Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
This object is called the Fountain of Life.
The model it's based on is something from a game Li Changqing played in his previous life. In the game, when a player was critically injured, they could recover their health by approaching the Fountain of Life. This object was crafted by Li Changqing using materials from the Tree of Longevity.
The effect Li Changqing imbued it with is based on the properties of the Tree of Longevity; anyone near this treasure could restore the lifespan they've lost at any time.
However, Li Changqing still didn't know if it would work.
Because for him, at the moment, it was useless; the longevity fruit of the Tree of Longevity was only for ordinary people.
Was he an ordinary person?
After returning to Ziwu City, Li Changqing didn't rush to find Yin Fengqi because it was already late at night.
He would go when it was daylight.
But in the inspection mansion of Zhen Kingdom's Tushan City, the lights were still bright.
Li Hengsheng ordered the jailers to pry open the mouths of Hua Zheyu from the Hua family and Mu Jing from the Mu mansion, to gain control of the evidence from them, and then doom both families to a fate from which they could never recover.
However, after a whole night of effort, the two men confessed nothing.
Li Hengsheng had thought that Mu Jing, being a tough man, would withstand the torture, but what he didn't expect was that Hua Zheyu, despite his effeminate demeanor, also endured the cruel punishment!
Despite being whipped bloody by the jailers, Hua Zheyu still said nothing.
This outcome was unexpected for Li Hengsheng.
After two shifts of jailers, they were all exhausted, and since they were warriors with strong bodies, ordinary jailers simply couldn't pry their mouths open.
Even when Li Hengsheng had Lin Qizhu personally attend to them, Lin Qizhu didn't hold back, but they still refused to speak.
In the end, Lin Qizhu had to stop because Li Hengsheng and Lin Qizhu agreed they couldn't beat them to death.
"Brother, leave it to me!"
At this moment, Wu Santong took over the task.
Lin Qizhu looked at Wu Santong helplessly and said, "These two are incredibly stubborn. No matter how we beat them, they won't speak. Hua Zheyu looks weak, but he's surprisingly resilient."
"Don't worry, leave it to me." Wu Santong hadn't been at the inspection mansion all day and had only returned in the evening. After sleeping for a while, he woke up and arranged for some items to be brought into the prison cell.
The cell was eerily cold.
It was Wu Santong's first time entering.
He led people to the execution room downstairs and saw Hua Zheyu and Mu Jing hanging there, their bodies covered in scars, not just from whips but also from branding irons, looking very miserable.
Yet their gazes were incredibly firm.
"Warden Wu."
A jailer approached, looking exhausted.
"These two are really tough, they won't say anything no matter what we ask," the jailer complained.
"You can give up, we know nothing."
Mu Jing sneered, "As for you, when I get out, I will repay everything you've done to me!"
"Shut up."
Wu Santong approached, circled the two men, then smiled and said, "You really think you can get out? The Hua family and Mu mansion have committed countless evils. If you confess now, you might get a lighter sentence in the future. Otherwise, tonight, I'm really going to have a good time with you."
"Come on."
Hua Zheyu snorted, "Use whatever tricks you have, I know nothing!"
"Alright."
Wu Santong nodded lightly.
"Since you said to use whatever tricks, I won't be polite." After speaking, Wu Santong shouted to the outside, "Bring it in."
"Is there a new torture device? Good, just what I need for some fun," Hua Zheyu said, not caring in the slightest.
Mu Jing also smiled proudly, thinking that just some torture devices would make them confess was impossible.
At that moment, a foul stench suddenly filled the air, making the entire execution room unbearably smelly.
"What's that smell!"
"Ugh…"
Several jailers also started retching, realizing that what was brought in was a bucket of excrement!
Hua Zheyu's face turned pale, looking extremely uncomfortable.
He didn't know what Wu Santong was planning, but he couldn't stand such filth.
How could Hua Zheyu, who lived so delicately on a daily basis, endure this?
But fearing that Wu Santong would see through his act, Hua Zheyu said nothing, merely frowning for a moment before returning to his usual expression.
As if he had no aversion to the bucket of excrement at all.
But Wu Santong had already noticed everything.
Wu Santong smiled slightly, then took out a handkerchief to cover his nose and asked, "Lord Hua, how do you like the smell?"
"Heh, what's there to it?"
Hua Zheyu said disdainfully.
"Really?"
Wu Santong gestured, and a jailer approached, holding a piece of clothing that had been stripped from Hua Zheyu.
"I say, in this cold season, especially at night, how could you not care for Lord Hua? Hurry up and put his clothes on him, otherwise if Lord Hua catches a cold, when he gets out, how could he let you off?" Wu Santong said leisurely.
"Yes."
The two jailers nodded quickly.
"Are you begging for mercy now?" Hua Zheyu sneered coldly.
But the next moment, Hua Zheyu's smile froze!
Because he saw the two jailers soaking his clothes in that bucket!!
Glug glug.
The clothes bubbled in the excrement.
Then, the jailers fished the clothes out of the bucket, covered in filth, both smelly and ugly, making even the jailers feel disgusted.
"What are you waiting for, put them on Lord Hua," Wu Santong pointed at Hua Zheyu.
"Alright."
The two jailers hurriedly approached with the clothes.
"Don't come any closer!" Hua Zheyu exploded like a cat whose tail had been stepped on!
His face turned livid with fear, and as the jailers approached with the filthy clothes, he shuddered all over, desperately trying to back away.
The chains on his body clanged loudly.
If those clothes were put on him, it would be worse than death!
"Lord Hua, what's wrong?" Wu Santong feigned surprise, "Aren't you cold?"
"Not cold, not cold, take it away!" Hua Zheyu said quickly.
"Oh." Wu Santong waved his hand, "Did you hear that? Take the clothes away, our Lord Hua is about to confess."
"What am I confessing?"
Hua Zheyu was stunned.
"Put them on, quick."
Wu Santong urged.
"I confess, I confess!" Hua Zheyu said in a panic.
Mu Jing, watching this scene, couldn't help but say, "You're confessing just like that? It's just some excrement, what's the big deal? Why are you so squeamish?"
Although they weren't from the same family, they were in the same boat, and Mu Jing scolded Hua Zheyu, a grown man scared by a little excrement?
Seeing Mu Jing shouting, Wu Santong commented, "Look how angry you've made Lord Mu, shouting hysterically, you must have a sore throat by now, right? Quickly, bring Lord Mu some tea."
"Warden Wu, we don't have tea here," a jailer said quickly.
"Useless, you have nothing? Well then, give Lord Mu a spoonful of dung to soothe his throat," Wu Santong said helplessly.
At these words, Mu Jing's face changed drastically!
"How dare you!"
Mu Jing glared at Wu Santong, "You dare to feed me shit!"
"I won't let you off!"
But at that moment, the jailer had already scooped up a spoonful of dung, pinched Mu Jing's mouth, and forced it down his throat!
Hua Zheyu, at this point, was scared pale.
And he vomited.
Not just them, but even the jailers felt nauseous.
"Lord Hua, what were you about to confess? I advise you to be thorough, otherwise if you're not detailed enough, I might have to invite you to put on your clothes and have a cup of tea to think it over," Wu Santong threatened Hua Zheyu with a menacing look.
Hua Zheyu truly broke down!
At this point, he dared not hide anything and spilled all the evidence of the Hua family's crimes.
Under Hua Xianggu's leadership, all the misdeeds they had done over the years were laid bare by Hua Zheyu.
After confessing, Hua Zheyu seemed to have exhausted all his strength, feeling that he was finished. Having confessed so much, the Hua family would never let him off in the future.
"Cowardly wretch!"
Mu Jing, seeing Hua Zheyu's state, scorned him.
"You're really brave." Wu Santong also felt that Mu Jing was brave, having been invited for tea and still so bold.
"I am the bravest man in the Mu mansion, you won't get any information from me, I'm not like some people."
Mu Jing said firmly, looking disdainfully at Hua Zheyu beside him.
"Oh."
Wu Santong's gaze turned cold, then he stood up and approached Mu Jing, who fearlessly watched Wu Santong. Even if he was invited for tea again, what could it do?
He could drink the whole bucket and it wouldn't matter, he would never confess.
"What do you want?" Mu Jing shouted at Wu Santong.
"I…"
"Ugh!"
Wu Santong turned away, almost vomiting. Speaking closely with Mu Jing, the stench from his mouth was too much for Wu Santong to bear.
But Wu Santong still endured the nausea and suddenly kicked Mu Jing below!
The kick was merciless!
Mu Jing's manhood was shattered on the spot by Wu Santong's kick!
Such a vicious kick shocked everyone present, even the jailers instinctively covered themselves!
He was now without descendants!
"Damn you…" Mu Jing was sweating from the pain.
His venomous eyes stared at Wu Santong, struggling to breathe, knowing he had been crippled by Wu Santong's kick!
But Mu Jing still managed a smile, "If you have the guts, kill me."
"Kill you?"
Wu Santong shook his head, "You're now without descendants, and I've heard that's what you value most. Now that you have no future, do you feel regret?"
"It doesn't matter!" Mu Jing sneered.
"Oh? So the woman named Wen Yuqiu and her two-year-old son don't matter to you either?" Wu Santong asked with a smile.
When Wu Santong mentioned Wen Yuqiu's name, Mu Jing's face changed drastically.
For a moment, he was speechless.
How did Wu Santong know this secret?
"That little boy is your son, right? Now that I've crippled you, he's your only descendant. If something happens to him, you, Mu Jing, will truly have no future. I wonder, how will you face your mother then?"
"I heard your mother's last wish was for you to have a descendant to continue the family line, am I right?" Wu Santong said with a cold laugh.
"You're despicable and shameless!"
Mu Jing roared, "You threaten me with a two-year-old child, what kind of skill is that!"
Wu Santong frowned, covered his nose, stepped back, and said coldly, "Yes, my methods are indeed despicable and shameless. But as long as they work, that's all that matters. Brother wouldn't do this, nor would he deign to, but I'm different. I'm just Brother's follower, I'm not of much use to him, but I can do these dirty jobs."
"Say what you want, I only ask you one question now, will you talk about the Mu mansion's affairs or not."
"If you do, I won't disturb them, mother and son. If you don't, then tomorrow your only son might accidentally die, or get eaten by some beast, anything could happen."
Wu Santong sat down and quietly watched Mu Jing.
Mu Jing never expected that Wu Santong would find his illegitimate child hidden outside.
This was a secret known to very few.
But now, Mu Jing had no choice but to submit.
He nodded helplessly.
Dawn was breaking.
Wu Santong emerged from the prison, holding two thick stacks of paper, all containing the confessions of Hua Zheyu and Mu Jing.
Wu Santong handed these papers to Li Hengsheng.
Li Hengsheng was also surprised; he didn't expect Wu Santong to extract the evidence of their crimes in just one night.
"Brother, what's the plan now?" Wu Santong asked curiously.
"With the evidence, you still ask what to do?" Li Hengsheng said indifferently, "Naturally, we take people."
"Take people?"
Wu Santong was stunned, "You're not planning to go to their homes to take people, are you?"
Wasn't that idea too crazy?
Entering their family's territory, would they be capturing people or walking into a trap?
But Li Hengsheng didn't care at all, because in his view, they had no chance.
Early in the morning.
Lu Shiran also woke up.
When she woke up and looked around, seeing herself in the room, Lu Shiran remembered that she had found Li Hengsheng.
She felt much more at ease.
Coming out of the room, she saw Li Hengsheng in the courtyard.
"Good morning, husband."
Lu Shiran approached and said.
"You're up," Li Hengsheng said, "Breakfast is ready, go eat in the kitchen."
"Oh."
Lu Shiran took a few steps, then came back and asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"
"Help? There's nothing you need to help with," Li Hengsheng said strangely.
"If I don't help and just eat, won't you think I'm a burden and one day throw me out?" Lu Shiran asked seriously.
"No," Li Hengsheng shook his head, wondering what was going through this girl's mind.
"Then I'll go eat." Lu Shiran nodded and went to the kitchen to find something to eat.
But after watching Lu Shiran leave, Li Hengsheng also pondered, how could he remove the seal on Lu Shiran?
He couldn't let Lu Shiran be sealed for a lifetime, could he?
But Li Hengsheng also heard from Lu Shiran that the one who sealed her with the Immortal Binding Finger was Su Zheng from the Great Martial Sect, a powerhouse at that level.
How easy could it be to break his seal?
At least someone at the level of Guangzu, right?
But Guanglan Palace was searching everywhere for Lu Shiran, and if they knew she was here, wouldn't that harm her?
No matter what, he couldn't let Lu Shiran become a sacrificial pawn in the marriage alliance between Guanglan Palace and the Su Family.
"Never mind, let's focus on the current matters first." Li Hengsheng looked at the evidence confessed by Hua Zheyu and Mu Jing from the Hua family and Mu mansion, preparing to first gather evidence.
If they took down both families without evidence, it would be hard to explain to the history of Zhen Kingdom.
Meanwhile, in Ziwu City, early in the morning, Yin Fengqi brought people to visit Li Changqing at Changqing Tavern, having heard that Li Changqing had returned.
Returning so quickly, could it be that he had found the longevity fruit?
His sister could be saved.
When several people arrived at the tavern, Li Changqing was telling stories to Zhen Wanshou, who was listening with great interest. He had recently become Li Changqing's little fan, amazed at how Li Changqing's mind was filled with so many stories, each more exciting than the last.
Although Yin Fengqi was anxious, he didn't disturb Li Changqing, waiting for a full half hour before Li Changqing finally came out.
"Mr. Changqing, the longevity fruit?" Yin Fengqi was really impatient.
"None."
Li Changqing stated truthfully, "The Tree of Longevity was broken, the longevity fruits that fell to the ground were eaten by animals, and some were trampled to mush, no longer edible."
"How could this be?" Yin Fengqi's face turned pale.
He had thought that finding the longevity fruit would save his sister, but in the end, it was all for naught.
"I have another way to save your sister, do you want to try?"
Li Changqing spoke up at this moment.
"Ah?" Yin Fengqi, hearing this, showed a hopeful expression and quickly said, "Mr. Changqing, what do you suggest?"
"I have a treasure that might save your sister, but I need to see her to be sure it will work," Li Changqing said truthfully.
"Then let's go to Beihan City," Yin Fengqi said eagerly.
"Alright, I'll accompany you on this trip." For the sake of the Dragon Blood Essence, Li Changqing decided to make the trip with Yin Fengqi.
The journey from Ziwu City to Beihan City wasn't far, and it took just over an hour using the flying mounts of Cangyuan Escort Bureau.
Yin Fengqi was indeed in a hurry because his sister's life was hanging by a thread.
Upon returning to Beihan City, Yin Fengqi hurriedly led Li Changqing to a place.
Qing Mansion.
Seeing the name, Li Changqing also found it interesting.
"My sister's name is Yin Qing, so the place she lives is named after her," Yin Fengqi introduced to Li Changqing.
Li Changqing nodded, saying nothing.
No one in Qing Mansion dared to stop Yin Fengqi, as they all recognized him.
Yin Fengqi led Li Changqing straight to where Yin Qing lived.
"Your Highness, you're finally back." A maid came out, her face anxious, and said, "Miss is in bad shape, she vomited blood this morning."
"Ah?" Yin Fengqi hurriedly pushed the door and entered.
Li Changqing followed, observing the room.
The room was classically elegant, with incense burning, seemingly simple but also exuding a restrained luxury.
"Mother."
Yin Fengqi saw a woman sitting by the bed, dressed in fine silk, dignified and stately, but now crying with tears streaming down her face.
"Zixuan, you're back."
The woman saw Yin Fengqi, then turned to look at the bed, where a young girl lay. The girl's complexion was pale, even her hair was white, devoid of color, and she was so thin she looked like skin and bones , her breathing not even steady.
"How is Qing'er?" Yin Fengqi hurriedly asked.
The woman shook her head, not saying much.
"Let me have a look." At this moment, Li Changqing stepped forward. He could feel the girl's breath becoming extremely weak, almost imperceptible.
"Who is this?"
The woman looked at Li Changqing with some surprise.
"He is a revered elder." Yin Fengqi explained, "He has come to save Qing'er."
"Thank you for your troubles."
The woman stood up and courteously said a word.
But she had no hope; what revered elder? They had seen many before.
Even Grandmaster Zhang Yuanzhi had come to look, but to no avail.
What could this stranger they had never seen do now?
Li Changqing didn't waste any time. He took out the Fountain of Life and placed it beside Yin Qing.
The Fountain of Life seemed to sense something and suddenly, the carved spring water seemed to really start flowing.
A green aura emanated from the spring, enveloping Yin Qing.
Yin Qing's entire body glowed with a warm light.
Within that light was filled with hope and life.
Yin Fengqi and the woman watched in shock as Yin Qing's hair turned from white to black before their eyes, her breathing became even, and color returned to her cheeks.
A vibrant life force flowed through Yin Qing's body.
"Sister!" Yin Fengqi exclaimed with overwhelming joy.
Li Changqing was also surprised at the effectiveness of the Fountain of Life.
And not only that, at this moment, the powerhouses throughout the imperial city seemed to sense the existence of this treasure.
The intense vitality drew the attention of many.
"Is it from Qing'er's residence?" Yin Fengqi stepped out of the study, looking in the direction of Qing Mansion, and then leaped into the air!
He had to see what was happening.