Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 14

“Now that you mention it, sir, I do recall something similar happening not long ago.”

The old village chief’s eyes lit up as if suddenly remembering. He quickly turned to Liang Cheng.

“Not long ago? Tell me in detail, Chief.”

Liang Cheng’s face brightened with hope. He hadn’t expected the old man to have more clues.

The chief began recounting: “Some time ago, a medicinal shop called Lu Family Apothecary came to our village to purchase herbs and stayed overnight.”

“And then?”

“The next morning, they left in a hurry. I saw them tying a few people to wooden planks with ropes.”

“Their lead physician said those people had fallen ill and needed immediate treatment back in town.”

“But those men looked completely deranged. Before I could ask further, they rushed out of the village.”

Thud!

A loud slap echoed as Liang Cheng slammed the wooden table.

“Lu Family Apothecary?!“

His sudden outburst drew everyone’s attention—especially Lu Xuan’s, who gave him a subtle, knowing nod.

“Sir… do you know this apothecary?” The old chief frowned in confusion.

“Know them? Of course! The Lu Family Apothecary is the most reputable medicinal shop in the county. The old master is a highly respected physician!”

Taking Lu Xuan’s cue, Liang Cheng quickly composed himself and brushed off the chief’s question.

Just then, a loud voice called from outside:

“Chief! Tie Zhu and Da Long’s wives are here!”

Everyone turned to see two plainly dressed women enter the hall.

Their faces were drawn with exhaustion, eyes rimmed red from crying—clear signs of grief.

“Chief… have you found out what happened to our husbands?” one asked weakly.

The old man sighed. “Not yet. But we called you here to ask—what were they doing the night before they fell ill?”

The woman’s eyes welled up again. “I… I don’t know. I was exhausted that day and slept through the night. I didn’t notice anything unusual with Da Long.”

The other woman spoke softly: “Tie Zhu got up once in the night, but I was half-asleep and didn’t pay much attention.”

Their accounts sounded entirely ordinary—nothing strange about that night.

Seeing Lu Xuan’s slight nod, Liang Cheng waved them off.

“I see. You may go now. We’ll inform you if we find anything.”

After the women left, the old chief turned to Liang Cheng.

“Sir, you must get to the bottom of this. Let Da Long and Tie Zhu rest in peace.”

“And please clear our village’s name regarding the militiamen sent by the magistrate.”

Liang Cheng stood, his mind swirling with questions. There was no point in further questioning—the chief had said all he knew.

“Very well, Chief. We’ll stop here for today. I’ll do my best to uncover the truth.”

Because this now involves the Lu Family Apothecary.

All Liang Cheng wanted now was to ask his cousin Lu Xuan if the story was true.

“This humble village thanks you, sir.”

…..

Half an hour later.

A large compound in Liugou Village, surrounded by earthen walls, sprawled over six or seven mu of land. Inside, it was divided into four courtyards.

This was the village’s guest quarters—where travelers, herb buyers, and other visitors stayed.

East Courtyard.

After bidding farewell to the chief and villagers, Lu Xuan surveyed the group: Liang Cheng and his constables, along with his own men—Li San and Tie Niu.

Li San trembled as he stared at the familiar surroundings. He had returned to the place of his nightmares.

Pointing to a room in the east courtyard, he said hoarsely:

“Young Master… this is it. This is where Young Master Yun An and the others… met their fate.”

Lu Xuan followed his gaze. The room looked utterly ordinary—no signs of anything amiss.

“What?! Yun An’s in trouble? Brother Xuan, since when? Why didn’t I know?”

Liang Cheng paled at Li San’s words, whirling toward Lu Xuan.

“It’s true. What happened to Yun An is the same as the incidents here.”

Lu Xuan’s confirmation drained the color from Liang Cheng’s face. The news was too much to process.

Now he understood why his cousin had suddenly appeared in Liugou Village.

So the Lu Family Apothecary had also encountered these horrors.

No wonder Lu Xuan, who had spent his life in secluded training, had come here.

The Lu family had handled Yun An’s aftermath discreetly. Witnesses had been sworn to secrecy by the old master.

“Li San,” Lu Xuan asked, “where did Yun An and the others go that night?”

“West Courtyard!” Li San answered instantly, pointing westward.

Lu Xuan memorized the direction before instructing:

“Li San, find a room and settle our belongings.”

Noticing empty rooms in the east courtyard, Liang Cheng brightened.

Perfect. There’s space here for my men.

They had originally been assigned to the North Courtyard, but after everything that had happened…

This village is too cursed. I’d rather squeeze in here with Brother Xuan.

“Brother Xuan, we were staying in the North Courtyard, but…”

“Since there are spare rooms here, mind if we move in?”

He had already decided—tomorrow at dawn, he was leaving this accursed place.

Turning to his men, he ordered: “Grab our things. We’re relocating here.”

“Yes, sir!”

…..

A short while later.

Lu Xuan walked alone through the North and South Courtyards. Nothing seemed unusual.

But when he reached the West Courtyard, his brows furrowed.

It was less a courtyard and more a crumbling ruin—collapsed earthen walls, overgrown with weeds.

A thatched hut stood nearby—likely the latrine.

This was where Yun An and the others went before losing their minds.

After a thorough search, Lu Xuan found nothing out of place.

“No anomalies?”

With his Blood Refining Realm senses, far sharper than any ordinary man’s, he should have detected something.

But there was nothing.