Chapter 343 Cleansing the Dan Family

By the time the three returned to the Pill Tower, it was already noon.

Xuan Yi did not return to her own residence, heading straight to the highest level of the Pill Tower.

Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi were discussing something in the council hall; when they saw her push the door open, both looked up simultaneously.

Xuan Kongzi's gaze fell upon her face, his brow furrowing slightly. "What happened?"

Though Xuan Yi's complexion looked much better than before, she hadn't had time to change her blood-stained Alchemist robes; the bloodstains on her collar were a shocking sight.

She took a seat and recounted the details of the Hall of Souls' ambush.

Her pace was steady and her logic clear, starting from the intelligence provided by the Dan Family, to falling into the trap, and finally to the arrival of Old Man Shennong and Shen Wen, omitting not a single word.

By the time she finished, Xuan Kongzi's expression had darkened completely.

Tian Leizi slammed a palm onto the table, and the red sandalwood surface shattered instantly. "The Hun Clan has gone too far!"

Xuan Kongzi said nothing; he simply stood up, walked to the window, and stood with his hands behind his back.

A moment later, he turned around and looked at Xuan Yi. "Regarding the Dan Family, who provided you with that intelligence?"

Xuan Yi replied, "The Dan Family's Third Elder, Dan Yun."

Xuan Kongzi nodded and asked no more.

He raised his hand, and a golden talisman Seal flew from his palm, transforming into countless tiny rays of light that shot toward various parts of the Pill Tower.

That was the emergency summons for the Elders of the Little Pill Tower.

Moments later, figures began landing one after another on the highest level of the Pill Tower.

The Elders of the Little Pill Tower usually stayed in secluded cultivation; it was rare for them to gather like this.

Summoned so urgently, their expressions were solemn. Their gazes fell upon the blood-stained robes on Xuan Yi, but no one asked unnecessary questions.

Xuan Kongzi stood at the head of the room, surveyed the crowd, and explained the situation.

His voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Then, an aged voice spoke up: "The Hun Clan's reach has extended too far."

The speaker was one of the most Senior Elders in the Little Pill Tower. The Pill Tower's rule had always been to not provoke others unless provoked.

Now that the Hun Clan had targeted a Great Giant of the Pill Tower, this was an act of war.

Xuan Kongzi nodded, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Apprehend Dan Yun."

As the words fell, several figures moved simultaneously.

When Dan Yun was captured, he was in his own Alchemy room organizing medicinal ingredients.

When the Little Pill Tower Elders burst through the door, he didn't even have time to resist before his Dou Qi was sealed and he was escorted to the council hall.

He was a lean, elderly man with gray robes and white hair, looking no different from any ordinary Dan Family Elder.

But now, kneeling in the hall before a room full of Dou Sheng and Dou Zun, his expression was surprisingly calm.

Xuan Kongzi looked at him. "Dan Yun, how many years have you been with the Dan Family?"

Dan Yun looked up, a faint smile on his aged face. "One hundred and thirty-seven years."

"How has the Dan Family treated you?"

"Generously."

"Then why did you do this?"

Dan Yun was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

The smile held a hint of mockery and a hint of relief. "Xuan Kongzi, did you think I was being controlled by the Hun Clan?"

He shook his head, his tone as calm as if he were discussing something unrelated to himself. "This old man was originally a member of the Hun Clan. One hundred and thirty-seven years ago, by the Clan Chief's order, I infiltrated the Dan Family."

The hall fell into a dead silence.

Xuan Kongzi's pupils contracted slightly.

One hundred and thirty-seven years.

A Hun Clan sleeper agent had been lurking in the Dan Family for one hundred and thirty-seven years.

Starting as an ordinary Disciple with a different surname, he had climbed step by step to the position of Elder, gaining the Dan Family's trust and accessing the core of the Pill Tower.

This level of forbearance and patience made one's spine chill just thinking about it.

Dan Yun continued, "The original plan for this incident was to lure Shen Wen out. The zong ji pill that boy refined was too extraordinary; the clan is determined to have him."

He paused, his gaze landing on Xuan Yi. "Coupled with the fact that Old Man Shennong and Old Monster Lin were not at the Pill Tower, it was the perfect time to strike."

Dan Yun was taken away.

What awaited him would be the Pill Tower's harshest interrogation.

No one would sympathize with a Hun Clan sleeper agent who had lurked for over a century.

Xuan Kongzi stood by the window, gazing into the distance, silent for a long time.

Tian Leizi walked to his side and asked softly, "What about the Dan Family?"

Xuan Kongzi did not answer.

The Dan Family was one of the Three Great Families of the Pill Tower, with centuries of Legacy and deep foundations. A sleeper agent who had lurked for one hundred and thirty-seven years couldn't have failed to leave behind contingencies.

No one knew if there was a second Dan Yun or a third Dan Yun within the Dan Family.

"Investigate," Xuan Kongzi finally spoke, his voice as cold as ice. "Investigate the Dan Family from top to bottom, inside and out, thoroughly."

Tian Leizi nodded and turned to leave.

By the time the news reached the Shen Residence, it was already evening.

Dan Chen came stumbling into the Flower Hall, her small face pale and her eyes red, clutching a jade talisman that had just arrived from the Dan Family.

Shen Wen was sitting in the Flower Hall drinking tea, while Cao Ying leaned on a nearby soft couch, her belly slightly rounded as she flipped through account books.

Tang Huo'er and Xiao Yi Xian were also there, whispering quietly to each other.

Dan Chen ran up to Shen Wen, and before she could even speak, her tears began to fall.

"Brother Shen Wen..."

Her voice trembled as she threw herself into his arms, her arms tightly encircling his waist.

"It's all my fault... I trusted my family's intelligence too much... if something had really happened to you..."

Shen Wen looked down at the girl crying in his arms and reached out to rub her head.

"Silly girl, aren't I perfectly fine?"

Dan Chen shook her head, her tears falling uncontrollably as she remained muffled in his embrace, unable to speak.

Cao Ying set down the account books, her gaze falling on Dan Chen as she said softly, "Sister Chen, stop crying. Isn't Husband fine?"

Xiao Yi Xian also walked over and handed her a handkerchief. "Indeed, the Dan Family's matters belong to the Dan Family; what do they have to do with you?"

Dan Chen took the handkerchief and messily wiped her face, looking up at Shen Wen with eyes still red. "But... but if I hadn't come running to tell you that Aunt Xuan was in trouble, you wouldn't have gone..."

Shen Wen pinched her cheek. "Even if you hadn't said anything, the Pill Tower would have sent word. The Hun Clan set this trap; they would have found a way to let me know."

He paused, his tone softening slightly. "Besides, I didn't go alone."

"With Revered Master following along, what could have happened?"

Dan Chen bit her lip and remained silent.

Shen Wen looked down at her and smiled. "If you really feel bad about it, then focus on your Alchemy."

"Once you become a Grade 8 Alchemist, help me refine a few more batches of pills as an apology."

Dan Chen blinked, then nodded vigorously. "I will definitely become a Grade 8 Alchemist!"

Shen Wen rubbed her head again and said no more.

When Old Monster Lin returned, his expression was very unpleasant.

He and Xuan Danzi had left the city early that morning with the intention of scouting the backgrounds of the Ancient Emperor Clans coming to participate in the Pill Gathering.

He hadn't expected to receive news of the attack on Xuan Yi halfway through; by the time he rushed back to the Pill Tower, the matter was already over.

When he found Shen Wen in the Flower Hall, Shen Wen was sitting alone drinking tea.

Old Monster Lin sat down across from him, his gaze circling Shen Wen to confirm he was unhurt before speaking. "Are you injured?"

Shen Wen set down his teacup and shook his head. "No."

Old Monster Lin nodded, fell silent for a moment, and then asked, "Regarding the Hun Clan, how many people came?"

Shen Wen recounted the battle of that day.

One Six-Star Dou Sheng, one Five-Star Dou Sheng, and seven or eight Dou Sheng ranging from One-Star to Three-Star.

After hearing this, Old Monster Lin remained silent for a long time.

He naturally knew that Shen Wen's current combat strength was not weak, but being able to kill a Five-Star Dou Sheng head-on still exceeded his expectations.

"What about Senior Shennong?" he asked. "Was he injured?"

Shen Wen shook his head. "Revered Master is unharmed."

Old Monster Lin nodded, silent for another moment, before suddenly saying, "What do you plan to do?"

Shen Wen leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his tone calm. "Declare war on the Hall of Souls."

Old Monster Lin's eyebrow twitched slightly.

Shen Wen continued, "The Hall of Souls is the Hun Clan's hands and feet in the outside world."

"If we sever these limbs, the Hun Clan will naturally feel the pain."

"However, they won't mobilize en masse just for the sake of the Hall of Souls."

"The Hun Clan's true opponent is the Gu Clan; their energy is pinned down over there, and they can't spare too much power to manage the affairs of the Central Plains."

He paused, his gaze turning toward the window. "Besides, we shall settle both new and old grudges together."

"How many Alchemists has the Hall of Souls captured in the Central Plains over these years?"

"From the Pill Tower, the Cao Family, the Dan Family, and those Loose Cultivators. It's time this debt was settled."

Old Monster Lin didn't speak immediately.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip, leaning back in his chair as his gaze lingered on Shen Wen for a long time.

"Declaring war is fine," he finally spoke, his voice steady. "But you cannot drag the Hun Clan into it. The Pill Tower alone cannot withstand the entire Hun Clan."

Shen Wen nodded. "This Disciple understands."

Old Monster Lin set down his teacup, stood up, and walked toward the door. As he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Shen Wen.

"That Aunt Xuan of yours... is she alright?"

Shen Wen was slightly taken aback, then nodded. "She's fine."

Old Monster Lin gave a grunt of acknowledgment and asked nothing more, turning to leave.