Liu Buli walked ahead, carrying Lu Wuming, with the Grand Elder following behind him. The others, though curious about what was about to happen, knew that their lives were more important than their curiosity.
He took the Grand Elder back to his own courtyard. Fearing that Lu Wuming would feel worse if exposed to the wind, Liu Buli went inside and placed Lu Wuming on the bed.
The young man, uncomfortable, closed his eyes, his face flushed and hot, his breathing a little labored.
One hand instinctively clutched Liu Buli's sleeve, not with much force, but as if unwilling to let go.
Liu Buli glanced at him once, then simply sat down by the bed. He reached out and took one of Lu Wuming's hands, interlocking their fingers. He listened to Lu Wuming's breathing until it became completely steady, then smiled with satisfaction. He raised his eyes again to look at the Grand Elder, who stood at the doorway, unsure whether to enter or retreat.
Liu Buli tilted his chin and said naturally, "Come in. My disciple can only sleep peacefully if he's holding my hand, so I won't be going out."
The Grand Elder's mouth twitched.
He found it incredibly strange, but he dared not disobey Liu Buli. He obediently entered the room and stood before Liu Buli. He forced an awkward smile to his lips, then opened his mouth and said, "Sect Leader, I..."
"Get straight to the point," Liu Buli waved his hand. "My disciple is drunk and not sleeping well. Hurry up and explain, I'll give you a verdict, and then you can leave. If you disturb Wuming's rest, I'll make you pay dearly."
His words were quite blunt.
Based on the few words he had overheard during the disciple acceptance ceremony, the Grand Elder knew that most of his secrets had already been revealed.
Liu Buli was a ruthless character. For his own safety and that of his family, he had to tell the truth.
Gritting his teeth, the Grand Elder took a deep breath and said, "Sect Leader, I did intend to make a move during this disciple acceptance ceremony. Not only against you, but I also wanted to capture the monster by your side. Please don't take offense, but he truly is a monster. It's not just because he's of the Ghost Clan; even among the Ghost Clan, no one has ever been heard of with such powerful regenerative abilities."
A hint of satisfaction finally appeared on Liu Buli's face. Although he disliked what the Grand Elder was saying, the old man was finally willing to tell the truth, which was progress.
He nodded and Liu Buli asked, "I'll settle accounts with you later for insulting my disciple. So, tell me, who wants my disciple?"
"It's people from Medicine Master Valley," the Grand Elder replied. "We've always had a strained relationship with them. We've always vied for the top spot in the cultivation world for pill formulas. The Valley Master of Medicine Master Valley somehow heard that you bought a monster from a traveling monk, a monster that is immortal and indestructible, and would be most suitable as a human furnace for refining things. They offered a high price, and I assumed you would agree, so I acted on my own and accepted..."
His voice grew softer as he spoke, sensing Liu Buli's anger deepening with his narration.
Wasn't this exactly what happened to Lu Wuming in the novel?
Just like that novel's Liu Buli, he was treated as a furnace, with everything that couldn't be put into a pill furnace being thrown into his body, regardless of whether he lived or died, or whether he felt sorrow and pain.
So, there wasn't just one person who wanted to do this?
These people were beasts in human skin, undeserving of the name human.
Liu Buli's teeth ached with rage.
The anger surged, making him want to kill, but it didn't overwhelm his reason. He narrowed his eyes and continued to ask, "If it were just Medicine Master Valley, you wouldn't be this scared. They are on par with us. Telling me the truth is better than taking risks and poisoning me. So, I advise you to tell the truth. Besides Medicine Master Valley, which other sect or family is involved?"
The Grand Elder was taken aback.
He hadn't expected Liu Buli to be so perceptive.
He opened his mouth and hesitated for a long time, then finally clenched his fists, adopting a look of someone facing death bravely. "There's also that madman, Duan Liuyun, the Hall Master of Sword Sect, who wants him. I don't know how he heard that refining ghost qi with the Ghost Clan can produce the purest, most evil, and overbearing power. If that power is imbued in a sword, his sword will become invincible in the cultivation world. Medicine Master Valley agreed to his demands, and I also accepted money, so... so they said that if I failed, Duan Liuyun would make me pay the price..."
Hearing this, Liu Buli felt a sudden clarity.
It all fit. Everything made sense.
He had wondered why the Liu Buli in the novel had worked so desperately to refine Lu Wuming; it was to forge a sword for Duan Liuyun...
The novel didn't have a detailed description of this supporting character. It seemed that Duan Liuyun directly approaching Medicine Master Valley this time was likely a butterfly effect caused by his own actions.
If Liu Buli wouldn't forge his sword, he would have to find a willing substitute.
Moreover, Duan Liuyun was currently the most powerful being in the cultivation world, destined to achieve immortality in one step according to the novel's description.
It was no wonder the Grand Elder feared him.
Although Duan Liuyun didn't ultimately obtain Lu Wuming's ghost qi, he was still the final boss of the novel. To encounter the ultimate boss at the very beginning made things somewhat difficult.
However, difficult didn't mean impossible.
If they dared to plot against Lu Wuming, even if it meant his own demise, he wouldn't let them live.
Liu Buli narrowed his eyes, the light in them growing colder.
The Grand Elder looked at Liu Buli with a troubled expression. "Sect Leader, I've told you everything I know. I..."
"Pretend to conduct normal transactions with them," Liu Buli said. "I will not give Wuming to you or to them. Set a meeting place, and I will make them understand that targeting my disciple comes with a price."