Chapter 86: Disguise
The two walked over to the stone table, where Xue Liang pulled out his wine gourd and took several large gulps. He wasn’t savoring fine wine; he was drinking heavily, venting, trying to extinguish the bitterness in his heart.
"Easy on the drink, friend... That much will take its toll," Zhao Zuo said consolingly.
"I’m making a fool of myself," Xue Liang said with a wry smile.
"To be honest, I once suspected that you were the one who had the inheritance."
Xue Liang set down his wine gourd and spoke with complete candor. His bloodshot eyes were filled with genuine sincerity. At this moment, an air of dejection surrounded him, all his ambition seemingly gone.
’He might have once dreamed of obtaining the Wang Family’s core inheritance, enhancing his Alchemy skills, perhaps even scheming to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm in his lifetime. But in the end, he wasn’t the protagonist... He didn’t have that kind of fortune. He was fated never to obtain the Wang Family’s core inheritance.’
"I really didn’t go to the trade meet that night. Why won’t you believe me?" Zhao Zuo said, his expression stern.
"Sigh...!"
Hearing this, Xue Liang merely let out a long sigh. His former vitality was gone. This affair had clearly dealt him a heavy blow; the light in his eyes had dimmed, becoming almost murky, as if he didn’t have long to live.
At that moment, Zhao Zuo’s guard relaxed. ’A man in this state could hardly pose a threat to me anymore.’ He even felt a stir of sympathy.
"So who ended up with the core inheritance?"
’Originally, Zhao Zuo hadn’t quite believed the core inheritance even existed, thinking it was all just a smokescreen created by the Wang Family. But now, he had no choice but to believe.’
"The inheritance was never sold. It was taken by the grave robber’s accomplice the moment it was unearthed. I’m afraid even the grave robber himself had no idea," Xue Liang said.
From the very beginning, the Wang Family’s investigation had been heading in the wrong direction.
"If that’s the case, then only the accomplice would know he has the core inheritance. How did the Wang Family get the intelligence to track him down? Don’t tell me he tried to sell it?" Zhao Zuo asked, confused.
"That’s what I don’t get either. Anyway, the Wang Family publicly announced they will no longer be buying back burial goods, and they laid out the whole story of their lost core inheritance." Xue Liang sighed. He was no longer just a washed-up loafer; he was a loafer filled to the brim with dejection.
"I think I understand, for the most part." Zhao Zuo breathed an inward sigh of relief. ’After all, in a way, I was involved in this. Since the Wang Family isn’t pursuing it anymore, I don’t have to live in fear.’
’Besides, I’ll need to go to Moyun Workshop to verify this information.’
’No matter how sincere Xue Liang seemed, Zhao Zuo couldn’t fully trust him. His Spiritual Sense had once detected malice from the man, and that alone was reason enough.’
About an hour later, Xue Liang finally took his leave. Most Loose Cultivators spent every possible moment on Cultivation and would never be this idle.
"No more talk, no more talk. I’m leaving."
Zhao Zuo saw him to the door. ’I’ll head to Moyun Workshop today,’ he decided. ’Partly to gather information, partly to sell the Lower Grade Magical Artifacts I’ve accumulated this month. I also need to buy more Refined Iron and Spirit Powder to restock; I’m running low on both of those Artifact Refining materials.’
’Of course, I need to buy Spirit Ink, too.’
Zhao Zuo quickly tidied up, slung the Hidden Blade Giant Sword onto his back, and pushed open his courtyard gate. He used a Light Body Talisman to speed through the alley, and in less than eight minutes, the entrance to Moyun Workshop came into view.
"Taoist Friend Zhao, please wait a moment."
A gentle voice, carried on a slight breeze, drifted into Zhao Zuo’s mind. In a trance, he smelled the rich aroma of wine closing in on him from all directions. The voice was incredibly familiar... It was Shen Yunjiao!
In that instant, boundless joy welled up in Zhao Zuo’s heart, as if she had truly returned.
’Impossible... Shen Yunjiao has been gone for over a month!’
Though Zhao Zuo’s mind was still lucid, his feet stopped involuntarily. A drunken flush quickly spread across his cheeks, and his eyes glazed over.
He was still struggling, still fighting back. Sensation was already returning to his limbs.
’In three seconds,’ he thought, ’I can break free of this.’
"Friend, come with me."
As Zhao Zuo focused his mind to resist, the Clear Heart Jade Pendant against his chest suddenly flared to life. A continuous, cooling presence flooded his mind, steadily dissolving the intoxicating influence that had invaded his nerves.
It ultimately formed a resilient defense in his mind. Zhao Zuo immediately found he had regained control of his body. At the same time, he realized he was reeking of wine—and it was the exact same kind that Xue Liang always drank!
’So I was set up after all!’
’Xue Liang claimed he couldn’t be happy without wine, that it was always by his side.’
’It was all a prelude to today’s attack. The very moment Zhao Zuo felt sympathy for him, Xue Liang was thinking about how to lure him out of the safe zone and kill him.’
’And I was careless. I assumed that once Xue Liang knew I didn’t have the inheritance, he wouldn’t come after me anymore.’
Now that it had come to this, Zhao Zuo became incredibly calm. ’This is still within the grounds of Moyun Workshop. Xue Liang would never dare attack me here. His plan is to lure me out of the safe zone.’
’At this point, I have two choices: head straight for Moyun Workshop, or set a trap and kill him instead!’
’If this were back when I’d first crossed over, I would have definitely chosen to lay low, but things are different now.’
Without a change in expression, Zhao Zuo slowly turned around. He kept his eyes glazed over and did nothing to disperse the smell of wine clinging to him, faking that he was still under the spell’s influence.
After turning, he saw Xue Liang dressed in a Taoist Robe. In the man’s eyes, Zhao Zuo saw nothing but a predator’s greed and undisguised malice.
"Follow me." Xue Liang’s tone was cold and flat. This was his true self. The warmth, the generosity, the chattiness, the laziness—it was all a disguise. Now, Xue Liang stood ramrod straight, exuding an ineffable air of grim dignity and battle-hardened resolve.
Zhao Zuo couldn’t help a bitter smile. ’So this is what a First-Grade Military Marquis of the Great Yue Country is supposed to look like. This is the bearing of a man who has endured decades of slaughter on the battlefield. That everyday disguise must have been exhausting for him.’
One walking behind the other, the two quickly left the vicinity of Moyun Workshop and entered a forest by the side of the road.
Because the temperature had warmed, the snow on the ground had partially melted and then refrozen into a sheet of ice. It was like walking on an empty glacier. As far as the eye could see, a world of icy blue reflected the blinding sunlight.
Zhao Zuo noticed the scent of wine on him was starting to fade. ’Apparently, this mental control has a time limit,’ he realized, ’and its effect is limited on those with a strong Soul.’
In a flash, the figure before him moved. A silver longsword appeared in Xue Liang’s hand as he instantly closed the distance, the blade slashing toward Zhao Zuo’s neck!
He attacked without any warning.
At the last second, Zhao Zuo drove power into his legs and threw himself backward, intercepting the strike with the giant sword on his back.
"So you weren’t controlled after all, friend!"
......