Chapter 38: The Successful Scheme

City Lord’s Residence.

“What did you say? The Ziyang Estate was attacked by demonic cultivators?” Fei Si, who was handling affairs, rose to his feet at once, his face awash with shock.

“How is young master Meng Chong?” he pressed immediately.

Upon learning Meng Chong was unharmed, the heavy stone lodged in Fei Si’s throat finally dropped into his heart.

He issued orders at once, dispatching a team of cultivators to the Ziyang Estate for support.

“I’ll go first!” Fei Si could care less about his desk-bound duties now. With a leap, he soared into the air, his figure streaking like a rainbow toward the Ziyang Estate.

“Meng Chong was arranged to stay at the Ziyang Estate, both front and back, in utmost secrecy.”

“But he’d barely arrived before being ambushed by demonic cultivators!”

“Are they truly demonic cultivators?”

A cloud of suspicion darkened Fei Si’s mind.

He was the right hand of the current City Lord of Fire Persimmon Immortal City—ruthless, cunning, adept at schemes. Many matters the City Lord could not personally attend to, and Chetun lacked the wits, so only Fei Si could handle them.

Earlier, Fei Si had discovered that Zhou Zhu of the Zhou family, relying on his innate talent, was rapidly dispersing his cultivation despite his injuries, posing a significant threat to Meng Chong.

He’d arranged for a hidden Zhou family agent to sabotage Zhou Zhu, greatly slowing his progress.

Meanwhile, Zheng Jian of the Zheng family, employing artifact refinement, was progressing swiftly; Fei Si sabotaged him as well.

To mask his own involvement, he sent a deathsworn to attack Meng Chong, who killed the assailant in return, thereby gaining fame among the three great families and subtly showcasing the City Lord’s strength.

Of course, Meng Chong knew nothing of this. Only Fei Si and the City Lord were privy to the truth.

As for the Ning family, Fei Si had his eye on Ning Xiaohui, but she was still wrangling with her kin for greater benefit, not dispersing her cultivation, and posed no threat; he saw no need to act.

Naturally, the City Lord’s Residence had agents within the Ning family as well, but Fei Si reasoned that activating them would be pointless. Better to leave the Ning family untouched, so that among the four powers, only Ning remained unscathed.

This would incite speculation among Zhou and Zheng: what would they make of it?

Fei Si used this to sow a subtle trap, casting suspicion on Ning.

Having orchestrated so many machinations, he now felt beset by enemies upon hearing Meng Chong had been attacked.

“Could it be that the other three families saw through the truth and are retaliating in secret?”

“Which one is it?”

“How did our side leak information?”

The four powers of Fire Persimmon Immortal City maintained a delicate balance. All followed the righteous path—retaliation would never be overt, but hidden and ruthless.

Arranging or disguising as demonic cultivators was the most common tactic.

Fei Si landed within the Ziyang Estate, stirring up a blast of air and a cloud of dust.

His eyes swept the grounds—everywhere bore the marks of fierce battle. Amid broken walls and rubble lay the bodies of many cultivators, along with heaps of shattered mechanism components.

The peak Foundation Establishment sword cultivator who’d previously been repulsed by Han Ming and escaped with a Void Escape Talisman had returned.

Seeing Fei Si, the sword cultivator blanched and hurried forward to pay respects.

“Deserting the battlefield—wait and face your punishment!” Fei Si had already received an urgent report from the cultivators on his way, and was fully briefed on the attack.

The sword cultivator bowed in obedience outwardly, but inside, he felt no regret.

His fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators had rushed to fight the mechanism-wielding demonic cultivator, and never returned.

They were most likely dead.

At least he’d preserved his own life!

As for punishment—he’d take it. As long as one lived, there was always a future, always hope.

Fei Si swept past the sword cultivator and strode quickly to the alchemy chamber.

Inside, Meng Chong was half-crouched, tending to Sun Lie lying on the floor.

Sun Lie’s complexion was much improved now. Although Meng Chong was not adept at healing others, Sun Lie was a master of alchemy and carried many healing pills.

“Young master Meng Chong, are you unharmed?” Fei Si’s voice betrayed his anxious concern, the first words directed at Meng Chong, his worry and tension plain to see.

Though he already knew Meng Chong was safe, this was the moment to show it.

Often, what seems like idle talk serves to express attitude—and attitude signals allegiance.

Meng Chong glanced at Fei Si and shook his head, indicating he was unharmed.

“If you’re unharmed, why are you bare-chested, still emitting fragrance?” Fei Si found it odd, but would never voice such a thing.

He turned to Sun Lie, speaking bluntly: “Sun Lie, it's fortunate young master Meng Chong is safe, or you’d be unable to escape blame!”

“Your death is a small matter; young master Meng Chong possesses exceptional immortal talent and is the Meng family’s hope. If you endangered him, ten lives wouldn’t be enough to atone.”

Sun Lie, though a master of alchemy, was still only at the peak of Foundation Establishment, not the Golden Core stage.

In truth, even if Sun Lie were at Golden Core, Fei Si would scold him just the same.

That was his cunning.

Sun Lie leaned against the wall, half-reclining, and shot Fei Si a massive eye-roll.

He was easygoing by nature and had little patience for men like Fei Si. Even if Fei Si were at Golden Core, what of it? Sun Lie would retort all the same.

All are righteous cultivators; one must act according to the proper rules.

Cultivation isn't everything.

Sun Lie rebuffed, “I endangered Meng Chong? It was your City Lord who personally asked for my help. Do you think I willingly meddle in the murky waters of the Lava Immortal Palace?”

As a master of alchemy, Sun Lie’s cultivation might lag, but his skill ensured welcome wherever he went—he would never fare poorly.

Fei Si glanced at the ruined herbs in the furnace and snorted coldly, “Well, now you’ve failed to help young master Meng Chong. The location is exposed, and the risks of lingering here are even greater.”

Sun Lie sneered, “Fei Si, which ear heard me say I failed this time?”

“I’ve already succeeded!”

“Hm?” Fei Si was taken aback.

“Ah?” Meng Chong was confused, “Elder Sun, my cultivation hasn’t dispersed yet.”

“Ha ha ha.” Sun Lie did not rush to explain, but threw back his head and laughed, utterly delighted.

Fei Si sneered, pointing at the wasted herbs in the furnace, “Facts speak louder than words, Sun Lie. At this point, what use is your stubbornness?”

“Ha ha ha!” Sun Lie’s laughter grew sharper, full of mockery.

But soon, his laughter tugged at his wounds, forcing him to stop, pain contorting his features.

“Cough, cough, cough... ugh!” Sun Lie coughed violently, then his Adam’s apple bobbed as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

The blood reeked strongly of alcohol.

“What a pity, what a pity.” Sun Lie stared at the blood and slapped his thigh.

Meng Chong quickly offered him another pill, “Elder Sun, enough talk, please take some medicine.”

Sun Lie brushed his hand aside, “Medicine isn’t better in excess. I just took one—the medicinal power is already flooding my body and will slowly be absorbed. Any more would be wasteful.”

Fei Si narrowed his eyes, sensing something odd, “What are you lamenting?”

Sun Lie fixed his gaze on the blood pooling on the ground, “That was Thousand Flame Soul Wine. Brewed from thousand-year Spirit Flame Flowers, pure Soul Essence, and Yanquan Water—the aroma rich, the potency fierce, and now I’ve nearly finished my stash!”

Meng Chong chuckled, “Elder Sun, don’t mourn it. It’s only Thousand Flame Soul Wine. I’ll beg my grandfather to secure you another jar.”

Sun Lie finally broke into a broad smile, looking at Meng Chong, “Good child. My efforts in setting up this scheme for you were not in vain.”