Xiaosuo didn't really understand. If Shen Ma hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have known that Shen Ma was investing in four different ventures at once.
Wouldn't that lower his chances of success?
Shen Ma seemed to see through Xiaosuo's thoughts and said, "Compared to you, I find them unreliable. Cooperation requires a cooperative attitude."
Shen Ma's attitude was spot on.
With such strong support, anyone with a conscience wouldn't forget the favor after achieving success.
"Thank you, sir, for your kindness."
Shen Ma raised his hand to stop Xiaosuo's polite words.
"My time is limited. The cooperation is settled, so let's be straightforward. I'll ask first, then you."
"Alright, please go ahead, sir."
"What is your trump card?"
"The spiritual material the Zhu Clan used to bribe the cultivator with the Vein Opening Pill has been stolen."
"What?! Bribing the cultivator with the Vein Opening Pill is an unspoken tradition. Without the spiritual material, the Zhu Clan has no advantage. No wonder the Zhu Clan is staging a fake funeral to lure out scattered Zhu Clan bloodlines. They must be unsure themselves."
"Exactly."
"Source of the information?"
"Zhu Sangao risked his life to protect me because he knew this information."
"With this information, how confident are you in succeeding?"
"Thirty percent."
"Thirty percent is quite high. What do you need?"
"Ensure I live to meet the cultivator delivering the Vein Opening Pill."
"I'm being watched too. I can get involved in the Zhu Clan's affairs, but I can't be too blatant. I can't openly protect you as you enter the Zhu Clan."
"At least ensure that Zhu Simuo and his people don't kill me."
"That's doable. As long as Zhu Wulun doesn't make a move, I can keep you alive."
"Zhu Wulun won't make a move?"
"He won't. If the one receiving the Vein Opening Pill isn't the First Madam's son, then he might."
"Alright. Do you have any more questions, sir?"
"No, you can ask now."
"When should I go to the Zhu Clan?"
"The Zhu Clan said today that the funeral will be the morning after tomorrow. They've already received a Sound Transmission Talisman from an Immortal. This involves cultivators, so the Zhu Clan wouldn't dare lie. They initially said the funeral was today to capture all scattered Zhu Clan bloodlines."
"How many of my brothers are still alive?"
"On the surface, only the First Madam's son and the Second Madam's son remain. In secret, it's unknown, but over ten Zhu Clan bloodlines have been killed in the past two days, so there can't be many left."
"Those who remain must have backing."
"Exactly. The three major families will have some, and the County Magistrate will also have Zhu Clan bloodlines."
"The County Magistrate is interested in the Zhu Clan too?"
"Yes."
"Then I can only say... the Arrest Warrant officer is quite bold."
Even a superior wants to get involved, yet Shen Ma, just an Arrest Warrant officer, also wants to meddle.
If he offends the County Magistrate and things don't work out, Xiaosuo worries about how Shen Ma will wrap things up.
"I'm forced into this."
"Will the Arrest Warrant officer go to the Zhu Clan the day after tomorrow?"
"I will."
"Then I have no more questions."
"I have other matters to attend to. See you the day after tomorrow."
"Alright. Farewell."
After meeting with Shen Ma, Xiaosuo returned to Empty Form Temple with Wei Min.
Accompanying him was an average-looking, medium-built man.
This man only mentioned his name was Shen Zhuo and refused to answer anything else.
It seemed this was the expert Shen Ma sent to protect him.
The next day, Xiaosuo instructed everyone not to leave the temple and to stay quietly inside.
They were not to eat food from outside the temple or drink well water, only consume vegetarian dishes and water from the vat.
Spending just one day in the temple felt like ten years.
The chaos inside and outside the temple was unsettling.
First, outside the temple, there were people selling food or fighting, tempting one to go out and see.
Then, inside the temple, a monk was caught trying to poison the food by Zhu Sangao and was killed on the spot.
Finally, the temple caught fire, but fortunately, it was extinguished in time.
Today, Xiaosuo truly understood a saying.
A thief can steal for a thousand days, but you can't guard against a thief for a thousand days.
Forget a thousand days; if this life continued for two more days, he wouldn't need the Zhu Clan to send people to kill him; he'd want to end it himself.
Exhausted, Xiaosuo leaned between Zhu Sangao and Wang Zhengwu for a nap.
He woke up before dawn.
Wang Zhengwu packed his luggage and even took the initiative to disguise Xiaosuo.
Then, he bid farewell with his apprentice.
"Take care, young master. I'll head to the Zhu Clan first."
"You take care too."
Wang Zhengwu left with his nephew without looking back.
Zhu Sangao pursed his lips.
"Leaving today, not very loyal."
Now that Xiaosuo should already be registered with the Zhu Clan, there was a high chance of being ambushed on the way to the Zhu Clan.
Wang Zhengwu left early to avoid trouble.
"Don't blame him. Without him, we wouldn't have survived until today. He even got up early to disguise me, which is already very kind."
Zhu Sangao recalled the assassination attempt by the Shop Assistant and lost his temper, only muttering, "I just thought he could have gone with us..."
"His bet isn't on me, so why risk his life? Don't say any more."
"Young master, you're too considerate."
"Gather our people and get ready to leave."
"Yes."
Xiaosuo washed his face, gathered his spirits, and prepared to end his old life and start a new one.
To be precise, it was the end of his old life after rebirth and the beginning of a new life after rebirth.
He nodded to Shen Zhuo, who then guarded his side.
Before leaving, Xiaosuo thanked and bid farewell to the monks in the temple.
Finally, he patted Jieku's little bald head.
Jieku cried again.
It was unclear if he was reluctant to part with Xiaosuo, who had taken care of him for the past two days, or if he just liked crying.
"Goodbye, Jieku."
"Goodbye..."
Xiaosuo turned and left with his group.
I will return.
Definitely.
After leaving, they found the streets deserted.
Looking from afar, there was no one at the Zhu Clan's entrance either.
Wei Min said, "The Zhu Clan announced that only Zhu Clan members are needed to send off the family head. They appreciate the goodwill of others."
Xiaosuo nodded.
This was more like the presence of an Immortal.
Except for Zhu Clan members, others would only be a nuisance.
After walking a mile, Shen Zhuo suddenly raised his hand towards the rooftop on the right.
Xiaosuo didn't see clearly and asked, "What is it?"
Shen Zhuo, surprisingly, replied, "Zhu Simuo."
"Where is he?"
"Injured."
Xiaosuo only remembered Shen Zhuo raising his hand and Zhu Simuo was injured?
So powerful!
Zhu Sangao explained to Xiaosuo, "He has a sleeve dart on his arm. He spotted Zhu Simuo before he could act and shot him."
"So powerful!"
"Yes. Shen Zhuo's skills are probably on par with Zhu Liucai."
"So powerful!"
Xiaosuo turned into a cheerleader, only able to shout praises.
Perhaps unable to bear Xiaosuo's compliments, Shen Zhuo surprisingly spoke up.
"I'm not as good as him."
"Who?"
"Zhu Liucai."
"Have you fought?"
"Yes, but I didn't win."
"You fought but didn't win?"
"Yes, didn't win."
"......"
Finally, Xiaosuo and his group arrived at a door about a yard high.
The plaque above the door had two words:
Zhu Residence.
This place that haunted his dreams.
Finally reached.
Though it only took four days.
It felt like ten years.
If it were a more drawn-out novel, it could probably be a hundred chapters.
The attendants at the door were all in mourning clothes.
"Who are the visitors?"
"Zhu Clan members."
"How can you prove it?"
"Why should I prove it?"
"Sir, if you can't prove the deceased family head is your father, we can't let you in."
The attendant was very respectful, but his attitude was firm.
"Are you sure?"
"Please prove it, sir."
Xiaosuo didn't want to waste words here.
He gave Zhu Sangao a look.
Zhu Sangao turned and asked his men, "Who knows this blind attendant?"
"I do!"
"Speak!"
"Zhu Erxia, his parents were silkworm farmers for the Zhu Clan's silk shop, living in a small village on the west side of Mountain Chicken County. Fifteen years ago, a locust plague ate all the mulberry leaves, and with no money to pay debts, they sent him to the Zhu Clan."
The attendant's face changed when he heard his background being revealed.
Zhu Sangao sneered, "If we can't get in, we'll have to visit your home for tea."
Zhu Erxia gritted his teeth and ordered the other attendants to make way.
Xiaosuo didn't spare him a glance and stepped into the Zhu Residence.
But the watchdog inside the door kept barking, seemingly hostile to Xiaosuo's group.
Zhu Sangao walked over and kicked the dog in the head.
The dog hit the wall and died.
Zhu Erxia angrily said, "You could have just gone in, why harm the dog?!"
Zhu Sangao didn't respond, just stared at the dying dog and said, "For a few bites of dog food, you do such life-threatening things? Can't even be a proper dog!"
After speaking, he quickly caught up with Xiaosuo.
Zhu Erxia gritted his teeth and said no more.
But he did order the other attendants to open the main gate completely.
No more blocking; whoever wants to enter can enter.
He realized that no one coming to the Zhu Clan today was easy to deal with.
One attendant complained, "But the Second Madam said..."
Zhu Erxia slapped him.
"The dog is lying there, you stay and watch it for an hour!"
Zhu Sangao led the way at the front.
The Nine-Turn Corridor twisted and turned, but the Spirit Hall was nowhere in sight.
"Young master, the Zhu Residence is quite large, please bear with it."
Xiaosuo's face twitched.
"By the way, how do your men know the backgrounds of the Zhu Clan's servants?"
Zhu Sangao chuckled, "The Zhu Clan is deep. Who knows if someone with a single-character name is a relative of those with five or six characters? To survive, you first need to know the background and figure out who you can and can't offend."
Xiaosuo nodded, "That's a valuable insight."
"You're too modest, young master!"
Seeing Zhu Sangao wasn't talking much today, Xiaosuo asked with a smile, "Are you a bit nervous?"
"Yes, after all, today is the day of reckoning. I see the young master is calm and composed, truly admirable."
"Because being nervous is useless. It only increases the chance of mistakes."
"That makes sense."
Hearing Xiaosuo's words, Zhu Sangao took a deep breath and adjusted his mood. Even his steps became steadier.
"Now you look like a steward."
"Hehe, the young master is right."
Finally, after walking for a long time, they reached the Spirit Hall.
Inside the Spirit Hall were over a dozen coffins.
Apart from the heavy and solemn sarcophagus in the center containing Zhu Fulu, the other coffins likely held the Zhu Clan bloodlines that died in the past two days.
Xiaosuo saw Shen Ma had arrived, standing respectfully behind a portly elder.
This elder was probably the County Magistrate of Mountain Chicken County.
After waiting a while, two middle-aged women, supported by maids, came out of the Spirit Hall crying.
Zhu Sangao whispered, "The one on the left is the First Madam. The one on the right is the Second Madam."
"What about Liu?"
"Alas, probably lying in one of those coffins."
After waiting a bit longer, several groups of people arrived one after another.
Zhu Xiaosuo also saw Shen Ma, who was following a few people. The ones in front of Shen Ma were likely the County Magistrate, County Deputy, and County Constable.
Seeing that most people had arrived, the First Madam spoke first, "My husband died tragically, and I, Madam Feng, am deeply grateful. However..."
Before she could finish, an azure-robed Daoist suddenly appeared and interrupted, "My time is limited, so spare the nonsense. All of Zhu Fulu's sons, come with me."