Chapter 278 - 146: Suppression

When Chen Cheng arrived home, Li Family was back from the market and had just finished making lunch.

After they ate, Chen Cheng practiced his martial arts as usual. Li Family, after washing up, also went next door to see Lady Sun as usual.

Everything was peaceful until the sun began to set and several figures scattered, withdrawing from the area.

...

「The Qin Family, Ancestral Estate.」

This should have been a joyous day for Qin Zhao, who had won the title of Young Qilin. However, the entire estate was draped in white cloth, and the sound of weeping filled the air.

As dusk fell, the white lanterns on the lintel were lit, their tassels swaying eerily in the wind.

In the center of the mourning hall, there was only an empty coffin.

Qin Xiangyun’s body was highly toxic. No one dared bring it back to the estate, so it had been sent outside the city early on and burned to ashes.

At that moment, a woman was kneeling by the coffin, weeping her heart out.

A few maids surrounded her, pretending to sob and cry, but in reality, none of them could squeeze out a single tear.

In her daily life, Qin Xiangyun had been moody and unpredictable, quick to beat, curse, and humiliate the servants. Her methods were borderline sadistic.

For these maids, it was already quite an achievement to hold back their laughter.

「A room in a side courtyard.」

Qin Zhao lay on the bed, his arms, chest, and thighs wrapped in thick layers of gauze.

Yet, no matter how thickly the gauze was wrapped, blood still seeped through.

This was especially true for the two wounds on his legs, where the gauze was noticeably sunken in. Two chunks of flesh had been viciously carved out.

Qin Zhao was known for his Leg Technique. An injury like this basically meant he had no chance of participating in the Martial Selection two months from now.

At this moment, he lay there quietly, his eyes wide open yet vacant and lifeless.

Today was clearly supposed to be the most glorious, triumphant, and joyous day of his life.

’Why did it turn out like this?’ He didn’t understand.

From high noon until the sun had completely set and the sky was pitch-black, he had been thinking, but he still couldn’t figure out who had done this to him.

Missing this year’s Martial Selection would throw all his subsequent plans into disarray.

If the person backing him were to hold him accountable, the consequences would be more than he could bear.

HISS—

At the terrifying thought, he couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath, his right hand clenching tightly.

In his palm, he clutched a cloth doll. It was made of coarse linen with messy stitches, looking very much like the one Qin Xiangyun once had.

The only difference was that this doll’s head was damaged, with cotton stuffing poking out from the tear in wispy strands.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door.

Qin Zhao immediately hid the doll under his quilt.

The door was pushed open.

Cloud Platform Hall Master Qin Yuan and Qin Family Patriarch Qin Changlie walked in, one after the other.

"Ancestor, Grandfather..."

Qin Zhao didn’t dare to be slow, propping himself up to greet them.

"Don’t bother."

Qin Yuan waved his hand and sat down in a nearby chair by the window.

Qin Changlie was about sixty or seventy, yet he looked more like an old man than the 120-odd-year-old Qin Yuan. He didn’t sit, but stood silently beside Qin Yuan.

"Grandfather, was it that kid?" Qin Zhao asked impatiently.

"No."

Qin Changlie shook his head.

"There were no clues at the scene pointing to him. After the incident, I sent men over immediately. He was at home, and everything was normal."

"I also had his background thoroughly investigated. Ever since his time at the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard, he’s done nothing but eat, sleep, and practice the Hidden Dragon Fist."

Qin Changlie paused for a moment before continuing:

"You, Uncle Yuan, and Lord Hong all saw the fatal wounds on Xiangyun and Zhan Mubai with your own eyes."

"Flying Needle Piercing Skull, clean and decisive. That accuracy, power, and speed would require at least a decade of painstaking practice to hone. That kid... he’s not capable of it."

"Then there’s the potent poison on the Flying Needle. It’s absolutely impossible to buy on the open market, and it’s difficult to find even on the black market."

"The key is that this poison is exceptionally virulent. It injures on contact. Only a seasoned expert would dare to use it."

"...I understand."

Qin Zhao nodded slowly and sighed.

"I was indeed overthinking it... That kid from Dragon Mountain Hall is only sixteen. It’s simply impossible for him to have such skills... Besides, he wouldn’t have the guts."

"That last part is the crucial point."

Qin Yuan spoke, his tone flat.

"Dragon Mountain Hall is currently facing a massive upheaval. Every one of its disciples is treading on thin ice. That kid is just one of the lowest-ranking members of the Dragon Mountain Upper Courtyard. How could he dare to touch a member of the Qin Family’s Direct Lineage at such a critical time?"

"You’re right..."

Qin Zhao nodded slowly.

"I was indeed mistaken earlier. Dragon Mountain Hall is about to collapse. That kid can barely protect himself, let alone dare take such a risk."

Qin Yuan glanced to the side and asked:

"Have the men you sent been withdrawn?"

"They’ve all been withdrawn."

Qin Changlie said:

"Everyone knows that the Red Moon Nunnery is targeting Dragon Mountain Hall. The Qin Family naturally needs to avoid suspicion. There’s no need to keep an eye on an insignificant nobody and end up getting dragged into the mess."

Qin Yuan nodded and shifted his gaze back to Qin Zhao.

"Focus on recuperating. The clan will find a way to get you some Treasure Medicine for healing and regenerating flesh. If it really comes to it, you’ll just have to wait another year..."

"For this Martial Selection, the Qin Family still has two other participants. If you wait another year, you can secure one more official position with real authority for us."

"...I... understand."

Qin Zhao agreed verbally, but a nearly imperceptible shadow of gloom flashed in the depths of his eyes.

’Wait another year? Heaven knows how many things could change!’

’He absolutely did not want to wait!’

’And the person backing him wouldn’t allow him to wait either!’

...

「The following day at noon.」

Zhuang Zhen arrived as promised. She had intended to go to the kitchen to help first, but Li Family half-pushed, half-pulled her to the moon gate of the inner courtyard, telling her to go and spend time with Chen Cheng.

At that moment, Chen Cheng was in the middle of the inner courtyard, practicing his Foundation Establishment Tai Chi.

He gave a slight nod, gesturing for Zhuang Zhen to enter first.

He didn’t stop his movements, however. Only after completing a full set did he relax his posture and walk toward Zhuang Zhen.