Undying Life

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Encountering Zhong Di Again

"Did you say you caught a demon wolf?" Zhong Shan and Zhao Suoxiang chatted as they walked along the path, suddenly discussing what Zhao Suoxiang had just mentioned.

"Yes, it was a young wolf, but its fur was exceptionally pure, and at night, it emitted a faint silver glow all over its body," Zhao Suoxiang replied directly.

"Oh?" Zhong Shan frowned.

"A glowing demon wolf?" Tian Ling'er immediately approached, curious.

"Yes, the breed of this demon wolf is definitely extraordinary, and it certainly belongs to a higher level of demon wolf. With such a high-grade breed, its blood or the potential future production of its inner elixir could be extraordinary," Zhao Suoxiang furrowed his brows.

"Yeah, last time, Sister Qing Si caught a fox, and she used the blood drawn from the fox to refine a third-grade pill," Tian Ling'er explained to Zhong Shan.

"Well, congratulations to you then," Zhong Shan smiled.

"Ah, unfortunately, it wasn't just me who discovered it. It was found by four others together. Tang Xiaoyou was one of them. So, the fate of this demon wolf is still uncertain," Zhao Suoxiang shook his head.

"Oh? Discovered by others as well?" Zhong Shan furrowed his brows.

"Yes, that day in a canyon, we happened to meet unexpectedly. Since we all saw it by the side of a small lake, it naturally counts as a collective discovery by our group of five. As for how to divide it, we need to wait for our seniors from both our sects to assess the value of the demon wolf and decide whether to exchange it for something or directly divide its body," Zhao Suoxiang explained.

Listening to Zhao Suoxiang, Zhong Shan could also guess the preciousness of this demon wolf. According to Zhao Suoxiang's words, this demon wolf was worth at least a third-grade pill, or maybe even higher, a fourth-grade pill? Naturally, no one would hastily determine its value.

"Where is this demon wolf?" Zhong Shan asked.

"It's placed in a separate courtyard of the Tang family here. That's also where I'm staying now," Zhao Suoxiang said.

"The Tang family? One of the three great millennium families of the Great Song Dynasty, the territory of Tang Xiaoyou from earlier?" Zhong Shan frowned.

"Yes, the Tang family has great influence here. Although my Zhao family is not a millennium family, we also have considerable mundane power here. The place is provided by the Tang family, but both my Zhao family and the Tang family have people guarding it, so nothing should happen," Zhao Suoxiang said.

"Didn't you say four people saw it? Tang Xiaoyou and three others, from your Iron Spear Sect?" Zhong Shan asked.

"The other three are all Tang Xiaoyou's senior brothers, members of the Bright Sword Pavilion," Zhao Suoxiang said.

"Oh?" Zhong Shan narrowed his eyes. It seemed that Zhao Suoxiang was at a disadvantage.

As if sensing Zhong Shan's concern, Zhao Suoxiang said, "Of the four from the Bright Sword Pavilion, only two entered the immortal gate at the same time as me fifty-one years ago. Tang Xiaoyou and another entered just a year ago. They're not much of a concern."

"Hmm," Zhong Shan nodded.

Before long, they arrived at a large mansion, which was the separate courtyard Zhao Suoxiang had mentioned.

Several martial guards stood at the entrance. Following Zhao Suoxiang inside, Zhong Shan noticed archers stationed in concealed spots around the courtyard, taking turns on watch. It truly reflected the thorough consideration of a prestigious family.

Slowly, the three walked through some corridors and arrived at a courtyard within.

At the center of the courtyard, there was a large platform with a huge glass box on it. Inside the box lay a silver-white wolf pup about a foot long.

The pup was snowy white all over, its fur exceptionally pure, but it seemed devoid of strength, lying limp there. Its eyes showed intense fear, its body trembling slightly, as if it knew its future would be incredibly difficult.

"This is the high-grade demon wolf. Without cultivation, it already possesses a higher bloodline than ordinary demon wolves. If cultivated, its progress would undoubtedly be rapid. Give it some Soft Bone Powder, and it won't be able to escape," Zhao Suoxiang pointed to the pup.

Tian Ling'er immediately went over to take a look.

"Why is it placed here?" Zhong Shan frowned as he glanced at the wolf pup in the glass box.

"There are guards from both our families all around. This makes it convenient for supervision," Zhao Suoxiang explained.

Upon hearing Zhao Suoxiang's explanation, Zhong Shan understood the reason. This arrangement not only prevented theft from outsiders but also guarded against the four members of the Bright Sword Pavilion.

"Poor little wolf, it's so tiny. If I had seen it earlier, I would never have caught it for alchemy," Tian Ling'er immediately expressed her pity.

"Oh? What do you plan to do with it?" Zhong Shan walked over and asked with a smile.

"Of course, release it. It's so small!" Tian Ling'er immediately replied seriously.

Just as Tian Ling'er finished speaking, a mocking voice suddenly came from a nearby room.

"Release it? A fourth-grade pill, and you want to release it?"

Turning towards the voice, two figures slowly emerged from the room. Both were sword-bearing men like Tang Xiaoyou, and after coming out, they headed towards Zhong Shan.

"Wang Brother," Zhao Suoxiang addressed the person in front. Obviously, this person was the one who had entered the immortal gate fifty-one years ago, and his strength shouldn't be much different from Zhao Suoxiang's.

Zhao Suoxiang ignored the other person, but Zhong Shan focused on the second person.

Seeing that person, Zhong Shan's eyes widened with a strong anger, then he took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart. At least, he didn't show it on his face.

Zhong Di, his adopted son, whom he had taken to the Dragon Gate Conference, chosen by the immortal gate, but eventually turned his back on Zhong Shan. Even when Zhong Tian, Zhong Shan's eldest son, scolded him in anger, Zhong Di instigated their master to warn Zhong Tian.

The Bright Sword Pavilion, as it turned out, had accepted Zhong Di.

Looking at Zhong Di, Zhong Shan forcibly suppressed his anger, giving a faint cold smile.

As Zhong Di approached and saw Zhong Shan, his whole body suddenly stiffened. Zhong Shan was now in his thirties, and when he adopted Zhong Di, his appearance was just like this. Therefore, Zhong Di could still recognize him at a glance. But Zhong Di couldn't believe that this was his former foster father Zhong Shan.

"Zhong Di?" Zhong Shan said with a cold smile.

As Zhong Shan called out, it seemed to pour cold water on Zhong Di. It was him, his foster father, Zhong Shan. How could this be? How could he become so young? Had he also entered the immortal gate? Had he also entered the immortal gate?

Zhong Di's forehead broke out in a cold sweat, but he immediately said, "F-f-foster, Foster, Foster, Zhong Shan."

He didn't call out 'foster father', but instead used Zhong Shan's name. After calling out, Zhong Di's tense mood seemed to ease a lot. Yes, what was he afraid of? He was also cultivating immortality, and his aptitude was so good.

"He also surnames Zhong and recognizes him? Are they friends?" Tian Ling'er immediately asked curiously.

Zhao Suoxiang and the other man also noticed the unusualness between Zhong Shan and Zhong Di, and they looked at the two with puzzled eyes.

"Acquaintances, but not friends," Zhong Shan said to Tian Ling'er.

"Oh," Tian Ling'er nodded immediately, no longer asking more questions. If they weren't friends, could they be enemies? Although Tian Ling'er usually didn't have any scheming, she also knew that now wasn't the time to ask.

"Wang Brother, are you leaving?" Zhao Suoxiang said.

"Yes," the person called Wang nodded.

"But, the sky is gloomy, it seems like it's going to rain," Zhao Suoxiang frowned.

"Boom~"

As if in response to Zhao Suoxiang's words, there was suddenly a thunderous roar in the sky, and it started pouring rain.

Moving to the eaves of a nearby house, the person said, "Hmm, thank you for your concern, Brother Zhao, but we have important matters to attend to. The eldest senior brother is here, that's enough."

"Zhong Di, let's go," the person said, taking Zhong Di and quickly leaving along the corridor.

Watching the two leave, Zhong Shan furrowed his brow and took a deep breath, temporarily setting aside his resentment towards Zhong Di.

"This person is the second senior brother of the third generation of the Bright Sword Pavilion, Wang Gui. Let's go, don't mind him. I'll take you to find a place to stay," Zhao Suoxiang said.

"Okay," Zhong Shan nodded as he watched the two disappear.

Following Zhao Suoxiang's lead, they arrived at another small courtyard.

Zhong Shan temporarily resided here. It was still afternoon, so with nothing to do, Zhong Shan played a game of Go with Zhao Suoxiang and chatted for a while. Tian Ling'er either watched them play or took out the dice from before, playing with them.

In the evening, after dinner, Zhao Suoxiang left the small courtyard.

Zhao Suoxiang's residence was the courtyard where the wolf pup was kept.

In the courtyard, the white wolf pup trembled. Since the day it was captured, the white wolf pup had been living in fear.

Every day, these humans would force-feed it rice porridge to keep it alive, and then feed it some white powder to immobilize it. Were these the bad people that grandpa talked about?

Bad people, bad people?

The white wolf pup curled up in the glass box, watching the rain fall incessantly on the glass in the dark night, its eyes filled with fear, its whole body trembling. Was it going to die? Grandpa, grandpa, where are you? I won't run away anymore. Come save little Xianxian. Xianxian is going to die!