The entire sect is obsessed with love, but I'm the only one who's truly insane.

Four or five people were standing in the guest room in the courtyard, crowding the already small room so much that even sunlight couldn't get in, yet the atmosphere inside was solemn.

"Bewitching herb?"

Summer almost slammed his fist on the table, his brows furrowed with hatred. "This Yin Zhong actually secretly put mind-altering herbs in these things to make a profit? He only supplies them to the powerful and wealthy families. Didn't anyone notice?"

The three sects, six schools, and ten clans of Zhongzhou drafted a common law for Zhongzhou many years ago. Each city, sect, and family established their own laws, and regardless of their individual rules, they were all required to abide by this law of Zhongzhou.

One of the provisions of this law is that the Bewitching Herb cannot be sold or peddled within the Central Plains.

The Bewitching Grass was initially considered a medicinal herb, but people gradually discovered that it could make people feel lightheaded and happy, and it was also beneficial to their cultivation and even physical strength. Not only was it used before competitions, but it was also used for enlightenment. Who knew that people didn't gain much enlightenment, but instead became addicted.

If one abstains for a few days and becomes mentally unstable and insane, it is called the "mind-destroying herb".

The medicinal liquid made from this stuff has extraordinary effects.

"They call this tobacco 'Qingxin Yan' (清心烟), and only distinguished guests can access the real water pipe tobacco mixed with 'Bewitching Grass' (迷心草). These guests are carefully selected suckers. Nowadays, many people don't even know what 'Bewitching Grass' is. It has been extinct for nearly a thousand years," Feng Yi said. "As for the amount of rouge and face powder, it's negligible."

Lin Du stared at the confiscated cosmetics, tobacco incense pills, and clicked his tongue softly.

These things already have a strong odor to mask them, and the dosage of the Bewitching Grass extract is extremely small. It is also a limited supply for internal use. According to Feng Yi's description, the product is very effective and is a valuable item. Those who have obtained it are reluctant to share it with others. Furthermore, the Bewitching Grass has been extinct for a long time due to the suppression by various forces in Zhongzhou. No wonder not many people have discovered it.

Yin Zhong's shops didn't just sell these things. Because they had dealings with various powerful families, they also took advantage of these relationships to get involved in trending trades and investments, reselling cultivation resources and information, making money and profits grow exponentially.

Yin Zhong was clever enough to know not to cheat the poor.

Lin Du remarked with a sigh, "Sure enough, anything that can make money quickly is written into the laws."

The others all turned to look at Lin Du, who spread her hands and looked at them innocently.

"Isn't that right?"

Ju Yuan looked terrified. Luckily, Lin Du had ended up in the Supreme Sect. If he had entered another sect, who knows, another lawless madman might have emerged.

"In recent years, Yin Zhong's influence in the sect has grown. The Flying Star Sect was originally divided into several factions. They were either ancestors who had ascended to immortality or those who had made great contributions to the Flying Star Sect. With the protection of their ancestors, they gradually gathered into a powerful cultivation clan. If a disciple of the Flying Star Sect did not choose a clan to join, he would inevitably be ostracized and would not even receive his monthly allowance."

"However, the power of the sect leader has been undermined. In recent years, among the six sects, the Flying Star Sect has shown signs of decline. People of commoner origin but with good aptitude cannot obtain good cultivation resources. Instead, it is the disciples and grandchildren of powerful clans who are tyrannical. Outsiders have no way to survive unless they are slaves."

Feng Yi wasn't saying this to those few idiots, but specifically to Lin Du: "That sect leader wants to support someone to take back those powers, and Yin Zhong also wants power."

Lin Du already knew Feng Yi's purpose in saying all this: "So, Yin Zhong's business senior sister didn't take action herself, but instead leaked this information to the powerful clans that have been suppressed over the years, as well as the affected merchants?"

Feng Yi nodded. "Not entirely. Yin Zhong is very secretive and doesn't even control things personally. However, our Feng family and the Supreme Sect are not to be trifled with. Your senior brother smashed up the Water Pipe Pavilion in a fit of rage, and he looted everything inside, including spirit stones and treasures. Only the evidence was left and handed over to the elders of the Flying Star Sect."

"The hookah shop makes a good profit every day. Your senior brother should have enough money to recover the Mo Lin spirit bone this time."

Ju Yuan crossed her arms. "That's not how it works. I was just cracking down on illegal and unethical practices and confiscating illegal gains as a side effect..."

Lin Du lowered his eyes and pushed the thing forward. This Flying Star Sect leader was just like a modern boss. If he wanted to lay off employees, he would first parachute in a harsh executive to consolidate power and fire the people who should be fired. Then he would lay off the executive and come out to appease the people and act as a good person.

The most cunning ones are all old capitalists.

Lin Du brought his thoughts back to the present, "When did he realize that Yin Zhong was acting strangely?"

This question was directed at the leader of the Flying Star Sect.

Feng Yi shook his head. "I don't know, but I guess he doesn't know about Qinglu Village and the Bewitching Grass, otherwise..."

They are all upright people; they wouldn't be so confused.

Seizing power is acceptable, but endangering the lives of innocent people is a grave mistake.

Lin Du noticed that his seventh senior sister was thinking just as much as he was, and her stern expression exuded an aura of authority without anger.

She tapped the table. "Seventh Senior Sister, stop thinking about things. Now that you've investigated his legal and illegal businesses, you can leave those to them to handle internally."

"There's not a single trace of connection between these shops and those scoundrels from the Lanju world. So, have you investigated that blacksmith shop I mentioned the other day, Senior Sister?"

"That's the problem." Feng Yi frowned slightly. "After receiving your message in the middle of the night, I checked and found nothing unusual."

Lin Du asked cautiously, "Senior sister, are you really... not in the wrong place?"

Feng Yi: ...

She was usually calm and composed, dignified and solemn, but now, facing her junior sister's clear, bright eyes, she surprisingly felt a little guilty. "I don't think so..."

Lin Du tapped the table. "We'll go and take a look when our eldest nephew recovers in a few days and we go to the Flying Star Sect together."

"I've arranged for people to keep watch over that place, so you don't need to worry." Feng Yi returned to normal. "If something really happens, they'll eventually slip up."

Lin Du's hand was still on the table, tapping unconsciously. Feng Yi was a talisman cultivator from a prestigious family. She understood power struggles and human nature, and naturally understood underhanded transactions as well. But Lin Du always felt that there must be something strange about that weapon-refining shop.

She stood up. "Since there's this bewitching herb, there must be a cultivation area. Didn't the people inside know they were breaking the law?"

"Those managers and key personnel..." Feng Yi paused, a hint of ferocity flashing in his phoenix eyes, "...have scars on their Shenmen acupoints."

Lin Du thought to himself, "Just as I expected."

"The Feng family and the Supreme Sect are both investigating the origin of the Bewitching Heart Grass. Don't worry, the truth will eventually come out."

Feng Yi returned to normal, saying, "Take good care of yourself."

Lin Du's face fell. She was taking two bowls of medicine a day in Granny Ma's yard. In the morning, Granny Ma brewed medicine to nourish her spirit, and in the evening, Xia Tianwu brewed medicine to nourish her. She drank so much that she lost her appetite. Today, she only ate three bowls of rice noodles.

Five days later, Granny Ma finally drove away the people who had disturbed her peace.

Lin Du returned the thick book on Gu poison to Granny Ma and thanked her again.

Granny Ma looked at the group of people in front of her. Although the remaining poison in Mo Lin's body had cleared, the damage to his spiritual bones was considerable, and he still needed to rest and recuperate. The person who had been hanging on to his death in the four-wheeled vehicle had already shown signs of decay in just a few days, with his hair turning gray. There was also a young man who, although lively, still had a pale face.

The elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled are all included.

"Have you thought it through?" Granny Ma asked Tao Xian.

Tao Xian smiled, took the bowl of medicine that the little corpse puppet brought him to draw the last bit of life force from, and drank it down in one gulp. "Thank you for taking care of me these past few days, Granny. I have no way to repay you, but I still have a grudge. I must seek justice for my junior brothers and sisters, and for myself. They died with their eyes wide open in the Yellow Springs, and I must go down and tell them that I have sought justice for them..."

"Don't be sarcastic. You just don't want to be a zombie, so you're eager to be reincarnated. I have no objection to your choice." Granny Ma looked at Lin Du. "Since you have that jade pearl as payment, you don't need to make any more vows. Farewell."

Lin Du performed a Taoist salute, "Thank you for teaching me about the Gu Sect, Granny."

Granny Ma turned her head. "It's not a secret."

Where is this not a secret? This information is not available to outsiders. She is not a Gu Master, but she has read all the Gu techniques of all the Gu sects. There are also new records added at the end of that book. No matter what Granny Ma says, she has been half a teacher to Lin Du.

Lin Du laughed, "If I encounter an evil Gu Master, I will definitely kill him immediately and send a message to Grandma."

Grandma Ma frowned. "No need, you're too noisy."

"Also, take a good look at your own body. I've said it before, if your body breaks down, you can come to me."

Lin Du simply smiled and agreed without refutation.

After the others left, the courtyard gate slowly closed. Granny Ma was alone in the courtyard pounding medicine. After a while, she lowered her head and smiled.

"A true disciple of the righteous path, indeed..."

Even a coward like Tao Xian was no exception.