Chapter 112 The Wang Family (1)

Ornately carved lampposts filled nearly every corner, ensuring that every inch of the room was filled with light, leaving no trace of darkness. It seemed as if the occupant of the room was quite afraid of the dark. Every few steps in the room stood a maid or attendant, all with their heads bowed, a strict and polite manner.

Guan Xian stood beside Baishou Babu's bed, bent down and let an old man lean on his arm. After the maid beside him placed the pillow, he slowly let the old man lean on it.

Wang Taiyuan, revered by the townspeople as Master Wang, fluttered his eyelids slightly, his cloudy eyes moving erratically beneath layers of loose lids, seemingly still unaware. Two attendants duly arrived, bringing two half-filled copper basins and a hand towel. Guan Xian rolled up his sleeves and carefully washed his hands in one basin before testing the water temperature in the other. Once he was sure it was just right, he dipped the hand towel in, rubbed it several times, wrung it out, and then carefully wiped Wang Taiyuan's face.

Luo Xuanyi stared at Wang Taiyuan without blinking. Shang Qian was a little puzzled: "Is there anything unusual?"

"No, it's just that the steward certainly seems accustomed to serving Master Wang, so what he said earlier shouldn't be an act." Luo Xuanyi said a few perfunctory words, and Shang Qian nodded in agreement, then sighed, "Even though Master Wang is so old, he is still respected by everyone. I think he has truly lived an upright life."

Open and aboveboard? Luo Xuanyi stared silently at Wang Taiyuan. If she hadn't observed him through his body, she wouldn't have been able to tell he was a human. From her perspective, the entire room, even the lights, were painted pitch black by that immense, pure evil. The power was so immense that she almost felt as if space was distorting.

This evil thought was murderous, and it was pure, a murderous intent directed at everyone. He even had murderous intentions towards the orchestra and servants who cared for him so carefully, as if this man could only gain pleasure from killing.

Luo Xuanyi circulated the "All Evils Attack Ghosts" technique, forcing herself to control her hunger and not immediately absorb the evil thought, trying her best to analyze it. Surprisingly, Wang Taiyuan showed no jealousy towards others or anxiety about his own approaching lifespan. Behind this evil thought, there was only a sense of arrogant pleasure.

Calm down. If you absorb it now, you'll probably alert the enemy. Decades of accumulated evil thoughts have already overwhelmed Wang Taiyuan's spirit. If Luo Xuanyi were to touch him with her own death energy, Wang Taiyuan would instantly turn into a ghostly fire.

However, although she cannot touch it herself, Luo Xuanyi can still use her body.

Just as Luo Xuanyi had identified her target and was considering how to find an opportunity to obtain intelligence, Wang Taiyuan finally regained consciousness. He slowly cleared his throat and nodded to Luo Xuanyi and the others, "My lords, please forgive me for not being able to rise and salute you. Ahem. Whatever it is, my Wang family will certainly assist you."

Wang Taiyuan would cough or gasp for air every few words, and Guanxian silently brought him a cup of tea to soothe his throat. Wang Taiyuan continued, "Guanxian is my most capable, cough, most capable steward. If you have any instructions, just tell him. Guanxian, tell them to prepare a few courtyards for the adults, cough cough!"

Wang Taiyuan seemed too exhausted to continue the conversation. Xi Xingji glanced at Qu Qitao and saw her nod calmly. He then bowed to Wang Taiyuan and said, "Master Wang, please don't worry. The Six Alliances need to compile a record of local events every hundred years and check for any dangers, so they sent us here. I heard that Master Wang has two sons. I wonder if they could help you?"

"Of course." Wang Taiyuan stopped coughing and took a sip of tea with a tired look on his face. "I have two sons. They are now in the yard next door. They are just not very promising."

"The eldest brother, Xianqing, spends all day watching operas and listening to music, always running off to Longlan City. He's uneducated and useless. If you have anything to discuss, go find the second brother, Zhan Ke."

Coming out of the brightly lit courtyard and entering the courtyards of the eldest and second sons of the Wang family, one sees a completely different scene.

There were several neatly arranged rows of long tables in the yard. On each table was an oil lamp and many stacked paper files. In front of the tables were figures working hard. From time to time, someone would look up and say a few words to the people nearby. It was a busy scene.

"Is the Second Master in there?" Guan Xian asked a servant who was grinding ink. The servant nodded, and Guan Xian led the four of them inside. Before they entered the house, they heard a well-mannered man's voice speaking.

"...The miracle doctor had an error on the way here, so we have to spend the money. Besides that, we have to meet with the disciples of the Ministry of Justice, and at least make sure to show our presence..."

Guan Xian felt a little embarrassed after hearing this and coughed lightly, but because someone inside was answering, the man didn't hear it and continued to talk about the next thing.

"...The old man is dying, but we can't avoid it. We need to prepare the funeral clothes and coffin, as well as the ceremonial processions, in advance. We also need to sort out the list of people we need to invite, so we don't have to rush when the time comes..."

Upon hearing this, Guan Xian was furious and walked straight into the house, holding his breath. Luo Xuanyi and the others followed him in, not caring at all. They saw Guan Xian excitedly talking to a man in fine clothes sitting on a rattan chair. Suddenly, he pointed in their direction and said, "Now there's a way! The master can use the immortal's elixir to prolong his life!"

Luo Xuanyi noticed the completely different reactions of the man in the ornate attire when he heard the words "immortal" and "extended life." He first leaned forward excitedly, then slowly relaxed, seemingly disappointed. The man slowly rose from the rattan chair, waving his hand to let the bewildered people who had been huddled against the wall leave. Then he addressed Guan Xian, "You've been with my father for thirty years. I respect you, but that's no reason for you to speak to me so presumptuously. You should introduce these distinguished guests to me first."

Guan Xian seemed to be reflecting on his own impulsiveness. He introduced Luo Xuanyi and the others to the man in elegant clothes one by one, and then introduced them to them, "This is the Second Master, Wang Zhanke, the current head of the family."

"You're not that foolish." Wang Zhanke's voice was gentle, but his words were venomous. "Then why don't you go downstairs and prepare to welcome the adults? What are you standing here for?"

Guan Xian, with a reluctant look on his face, withdrew, closing the door behind him. Xi Xingji glanced at him, then decided to ignore all the petty tricks within the palace. He said directly, "Second Master Wang, since you are the current head of the household, do you know where the Ling Yarn Field is?"

Xi Xingji originally thought he would have to argue with Wang Zhanke about this issue for a while, but Wang Zhanke nodded calmly after hearing this: "Of course, if the adults want to go, I will have someone prepare the boat today and we can go tomorrow."

His attitude was so straightforward that Xi Xingji was stunned for a moment before he reluctantly nodded. Could it be that the ling yarn mill was really just spinning ling yarn? Or was he confident he could gather all the evidence tonight?

Shang Qian's voice transmission was filled with confusion: "Perhaps the formation in the river wasn't set by them? Are we just being overly suspicious?"

After a moment of silence, Qu Qitao transmitted his message: "No matter what, it's better to find out."

Wang Zhanke seemed completely unconcerned with the reactions of the crowd, silenced by his words. His attention was elsewhere. "Are you gentlemen here to help my father find immortality? If so, can I cultivate immortality?"

Second update~Father says goodbye and son laughs~