Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Xu Changsheng’s Choice

Zhou Luo was happy, there was no doubt about that, but more than happiness, he felt apprehension.

At this critical juncture, Xu Changsheng’s appearance felt exactly like a death warrant.

Zhou Luo could almost imagine countless pairs of eyes already watching him from the shadows.

But there was nothing to be done. Since someone had sought him out directly, he couldn’t very well keep avoiding confrontation like a frightened turtle.

Besides, Xu Changsheng was definitely unknown to the secret of the spiritual mine. The main family likely instructed him to contact Zhou Luo to verify whether he truly wasn’t siding with the Great Elder.

So, Zhou Luo invited him inside.

After they sat down, Xu Changsheng glanced around the room and said with a faint smile, "Your room is even larger than the one shared by my master and me."

"How did you end up here?" Zhou Luo asked, brewing a cup of spiritual tea and bringing it over.

From Xu Changsheng’s explanation, Zhou Luo learned the following.

This time, the family had specifically assigned Xu Changsheng’s master to come here, so naturally, as his disciple, Xu Changsheng had to accompany him.

"The Great Elder’s arrangement?" Zhou Luo probed cautiously.

"I don’t know. My master doesn’t discuss such matters with me," Xu Changsheng replied with a wry smile.

Although he was the man’s disciple, he remained an outsider, of lowly status. Were it not for his talent in formations, he would likely have been abandoned by the family long ago.

Zhou Luo felt a wave of relief inside.

He had feared the other man was sent by the Great Elder to interrogate him about the secret.

After all, he couldn’t be sure what lingering resentment Lin Xianlong’s death might have fostered in the Great Elder.

But wasn’t this all just a bit too coincidental?

Next, the two men chatted about their respective experiences.

Compared to Zhou Luo’s smooth sailing, Xu Changsheng’s experiences were clearly far more perilous.

Especially when talking about the other sons-in-law, obvious pain showed on Xu Changsheng’s face.

"What about your wife and child?" Zhou Luo asked.

"My master said once I become a first-level middle-tier formation master, I can go home," Xu Changsheng stated.

"That’s good then. If I manage to return to the family home, I’ll help look after them," Zhou Luo nodded.

Hearing this, Xu Changsheng stood up and bowed deeply. "Brother Zhou, thank you."

"It’s a small thing. Although, I don’t even know if I’ll be able to leave," Zhou Luo said, gesturing for him to sit again, his tone helpless.

"Brother Zhou, why do you say that? Aren’t you set to enter the Immortal Sect to study in just twenty more days?" Xu Changsheng asked, his face brimming with envy as he spoke.

It was the Immortal Sect! Its heritage far surpassed that of the long-life families; studying there would undoubtedly propel one to great heights.

Zhou Luo didn’t explain, simply saying that unpredictable things happen.

Xu Changsheng didn’t press further.

After their conversation wound down, Xu Changsheng rose to take his leave.

As he was about to leave, Zhou Luo looked at his severed arm and couldn’t help but ask, "Now that you’re a formation master, isn’t the family willing to help heal your arm?"

As long as there was sufficient spiritual energy, supplemented by natural treasures, healing the severed arm of a Qi Refinement cultivator was still quite straightforward.

Upon hearing these words, Xu Changsheng paused, a shadow flickering in his eyes as he responded with a bitter laugh, "Once I reach the middle first-level, maybe the family will help."

After saying that, he turned and walked away.

Zhou Luo looked at the old friend with a complicated expression, shook his head, and closed the door.

Meanwhile, Lin Kai silently observed all of this. After confirming Zhou Luo had entered his room, he quickly stepped forward and blocked Xu Changsheng’s path.

He fixed the other with an impassive stare, his voice icy. "Tell me everything you discussed just now."

…

Inside his room, Zhou Luo, holding Little White in his arms, fell into deep thought.

Xu Changsheng’s arrival was somewhat unexpected. Although he very much wanted to believe it was a coincidence, with every moment being tense on high alert, caution remained imperative.

However, their conversation just now seemed to suggest Xu Changsheng genuinely had no knowledge of the inside information.

This left Zhou Luo uncertain about whose side Xu Changsheng was really on.

Logically, being a formation master, he should belong to the Great Elder’s faction.

But this was the main family’s spiritual mine. Placing him here wouldn’t be possible without the main family’s explicit consent.

Furthermore, given Xu Changsheng’s status and background, it wasn’t impossible that the main family had coerced him into probing Zhou Luo.

For a moment, Zhou Luo found it increasingly difficult to fathom the intentions of these important figures.

Why was the focus so firmly fixed upon him?

Simply because he was Lin Zhi Shou’s disciple and a potential future family elder?

…

Meanwhile, Xu Changsheng relayed the details of his conversation with Zhou Luo to Lin Kai.

Only after Lin Kai had meticulously recorded everything did he allow Xu Changsheng to leave.

Stepping outside, Xu Changsheng glanced up at the rocky ceiling. His once bright eyes were now veiled in gloom.

He sighed heavily and returned to his own quarters.

Inside the room sat an elderly man, meditating cross-legged on a cushion.

"Master," Xu Changsheng greeted with a respectful bow.

"Did you speak to that young man?" the old man asked sternly, opening his eyes.

Xu Changsheng shook his head. "He didn’t seem to trust me much. I thought I’d wait a bit longer before asking."

"Remember the Great Elder’s instructions," the old man, Lin Guang, said flatly before closing his eyes once more.

Xu Changsheng silently moved to a table nearby. Looking at the formation board laid out, he began manipulating its constructs.

Indeed, he and his master had been placed here by the Great Elder.

Their objective was to ascertain whether Zhou Luo knew the secret. If he did, they must find a way to extract it from him.

If not, they still needed to cultivate a visible connection with him, demonstrating the Great Elder’s continued trust to the main family.

That was the very reason Xu Changsheng had been chosen for this task.

Thinking this, Xu Changsheng involuntarily turned his head to look at his silently meditating master. A strange glimmer of light flickered deep in his eyes.

Beyond the mission entrusted by the Great Elder, he harbored another secret deep within.

He was actually planted by the primary lineage of the family.

It was only because of the primary lineage’s backing that he had the fortune to train as a formation master and find himself assigned here.

Of course, the number of people privy to this detail was exceedingly small.

Even Lin Kai was unaware.

And what the primary lineage required of him was to probe whether Zhou Luo knew the secret and to attempt driving a wedge between him and the Great Elder.

Honestly, Xu Changsheng hadn’t realized Zhou Luo held such importance for the clan’s powerful figures.

For a moment, he couldn’t help feeling a pang of envy towards the other man.

But for Xu Changsheng himself, offending either the Great Elder or the primary lineage was unthinkable. When the tasks assigned by both sides inevitably conflicted, he would be forced to make a choice.

Xu Changsheng wasn’t Zhou Luo. Lacking the leverage Zhou Luo possessed, the slightest indecision could lead to him being cast aside by both factions.

He had to choose a side.

The choice itself wasn’t particularly difficult.

He could only choose the primary lineage, because the primary lineage had promised to heal his severed arm once this business was concluded.

…

Over the next few days, Xu Changsheng paid visits to Zhou Luo repeatedly.

"Visits" being a euphemism; they were sustained efforts to probe through conversation.

Xu Changsheng executed these probes cautiously, fully aware of Zhou Luo’s sharp instincts – excessive directness would surely be spotted.

Precisely because of this extreme caution, his progress crawled.

This sluggishness stirred discontent in his master.

"What in the world are you doing?" Lin Guang interrogated sharply inside their room.

Xu Changsheng bowed his head low, not daring to answer.

"You must obtain an answer within three days."

Lin Guang fixed him with an intense stare, issuing the ultimatum.