The journey home was long, but mercifully uneventful. The three deliberately avoided the main roads, winding their way along narrow paths instead.
Though Lin Feng was weak, his mind remained sharp.
Clutched tightly against his chest were those half-melted metal fragments and the Rank 2 Viper Gu—Green Snake's personal tokens, and ironclad proof of White Bone Stronghold's collusion with the demonic path.
As for Ah Zhong's remains, the damaged Rank 2 Iron Skin Gu represented the loyal servant's final memento. It would naturally be brought back for a proper burial befitting his sacrifice.
Lin Mu, meanwhile, had quietly slipped Lin Tong's belongings into his pack—his vital Gu, the Iron Leaf Gu, along with the reconnaissance Gu that Lin Tong had been so proud of in life: the Eagle Eye Gu.
Though not as discreet or useful as the Blood Scent Gu, it was still hard currency in the market, worth at least a hundred Primeval Stones.
Beyond the Gu worms, he had also scooped up the several dozen Primeval Stones scattered in the mud, his movements practiced to an almost offensive degree.
Now he followed the group as if nothing had happened, as though Lin Tong had never been part of their team at all.
Lin Feng, walking ahead, didn't even turn his head. His steps merely slowed by half a beat, as if nothing had occurred.
This was their understanding.
Someone did the dirty work; someone took the spoils.
In this alliance woven from mutual interest, this was Lin Mu's rightful "hardship fee." Lin Feng's willful blindness was the greatest permission he could give.
As the last rays of sunset were about to be swallowed by darkness, three blood-soaked figures in shattered armor finally appeared at Black Blood Stockade's side gate.
"Who goes there?!"
The guard instinctively raised his spear, but when the torchlight revealed that blood-caked face, he nearly dropped his weapon.
"Young... Young Master Feng?!"
Lin Feng's gleaming silver armor was now battered beyond recognition. His left shoulder was wrapped in blood-soaked bandages. Where was the spirited young master who had set out days ago?
Lin Wan'er and Lin Mu behind him looked even worse—as if they had crawled out from a pile of corpses.
"Quick! Get help! Young Master Feng is injured!" the guard shouted in panic.
The commotion immediately drew attention. Collateral branch disciples and servants who hadn't yet dispersed crowded around, pointing and whispering, their eyes filled with shock.
How had the gilded squad led by the Patriarch's trusted confidant ended up like this?
"Shut up, all of you! Get out of the way if you want to live!"
A thunderous roar came from within the stronghold.
A sharp-eyed Elder on duty rushed over with a squad of Punishment Hall elites.
One glance at the three's wretched state and his expression changed dramatically. He immediately realized this was no ordinary skirmish.
"Disperse the crowd! Seal all information!"
The Elder made a snap decision. With a wave of his hand, the Punishment Hall disciples surged forward like wolves, driving away the onlookers.
"Young Master Feng, this is not the place to talk," the Elder said in a low voice, his expression grave.
"We'll announce that you encountered a stray Beast King. Please follow me to the secret infirmary in the rear mountains."
Lin Feng nodded weakly, allowing two elites to support him as they quickly vanished into the night.
Rear mountains. Secret infirmary.
This was one of the clan's most hidden locations, its walls inscribed with Gu formations that blocked all detection.
The chamber was brightly lit, thick with the fragrance of medicinal herbs. The clan's finest old apothecary was tending to Lin Feng's wounds. The sound of tweezers extracting bone fragments echoed harshly in the silent room.
BANG!
The heavy stone door was shoved open.
An overwhelming pressure instantly flooded the room.
At the forefront strode Elder Kuangxu of the Punishment Hall, his face contorted with rage, his beard bristling. Beside him walked a middle-aged man in purple robes, his features stern and imposing.
The moment this man appeared, even Elder Kuangxu instinctively fell half a step behind.
Lin Zhen.
Lin Feng's father. Supreme Elder of the clan. Peak Rank 3 cultivation. And the true power behind the current Acting Patriarch.
"Where is Ah Zhong?"
Lin Zhen's gaze was like lightning, sweeping past everyone else to fix on his son lying in bed.
His voice was steady, yet carried a suffocating pressure. "And that Lin Tong—what happened?"
Here it comes.
Lin Feng endured the searing pain and struggled to sit up. His eyes reddened instantly, his face displaying just the right mixture of grief and indignation.
"Father... Ah Zhong... is gone."
Following the rehearsed script, Lin Feng recounted the harrowing tale through tears:
"We were ambushed at Copper Stone Gully. It wasn't an accident—it was premeditated! That White Bone Stockade young master, Li Huang, held a grudge after I outmaneuvered him last time. He's been plotting revenge ever since."
"I thought we were sufficiently prepared. What I never expected was that he had colluded with a demonic path Rank 2 expert—'Green Snake'!"
"What?!"
Elder Kuangxu couldn't help but cry out. "A demonic path Rank 2?!"
"It's absolutely true!"
Lin Mu stepped forward at just the right moment, his head bowed, his voice hoarse and trembling as if still gripped by fear.
"That demon's methods were utterly ruthless. His poison fog sealed off the entire area. Brother Lin Tong went ahead to scout and was dissolved into blood by a single spray of venom—not even bones remained..."
"If Young Master hadn't kept his composure and used his Rank 3 trump card to slay the demon, and if Uncle Ah Zhong hadn't sacrificed his life to lock the enemy in place... none of us would have made it back."
Lin Wan'er sobbed beside them, adding her testimony: "Yes, it was horrible... Uncle Ah Zhong's death was too terrible..."
Three witnesses make a tiger; many mouths melt gold.
Faced with this logically tight, detail-rich account—combined with the undeniable fact that Ah Zhong and Lin Tong had not returned—even Lin Zhen could find no flaws.
"Evidence?" Lin Zhen asked in a deep voice.
With trembling hands, Lin Feng produced the melted, warped metal fragments and the Rank 2 Viper Gu from his robes.
"These were recovered from Green Snake's burial pit."
Elder Kuangxu snatched the tokens and examined them carefully. Then he slammed his palm on the table, shattering the sturdy medicine bench into splinters.
"This is indeed Green Snake's signature token! That old ghost from White Bone Stockade!"
"How dare he break the Southern Border's rules and openly collude with the demonic path to ambush our direct lineage! This is too much! This is simply too much!"
His rage was genuine. Friction between clans was commonplace, but colluding with the demonic path was a cardinal sin—a challenge to the fundamental order.
"Lin Zhen! Give the order! I'll take the Punishment Hall there right now and demand an explanation from White Bone Stronghold!"
Yet faced with Elder Kuangxu's fury, Lin Zhen suddenly grew calm.
He took the metal fragment, his fingers tracing the scorched marks. The fire in his eyes gradually receded, replaced by an inscrutable gleam.
"An explanation? Of course they'll give one."
Lin Zhen waved his hand, dismissing the apothecary and all non-essential personnel, leaving only his trusted confidants and the three witnesses.
The atmosphere in the chamber instantly turned conspiratorial.
Lin Zhen lowered his voice, barely concealing his fervor:
"This isn't a disaster—this is the greatest fortune."
"Father?" Lin Feng was taken aback.
"Just last night," Lin Zhen's gaze swept over everyone as he dropped a bombshell, "the Patriarch successfully broke through."
"He has advanced to Rank 4! He is currently stabilizing his realm and is expected to emerge fully consolidated in half a month!"
BOOM—
The news struck like thunder, leaving everyone in the room momentarily stunned.
Rank 4!
Black Blood Stockade finally had a Rank 4 powerhouse! This meant the clan would completely overshadow White Bone Stronghold, becoming the undisputed hegemon of the surrounding hundred li!
"Half a month... just half a month."
Lin Zhen gripped the token tightly, a cold, predatory smile curling at his lips.
"This ironclad proof of 'demonic collusion'—if we reveal it now, we'll only alert our prey."
"We must endure. We must appear weak, make White Bone Stronghold believe we've been crippled, that we're afraid."
"When the Patriarch emerges... this evidence will be our perfect justification to launch a crusade against White Bone Stronghold and devour all their resource points!"
"I will make them repay everything with interest!"
The strategy was set.
This was a period of forbearance, all for the sake of a final, decisive kill.
With the major matter settled, Lin Zhen's gaze finally returned to the three young people before him.
"You have all rendered great service."
He looked at Lin Feng, his eyes filled with satisfaction. After this ordeal, his son had not only survived but had become more mature, more calculating. That was more valuable than anything else.
"Lin Feng, the clan will record a great merit for you. The core treasury is now open to you—take whatever resources you need. Ah Zhong's funeral will be handled with full honors, and his descendants will be well cared for."
"Lin Wan'er, for your meritorious healing service, you are promoted to Inner Hall Steward."
Finally, Lin Zhen's gaze fell upon Lin Mu, standing inconspicuously in the corner.
He appraised this collateral branch member briefly, then nodded.
"You did well. To protect your master in such a desperate situation without disgracing the Lin name."
"A reward of five hundred Primeval Stones."
Lin Zhen spoke casually. For someone of his stature, five hundred Primeval Stones were a drop in the ocean. But for a collateral branch member, this was an immense blessing.
"Additionally, the External Affairs Hall needs a Steward. Since you've proven yourself reliable, go fill that vacancy."
External Affairs Hall Steward.
Though it was a nominal position with no actual duties, this identity would make it much easier for Lin Mu to move around the stronghold. Access to supplies and passage through the gates would face far less scrutiny.
More importantly, this was a promotion personally announced by Lin Zhen.
These words were now Lin Mu's greatest protective talisman within the clan. From now on, anyone who wanted to touch him would first have to consider the attitude of Lin Feng's lineage.
"My deepest gratitude for the Supreme Elder's patronage! This disciple will serve with absolute devotion!"
Lin Mu bowed deeply in formal salute, his voice quivering with emotion. But beneath those lowered eyelids lay a gaze of clear, cold composure.
Deep into the night.
Lin Mu returned to his small house in the Quiet Stone District, battered and wounded, the heavy pouch of five hundred Primeval Stones tucked against his chest.
Pushing open the door, that familiar damp chill washed over him—yet it brought him immeasurable peace.
He lit the oil lamp and tossed the bulging money pouch onto the table with a dull thud.
Combined with his unsold Gu worms, his liquid assets now approached a thousand Primeval Stones! This was a fortune—enough to forcibly push his cultivation to Rank 1 Upper Stage in the coming period, perhaps even to the peak.
"Whew..."
Lin Mu collapsed into his chair, releasing a long, turbid breath.
"As they say: murder and arson earn you a golden belt, while building bridges and paving roads leaves no bones behind."
"The Primeval Stones from these battles amount to many times more than all my scheming as a middleman these past days."
From the black market's machinations, to the blood-soaked slaughter in the forest, to the intrigue in that secret chamber just now—this series of tightrope walks had finally come to a satisfying conclusion.
"The Patriarch reaches Rank 4. A great war approaches."
Lin Mu gazed at the flickering lamplight, his eyes deep and distant.
"But battles at that level... have nothing to do with me for now."