The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

Xu Changqing got up and pushed open the wooden door of the quiet room. The sky outside was somewhat gloomy, and it looked like it was about to snow again.

Outside the door, Jiang Rou was sitting by the charcoal brazier, with an account book beside her.

Upon seeing Xu Changqing emerge, she hurried to greet him, her eyes revealing a mixture of inquiry and caution.

"Husband, how is it? Have you come up with a solution?"

These past few days, rumors have been circulating outside, causing anxiety within the family, and it's been a difficult time for her, the matriarch of the household.

Xu Changqing turned around and closed the door of the quiet room tightly. He pulled Jiang Rou down to sit and said in a low voice, "The fish wasn't sick; it was poisoned."

"Poisoning? How is that possible! Our ponds are usually only accessible to our clansmen; even rogue cultivators from outside can't get into the great formation. How could this be..."

She seemed to realize something halfway through her sentence, her face turned deathly pale, and her lips began to tremble uncontrollably.

They are not outsiders.

Then it can only be family members.

The Xu family now consists of only a few dozen people, who are either blood relatives or long-time servants.

They always call her "Auntie" and "Sister-in-law" so affectionately, who would do something like this?

Jiang Rou gripped Xu Changqing's sleeve, and Xu Changqing patted the back of her hand. The warmth of his palm calmed her down a little.

He shook his head, his eyes cold and indifferent: "It's not certain yet, but I have a feeling that the poison wasn't put directly into the water, but into the bait."

"Bait?"

Jiang Rou frowned deeply. As the housekeeper, every stitch and every grain of rice in the house had to pass through her hands.

"The dried red-tailed worms are stored in our own warehouse. Besides me, only Xu Dayong, who is in charge of purchasing, and the few young men who take turns feeding them every day can touch them. You mean...?"

Xu Changqing didn't let her continue, but simply stood up:

"Take me to the warehouse and let me see that batch of dried insects."

The Xu family's warehouse was located in the backyard cellar, which was cold and damp, with a musty and fishy smell permeating the air.

Jiang Rou walked ahead, carrying a dim stone lantern, with Xu Changqing following behind.

When we reached the corner where the bait was stored, there were several large sacks piled up there, their mouths open, revealing the reddish-brown dried red-tailed worms inside.

This stuff is made from dried, low-grade demonic beasts called Red-tailed Worms. It has an extremely strong fishy smell, but it's the fish's favorite food and is key to their growth.

Xu Changqing bent down and reached out to grab a handful of dried insects.

It's dry and hard to the touch, with a slightly prickly feel.

He brought it close to his nose and smelled it.

Besides the pungent, fishy smell, there was also a very faint sweetness mixed in.

If it weren't for Tongtian Jian pointing it out, and the fact that he deliberately sought it out, even if it were right under his nose, he might not have been able to discern the trickery involved.

The juice of the Rotten Vine dissolves instantly in water, and after it dries completely, it becomes almost colorless and tasteless, with only a faint aftertaste that is a flaw.

Xu Changqing crumpled the dried insect between his fingers, looking at the reddish-brown powder on his fingertips, and asked, "When were these bags stored?"

Jiang Rou thought for a moment, then took out a small booklet she always carried with her from her sleeve and flipped through a few pages by the light.

"This batch was bought by Dayong from the 'Treasure Pavilion' in the market half a month ago. He bought a total of 500 catties and it cost us eleven spirit stones. I even nagged him a few times for it, saying that we overpaid."

Xu Changqing narrowed his eyes.

Xu Dayong.

This is Xu Dayou's cousin. He is usually kind to people, but he is a bit of a gambler and I heard that he owes some debts in the market.

However, it would be arbitrary to conclude that he was an inside agent based solely on this.

Moreover, besides purchasing, the people who collect and feed the animals every day are also suspects. If someone were to spray pesticides while collecting the feed, it would go unnoticed.

"Who has been collecting materials these past few days?"

"Just these few."

Jiang Rou handed over the booklet and pointed to a few names.

Xu Changqing's gaze lingered on two names.

"Xu Sanshun, Xu Tiezhu."

"These two are middle-aged people from a collateral branch of the family. They are usually quiet and reserved, and have been in charge of feeding the fish in the pond for three years."

Xu Changqing closed the account book, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang Rou: "Have there been any unusual occurrences at these two households recently? Or have they suddenly become extravagant?"

Jiang Rou tried to calm herself down, and after thinking for a moment, her brows gradually furrowed:

"Xu Sanshun... is doing as usual, but I overheard the aunties chatting the other day that his youngest son wants to go to the market to learn weapon crafting and needs a large apprenticeship fee, which has worried him for a long time."

"As for Xu Tiezhu..." Jiang Rou hesitated for a moment, "He's an honest guy. He spends his days working and drinking. I haven't heard of any major changes in him. However, last month he took a concubine, a commoner, and held a banquet."

"I see..."

Xu Changqing straightened up and patted the dust off his clothes.

"Seal this batch of feed and stop feeding it."

Jiang Rou nodded, then tied the bag tightly, looking somewhat worried:

"Is there any antidote for the poison in that fishpond?"

"Of course, you can go to the market later and buy some 'Yang Yuan Grass'."

Xu Changqing frowned, looking thoughtful.

"Yangyuan Grass?"

Jiang Rou was stunned for a moment, and then her originally pale cheeks turned bright red, even her ears burned.

In the cultivation world, this stuff is usually used to refine "aphrodisiac pills." It's cheap, readily available, and a "good thing" that male cultivators tacitly acknowledge.

Normally, anyone who goes to the pharmacy to buy this stuff has to cover their face, for fear of being recognized and laughed at.

Jiang Rou's eyes darted around, and she stammered, "Husband... why... why buy this at this time? What kind of time is this..."

Seeing his wife's embarrassed and angry expression, Xu Changqing pretended to suddenly realize something.

"Oh—, what are you thinking, Madam? Although this herb has that kind of effect, its yang energy is a good medicine to counteract the yin poison of the Corrosive Spirit Vine. Just burn it to ashes and sprinkle it into the pond."

Jiang Rou breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the explanation, but the blush on her face hadn't faded yet. She glared at Xu Changqing reproachfully.

"You can't expect me to go and buy it! I'm just a woman. If I went to the pharmacy and specifically asked for this...this shameful stuff, what would the shopkeeper think of me? And what would those gossipy people in the market say about the Xu family?"

Xu Changqing thought about it and realized that it made sense.

If Jiang Rou were to go and buy it, rumors would probably spread like wildfire tomorrow, saying that the Xu family patriarch was dying and needed his wife to buy medicine.

But this is something that can't be done by someone else.

"Go and call Uncle Dayou over. I have something to tell you."

……

After a while.

Xu Dayou rushed into the courtyard in a great hurry.

"Chief! You've finally come out! Dozens of fish in that pond drowned again this morning. If this continues..."

"Uncle, hold on, I've found a way to deal with the fish."

Xu Changqing interrupted his complaints: "Go to the market and buy fifty catties of things. Be quick."

"Yangyuan Grass? Fifty catties?"

Xu Da looked bewildered.

"Chieftain, isn't this Yang Yuan Grass... isn't it that kind of medicine? Why are we buying this stuff? Fifty catties? That's too much..."

Buying three or five plants would be acceptable, but buying fifty catties at once, what will happen to the Xu family's reputation?

Xu Changqing's expression remained calm, even somewhat serious: "I have a very important use for you. Just go ahead and buy them. Remember, buy them in batches, so no one notices anything amiss. If anyone asks..."

He paused, then glanced at Xu Dayou.

"Just say it's for your own use."