main hall.
“Elder, the message has been sent,” Jin Wuduan said with a slight bow and a smile on his face.
“A Thousand Mechanism Token, in exchange for ten thousand acres of fertile land, three manors, and an additional one hundred thousand taels of gold. If there are other conditions, they can also be negotiated.”
“Mhm,” Sikou Yang nodded noncommittally.
“Elder, people are coming, really exchange?” Jin Wuduan cautiously glanced at the old man, “Why not… “
Sikou Yang glanced at Jin Wuduan, “External possessions, no need to fuss over them.”
“It’s only worrying if no one comes to exchange,” Sikou Yang sighed.
“Is there any news about Cheng Yi?” Sikou Yang turned his head to ask.
Zuo Sheng, who had been standing with his body bowed beside him, immediately stepped forward, “Elder, I’ve arranged for brothers from five branches to head north, to probe thoroughly.”
“But after that scoundrel abducted Miss Sikou Qing, there’s been no trace of him.”
“This man has done many evils, both Master Yu and Miss Qing have successively fallen to his venomous deeds.”
“Please allow me, Elder, to personally lead a team of skilled men to investigate.”
Sikou Yang sighed, “It’s a pity about the Thousand Mechanism Token.”
“Nanyang Prefecture is so vast, finding him is like searching for a needle in the ocean.”
“It’s just Qing’er’s bad luck.”
“Let those people go and search. We won’t mobilize anyone here.”
“Searching inside Lijiang City for the owner of the Thousand Mechanism Token is more important.”
Zuo Sheng’s heart skipped a beat, did Elder Sikou consider the Thousand Mechanism Token even more important than his own disciples?
He certainly couldn’t let the old man know he had a Thousand Mechanism Token!
Just at this moment, a man in a black tight suit suddenly barged in.
“Leader, there’s news about Cheng Yi!”
Zuo Sheng’s eyelids twitched!
Sikou Qing was someone he had ambushed and captured.
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If someone really caught Cheng Yi, wouldn’t the lie he spun be exposed!
“Where?” Sikou Yang, who had been calm just a moment ago, got excited instantly.
“East of the City, in Yongtong District, Jiazi Alley!”
“Is the information accurate?” Sikou Yang stared at the man in black.
Feeling his scalp tingle under the scrutiny, the man hastily handed over a piece of paper.
“Someone sent a secret message via a throwing dart, the paper was nailed to the doorfront.”
Sikou Yang’s brows instantly furrowed, he asked suspiciously, “They didn’t claim the reward? Who would be so kind-hearted?”
An idea struck Zuo Sheng, and frowning as if in deep thought, he said, “Could it be the other families trying to muddle the waters?”
“That’s possible,” Sikou Yang pondered, unable to help but sigh.
Who doesn’t covet wealth?
Not claiming a bounty, they must have another purpose, exactly as Zuo Sheng said, it’s very likely the other great families creating a smokescreen.
“Are they testing the strength of my men?” Sikou Yang had a moment of realization.
“It seems they want to scheme against my Thousand Mechanism Token. Hah…” Sikou Yang sneered.
Zuo Sheng nodded with an equally unsightly expression, but at the same time, he breathed an internal sigh of relief.
Luckily, luckily, he had hoodwinked the old man.
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly saw his master Jin Wuduan step forward, “Last time we captured Cheng Yi, there was also a message sent by throwing dart.”
“I’ve seen the handwriting; it’s identical.”
“Cheng Yi might really be in Yongtong District!” Jin Wuduan said, his face alive with excitement.
Zuo Sheng: “…”
Looking at the surprisingly revived interest on Sikou Yang’s face, Zuo Sheng felt his teeth itch with hatred.
If this fat man weren’t his master, he would want nothing more than to strangle him!