Chen Xingze’s frown deepened, the suspicion in his eyes not entirely dispelled.

“Oh? You heard the sounds of fighting?”

“Where exactly were you on Crouching Tiger Mountain at the time? From which direction did the sounds come? Approximately how long did they last?”

Zhou Kai inwardly cursed this little fox, but his face still wore that same terrified expression.

“Sixth Elder, please forgive me, forgive me!” He waved his hands repeatedly, forcing a bitter smile. “This junior was truly scared out of his wits at the time, my mind went completely blank. How could I possibly remember such details clearly?”

“The specific location… probably a small grove on the southern outskirts of Crouching Tiger Mountain? The area where Horned Swine often appear.”

“The sounds… the clashing of metal, and that kind of… whooshing sound, like flying swords cutting through the air? Very loud, very frightening!”

He selectively described some vague, common sound characteristics, carefully avoiding any specific details.

“Direction… it seemed to come from deeper within the mountains? Further in? This junior couldn’t tell either. At the time, I was being chased by a Horned Swine and didn’t pay attention to which direction I was running!”

Zhou Kai firmly plastered the labels of cowardice, panic, and fuzzy memory onto himself. No matter how Chen Xingze pressed him, he only emphasized how terrified he had been, that he hadn’t seen anything clearly and couldn’t remember anything clearly.

Chen Xingze stared intently at Zhou Kai. “Someone like you? And you used to be a Bandit Cultivator?”

But Zhou Kai’s expression management was near perfect. That perfectly measured fear and confusion left almost no room for criticism.

“I had my dantian injured by someone and barely escaped with my life. Now I value my life even more.”

The Patriarch Chen Rulong, seated in the main position, finally spoke.

“Enough, Xingze.”

“Guest Elder Zhou, this matter is no small affair. Since it involves a senior from the Heavenly Spring Sect investigating an important fugitive, we must handle it with caution.”

“What you’ve said sounds reasonable enough. At Qi Condensation level four, encountering the aftermath of a battle between powerful enemies, feeling fear, fleeing in panic, failing to clearly see one’s surroundings—these are all within human nature.”

“For now, let’s leave it at that.”

Chen Rulong shifted his tone. “However, Guest Elder Zhou, remember this: you enjoy the protection of our Chen Family and receive our Chen Family’s stipend. You should prioritize the family’s interests above all else.”

“In your future travels outside, be sure to watch your words and actions carefully, keep your eyes sharp. Do not let momentary curiosity or greed inadvertently drag you into disputes you cannot handle, causing unnecessary trouble for the family. Do you understand?”

Zhou Kai quickly bowed. “The Patriarch’s teachings are correct. Zhou Kai will keep them firmly in mind. In the future, I will be doubly cautious and absolutely will not cause trouble for the family.”

Seeing that the Patriarch had spoken, Chen Xingze felt unwilling but knew pressing further would yield no results.

He snorted coldly and said no more.

“If there are no other instructions… may Zhou Kai take his leave to go recover from his injuries?” Zhou Kai requested.

Chen Rulong waved his hand. “Go.”

“Yes.”

Zhou Kai felt as if granted a great pardon. He respectfully bowed to the four once more before turning and exiting the side hall.

Only after walking out of the main hall into the courtyard and feeling the night breeze did Zhou Kai finally let out a long sigh of relief.

“This Chen Xingze is indeed not someone to be trifled with!” Zhou Kai thought to himself. “So young, yet his mind is quite deep.”

Inside the side hall.

“Senior Brother, you just let him go like that?” One of the Heavenly Spring Sect disciples couldn’t help but speak up, his tone carrying some dissatisfaction. “His words were evasive; I doubt he told the whole truth.”

Chen Xingze picked up his teacup and took a small sip, his eyes cold. “I know.”

“Then why…”

“No evidence.” Chen Xingze cut him off, setting down his cup. “We can’t be certain based on conjecture alone. Besides, the Patriarch has already spoken.”

“However, he won’t get away. I’ve already had people keep a close watch on him. If he has any connection to that Shen Hanyi, I’ll make sure he learns what happens to those who deceive Chen Xingze!”

Returning to his familiar small courtyard, Chen Ziyi came forward to meet him and took his outer robe as he removed it.

“Husband, why are you back so late? I saw everyone else returned long ago.”

Of course, Zhou Kai couldn’t tell her the truth. He said instead, “It was nothing major. Just the Patriarch and Sixth Elder asking some questions about Crouching Tiger Mountain.”

“It seems related to the attack on Heavenly Spring Sect disciples some days ago. They also mentioned that the Desolate Herb Garden is about to open soon. The family is preparing to gather people to enter and search for spirit herbs needed to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.”

Now possessing a system where interacting with beauties was enough for him, such breakthrough pills held little attraction.

Hearing this, Chen Ziyi’s eyes brightened slightly. “Foundation Establishment Pills? Those are…”

“I know they’re good things.” Zhou Kai interrupted her. “However, such opportunities often come with great risks. The Desolate Herb Garden is surely fraught with dangers inside, not to mention having to compete with other families and even Loose Cultivators.”

“I’m only at Qi Condensation level four now; my foundation is still shallow. My dantian was injured before too; I’m not suited for fighting others. This kind of life-or-death opportunity is better left alone.”

“Husband speaks wisely,” she agreed softly. “No matter how good an opportunity outside is, it cannot compare to husband’s safety being important. If the family really assigns you to go there, husband can simply refuse them; I imagine the Patriarch won’t force you.”

“Ziyi truly understands me.” Zhou Kai held her soft hand in his own; warmth filled his heart.

…

After an in-depth yet accessible session of “interaction,” a system notification sounded in Zhou Kai’s mind.

【Ding! Interaction with beauty Chen Ziyi completed. Obtained Omni-Points: 40 points.】

Of course, he allocated them all into Alchemy.

【Zhou Kai (Dantian Damaged)】 【Cultivation: Qi Condensation Level Four (0/400)】 【Vitality: Meridian Opening Level Two (0/200)】 【Spirit Root: Metal (Low Grade 12/100), Wood (Low Grade 25/100), Water (Low Grade 17/100), Fire (Low Grade 23/100)】 【Cultivation Arts: Alchemy (Second Grade 35/300)】 【Beauty: Chen Ziyi】 【Available Omni-Points: 0】

Zhou Kai rubbed his lower back.

“Finally second grade now; ever since activating this system it’s been like this every day… Once my dantian is repaired I need to arrange for Dual Cultivation techniques as soon as possible…”

…

Early next morning.

“I can make a trip over to Baolu Pavilion now; try my luck there.”

After getting ready properly and saying goodbye briefly to Chen Ziyi, who stood nearby watching him leave from their home entranceway, he headed straight towards the Crouching Tiger Mountain market district instead!

“Guest Elder Zhou! You’ve come!”

Before even stepping through Baolu Pavilion’s shop door itself yet though—clerk Xiao Zhang hurried out already welcoming him warmly enough indeed!

“Guest Elder Zhou please come this way.” Xiao Zhang eagerly guided him upstairs toward the second-floor area specifically reserved usually only for VIP customers like himself perhaps? “Our Steward Wang specifically instructed us earlier actually—that if ever Guest Elder returns again someday soon maybe—then he himself would personally handle reception duties accordingly!”

But when Xiao Zhang pushed open the inner hall doors, however—he found the main seat empty instead!

A young girl came running into the inner hall through the side door then suddenly appeared before them both unexpectedly perhaps? She looked less than twenty years old perhaps, wearing a well-tailored light yellow dress outfit neatly enough indeed—her dark hair styled into twin buns atop her head giving off a playful cute vibe overall really—her features also quite charming and pretty too honestly speaking!

“Huh? Where’s father?” The girl asked casually upon seeing Xiao Zhang together alongside the guest visitor present here now obviously enough…

Xiao Zhang quickly bowed respectfully replying immediately, “Young Miss—Steward Wang was just here moments ago actually… Perhaps something came up requiring temporary absence unexpectedly…”

The girl pouted slightly annoyed maybe? “Probably dragged off drinking tea again by some so-called ‘friends’ no doubt… What business?” Her gaze turned toward Zhou Kai then curiously enough indeed…

Xiao Zhang hurriedly introduced them properly, “Young Miss—this here is Guest Elder Zhou Kai from the Chen Family actually—a valued customer of our Baolu Pavilion indeed! Just a few days ago he sold us some mid-grade Qi Gathering Pills here too! Today he came looking specifically for Steward Wang regarding business matters likely…”

“Chen Family Guest Elder?” The girl looked Zhou Kai up and down several times appraisingly perhaps? “Father isn’t here right now unfortunately… But such minor matters can be handled by this young lady herself easily enough anyway!”

“My name is Wang Qiaoqiao actually! Guest Elder Zhou—if you have any pills you want to sell or anything you want to buy maybe—just tell me directly okay?”

Seeing the situation thusly unfold before him now—Zhou Kai didn’t say anything particular either way really… The Steward not being present currently but his daughter being capable of handling things fine also works well enough saving another trip later perhaps?

He didn’t waste words either way though—directly taking out two jade bottles from his Storage Bag placing them onto the tabletop calmly enough indeed!

“Qi Gathering Pills—mid-grade quality—thirty pieces total here!”

The girl pulled out the stopper sniffing contents briefly then poured one pill out examining closely nodding approval afterward, “Mmm… quality indeed quite good actually!”

Then she picked up the other jade bottle pulling the stopper off too asking curiously perhaps? “This also Qi Gathering Pills maybe?”

When a strange somewhat dry-heat medicinal aroma wafted out suddenly though—her pretty face expression instantly turned rather odd indeed!

“What is this?”

The girl’s pretty face flushed bright red immediately then! She slammed the stopper back onto the bottle hastily throwing the jade bottle back onto the tabletop like a hot potato almost!

“Yang… Yang Locking Pill?” Her voice sounded somewhat distorted even—pointing an accusing finger toward Zhou Kai both embarrassed and angry simultaneously maybe?! “You’re an alchemist capable of refining mid-grade Qi Gathering Pills yet actually refine such indecent disgraceful stuff just to make money?!”

Zhou Kai watched the girl’s flustered angry appearance calmly though—not showing the slightest bit of embarrassment himself instead finding the situation somewhat amusing honestly…

He leisurely pushed those bottles labeled ‘Yang Locking Pills’ forward slightly speaking with a flat tone as if discussing the weather casually perhaps? “Miss Wang—can’t say things like that really… Pills are pills after all; whatever sells well exchanging Spirit Stones counts as a good pill ultimately right?”

“Whether Qi Gathering Pill or Yang Locking Pill matters little ultimately—once reaches customer hands serves real tangible demand regardless!”

“Sophistry! Simply… simply shameless beyond belief!”

“Oh?” Zhou Kai raised an eyebrow slightly picking up a shiny Spirit Stone from the tabletop nearby maybe? “Miss might explain perhaps then—which Spirit Stones considered ‘proper-faced’ ones versus which considered ‘shameless-faced’ ones exactly?”

“Business just business ultimately—meeting demand earning reward perfectly natural justified thing really… How come when involves my Yang Locking Pills suddenly becomes indecent disgraceful shameless behavior instead?”

“Could those fellow cultivators purchasing such pills also be considered shameless scoundrels perhaps then?”