"Yu Zhen, get up quickly!"

Liu Qingyan stepped forward to support Xiao Yuzhen, "Get up and speak, what exactly happened?"

Xiao Yuzhen glanced fearfully at Lu Zheng but did not dare to get up.

"Get up and speak," Lu Zheng also frowned and asked, "What happened to Lin Zhidong?"

"Uh..."

Xiao Yuzhen was speechless, thinking to herself that Lin Zhidong's situation was handled by you, and you're asking us what happened?

Just then, Lin Zhijing, who looked similar to Lin Zhidong, stepped forward and bowed deeply to Lu Zheng, "Lin Zhijing meets Young Master Lu."

"Hmm, hello," Lu Zheng nodded, "So, tell me, what is going on?"

Lin Zhijing raised his head, looked deeply at Lu Zheng, and then said, "After yesterday night, Zhidong suddenly became listless, his face turned an ashen hue, and he was weak and powerless.

Then we questioned Miss Xiao and learned about the events of yesterday, deeply shocked.

The Lin family knows that Zhidong spoke out of turn and offended Young Master Lu, but we ask you to consider that it was his first offense and meant no harm. We plead for your generosity to forgive him this time; we assure you he will dare not repeat it.

The Lin family is willing to offer drinks to apologize, and hope to maintain neighborly friendship with the Huangfu family, treating you as esteemed guests. We plead for your generosity to undo the spell."

...

Lin Zhidong suddenly had an incident at night, and yesterday there was only a verbal conflict with Lu Zheng, so naturally, the Lin family thought it was Lu Zheng's doing.

After initially determining that it was Lu Zheng who cast the spell on Lin Zhidong, the Lin family actually had several options.

After all, in today's peaceful Great Jing Dynasty, it isn't a chaotic era. Committing crimes on the street is no joke, and even for Abnormal People, the Anomaly Suppression Bureau is a formidable force hanging over them.

Therefore, the Lin family could have reported the matter to the County Government Office, notified the Yaozhou Anomaly Suppression Bureau, not only to treat Lin Zhidong but perhaps also to capture Lu Zheng, who framed Lin Zhidong.

Even if the Anomaly Suppression Bureau only captured Lu Zheng without solving Lin Zhidong's situation, the Lin family is substantial in size and wealth. In Yaozhou, there are Buddhist Temples, Daoist Temples, Wandering Strange People; they have the financial resources to hire cultivators to treat him, and after all, how great can Lu Zheng's Magical Power be at such a young age?

But the Lin family chose none of these paths, and instead, they brought gifts to reconcile with Lu Zheng.

In their view, the conflict between Lin Zhidong and Lu Zheng was not huge, and Lu Zheng did not directly curse Lin Zhidong to death. Moreover, Lu Zheng had clearly revealed his identity as a cultivator last night...

This was clearly set up for the Lin family to apologize directly to him!

If not, Lu Zheng could have concealed his nature yesterday and directly cast a deadly spell on Lin Zhidong, and the Lin family would have been clueless?

So, after the Lin family decided they could reconcile with Lu Zheng, they immediately prepared high-grade silk, fine wine, medicinal herbs, and other gifts, and then Lin Zhijing carried treasure notes, bringing Xiao Yuzhen to the Huangfu Manor personally to apologize.

After all, hiring someone to save Lin Zhidong would also cost money, and since Lin Zhidong is not dead, it's not a fatal lawsuit. If they accuse him, not only would it not lead Lu Zheng to a deadly punishment, but it would also thoroughly offend him, creating a deadly feud.

So, all considered, apologizing in person to reconcile with Lu Zheng was more cost-effective.

...

But Lu Zheng was truly bewildered.

He thought, don't I know whether I acted against Lin Zhidong?

Clearly, nothing happened, but now the Lin family claims it so firmly. If the Lin family wasn't lying, it must be a coincidence, or someone framed him?

The Huangfu family wasn't familiar with Lu Zheng's nature and dared not speak, but Liu Qingyan's family knew him too well.

Before Lu Zheng could speak, Liu Qingyan asserted, "Lu Lang would never do such a thing."

Xiao Yuzhen did not dare to speak.

Lin Zhijing looked at Lu Zheng, afraid to miss any hint in his expression.

Was it possible he was too presumptuous? Was this lord always a positive figure in front of Liu Qingyan?

Lu Zheng shook his head, irritated by Lin Zhijing's expression but smiled.

"Stop guessing, first let me clarify one thing, I did not cast any curse on Lin Zhidong. I usually retaliate face to face if I have a grudge."

"Yes, yes!" Lin Zhijing nodded repeatedly.

Lu Zheng pouted.

Standing by, Liu Qingyan asked Xiao Yuzhen again in detail and understood Lin Zhidong's clinical symptoms from this morning.

"Lu Lang?"

"Hmm?"

"From Yu Zhen's description, I feel Lin Zhidong seems to have had his life's Yang Qi absorbed. Could it be some malicious entity?"

"Really?" Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, "But I didn't notice any strange aura on him yesterday?"

"Why don't we go have a look?" Liu Qingyan suggested.

Lu Zheng raised a brow, "What, you want to treat him?"

Liu Qingyan smiled, "We can't just let the Lin family hold a grudge against you like this."

She had also inferred that the Lin family was already convinced Lu Zheng was responsible.

Lu Zheng dismissively said, "Tch, they'd better have the means to falsely accuse me."

Liu Qingyan slightly smiled and held Lu Zheng's hand, "Lin Zhidong's offense isn't deadly, and he was once my old neighbor's husband. Besides, if it's truly a malicious entity behind this, aren't we just letting them laugh at us from the shadows?"

Lu Zheng blinked, seeing the sense in Liu Qingyan's words.

If that's the case...

"Deliver everything to the estate," Lu Zheng instructed, "consider it the consultation fee."

Following the verbal conflict yesterday and today's false accusations, how could he not make them pay a bit, given his dissatisfaction?

"Yes!" Lin Zhijing's eyes brightened, quickly responding, then waved to have the wooden boxes and bamboo baskets brought into the courtyard.

Whether it was Lu Zheng's doing or not, since he accepted the gifts, it signified an end to the grudge with the Lin family. Moreover, he seemed to be willing to examine Lin Zhidong.

Lin Zhijing internally still dismissed the idea of a malicious entity, but a pretext is fine, as long as the issue was resolved.

"I'll accompany Lu Lang," Huangfu Ning stepped forward.

Since Lu Zheng initially saved the Huangfu family and later resolved the human-faced fox incident, it was only natural for the Huangfu family to provide support when something happened with him.

"Cousin, join us," Liu Qingyan nodded, agreeing and said to Lu Zheng, "Cousin is familiar with Wanfu County, which could be convenient if any needs arise."

"Sure."

Lu Zheng had no objections and turned to Lin Zhijing, saying, "Let's go, to the Lin family, I want to see what exactly is going on."

...

Old Huang was driving the carriage, with Lu Zheng, Liu Qingyan, and Huangfu Ning inside, and another carriage from the Lin family led the way.

Moments later, they arrived at the Beicheng Lin Mansion.

Lu Zheng alighted from the carriage and entered the mansion, looking around, thinking to himself it was indeed a grand household, occupying a vast area.

Moreover, Lin Zhidong was merely the second son of the Lin family, without inheritance rights; otherwise, he wouldn't have married Xiao Yuzhen from a humble yet affluent family.

Lin Zhijing dispatched someone to notify the Patriarch, then led Lu Zheng and the others to the courtyard where Lin Zhidong was.

Entering the room, Lu Zheng noticed, besides two maidservants caring for him, there was also a woman in her thirties but with a haggard expression.

"Second Madam," Lin Zhijing bowed respectfully.

"Zhijing, you're back. This is..." The woman saw Lu Zheng and the others, her eyes flickering, hurriedly bowed, "I greet the Young Master."

"Rise," Lu Zheng gestured, Cloud Qi gathering to lift the woman, then proceeded with Liu Qingyan to Lin Zhidong's bedside.

Lin Zhijing signaled with his eyes to the woman. Though she didn't fully grasp it, observing Lu Zheng's direction, she quickly stepped aside.

Leaning in, Lu Zheng saw Lin Zhidong under the brocade quilt, eyes tightly shut, face ashen, breathing short and labored, appearing extremely weak.

Most importantly...

Lu Zheng detected a faint foul odor.