usatvline Chapter 32 Night Visit to the Cui Residence
Chapter 32 Night Visit to the Cui Residence
It was midnight, three quarters past midnight.
Three dark figures flashed past like ghosts outside the back wall of the Cui residence.
It was Lin Chen, Yuan Tiangang, and Li Chunfeng who had used the Concealing Breath Talisman.
"My lord, climb over the wall from here, and go straight for thirty paces to reach the artificial hill in the back garden," Yuan Tiangang transmitted his voice.
"Seven hidden sentry posts and three visible sentry teams, with patrols spaced half an incense stick's time apart."
Lin Chen nodded, and the three figures appeared and disappeared intermittently.
The Concealing Breath Talisman was extremely effective; the Celestial Realm cultivator vanished into the void, completely unnoticed by the patrolling guards inside the walls.
The Cui residence covers a vast area, with pavilions and towers stretching out in a continuous line, and is brightly lit—clearly making final preparations for tomorrow's birthday banquet.
The back garden, however, is relatively secluded, with artificial hills, flowing water, and bamboo groves providing shade.
The three of them landed in the shadow of the artificial hill. Li Chunfeng took out a compass and chanted an incantation.
The compass needle trembled slightly, pointing to a certain spot on the artificial hill.
"The core of the formation is here." Li Chunfeng lightly swept his whisk, and a piece of bluestone on the artificial hill silently moved aside, revealing a dark cave entrance.
"My lord, this secret passage leads directly to the bottom of the secret chamber, but there are traps inside, so we must proceed with extreme caution."
"Mr. Li, lead the way; Mr. Yuan, cover the rear," Lin Chen decisively ordered.
The three filed in.
The secret passage was narrow and damp, with strange runes carved on the stone walls, and faint fluctuations of spiritual energy.
"It's the 'Earthbound Spirit Array'," Li Chunfeng transmitted his voice.
"Triggering the mechanism will summon evil spirits to haunt you. It won't be fatal, but it will alert the guards. My lord, please follow my steps closely."
He used the Seven Star Steps, precisely avoiding the rune nodes with each step.
Lin Chen and Yuan Tiangang followed closely behind. After walking about a hundred steps, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
A stone chamber, ten zhang in circumference, with a bronze gate in the center, engraved with a nine-palace pattern, which is the entrance to the secret chamber.
"This is it." Yuan Tiangang stepped forward to investigate.
"The mechanism on the door requires the Azure Dragon Key and the bloodline of the Cui family, but there are three hidden locks below, which can be solved first."
He took out three thin gold needles from his sleeve and inserted them into the keyhole.
With three soft clicks, the hidden lock opened.
"We'll talk about the rest tomorrow after we get the Azure Dragon Key and Cui Yongnian." Lin Chen looked around the stone chamber, his gaze landing on a pile of wooden boxes in the corner.
The box was sealed with the words "Military Supplies - Grade 3" written on it, which was the serial number of the batch of Bone-Corroding Spirit Stones from three years ago!
"Unboxing."
Yuan Tiangang shattered the box lid with a single palm strike, revealing neatly stacked black spirit stones inside.
Each piece exudes a chilling aura, with faint blood-red patterns on its surface—it is indeed a Bone-Corroding Spirit Stone!
Lin Chen picked up a piece; it was icy cold to the touch, and he felt a stagnation in his internal energy.
"Such a domineering corrosive power." His expression was solemn. "If Father had really used this batch of spirit stones back then, his combat power would have been reduced by at least 30%."
"My lord, there are also account books here."
Li Chunfeng pulled out several booklets from another box.
Lin Chen took the book and flipped through it, his eyes growing colder with each page.
The ledger meticulously records the entire process of purchasing, transporting, and receiving the Bone-Eating Spirit Stone.
Those involved include Cui Yongnian, Zhao Yuan, Liu Kun, Blood Hand, and even... the Second Prince's private seal!
"The evidence is conclusive." Lin Chen put away the account book. "Let's see how they try to deny it at the birthday banquet tomorrow."
As they were talking, Yuan Tiangang suddenly raised his hand: "Someone's coming."
The three immediately hid in the shadows.
Footsteps and voices could be heard coming from the entrance of the secret passage.
"Third Master ordered that all these boxes be destroyed," a cold voice said.
"All of it? There's a lot of money in here..." another voice hesitated.
"Is money more important or life? That kid Lin Chen has been making a lot of noise lately; who knows what he might have found out? Third Master said, it's better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free."
"Yes, yes, yes..."
Two Cui family guards entered the stone chamber and were about to move the boxes when suddenly everything went black and they collapsed to the ground.
Yuan Tiangang withdrew his hand: "My lord, they are preparing to destroy the evidence."
"As expected." Lin Chen sneered. "Perfect, let's play along."
He took out a small porcelain bottle, poured out two pills, and put them into the guard's mouth:
"The 'Puppet Pill' allows you to be controlled by others for twelve hours after ingestion. Mr. Li, can you imitate their voices?"
Li Chunfeng nodded, tapped the throats of the two guards, and then spoke, his voice identical to one of them:
"Don't worry, Third Master, I will definitely take care of it."
"Okay," Lin Chen instructed.
"Let them continue their 'destruction' mission, disguise it as destroying wreckage, and we'll take the stuff."
"Brilliant plan," Yuan Tiangang praised.
Lin Chen waved his hand and carefully put away the real account book and the ten spirit stone samples.
Li Chunfeng set up a smokescreen to ensure that no one could see through it in a short period of time.
After finishing, Lin Chen glanced at the unconscious guard:
"It would be even more effective to have them 'expose' the Cui family in front of everyone at tomorrow's birthday banquet."
"Our lord is wise."
As he left the secret chamber, Lin Chen took one last look at the bronze door.
Tomorrow, everything will be clear; take it easy.
……
It was already past midnight when they returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
As soon as Lin Chen entered the West Garden, he saw the study light was on.
Pushing open the door, I saw my sister-in-law, Liu Ruyan, sitting at the table, weaving something in her hands.
"Sister-in-law?" Lin Chen was taken aback. "Why aren't you resting so late?"
Liu Ruyan raised her head, her eyes bloodshot:
"I'm waiting for you. I heard about what happened with the Third Prince today from Seventh Sister."
She put down the red string in her hand; it was a half-finished love knot.
"Sister-in-law, what's wrong...?"
"According to folk custom, before a man travels far away, his family will weave a love knot to ensure his safety," Liu Ruyan said softly.
"Tomorrow is the Cui family's birthday banquet, which is extremely dangerous. I... can't be of much help, so this is all I can do."
A warm feeling welled up in Lin Chen's heart, and he sat down opposite Liu Ruyan:
"Sister-in-law, thank you."
Liu Ruyan shook her head and continued weaving.
The candlelight illuminated her profile, making her usually resolute features appear exceptionally soft.
"Eighth brother, do you know?" she suddenly asked.
"Your elder brother wrote to me before he died in battle. He said that what he was most worried about was you."
They said you have a restless personality and don't like martial arts. If they don't come back in the future, they're afraid you won't be able to support this family.
Lin Chen remained silent. Although he was the original body, he had absorbed all the memories and emotions, becoming one with the original body.
"I even wrote back to him, calling him a jinx." Tears welled up in Liu Ruyan's eyes.
"I told you, you're the youngest son in the Lin family, with your father and seven older brothers. Even if the sky falls, it's not your turn to shoulder the burden. But who knew..."
She wiped her eyes and said, "If your older brother could see you now, he would be very pleased."
The love knot was finished, and Liu Ruyan tied it around Lin Chen's waist:
"Wearing this is like having us all by your side. Eighth brother, you must come back safely tomorrow."
"I will," Lin Chen solemnly promised.
Although I wanted to hug her to comfort her, it wasn't appropriate in this situation.
Liu Ruyan got up to leave, but then stopped:
"By the way, the antidote for my second sister has been prepared. She wants you to go to the pharmacy after you get back."
"I see!"
……
Inside the pharmacy, Chu Yueyao was carefully pouring a pot of emerald green medicinal liquid into a jade bottle.
Seeing Lin Chen enter, she breathed a sigh of relief: "It's done!"
"Is this the antidote?" Lin Chen took the jade bottle. The liquid was crystal clear and emitted a faint fragrance.
"Yes, I'll name it 'Cleansing Pulse Powder'," Chu Yueyao said.
"The main ingredient is seven-leaf resurrection grass, supplemented with seventeen rare medicinal materials such as snow jade lingzhi and ambergris."
It can neutralize the poison of the Bone-Corroding Spirit Stone and repair damaged meridians.
She paused, her expression turning serious:
"But this medicine can only detoxify, it cannot reverse the damage already caused. If Father and my brothers were indeed poisoned by someone, thus greatly weakening their fighting strength... this medicine is ultimately too late."
Lin Chen gripped the jade bottle tightly: "It's not too late. With this, at least we can get justice for Father and my brothers..."
"You're right." Chu Yueyao nodded.
"In addition, I've packed two extra bottles. Keep one with you, just in case."
The other bottle… I want to give it to Elder Yao Chenzi of the Heavenly Mystery Academy to thank him for the medicine.”
"Of course," Lin Chen said. "I'll go to the Heavenly Mystery Institute after the birthday banquet tomorrow."
Chu Yueyao smiled and took out a small sachet from the medicine cabinet:
"Here you go. It contains 'Mind-Clearing Powder,' which can refresh the mind and resist bewitching spells."
Lin Chen took it; the sachet was embroidered with orchid patterns, the stitches were fine and dense, clearly it was handmade.
"Thank you for your trouble, Second Sister-in-law."
"We're family, let's not talk about these things," Chu Yueyao said softly. "Eighth brother, tomorrow... please be very careful."
After leaving the pharmacy, Lin Chen went to the accounting office.