Chapter 201: Chapter 140: Zero-Dollar Shopping Again; Something Big Has Happened

By the time he had dealt with everything concerning the second batch of refugees, it was already evening.

Cheng Zongyang didn’t linger. He returned to his residence to prepare for a visit to the place Li Lu had mentioned once night fell.

Li Lu knew the disappearance of the previous grain and Medicinal Materials was connected to him, but he was tactful enough not to bring it up.

This was the very reason Cheng Zongyang was willing to work with him—the man knew his place.

He knew what he knew, but he didn’t ask what shouldn’t be asked or mention what shouldn’t be mentioned. He kept the matter buried. That was the attitude Li Lu brought to their partnership.

Cheng Zongyang could help him gain the strength he desired, and that was enough.

That evening, after eating a meal in the Wilderness World, Cheng Zongyang left his residence again.

Under the hazy glow of a waning moon, he leaped silently from rooftop to rooftop, heading toward the east side of the city.

Having made some progress with his Wind-Stepping Step, he could now achieve the speed of its Third Level, like stepping on wind and chasing waves.

As he moved, his steps were nearly silent and left no trace, like walking on snow. He slipped away quietly over the rooftops.

The reason his Wind-Stepping Step progressed much faster than his other two Martial Arts was that he used it constantly. While fighting the Tiger King and the Wild Boar King, he had to continuously use the Body Technique to dodge and maneuver, putting it into practice far more than his Saber Technique or Palm Technique.

The Cultivation Room was where he spent the most Points, and the progress it brought was enormous.

It was all worth it.

A moment later, clad in black and blending into the night, Cheng Zongyang landed as silently as a cat. He crouched steadily on the roof of a small courtyard, peering down at the situation below.

The medicine storehouse wasn’t strictly guarded; just three government officials were sitting around chatting leisurely in the front yard.

Such a lax arrangement made it clear they didn’t consider the Medicinal Materials particularly valuable; they were only here because someone had to be posted as a guard.

This worked out well for Cheng Zongyang. It saved him the trouble of taking them out.

In the back courtyard, he landed, checked his surroundings, and quietly entered the Storehouse through a window.

Inside the pitch-black Storehouse, so dark he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face, the air was thick with the scent of Medicinal Materials. The aroma sharpened his mind a little.

After a moment’s thought, he took out his flint and steel. He blew on the embers and, by the faint glow, carefully looked for the names of the Medicinal Materials marked on the sacks.

This would also prevent the light from being too bright and alerting any government officials who might come to patrol.

His purpose this time was clear: find the ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Medicine Bath. The village still had plenty of other Medicinal Materials; there was no point in taking more back.

’As...tragalus... Good!’

’So...phora... Nope.’

’Club...moss... Yes!’

’Ligus...ticum... Gotcha!’

’Red ginseng. This is for the Body Tempering Powder... I might as well collect some extra.’

’...’

Cheng Zongyang picked through the sacks, taking all the Medicinal Materials he required. Of course, if he happened upon ingredients for the Body Tempering Powder or the Seventh Grade Realm medicine bath, he grabbed those too.

After going through all the sacks in the Storehouse, he had taken about a third of the total inventory.

He moved to the window and listened. The guards hadn’t left. He slipped outside and quickly headed for the other Storehouse.

By picking and choosing like this, he avoided the stir that would be caused if the entire stock of Medicinal Materials was cleared out.

As long as they saw there were still Medicinal Materials in the Storehouse, given their casual approach, they probably wouldn’t bother with a detailed inventory check.

This would prevent an investigation.

According to Li Lu, the last time the Wang Family’s grain was stolen, they and the County Magistrate had a private falling-out that nearly reached a breaking point, with each side suspecting the other of manufacturing a pretext to cause trouble. Later, after the incident with the fireball falling from the sky, the Wang Family led the charge in making waves, which prompted Luo Dingran to decisively call in the Reincarnation Bureau. He used them as an opportunity to purge the Wang Family, along with all the other clan forces and various Martial Arts Halls. This, in turn, gave Luo Dingran a chance to seize control of the entire County Town.

If all the Medicinal Materials were to disappear this time, Luo Dingran would probably realize another hidden faction was operating in the County Town. Furthermore, the theft of the Wang Family’s grain would finally have an explanation.

For Cheng Zongyang, who enjoyed the occasional "five-finger discount," this was not a good thing.

An hour later, Cheng Zongyang left the courtyard, overjoyed.

Not only did he have the ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Medicine Bath, but he had also greatly increased his supply of materials for the Body Tempering Powder. Of course, he had also taken the opportunity to gather some of the ingredients needed for a Seventh Grade Realm medicine bath.

The cold night was long, the wind bit at the bone, and the streets were as desolate as a dead city. The successive upheavals had all but consumed what little life the County Town had left.

Cheng Zongyang slipped back to his residence and did not venture out again. With the Night Watchman sounding the second watch, he knew midnight was near.

He first entered the Wilderness World and changed back into his original clothes. Then, he had Ma San and the others sort the Medicinal Materials according to three different formulas, dividing any overlapping ingredients evenly. This would make it easier for him to bring them back later.

Back outside, Cheng Zongyang didn’t wait around idly. He picked up his Tang Blade and expertly resumed practicing the Basic Saber Technique.

When the Night Watchman announced the third watch, Cheng Zongyang knew the appointed time of midnight had arrived, and he began to prepare.

But time ticked by, and with no sign of Li Lu, Cheng Zongyang could only continue to wait.

However, as the fourth watch began and Li Lu still hadn’t appeared, Cheng Zongyang guessed something must have changed.

He considered going over to Li Lu’s house to see what was going on.

But in the next moment, he heard a faint knock on the door, followed by Li Lu’s voice.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zongyang quickly went and opened the door.

There, in the hazy moonlight, stood a slightly breathless Li Lu, and behind him, a flatbed cart.

On the cart were twelve burlap sacks.

’Did he run all the way here?’