Chapter 32 Another Source of Assistance

The three of them returned straight to the Lu residence. After settling the other two, Chu Danqing went to find Lu Yin to explain the whole story from beginning to end.

Upon hearing the account, a look of mixed emotion and sigh appeared on Lu Yin's face.

"What is the Master of the Human Duke trying to achieve? Causing such a massive commotion," Lu Yin shifted to a puzzled tone.

"What... what if the Master of the Human Duke has no knowledge of this either?" Chu Danqing suddenly asked, recalling that Guo Ming had previously mentioned a new wave of suppression against the leader of the Taiping Sect unfolding in the imperial court.

Hearing this, Lu Yin turned grave and said, "If that's true, the trouble is immense. We have become mere chess pieces."

"Leaving that aside for now, with my father and the commandery governor holding the line, this matter is not yet ours to worry about."

"Instead of fretting, we should rather consider how to deal with the remaining Three-Corpse Fiend," Lu Yin changed the subject.

"Last night, the fiend entered the residence once again to seek out Consultant Chu, and was once more discovered by Elder Xie."

"According to Elder Xie, the fiend has advanced by another thirty percent."

"This fiend likely will not let you go," Lu Yin warned Chu Danqing to be cautious.

Chu Danqing's expression darkened. The enmity between him and the fiend was indeed deep, having escalated to the point where it was relentlessly targeting him.

However, this was good news. As long as the fiend dared to return tonight, Chu Danqing would turn it into a treasure chest.

With spell-suppression techniques in his hands, given his speaking pace, he could freeze the fiend for a fraction of a second every twenty seconds.

After casting it for just three to five rounds at most, Dabao would be able to slay the fiend.

"Then let it come, and we shall see who refuses to let go of whom," Chu Danqing said coldly.

He then changed the subject and asked, "Is there any trace of the Master of the Human Duke's son yet?"

Lu Yin shook his head. "No, but I have a guess or two."

"This matter can wait until after Consultant Chu disposes of the fiend; we can discuss it then without delay."

This implied that they had suspicions, yet lacked substantive evidence.

As a result, the authorities and the Lu clan dared not act rashly.

"Consultant Chu has worked hard these past two days. I originally intended to let you rest well for a few days."

"Unfortunately, this fiend is wreaking havoc, and Elder Xie in the manor is already kept extremely busy. I can only trouble Consultant Chu to continue bearing with this disturbance."

"I have prepared a slight token of appreciation; please do not refuse, Consultant Chu." Lu Yin did not expect Chu Danqing to work for free and offered a reward.

With a clap of his hands, the maid named Xiao Cui emerged holding a brocade box.

Lu Yin took it and handed it to Chu Danqing, saying, "Consider this a contribution from the Lu clan toward Dabao's recovery."

"Then I shall accept without modesty." Chu Danqing did not exchange pleasantries; he took the box directly and then informed Lu Yin about the situation regarding Guo Ming.

Why would he refuse a salary for his labor?

Since everything that needed to be said had been said, and there was nothing left to discuss by staying further, he exchanged a few brief remarks and took his leave.

On his way back, he opened the brocade box to find three solid, wax-like substances in shades of murky gray and black, exuding a sweet, earthy fragrance.

[East Sea Ambergris]
[Type: Material]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Effect 1: Can be used in the creation of potions, food, and related items]

Closing the brocade box, he stowed everything away into his storage space.

With the ambergris combined with the Hundred-Beard Ginseng, not only was Dabao's new skill guaranteed, but he was also confident in elevating Dabao's attributes and abilities overall.

Upon returning, Chu Danqing communicated the situation to Guo Ming.

"By the way, I have already spoken with Lu Yin to leverage the Lu clan's connections to help you contact your family."

"I will take you to see the steward in charge of this matter shortly," Chu Danqing shifted the topic back to Guo Ming.

"Then I must trouble Brother Chu." Guo Ming did not refuse; naturally, he welcomed a better channel to leave.

Immediately following this, Chu Danqing, guided by the location provided by Lu Yin, took Guo Ming and Dabao to handle the matter.

On their way back after finishing, passing through a corridor, they heard a commotion at the entrance of the Lu residence and vaguely heard someone calling out Guo Ming's name.

"It seems someone is calling you." Chu Danqing paused his steps and looked toward the entrance.

"Yes," Dabao confirmed.

Guo Ming, however, was utterly bewildered. The only person he knew in Yangxian Commandery was Liu Wu, and he was already dead.

How could he have any acquaintances here?

The three of them walked straight toward the entrance.

They saw several gatekeeper servants pushing and shoving a ragged disaster victim.

The victim insisted on entering the manor, while the gatekeepers refused.

Upon seeing the three of them emerge, the disaster victim caught sight of Guo Ming, and his eyes instantly lit up.

"Guo Ming! It's me, I am Cheng Wei!" the disaster victim shouted immediately.

Noticing that the man's skin did not match that of an ordinary disaster victim, Chu Danqing immediately stopped the gatekeeper servants.

Guo Ming also stepped forward to pull the man over. "It really is you! We haven't seen each other in years; what brings you to Yangxian Commandery?"

The two were clearly old acquaintances, and Chu Danqing immediately said, "Let's go inside to talk; it's cold outside."

With that, he instructed the servants to fetch a change of clothes and prepare wine and food, welcoming the guest into his quarters to warm up.

"Ah, it's a long story..." After changing into fresh clothes, Cheng Wei sat down and took a sip of hot tea.

Guo Ming introduced Chu Danqing, and Cheng Wei cupped his fists in a salute, calling out, "Brother Chu."

He then recounted his own circumstances.

He had come to Yangxian Commandery on family business, never expecting to encounter the single-horned flood dragon at Xijiu, though fortunately, he had escaped with his life.

The first half of his story sounded exceedingly familiar—it was practically a carbon copy of Guo Ming's experience.

However, the second half differed. He had encountered Fierce Fist and his subordinate soldiers. Although he had been safely brought back to Yangxian Commandery, he fell under suspicion of ties to the Taiping Sect simply because he had appeared at Xijiu.

After being taken away, locked up, and interrogated, he had been released only to suffer further misfortune on his own, reducing him to this wretched state.

"Brother Cheng, you truly have terrible luck," Guo Ming said, torn between laughter and tears. Recognizing the similarities, he proceeded to share his own ordeal.

This prompted Cheng Wei to exclaim that he had met the wrong people.

"I have already contacted Guo Ming's family through the Lu clan. You can return with Guo Ming so that nothing further goes wrong," Chu Danqing suggested.

He suspected that Cheng Wei might have been an asset missed by Fierce Fist, though given Fierce Fist's strength, he probably hadn't cared.

"Then many thanks! Brother Chu is truly righteous!" Cheng Wei held a deep, burning resentment toward the commandery magistrate known as Fierce Fist; how he wished he had met Chu Danqing in the first place.

By mere comparison, his favorable impression of Chu Danqing soared instantly.

Who wouldn't want to encounter a good person to help them when they fell on hard times?

Before long, meals, wine, and dishes were served, and Cheng Wei began to devour the food ravenously.

Throughout the process, Chu Danqing inquired about matters related to Fierce Fist. Cheng Wei recounted everything without the slightest concealment.

Swallowing his final mouthful of rice, Cheng Wei said with a hint of disdain, "That fellow is arrogant beyond measure, yet still harbors designs on slaying the Three-Corpse Jv. What an utter fool."

The Three-Corpse Jv referred to the fiend.

As soon as these words left his mouth, Chu Danqing and Guo Ming exchanged glances; judging by his demeanor, he was privy to the inside story.

Truly, one found without searching what one had spent a lifetime seeking.

"What do you know? Tell us quickly," Guo Ming poured a cup of wine for Cheng Wei and asked, "Brother Chu and I have been plagued with worry over this matter."

Cheng Wei accepted the cup, drained it in one gulp, and let out a satisfying burp before replying, "In this matter, you've truly asked the right person."