Xiao Man and Nangong Yu immediately headed towards the Shennong Ding, while Lu Qing rushed towards the exit, intending to block Sect Master Zhu Qing and buy time for Xiao Man and the others.
Zhu Qing arrived swiftly. Upon seeing Lu Qing in the forbidden grounds, he paused, "Martial Uncle, weren't you supposed to be in the East Yue Forest? Why are you back so soon? Have the others returned as well?"
"I returned first; they are behind," Lu Qing said slowly. "Sect Master, you seem in a hurry, where are you going?"
"There's been an anomaly in the forbidden grounds..." the Sect Master began, his gaze then falling on Lu Qing. "Martial Uncle, did you tamper with anything in the forbidden grounds?"
"The forbidden grounds are full of scrap metal, what's worth my attention?" Lu Qing glanced at the Sect Master and replied lazily, "The only cauldron that looked decent was, unfortunately, not meant for me."
Hearing this, the Sect Master walked directly inside. Lu Qing blocked his path, "Sect Master, has something happened?"
"Did someone tamper with something in the forbidden grounds?"
"Someone?" Lu Qing feigned confusion. "Sect Master, are you referring to me?"
"Martial Uncle, I wasn't talking about you, I meant someone..."
"Was there anyone else in the forbidden grounds besides me?" Lu Qing's face suddenly turned cold. "What you're implying is that I took something from the forbidden grounds, isn't it?"
"Martial Uncle, I truly didn't mean that. The items in the forbidden grounds are too important to lose. I must excuse myself."
"Stop right there, explain yourself clearly. Are you implying I stole something from the forbidden grounds?" Lu Qing's expression grew more severe, his dark eyes fixed on the Sect Master, as if ready to unleash a beating if the Sect Master confirmed his suspicions.
"Martial Uncle, I'm not suspecting you, I suspect someone infiltrated the forbidden grounds with malicious intent." The Sect Master rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He used to think Lu Qing's stubbornness was a good trait, upright and uncompromising, but this single-mindedness could be quite troublesome at times.
"I told you, I was the only one in the forbidden grounds!"
"Fine, Martial Uncle, you are correct. You were the only one in the forbidden grounds. I merely wish to inspect for any abnormalities," the Sect Master sighed. "May I?"
"To put it bluntly, you still suspect me of stealing!"
The Sect Master choked, wishing he could just throw Lu Qing aside, but he lacked the ability. Lu Qing, as his martial uncle, surpassed him in both age and cultivation, and was the foremost alchemist in the Hundred Medicine Hall. Truly, there was nothing in the forbidden grounds worth his thievery!
"Martial Uncle, please don't make a scene, can you?"
"I'm making a scene?" Lu Qing chuckled mockingly, "Very well, I'm making a scene. Not only do you suspect me of stealing from the forbidden grounds, but you also accuse me of making a scene. What, can't you tolerate me anymore?"
"Martial Uncle, you are being overly dramatic!" The Sect Master hastily explained, "I merely sensed an anomaly in the forbidden grounds and came to investigate, not to suspect you."
"But every word you've spoken has been an insinuation that I've stolen treasures from the forbidden grounds!"
The Sect Master was taken aback. When had he ever suspected Lu Qing of stealing treasures from the forbidden grounds? The forbidden grounds only contained the cauldron. Lu Qing's own cauldrons were not inferior, and even though Xiao Man had destroyed countless of them, he was not poor. He was the wealthiest in the entire Hundred Medicine Hall!
"Martial Uncle, the items in the forbidden grounds are of utmost importance and cannot be lost. I need to go and check. I will explain to you later."
"You don't need to explain. Since the Hundred Medicine Hall can no longer tolerate me, I will leave." Lu Qing turned to depart, startling the Sect Master, who quickly blocked him.
"Martial Uncle, you've truly misunderstood. I was only worried about the seals in the forbidden grounds!" the Sect Master explained urgently. "The seals in the forbidden grounds are related to the one suppressed in the Land of No Law."
Lu Qing thought to himself, as Xiao Man had guessed, each of the Seven Sects must possess an artifact related to the seals of the Land of No Law.
"You're just talking nonsense!" Lu Qing said coldly. "You even brought up the one suppressed in the Land of No Law, why don't you say it's related to the gods?"
"Martial Uncle, what is wrong with you today? Why are you acting like this..."
"I've always been like this. I should be asking you, what is wrong with you? You've repeatedly insinuated I stole something today. Do you think I have no temper?"
The Sect Master was on the verge of tears but did not wish to entangle himself further with Lu Qing. "Martial Uncle, why don't we go and inspect it together?"
"To put it plainly, you don't trust me and believe I stole something from the forbidden grounds!"
"Martial Uncle, I did not!" The Sect Master rubbed his temples in exasperation. "You've traveled a long way and must be tired. You should go back and rest. I will go and inspect the forbidden grounds."
The Sect Master decided not to continue this conversation with Lu Qing. If they continued to argue, he feared he would be angered to death by Lu Qing, especially given his grave concern for the situation in the forbidden grounds.
Lu Qing calculated the time and felt it was appropriate. "Since you are unwilling to believe my innocence, I will accompany you on this inspection!"
"Martial Uncle... never mind, do as you please." The Sect Master was extremely anxious and could no longer bother with explanations. He strode towards the forbidden grounds, with Lu Qing following at a leisurely pace, a hint of worry in his eyes. He wondered if Xiao Man had managed to take the Shennong Ding.
Upon reaching the location of the Shennong Ding, they found the seals completely intact, and the Shennong Ding resting peacefully in its place.
A flicker of confusion crossed Lu Qing's eyes. What was happening? Had the young mistress not taken the Shennong Ding? Or was there not enough time?
"Sect Master, I told you, you were worrying unnecessarily. The Shennong Ding is perfectly fine," Lu Qing's tone was slightly cold. "Besides alchemists, cauldrons are useless to anyone else."
The Sect Master approached the cauldron, a hint of confusion in his eyes. Moments later, he turned and headed in another direction.
Lu Qing initially thought the Sect Master was leaving. To his surprise, the Sect Master headed towards the cauldron's pit, the very place where Xiao Man had retrieved her cauldron.
"Sect Master, why are you here?" Lu Qing asked, puzzled. "There's nothing here but broken cauldrons."
"I know, I'm just coming to check this area." The Sect Master knelt on one knee, released his true qi, and after a moment, his expression changed drastically. He had disappeared.
Lu Qing was filled with doubt. In the entire forbidden grounds, the only item of value was the Shennong Ding. Why was the Sect Master here? Could the cauldron the young mistress took also be something extraordinary? Su Dan Fiction Network
"It's gone!"
"What's gone?" Lu Qing inquired.
"The Shennong Ding is gone!"
"Sect Master, are you feeling alright?" Lu Qing reminded him. "We just inspected the Shennong Ding, and it was fine, with no damage to the seals. This is the cauldron's pit, there's nothing here but discarded cauldrons."
"Martial Uncle, the Shennong Ding over there is a fake. The real Shennong Ding has always been buried here."