Chapter 2176 - 2173: An Old Friend Visits

Chapter 2176: Chapter 2173: An Old Friend Visits

"What consequences? The other clans will just come looking for trouble with your Ling Family, that’s all." Situ Ruoling didn’t care at all.

"Are you really that ignorant, or just pretending? If this incident happens, the Ancient Martial World might break out into a major war, fall into chaos, even regress!" Ling Zishan snapped coldly.

"But it hasn’t happened yet, has it? All that is just your speculation. Even in the secular world everyone knows this: killing someone and attempted murder are worlds apart. Besides, I didn’t even commit attempted murder." Situ Ruoling’s eyes spun craftily as she argued.

Hearing that, Ling Shuiyao almost exploded from rage. She’d never seen anyone with skin that thick.

Ling Zishan, however, was much calmer. She didn’t bother arguing and directly ordered, "Lin Tian, lock her up."

Just that one sentence made the shameless Situ Ruoling’s expression change drastically. She immediately screamed, "I don’t want to go into the little black room, let me out..."

No matter how she yelled, Lin Tian was unmoved. He grabbed her and tossed her into the little black room, and the sword-bearing female disciple immediately shut the stone door. Lin Tian had sealed Situ Ruoling’s acupoints, her limbs were still limp, she couldn’t escape at all.

"Lin Tian, let me out, I’m willing to warm your bed, I don’t want to stay in this damned little black room!" Seeing that Ling Zishan really wasn’t letting her out, Situ Ruoling panicked, threw everything aside, and started begging Lin Tian instead.

Of course, Lin Tian knew perfectly well that with a woman this malicious, the moment she got out she’d definitely start throwing tantrums and playing tricks again. So keeping her in the little black room was the best choice.

Just as the stone door was about to close, Lin Tian said to the sword-bearing female disciple, "Senior Sister, the food at your Langya Pavilion is way too good—you’re fattening all the prisoners into pigs. I suggest from now on, change three meals a day to one, and best if it’s just leftovers."

The female disciple was stunned for a moment, then gave him a knowing smile. "Mr. Lin’s suggestion is excellent, we’ll do exactly that."

Their conversation fell into Situ Ruoling’s ears without missing a word. She instantly grew anxious. "I don’t want leftovers, I don’t want leftovers, I’m a Disciple of the Situ family, how can you treat me like this..."

But before she could finish, the stone door slammed shut with a bang, leaving only her echo behind. As their footsteps gradually receded, only Situ Ruoling’s cries remained in the cave. Right now, she could call to the heavens or the earth, and none would answer.

"Aunt, how long do you plan to keep Situ Ruoling locked up?" As they left the cave, Ling Shuiyao asked.

"Leave her there for now. We’ll talk again when the tournament starts. Even though she didn’t cause any actual damage, this is a statement from the Ling Family. Even the Situ family can’t break the rules, or else who would dare entrust their treasures to Langya Pavilion’s auctions in the future?" Ling Zishan said mildly, completely uninfluenced by Situ Yuanzhong.

For the Ling Family, this matter was just a small interlude. Ling Zishan continued with her work as usual, and Lin Tian headed back to the rear mountain.

When he returned to the courtyard, he saw that the two old men weren’t playing chess. Zhuge Cai Zhe was absorbed in a book—of course, not comics like Ling Xuesong—and Old Man Ling was still tinkering with the Refining Technique.

Seeing Lin Tian, Ling Xuesong practically looked like he’d just found a long-lost grandson. He ran over cheerfully, grabbed Lin Tian’s hand, and said with a grin, "You’re finally back. Come help me take a look—how’s the essence I refined?"

Lin Tian was curious how his practice was going. He walked over to the Bronze Tripod and saw a pool of liquid inside, like jelly. As he leaned closer, he could smell a faint fragrance, very pleasant.

"Little brother, what do you think? I refined it ten times, and only on the tenth did it turn out like this." Old Man Ling was both expectant and a bit nervous.

"Mm..." Lin Tian nodded and affirmed, "The color’s clear and bright, the purity isn’t bad."

Old Man Ling lit up, then jumped to his feet and burst out laughing. "Old Man Zhuge, see? I told you little brother would praise me, and you didn’t believe it."

The old man was like a kindergarten kid getting praised by the teacher, overjoyed and almost dancing around, looking nothing like a dignified Great Grandmaster.

Lin Tian found it amusing and went on, "But, there’s one thing you need to pay attention to."

"See, see? You got too happy too soon. I told you, you’re still not there yet." Old Man Zhuge seized the chance and slammed him without mercy.

"Uh, little brother, tell me, what do I need to watch out for?" Old Man Ling asked humbly.

"This essence is a bit too thick. If you’re using it to refine Elixirs, that’s fine. But if you’re using it in cooking, you don’t want it this thick, otherwise it won’t dissolve easily." Lin Tian said directly.

In fact, Ling Xuesong had already grasped the key points of refining the red fungus. Being able to refine it to this level counted as a success.

But he had only mastered refining the red fungus; refining other herbs wouldn’t be that easy. Each medicinal ingredient needs a different level of heat, and sometimes even a different method. So just because Ling Xuesong learned this doesn’t mean he knows how to refine medicine.

Of course, he’s only doing this to improve his cooking. Being able to reach this stage is enough.

Ling Xuesong nodded. "So that’s how it is. Alright, I’ll practice a few more times..."

As he spoke, he was about to continue experimenting. This spirit of striving for perfection really was admirable. But just as he was about to begin, a voice suddenly came from down the mountain.

"Lao Ling, your old friend comes calling!"

They heard the voice but saw no one, and it came from quite a distance. But the sound was rich and deep, rolling and spreading, echoing through the courtyard.

"Situ Yuanzhong?" Hearing that voice, Lin Tian immediately recognized who it was—it was that old man from the Situ family. With his cultivation, sending his voice up here was nothing difficult.

"You know him?" Ling Xuesong didn’t hurry to respond, instead asking in surprise.

Lin Tian scratched his brow and answered, "Uh, not really. We just crossed hands once..." He briefly recounted what had happened at the little black room.

"Heh, so he was forced back by you, little brother. I understand why he’s here now." After listening, Ling Xuesong chuckled, having figured out Situ Yuanzhong’s intention.

Ling Xuesong turned, facing down the mountain, and raised his voice. "Situ, if you came over because of the juniors’ business, then there’s no need for us to meet. I don’t care to bother with these trivial matters. If you want to have tea, you’re very welcome."

His voice rolled down the mountain like muffled thunder. These big shots really had a set of lungs.

His words were rather blunt. There was silence down below for quite a while before the voice sounded again. "My little granddaughter had some misunderstandings with you people. With just one word from you, Lao Ling, this misunderstanding can be cleared up."

Ling Xuesong frowned, a bit displeased. "This Situ really is getting more muddle-headed the older he gets!"

Lin Tian could hear it clearly now. Although Situ Yuanzhong called him an old friend, their relationship didn’t seem that close, and it was obvious Ling Xuesong was very dissatisfied with the way Situ Yuanzhong did things.

Sure enough, Ling Xuesong sent his voice again. "Situ, whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, Zishan will judge very clearly. I’ll repeat myself: if you want tea, come up. If not, please leave."