Free Web NovelChapter 45: Chapter 45: Xiang Sect
"Shouye, this is for you."
Chen Li handed the Nine-Turns Essence Rejuvenation Marrow Heart Pill and the Immovable Vajra Bright King Technique to his second son.
Chen Shouye took the two boxes, opened them, and was instantly stunned.
He had seen the Nine-Turns Essence Rejuvenation Marrow Heart Pill before.
His older brother, Shouheng, carried a box with him, and he had even eaten a few. But they didn’t help much with his Refining Strength, so it was a waste, and he stopped taking them.
But the contents of this sheepskin scroll... ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Chen Shouye’s gaze sharpened. After carefully reading a few lines, he quickly realized what it was.
An Inner Qi Cultivation Method!
This was something not even the martial arts hall possessed!
He looked up at his father, shocked, his young face filled with confusion.
Chen Li explained, "This is an Inner Qi Cultivation Method that complements a Horizontal Training Method. It won’t be of much use for advancing your current realm; just reaching the entry-level might take a few years. But the rarity of this technique lies in its ability to cultivate both internally and externally. Once your Inner Qi is generated, it will complement your externally cultivated qi and blood. They can even fuse directly to form Gang Qi, multiplying its power. Study it well."
"I will practice it diligently."
Chen Shouye took a deep breath. Knowing the weight of this cultivation technique, he nodded. After memorizing the Inner Power Heart Method on the sheepskin scroll, he handed it back to Chen Li.
As he was leaving, Chen Shouye paused, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly as if he were hesitating.
"What is it?" Chen Li asked.
Chen Shouye hesitated for a moment before saying in a low voice, "Father... there’s something. It’s about Older Brother..."
Chen Li’s brow furrowed slightly. "What about Shouheng?"
"A few days ago, Chen Zhengtong was coming to see Older Brother often," Shouye said with a hint of worry. "He was always dragging him out, saying they were going drinking. He even invited me once, but I refused. I only heard later that the two of them went to that new brothel in the county town, the Drunken Creek Pavilion."
Chen Li’s expression changed slightly. "Are you sure it was the Drunken Creek Pavilion?"
"I’m sure." Shouye nodded affirmatively. "I heard Older Brother mention it. I thought it was a restaurant at first. It wasn’t until my senior brothers told me that I learned it was a brothel."
Chen Li’s brow furrowed deeply. ’That brat, my eldest son... what is he doing running off to a brothel instead of focusing on his training?’
There had been brothels in Jingshan County before, but they were all low-class whorehouses, not even qualifying as proper pleasure quarters.
They catered to the lower class, hurrying you to get cleaned up the moment you walked in and rushing you through the whole process. There was no finesse to it at all.
The Drunken Creek Pavilion was the first high-class brothel to open here.
Chen Li knew very well, ’The world of brothels runs deep and treacherous.’
’Could a hot-headed kid like Shouheng possibly handle it?’
’If he’s lost his vital essence, I’ll just have to bring him home and keep a close eye on him.’
Chen Li took a deep breath and said in a grave voice, "I understand. You can go back for now. I’ll find your older brother and get to the bottom of this."
Seeing his father’s expression instantly turn ice-cold, Chen Shouye felt a chill in his heart and nodded. "Yes, Father."
...
Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall.
When Chen Li arrived, the hall was filled with the resounding shouts of disciples practicing their techniques.
Chen Li had visited many times, so the doormen were familiar with him. He walked straight in and scanned the area, but he didn’t see Shouheng. He immediately asked another disciple, "Where is Chen Shouheng?"
"I think he’s resting in his room." The disciple wasn’t sure, only saying that he hadn’t seen him that morning.
’Resting?’
Chen Li’s expression changed. Without another word, he strode toward Chen Shouheng’s quarters.
He pushed the door open to see Chen Shouheng lying fully clothed on his bed.
Hearing the door open, he opened his eyes warily. Seeing it was his father, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes, and he quickly sat up. "Father? What are you doing here?"
Chen Li shut the door behind him, his face grim. He fixed his eldest son with a burning gaze and asked, "What were you doing at the Drunken Creek Pavilion with Chen Zhengtong?"
Chen Shouheng shuddered, then gave a sheepish laugh. "Father, you found out? Who told you?"
"Speak! What is going on?" Chen Li’s voice seethed with suppressed rage.
A wronged expression appeared on Chen Shouheng’s face. "Father, didn’t you tell me to keep an eye on Chen Zhengping? He hangs out at the brothel every day. If I want to gather information, I have to go there!"
"Gathering information?" Chen Li’s brow tightened.
"Mhm." Chen Shouheng nodded like a chicken pecking at rice and hurriedly explained, "Ever since Third Grandmaster Chen came to our house to reconcile, that guy Chen Zhengtong has been coming to find me and Second Brother to hang out every day. I felt something was off. He used to wish he could crush us under his heel, so why the sudden kindness? I suspected he was plotting something, so I decided to play along and use the opportunity to get some information out of him."
"And what information did you find?" Chen Li’s gaze was sharp. He wasn’t about to be so easily fooled by his eldest son.
"I’ve only been there twice, so I haven’t heard anything yet. But..."
Chen Shouheng gave another sheepish smile, then hesitated. "Father, there’s something else... I don’t know how to tell you..."
"Then start from the beginning," Chen Li said irritably.
Chen Shouheng stammered, "Junior Banner Officer Zhao Hu of the Jingwu Bureau approached me. He wants me to be their spy... an informant."
"And you agreed?"
Chen Li frowned. ’This eldest son of mine is getting bolder and bolder.’
’To not even tell the family about something this major...’
"I didn’t fully agree." Seeing his father’s expression growing darker, Chen Shouheng’s voice became much softer.
Anger flared in Chen Li’s heart. He rebuked him, "You either agreed or you didn’t. What do you mean, you ’didn’t fully agree’?"
Chen Shouheng quickly explained, "I only agreed to help with the matter concerning the Drunken Creek Pavilion. Our cooperation ends when it’s over. He asked me to help them investigate and confirm some information. At the same time, he told me a lot of secrets. I thought, since you wanted me to gather information, Father, the Jingwu Bureau’s intelligence would definitely be more accurate than anything I could find on my own."
"What secrets did he tell you?" Chen Li’s expression softened slightly as he asked in a low voice.
Chen Shouheng hurriedly rattled off the details as if listing family treasures: "At the Drunken Creek Pavilion, Chen Zhengping is just the figurehead Chief Steward. The real owners are Young Master Jiang Chaoshan of the Songxi Jiang Family and Miss Jing Hong, the top Courtesan from the Drunken Creek Pavilion in the Commandery City. And that Miss Jing Hong, according to the Jingwu Bureau’s secret files, is an Incense Protector of the Xiang Sect."
"The Xiang Sect?" Chen Li’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He had never heard of this sect before.
He heard Chen Shouheng continue, "That’s right. The Xiang Sect is a heretical and demonic faction in the Jianghu. I’ve heard they worship a Moon God and a Fragrance God. Their followers are often active in brothels, where they recruit Incense Slaves. It’s a sect that the Court monitors closely."
’Incense Slave?’
Chen Li frowned. This was all new to him. He focused on the main point and asked, "The Drunken Creek Pavilion must have Martial Dao practitioners. Who is the strongest?"
Chen Shouheng replied, "That would be the Courtesan, Jing Hong. The Jingwu Bureau’s latest intelligence says she failed her first attempt to break through to the Spirit Realm from Qi Realm Perfection. Now that she’s acting as an Incense Protector, they suspect she has successfully broken through to the Spirit Realm."
The Spirit Realm!
A chill went down Chen Li’s spine, and his anger subsided slightly. His thoughts turned to the matter of the father he’d inherited and Liu Wende’s son. His expression changed slightly, and he asked, "What’s this about you not feeling well?"
