Zhou Zhilán pulled a jade token from her sleeve and handed it to Zhou Moxuan.
"This is Second Brother's personal token. It fell at Ningxiang Pavilion the other day."
Xie Zhaolin looked at the token and suddenly understood Zhou Zhilán's entire plan—not only to use Xu Changming to deal with Second Young Master, but also to drive a wedge between Zhou Moxuan and the Patriarch, creating an opportunity to completely reshuffle the power structure of the Zhou family.
Zhou Moxuan took the token, running his fingertip over the intricate Zhou family symbol. When he flipped it over, his fingers suddenly trembled—
A slightly smaller jade token was attached to the back, engraved with the unique Qingding mark of the Medicine King Valley, and wrapped in three spiritual runes—marks only core disciples of the Valley could bear.
"This…" Zhou Moxuan's pupils contracted sharply, his breath momentarily caught.
He shot a sharp glance at Zhou Zhilán, but saw her standing with her head lowered, a faint, almost teasing smile on her lips.
"Good! Excellent!" Zhou Moxuan suddenly erupted into a manic laugh, his fingers clenching the token tightly.
"I'll go summon the elders right away!"
Once Zhou Moxuan hurried off, Zhou Zhilán exhaled deeply and turned to Xie Zhaolin. "Senior, which path do you think Seventh Uncle will take?"
Xie Zhaolin gazed at the darkening sky outside. "Seventy percent of the spiritual vein rights are enough to buy peace for the Zhou family for the next ten years."
"True." Zhou Zhilán sighed lightly, then shifted her tone. "But Xu Changming wants more than that."
At the same time, twelve bronze lamps in the Zhou ancestral hall flickered to life.
The silhouettes of twelve elders swayed in the candlelight, and Zhou Moxuan stood at the center, the pair of jade tokens in his hand reflecting the fire, the Qingding mark glaringly bright.
"Elders." His voice was steady. "Zhou Yucheng secretly dealt with Medicine King Valley, taking Xuan Ice Sand using the Patriarch's token, and traded in secret. The evidence is undeniable."
Second Elder furrowed his brows. "Medicine King Valley? Haven't they always been on friendly terms with the Hehuan Sect?"
"That's exactly why this is more troublesome." Zhou Moxuan sneered, pointing to the Qingding mark on the back of the jade token. "They may appear harmonious with the Hehuan Sect, but they're secretly vying for our spiritual veins. This token fell at Ningxiang Pavilion the other day—coincidentally, one of the three senior disciples of Medicine King Valley was hosting a banquet there at the same time."
Silence fell across the hall.
Everyone understood what this meant—Zhou Yucheng not only traded family resources but also played both sides between two major powers. The Grand Elder at the head of the hall sat with a dark, unreadable expression, saying nothing.
"What's more troubling…" Zhou Moxuan slowly unrolled a secret letter. "Medicine King Valley has recently been probing the layout of our spiritual veins."
Several elders' faces changed dramatically. Second Elder's teacup slammed to the floor with a crash, shards scattering. The distribution of spiritual veins was a core family secret—if outsiders learned it…
"Xu Changming came today, ostensibly for the veins." Zhou Moxuan's gaze swept over everyone like a blade. "In truth, he's probing the relationship between the Zhou family and Medicine King Valley."
The Grand Elder paused, then finally spoke. "Then Zhou Yucheng must be handed over."
"Wait." Sixth Elder stroked his beard thoughtfully. "He is, after all, the Patriarch's beloved son. Should we wait until the Patriarch emerges from seclusion…"
"Wait?!" Zhou Moxuan interrupted sharply. "Xu Changming demands a response tomorrow! If the Hehuan Sect uses this as an excuse, the loss will be more than just Zhou Yucheng!"
"Moreover, the Patriarch is in seclusion. We shouldn't disturb him." Ninth Elder chimed in.
The Grand Elder surveyed the others and suddenly raised his hand. "Vote."
The twelve elders exchanged glances, and eight eventually raised hands, agreeing to immediate action.
"However—" Third Elder spoke, his graying beard trembling slightly. "Handing Zhou Yucheng directly to the Hehuan Sect may make our family seem weak."
Zhou Moxuan smiled faintly, a glint in his eyes. "Of course, we can't hand him over openly." He lightly traced a shallow mark on the table with his fingertip.
"Tomorrow, I'll make Zhou Yucheng flee in fear of his crimes, attacked by robbers along the way, leaving no trace of his body."
"What about the Patriarch…" Second Elder hesitated.
"Someone in seclusion? What can he do?"
Inside Tinghe Pavilion, Zhou Zhilán smiled. She lightly traced the rim of her teacup. "By the time he emerges, the plan will be done. The elders will explain themselves, and then…"
Outside, distant thunder rumbled, and the candlelight flickered, reflecting their faces.
Xie Zhaolin glanced at the churning clouds. "The Patriarch wouldn't go against the entire elder council for a single son."
A gust of wind swept through, candles dancing wildly, casting twisted shadows on the walls. Xie Zhaolin retracted her gaze from outside and tapped the rim of her teacup lightly. "But…" She looked up, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Medicine King Valley knows how to choose people."
Zhou Zhilán lowered her gaze. "The disciple goes to Ningxiang Pavilion every seventh day of the month to listen to music. Letting him 'accidentally' meet Second Brother? Just a matter of a jar of Drunken Immortal Brew."
"What about the secret letter?"
"Half true, half false." Zhou Zhilán dipped her fingers in tea and slowly traced the outline of a medicine cauldron on the table.
"Zhou Yucheng does have dealings with Medicine King Valley," she said, a faint smile on her lips. "But it's only selling some herbs."
"As for the spiritual vein map… I added that later."
Xie Zhaolin tapped the table lightly. "You know how the elders will react."
"Grand Elder and Ninth Elder already have a tacit understanding with Seventh Uncle," Zhou Zhilán continued, dipping her fingers in water and marking a few stains beside the cauldron. "Third Elder is always quick to punish evil." She drew a line across the table. "Fifth Elder hesitates…
But most fear offending the Hehuan Sect."
Thunder drew closer, lightning illuminating the icy determination in her eyes.
"Moreover," Zhou Zhilán whispered, almost drowned by the thunder, "Xu Changming came for the evil cultivators. Now that the trail is cut off, he needs a credit to report…" She tapped the table once.
Footsteps approached rapidly, and the two fell silent.
Once the footsteps faded, Zhou Zhilán spoke again.
"As for Zhou Yucheng…" She looked at the lightning outside. "Just a pawn, pushed along with the current."
The rain finally poured down in torrents.
"After tomorrow, the Zhou family will be Seventh Uncle's domain." Zhou Zhilán stood at the window, watching the curtain of rain. "And my father will officially take over the alchemy workshop."
Xie Zhaolin's gaze darkened slightly. "And you?"
Zhou Zhilán didn't turn back. She held an umbrella and stepped into the rain. "That's up to you, Senior." Her voice mingled with the rain, gradually fading.
Xie Zhaolin watched her disappear into the downpour, lips curling. With Zhou Zhilán's methods, if she only wanted a foothold in the family, why go through such an elaborate scheme? She could help her father become the Chief Steward, help Zhou Moxuan seize control of the family, even bend Xu Changming to her will.
But in the end—
As rain struck the window, Xie Zhaolin lowered her gaze. Her reflection in the tea shimmered with thought. The Zhou family was just a pawn attached to the Hehuan Sect. Zhou Zhilán's true goal was to use it as a stepping stone, to step onto a far larger battlefield.