Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1861: 1399: Cleared of Suspicion (Part 2)
Previously on Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan...
“We absolutely need to uncover the proof to lock him away!”
“Absolutely!”
The five masters shared a look and responded together, clearly united in their resolve.
Deep down, each of them understood the situation fully and could devise no method to confine a Loose Cultivator, filling them with deep irritation.
…
Meanwhile.
Li Zhirui swiftly departed from the yamen and made his way back to the Five Blessings Tavern. Even with the Dragon Qi Jade Seal in his possession, the yamen's Daoist magic network still unsettled him greatly.
He required some proper rest now, along with meditation to restore his energies.
Upon entering his room, he immediately settled into a cross-legged position to draw in Spiritual Energy via his breathing techniques.
Roughly two hours later, Li Zhirui gradually concluded his session, rose to his feet, and exited the chamber.
“Shopkeeper.”
He entered the main hall, spotted the Shopkeeper tallying the previous day's costs and earnings, and addressed him before adding,
“Due to my troubles, the tavern and that waiter have been dragged into this mess, and I genuinely regret it. Though this silver isn't a large sum, kindly take it as my humble gesture of remorse.”
The Shopkeeper lifted an eyebrow and answered with a grin, “Given your sincerity, I'll gladly receive it.”
“Where can I find that waiter? I wish to offer my apologies directly.”
“Xiao Liu, get out here at once!” the Shopkeeper called toward the rear courtyard.
The waiter dashed forward and inquired, “Shopkeeper, what's the issue?”
“This guest here seeks to make amends with you.”
Li Zhirui interjected, saying, “My problems brought you hardship, and I'm deeply apologetic. I insist you take this small compensation.”
With those words, he presented a modest bundle.
“This…”
“Take it without hesitation.” The Shopkeeper's gaze sparkled with thrill as a golden radiance shone from the bundle, indicating its immense worth, and he promptly urged Xiao Liu to grasp it.
“Over the coming days, more troubles might arise. I hope you'll bear with it, Shopkeeper.” Li Zhirui figured the official wouldn't relent so easily.
“It's no concern. I believe in your innocence,” the Shopkeeper responded cheerfully.
He had previously employed the merchant's Secret Technique to assess Li Zhirui's value, yet astonishingly, it showed as empty in his vision!
Only two explanations existed for such an outcome: the individual held zero worth, or their value soared so high that his own cultivation level couldn't perceive it.
Obviously, the first option was impossible!
Therefore, the Shopkeeper yearned to forge a friendship with this figure, particularly after observing his lavish generosity today, which intensified his desire to nurture this tie.
Li Zhirui faintly detected the Shopkeeper's motives, yet he harbored no strong opinions on the matter. After all, he was merely a transient visitor and planned no extended stay.
“I merely wish the official would verify my clearance swiftly.” Finishing thus, he offered a bow to them both and departed.
“Shopkeeper, doesn't this recompense belong to you? I haven't contributed anything,” Xiao Liu remarked, reluctant yet loath to surrender it, extending the bundle outward.
“Hold onto it securely; what's inside could transform your fate,” the Shopkeeper dismissed him with a wave and dismissed him to his duties.
He could already perceive Xiao Liu's fortune shifting profoundly, and he inwardly marveled; what fortune! One gesture alone could redirect an entire life's path.
Xiao Liu retreated to his modest quarters, opening the bundle with a mix of eagerness and anxiety. The contents were sparse: several dozen silver taels, a handful of gold coins, and a single volume.
“‘Business’! Is this perhaps a merchant's cultivation technique?!”
He paid no mind to why a Cultivator like Li Zhirui possessed merchant Methods. His eyes bulged in astonishment, hands quivering as he seized the book, breath quickening, fingers unsteady while flipping the cover, focusing intently as he absorbed each word.
“Across the realm, folks hustle for profit; they toil for wealth…The path of business: purchase cheap and vend dear…”
Fully engrossed, Xiao Liu forgot the passage of time, his stomach growling fiercely yet dismissed; only extreme hunger pulled him from his absorption.
However, fatigue evaded him entirely; rather, exhilaration and vigor surged through him, visions of a prosperous mercantile destiny already dancing in his mind.
…
In the days that followed, Li Zhirui dutifully remained confined to his guestroom, never venturing forth.
This stymied the official's attempts to incriminate him, for despite exhaustive searches, no evidence connected to Li Zhirui surfaced.
Even Wang Jianyi’s remains yielded no hints, as though he had truly perished abruptly in solitude, uninfluenced by any external hands.
Whispers spread through the city about the official, branding him as a tyrant wielding authority for grudges, forsaking the poise of a Legalist disciple and besmirching the faction's honor!
Starting with a mere handful, the chatter soon swelled with more voices. Though not citywide knowledge, at least half the residents had caught wind of it.
“Sir, we can't let this matter drag on further…” one day, a Master addressed the official.
“Yes, sir, no matter what, this investigation must wrap up,” several other masters chimed in agreement.
The official's brow furrowed as he questioned, “What's transpired?”
The masters paused, wary of elaborating.
“Speak freely; it's alright.”
“Folks outside are claiming you're extending this affair out of spite, damaging your standing by letting it fester.”
Crash—
Ceramics splintered loudly in the chamber, succeeded by a tone barely containing fury, “That devious Cultivator, sly as any in our bureaucratic ranks!”
The study hung in heavy quiet for an extended stretch before a voice emerged once more, “Tomorrow, we shall bring this case to a close!”
“Understood!”
The masters breathed sighs of relief, aware that further defiance from their superior might escalate into a full-blown disgrace, potentially shattering his prospects regardless of the gossip's truth!
Fortune smiled that he clung to reason.
…
No further words passed that evening.
At dawn the following day, the yamen displayed a proclamation stating Wang Jianyi’s demise was purely fortuitous, bearing no ties to outsiders.
Upon hearing the announcement, Xiao Liu hastened to inform Li Zhirui, “Brother Wang, you're free of all doubt now!”
“I appreciate you handling these tasks for me lately.”
Naturally, the gossip hadn't sprung up unaided; Li Zhirui had covertly instructed Xiao Liu to quietly assemble beggars and wanderers, compensating them to disseminate the fabricated tale.
After all, wasn't it the sort of juicy gossip that captivated the everyday masses?
“It's nothing, Brother Wang. Had it not been for you, the Shopkeeper wouldn't have accepted me as his apprentice,” Xiao Liu replied with a bashful smile.
Since acquiring the ‘Business’ book that day, he had swiftly comprehended its principles, with faint traces of Copper Coin aura beginning to emanate from his form.
On that same day, the merchant disciple Shopkeeper detected it and, after probing, discovered Xiao Liu had taught himself!
Slightly surprised, the Shopkeeper hadn't anticipated this lowly youth to possess such business aptitude, even with notable skill, and after brief deliberation, formally apprenticed him.
The Shopkeeper envisioned this disciple aiding his climb to loftier successes ahead.
Xiao Liu's aid to Li Zhirui stemmed not from the Shopkeeper's directives but from his own willing heart.
“With my name cleared, I should depart at once,” Li Zhirui resolved against prolonging his stay, suspecting the official might trace the rumors back to him.
It was wiser to vanish promptly while the moment allowed, avoiding fresh schemes from his foes.
Legalist disciples harbored grudges fiercely, and he had zero interest in a drawn-out clash of spells, squandering his precious hours.
Departure stood as the optimal path forward!