Chapter 109 - 94: Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, Alchemist Wang’s Death
"I don’t know."
Wei Tu shook his head.
He had only been registered on Danqiu Mountain for about ten years. How could he possibly know about things that happened there thirty years ago?
Back then, when he first saw Gong Shulan’s stunning beauty, he knew instinctively that she would attract trouble, so he never bothered to ask around about her.
"Besides that, I also heard that Gong Shulan might possess a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object," Alchemist Wang said, his mouth agape.
As he spoke, the ghastly pallor of his face gave way to a ruddy flush of excitement.
A strange look flashed across Wei Tu’s face.
Recalling the argument between Alchemist Wang and Liu Yun, he couldn’t help but suspect that Alchemist Wang was so attentive because he hoped to live off Gong Shulan.
"I’m heading out. If my old lady comes back, Fellow Daoist Wei, remember to cover for me. Just say I went to the Jingyun Inn."
Alchemist Wang clutched his chest and limped out of the courtyard on Lark Street. He planned to have Gong Shulan comfort him.
He would vent all the frustration he’d suffered at Zhao Qingluo’s hands onto Gong Shulan.
After all, both women came from Cultivation Families.
They had that in common.
...
As for covering for him, Wei Tu paid Alchemist Wang no mind. He had no desire for any deep involvement with a shrewish woman like Liu Yun; a normal neighborly relationship was enough.
But unexpectedly, the next morning at dawn, Liu Yun knocked on his door.
Liu Yun didn’t ask about Alchemist Wang’s whereabouts. Instead, with a grief-stricken expression, she announced his death.
"What?"
"Fellow Daoist Wang is dead?"
Wei Tu was utterly shocked.
Just yesterday, he remembered Alchemist Wang leaving the Lark Street courtyard with only minor injuries. Nothing serious.
Although Zhao Qingluo had struck him hard, the injuries weren’t fatal. They shouldn’t have been enough to kill Alchemist Wang.
"That deadbeat husband of mine died in Gong Shulan’s bed last night. That vixen is truly vicious! It wasn’t enough for her to empty his Spirit Stones; now she’s sucked him dry and taken his life!"
Liu Yun said furiously.
She didn’t know what had happened yesterday, so she placed all the blame for Alchemist Wang’s death squarely on Gong Shulan.
"I hope Fellow Daoist Wang can rest in peace."
Wei Tu put on a mournful expression and chose to keep quiet about yesterday’s events.
In terms of their relationship, he and the Wangs were merely acquaintances, the kind of relationship neighbors have.
There was no need to bring trouble upon himself over this matter.
Anyone could see that there was something deeply suspicious about all this.
Besides, given Liu Yun’s personality, if he were to mention the name "Zhao Qingluo"... that shrew would probably march right over to confront her and demand an explanation...
At that point, he would be signing his own death warrant.
"In seven days, my late husband will be encoffined. I hope Fellow Daoist Wei can attend the funeral, to honor our friendship..."
Liu Yun said, wiping away her tears.
’A funeral?’ Wei Tu’s eyebrow twitched. Hearing those words, how could he not understand what Liu Yun was thinking?
This Liu Yun wanted to use Alchemist Wang’s death as an excuse to hold a funeral and collect gifts for profit.
In all his time in the Cultivation Realm, he had rarely seen anyone hold a funeral for a dead Cultivator.
They were usually buried hastily.
Moreover, Alchemist Wang had died on top of a woman. The story wouldn’t do his reputation any favors.
If Liu Yun truly valued her relationship with Alchemist Wang, she shouldn’t be holding a grand funeral. She should be mourning him quietly in the dead of night.
However, Wei Tu wasn’t surprised by this.
The Wangs’ life together had long been disharmonious. If not for Alchemist Wang’s relatively decent standing among the lower-level Cultivators, Liu Yun would have likely left him long ago.
"At the funeral, some of his Relics will also be for sale... I do hope Fellow Daoist Wei remembers to attend..."
Seeing Wei Tu not taking the bait, Liu Yun grew annoyed and added this sentence.
"Will there be an Alchemist Inheritance?" Wei Tu’s eyes lit up, and he immediately asked.
Alchemist Wang hadn’t yet reached the rank of a Tier One Alchemist and had no valuable Relics. The only precious thing he possessed was his Alchemist Inheritance.
Although he had no plans to study the Alchemy Dao right now, obtaining an Alchemist Inheritance for a low price would be a good thing for him.
It would strengthen his foundation.
"But of course," Liu Yun murmured with teary eyes, letting out a soft "Mm."
...
As for the suspicious circumstances of Alchemist Wang’s death, Wei Tu had no intention of prying.
When you lack strength, the more you know about things you shouldn’t, the more likely you are to attract disaster and mortal danger.
’Fellow Daoist Wang was indeed injured by Zhao Qingluo, but in truth, the factor that really killed him was most likely Gong Shulan...’
Wei Tu mused to himself.
He began to deduce the cause of Alchemist Wang’s death based on the information he had.
A moment later, he came to two conclusions.
First, Alchemist Wang’s death was likely a deliberate attempt to frame Zhao Qingluo.
Second, someone had taken advantage of the fact that Zhao Qingluo injured Alchemist Wang, pushing things along to ensure his death, presumably to achieve some goal.
"The Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object!"
Wei Tu was certain. He had confirmed the mastermind’s target.
Only a "Rare Treasure" like the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object would be worth the mastermind risking offending Zhao Qingluo to frame both her and Gong Shulan for Alchemist Wang’s murder.
Thinking of this, Wei Tu couldn’t help but feel secretly glad that he had resisted the temptation back then and not gotten... intimately involved with Gong Shulan.
Otherwise, the one dead today wouldn’t be Alchemist Wang, but him.
’Danqiu Mountain seems peaceful on the surface.’
’But in reality, it’s full of undercurrents. The slightest misstep could lead to death.’
Wei Tu lamented.
With this in mind, he got up in the middle of the night to practice Talisman Painting. He then secretly sewed the finished Tier One Rock Shield Talismans into the inner lining of his robes.
With these Rock Shield Talismans on him, he could sleep a little more soundly.