Chasing after her husband? Is it even possible to win him back?

"If you knew, there would be no turning back for many things."

Chu Xunfeng silently picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea. Zuo Shaojun was absolutely right. Regardless of what the outside cultivation world would think about Longquan Sword Manor helping Xu Guo's secret guards forge ghost weapons.

Just look at these two people in front of us, a young master and a young lady. They can't shake off the mark of Longquan Sword Manor, but the old master of Longquan Sword Manor still wants to exclude them.

He didn't think the master of Longquan Sword Manor would be an old, senile, and muddle-headed person. Now that he had excluded the two juniors from the whole matter, he must have his own considerations.

Since these two people deliberately walked into this net, there's no turning back.

What Chu Xunfeng could think of, the brother and sister who were more familiar with the master of Longquan Sword Manor could not possibly have not thought of. Zuo Shaojun had already made his choice, so it was up to the younger Zuo Zhishuang.

Under the gaze of the three, Zuo Zhishuang remained silent for a long while before finally standing up and slowly speaking, "Brother, although I don't know what Father's intention is in making this arrangement, he must have his reasons, and he would never harm us."

“One of us has to follow Father’s wishes,” Zuo Zhishuang smiled gently. “I’ll go back now.”

As she spoke, Zuo Zhishuang bowed slightly to the three people at the table, "It is truly fortunate to meet Leng Junzi today. My elder brother is somewhat willful and reckless, so I hope Brother Chu and Sister Li will take good care of him. I will take my leave now."

After leaving those words, Zuo Zhishuang climbed the stairs and disappeared from the three people's sight.

“Your sister is a smart person,” Chu Xunfeng said, breaking the silence.

“She’s always been like this since she was little, and sometimes it makes things difficult for me.” Zuo Shaojun’s expression was ambiguous, as if he was somewhat frustrated. “She’s so sensible, it often makes me feel like I’ve really done something wrong.”

“It’s normal for the brother and sister to have different ideas.” Chu Xunfeng tapped the table with his finger. “Since things have come to this, let’s not dwell on it. Let’s discuss what our next step should be.”

“I have a rough idea.” Zuo Shaojun raised his hand and pinched the corner of his eye, sweeping the matter of Zuo Zhishuang out of his mind. “Although the Sword Manor is making magical weapons for the Emperor of Xu, my father is not very willing to do this.”

"I could tell from the fact that you were excluded." Chu Xunfeng nodded.

If creating magical weapons is truly a lucrative task, then having Zuo Shaojun, the young master of the Longquan Sword Manor, take full responsibility would be the best approach for the manor's development.

“I’m going back to the village to investigate the whereabouts of the ghost soldiers.” Zuo Shaojun looked up at Chu Xunfeng. “Father isn’t the kind of person who would obediently hand over all the ghost soldiers he’s forged to the Bronze Fang Beast. He must be planning something. I’ll try to persuade him and tell him his plan.”

“You can give it a try.” Chu Xunfeng nodded. “I’m in charge of dealing with the rumors outside. I’m particularly interested in the current rumors circulating about the Ghost Clan entering Lan Cang.”

"Tell me about it?" Zuo Shaojun raised an eyebrow.

"The origin of the Yin Sha Pearl." Chu Xunfeng tapped his fingers on the table. "I have two guesses about this matter. The first is the whereabouts of the ghost weapon you mentioned. The Yin Sha residue may have been caused by the ghost weapon."

"Secondly, there is the possibility that the Ghost Clan really exists. If we can find the Ghost Clan, they might also help us find the whereabouts of the Ghost Soldiers."

"Will they help?" This time it was Ao Hanli who spoke up. She had been in contact with the Ghost Clan before and knew that they were an extremely difficult group to deal with.

“I can convince them that the Ghost Weapon was forged with Yin Sha Pearl. If the Ghost Weapon reappears, do you think the Ghost Clan would let it go?” Chu Xunfeng curled his lips and turned to look at Zuo Shaojun. “Your father must understand this as well. If the Ghost Weapon was forged with Yin Sha Pearl, and that kind of Ghost Weapon really reappears, the Ghost Clan would not sit idly by.”

“A being that can transform into a ghost is essentially someone with an obsession beyond that of an ordinary person, or you could say it’s a ‘will’. The Yin Sha Pearls needed to forge the ghost weapons are the ‘lives’ of each ghost. We need to act quickly.” Chu Xunfeng squinted. “Judging from what happened in Kamakura, the Bronze Fang Beast probably has some complaints about your father and the Longquan Sword Manor.”

"After all... if they really wanted to do something, there was no need for them to set up such a trap in Kamakura Castle, ensnare the two of us in this strange affair, and then just wash their hands of it."

“I understand.” Zuo Shaojun took a deep breath. “I also considered using these things to persuade my father, but… he didn’t see me all day today.”

"That's your problem." Chu Xunfeng looked at Zuo Shaojun. "That's your father. You can figure out a solution yourself. I'll take care of my own business. If things progress, we'll contact each other via sword talisman."

“Okay.” Zuo Shaojun nodded. “Just let me know if you need any help. I do have some influence in Blue Cang City.”

Chu Xunfeng stopped abruptly as he was about to leave after Zuo Shaojun finished speaking. "Now that you mention it, I really do need your help with something."

"Speak." Zuo Shaojun hadn't expected that Chu Xunfeng would actually need his help right now.

"Money." Chu Xunfeng withdrew his gaze and looked at Zuo Shaojun. "I need to go to the Seven Star Tower to buy some intelligence."

"Secondly, I'll provide the materials and help you fix it."

Chu Xunfeng flicked his wrist, and the spear shaft, twisted into a braid, appeared in his hand as a black gold spear.

"Just these two things."

Chapter Nineteen, The Ghost Clan

The Seven Star Tower is the largest intelligence organization in the entire Kyushu region, a fact that Ao Ning had already mentioned when they were still in the demon race.

Now, Chu Xunfeng is stepping into the Seven Star Tower's business for the first time.

As soon as the young man stepped into the building, a portly middle-aged man approached him, rubbing his hands together. "Gentlemen, welcome to Seven Star Tower. May I ask if you have any credentials issued by Seven Star Tower?"

"Proof?" Chu Xunfeng paused. "What if I have proof? What if I don't?"

"Guests are always welcome, and Seven Star Pavilion will naturally not turn away the two young heroes. However, without proof, Seven Star Pavilion does not sell some of its information. We hope you understand." The portly middle-aged man smiled somewhat ingratiatingly and humbly, but the system panel was clearly pointing at the middle-aged man.

[Earthly Profound Realm]

"This should be it. The records of your Seven Star Tower were given to me." Chu Xunfeng flipped his hand and took out a round stone about the size of a goose egg, which looked like amber and contained seven light spots, from his wristband storage magic item, and handed it to the middle-aged man.

Upon seeing the token, the middle-aged man's expression turned serious. After taking the amber, Chu Xunfeng couldn't discern how the man had examined anything. In any case, after returning the token, the middle-aged man knew his identity. "So it's you, Leng Junzi. Please forgive me. Please follow me."

Chu Xunfeng put away the Seven Star Amber and glanced at Ao Hanli. The Dragon Girl simply shrugged, indicating that she was also unaware that the Seven Star Tower had such a rule.

Chu Xunfeng didn't hesitate and followed the middle-aged man's footsteps with Ao Hanli. They passed through the antique-style front hall of the Seven Star Tower and arrived at the individual rooms in the back hall.

The middle-aged man led the two into a private room, closed the door, and then touched the double tiger-shaped door knocker. An array instantly opened, enveloping the entire room.

"This formation can block all detection, and is used to keep our guests' information confidential." The plump middle-aged man gestured for the two distinguished guests to sit down. He sat down at the table, took out a tea set, and began to boil water and brew tea.

"Young Master Chu, and this lady, do you two have any urgent needs at the Seven Star Tower? Or perhaps you wish to gather intelligence?"

"A necessity?" Chu Xunfeng raised an eyebrow.

"Ah, excuse me, young hero Chu, this must be your first time visiting the Seven Star Tower, right?" The plump middle-aged man pushed the teacup in front of the two young men. "Then let me explain the role of the Seven Star Tower as a stronghold in the capitals of various states."

"The Seven Star Tower is not exclusively for those on the various lists. There are also cultivators who have not been on the list, or those who do not wish to be on the list, as well as celebrities from all walks of life. They will also receive the same treatment at the Seven Star Tower, but there will always be some difference between them and those on the list."

"The Seven Star Tower mainly engages in three types of business. The first is naturally the buying and selling of information. The second is the acquisition of various materials, such as medicinal herbs, minerals, animal materials, and even some strange items. Of course, these items will also be sold by the Seven Star Tower, and auctions will be held from time to time. The third is to act as an intermediary and help connect some transactions."

"I wonder if Young Hero Chu has come to Seven Star Tower today to do some business?" The middle-aged man looked at Chu Xunfeng and chuckled.

“There’s business to be done.” Chu Xunfeng looked at the middle-aged man. “I’ve heard that some cultivators in Lancang City have sensed the remnants of Yin Sha. I’d like to know if these remnants are due to the presence of ghosts in the city, or something else?”

Upon hearing Chu Xunfeng's words, the middle-aged man's smile widened even further. "The information that Young Master Chu desires, our Seven Star Tower does indeed possess accurate details, but we don't know..."

"Name your price." Chu Xunfeng tapped the table with his finger.

Zuo Shaojun provided a considerable amount of funding for the event, but Chu Xunfeng didn't care at all about the money that wasn't his own. When he spoke up, he was full of confidence.

“No problem. If it’s ordinary money, two hundred and thirty taels of silver. If it’s spirit stones, thirty medium-grade ones. If it’s an item for sale, then Young Master Chu will have to bring out something for me to appraise.” The middle-aged man looked at Chu Xunfeng.

So expensive.

Chu Xunfeng's eye twitched, and after thinking for a while, he said, "I can give you twenty mid-grade spirit stones, plus this."

With a flick of his wrist, a lump of ore landed on the tea table.

It was that blue mist ore, but after being cut, it was only a piece the size of a fist.

"This blue mist ore..." The middle-aged man glanced at the blue mist ore that Chu Xunfeng had taken out, lowered his eyes and pondered briefly, "Eighteen medium-grade pieces will be enough."

The middle-aged man pushed back two mid-grade spirit stones with his fingers, then with a flick of his hand, he put away the things on the tea table.

"Young Master Chu, please wait a moment while I go retrieve the intelligence." The middle-aged man stood up, deactivated the array in the private room, and left.

"They even returned two of them." Chu Xunfeng picked up the spirit stone on the table, which looked like raw crystal, and rubbed it in his hand. "The Seven Star Tower actually offers so many services."

“Business…” Ao Hanli had never heard of this word before, but she understood its meaning. She smiled and said, “Intelligence is a resource. The more intelligence you gather, the larger your network of relationships will naturally become. Seven Star Tower has the strength and ability, so it will naturally turn its network of relationships into part of its business.”

"Have you been to the Seven Star Tower before?" Chu Xunfeng's gaze turned to the Dragon Girl.

“I’ve been here with those two friends I mentioned before.” Ao Hanli nodded. “I also have a receipt, but it’s different from yours.”

"They certainly know how to do business." Chu Xunfeng flipped his hand and put away the two mid-grade spirit stones.

After the formation was dispelled, the approaching footsteps outside the door could no longer be concealed, and along with the footsteps came an aura.

The cold, icy atmosphere made people feel uneasy from the bottom of their hearts.

Chu Xunfeng and Ao Hanli exchanged a glance, already having a guess in their hearts.

The middle-aged man knocked lightly before opening the door. “Young Master Chu, I have brought you the ‘person’ you are looking for. These three also have business to do. Since you are inquiring about them, I will leave this place to you. I will guard the door. If you need anything, you can call me.”

The plump middle-aged man stepped aside, and three figures drifted into the room.

A chilling coldness permeated the room, and the fat middle-aged man closed the door, causing the array to reactivate.

"I really didn't expect to find you all so easily." Chu Xunfeng breathed a sigh of relief. "I am Chu Xunfeng. May I ask your names?"

"Mu Huai." The thin, slender figure uttered a hoarse voice.

"The courtesan." This was a scantily clad woman with a gentle voice, carrying a chilling smile.

"Ghost Nine." This was the most solid-looking of the three figures, but also the palest in complexion, though his voice wasn't particularly distinctive.

The fat middle-aged man brought three members of the Ghost Clan with him.

"You're looking for us." It was the courtesan who spoke first. This female ghost seemed to be the leader among the three ghost clans. After she sat down, she leaned back in her chair.

The alluring female ghost sized up Chu Xunfeng. "We're looking for people from the ghost clan..."

"I think we'll have something in common."

She covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Although she had a gentle demeanor, this action gave Chu Xunfeng and Ao Hanli a certain feeling.

What she was covering wasn't a pair of red lips, but a gaping, blood-red mouth.

After a brief silence, Chu Xunfeng took a deep breath. "Perhaps we will have something in common."

Chapter Twenty: Clues to the Courtesan