Gou Zai Wudao Shi Lian Shen

Lu Chen followed Master Ge and the others through the bustling streets of Gaolin County, finally arriving at a vast manor in the east of the city.

The manor gate was bustling with carriages and horses.

The carriages of medicine merchants from all over the country were parked on both sides of the road. Well-dressed shopkeepers and martial arts guards with weapons at their waists came and went. The air was filled with the fragrance of herbs, the smell of horse sweat and the noise of people. It was even more prosperous than the busiest medicine market in Chixia County.

A black plaque with gold lettering hangs above the gate of the manor.

Gaojiazhuang.

This is one of the two major medicinal herb farms in Gaolin County, and also the host of this autumn harvest medicinal herb fair.

Lu Chen looked up and saw that the gatehouse of Gao Family Manor was at least two stories high, with green tiles and flying eaves, and the vermilion gate was wide open. Two stone lions crouched majestically in front of the gate. More than ten guards stood on both sides of the gate, each with a tall and straight figure, a sword at his waist, and a calm and composed demeanor.

Lu Chen's gaze sharpened slightly.

Several Blood-Transfer Junior Masters were guarding the gate.

In Chixia County, such a person would be enough to be a minor leader in a local power.

Wang Qinian dismounted from the carriage, straightened his clothes, and stepped forward with the name card in his hand.

"Wangji Yam Shop from Chixia County has come to attend the Gao Family Herbal Medicine Fair."

A manager from Gaojiazhuang at the entrance took the visiting card, glanced at it, and immediately put on a polite smile.

"Please come in!"

The group stepped into the village.

As soon as he passed through the gate, Lu Chen felt his field of vision widen.

The manor's roads are wide, lined with rows of osmanthus and pine trees, and the stone paths are kept spotless. In the distance, grand mansions stand one after another, with their upturned eaves, interconnected covered bridges, and layers of walls that seem to stretch as far as the eye can see.

The area on the left is the outdoor pharmaceutical market.

Under rows of makeshift sheds, freshly harvested autumn herbs were laid out. Polygonatum, ginseng, red vine, black bone fungus, dragon's beard grass... all kinds of medicinal materials were neatly arranged on bamboo mats, and farmers and middlemen were haggling over prices.

The entrance to the inner area is on the right, where the security is even tighter.

Only pharmacies, alchemists, and large buyers with valid visiting cards are allowed to enter; ordinary small merchants are not permitted.

The group walked towards the inner area.

Just as they stepped inside, a familiar laugh suddenly came from ahead.

"Hey, isn't this someone from Wang's company?"

His voice was flippant, with a deliberately drawn-out sarcasm.

Lu Chen looked up and saw Huang Jue leading a group of people towards him.

Huang Jue still maintained his young master demeanor, dressed in brocade robes and jade belt, holding a folding fan, and with a warm jade pendant hanging at his waist.

He was followed by several guards and an old man in a green robe.

Huang Jue unfolded his folding fan, blocking the middle of the road, and said with a half-smile, "The Gaolin County Medicinal Herb Fair is not like your trips to poor mountain gullies to collect herbs. The good medicinal herbs here are all bought with real money."

"Do you have enough Wang's silver notes? If not, I can lend you a few."

The Huang family guards behind him chuckled softly.

One of them even deliberately said, "The second young master is kind and righteous, why don't you thank him quickly?"

Wang Qinian's face darkened.

He looked at Huang Jue, his tone calm, yet every word was barbed:

"Young Master Huang Jue, who in Chixia County doesn't know that your Huang family made your fortune by lending money at exorbitant interest rates?"

"Nine out, thirteen back, interest compounding interest."

"Those people borrowed ten taels of silver from you, but in the end they were forced to sell their fields, houses, and even their children."

"These days, who would dare take money from the Huang family?"

Huang Jue's smile froze instantly, and his folding fan stopped in mid-air.

"snort."

He snorted coldly, anger flashing in his eyes: "Wang Qinian, don't be ungrateful!"

One of his guards stepped forward, seemingly about to make a move.

Qian Ming narrowed his eyes and grinned coldly: "What? You want to resort to violence just because you can't win an argument?"

Lu Chen stood behind Ge Ye, his gaze sweeping over the Huang family's guards.

The one with the strongest blood and energy was the tall young man behind Huang Jue.

The other person was tall and strong, with large hands, thick knuckles, and a sinister and ruthless look in his eyes. Lu Chen could tell at a glance that this person was no ordinary Blood Refining Realm cultivator.

It is very likely that he has achieved minor success in blood transfusion.

The tall young man was also looking at him.

Their eyes met, like blades lightly brushing against each other in mid-air.

The air suddenly became tense.

The guards maintaining order inside the venue saw the two groups of people about to draw their swords and immediately came over.

The leader was dressed in black, tight-fitting clothes from Gaojiazhuang, with a thick-backed long sword hanging at his waist, its scabbard dark and heavy.

Before he even got close, the surrounding pharmaceutical merchants who had been watching the spectacle consciously took a few steps back.

Qian Ming narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "The Broken Mountain Blade of Gao Family Village, Han Lie."

Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat.

Han Lie was a burly man with broad shoulders and a rugged face, his brows pressed low. His cold eyes swept over the Huang family and the Wang family's group.

"Huh? What are you all doing crammed in here?"

Han Lie's voice was deep and authoritative, conveying authority without anger.

Huang Jue's expression changed slightly. He closed his folding fan and smiled, "Senior Han, you misunderstand. I just ran into an acquaintance and exchanged a few words."

Han Lie didn't even glance at his smiling face, and coldly said, "During the medicine gathering, anyone who dares to make a move in Gao Family Village will bear the consequences."

As he spoke the last few words, his blood and qi trembled slightly.

Lu Chen felt a heavy aura rushing towards him, as if a mountain was pressing down on him.

That man's aura was thick and intense, and the oppressive feeling he exuded was no less than that of Qiao Yuan, the yam merchant's servant.

A great success.

Lu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.

In Chixia County, someone like Qiao Yuan was already the pillar of the yam business. But in Gaojiazhuang, he was merely the head of the guards maintaining order.

This Gao family village, in terms of both prestige and strength, is not something Wang's Yam Shop can easily compete with.

Huang Jue naturally dared not be presumptuous in front of Han Lie of Gaojiazhuang, and immediately cupped his hands and said, "What Senior Han says is right, this junior will naturally abide by the rules."

Wang Ji and his group wisely stopped lingering and headed deeper into the inner area.

Huang Jue also led the Huang family members away from the other side.

The two groups parted ways, and Huang Jue walked on, observing the yam shop group without making a sound.

After walking a distance, Huang Jue frowned slightly.

"Zhao Yiting didn't come."

His voice was low, but it carried a hint of doubt.

The tall young man next to him, Sun Damao, also turned around and looked back, saying, "I really didn't see Zhao Yiting."

Huang Jue tapped his palm lightly with his folding fan, his eyes gradually darkening.

"Only a few Blood Transporter beginners came."

"Is the Wang family truly not taking this medicine conference seriously, or do they think that with the Gao family village in charge, no one will dare to make a move?"

Sun Damao asked, "What does Young Master mean?"

A cold smile slowly crept onto Huang Jue's lips.

"That old bastard Ge Ye is half of Wang Ji's life."

"Since the Wang family doesn't take this seriously, we naturally have no reason to let them off the hook."

The elderly man in the green robe beside him lowered his voice and solemnly reminded him, "Second Young Master, this is Gao Family Manor after all. If we fight here and get caught, our Huang family won't fare well either!"

Huang Jue gave a wicked smile: "Then let them not be able to find out."

Huang Jue glanced back in the direction Wang Ji and his men had left, and ordered his subordinates, "Contact the people in the Dark Hall..."