Family Turmoil Chapter 50: Two Hundred Points of Luck

"Senior Brother Pei." Chu Xing paused for a moment before offering a polite cupped-fist salute.

Pei Linfeng glanced at him dismissively, ignoring the greeting altogether as he turned directly to Mu Wanqing.

"Senior Sister Mu, since this Junior Brother Chu has already joined the Pill Hall, it is only fitting according to our rules that I, as an administrative disciple, arrange his onboarding trial. I trust Senior Sister has no objections?"

Mu Wanqing furrowed her delicate brows. Knowing how petty Pei Linfeng was, she was certain he was here to stir up trouble. "Senior Brother Pei is always busy with alchemy. How do you suddenly have the time to oversee a trial for a handyman disciple?"

Pei Linfeng chuckled at that. "Senior Sister might not be aware, but the ambient energy within the geocentric hearths has grown increasingly aggressive lately. Without rigorous evaluations for newcomers, how can we guarantee the safety of our handymen? I am simply looking out for his well-being."

As he spoke, he pointed toward the deepest recesses of the dilapidated pill room—a vast, dimly lit expanse of ruins—with a trace of feigned concern on his face.

"As you know, that area bears the scars of the internal strife from thirty years ago. For reasons unknown, the alchemical toxins and lingering resentment leaking from those ruins have grown heavier recently, beginning to affect the fiery veins of the geocentric hearths. The elders are quite troubled by this and intend to dispatch someone to carve out a quarantine zone. It is merely that the task is perilous, and we have yet to find a suitable candidate."

Pei Linfeng’s words were a mix of truth and falsehood, leaving Chu Xing somewhat bewildered. Subconsciously, he looked toward Mu Wanqing, hoping to glean the truth from her.

Noticing his confusion, Mu Wanqing quickly explained in a low voice, "That place is indeed the old site left behind by the internal strife thirty years ago. Back then, a Pill Hall elder suffered a deviation in his cultivation and violated forbidden arts; blood curses intertwined with the furnace flames, and malevolent auras sank deep into the fire veins. They have lingered for thirty years without dispersing, and recently, the leakage has only intensified."

"The Pill Hall has long offered a standing reward for that region, as rare spiritual seeds required by the hall are scattered within. Recovering them yields extremely generous rewards. Yet, in thirty years, no one has ever succeeded; instead, several disciples have perished there."

Hearing Mu Wanqing’s explanation, Chu Xing finally understood that this matter tied back to an incident from three decades ago. Yet, for such intense residual energies to persist after so much time, the objects hidden within were clearly extraordinary.

Sure enough, seeing that the moment was ripe, Pei Linfeng spoke with an air of magnanimity, "Junior Brother Chu, your onboarding trial shall be to clear a three-foot-wide quarantine zone along the periphery of that region. This will not only resolve an urgent crisis for the Pill Hall but also prove the worth of those eight contribution points you received. It kills two birds with one stone."

Mu Wanqing frowned slightly, her voice cool yet restrained. "The malevolent aura has been leaking outward much more severely over the past few months than in previous years. According to hall regulations, one must first be equipped with anti-evil talismans and fire-guarding sand, with a senior enforcer standing guard. It is entirely inappropriate for a novice to enter alone."

At these words, Chu Xing sneered inwardly. On the surface, it sounded like clearing a quarantine zone, but in reality, Pei Linfeng intended to use the peril of the alchemical miasma to deal him a heavy blow. Ordinary disciples wouldn't even dare approach that area, yet Pei Linfeng was deliberately forcing him to go. The underlying intent was painfully obvious.

Ever since stepping foot into the Pill Hall, he had treated this senior brother with utmost courtesy, yet the other party meted out obstruction at every turn and was now even trying to drive him into danger.

Such a state of mind revealed a petty and intolerant disposition, utterly incapable of accommodating others.

Mu Wanqing tilted her body slightly and whispered to Chu Xing, "Don't try to be brave. If you must go, let me first procure the talismans and assistance. There's no need to rush."

Seeing that Chu Xing remained silent, Pei Linfeng assumed he was paralyzed by fear and smiled tauntingly to goad him.

"What? Could it be that Junior Brother Chu is afraid? Well, I suppose that's understandable; it is rather dangerous in there. If you lack the courage, we can drop the matter entirely. However, as for your position as a handyman, I'm afraid Senior Sister Mu will simply have to look elsewhere."

These words sounded like an offer to back down, but they were thinly veiled threats.

In the crowd, who could fail to grasp the hidden meaning behind Pei Linfeng's words? It was nothing less than forcing Chu Xing to choose between two paths: get lost or go to his death.

Mu Wanqing’s pretty face chilled, and she was just about to speak when Chu Xing stepped forward ahead of her, blocking her path. He flashed a reassuring smile toward Mu Wanqing.

Then, he turned his head to look at Pei Linfeng. Far from showing the slightest trace of fear, his expression was one of sudden, enlightened realization.

"So that's how it is. Many thanks to Senior Brother Pei for pointing this out."

Chu Xing offered a cupped-fist salute, his expression entirely sincere. "Senior Brother is simply worried that a newcomer like me is ignorant of the rules, and thus specially carved out an opportunity for me to prove myself. I am deeply touched by Senior Brother's painstaking efforts."

As soon as these words fell, the full stomach of sarcasm Pei Linfeng had prepared stuck squarely in his throat.

He stared blankly at Chu Xing, utterly failing to anticipate that the newcomer not only lacked fear, but was actually playing along and flattering him with high praise.

Even Mu Wanqing cast a surprised glance in Chu Xing's direction.

What on earth is this fellow plotting now?

Ignoring their reactions, Chu Xing furrowed his brow and rubbed his hands together with a troubled air.

"It's just that... Senior Brother Pei, clearing the outer perimeter sounds simple enough. But I've heard that the true dangers, along with the treasures bearing the sect's bounty, are all located deep within those ruins."

He sighed, his tone filled with a precisely measured degree of regret.

"For you to ask me to clean only the periphery... doesn't that mean you're somewhat looking down on me, Senior Brother? This trial is simply far too easy."

Pei Linfeng sneered inwardly, assuming the youth was merely arrogant, ignorant, and deliberately posturing.

"What? By the sound of it, you actually want to go inside?" he asked, deliberately raising his voice. "The alchemical miasma within is so potent that even Senior Brothers in the Qi Condensation realm wouldn't dare approach it lightly! You're only in the Body Tempering realm—do you have too many lives to spare?"

"Chu Xing, stop messing around!"

Mu Wanqing could no longer hold back, her cool voice laced with a hint of urgency. "That is not a place you can go!"

Seeing Mu Wanqing actively interceding on Chu Xing's behalf, the flames of jealousy in Pei Linfeng's eyes burned hotter, and the mockery on his face grew sharper.

"What? Do you dare speak the words, but lack the guts to act? Or were you planning to hide behind Senior Sister's skirts like a coward?"

He took a step forward, towering over Chu Xing as he issued a provocative challenge.

"How about this? If you truly have the courage to go inside and stay there for a full incense stick's time before coming out, I, Pei Linfeng, will personally shell out five hundred contribution points for you!"

A commotion rippled through the crowd at these words.

This was no longer an onboarding trial; it was a naked gamble with one's life!

"Five hundred points?" Chu Xing's eyes lit up, though he quickly forced a troubled expression as he looked at Pei Linfeng. "Senior Brother Pei is truly generous. However, I'm afraid Senior Brother might go back on his word when the time comes."

"Why don't you pay me the coffin money in advance? Just in case I really do die in there, at least I can afford a decent one."

"You!"

Pei Linfeng was shaking with rage from these words. With Mu Wanqing watching, he felt as though he was being played for a fool by a mere handyman.

"Fine! Very well!"

Driven to the extreme of fury, Pei Linfeng actually laughed instead. With a violent motion, he drew his identity token from his robes and slammed it heavily against Chu Xing's new token!

"These two hundred contribution points! I'll give them to you right now, and the rest you'll get after you come out! Let's see if you even have the life to spend them!"

With a flash of faint light, Chu Xing felt his token grow slightly warm.

Inwardly, Chu Xing was ecstatic, though his face remained utterly deadpan. He tucked the token away and flashed a wide grin at Pei Linfeng.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Pei! This junior brother will go get to work right now and will certainly not let down Senior Brother's nurturing care!"

With that, he hoisted an iron shovel onto his shoulder and strode resolutely toward the dark, ominous ruins without once looking back.

Standing on the spot and watching Chu Xing's receding figure, Pei Linfeng felt a suffocating tightness in his chest, as if he were about to vomit a mouthful of old blood.

He had originally intended to set a trap that would either force the brat to retreat in defeat or make him suffer a bitter lesson.

Yet, as it turned out, while the trap had been set, how on earth did he end up subsidizing the fellow with two hundred contribution points of his own?

"Senior Brother, this..." a disciple behind him ventured cautiously.

"Shut up!" Pei Linfeng snapped furiously, glaring daggers at the distant ruins with a glint of bitter malice in his eyes.