My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Elder Huang walked over, pried open the man's mouth, and shook his head.

"He had poison hidden in his teeth."

Liang Cheng felt a wave of frustration. 'I was too careless. I can't believe I didn't think of this.'

'That's how Lin Fu died, too. But who would have thought that someone of Wu Zhenshan's stature would do the same thing?'

Liang Cheng looked at Wu Zhenshan's corpse and patted it down, finding a Jade Bottle labeled "Blood Marrow Pill." There was only a single pill left inside.

Elder Huang took it, glanced at the pill, and curled his lip in disdain.

"Elder Huang."

Liang Cheng stood, clasped his fists, and bowed. "I must ask you to help me conceal the news of Wu Zhenshan's death. The outside world thinks he's in seclusion trying to break through to the True Essence realm, so this will prevent us from tipping our hand."

Elder Huang squinted and took a sip of wine. "Then what about your promise to test elixirs for me...?"

"After this matter is resolved, I will be at your complete disposal, Elder Huang. I won't back out."

Elder Huang stared at him for a moment, then let out a sly chuckle. "Fine. Leave the body here; I guarantee it won't decompose. But you'd better remember, kid—the debt you owe me comes with steep interest."

"I understand."

Wasting no more time, Liang Cheng turned and strode out of the Back Mountain Alchemy Room.

...

「At first light.」

Liang Cheng led Li Mu and a few trusted Steward Disciples straight to the Treasure Pavilion.

However, they were too late.

The massive pavilion's doors stood wide open, revealing a complete mess inside.

Valuables, account books, and documents had all been cleared out. Only some heavy furniture and a few boxes of worthless goods remained, toppled over on the floor.

The lock on the storeroom door had been smashed open. It was completely empty inside.

Qian Wanjing, along with his capable clerks, had vanished as if into thin air.

"Search!"

Liang Cheng ordered coldly.

The men spread out and quickly searched the Treasure Pavilion inside and out.

From a hidden compartment in the back hall, Li Mu found several letters that hadn't been destroyed in time. But their contents were just ordinary business correspondence; nothing seemed out of place.

"Senior Brother, there are fresh hoofprints and cart tracks in the backyard stable, leading toward the west gate," a Disciple reported.

Liang Cheng went to the backyard and crouched to examine the ruts in the dirt. They were deep, indicating a heavy load. The tracks showed they had left over twelve hours ago.

"They left in a hurry, but it was orderly," Li Mu said in a low voice. "I'm afraid they had an escape route planned long ago."

Liang Cheng stood up and gazed toward the west gate.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the streets were empty.

'In the end, we were a step too late.'

"Back to the Martial Arts Academy."

...

「The Martial Arts Academy.」

「Mingxin Pavilion.」

Liang Cheng found Lü Bingchen and Yan Song. While he could temporarily conceal Wu Zhenshan's death, he had to inform them about the Fire Worship Sect's impending attack in three days.

Upon hearing the news, Lü Bingchen and Yan Song immediately shot to their feet. They asked him about the source of his information and whether it was reliable.

Liang Cheng could only swear on his status as a True Inheritor, explaining that he couldn't reveal his source for the informant's safety.

Lü Bingchen was decisive.

"Alright. If it's to protect your source, we won't press the matter. Elder Yan, please take the disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall. Maintain a calm exterior, but be on high alert. We can't show any weakness for now."

Yan Song nodded.

"I will go to the City Lord's Mansion to find Yue Shan and discuss how we should respond to this crisis. With the Academy Dean and the City Lord both away, this attack from the Fire Worship Sect will undoubtedly be a bitter fight."

"Liang Cheng, you are to stay within the Martial Arts Academy. Don't go anywhere, and be ready for orders at a moment's notice."

"Yes."

...

「True Inheritance Peak, Courtyard Three.」

Lady Ning had settled the infant in a warm side-chamber. She had boiled some rice water and was carefully feeding him. The baby was small and thin, but his cries were surprisingly strong.

In the Main Hall, Yang Wei sat on a chair. He stared blankly at Qiao Zhi's pale, peaceful face, motionless, as if he had become a statue.

Zhou Hu stood to the side, silent and still.

When Liang Cheng walked in, he first glanced toward the side-chamber. Lady Ning gave him a slight shake of her head, indicating the baby was fine for now. Only then did he walk over to Yang Wei.

"Master."

Liang Cheng said softly, "My condolences. Your grandson only has you now."

Yang Wei slowly raised his head, the lifeless look in his eyes gradually fading as he seemed to pull himself together. Gazing at Qiao Zhi's body, he spoke slowly.

"Zhi'er, rest assured. I will raise your child to adulthood."

Liang Cheng felt relieved. 'As long as he has something to care about, he won't become an empty shell, just a walking corpse.'

He turned to Li Mu. "Li Mu, if Senior Brother Lu Qingzhou is able to move about, ask him to come here in secret. Junior Brother Zhao Yuan is badly injured; make sure he rests and recuperates in peace."

"Yes!"

Li Mu accepted the order and quickly departed.

Liang Cheng then turned to Zhou Hu. "Senior Brother, I'm afraid the city might be chaotic for a few days. If I'm called away, I'll have to trouble you to keep an eye on things here."

Zhou Hu nodded firmly. "Don't worry. You can count on me."

Finally, Liang Cheng looked at Yang Wei. "Master, you..."

"I will bury Zhi'er and watch over the child," Yang Wei cut him off, his voice low but firm. "Zhi'er always had high ambitions. She used to say that if she hadn't been born a woman, she would have joined the Martial Arts Academy to make her mark. Given that, being buried here at the Academy is a blessing for her."

Liang Cheng nodded. "Alright."

Yang Wei took up residence in a side room on True Inheritance Peak.

The next morning, Yang Wei began the burial for Qiao Zhi. With no outsiders present, he took a small, silver Peace Lock from an inner pocket of his robes.

Looking at Qiao Zhi's pale, cold face, Yang Wei said, "The year I left the Qiao Family, your mother claimed my belongings were unlucky. So I only took this Peace Lock with me."

"I never imagined your short life would be so full of hardship. Today, I want your child to wear this Peace Lock, so that unlike you, he can live a life of peace and security."

Yang Wei clutched the Peace Lock, then carefully tied it around the baby's neck.

"From now on, your name will be Yang An."

Yang Wei whispered, his fingers gently stroking the baby's soft cheek. "Don't be like your mother, whose ambitions were higher than the sky, but whose life was as fragile as paper."

Then, Yang Wei looked to Liang Cheng. Liang Cheng nodded. He and Zhou Hu carried Qiao Zhi's body to the back mountain of the Martial Arts Academy and buried her.