Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Reunion of Old Acquaintances

The ten lashes did not last long. Coupled with the fact that Lin Xi hadn’t put real effort into it, they left only a few blood marks on Zhou Luo’s back, fulfilling her duty.

Zhou Luo got up. He tore off the white shirt he was wearing, exposing his upper body.

Tempered by the Bear Body Refinement Technique, Zhou Luo’s physique was markedly different from that of ordinary Qi Refinement cultivators. He possessed distinct muscle definition and clear contours, exuding a robust beauty.

Witnessing this, a slight shimmer passed through Lin Xi’s beautiful eyes. She didn’t show any shyness; instead, she began to admire it.

"Your figure is not bad at all," she said with a light laugh.

Zhou Luo shrugged. He fetched a new white shirt from beside him and put it on, then donned the purple and gold robe over it.

As he did so, the blood marks on his back quietly disappeared, aided by the spiritual energy.

Lin Xi stored the round object away. She left behind a sound transmission talisman, gazing at Zhou Luo meaningfully. “I’ll be staying here for a few days. What I said earlier wasn’t a lie. You should think carefully.”

Having said this, she turned and left the room.

Zhou Luo fastened the buttons on his robe, then cast his gaze onto the sound transmission talisman left on the table. He couldn’t help but shake his head.

To win him over, the Main Family was even resorting to a beauty trap.

The Fifth Miss.

If he could become her husband, it would likely bring him significant advantages.

But the Great Elder is still lurking in the shadows with a covetous gaze.

Being a fence-sitter was a good position. At least until a clear victor emerged between the two factions, he could live safely.

Even if a victor did emerge, as long as he revealed some talent in alchemy then, the family surely wouldn’t dare to kill him.

With the punishment concluded, Zhou Luo began his daily seated cultivation routine.

As for the sound transmission talisman, he casually tossed it aside.

…

Descending from the first layer, Lin Xi arrived at the pavilion down the mountain and informed Lin Tianfang about what had transpired.

Though she disliked family conflict, as a direct descendant of the main line, some things were unavoidable.

What she said to Zhou Luo about him marrying her? That wasn’t a lie.

If Zhou Luo was willing, the Main Family would definitely marry her off to him.

After all, compared to her more prodigiously talented older sister, she had little advantage beyond her noble status.

Even if not used to win over Zhou Luo, she would likely be used to secure allegiance with another family disciple.

After hearing Lin Xi’s account, Lin Tianfang said nothing specific. He merely instructed her to go to the fourth layer for cultivation and leave the other matters alone.

For Zhou Luo, Lin Xi’s proposal was but a small interlude. The days that followed were relatively uneventful. Aside from Lin Shi occasionally dropping by to play with the cat, no one else visited.

The Main Family’s probing seemed to have ceased.

However, seven days later, Lin Shi brought surprising news.

He was moving to the second layer.

The second layer had stricter security and was safer than the first, especially after the previous incident. Its guard force had been doubled.

They had even moved the kitchen to the second floor specifically to prevent poisoning.

Originally, someone like a Pill Master, being of key importance to the family, should have been housed on the second floor.

But the main family, seeking to prevent Zhou Luo from interacting with formation masters like Lin Xianlong after his arrival, used this as an excuse to place him on the first floor instead.

Now, the main family relocating him to the second floor seemed to signify they no longer cared about him associating with the Great Elder’s faction.

After all, there was another formation master stationed on the second floor.

Zhou Luo, however, understood this might well be the main family’s countermeasure.

Because while the second floor was safer than the first, it remained firmly under the main family’s control.

Conversely, with so many eyes and ears about, no one could know for sure if any among them belonged to the Great Elder. Before determining whether he knew the secret, isolating him was a solid tactic.

Moreover, this placement afforded them the chance to observe whether he would actually make contact with that other formation master.

Regarding such an arrangement, Zhou Luo simply had no grounds to refuse.

Packing up all his belongings and holding Little White, Zhou Luo arrived on the second floor.

Seeing the familiar surroundings, he felt a wave of deep emotion wash over him.

Previously, reaching this place required intricate scheming, driving him to the brink of disaster.

He never imagined he’d end up settling here so effortlessly.

Zhou Luo’s appearance drew the attention of others on the second floor. Figures stepped out one after another to scrutinize him.

After all, his earlier killing of Lin Xianlong had caused quite a stir on this level.

Whether intentionally or not, everyone was intensely curious about this son-in-law who married into the family.

Captain Lin Kai stood not far away, his eyes cold and expressionless as he watched him silently.

Led by Lin Shi, Zhou Luo found his new quarters.

This room was located in the northern corner of the second floor and was considerably larger than his previous one on the first floor.

While tidying up, Lin Shi mentioned casually, "I hear the family is planning to send another formation master."

With the spiritual mine down to just one formation master, maintaining daily operations was clearly insufficient, making the dispatch of a new one perfectly normal.

Yet, what plunged Zhou Luo into contemplation was this:

What stance would the main family adopt when this new arrival belonged to the Great Elder’s faction?

Did they genuinely feel comfortable with him interacting directly with them?

Or was this merely another test meant for him?

Zhou Luo didn’t know. But he steeled his resolve: for the remaining twenty days, he’d stay in his room and avoid contact with anyone.

If, by the deadline, the main family still refused to let him go, he’d find a way to contact the person Lin Xianlong had mentioned. He’d then bargain with the Great Elder – either secure his rescue, or switch sides and fully align with the main family.

Ultimately, it boiled down to choosing which side to stand with.

Who knows? Perhaps some unforeseen opportunity would even present itself during this time.

Little did Zhou Luo realize, as he resolved to isolate himself, that just two days later an old acquaintance would appear at the mine.

Standing by his doorway, he watched two figures ascending from the first floor. His gaze fixed intently on a young man among them missing an arm. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.

What was he doing here?

Zhou Luo never expected to encounter Xu Changsheng in this place.

Strictly speaking, Xu Changsheng was Zhou Luo’s first friend. Having been deceived into the Lin Family as part of the first batch of matrilocal sons-in-law, they shared a bond forged through adversity.

But circumstances often constrained them both.

So back then, Zhou Luo could only watch helplessly as Xu Changsheng was banished to the spiritual mine.

Later, he learned that all the other sons-in-law from their cohort had died. Only Xu Changsheng proved extraordinarily lucky; his talent for formations was discovered, allowing him to become the disciple of a formation master.

Zhou Luo had imagined meeting him again someday.

He just never anticipated it would be here.

Xu Changsheng still wore his signature blue robe, but his once handsome face now bore an air of weariness and hardship. He walked respectfully behind an old man, posture humble and deferential.

Zhou Luo watched both men deeply. Was this arrangement made by the Great Elder?

Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and retreated back into his room.

He wanted isolation, but others had different ideas.

That very afternoon, shortly after settling on the second floor, Xu Changsheng sought Zhou Luo out.

The knock came at Zhou Luo’s door.

Zhou Luo opened it and faced his once dear friend, a strained, bitter smile touching his lips.

"You don’t seem pleased to see me?" Xu Changsheng’s mouth lifted slightly at the corner as he smiled.

"Reuniting with an old friend? How could I feel anything but joy?" Zhou Luo responded, his own smile mirroring Xu Changsheng’s faint curve.