Promise!

Chapter 175, Silence

Fei Zecong—the same Fei San Gongzi who escorted Qingyuan Liquid with Zhuang Jin at the beginning of last year, traveling overland together and saving his life—has now broken through to the Seventh Scripture Realm. Tonight, while passing by a restaurant, he suddenly heard a waiter come over to say, "A distinguished guest is invited."

He looked at the person beckoning from the second floor and felt inexplicably familiar, but couldn't recognize him at first. He went up with two servants, but they were stopped. He told them to stay outside while he went in.

Upon entering the private room, the man in the blue robe turned around, removed the human skin mask from his face, and who else could it be but Zhuang Jin?

"Brother Zhuang... no, Venerable Zhuang?!"

Fei Zecong knew that Zhuang Jin had already broken through to the Meridian Opening Realm and become a retainer of the Shen family. He also learned that Zhuang Jin would be coming to Linji County as one of the investigators for this case, and would be stationed there permanently as the county magistrate. But wasn't Zhuang Jin still on his way? How could he have already arrived here?!
“Young Master Fei, we have been through thick and thin together. If you’re used to it, you can still call me ‘Brother Zhuang’, it won’t hurt.”

As Zhuang Jin spoke, he handed over something: "Young Master Fei, please take a look at this first."

These are the pieces of evidence obtained from Teng Yuansong, which he has already verified indirectly: the Fei family secretly selling the location of the Yao family's medicinal herb warehouse, and the two nights ago, the dismissal of servants, possibly a secret meeting with Sikong Rui, the deputy head of the Medicine King Gang's Punishment Hall.

"Well... the night before last, Grandpa did dismiss the servants, but I don't know the specifics... Also... about selling out the location of the Yao family's warehouse... Brother Zhuang, I really didn't know anything about it either!"

"I certainly trust Young Master Fei."

Zhuang Jin knew that the other party was most likely unaware of the matter. In such matters, secrets could lead to disaster, so Old Master Fei would naturally be careful to keep it a secret and would not tell his grandson unless absolutely necessary.

"Now that you, Young Master Fei, have you considered the realms of the Ten Classics, the Twelve Classics, or even higher realms?"

"Brother Zhuang is joking. Even if we, the major families in the county, concentrate our resources, only one person can reach that level, and that is my elder brother..."

“Fei Zecheng, the eldest son of the Fei family, is not a half-brother of the third son. You have exceptional talent, while he has only barely crossed the threshold of exceptional talent. He only has the advantage of being the eldest grandson of the legitimate son. He may reach the realm of opening the meridians in the future... You currently have seven meridians. If you rely on yourself, you can only reach eight or nine meridians at most in your lifetime. Are you willing to accept this?”

“Of course I’m unwilling, but what can I do… What does Brother Zhuang mean?” Fei Zecong wasn’t stupid, so he asked tentatively.

“Your Fei family members have fallen into my hands this time, and they have a history of evil deeds. Only you are relatively innocent, so I intend to support you… Your old master… poisoned you…”

"This...this..." What Zhuang Jin said was so shocking that Fei Zecong was speechless and unable to utter a word.

Zhuang Jin was in no hurry and waited for the other party to process the information.

After a moment, Fei Zecong came to his senses and looked at Zhuang Jin with difficulty, saying, "Brother Zhuang, can I refuse this?"

Zhuang Jin didn't speak, but just glanced at him with a half-smile.

"I...I promise!"

"A wise move that saved you and the Fei family."

Zhuang Jin was not surprised by this. He had met this person before and knew that he was a person who listened to advice, valued his life, and knew how to be pragmatic.

"However, please understand, Young Master Fei, this kind of thing cannot be done with just words; a pledge of loyalty is required."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and a person was brought out from behind the screen.

Fei Zecong looked at this person, and his expression changed drastically once again: "Big Brother?!"

……

That evening, in the Fei family's inner courtyard.

A beautiful maid carrying a bowl of lotus seed porridge arrived at the gate of the Fei family patriarch's courtyard, but was stopped by Fei Zecong: "I was just about to go find my grandfather, let me do it, it's also to show my filial piety."

—When Fei Yuanlong was young, he was injured by a red python and was poisoned by fire. In addition to using a secret method to replenish the yin essence of a young girl every month, he also had to eat a bowl of ice lotus seed porridge every night.

"Yes, Third Young Master!"

Fei Zecong took the porridge, watched the maid leave, and thinking about what happened that evening, he knew he was already on a sinking ship. He gritted his teeth and took something out of his pocket.

A moment later, he brought in the porridge: "Grandpa, I've brought you some lotus seed porridge. You look much better these past few days." "Cong'er is so thoughtful! Put it down!"

Fei Yuanlong came over leaning on his dragon-headed cane. As he passed Fei Zecong, he glanced at him and asked, "Did you do something wrong? Why are you so nervous?"

"I'm not……"

As Fei Zecong spoke, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "Grandpa, I just thought of something. The medicinal herbs that the Yao family presented during the year were looted. The Zhuang family has come to investigate the case. Is our family involved in this matter?"

"You're quite perceptive!"

Fei Yuanlong glanced at him, sat down, and drank his porridge, saying, "Since you've thought of it, I won't hide it from you. This matter is indeed related to our family... The powerful Shen family in the prefectural city has two major families in one county to check and balance each other... The Yao family has wanted to replace our Fei family for a long time. Our Fei family has been suppressing the Yao family whenever we have the chance, and creating opportunities when there aren't any..."

"But don't worry, the Yao family will be gone soon."

"What do you mean?" Fei Zecong asked quickly.

"The day before yesterday... Master Sikong... drugged me..."

Fei Yuanlong mentioned his cooperation with Sikong Rui because he had thought about it and decided to let his grandson do it: "Last year, Zhuang Jin escorted Qingyuan Liquid. You had dealings with him, you are familiar with him... you have a relationship with him... this matter... no one but you, Cong'er, can do it!"

"This……"

Upon hearing this, Fei Zecong was shocked. He hadn't expected that Zhuang Jin hadn't wronged his grandfather. Then he felt resentful that he was being asked to drug Zhuang Jin while he risked his life, and his grandfather and elder brother were reaping the benefits...

This also greatly reduced his guilt.

"My good complexion these past two days is due to the You Tan Snow Lotus petals that Hall Master Sikong pre-ordered... My old ailment requires at least a hundred-year-old You Tan Snow Lotus... but with the Qing Yuan Liquid, it can only be cultivated for a maximum of fifty years... As long as I obtain that hundred-year-old You Tan Snow Lotus from the Medicine King Gang, my old injury can be healed, and at that time I might be able to prolong my life for another one or two decades..."

As Fei Yuanlong spoke, he took out a small white jade bottle: "This is a high-grade Qi-dispersing powder that is effective even for martial artists who have opened their meridians. When Zhuang Jin arrives in a few days, you can..."

Fei Zecong listened to all this from the side, and at this moment, he only felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

Before, Grandpa always said that when he was on his deathbed, he would rush into the Yao family and kill Yao Shaoli, the Yao family's genius, even if it meant risking his life. But now, for his own selfish reasons, he is taking the entire Fei family on a risk.

It can only be said that people are multifaceted. They may know they are going to die and sacrifice their lives for their country and family, but they may also, when they are old and about to die, have their reason clouded and their mind twisted by the desire to live and the fear of death, and become a "longevity demon" who will do anything to survive, throwing all thoughts of family, country and righteousness to the back of their minds.

'So I'm not wrong. I did this because Grandpa is senile and no longer suitable to lead the Fei family... I am enduring humiliation and taking a roundabout way to save the family...' Fei Zecong thought to himself.

"The lotus seed porridge tonight tastes great!" Fei Yuanlong praised.

The medicine Zhuang Jin gave Fei Zecong was also a top-grade Chaotic Qi Powder. To be honest, Chaotic Qi Powder is actually a tonic. The creator of Chaotic Qi Powder originally intended to develop a formula to stimulate and activate internal energy, but he did not expect it to be so effective. After taking it, his internal energy became too active, and he was prone to going astray and going into qi deviation with the slightest exertion.

Martial artists have keen senses and can easily detect the adverse effects of common harmful drugs. As a result, tonics like Qi Disorder Powder, which have great drawbacks but can deceive the body's reaction mechanism, were gradually used as a drug.

"It's delicious, Grandpa, please eat more."

Seeing that Fei Yuanlong had finished eating, Fei Zecong cleared the dishes and prepared to leave. As he bent down, a small bottle suddenly fell out of his arms.

"You're such a grown man, yet you're still so clumsy! It's only good in front of me. What if you were in front of Zhuang Jin and the drug came out when you tried to put it in her?"

"Yes, Grandpa, I have learned a lot!"

Fei Zecong panicked and hurriedly went to pick it up, but then another bottle fell from his arms.

Jingle Bell!
Amidst the crisp sound, Fei Zecong fell silent, and Fei Yuanlong also fell silent; silence was the hallmark of the Fei family tonight.

……

(End of this chapter)